I started writing this yesterday and I am literally “a day late” since today is Saturday.  Nevertheless, here’s a little something to tickle your funny bone and give you a brief moment of reflection.    

One of my relative has a magnet on the refrigerator that reads “You can’t make everyone happy”… My first thought was “ain’t that the truth?” However, the statement didn’t end there. Those three little dots were followed by the words, “so concentrate on me”.  Of course, it’s meant to be funny and sarcastic (I think). 

Either way, it resonated with me and made me wonder if we sometimes view our responsibility as our brother’s keeper with a similar attitude.  We are fine with all those familiar scriptures that we like to quote and learn in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  We dutifully teach and share them with others as we see them in situations where they would be wise to remember them.  But, how often are we as quick to apply that same biblical wisdom to our own lives on a regular basis?

We are Matthew 6:33 experts, quoting the “seek ye first” scripture, but spending our entire lives seeking bigger and better.  We know we need to forgive “seventy times seventy” but our forgiveness coffers start to run dry long before we get to twenty let alone seventy.  We teach Jesus would turn the other cheek, but we live “try Jesus, don’t try me”.

I can think of many more examples, but my challenge to you today is simple.  Spend some time thinking about where you are in your “Lord, I know you are busy, but can you concentrate on me right now, moment?”

And, I’m in no way saying we shouldn’t feel comfortable going to God for our needs.  Because that is what he wants us to do. But, what about those times when we ought to consider others.  To realize that it’s doesn’t always have to be about us.  Those times we need to move past quoting the scriptures and start applying them to our lives. 

Maybe the best way to accomplish this is to remember the first part of the refrigerator magnet quote and stop wasting precious years of your life trying to please everyone and just concentrate on pleasing God.  Someone called it serving for an audience of one. When you do that, it will be a lot easier to keep the focus where it belongs.

Be Blessed, People,

Shelia