Focus, Focus, Dominocus -- Choosing What's Best in 2012

If you’re at all like me, as soon as the New Year rolls around you start thinking about a few things:

Simplifying

De-cluttering

Planning

 After all, I have this wide open calendar I just bought. So, I begin to think, how can I focus and be a better steward of my time and resources?

Honestly, I feel like I have to ask myself that every year and I still struggle with the implementation. Most of the time I feel like the thin layer of mayo I request spread on my sandwiches. I work, shop, run errands, do laundry, write, blog, speak, keep up with my husband and home, sleep, stay in touch with my children and faraway family members…there isn’t much time to add the things I think I should do, like exercise, eat healthy, and spend more time with God…

Yep, a thin layer of mayo spread over a slice of bread. How do I make it enough? How do I make it count?

For someone who has a hard time saying no, this is a challenge. I am learning that there are things I am called to do, like be supportive to my husband and putting God first above everything else.

And, I have been made specifically to do certain things that only I can do like communicate through my words, both written and spoken, to share what God teaches me. Learning those lessons first is the hard part—

They usually hurt…like letting go, dealing with disappointments, feeling rejection, or realizing my response to situations or people were not the kindest. It’s dealing with my heart and coming up short because I am human and broken.

As much as I don’t want to make 2012 complicated, it really comes down to simplifying my focus, de-cluttering my heart and planning to start each day with God because He is the only one who can burn through the rubble to enable me to see what’s important. His focus becomes mine as I look at the world and the work I have to do through His eyes.

Maybe I will have extra mayo on that sandwich after all. How about you?

May your New Year be blessed and filled with Him,

Jeanne

Giving Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for, but I admit I can be remiss in remembering to say thanks for things, to others and to God. I get so busy that I forget or overlook them, taking them for granted. I notice that when I am thankful my perspective is different. I focus on the good rather than the bad. It’s like medicine bringing health to my heart and mind.

As I prepare for this coming week I am thankful for my family and though we are spread all over the country, we think of one another and past times around the table, like making stuffed dates with my children on Thanksgiving Eve. And, of plenty to eat even when illness dictated we stay home.

I am thankful for our country, that we can worship freely and, of the freedoms we share and hold dear. I appreciate my church family and the bond we have because we are followers of Christ. I am thankful for my son who serves in the military, and all our military personnel who daily pay the price for maintaining our freedoms. Many who will not be together on this holiday because they are separated by oceans and deserts, but whose hearts are connected by the miles and by cell phone and email. Thank you for your sacrifice on our behalf and your willingness to serve.

And, most of all I am thankful for what God has done through Jesus Christ so that we can have forgiveness and new life in Him. He is the God of new beginnings; He makes us new creations—the old has gone, forgiven and made new. And, that sacrifice cost Him His life. I’m so thankful for that, because I don’t deserve it, but He did it anyway because of His love for me, and for all. May this week begin a habit of contemplating the good things that are ours and may our hearts be thankful and offer praise.

Wishing you a season of thanksgiving that will fill you with His joy!

What are you thankful for?

Jeanne