WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

Here's some fun for the day........

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)
What is the world's smallest continent?

BRAIN TEASER: (answer below)
You have 2 normal U.S. coins that add up to 35 cents.   One of the coins is not a 
quarter.   How is this possible?

JOKE:
Q:  What happens when two potatoes get married?
A:   They have tater tots.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs?   Rabbits don't lay eggs.

COMIC FUN:

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
During difficulties confidently continue to praise God.  Then, wait to see how He makes all things work together for good.

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

I was taking a picture of my dog the other day and it got me thinking about how cameras have changed over the years. 

  (here's the pic.  I call it 'Maddie watching the world go by')

I may have to do an 'evolution of cameras through time' post in the future.   Could be interesting.    It's definitely much easier for a non-camera buff like me to take pictures these days.  I just hold up my phone and 'presto', I can take a pic.   I don't have to worry about film or a flash bulb.   

As I focused in on Maddie (my dog) I was reminded of something I read in a Mark Batterson book called "Primal".    He talked about what he called a 'focusing illusion'.    

In our daily lives, do we focus more on what we have or what we don't have?    It's a good question to ask ourselves. Depending on our answer to that question, we either have more gratitude in our lives or more greed.   It depends on our focus.    

If I was plopped down in the middle of the Mall right now, I could look around and see lots of things I want.  I could easily fall into a greedy perspective.  Similarly  if I was plopped down in the middle of a third world country right now, my perspective would be completely different.   I would be much more aware of how many blessings I have.   I would begin to focus more on my gratitude.  The tricky part for us is keeping that gratitude perspective each day.  It's easy to lose it when we lose our focus.   

Here's a few questions from the book that may help in regards to finding out where your own focus lies.   They're good questions for each of us to ask ourselves on a regular basis. 

FOCUS QUESTIONS:

Are you focused on what you have or what you don't have? (that is the difference between gratitude and greed)

Are you focused on this life or the next?  ( that is the difference between stinginess and generosity)

Are you focused on your wants or other's needs  (that is the difference between selfishness and compassion.   It's also the difference between unhappiness and joy)

I would add another question to the mix.   One I try to be mindful of and keep in check.  

Are you focusing on the positive in your life or the negative?

I know many people are going through some pretty rough stuff and it's difficult to find the positive.   But it is there.  You have to be intentional in making sure you don't lose your focus in that regard.   

There is something you are blessed with in life that you may be taking for granted.   

What are we taking for granted?  It could be health, could be family, or it could be something as simple as being able to get in car and drive across town.   There's plenty of people in the world that can't do that for a variety of reasons.  Maybe they are too sick.  Maybe they are financially unable to do that.    You have blessings.   Be purposeful about identifying them.     


Mark Batterson makes this point in his book:

As your focus changes, your perspective changes.    As your perspective changes, your life will change.    You might find yourself in the same circumstances, but your heart will change.    A change in heart will change your motivations and your expectations.



Your focus determines your reality.


Take a moment today to ask yourself:   Where are you pointing your 'camera'?  In other words.......

Where is your focus?



When you focus on your wants, enough is never enough.   When you focus on eternity, you have everything you need.


Romans 10: 9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

TRIVIA ANSWER:
Australia

BRAIN TEASER:
You have a dime and a quarter.  ( one of the coins is not a quarter.  The dime is not a quarter)


Until next time..........

A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE

I love humor & that is what this blog will usually contain.  From time to time though, I will take a moment to be a little more serious.  Today I’d like to take a look at gratitude.  I believe there are so many blessings we each have that are easy to take for granted.  I'm talking about a variety of things from family, friends, health & our lifestyles.  Certain things become such a part of who we are & part of our everyday lives, that we forget how lucky we are to have them.  However, if we woke up tomorrow without one of them, our appreciation for them would definitely grow.   

A few years ago, I realized that I was heavy on prayer requests with God, but a little light on the gratitude.   I decided to make a change.  I now keep my nighttime prayers contained to statements of gratitude.  Prayer requests can take place in the morning & throughout the day, but my nighttime prayers are reserved for thanks only.   

Each evening, I thank God for at least 5 specific things from that day that I'm grateful for. It can range from being thankful to being able to drive a car that day to being thankful that I have the ability to speak, see, hear etc.   When I get started on this pattern, I’m amazed & overwhelmed at how many blessings each day contains. 

As of this writing, I’m dealing with my third cancer which happens to be stage 4.   I choose not to focus on that though, because I am truly humbled each day by my blessings.  There are so many things that I know I'm privileged to have each day that others do without.  I feel blessed & unworthy.  The list is endless and I hope to never take any of these blessings for granted.   We all have problems, some more severe than others.  I'm in no way implying that someone should always be ‘up’ during difficult circumstances, but the ‘gratitude only’ prayers at night have helped me through tough times & so I thought it may help someone else too.   It keeps things in perspective for me and reminds me daily that whatever I may be going through, there’s someone, somewhere that is dealing with worse circumstances than I am.   That may not be the best theological outlook, but it seems to help me.  It keeps me aware daily of how many blessings I have to be thankful for.  

I thought I’d list some of the ‘everyday’ things that make my gratitude list in case you decide to start this nightly routine for yourself.   It's a few things that may be easy to take for granted everyday, but the absence of them would definitely affect our lives.  The list is endless, but here is a start.

DAILY GRATITUDES:

If you are able to have a glass of water whenever you want...be thankful, for there are those who cannot. 

If you make it home from an errand, from school, from a trip, from work...be thankful, for are those who do not. 

If you were able to eat a meal today...be thankful, for there are those who were not. 

If you go to bed at night with little to minimal pain....be thankful, for there are those who do not. 

If you sleep at night in a bed, in a home...be thankful, for there are those who do not. 

If you know where your family members are and that they are safe...be thankful, for there are those who do not. 

If you are able to walk to your bed, see it, use your hands to pull back the covers...be thankful, for there are those who cannot. 

If you can read a Bible whenever you wish.....be thankful, for there are those who cannot

If you know God...be thankful, for there are those who do not.

Until next time......