Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because,
having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life
that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
I just wanted to check in again to say Welcome to another Friday, and another weekend. I hope that you have had blessed and productive week. If not, well, we will get it next week. Tell me how things are going with you and how have you been this week? How have you been feeling and what has been going on with you?
I am praying for you today that you are doing well and that things are going well with you. I am praying that mercy, grace, love and an unending grace will keep you encouraged and strong. As always, I am sending love and warm wishes your way and hoping that you are doing well today.
As I was reflecting on my week I was a little conflicted on what word to use. You know, if you had to describe this week, what word would you use? What would you use to describe your week?
If you asked me on Monday morning, my word would have been joyful and exciting. On Monday, Sydney and Paige got up before 5:00 am and we went down to the new YMCA down from our house and "worked out." I was very impressed that they got up early on a day off from school, and that they were itching to go workout. They both did very well. Paige and Sydney walked on the treadmill for over 30 minutes, and then they jumped onto an exercise bike. Afterwards we hit Chick-Fil-A to reward our hard work, laughed and went home. I went in to work excited and quite joyful.
If you asked me on Tuesday - Thursday, my words would have been much different. I would have used words like, overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, angry, and disappointed. But, if you ask me this morning I would use one word to describe the whole week - focus. Why focus?
Well, on Monday morning, my focus was squarely where it should be. I focused on the opportunities, the blessings, the joy, and the excitement of family and friends. And so, Monday morning was an exciting day at work, and even at home things were well.
But, Tuesday my focus got out of whack. It started with worrying about the AC repair quotes, being late to work, and some other upcoming things. By Tuesday afternoon I was flung in the middle of an issue at work that was overblown and over exaggerated. Each moment, each email seemed to inflame the issue. And a face to face meeting kept getting postponed.
By Wednesday there was a full blown blame fest going on and all the parties involved were trying to "CYA" as fast as possible. Unfortunately, even I was in "CYA" mode. So instead of my focus being on Christ, my focus was on saving our collective bacon, dealing with the frustration of "poor communication and planning" and an ever growing "To-Do" list. When I finally came up for air, the next shoe dropped. In the middle of fixing issues, handling complaints, getting quotes for AC work while trying to get to work on time, approving employee items, dealing with personnel concerns, and trying to shrink the rapidly growing list of action items, I get an email that our company has decided to hire someone for the position I was hoping to continue acquire. I was hopeful that I would be able to move from interim to permanent in this position.
As Thursday morning rolled in, my focus shifted to disappointment at not being considered as the permanent replacement for my boss, and then it shifted to anger. I was angry that I was not being considered for a position and no one could give me a straight answer why not. I was also angry that I was told a few weeks ago that I was handling the transition well, but the new word is we needed someone else in the role.
My deepest apologies to my Irmo crew, because only in hindsight could I see that I was not the most tolerable person by Thursday night. I put on my best happy face, but I'm pretty sure my body language didn't say "I'm happy!"
Thankfully, this morning I hit this devotional link and realized that my problem wasn't the job, the employee requests, the repair quotes, the rain, the cold, or anything else. Instead, the issue was that my focus was off.
Sure, I was reading scripture all week, but on Friday morning I hit 1 Corinthians 13, Job 2:10, Psalm 95, and Esther 7-8. As I read I realized that my focus was on what was happening to me, and not on the one who is able to make it all turn out for my good. My focus was on the "threats and challenges" instead of the opportunities and hidden blessings. I realized my focus was on anger and disappointment instead of on love; having love for myself and love for others. Focus!
With the wrong focus, all I could see were the issues, the problems, the frustrations, repair issues and the broken promises. With focus I can see that this week was still blessed. Without it - overwhelmed in despair. With focus - overwhelmed by steadfast love, unending mercy, strong hope and the strength of His grace. I only wish I could have remembered the reminder sooner: "Don't sweat the small stuff - and it's all small stuff! - NTC"
So, this week's word was focus and to end my week I want to focus on the blessings:
- Cassarra's band received great marks (excellent and superior) at the band festival
- Sydney will get an award for her work at the science fair
- I don't know what yet, but I will focus on the achievement and recognition
- Sydney's 5th grade class wrote and open letter to area businesses
- They want to fight homelessness
- They asked businesses to donate food, clothing, money, and etc
- Trish, Ava and Emma are all cold symptom free
- And no one else has gotten sick
- And other than fatigue we are all doing pretty good
- Gabbi's foot is doing much better and she is hopeful that she will get out of the boot
- The new YMCA opened adn Sydney and Paige joined me for a workout
- Free Chick-Fil-A on Monday
- Listening to laughter at home w/ Cassarra
- She told funny stories describing March Madness and kids watching it at school
- Getting better quotes on the AC repair
- At least getting a no pressure quote was one blessing
- An opportunity to hear one sales person talk about Christ and prison ministry
- He saw the verse on the back of my truck and shared his faith
- He talked about the church prison ministry, and prayer ministry
- Gabbi was working hard on projects, study guides and improving her course work
- Cassarra stepped up and helped out with the girls
- Ice cream and leftover birthday cake
- Paige continues to show improvement with her health
- Free coffee from Starbucks on Sunday
- Being reminded to be positive
- Being reminded Tuesday - Thursday to be positive
- Finally getting it - hopefully, prayerfully!
- A great devotional on Easter, the meaning the history and the power
- Life, death and resurrection of Christ
- New Life, the Hope and Joy of Easter
- Crock-pot cook off at work on Friday
- My entry is "15 bean soup" with diced tomatoes, sausage and chicken
- The best entry so far was crock-pot hashbrown casserole
- Enjoying the worship service and the message on Sunday
- Hearing the girls recite part of the sermon on Sunday and its application
- Feeling like a worship community again
- "I'm not tell you to touch and taste" - the quote from the Sermon
- Getting back in focus before work on Friday and praying I stay in focus
- Deciding not to worry about the position at work
- Getting encouragement from some former co-workers that it will all workout for my good
- Meeting the actual candidate, who ironically, actually played basketball with me a few months ago
- Losing two close basketball games on Wednesday, but winning the last two in big fashion
- Filling out a bracket in the tournament challenge
- I'm clinging on to my 27.2% chance of winning
- Taking it with a grain of salt that several Cinderella team's spoiled my bracket (Thanks UCLA and GA State)
- Seeing pictures of the snow in Baltimore and being thankful that I don't have to shovel snow
- Although I wouldn't mind one snow day before summer
- Getting a chance to write again this week
- Working on a devotional
- Thinking up new poetry
- Pizza night was early this week
- A nice dinner last night with the family
- We made ranch turkey sliders on Hawaiian roles
- We (Sydney and I) had Tilapia fillets
- And a great week always includes good dessert
- Cake & Ice Cream
- M & M's
- Warm Cinnamon Rolls
- Bomb Pop Popsicle
- A new era and phase at work that can bring new and better opportunities
I hope you had a good week. Thanks for listening to me wrestle with understanding, faith, and worry. And thanks for helping me always return to center - Christ. I hope you were able to keep or get your focus back on the things that truly matter. And I hope you spend your whole weekend focused on enjoying your loved ones, enjoying your friends and family, and enjoying time with the One who loves you best and most. Have a great day and an amazing weekend. And...
Welcome to Friday
Cassius
God, when we feel like the rain is too much,
send us the Son.
Show us how the rain will bring about new life, refreshment and blessings.
May our focus be steadfast on Your face
and the promises you have for us.
Amen.
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