FoCuS by Amanda Williams

I went to a Beth Moore conference a few years back.  It was awesome, as anticipated and expected.  She said her goal was for every woman to get one word while attending the conference.  One word from the Lord.  One word of divine inspiration.  

That's pressure in my book.  

What if I was the one woman out of thousands who left saying, "I got nothing."?  Honestly, I wasn't sure I could take a nonresponse.  But my God is faithful and . . . honest.  So, yeah, I got my word.  In the spirit of transparency, I was a bit annoyed at first.  I've been told my one word by my sweet husband for most of our married lives.  And, usually, him implying this will at best get an A plus eye roll and one stomp of the foot.  However, when my Abba Father echoes this in resonating whispers in a packed auditorium filled with the Holy Spirit, I tend to reign in the eye rolling and feet stomping.   My word: FOCUS.  Sigh.  (I did sigh as I wrote the word over and over again in my little notebook.)

Most days, I'm scatterbrained at best.  And it's a weird kind of scatter.  I'm a high-achieving, driven, decision making, fire and then look after the smoke clears kind of girl.  I get a lot done but am all over the place most of the time doing a little here and a little there . . . And then at the end of the day, POOF, miraculously, things are done.  But, that is not always a good thing.  I skim.  I skim when I read.  I skim when I talk.  I skim when I listen (embarrassing, but true).  I skim when I talk to God.  My word(s): Enough with the skimming . . . FOCUS.  Focus, Amanda.  Focus.  

F-First things first, Read or listen to God's Word--every day, no matter what!  Before coffee and before working out.  Oh, my.  This is going to require me to roll over, grab the reading device or Bible and Focus.  Not saying the first thing in the morning approach is the only one or right for everyone, but I believe glancing at Jesus in the morning allows me to fix my gaze on Him during the day.
O-Obedience--My Heart, My Soul, My Mind, My Body . . . Really, it is all His.  I need to treat what is not mine with RESPECT.
C-Cling to truth, but let God do the judging.  He sees the beginning, middle, and end of every soul He created.  I only see the kaleidoscope version.  Father, teach me to appreciate the beauty of reality while representing the hands and feet of Jesus.
U-Unrestrained demonstration of Jesus' love.  How awesome is it to wake up every day and the most important item on my to-do list is to show LOVE to those I encounter?  Really?  Lord, what would you have me do?  Love.  Lord, what about . . .?  Love.  Lord, but you know . . ?  Love . .  . Ok,   I'm gonna love.
S-Seize every moment of every day as a blessing, remembering the life God has granted me and the purpose behind it.

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