{"id":1283,"date":"2020-10-12T06:01:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T10:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/10\/12\/distractions\/"},"modified":"2020-10-12T06:01:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-12T10:01:11","slug":"distractions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/10\/12\/distractions\/","title":{"rendered":"Distractions."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My mom and I were sitting down watching the debate between VP Pence and Senator Harris when the question about Breonna Taylor came up. Senator Harris spoke first and went beyond her time- she was told several times her time was up, yet she still spoke until she got her point across. When it was VP Pence\u2019s then I got distracted <\/em>by a fly on the tv screen on so I thought!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come to find out it was a fly in VP Pence hair. I thought I was \u201ctrippin\u201d for a second so I asked my mom did she a fly in his head and she shook her head while laughing. I\u2019m not sure if she was laughing at the fact he had a fly in his hair on national television during a National Debate or was she shocked by the look on my face. Either way I was truly in disbelief the camera crew would not tell him that and go on a commercial break or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same way I got lost by looking at the fly verses listening to his response to the question at hand, is the same way some of us allow the tests and trials or life in general to be a distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I reflect on yesterday\u2019s sermon, I\u2019m reminded of the man of God referencing a younger gentleman. What he said stuck out to me! The man of God said he was speaking to a younger gentleman and the young man told him he couldn\u2019t go more than 45 minutes thinking about God and giving praise and thanksgiving to His name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately I thought \u201cwow!\u201d We don\u2019t take time to look at the seconds, minutes, or even the hours of how much time goes by that we stop to thank God for who He is. Or thank Him for giving us life and life more abundantly. The Bible tells us in the book of Psalm 119 verse 15, I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a people, as a community, as a nation are we fixing our eyes on our ways? Is this National Debate, this pandemic, financial hardships, health issues, this mess of all the political mumbo jumbo, etc.- are these things causing a distraction in our lives? Or are we like the young man the man of God spoke about on yesterday; do we not go more than 45 minutes without focusing on Christ? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are so many things going on around us that sometimes we get caught up in the busyness of our day. I admit as my family and I are juggling caring for my mom, virtual school, work, searching for a home, trying to scrap money together to get both of our cars fixed, trying to make ends meet, baby momma drama, etc. all of those could be very distracting. But we don\u2019t allow it to consume us nor loose sight of Who is in control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTherefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
I had given a dear friend and sweet sister of mine the good news on last week about where I am in the homeownership process. I told her I was going to write about it but then decided maybe it wasn\u2019t the right time. She understood my reasoning but then quickly stated: No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgement You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,\u201d Says the Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to my sweet friends words of wisdom I spoke life into this process and I claimed 4:13 over the situation for I know I can do ALL THINGS through Him who strengthens me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going back to being consumed by what we all have going on… Why must we worry about things out of our control, focus on the temptations, and the other what nots verses holding steadfast to our faith in Christ? Matthew 6:33 says, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then we move into the book of 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 4 talks about Christ\u2019s example in which we should follow and serving for the gory of God: For the context of today\u2019s message I want to highlight verses 12-14. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beloved, do not think it strange cornering the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ\u2019s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and if God rests upon you. 

1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Today my brothers and sisters I want us to be mindful about distractions. I want us to have that keen sense of understanding of where our focus is and where it should be. I want us to do some self assessment and look at our priorities. It\u2019s not time to look at what our neighbors are doing but to look within ourselves and reflect and make some corrections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is speaking to us all the time but with these distractions, we aren\u2019t listening for His voice. Are our ears inclined to His understanding? Are we being mindful because the devil is on the prowl. He seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. And if we are not careful that those things that are causing distractions in our lives will consume us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t know about you but I serve a jealous God. And the Word tells us that we cannot serve two masters. Don\u2019t fall prey to your circumstances but cling to the Word of God. Let praise continually be in your mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Folks join me in meditating on God\u2019s word daily. Join the young man that was mentioned in yesterday\u2019s message and rejoice in the Lord and let\u2019s go a step further; don\u2019t let a second go by without thanking God for His grace and mercy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay focused. Stay mindful. Stay prayed up. Stay gazing upon the Lord. Stay meditating on God\u2019s word daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be blessed! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My mom and I were sitting down watching the debate between VP Pence and Senator Harris when the question about Breonna Taylor came up. Senator Harris spoke first and went beyond her time- she was told several times her time… Read moreDistractions.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[74],"class_list":["post-1283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-distractions","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1179,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/03\/gazing-upon-the-radiant-star-9-3-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":1283,"position":0},"title":"Gazing upon the radiant star. 9.3.2020","author":"Whitnee","date":"September 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Change your thoughts, and you change your world.Quote by Norman Vincent Peale I got a call from my dear friend Tonya Jane and I immediately answered out of concern. 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