2008-08-27T15:36:44-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com http://www.gospel.com/feeds/topics/focus http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Hindrances/No-Conquest-Without-Risk-4387 2008-08-27T15:36:44-05:00 It doesn't just apply to reaching the top of a mountain - it pretty much describes everything worth doing in life. No risk, no meaningful conquest - a triumph without glory. Low risk, low return. High risk, high return. It's a principle that defines spiritual greatness - or spiritual mediocrity. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Slipping-Out-Of-Focus-4393 2008-08-27T15:32:42-05:00 Now what you focus on in any given situation will determine your attitude and ultimately your response. It's important that you fill up your lens with the right thing, that you ultimately, of course, focus on Jesus, not on the circumstances. But your heart and your mind are a lot like my camera: you can't just focus once and leave it set there and think it will stay there - the picture keeps changing. You have to get back in focus for each new situation. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Seeing-what-isn-t-Working-4202 2008-08-25T13:04:36-05:00 Our grandson basically ignored the lights that were working - all he could see were the ones that weren't working. Sadly, there are grownup people who live most of their lives that way - they look right past the things that are working and choose to focus on the things that aren't working. So they're often frustrated, discontent, unhappy, critical. And when we're like that, I guess we become "negatologists" - people who major on the negative. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/The-Good-News-About-Your-Roller-Coaster-4267 2008-08-21T11:31:39-05:00 No matter how scary a roller coaster may be, no matter how radical its dips and twists and turns, there's good news - it's always attached to the track! Of course, you don't even have to enter an amusement park to know what it's like to ride a roller coaster. Most of us can testify that life is a roller coaster - ups and downs and twists and turns that surprise us, rattle us, frighten us, and even make us want to bail out. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Personal-Power/Full-Speed-Ahead-in-the-Wrong-Direction-4298 2008-08-21T10:39:26-05:00 I hate to say it, but I think I've done that with God sometimes. Probably you have, too. God has some stern words for those of us who tend to be pretty strong-willed, determined-to-get-there kind of people. Being determined, goal-oriented, full of drive can be a great, even God-given, thing. But it's all too easy for us to go darting out of the driveway and proceeding full speed ahead in the wrong direction. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Looking-Backwards-4113 2008-08-18T16:15:40-05:00 Unfortunately, a lot of people live their lives like the people on that roller coaster - always looking backwards, looking at where they've already been instead of where they're going. And that pretty much guarantees that your life is going to be a roller coaster ride! http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Avoiding-A-Fall-4177 2008-08-14T12:32:11-05:00 Tino Wallenda says that he has found that his grandfather's secret for not falling off the high-wire is also the secret for keeping your balance in life - concentrating on something that never moves. For him, that is Jesus Christ. He's made the right choice. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Relationships/The-Others-Factor-4083 2008-08-01T15:29:05-05:00 It's interesting how responsibility can change the way we live - or how it should change the way we live. Like a certain skiing father I know, you do some things differently when you start thinking about how it could affect people you care about - people you very appropriately feel responsible for. In essence, you start living God's way when you no longer approach life as if it's all about you. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Personal-Power/Sending-Ammo-to-the-Enemy-3841 2008-07-30T16:23:08-05:00 If you are more and more getting life revolving around you, if you're becoming more and more self-seeking, self-promoting, self-centered, the devil has you exactly where he wants you. It's exactly where he was just before he was expelled from heaven. Now, before the fall, "humble yourself under God's mighty hand". It never has been all about you. It's all about Him! http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Personal-Power/When-You-re-Tired-of-Climbing-3847 2008-07-30T16:17:41-05:00 It could be that you're climbing a pretty steep slope right now. It's been a long climb - and as you look ahead, you've still got a long way to go - maybe spiritually, maybe emotionally, maybe in getting through a time of great pain or need - maybe in working through some family problems. And right now you're battling some discouragement, some feelings of giving up, some deep weariness. You're discouraged by how much is left to do - the amount of ground you still have to cover. And it may be bringing you to standstill.