WHAT'S YOUR FOCUS?

It was upon the unplanned, but much welcomed, pregnancy with my son that I began to realize the first of many truths that I would come to know in Christ.

At this stage in my life, I was far from knowing Christ, let alone being in a relationship with Him. But in hindsight, He was there beside me speaking softly to my heart.

I began to realize that the more I focused on other people's needs the more the pieces of my life puzzle naturally fall into place. As I struggled to recover from frontal lobe brain damage from a serious motor vehicle accident, I spent a lot of time thinking about how pitiful my situation was.

My first and strongest motivation to change my life was the baby inside of me. All of a sudden the focus was not on me anymore, I was responsible for another life. In my mind I had purpose again. My focus slowly shifted from how pitiful my life was to how much I wanted to teach my unborn child. I desired to teach this child the importance of not giving up. The importance of integrity, the importance of being responsible, honest, trustworthy, faithful, good, patient, kind, loving and the list goes on. I wanted to
inspire my child to face life head on and thrive each day of his life.

Enter my savior who quietly and discreetly planted those seeds of desire in my heart along with a pinch of conviction. Okay, maybe not a pinch of conviction. It was more like a blast of conviction.

Then it dawned on me.

How could I possibly teach my child to have these qualities if I didn't believe in them strongly enough to live them myself? How can a depressed, dishonest, deceitful, irresponsible, criminally minded mother teach her
child to be the exact opposite of all that? The truth is I couldn't do it.

In Matthew 19:26 (NLT) Jesus reveals that, "Humanly speaking it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Let that sink in for a minute. Everything is possible.

Here's the best part. It wouldn't be until years later that I would pick up a bible and subsequently ask Jesus to be my personal savior. But in those early days of seeking change-- God was there. Each stage of my son's life and
development marked a turning point for me. As he grew, I became more conscious of him watching me and witnessing my lifestyle. Somehow I was able to make the necessary changes in my life that allowed me to teach my son how
to have integrity, how to be honest, trustworthy, good, patient, kind and he list goes on. God made the impossible happen in my life by listening to my heart. And He did all this despite the fact that I was not yet in relationship with Him.

Several years later as I began to purposefully seek Jesus in the Bible and grow in my desire to know Him, I began to realize just how much of a presence God had in my life all along. The magnitude of this realization literally brought me to my knees. Who pours that kind of love into the life
of a sinner who refuses to give credit where credit is due?

God does.

THE SOUND OF GRACE

I'm sure you'll agree that one of the greatest (and most familiar) hymns of the church is Amazing Grace, written by John Newton. I don't believe there has ever been a song written that captures the very essence of the transforming power God has over our lives as believers quite like that hymn.

However, I must admit that as a child, every time I would hear this hymn sung in church, there was one phrase that would always leave me confused. Just didn't make much sense to me.

"Amazing Grace, How Sweet The Sound, That Saved A Wretch Like Me..."

Wait just one minute! Did anyone hear what I just heard? Amazing Grace...How Sweet The Sound? Huh?

Every time I heard that phrase I would look up and around at all the grownups singing, just to see if anyone was as puzzled as I was. Never found one.

Finally, I mustered enough courage to ask someone. But not just anyone.

I went to see Leola Ford. She was one of the senior members of our church's choir.

Leola was somewhat of a source of inspiration for our church, and especially for me. Strangely enough, it was not because of her singing. But rather it was because Leola Ford was blind.

After service one day, I asked her a question that my inquiring mind just had to know. She seemed like the right person to ask.

The Question: Does grace have a sound?

I remember the look on her face like it was yesterday. But more importantly, I remember the answer she gave me. It is one that has stayed with me for quite some time. Leola reached out to locate the top of my head, and as she gave me a few light pats, she leaned over and whispered these words:

"Live A Little Longer. You'll Hear It."

While it didn't make sense to me then, fast forward several years, and I now understand exactly what she meant. Grace indeed has a sound.

It's the sound my minivan made last week, just as I slammed on the brakes to avoid colliding with that metal object that flew off the back of a truck in front of me.

It's the sound of my wife's 87-year old grandmother blowing out the candles on her birthday cake last month, as she endures the inconvenience of dialysis treatment every week.

It's the sound my new neighbor's keys make, as she opens the door to a home that someone else last summer no longer had the money to keep.

The sounds of grace are all around us.

If we could ever (as believers) become blind to some of the things we complain about regarding our lives, and open our ears towards a faithful God, we may be surprised to discover a symphony of grace and salvation.

God's grace is more than amazing.

It's the sweetest sound I know.

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15

The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same.

A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.

When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.

Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace.

It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving.

None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt.

Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party.

It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.

The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroadswhere you find yourself.

Choose grace instead of bitterness.

Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.