Saturday, November 06, 2010

Sunday Reflections




Country Church Sevierville, Tenn
Mary and her camera - Flickr


I saw this cute little country church and I found myself thinking of generations past, simpler times and  how our lives are so very different today. We have all of the modern day conveniences and  technology that past generations could not even imagine and yet our lives are more hurried, stressed and hectic than ever. We have so many things to distract us from our tasks and even from His plan for us.
How can we deal with these distractions?

Distractions happened all the time in Jesus ministry. The difference in the way he handled distractions and the way we do is that he just worked the distractions right into the main focus of his life! He didn't see them as distractions but opportunities.

Matthew 19:13-15
Some children were brought to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples told them not to bother him. But Jesus said "Let the children come unto me.Don't stop them!For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

How can God use distractions?
Exodus 3:1-4
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law,Jethro...Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bus. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up..."Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this." When the Lord saw that he had got Moses attention, God called to him from the bush.

Moses was just out on an ordinary day doing his ordinary job.God used the bush, a definite distraction to get his attention.

Acts 9:3-4
As he was nearing Damascus on his mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

God can use distractions to refocus our sights on his ways, distracting us from our ways. Paul was on his mission to persecute Christians when God got his attention with a distraction that was even harder to ignore than Moses' burning bush and changed the course of his whole life ( and the lives of many others to this day)

A promise from God...
Hebrews 12:13
Mark out a straight path for your feet.Then those who follow you though they are weak and lame,will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

Lord, help me to stay on a straight path with my eyes always on you. Help me use the distractions that come my way for your good and ignore the ones that can not be used for your glory. Dear God, give me the wisdom to see and understand the difference.


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18 comments:

  1. Dearest Annette... this is so true.. i never thought about it in terms of distractions... well i constantly need these divine distraction...

    Blessings,
    Ruth

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  2. I'm thankful that He changes my direction with distractions at times. No telling where I'd be. Thank you for sharing such Truth.

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  3. This is so true! Distractions...they do cause a problem.
    kim

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  4. this is such a rich and inspiring post. i love your
    idea of how the Lord distracts us back to him and
    the verse from hebrews is so great for young moms!

    blessings,
    lea

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  5. Oh Annette...how I needed to read this today. There is something going on in the workplace that is causing major distractions, and this post will help me focus on God, instead of the situation.
    Thank you so much.
    God Bless you.
    Debbie@houseatthelake

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  6. Annette,

    You are such a special person. Thank you for such a thought-provoking post. La

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  7. I truly enjoyed the read, so true.
    Much Joy & Blessings,
    Virginia

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  8. Those were such lovely words. Thank you for posting it for this Sunday.

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  9. A wonderfully helpful perspective on things that can distract us. I'm going to work on turning them into opportunities. Blessings.

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  10. Wow! What insight into Scripture and life. This is really,really good. Thank you.

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  11. It is so true that we live in a very hurried fast environment. I think it must have been much easier to focus on what was important back in the "old days" and yet, they had to work so much harder without the modern conveniences that maybe they were as distracted as we are. Anyway, this is a thought provoking post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  12. When I see churches like this in the country it just reminds me to be still and to slow down.Thank-you for sharing this adorable country church today.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  13. I once heard of a pastor who was constantly interrupted and distracted from what he thought was the Lords important business he should be attending to.

    One day he finally realized that people interrupting him was the ministry that God had called him to do.

    From that day forward he viewed interruption and distractions as his personal ministry to help others.

    It's all a matter of perspective...the Lord's perspective.

    ~Ron

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  14. Wonderful observations - thank you for sharing them so beautifully. laurie

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  15. What a lovely post Annette. I recently visited the church where my great-great grandparents attended and are buried and the simplicity of life back then struck me also. It was a hard life but not near the distractions we have today. Such a pleasure to visit with you tonight.

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  16. I love country churches...there is just something special and serene about them...Very insightful post. God bless your week.

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  17. I enjoyed your sharing that neat little church. All your inspiring words went very well with it.

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read each and every one.
Have a blessed day!
Annette