Posts with the tag “focus”

Don't Major in the Minors
by Delman Coates on September 3rd, 2024
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."- Matthew 23:23    Jesus had a powerful way of cutting through the noise to reveal what truly matters. In Matthew 23:23, He confronts the religious leaders of His ...  Read More
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Shift Your Focus
by Delman Coates on July 9th, 2024
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."- Genesis 50:20   I want you to understand something today: if you never heal from what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who never cut you. Jesus understood that His assignment wasn’t to bleed "on" people but to bleed "for" them. For Jesus, this shift came in the form of asking no...  Read More
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Try Not to Take It Personal
by Delman Coates on July 8th, 2024
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."- Colossians 3:13   Healing after being hurt is tough because our natural inclination is to take it personally. This is where all those “how could they do this” and “how could they hurt me like that” thoughts come from. But by stepping back and gaining some perspective, we ...  Read More
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Determined Focus in the Face of Distractions
by Delman Coates on June 28th, 2024
"When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." - Luke 9:51    In the journey of life, distractions are all around us, threatening to pull us away from our purpose and hinder our progress. Yet, in Luke 9 we see Jesus serves as the ultimate example of determined focus in the face of distractions. His unwavering resolve teaches us how to navigate the obstacles t...  Read More
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Steering Clear of Distractions
by Delman Coates on June 23rd, 2024
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33   Distractions in our lives are like potholes on the road—easy to stumble upon and potentially dangerous if not navigated carefully. Whether on the highway or in everyday life, distractions have a way of veering us off course, sometimes with devastating consequences. Consider the so...  Read More
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Cleansing Body, Mind, and Spirit
by Delman Coates on March 1st, 2024
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20   In today's world, the concept of detoxification has become increasingly popular, with countless programs and products claiming to cleanse the body of harmful toxins and im...  Read More
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Refocusing for a New Chapter
by Delman Coates on January 14th, 2024
"We will keep your name close." - Psalm 75:1   In the pursuit of writing a new chapter in our lives and changing the narrative, the wisdom of the Psalmist offers a transformative key: refocus your attention. When faced with the absence of clear closure and understanding, the Psalmist provides a powerful example. Instead of dwelling on the actions of his enemies, he declares, "and we will keep your...  Read More
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Through the Window of Perspective
by Delman Coates on October 20th, 2023
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28   In the midst of life's trials, it's crucial to maintain a perspective that looks beyond the present moment. Remember that trials are temporary, and even in the midst of difficulty, God can work to bring about His purposes. Let this window of perspective be y...  Read More
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Stepping Out on Faith
by Delman Coates on August 30th, 2023
“Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old? ' Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” – Genesis 18:13-14  Sarah overheard the Lord speaking to Abraham. The Lord told Abraham that Sarah was going to have a child in the upcoming year. However, Sarah, when hea...  Read More
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Your Defense
by Delman Coates on May 6th, 2023
“The Lord is my strength and my defense, He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.” - Exodus 15:2-3  Do you understand why you must not look behind you when you are pursuing God’s plans and purposes for your life? It’s like looking at the rear window when trying to drive forward. You cannot s...  Read More
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Refocus Your Attention
by Delman Coates on May 5th, 2023
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” - Proverbs 18:10  If you want to leave your old life behind and step into the life God is calling you to live, you are going to have to do a few things differently. Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If you...  Read More
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He Sees You
by Delman Coates on February 23rd, 2023
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.” - Psalm 34:15  Yesterday we discussed the story of a young boy who was visibly frustrated at his father for not being able to get his way, so much so that he told his father, “I hate you.” But the father didn’t respond with anger. Instead, he did three things that stood out to me. He demonstrated to his son the followin...  Read More
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The Key to God’s Heart
by Ministry Support on November 22nd, 2022
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - Hebrews 4:16  What Jesus teaches us during His time on earth is that access to the Father is granted on the basis of love and not on legalism. In John 13, Jesus talks to His disciples about getting to the place where He is going. This is the chapter ...  Read More
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Staying Focused
by Ministry Support on November 11th, 2022
“Therefore, holy brothers, partners in a heavenly calling, keep your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.” - Hebrews 3:1  Did you know that some animal tamers have been known to carry a stool in the cage of lion as a form of distraction. Why? Because lions can only focus on one object. When the tamer points the four legs of the stool at the lion, he or she is paralyzed, n...  Read More
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Refocus Your Attention
by Ministry Support on September 5th, 2022
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe.” - Proverbs 18:10   Over the next few days, we are going to look at how you can overcome those times in your life when you just can’t seem to find the closure you are looking for. Perhaps one chapter in your life has just ended abruptly, and though you might not be ready to move on, that chapter is over. That doesn’t me...  Read More
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Now or Most?
