WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS ? (PART TWO)

I believe that when I see the same thing in several different places I'd better pay attention because GOD is trying to get mine!

Our Sunday School class is currently studying John Ortberg's book IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT. The book begins with the most famous water walker, PETER.

Prior to our starting this book, our minister Paul Brunstetter talked about Peter in one of his sermons and said these words which stuck with me " GLANCE AT THE STORM, GAZE AT THE SAVIOR".

Today God is using Max Lucado to speak to me about the same subject matter. Max writes: " As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take him or leave him you might as well leave him because he won't be taken half heartedly. But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all you cares on him, for he is waiting in the midst of the storm."

Heavenly Father,
Please speak to each of us and help us keep our focus on You in the midst of our own "storms".

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

Matthew 14: 29-30Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Life is hard. Confirmation can be found on the evening news, in the daily paper, or in conversations with family and friends. Debt, deception, death, disasters, illness, infidelity, inhumanity... the list seems endless.

Why then do some people seem hopeful , in spite of their circumstances, while others sink further into despair?

I believe that it all has to do with where your focus is. Are you focused on the STORM or on the ONE WHO CALMS THE STORM?

My friend Karen became a widow 19 months ago today when her husband Larry died prematurely. She misses him everyday and grieves for the life they had together BUT she goes on because she knows the One who calms the storm and keeps her eyes on HIM.

My friend Sheryl is dealing with a debilitating condition that causes her to have a false sense of motion. Most days she is homebound. She has two teenagers and is separated from her husband. This is NOT the life she would choose for herself BUT Sheryl has chosen to be an encourager and a prayer warrior to many of us through her blog and the forum she facilitates on the internet. Sheryl focuses on the ONE who calms the storm.

Where is your focus? Life can be hard . We need to "GLANCE AT THE STORM AND GAZE AT THE SAVIOR" ( Rev. Paul Brunstetter)

A CHURCH IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING TOUCH

I attend First United Methodist Church in Lexington, KY. We have two campuses, one located downtown and one in the Andover area, a rapidly growing area of Lexington which previously lacked a church with TRADITIONAL worship. We like to say that we have two locations, one firm foundation. I have sung in the Chancel Choir downtown for more than 30 years and recently started serving at Andover by singing in the choir there. I consider myself a member of both congregations and both choirs.

On 9/11/08 we learned that our choir director , Albin Whitworth had been let go by our Staff Parish Relations Committee. Albin and his wife Katie had faithfully served our church for over 30 years. Albin's talent is incredible but his main focus has been to create a worship experience through music. He wrote and arranged music and was well known for his FIFTH SUNDAYS, which were all music services complete with choir and orchestra built around a theme, such as HEAVEN and AMAZING GRACE to name a few. We actually have FIFTH SUNDAY members; those whose membership is in another church or denomination but who regularly attend any time there is a FIFTH Sunday in a month. My parents who live in Louisville are FIFTH SUNDAY MEMBERS.

Currently there is a lot of hurt, anger, disappointment, and confusion surrounding this termination. Some congregations members feel blindsided, others want to move their membership to another church or even another demonination.

I sing as a way to use the gifts God has given me as an act of worship and to glorify Him. And I will continue to sing as a tribute to a man who has given so much of himself to make the music ministry of our church a vital part of that worship.

Only God can heal our church. Please join me in praying for complete healing of our body of believers, especially the choir members.

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG;
SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH.
SING TO THE LORD, PRAISE HIS NAME;
PROCLAIM HIS SALVATION DAY AFTER DAY. PSALM 96: 1-2

ANOTHER WORD FROM GOD

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I prayed for some direction about leading a Beth Moore study at my church (see coincidence post).
Further affirmation came this morning as I was reading through the introduction to A HEART LIKE HIS. On p. 7 Beth writes "Make the group meetings a priority. Hebrews 11:6 says,'Anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him'. This study offers you the opportunity to earnestly seek God."
I just completed an online Bible study by Kelly Minter called NO OTHER GODS. One of the exercises for the last week of study was to read Hewbrews 11:1-40 slowly and thoughtfully and "pray that God will show you something new in this reading. Then write verbatim a verse that stood out to you.'
The verse I wrote on p.171 of that workbook is Hebrews 11:6

AN ENCOURAGER FIRST, A RUNNER SECOND

My husband Ernie ran his first marathon (26.2 miles for you non runners like me) when he was 50 years old. He is now 56 and will be running his next marathon in Nov. in San Antonio. In 6 years he has run almost 20 Marathons so you would think his main running focus would be on his training and bettering his performance. But it is not. Ernie is an ENCOURAGER and would rather help new or less experienced runners achieve their dreams. He has a "harem" of women that he runs with every day, some faster, some slower. Some better than him, some not. The point is , he does not care. He wants each woman he runs with to reach her full potential. He takes it as a CALLING and I love him for that.

Yesterday, Ernie helped Julie and Cathy celebrate their birthdays with a 5:30 am run before work and chocolate cakes for each. He calls Julie JLO because she likes BLING, and because purple is her favorite color, he decorated her cake with purple frosting. His nickname for Cathy is runway model and he used pink frosting for her cake.( I baked the cakes but Ernie decorated them!).

I am posting a picture from the celebration yesterday. Cathy is on the left and Julie is on the right. The Chippendale in the middle is my wonderful husband. This is not his usual attire. In fact he created the outfit the night before to give his friends a laugh. Hope you enjoy.

EVERYONE NEEDS THEIR OWN SPOT

SO GLAD YOU CAME BY TO VISIT MINE.

PULL UP A CHAIR AND STAY AWHILE.

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT

The title of this post comes from a saying that my friend Hope uses. Other times she will say ODD or GOD? Either way it is about us being receptive to God when He is telling us something. My friend Sheryl says that when we hear the same thing over and over that it is probably God trying to get our attention.

Today as I walked into church Randy said "I need to talk with you. We want to start a Beth Moore Bible Study here. Do you know someone who would lead it? Or would you want to lead it? And which study should we do ?"

Wow. All this on my way to sing in the choir. I told him I would think about it and get back to him.

As I was sitting in the choir I asked God to give me some direction. Was this something He wanted me to do? What study should it be?

After we sang our anthem Todd got up to preach from 2 Samuel 7:8-17. The headline in my Bible for this section of scripture is GOD'S Promise to DAVID. Todd said that we make our best choices when we are walking WITH God as David was. He said that David had a heart for God.

Wow. I had my answer. I will be facilitating Beth's study A HEART LIKE HIS but God will be leading it.