#getfocusedstayfocused

[benjizworship]

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Stair Master Chronicles Monday: Today's thought: DON'T GET INTIMIDATED! JUMP IN! Today, I approached the stairmaster the same as I do everyday..."I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!" It's a struggle every time to get on that machine! I'm loving the results, but I hate the process!!! So, as I approached the the stairmaster, I noticed that the only one available was the one next to my friend, Emily...the ultimate beast on the stairmaster! As I got on the machine, Emily looks at me and immediately nudges me saying, "come o... let's go!" She had already been on 49 mins on level 12! I jumped on & complained as I usually do, but Emily kept encouraging me! "You're in here everyday and you do sooooo well!"  Wow! You see...Emily was in an terrible accident in 2007 that crippled her so to where she had to learn to walk again. Emily never stopped...facing her new reality with tenacity! So I thought, "How many ppl enter church services and run away from the PRAISER?! The one with obvious scars, but will still give God open expressive praise!" Why? Because you feel intimidated! I would admonish you to JUMP IN! PUSH (Praise Until Somethin Happens) thru! Joining Emily on the stairmaster pushed me to a whole new level & motivated me to the thought "NO EXCUSES!!" #stairmasterchronicles #bc3 #getdeterminedstaydetermined #letsgo #getfocusedstayfocused #ideclare

[benjizworship]

Stair master Chronicles: ITS WEDNESDAY HUMP DAY!! The thought for today is ENCOURAGE! DON'T INTIMIDATE!! You would surprised at how far we could go if we encouraged others and not intimidate them. Yea, I know! The individual that feels intimidated probably has a lower expectation of themselves when propped up against another. But our discernment has to kick in! I always pay attention to the quiet one in the room. The one who sits at the table and doesn't feel like they belong. The one that sheepishly steps away from confrontation. WHY?!! Because that use to be me! Sometimes it's still me! There are time that I am not as confident or bold as I should be! Sometimes I just needed someone to see me! See past my fears and push (pray until somethin happens) me into expectation mode! Walk at my pace for a minute until I got it! So our prayer should become, "Lord, who can I encourage today?!" You will be surprised who shows up to join u on the journey to bigger, better, greater! #bc3 #stairmasterchronicles #getdeterminedstaydetermined #getfocusedstayfocused #winning #encourageothers

[portadownsu]

Samuel Robinson // PCSU // Focused

So hello, I'd just like to start with a shout out to Ryan Davison, before I forget, still kinda feel guilty about that... Sorry man... 

Anyhow, let's get focused. 

Going into my second SU weekend I didn't really know how to feel; I had no idea what to expect from "Focus", what if the speaker was boring and what if small group sucked? To be honest, though I was excited, I never thought it would surpass last year... 

Boy did God prove me wrong!

In a small group of 7 people named "Small Group 7" I was really encouraged and strengthened in my faith! God provided the perfect people I needed to help me refocus on Him and then challenge me to take a risk for Him! 

After each session going and talking to a bunch of strangers I now call friends about focusing on God really tested my thinking. I've learned that if we are focused on God, it's okay to take risks for him and to fail trying (something that Mark Hand expertly explained to us in Session 3). 

The risk that I need to take in my life is finding an opportunity to talk to my dad about my faith and about God. My dad isn't a Christian and has had a tough go at life. He's made mistakes and sinned, we all have, but has never found his focus on God to be forgiven... 

Mark taught that we should ask for God to break our hearts for something. I have never once tried to reach my dad, not once have I talked to him about God, not once tried to show him my faith... And the dad that I love never witnessing God’s grace broke my heart... And I'd never been focused enough to bother helping him find it.

Before I'd always been too uncaring, too distracted to try. I'm scared for rejection, scared of feeling embarrassed in front of my dad and just failing to impact him at all. But I now realise that if I don't try, who else will? When I do get a chance to explain a part of what I believe, even if it does seem to outwardly fail, I now realise that perhaps seeds were planted and what looked to have failed wasn't too bad after all. 

Within Small Group 7 God placed the right people in order to really encourage and challenge me to really find an opportunity! You all know who you are and I can't thank you enough. Though it may feel like a risk, if I keep focused on God, then what is there that can go wrong? It really is okay to try for God and potentially fail, just keep your focus on him! 

Thanks for reading! 

"Throughout thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience" - 1 Peter 3.15