Have you ever been to a familiar place and not remember getting there? You pull up to your destination and get out like you remember getting there! Your mind just knows where to go, and your brain kicks in that you do not have to pay attention because you know what you are doing and where you are going. You are still alert enough to not be dangerous on the road but relaxed enough not to think about the road you are on, the mountains you have to get across, and what town you end up in.

I cannot be the only one who has trouble concentrating on tedious tasks. I get into a rhythm of working and complete the project by automation! I go through the motions, but my mind is in a million and one places until the task is completed.

This is not the best habit to have! I also have to say I can sometimes be gullible when I am not paying attention! This is one of those times!

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

In 2010, our church did an outreach with an event for Christmas. It was called “Imagine Christmas.” This event was a massive undertaking. We didn’t sell tickets, but you had to have a ticket to get in because we didn’t want to get in trouble with the Fire Marshall (plus, it helped me as a numbers person to keep up with how many people came to the event). Over the course of three days (4 showings), there were approximately 1500 people who went through the doors of the church, excited and ready to watch.

There was so much to this theatrical event – some of the best visuals you will ever see from some highly talented people God blessed our church (along with and a few other performers we brought in from other places).

We had some fantastic local musicians that undertook some pretty elaborate scores and renditions of classic and new Christmas music. I loved the electrifying violinist. We had an indoor kite flyer, and aerialists hanging, dropping, and climbing up and down ribbons of cloth that hung from the ceiling. It was amazing! Brilliant, bright, colorful, and nothing could take away from the professional touches from hometown people! Such a great cast to put the event in its proper forum.

So, needless to say, the whole event was videoed so we could keep this incredible moment alive and so that we would watch it over and over. Everyone wanted to see it again and again!

Because there was a demand for the DVD of “Imagine Christmas,” I made 100s of them. Thankfully we had a duplicating machine at the time, and I could run off four at a time. While four were making, I would be putting on the gorgeous labels we made. I was meticulous in putting them on gently and perfectly! I didn’t want any “lopsided” or “wrinkled,” so I was super careful. To me, the presentation of anything is essential!

I was pretty proud of the assembly line I had prepared for myself to keep me on track. I worked hours (for about four days) on making the DVD and labeling them. I had done enough that my brain kicked in — you do this first, this second, and I would wrap it up by putting them in their cases. 

I had done probably 150 or so. I would be safe in saying that out of 150+, the last 140 were done out of the automation from my brain thinking on other things but getting the job done. 

I was alone in my office working, singing, and thinking about the event and how much fun it was. I smiled as I thought about how this one weekend brought our community together and inspired people to look at Jesus as the King that came to us as a baby.

I was in my own world in my office, and distantly, I heard someone coming into my “world.” It was Jay. He looked at what I was doing and then had a strange look on his face. 

It took me a minute, and I said, “What’s wrong?” He looked at me with a straight face and said, “You are putting those on upside down!” 

I know I had to have lost all the color in my face! I thought I was going to pass out! Hours and days of work! It took me a second. I looked at the DVD and then at Jay. I looked at the DVD and again at Jay, and he could not keep from laughing.

Then I realized – there was no right or wrong way to put the label on! It is a label on a round disc! 

Real funny, Jay, real funny. Burst my personal bubble, would ya! lol 

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED

I cannot be the only person who goes through times in my life I am on automation. I just go through the motions, not paying a lot of attention. I live my life the best I can for the Lord. But there are the times that I live my life without putting anything new into my life. I just go on what I know and do not add anything new that would upset the way I am doing life. I do not want to put much effort into how I walk through life. I just want to get through the day or week without overthinking things.  I am not reading scripture to make adjustments in the way I am living. I am not praying like I should to put new fire in my words when I speak to others about Jesus.  Then someone comes along and calls me out! Their voice makes me start paying attention to what I am doing.  

I want to share some insight with you that I use for myself on a daily basis (or when they apply).

• There are times I have to remind myself to just breathe.
• There are times I remind myself to keep a journal of the things God has been faithful in my life to and then go back and read It!
• There are times I remind myself that I need to make friends with the mysteries of this life. I do not have to know all the details, I just need to trust God to be there with me through life.
• There are times I need to remind myself that I am human and with humanity comes a mess dealing with life and that is ok.
• There are times I remind myself that God’s presence is there to help me and I do not have to do this life alone.
• There are times I remind myself to give thanks for the details of this day, this moment, and see what God wants to do with it.
• There are times I remind myself that the feelings and thoughts I am having and I need to invite God to join me there.
• There are times I remind myself to reflect on what is wrong, broken, or painful in my day and ask for God’s forgiveness or the strength to forgive.
• There are times that I have to look forward to the rest of my day and remind myself God is present.
• And I always want to end my day with thanking Him for His faithfulness to me.

I have learned that Jesus wants us to live a vibrant life for Him. The dictionary defines vibrant as being full of energy, enthusiasm, and passion. We cannot live our lives letting our emotions dictate the way we live as a true disciple of Jesus.

This is not a life of just getting by or a life that is mundane and never changing. We cannot live a vibrant life by going through the motions and never inspiring ourselves or other people to be full of energy and vitality for the cause of Christ! 

We have to seek after God with intention. We must remember that so many times we ask God what He needs us to do. He doesn’t need us to do anything, but love and follow him. We are the ones seeking His grace and His glory. When you feel like you’re getting off track, allow Him to correct your course.

I focus a lot on God’s purpose for my life. My purpose is not wrapped up in my emotions. My purpose is to be His child and be obedient to whatever it is He is asking of me. But first, I must be paying attention!

Here is how I know that Jesus wants more from our lives than for us to live it on automation!

1. HE WANTS TO GIVE US THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART AS WE DELIGHT IN HIM

PSALM 37:4: Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

2. HE WANT US TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD

MATTHEW 5:12: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

3. HE WANTS US TO LIVE OUR LIVES WITH GLADNESS AND SINCERITY

ACTS 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.

4. HE WANTS US TO HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE

JOHN 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

5. HE HAS GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF POWER TO OVERCOME FEAR

2 TIMOTHY 1: 7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

As we get ready to pray. Stop whatever you are doing and give Jesus your full attention. Listen to this worship song and soak in His presence that will walk right into the room with you!

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus,

Your words are unfailing. Your promises are anchors to hold us in a place of rest, in a place that You can use us. Jesus, I want my eyes to be turned on You and You alone. I do not want distractions of life to take my focus off You.

Lord, help to remember I am a child of God first and foremost. Before we can be a wife, husband, mother, father, a career person or a, stay-at-home mom or dad, or a caretaker for a family member, or I can be a true friend — I must first be YOUR CHILD. My eyes have to look to You and not focus anywhere else.

Everything is a distraction if it takes me away from You and Your purposes for my life!

Prepare me for what Your purpose for me is. As I pursue You passionately, Lord, You run hard after me!

I love You, and thank You for the privilege of being Your child!

Amen

More memories!