Focusing on What Matters

Sometimes I am guilty of getting completely bogged down with things that Do Not Matter!  It’s very frustrating, but luckily I have a wonderful and sweet husband that helps me with this. If I was not married to him I would just get stuck in those “little things” that I should NOT be focusing on.  He gently reminds me that what I’m worried about sometimes is really nothing to worry about at all.  He helps me to see what’s important.

For instance I may miss out on some really important opportunities if I’m focused on how clean my house is and how many of my to-do’s I got done today.   I may miss the chance to let my husband know how much I love him and how special he is to me.  I may miss the opportunity to talk to my kids about God, or spend some quality time with them.  I may miss the opportunity to make someone feel special or to serve someone.  I may miss something God is trying to tell me or show me.

I don’t think when my life is over I’ll ever look back and regret that I did not keep my house cleaner or that I didn’t get some things done on time.  I think I’ll look back and wish I spent more time talking with God, more time with my family and more time serving others.

I’m going to work really hard to make those things my primary focus daily and then fit the other stuff in, not the other way around!

Be The Light

We had a great Easter weekend this past weekend.   On Friday night we attended a free Good Friday celebration at the Long Center here in Austin.  It was called “For The City” and 5 churches (including ours) put it together.  It included the worship bands from each of the churches along with the pastors.   The evening included a lot of great inspiring music and 4 shortened, but still powerful, sermons.  The main theme was that we need to be good examples of Christians in our city and to serve others.  We need to be different for Christ and do all things for the glory of God.

We were reminded of what Jesus did for us on the cross and that we need to be living our lives for him, not for the world.  We, as Christians, need to be loving and kind to those around us.  We need to reach out and help as many people as we can.  We need to be the light in a dark world.

The only way we can do that is to allow Jesus to live through us, and the only way that can happen is if we die to self.  We must die the slow death to self to allow Jesus to take up full residence in our hearts and to live out his will through us. 

What can I do today to be a light in this world?  That should be the question I ask myself every morning when I wake up.