{"id":2561,"date":"2025-04-08T14:47:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T18:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/distracted-by-all-the-preparations\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T14:47:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T18:47:37","slug":"distracted-by-all-the-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/distracted-by-all-the-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Distracted by all the preparations."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Hebrews 4:16<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
I had been wrestling with  message that God placed on my spirit since hearing a Bible Study by Dr. Lovely Rahming on March 7, 2025 that was in response to a Women\u2019s Conference: I Survived It. Dr. Rahming shared so many nuggets that instead of me focusing and quieting myself, I got quickly (what I thought was being overwhelmed) distracted. You see God had given me something that He placed on my heart for what I thought was for others but I\u2019m here to tell you that it wasn\u2019t meant for others. The message God gave me, was for me! And instead of focusing on the jewels in front of me, I took my focus on what God was saying to me through Dr. Rahming and because of that I missed the mark! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So over the next few weeks as I wrestled with \u201cputting a devotional out there\u201d, I quickly grew frustrated because of all the \u201cbusyness\u201d. In fact it seemed that at times things were going so fast paced I couldn\u2019t keep up and again I thought I was overwhelmed. It wasn\u2019t until I listened to Steven Furtick entitled, \u201cYou\u2019re Not Overwhelmed. You\u2019re Distracted,\u201d that I realized I was allowing certain things that I could have honestly redirected to other people to help me stay focused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cStop putting pressure on things that rob your peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steven Furtick<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I had to listen to that sermon 3 or 4 times in different sittings to really dig in to what the Lord was saying through this man of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of asking God to allow me to have quiet moments where life wasn\u2019t so busy, I had to learn to be more adaptive and learn to dance in the rain! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Dance or Die!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steven Furtick<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
After spending some much needed time in God\u2019s word, I decided to read up on Martha of Bethany, her sister Mary, and brother Lazarus. When you have some time I urge you to read for your own understanding Luke chapter 10 (memory verses 38-42) and John chapter 11 (memory verse 27). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t until I had my own \u201cMartha Martha\u201d moment that I realized that what God was saying to me on March 7, 2025 through Dr. Rahming, He was trying to get my attention to take heed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ya\u2019ll one of my favorite sermons that I remember and took good notes from at NST was about Peter in the boat. Scripture reference that day was from Matthew 14:22-32. Verse 30 reads, But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, \u201cLord, save me.\u201d Verse 31 reads, Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, \u201cO you of little faith, why did you doubt me?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m sure we have all had our moments in life were like Peter we take our eye off of Jesus. We allow the distractions of social media, children, marriage or relationship, cooking, work, sports, washing the car or whatever else to take away where we should be focusing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I admit the last few months I\u2019ve been so overwhelmed it is hard to breathe at times. No one would probably know besides the ones in my household but at times I felt like I was suffocating. Suffering financial hardships where you don\u2019t see the end of financial strife can be suffocating. Transparent moment: I\u2019ve picked up a part time job that I believe was given to me by God (something I want to do) but so distracted by the financial needs that I began to resent certain things and out of frustration got wrapped up in the financial side of things instead of continuing to thank God for His answer to prayer.) <\/em><\/strong>My full time pays the bills but this additional part time along with Dolly\u2019s House of Clothing Ministry, Inspiration All Around Me, and Spry\u2019s Durty Kitchen are my passion\/they are the reason I do what I do! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going back to Steven Furtick\u2019s saying of \u201cDance or Die,\u201d my actions were showing I\u2019m going to dance but on the inside I was dying just a little bit daily. It wasn\u2019t until I was re-introduced to a beautiful child of God by the name of Veronica Walker (thanks Mr. Richard Hammond for the connection) that I had a personal \u201cMartha Martha\u201d moment. Verse 41-42 of Luke 10 says, But the Lord answered her, \u201cMartha, Martha, are you anxious and troubled about many things,\u201d but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can\u2019t remember what Ms. Veronica Walker said but it was a \ud83d\udca1 moment and God humbled me in this moment. God allowed me to just STOP GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS and \u201cbeing busy\u201d and He allowed me to have the opportunity to be in communion with Him. I\u2019ll never forget my encounter with Ms. Walker and I\u2019m forever grateful that she took the time to bless me with her presence, her time, and her donations to Dolly\u2019s House that put some pizzazz in the Boutique.