DISTRACTED

I know it's been a while since I've written.  Honestly I have not been distracted, just lost a little.  Okay distracted.  We are in the process of selling one home and moving into another and being the free spirit I am, this move, this season of my life just challenged me, which led to my distraction.  

Why does it seem that we are so distracted now days?  We have mini computers that we carry around in our pockets or purses that instantly let us know we have a message that we need to deal with right away, so we stop what we're doing to take care of that message, meanwhile we miss what's happening right in front of us.  How many times have we missed something important because of a phone call or a text or a message or an e-mail?  How many accidents have been caused by these distractions?  Better yet, how many deaths have happened because of the distractions?  How many marriages and families have been broken up over stupid distractions?  The answer for me to every one of these questions is, too many!!

We live distracted lives.  To focus our attention on one person for any length of time without being distracted by one thing or another is almost unheard of.  Trust me I am guilty of this also, you are not alone in this problem.  Living life distracted is just part of our ordinary life, isn't it?   I have sat in restaurants watching couples sitting together with each of them on their phones.  No talking, no gazing into each others eyes, nothing.  Just cell phone distraction.  Like something or someone on that phone is more important than that person right in front of us.

Distracted driving is out of control.  I can drive down the road and spot in a minute which cars have a distracted driver in control of the wheel.   Are you serious????  I just don't get it.  Nothing and no one is more important than driving that car or truck without any distractions.  I know a young girl who's life was almost ruined by distracted driving.  The guilt she lives with is unbelievable.  I will say I am proud of her because she never lied or tried to cover up the fact that she was distracted while she was driving.  

Listen we are not perfect, never will be, but we have distractions to deal with every single day of our lives, but we cannot allow these distractions to control us.  We must not allow these distractions to distract us for our family and friends and most importantly, distract us from God.

Luke 10:40   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 to help me."

Can we be so busy serving others, that we miss Jesus?  Obviously.  Jesus told Martha that she was overly concerned about waiting on Him, too worried about making sure everything was just right for Jesus and His disciples.  Jesus pointed to Mary and said she had chosen wisely.  All Mary was doing was sitting on her buttocks listening to Jesus teach.  But hold on, Martha was serving Jesus, wasn't that more important?  Wasn't it important to make sure Jesus was comfortable?  Wasn't it more important to make sure Jesus was fed?  Well obviously not to Jesus.  What was more important to Him was to see someone who really wanted to listen and learn from Him.  It was more important to believe in Him than serve Him.

It may sound strange, but we can be so busy serving God that we aren't spending time with God.  At least that is what I believe.  We can serve everywhere, helping everyone, doing good everywhere we go, yet if we don't spend time with God, our good deeds are pointless and meaningless.  

It is important to serve others, don't misunderstand me.  But we have to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen and learn from Him.  We have to allow Him to refine us and teach us and correct us.  We have to learn from Him.  We cannot be His hands and feet if we don't spend time with Him.  Ever see a pastor that is burnt out and exhausted?   Ever see a fellow believer angry and overwhelmed?   We can be so busy doing God's work that we forget about spending time with Him.

So next time before you out to serve, spend some time at the feet of Jesus Christ.   Allow Him to open your heart and mind to His word.  Allow Him to speak truth to you.  Stop being to busy doing and just be still at the feet of Jesus.