Focused

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. II Timothy 4:5

 My Daddy taught us lots of things and as the oldest child, I learned first. I learned how to pound nails, line up tools by fractions, skin rabbits, and tie up tomatoes. Daddy loved playing ball. He wanted us to excel in all we did whether it was school, or gardening, or playing ball, so he taught me first how to pitch. The first and most important lesson was to keep my eye on the ball. Never look away. The ball would always follow my eye. I think the player in the picture pitched a strike. Look how focused she is on the target. 

In Matthew 14:24-32 the disciples were in a boat crossing the sea at night. A wind blew up. If you've ever been on the water at night when the wind gets up you know the fear and the apparitions you might see. The disciples thought they saw a ghost coming toward them. Jesus knew their fear and called out to them. Peter said, " Lord, if it be you, bid me come to you on the water."  

Jesus told Peter to come. Peter got down out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus. He knew the wind was blowing. He knew he was on top of the water, walking, but, BUT, he looked away. Never look away. Never take you eye off the target. Peter began to sink. "Lord, save me!" Jesus put out his hand and put Peter back in the boat. 

Peter was a saved man. He trusted that Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world, no doubts. But when he took his eyes off Jesus, he lost focus and began to sink. 

Even we as Christians can find ourselves in crisis situations and instead of walking on through, keeping our eyes on the only One who can help, we lose focus. We allow ourselves to be distracted, to focus on the problem instead of focusing on the One who can walk us through the situation. 

Father God, help me keep my eyes on You. Help we walk with you, paying no attention to the distractions of this world. In Jesus' name. Amen

The Rain

 

Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;

They shall be revived like grain,

And grow like a vine.

Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

~Hosea 14:7 (NKJV)

There's a storm brewing over on the mountain. The billowy clouds rise above the haze. The thunder rolls like distant cannon fire, ever increasing in intensity as the battle draws closer. As of yet, there is no sight of lightning, only heat and humidity and the silence of waiting. No stirring breeze. Then the wrens begin to fuss, the robins chirp, and the crows call alarming the trees to the impending weather war. Do they feel their lives are endangered?

 As the storm draws near, it broadens its spectrum, rolling from one valley to the next. Down the hillside and up the other. How long before I must retreat inside to safety, away from lightning bolts and pelting rain, swaying trees? Aww, it's just a summer storm, they say. It will pass. But what will lie in its path? Will there be trees down, houses crushed, fires? Or simply the passing of another summer storm?

As I survey the skies of my younger days, I see political storms that came and went, leaving a little more destruction in their path each time. The last fifty years, for the most part, have not been kind to us. Apparently, we haven't learned a thing. As Israel mocked Jeremiah and the prophets, mocking seems to be quite the rage of our day. Morality, life, God-given identity, and Christians are mocked in the marketplace of today's cancel culture. 

The storm brought a passing shower, and now I see a rainbow forming. I am also beginning to see a rainbow forming in the political storm of Socialism and communism. Right now, the storm rages, but maybe there's another storm forming underneath. People are coming together. 

 Maybe it's the rain of revival. 

Mercy drops round us are falling, 

but for the showers we plead. 

~D.W. Whittle (1840-1901)

Father, we pray for wisdom in the midst of the storm. We are thankful for the mercy drops of revival we see. Lord, daily, may we pray for the showers, the downpour of revival. In Jesus' name. Amen.