Hey everyone!
So good to be back with you for another week of Five Minute Friday! What fun to have 122 people joining us last week! Thank you to all who played along!
If you’re new, you can learn more about Five Minute Friday right over here.
This week we’re going to:
[Tweet “Join us for Five Minute Friday as we write on the prompt, FOCUS!”]
Ready? GO.
Confession: I’m easily distracted.
Not quite as bad as Dug, the dog from the animated movie, Up, (squirrel!) — but nearly.
I rarely have only one thing going at once. I’m a multi-tasking, multiple-tabs-open-at-the-same-time kind of girl. Which is useful sometimes — more often, not.
It usually means a lot of things get left undone. I start one project, walk to the other room for something related, and come out empty-handed, or set on an entirely different task. It’s rather pathetic.
I devote far too much attention to the peripheral.
I was reminded this week of the passage in Luke about Martha and her sister, Mary.
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:38-42)
I’m definitely a Martha — “distracted with much serving.” But oh, how I long to be a Mary! After all, only “one thing is necessary.” How true is that?
May God help me to set aside the distractions and focus on the one thing needed — Jesus.
[Tweet “”He must become greater; I must become less.” ~ John 3:30″]
STOP.
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This is my word for 2016 and I didn’t expect to write the post I did at all!! I love these writing prompts and just letting it flow super fast. Always surprises me what spews from my head. I love how you write and how you always have scripture on hand to keep you focused. I am continuing to learn more scripture everyday and it is exciting to be able to use it and reference it more and more without having to do a big search!! <3 You sound like me with all the windows and things going on! I can't get used to my iPad because I can't use one app at a time! LOL Oh well, I am getting better at prioritizing what's really important!
Wonderful that you got to write an Five Minute Friday post on your word for the year! Look forward to reading.
Funny how one word can evoke so many different thoughts and emotions, hey? I appreciated the honesty in your post — and I love hearing that you’re continuing to learn more Scripture every day! Praise God! Keep up the great work, with His help.
Dug (and Up!) is my favorite. I’m basically the human version of Dug. 🙂 I’m the same, very martha-like– I want to do ALL THE THINGS. And i usually flounder when I do. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Ha! Human version of Dug. I love it!
Ohhhhhh… now I see why you said you thought of me with today’s prompt. See, I totally miss the obvious (as demonstrated by my post tonight). I can totally relate to be easily distracted, even when I sit down to do my daily devotions. Which is why I wrote a prayer for all of us. I know God can help me focus–I just need to acknowledge how desperately I need Him even in that small thing. Thanks for a great prompt tonight! 🙂
Asheritah, I sincerely appreciate the focus of your website — I wanna be like you when I grow up. 😉 I love how your site has a clear purpose and intention, and your work complements your goal so well. Thank you for being a blessing!
Kate, I struggle with being a Martha to. I used to pride myself on how much I could get done and how well I could multi-task. But, like you, I’d walk into a room, come out empty, or with a new focus (temporary, of course). God has ways of slowing us down, doesn’t He? Of teaching us how to focus on Him? He has me in a place like that right now. I’m trying to focus on Him and find my peace in Him, even though I’m doing much less.
Oh, and I LOVE DUG!!!! And Up. Makes me cry every. single. time. 😉
It’s such a sad movie!
I love that you’ve acknowledged this season, Jeanne, and willingly put things aside in order to simplify and focus. Well done! May it be a fruitful time of intentional communion and direction for you. Every blessing. xx
Oh sweet Kate, you must read my FMF post. I was YOU!!! I wrote it then came back and read yours….take a minute and I promise the Lord will use it to minister to you! xoxo Hope you are feeling better.
Loved your post, Susan! Grateful for you and your ministry of words!
Multi-tasking, multiple tabs open at the same kind of girl? Me too! That’s why I forgot to comment after I read your post last night. (Thursday nights, my sweet daughter always wants to have a heart to heart, so I put my computer down DURING my FMF free write, and it scrambles my brains.)
I also want to focus on the one thing I need: Jesus.
Happy Friday, Kate.
I love how you devote your time to your daughter when she seeks your attention. You are a great testimony! Always a joy to have you with us, Betsy! Hope you’re having a wonderful week.
I love this line: “Which is useful sometimes — more often, not.” I think having kids has made me more aware of the “more often, not” part. 🙂 Great post!
Yep! Kids can do that! 😉 Thanks for being here!
Distraction is easy for me too. I have to continually press towards what is most important or I run in all directions. I feel more at peace when I am focused, but distracted in my natural bent–or could be an addiction. When I don’t want to do what I should, I am easily attracted to anything but what is good, right, and peace-giving.
Centering on the One is what will bring everything into focus.
Thank you for helping me center today.
I can relate, Cheryl! Your comment makes me think of Philippians 4:8 — “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Thank you for reading and commenting!
I am crying laughing right now, Kate! Each time I manage to join, I intentionally DON’T let myself read your post before I begin. Then I click back here, and I can’t even believe the similarities in how we hear an inspiration word and how we run with it. Down to the cartoon reference! It so confirms for me the sweetness of this community, and gives me joy at how God calls His people to challenge and encourage each other! 🙂
So funny, Angela! I really appreciated your post. Thrilled to have you with us again! Blessings on your week as you FOCUS on the things that last forever!
Kate, I loved this. It is amazing how many distractions there can be each day. If we need proof of this, all we need to do is look to see how many windows we have open at one time on our computers 🙂 Today may my focus be – – Jesus.
Yep! I’m right there with you! It’s a daily prayer I have to pray, that He would keep my eyes on Him. Always a pleasure to have you here, Joanne!
Kate, this line is convicting: “One thing is necessary”. Sounds like your recent ordeals have been times to refocus on Him. And that IS what truly matters. Thank for your sharing how it has affected you.
So true, Christina! God uses the good, the bad, and the ugly to turn us toward Him, doesn’t He? Thanks for being here!
Don’t be too hard on yourself. I think about 95% of the population is easily distracted the way you describe. It wouldn’t be such a good story to all of us if it wasn’t true to us. 🙂
I hope you are feeling better. Praying for your healing from your fall.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, Sara! Much appreciated! I am feeling better every week, thankfully!
You just described me to a tee! I hope you are feeling better!
Thanks, Kisma! I am doing a lot better — so grateful!
As a homeschooling mama to three wonderful children (who are now tweens or teens), I often feel like a volunteer firefighter in the midst of a riot–constantly putting out fires. Consequently, I usually have multiple things started but not a lot finished. Good to know I’m not alone!
Thanks for the reminder to focus on what is important.
Blessings,
Selena
That’s a great analogy Selena, and yes, I can totally relate! Right there with you homeschooling my own three … Grace to you as you continue this important work! Thanks for being here this week!
Looks like we were on the same wave length…that dog was the first thing that came to my mind, too (although I didn’t remember Dug was his name). Lord knows we all need more focus in our lives.
Lynette
So funny, Lynette! (And for the record, I had to look up Dug’s name before I wrote my post.) 😉