A Day in my life #1
I wake after a night getting little sleep due to pain.
I have a head ache and my back is painful.
It is early and I know it will be pointless trying to sleep so I get up.
It is freezing and cold.
My feet are wet as I get to the house.
I try to do wiring, but everything is going wrong.
The babies have moved my tools.
A switch I take an hour putting in is not working so I have to pull it out again.
Before I finish, I have to leave and go to do another job.
Doing this job I forget to turn off the pump.
Someone I wanted to buy something off decides not to sell.
I still have a headache.
A promo I have started in order to make some money needed urgently gets no results at all.
I am cold & wet & want a shower, but can’t have one due to my back .
It is now 9am…
Driving with headache & bad back.
But not for long – we break down twice before we get to our own gate,
Then again on our street. It’ going to be an interesting trip!
We realise we forgot the cash so have to travel further to an ATM
We get to pick something up and the person is not there.
The item isn’t in as good condition as hoped for or described.
We get to another persons house and they are not there either.
My wife isn’t treating me very nicely.
My children are not being very nice to each other.
The store has none of the supplies we need so have to travel to another store.
I forget to use the fuel voucher to save some money at the servo.
My wife doesn’t get the ingredients I wanted at the shops
Every time I try to talk I get talked over, ignored or shouted over by the babies
I still have a headache
We arrive home to find a fire has started in our water pump.
It has burnt through the pump, the water pipes and some electrical wires.
I put out the fire and have to try to make it safe.
Now the electricity goes out to the caravans while my wife is trying to cook.
I spend another 30 minutes looking for the problem.
We still have to prepare & cook dinner then clean up and get everyone to bed.
My back is still very sore…
Compare this to another day:
A Day in my life #2
I get up and am able to walk up to the house.
The sky looks incredible, jagged clouds and a rich pink hue when the sun rises.
I get a number of things completed in the house – more progress & saved money
I get to see my wife & children while we have breakfast
get everything ready to head to Perth.
We pick up a ‘new’ oven and get to share about Jesus with the person and give him hope about his brother hooked on drugs
It is an amazing bargain – perfect for what we need
We stop at a garage sale and get a few amazing unexpected bargains
And get to give a tract to a Muslim & his wife.
We pick up two other bargains again leaving tracts
We get to spend some time with family and have enough money to buy lunch.
We manage to buy supplies at a discounted rate
The car gets us home without needing a tow truck or mobile mechanic…
Amazingly, God directs things so that we see a fire before it destroys a lot of our property / house.
Another 10 minutes could have been disastrous
We have an amazing night making pizzas and the ‘new’ oven looks incredible
It is a great family atmosphere and everyone helps to clean up.
The rain holds off until we have unpacked the car and have eaten.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out which type of day would be better right? Imagine what it would be like to endure a week of day #1s’ or a month or a year of them? It would be quite different than a week or month or year of Day# 2’s right?
While both sound radically different, you may be surprised to know that both describe the exact same day. I am simply focusing on different parts of that day. Recognising both, but giving priority to the good, will have an amazing impact on your day.
It reminds me of a scene in one fo my favourite movies: the Gospel of John.
There is a scene where Jesus is walking along with His disciples in a bustling marketplace. There are people everywhere and an entourage of a queen (or someone very important) is moving through the scene. Jesus hardly notices these pompous people, His gaze goes straight to a poor beggar that needed healing.
He then talks to His disciples, teaching them and healing the man. Jesus’ focus was never swayed by the things of this world – we should be the same!
Where was Jesus’ focus? Not on the rich, ‘important’, high profile people, but on the ordinary, downcast and poor. On the people He loves and came to rescue. His focus was clear from the start of His rescue mission to earth: He focused on doing the will of the Father.
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
John 5:19 (NLT)
What was the will of the Father?
But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.Isaiah 53:10
To KILL His Son!
The goal of Jesus – His focus? To go to the cross. To go to His own execution…
How much would you want to AVOID that?
Jesus was compassionate – He loved to heal – how much would He prefer to be healing someone?
Many people needed healing – but He focussed in on what His Father wanted and kept moving towards the cross, even though it wasn’t easy…His sweat like blood while He cried out:
“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Matthew 26:38-39 (NLT)
Our focus in any moment will affect what we notice, how we feel and what we do.
If we focus on our feelings, ourselves or we are triggered, we will not notice what God wants from us (or has for us), nor others who need our love and attention. We will avoid giving people the answer, the love and Truth they need. We will be looking for ways to satisfy our flesh and try to please others. Ultimately we will walk in a direction other than what God wants. Our destiny with and for Him will become fuzzy – an untenable blur.
Where should our focus be?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1-2
We keep our eyes on Jesus! Expect nothing, give everything.
You will be AMAZED!
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!Isaiah 26:3
Conclusion: Our focus will affect everything in life, the correct focus, on Jesus, will keep you in peace, anchored and holding the correct course.
Prayer: Lord, please keep our focus on You. ThankYou for keeping Your focus on Your plan of redemption, based on Your love for us. ThankYou for sending Your only Son to die in our place. May we always be available to You and experience the benefits of keeping our focus on You.
Another Day…#twoperspectives
A Day in my life #3
I wake after a night with little sleep.
I have a head ache and my back is painful before I even move.
I am awoken by a child who needs attention when I really want to be asleep.
It is early and I know it will be pointless trying to sleep so I get up.
It is freezing and cold.
My feet are wet as I walk to the toilet
The caravan annex is leaking, cockroaches everywhere.
The water pump is not working so I can’t have a shower and it is freezing.
I am behind in business, tax is over due.
There are many issues with the car and the machinery
There are relationship issues to sort and parenting issues are mounting.
Family health issues are draining.
Increased travel requirements, things are quite stressful.
A Day in my life #4
I get up and can hear the birds singing, the air smells fresh.
I am sitting by the fire, mesmerised by its warmth, and the fact that I can see so many colours.
I am surprised by the sheep who walk up next to me.
I am mesmerised by the black headed Kites and Magpies flying around
Next some of my amazing children join me at the fire, offering to help with the fire and breakfast.
My incredible wife comes out with breakfast and we enjoy a hot drink.
The warmth of Gods love seems real as we do murals in charcoal
We talk about the week and using our vehicle to travel to visit people.
We have food, shelter and even a property in a country that is free.