Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Choices

I am in Florida this week. I won't say much about the temperature outside, because I know that many of my readers are in snowy situations as you're reading. Let's just say I am enjoying some quality time with my parents this week and we'll refrain from focusing on the weather.

Instead, we'll focus on choices. I got the idea from my seatmate on the plane on my way to Florida. I sat by a nice lady who was going down to spend some time with two friends. I can't believe I didn't even find out her name, but we had a really nice conversation. When she heard that I write a blog, she suggested I write about choices. I don't remember exactly how she worded it, but it was something like "everyone makes choices." She observed that even when we do not do something, that's a choice. I wish I had written down what she said. Anyway, the word "choice" has stayed with me ever since then.

I'm thinking about different aspects of my life and considering choices I've made in each of them. Sometimes I have made a choice not to do something and have had to deal with the guilt and stress of unfinished tasks (like Christmas cards that will soon become Valentine's Day cards). I think about relationships and realize that I have made a choice to put work into some relationships and I have chosen to let others become neglected.

Marriage is a good place to practice good choices. I remember a phrase we heard in a class we took a long time ago. "Every day we choose to love, and every day we choose not to love." Remember that the choices you make can make your marriage stronger or break it down. Even choosing to not do anything when you know something needs to change is a choice. Think about your relationship with your spouse and see if you need to make some better choices. 

As Christian women, we have lots of choices to make. We need to choose what to eat, what to wear, what to spend our time on, what to watch on TV, what to read, who to spend time with, and who to serve. That's the most important choice we'll ever have to make. Will we serve our own selfish desires or will we make choices that prove that we serve the Lord?

I hope all of us can focus a little more on the choices we are making (even by doing nothing) and make sure they are good choices.  

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

Are you making good choices? Are you neglecting to do something important because you are afraid or unsure about how things may change? How can focusing on God help you to make good choices and be strong enough to follow through?

Focus Friday:Let's Focus on Wisdom

It's very late as I write this week - in fact, it's almost another "Sorry Saturday." Truth is, I almost forgot about Focus Friday this week. I had a busy day getting ready for our youth group lock in tonight at The Corner (Allison's youth center). It started at 6:30 and will end tomorrow morning at 6:30 when all of those bleary eyed kids head for home. I spent the first part of the evening there, but I decided to head home at about 10:30 and get some sleep in a little while. 

My gut told me that this wasn't the year to stay up all night. So, even though a part of me wants to be up there with the kids and other sponsors, I think I'm doing a wise thing. I think if I stayed up all night it might be hard to get through the rest of the weekend with a good attitude. You see, I'm still getting through the depression that was so bad a couple of months ago. I feel much better, but I still feel pretty down some days. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a thinking problem or if the doctor has to do some more tweaking with the medicines I'm on.

Doing the wise thing isn't always easy. Even though I know it's probably best for me, I struggle with what other people think. Will the other sponsors think I'm just trying to get out of my responsibilities? (I'm sure they won't - they're very understanding) Will Gary miss my help throughout the night? (He will - but he can rely on the other sponsors this time) Will the kids think I don't care about them? (I sure hope not!)

I'm going to push all of those worries aside, get a little sleep, and head back up to The Corner bright and early tomorrow morning with breakfast for the group. Hopefully they all make it through the night and have lots of fun.

I think focusing on wisdom is good for all of us. Wisdom and discernment help us to make good choices when we are faced with decisions. The wise choice may not always be easy, but it will usually bring us peace and blessings in the end. 

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." (Ephesians 1:17 NIV)

Do you make wise choices? How can focusing on God give us the courage to make wise choices when we're worried about what other people may think?