Prepare my eyes to focus on Jesus

 

Day 25

Have you ever noticed what you focus on is what you see?

I remember when it was so popular for those pictures that if you stared at it long enough you would see a picture jump out at you. It's a kind of picture within a picture here's an example. This one is titled summer is coming. No I never did see the image. It is supposed to be a girl eating an ice cream and holding a balloon!

I never was really good at it. Some say you if you have astigmatism it's hard for your eyes to focus, which I do. (just trying to rationalize why I can't see it.) I think that I just didn't have the patience to stay there long enough for it to pop up. Although every once in a while this magical event happened. When I was staring at one of these pictures if I could just focus my eyes long enough, something would just pop out and this other picture would come to life.

Today I'm asking the Lord to prepare my eyes to be fixed on Jesus for some of the same reasons.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith we begin to see things differently.

Instead of being bothered by an interruption, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I will ask, "what would you have me do in the midst of this situation?"

When I don't know what to do in life with any problem that has arisen, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I know what to do!

How did Jesus respond when he encountered trouble? He would find a solitary place and then he would pray. Lord help me to pray for your wisdom!

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

When I am saddened by loss, human nature or by evil, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I know how to respond. Jesus tells us that He is with us and that He is coming back. Because of this I place my hope in him. His promises change my attitude.

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20

During those times that I am being selfish, when I look at Jesus and focus on his life I see that He considered others as more important than himself. His sacrifice teaches me to be patient with others and humble.

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

How would focusing your eyes on Jesus change your day?

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:2

Prayer

Jesus just as a horse will often have guides by his eyes to keep him focused, be my blinder! Focus my eyes on you, your kingdom and your plan! Remove anything that takes my eyes off of you!

Looking Forward Looking Back

2015 really? How did that happen? Just yesterday we were all freaked out about Y2K! Hard to believe that was so long ago! On Facebook they have been compiling a year in review for everyone.  I wonder how they go about choosing what is included? This last year I have had some fabulous experiences and some painful ones. 

God has blessed our lives with both pain and joy. They seem to go hand in hand. Often on the same day we may experience a roller coaster of emotions. 

Brown Spotted Bananas

In our home, when there are no bananas, my husband says, "There is NO FOOD!" He loves bananas! According to some new research, he may be on to something! I have often complained that the bananas ripen much to quickly and brown spots cover their peels.  These overly ripe bananas have not been my favorite until I learned this!

As a banana ripens it produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor). This amazing substance fights off abnormal cells. In the process of ripening dark spots develop on the skin. As more dark patches develops, the higher levels of  immunity fighting substance is also produced.

My Husband loves bananas for a good reason.

The Japanese scientific research has also shown that TNF has anti-cancer properties. When the fruit is ripest, the anti-cancer fighting agent is at it's peak! So, the riper the banana, the better the anti-cancer quality! Amazing! The yellow skin bananas with dark spots are 8 times more effective at increasing white blood cells.

What I learned,

We too have age spots! A little kindergartner pointed to my hands one day and asked what those brown spots were on my hands!  As our skin ages, we have marks of maturity, seasoning I like to call it! With age we too have an extra added benefit of a fighter within us!  The more experiences we have, the more our knowledge base grows! The more we trust in the Lord in the midst of difficult times, the more our spots grow! Wouldn't it be fantastic if every time we struggled through a spot appeared? Think about how these spots would become a badge of honor!

Today, as you look upon your hands, spots and all, or upon those age lines developing, remember that within you is the greatest fighter of all time, the Holy Spirit!  He is and always will be the best immune fighter, for He alone can comfort, lead, and fill you. God has a plan to use your experiences to develop in you a character that is reflecting who He is and that includes your spots!

Hebrews 12:1-13

There was an Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly

I love this story! The predictable and repeatable text is a favorite for my students. They laugh at the pictures and easily repeat the sequence of events.

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly,

I don't know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,

It wiggled and riggled and giggled inside her,

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don't know why she swallowed the fly,

Perhaps she'll die.

It goes on and on....

This morning this whimsical tale took on new meaning for me.

Today the weather truly felt like fall. There was a briskness in the air and my hot cup of coffee hit the spot. While sipping on the coffee and watching the news I noticed a fly in the room.  "That seems so odd since the weather is so cool", I thought to myself. After re-filing my cup and eating a muffin I returned to our bedroom to watch the rest of the news. 

