Where's Your Focus?

I started a blog this morning on something that really had me irritated, something that I really felt a need to vent about.  The words flew fast a furious from my fingertips and I felt like that blog was gonna turn some heads and I was going to feel so much better when I was done.  In mid blog, I had to stop writing to run something to a friend, so I hit the save button and jumped in the car.  On the ride there, words and phrases of what I wanted to add to my article swirled in my head and I couldn't wait to tell my friend what I was "chatting" about in the blog.  A dear sister in Christ and one of my biggest supporters, I was sure that she would be excited about it.

After exchanging warm hugs, we sat to talk a bit and when she asked what I had on the agenda today, I started to tell her about the blog.  I opened my mouth and as I started to tell her what I had written, I began to find it increasingly harder to get the words out of my mouth.  I had forgotten the gist of my writing and some of the key points I had written about; my mind was blank.  The more I "tried" to talk, the more tongue tied I got and the more ridiculous what had me irritated sounded.  My sweet friend said to me, "Go home and re-read what you have written and see if you still want to post it."  Huhhh. Not the encouraging words I was expecting but okay. 

The thoughts that swirled around in my head on the ride home were far different from the hurricane of words I had before.  Now, gentler, softer, thoughts floated in my brain and a silent reminder that I had not ask God to guide my thoughts the first time I started to write. The words that flew from my fingertips were not inspired by the Holy Spirit.  They were inspired by the sin of anger; they were self-serving and not in the least encouraging.  Not what I intended this blog to be.

So I opened my laptop and hit the delete button; closed my eyes and prayed for His guidance.  What I heard was focus on the good.  That's it! Focus on the GOOD! I had gotten so embroiled in the one incident that irritated me that I had completely lost track of the good. So here is the GOOD:

This past Saturday I participated in the Rally for RAACE, a motorcycle ride to support the RAACE Foundation, an organization that brings awareness to child abuse, both physical and sexual.  RAACE stands for Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere.  Last year was the first year I participated in the Rally and despite a very cloudy, misty day I so enjoyed being a part of it and could not wait for this years event to come.

The first GOOD of that day, was that the event left from the parking lot of my church home.  GOOD, one because that's my home, but Really GOOD because it brought potentially non-churched people to the campus to see that God loves bikers too!

The second GOOD was that despite the rainy and cold week preceding the Rally, Saturdays weather was glorious! God blessed this event with bright sunshine and warm temperatures! It's so much more fun to be on a motorcycle in the sun than in the rain!

The third GOOD of the day was that almost 200 motorcycles showed up to support RAACE and raise money for this organization.  200+ bikers united in the cause of protecting our children!

The fourth GOOD was that everyone who rode the 56 mile trek through Harford County made it to our final destination safely!! God had obviously sent an army of angels to protect 200 motorcycles through busy intersections and merging traffic.

The final GOOD and I would have to say this is more of a GREAT than GOOD, it that for the 7th year, despite obstacles, the Rally for RAACE was successful and has brought the message of the RAACE Foundation to the forefront- Protect Our Children!

See, the master of disaster, Satan, can and will wreak havoc wherever he can, to stop the progression of GOOD.  The obstacles and distractions that arose were designed to take the focus of the Good and purpose for the rally but fortunately the GOOD that God had planned won out. This is no different for our thoughts.  I was so guilty of that this morning.  All I was focusing on was the irritants and the GOOD had become blurred. I almost allowed the deceiver to trick me into using my blog for the very opposite of what it was intended to be used for. If we choose to focus on the negative in any situation, negative is what we will get and we will be robbed of the joy that is intended! Focus on the GOOD and the bad don't seem so bad anymore! Change your focus....Focus on the GOOD!

Until next time...I my focus is clear,
God bless,
Cat

PS: Visit www.raace.org for more information on the RAACE Foundation.