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like Martha I am guilty of trying to things right and sometimes to perfection that I loose sight of the person I\u2019m doing it for in the first place. While I do not do anything to impress folks or for a pat on my back, I get caught up in wanting things to look a certain way that it causes worry and stress and unnecessary anxiety that robs me of the peace, joy, and happiness from serving God. In studying I see that Mary didn\u2019t worry about the house this particular day, how the table was spread, or how the food tasted\u2026no she sat at Jesus\u2019 feet and listened to Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scholars say that Martha was guilty of being \u201ctoo hospitable\u201d and she was angry with Mary and wanted Jesus to tell her to do something because she was mad she had to do all the cooking and cleaning and preparing for Jesus\u2019 visit. I\u2019M GUILTY 10000000 percent! <\/em><\/strong>I loose sight and miss the mark plenty of times. I think of how many times I have cooked a meal and too busy making sure it tastes superb that I do not sit down with the people I love to enjoy the meal and take time to fellowship. I\u2019m so focused on cleaning up that it takes the joy of why the \u201cmess was created\u201d in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again going back to Steven Furtick\u2019s message, I\u2019m not overwhelmed, I\u2019m distracted by things that simply are not as important to God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWhen you refocus, God refills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steven Furtick<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Time with Ms. Veronica helped me to see it was for me to refocus. It was time for me to reset and set aside the things that were robbing my peace and that time that God wanted me to set aside to be with Him. Our God is a jealous God and I\u2019ve experienced Him getting my attention in several ways the last week that included my carpel tunnel acting up to the point I can\u2019t text, I can\u2019t write, I can\u2019t respond\u2026I\u2019ve had a migraine that forced me to send the phone to voicemail instead of always being the person that is readily available for everyone in their time of need, and then let\u2019s not talk about finances (I digress?!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be careful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeming someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while; the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 5:6-11<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Lesson learned: Slow down, say \u201cno\u201d, don\u2019t get overwhelmed by things that are distracting you from spending time with God, not all distractions are bad, it\u2019s not about self, it\u2019s not our timing or our plan but ONLY ABOUT GOD\u2019S WILL AND HIS TIMING, it\u2019s okay to have characteristics of Martha because Jesus loved and adored Mary of Bethany, it\u2019s okay to be who God created you to be, don\u2019t change for anyone, it\u2019s okay to be busy BECAUSE GOD created rest for us to refuel, refocus, and get back to it. These are all things I\u2019ve known but again it was the time I spent with Ms. Veronica Walker that allowed me to really hone in on what God was saying FOR ME! He said it to me for me! I had to be selfish and sit on this one as I feasted in His Word. So grateful for the time with Him. I pray that I\u2019ll never be so busy with day to day things that I\u2019m not intentional on prioritizing and focus only on God with tunnel vision. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you Lord for allowing me to cast my anxieties on You and for caring for me ever so tenderly. Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy. Thank you God for speaking through folks like Lovely and Ms. Veronica and for folks who help me to do Your will. God decrease Whitnee\u2019 and increase You Lord so folks know it\u2019s not nor has it been nor will it ever be about Whitnee\u2019 but all honor and glory is due to You dear God. Heavenly Father, help me to be a better servant to You, help me learn healthy boundaries of what it means to balance life, worship, family, work, friends, and being hospitable. Lord God I need Your help in moments when I am weak and easily anxious or distracted, help me to focus on You and the task You have given me so I can be of Your service. Heavenly Father thank you for parents that dedicate their lives to You and gave me the blueprint for what it means to be of Your service. Lord God thank You for allowing me to see that even in the midst of grieving, sickness, pain, financial hardship, even cancer Lord that You blessed my sweet mom, Willia Davis, to do Your will. Thank you God for giving me her Lord Jesus and I ask for forgiveness when I was young and ignorant and didn\u2019t understand her servant heart and took her for granted. Lord I thank you for the many \u201cMartha Martha\u201d moments you\u2019ve given me and I ask for forgiveness when I missed the mark and not understanding what it was you were saying because I was distracted and lacked focus or understanding. God you are my priority, it is You who I serve and only You and I vow never to put anyone or anything before You again. Lord I surrender all to You Lord, I give you my all and I give You my entire heart and my Yes! <\/em>Like Tasha Cobb said, \u201cFor Your glory, I will do anything.\u201d I want to be where You are Lord, I gotta be where You are. You are my peace. You are my joy, you are my hope for tomorrow. I love you Lord, I worship You Lord, I need you Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I come to a conclusion I want to leave you with my notes from Dr. Rahming\u2019s message: <\/p>\n\n\n\n