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..........

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Here's some fun for the day......

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)

In the children's toe-counting rhyme, what did the third little piggy have?

PHRASE FUN:  (What phrase does the following represent.  Answer below)

COF     FEE

JOKE:
Q:  What did zero say to eight?

A:  Nice belt!

QUOTE:

“Dear Math, please grow up and solve your own problems.   I’m tired of solving them for you.”

TRICIA’S TWEET OF THE DAY:
The need to need more than you need equals greed.  Eternal wealth lasts forever.  Earthly wealth can be gone in an instant.

RANDOM OBSERVATION:
I did a object lesson for a small group Bible study a few years back.  It involved having a bag that was full of items.   The object was to pull the items out one at a time and talk about them.  They were random things.   I would spend more time on some objects as opposed to others.   After all the items had been revealed and put back in the bag I went onto another topic.   Closer to the end of class I had the group think back to the items and write on paper the ones they remembered.  The items that made it on almost all of the lists were the items that I spent more discussion time on.....focused more on.    The more I talked about an item, the more it was remembered.   

This is a good lesson in our everyday lives.   What we focus more time on is what is predominately what we retain.   When you think of this in regards to focusing on positive thoughts or negative thoughts, it can impact on our lives. 

I read a book recently that talked about the power of positive words and declaring positive things for your life.   Basically, if you speak positively in your life and start the day with an attitude of optimism, your life will more closely follow that.   Same goes if you start your day with a defeated attitude and think ‘oh woe is me, this will never work out’.  Odds are, with that attitude, it won't.  Sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy.   Whatever you consistently speak and believe comes to fruition.

It's always good to focus on the positive in life as opposed to the negative.    In the object lesson mentioned above, imagine the bag representing our lives and the objects inside are different obstacles we face.   The students easily remembered the items I focused on and spent more time on.   Look at what makes up your life and spend more time focusing on the positive 'items' as opposed to the negative.   

Also, speak positively.   Don't have a defeatist attitude when you are facing a difficult situation at work, with a relationship or with your health.   Discard thoughts like 'I can't do this' or 'there is no hope'.   Don't speak defeat.   Instead, declare all your blessings and be determined that things are going to work out.   Think positive.    : )

TRIVIA ANSWER
Roast Beef

PHRASE FUN:
Coffee break

Until next time......