Focus. FOCUS. focus.

Focus is one of those words that if you say it over and over again, it begins to sound very strange.

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, FOCUS means:

1. a :  a point at which rays (as of light, heat, or sound) converge or from which they diverge or appear to diverge; specifically :  the point where the geometrical lines or their prolongations conforming to the rays diverging from or converging toward another point intersect and give rise to an image after reflection by a mirror or refraction by a lens or optical system

   b :  a point of convergence (see convergence 1) of a beam of particles (such as electrons)

2. a :  focal length

   b :  adjustment for distinct vision; also :  the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image

   c :  a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding • tried to bring the issues into focus

   d :  direction 6c •  the team lost focus

3. one of the fixed points that with the corresponding directrix defines a conic section

4. a localized area of disease or the chief site of a generalized disease or infection

5. a :  a center of activity, attraction, or attention •  the focus of the meeting was drug abuse  •  put immigration into focus as a hot topic for commentators

   b :  a point of concentration

6. the place of origin of an earthquake or moonquake

7. directed attention :  emphasis   • The focus is on helping the homeless.

 

I personally like number 6…moonquake. So much fun I can have with my last name. I feel like I’ve been in a moonquake…being shaken and thrown all over the place, in and out of focus. All those rays of light mentioned in the first definition are hitting in the same place all at once burning a hole into the ground. This isn’t to say where I’ve been is a “bad place.” Where I have been is bringing me into perfect focus.

I haven’t been blogging much because my focus has been elsewhere. Blogging is not my first agenda. It’s part of my agenda but not the main focus, at least not for now. I think, at least for the next month or so, I’ll be posting once a week while I finish up some other projects. We’ll see.

I don’t even want to post this blog because I know there are those who immediately want to give their advice. I know they mean well, however, I’m not needing outside advice. I know the state of affairs I am in. I know the entire story which my husband and I have not been able to share openly yet. People have good intentions though and want to look at every thing through rose colored glasses and tell you what to do when your circumstances look bleak. If they don’t know the entire story, they can’t give you Godly advice!

That would be like me telling a brain surgeon how to rewire a person’s cognitive thinking. Can that even be done? See! I know nothing about it other than there is a brain, there are different areas of the brain and there are those that operate on the brain. I’m not qualified to give advice in those matters. I don’t know the entire story.

What is frustrating is God has not released me to share the entire story but I know why as well. Because if I could, I would. If I did, I would be seeking answers elsewhere and not from Him. I also know, when all of this is done and said, what a great testimony we are going to have from it and the glory and honor we will be able to give to God because of it.

I don’t need answers from anyone else other than God/Jesus/Holy Spirit right now. He WANTS me to seek Him in all things and seek Him FIRST. On top of that, we have Pastors who know the entire story and have spoken into our lives through the Holy Spirit. They are our covering and we reverence them and the words they speak into our lives. A good Pastor is your shepherd and there is a reason for it. Too many times I see people seeking answers from EVERYWHERE and jumping from one thing to the next because they follow whatever, whoever and don’t understand the orderly way God has called things to be done.

There have been questions the Holy Spirit has led me to ask openly and told me to pay attention to the way people answer. Notice I said the way they answer, not what their answer is.

I have learned a very important lesson in this. People avoid the question and put their own understanding on it. They will read more into the question than what it is. They will become so spiritual that they miss the point.

Here’s a very simple example. Pretend you are shopping with a friend for a new dress. Men, if you are reading this, pretend you are shopping for a dress shirt and apply the same circumstance. I have a feeling the men will understand this better than the women.

Q: What color dress looks better on me? Red or Blue?

A: Well, how does the red dress make you feel? What about the blue?  The red speaks spark! It’s fierce! The blue is moody. Do you want to be moody?

The question was what color looks better not how they made me feel.

It is a very simple question. It is not complicated. It is not about feelings.

The Bible is our two-edged sword. If we stick to the Word, we prevent ourselves from becoming overly spiritual and getting off in a ditch with our thinking and with our advice.

I had someone ask me a question, this was a year or two ago. The question was along the lines of what I do when I’m struggling with a situation. My answer: I seek God in prayer and in reading the Word. It has the answer for any and all situations.

They didn’t like that answer. They thought it was a cop-out. This wasn’t the first they had come to me with their troubles and asking for advice. Each time they asked, my answer was the same. Get in the Word. They eventually stopped coming to me for answers because they were not looking for God.

They were looking for everything else but God.

Back to the definition of focus…2b hits the nail on the head right now: adjustment for distinct vision; also :  the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image.

When you are adjusting the lens of a camera, you twist it back and forth slowly and can watch the image go in and out of focus until you hit the exact spot where the lens creates the clearest image.

Better yet, think about the last eye exam you had and the part where they cover one eye and flip different lenses on the mechanism they have shoved onto your face. Then they do the other eye. Then they do them both together. It takes some time. It takes some flipping around, back and forth, seeing which combination works best so you have the absolute, most clear view of things before you.

I thank God for this time, this transition, this focusing, this point in time where all the rays of light from my upbringing, training, education, experiences are coming together to create that point of vision God has placed in my heart. Not only for me but for my husband. For both of us, together. He’s one eye, I’m the other. God is about to put both lenses in front of us and the focus will be so clear that we laugh and smile and thank Him for being able to see so far in front of us!

Definition 2c says “a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding • tried to bring the issues into focus”

Oh, how good God is! I don’t know what you have going on in your life. I don’t know what struggles you face. I don’t know what despair you have. I don’t know what mountains are before you. I do know this – get in the Word. Pray and seek Him. I promise there will be answers. I promise the joy will come. The rejoicing will happen. His glory and mercy will overcome. 

I also know how hard it is at times. I know the enemy (devil, satan, evilness, etc) will attack and try to drag you down. FIGHT! Fight back! Use the Word against those thoughts, doubts and fears. Put on the armor of God. Don’t give in! Ask God for help! Keep seeking Him! Please don’t give up. Tell yourself right now there is only one option in your situation, whatever situation that may be, and the option is VICTORY.

 

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.