Hello blue lane friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season full of love and joy with those you love most! I also hope and pray you have a blessed and happy 2018! (Better late than never, right)?! And it’s still January so it definitely counts! I took some time to do just this! I enjoyed time with family and friends as we celebrated and reflected on 2017 and welcomed in 2018! God kept us and blessed us in so many ways in 2017 and we believe 2018 will be even greater!
I’ve purposed this year to be a year of FOCUS for me. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative all around us. Tragic events, political chaos, and this every day face paced world we live in can easily weigh us down. It’s easy to get caught up in all of this and then we find ourselves stressed, full of anxiety, fear, worry, and so many feelings God did not intend for us to live with. I am purposing in my life that I will not focus on these things. I will not allow the weight of the world to weigh me down. I will continue to be positive. I will continue to look for the good! I will not lose focus or start drifting towards the negative things going on around me! He wants me to take my focus off the things I can’t control and focus on Him and trust that He will work those things out! He wants me to STAY FOCUSED on things that make a difference. On positive, encouraging, and life changing things! He showed me that if my focus is where it’s supposed to be, I’m available to Him and He can work through me.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I started asking God how I can stay focused…and not become distracted during the times when life around me gets crazy, stressful, and sometimes messy. First, I must continue to trust that He will keep me no matter what. I must surround myself with others who have the same goals and mindset. I must love those around me like Jesus does. I need to find ways to serve because when you serve, you see just how good things are around you. You see hope. You see love. You see joy. You are blessed when you serve and put others above yourself! I encourage you to do the same today. Search yourself and ask God to show you what you need to focus on.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
Love you all and I pray blessing on each of you! ❤
XXO Alexandrea
my blue lane 