Bang, crash, thud! The ironing board had fallen in the laundry room. Hurrying into the room I found it on the floor right on top of our dog's food. After placing it back against the wall I once again returned to my coffee. The warmth of the cup felt good against my hands. Coffee is so good! As i began to swallow I felt something in my mouth. "Was it a crumb from the muffin?"  

In a split second I knew that it was NOT the muffin, but the pesky fly that was in my mouth! I was the old woman who almost swallowed a fly!

When did this happen? 
While I was preoccupied with the ironing board. That is usually when things begin to happen to us.  While we are preoccupied with the things of this world, Satan will undermine, attack and distract us from the plans that God has for us. 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

Where have you been distracted lately?
How can you fix your eyes on Jesus today?

1. 
   
2. I love the chorus of this song! Turn your eyes upon Jesus
3. • Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
4. Helen Lemell

You Don't have to believe in God

A billboard has gone up in Grand Rapids and several other cities in America. 

Personally, I don't know how to hope, care and love without God.  I have been walking with Him since I was 14 years old. Everything I have learned about caring for others has been modeled for me by other Christians and through God's loving care for us. 

According to livingwithoutreligion.org Atheists can hope, care, love and live, all without God. I am positive that they can!  Every person has the ability to portray these attributes, because they were created in the image of God.

According to their website "there is one major difference between the hopes many religious people have and the hopes the nonreligious have: the nonreligious do not look to God to fulfill their hopes. There is no supernatural being to make sure everything will turn out OK. Nothing is guaranteed."

Dictionary.com defines Hope- the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. 

The bible speaks about hope many times. The Hebrew and Greek words that are used for "hope" can be translated to mean "a strong and confident expectation." What we hope for is something that we are confident of.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what  is seen was not made out of what was visible.

  Hebrews 11:1-3

The title of the website, "Living without religion" intrigues me. I too try and live without religion. 

I want more than rules, affiliation and titles. 

I want a relationship!

I want to be known by the creator 

I want to have a personal relationship with Him. 

I want to rely on His wisdom, strength, grace and forgiveness

Many who claim to not need Jesus say that they can do it by themselves.  That their hope is in themselves. 

A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Psalm 33:17

I know that I can NOT do it by myself! My hope is not in myself. I am fully aware that God is bigger and smarter and wiser and more gracious and more faithful etc. etc. than I could ever be. 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 

So although it is true that You Don't have to believe in God, 

You don't have to put your hope in Him,

I wouldn't,

couldn't,

even think of,

doing life without Him!

What is your focus on?

It has been said that what you focus on, is what you see.  At a conference I attended, we watched a video and were instructed to count how many times a group of students who were wearing white shirts, passed a basketball.  I purposely looked only at the team who had white shirts.  When the video was over, the instructor asked what we thought of the gorilla. "What Gorilla?", I thought. The video was played again and right there in the middle of the video, a gorilla walked through the group of students. 

Because I was focused on the team in white shirts, I only saw them. 

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

Isn't it that way in our spiritual lives as well?  

What we focus on is what we see! We have a choice to focus on Jesus or to focus on other things. When we only see the problem we can't see the solution.

We can focus on;

money

stress

people

sickness

nervousness

loss

anger

success

Or

We can put our focus on Jesus

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 I have listed just the ABC's of who Jesus is

Jesus Christ is... Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Jesus Christ is... Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Jesus Christ is... Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Jesus Christ is... Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Jesus Christ is... Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Jesus Christ is... Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Jesus Christ is... Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Jesus Christ is... Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Jesus Christ is... Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Jesus Christ is... Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Jesus Christ is... Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Jesus Christ is... .Bread of God (John 6:33)
Jesus Christ is... Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Jesus Christ is... Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Jesus Christ is... Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Jesus Christ is... Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Jesus Christ is... Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Jesus Christ is... Christ (1 John 2:22)
Jesus Christ is... Creator (John 1:3)

To read more about the names of Jesus click here

You have a choice today on where your focus will be. 

Father, it is so easy to take my eyes off of you. Help me to remember that you have a plan and that you are able to do more than I could ever imagine. I am choosing to put my focus on you and not on other things.