"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor


Monday, July 20, 2015

It's all about the FOCUS




Here it is July of 2015 and I haven’t blogged since last October!   I started to do so in the beginning of 2015 and never posted it.  But this post is still true today for me.  I am learning a lot about how quickly I lose focus….but also about how wonderful focusing is when you make it intentional in your life.  So therefore, I will put away my pride and share this post which I meant to share with you at the beginning of the year. Hope it encourages you as well to begin today what you may have put off in your life.
****************



"Focus"

Yes, this is my 2015 word to live out
for this year.  At first thought about the word focus, it felt a bit tight and constrained to me.  But the other day, as I was sitting and talking to God  and looking up at the treetops outside, I felt Him whisper into my soul this word.




I had been on my walk and like always when out in nature,  I forgot about the hustle and bustle of other things and my heart was bouncing with gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me.  I stopped to smell the sweet pine aroma from a small pine branch and then sat down to thank God for the refreshing moments he had just given me. It never fails.. In these moments of thanksgiving, my mind becomes flooded with so many new creative ideas. They were all swirling around in my head. "How will I accomplish these ideas Lord? How can I get them all done? Where and how do I begin? But what if ...and ...and....I don't want to be a dreamer, and a researcher and learner only with no complete action taken like I have done so many times in the past."

Then I looked up again and quieted my rambling mind and decided to just stop, wait and listen......... 
wait Lee Ann..listen...listen..

And He quietly did answer me with a whisper to my soul: 

(I recorded his whispers into my journal)


"Focus on Me my child.Give each day to me and listen for me to tell you what to do. Do not be concerned about doing it all. When you make it a priority to focus on me, I will take all of those creative thoughts and systematically show and tell you what to do that day. You can count on ME to be there and to guide your heart, mind, feet and hands each and every day.  All you need do is make me your daily FOCUS first. FOCUS on me and my whispers... 
 
I KNOW you Lee Ann.
 I am your Heavenly Father
 and I LOVE you."


A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
  Proverbs 16:9


Peace and amazing focus
 to all of YOU, my lovely blog friends!





 


9 comments:

Bevy @ Treasured Up and Pondered said...

This is beautiful LeeAnn. I'm so glad to hear from you again. And... grateful that you took the time to sit and listen. To write it all down and share.

Great reminder - here today

Come by and visit sometime when you have a chance. You've been missed!! A lot.

Kaitlin@Homemaker Design said...

Hmmm...yes, I think I needed to hear this...I will have to share these words with my husband too!! ♥


Sooooo good to hear from you - your writing speaks so often to me! I was just reading an old post of mine and I mentioned in it (it was for some fun blogging award thing) but yes, I mentioned how I think the name of your blog is so appropriate to your writing because you encourage me whenever you do write! :) Blessings to you and I hope all is well with you and yours!

Contina said...

Lovely thoughts from a lovely lady :)

Marcia said...

Indeed, my friend. I too am a dreamer, a researcher, and a learner...and what I have learned (and continue to learn) is that the "complete action" is ALWAYS taken by our Father, we're simply His instrument/vessel. We fidget with our gifts and ideas only when we LOSE FOCUS of the fact that every single one of them exists for His purposes and His glory. He is CONTINUOUSLY working ALL THINGS for our good, for His primary purpose, to usher in His Son... and He works most powerfully through us when we're not even aware of it. :)
So glad you're back.
xoxo

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

So interesting LeeAnn, he spoke to my heart a similar message back when I began painting on canvas. I had created a piece that looked a little like a Joshua Tree, so I looked it up and found out that the Joshua Tree's will only begin to branch out after it blooms. He spoke to my heart and said "You focus on blooming yourself and your art, and let me take care of the branching." So "Bloom then Branch" has become my mantra :-) All the best to you my friend.

Sandy said...

focus---years ago that was a word for me. I was going thru a very bad time and needed that. I do like that God wants us to be narrow, on the narrow path. it's safe and good and keeps us away from all kinds of wrong, bad things. and in our world today, there is so much to distract us, that 'focus' helps us to avoid that.
glad I found you--thru Susan Branch. blessings, sandy :)

Jennifer Richardson said...

Ohhhhhh, Lee Ann. Big sigh of peace.
Thank you for sharing these nourishing words.
A beautiful, beautiful thing:)
-Jennifer

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

I am months behind in reading this, yet the timing is just what I needed. Good word...I will focus on Him and He will establish my steps.
Blessings and may your creative juices flow.

jennifer anderson said...

Yes! that spoke to me