Fix those eyes.....

You know when you buy a car & then you see it everywhere.

How does that work?  Because it's legit true, isn't it?

Or you want a pair of shoes or a purse & then you see everyone around you wearing it or carrying it - almost like a weird trick, or feeling like Ashton Kutcher is getting ready to jump out & yell PUNK'D. ... oh geez... I'm showing my age.

So cue to last Saturday where I'm sitting getting my 3rd infusion treatment.  What else is there to do for 3 hours but read & check in on Instagram.

I happen to look through & right here is a picture that stopped me.

It's a beautiful picture from my photographer friend Jen.... she's really come a long way over the past few years with her love of photography & making a name for herself.

But she had a set of pictures where she was at a dog event... & this picture just made me stop & stare.  Why?

Because over the past 2 to 3 weeks, I can't tell you how many times I've come across scripture on fixing our eyes on Jesus. Where is our focus?  What am I keeping in front of me to steer me in the right direction?

Look again at this picture.

The dog is looking straight at that toy that is being tossed out in front of him.  It's the only thing that matters.  There is no second thought at jumping off the edge of this pier - not even looking to test the water to see if its warm or cold - if its too deep or shallow.  The focus is straight ahead.  That dog is on a mission.

There is a focus there that nothing can deter.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Hebrews 12:1-2

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Hebrews 3:1

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Colossian 3:1

Fixing our eyes....Focus.... fixing our thoughts... set our sights....

It's so easy to get swayed by distractions.  Whether it be our own thoughts, what others are saying, the opinions of others, or just having life whispering into your ears with all the distractions that it gives us.

But I feel like I need to keep that picture that my friend so perfectly captured....

Because I want you to look again.

Look at the man behind the dog.... the owner... the person who is tossing that toy.
He's not tossing that toy off the side causing the dog to jump into the crowd.
He's not throwing that toy to lead his pet to dangerous areas.
..Yes, he maybe throwing it a little higher & a little further to CHALLENGE the dog... but never to try & hurt this dog...

& the dog trusts his owner in all this....

I'm telling you, this picture just really shifted my own FOCUS....

To remember when my eyes are on the right things & the One who is leading me the best possible way I can go & has my best interest at heart... then leaping off the edge of something scary, shouldn't be scary any longer.  It's what we were made to do....to listen, to trust, to obey....

So I'm praying today that we all maybe shift our focus a little bit each day to the things that are important in our life, in our heart... to the only thing - the only One that truly matter.

& then I'm praying that when those BIG LEAPS off the edge happen, we do it with a solid confidence & abounding courage knowing our Father is the one leading us.