Keeping The Main Focus

It has been a while since I last wrote here, so I wanted to give a brief update on some of the exciting things that are happening in our lives. After several years of being distracted, not necessarily distracted by bad things, but taking care of business, helping with the needs of others, taking care of my mother along with my brothers, staying connected with friends, community, etc. I realize that multi-tasking is not always effective to get things done. Working on several projects, studying, exercise and swimming at the “Y”, taking care of the house and so forth. I had to step back and call a time out.

I stepped back and realized that the Lord’s will is more important than my own comfort zone and will. After much prayer over the past months and last few years, and discussions with my wife Darlene it was time to step out in faith and launch out and do what we sense is the Lord’s hand in all of this. As I mentioned recently, I don’t want to go to my grave with regrets, and make excuses to God, “I woulda, coulda, shoulda”. Recently, we decided to launch out, and step out in faith and do what we sense is the right decision with the Lord in this chapter in our lives. How can you fail if you attempt something for Jesus. There is nothing in vain when we decide to do something for Him. The seeds will be planted and the harvest will grow! We have started a new work ‘Grace Landing ‘ which is meeting in our home midweek to study discipleship. A door has recently has opened to have service on Sundays meeting at 4:PM in Norwell. We are small but are expecting great things in the coming months! This blog, ‘A One Eighty’ has been active for a few years formerly The Watering Hole Journey. We are praying and believing for the right teams that the Lord is putting in place. We know we have challenges, but it is exciting to see fruit in just a short time.

The time seems to be short and now is the time to act and move forward. Like Joshua, Moses mentored him to lead a monumental task to walk in obedience and to be strong and do not fear. Trust God through the process kid. ‘No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ‘Joshua 1:5-9 https://www.bible.com/bible/116/JOS.1.5-9.

Notice Joshua was reminded three times to be strong and courageous. Why? It was a reminder of the work that was at hand, to walk by faith and not by sight. The enemies will do everything to distract you so be ready, be aware, be present, and be led by the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Moses helped to build confidence in Joshua, yet Moses did not physically enter the promised land, he saw it at a distance from Mount Nebo. “The Lord showed him all the land ‘Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land, … ‘Deuteronomy 34:1 -3. https://www.bible.com/bible/116/DEU.34.1-3.

There are times when the things in the natural can be intimidating, but God reminds us like Joshua to stand firm and to be strong and full of courage and confidence in the Lord. ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.’ 1 Corinthians 15:58 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.15.58

Our battles are not physical, but we need to be reminded that they are spiritual. That is why Paul exhorts the believer to ‘Put on the full armor of God’ to combat spiritual warfare. “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. “Ephesians 6:10-12 https://www.bible.com/bible/116/EPH.6.10-18

This is a brief update to wrap this up and to keep you informed of what the Lord is doing. We have a Dream and a Vision, so we are daring to believe the Lord for both miracles in the lives that are touched and the fruit of spiritual maturity as disciples serving Jesus. It’s all about serving and not necessarily titles! Darlene and I are both working with our businesses. This is our ‘tent making’ as the Lord provides. We are grateful for all the prayer support and many of the new things that are happening. We are sent to ‘Go and make disciples’ to the greater Boston area and south shore and beyond. We are praying for the needs of these ministries and financial support as well. Thank you in advance for the answered prayers to see God’s work move forward in confidence and faith.

I want to encourage you to be open to what the Lord wants to do in your life. Jesus is not finished with you yet. You ministry is wherever God brings you and your work or retirement. So our prayer to you is to be open and say ‘Yes Lord’. ‘being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ‘Philippians 1:6. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PHP.1.6

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