by Ministry Support on October 8th, 2021
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” - Psalm 37:7  Over the last week, we have spent much time talking about the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. One of the biggest roles the Spirit plays is helping us decipher what God wants for us. Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Take delight in the Lord, and h...  Read More
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Where Is Your Focus?
by Ministry Support on May 29th, 2021
David was in great danger; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in spirit for their sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6) One thing I love about David is that he understands the power of focus in the face of the unimaginable. David is going through what has to be one of the most difficult seasons of his life (1 Sa...  Read More
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Don’t Lose Focus
by Ministry Support on October 27th, 2020
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2  Something we all need to understand is that the key to recovery has a lot to do with where your focus is. Albert Einstein once said, “If you want to live a healthy and happy life, tie it to a steady goal and a vision.” Paulo Coelho talked about focus this way “When...  Read More
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commandments commandment commands command commitment committed commotion communicate communication community companionship companions compared compare comparison compasiion compassionate compassion compensate compete complacency complaints complete compliance composed compromised compromise concered concerns concern concludes conduct confesses confess confidence confidently confident confined confines confirmation confirms conflicting conflict confrontation confronted confused confusing confusion congregational connected connecting connection connect conquer consequences considering consider consistency consistent constantly constrains consulted contentment content contributes contribute control conversations conviction cornerstone correction counseling counsel courage created create creation creative credentials crippling critical crucial culture cured customer dangerous darkest darkness dating deacon death deception decisions decision declares decreed dedicated dedication deeper defeat delay delight deliverance deliver demands deppth depression deserved deserves deserve desired desires desire desperate desperation despite destination destiny destroy destruction determination determined determine deter developed development develop difference difficulties dignity diligent directing directly direct disbelief disciples disciple discouraged discouragement discourage discovered discover dismayed disobedience disrespects disrupt distance distinction distractions divine division donor doubt dreams dream drought drowning dwell ebdured effective effects elevate eliminate embedded embraced embraces embrace embracing emerges emotinal emotional emotions emotion empathy empowered empowerment empowers empower enabled encountered encounters encounter encouraged encouragement encourages encourage encouraging encouters endangering endurance endures endure enduring enemy energy engaged engages engage engaging enjoyable enjoying ensure ensuring entire entrusting enviroment environment equips equip eternally eternal eternity evangelism everlasting evidence exaltaion examine exceeding excellent excuses exhaustion expectations expected expecting expects experience expertise expression express external fabric failure faithfullness faithfully faithfulness faithful faithless faith famine fasting fate fathers father faults favor fearfully fearful fearless fear feelings feeling fellowship fight finaces firmly fixed focused focusing focus followed followers follower following follow folow foolish force forever forgave forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving fortunate forward foundations foundation freedom free fresh friendships friendship friend fruit of the Spirit fruitful frustrated frustrations frustration fulfilling fulfillment fulfill fullness future generations generosity generous genuinely genuine gesture gifts gift given give giving glimmer glorify glorious glory goals goal godly goodness gospel grace grateful gratification gratitude greater greatness greed grief grieved grieve ground growing grown growth grow guarding guard guidance guide guiding guilty guilt habits habit handle happier happiest happy hardest hardships hardship harmful healed healing heal heartbreak heartbroke hearted hearts heart hear heavenly heavy heir helped help hiding highlighted home honesty honest honored honoring honor hoped hopeless hopes hope hoping house humanity humble humility hurtful hurting hurt identiy ignorance ignore illustrate image imbalance immediately immense immortal immovable impactful impact imperfections imperfection imperfect importance important impossible impovement impressions impression impress improve increase indeed indication indulgence inflation influenced influences influence influencing informs injustice innocence inspiration inspire instruct integrity intelligence intended intending intends intentional intention intents interactions interest internal interpret intimacy intrested intresting invaluable invested invitation 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overwhelm overworking package painful pain parenting partner passage passions passion past patience patienc patient peacefully peace perception perfectionism perfection perfectly perfect performance perform perish perplexed perserverance perseverance perseverence persistance persistent personal perspective physical placing planned planning plan pleases please pleasing pleasures point positions positive positivity possessions possibilities possibility possible potential pounding powerfull powerful powers power practical practice praises praise prayed prayers prayer praying pray preaches preach prejudice preparation prepared prepares prepare preparing preperation presence present preserved preserve preserving presevered pressure prevented prevent pride principle priorities privacy private privilege problem proceeded proceed process productive profits profound progress prominence promised promises promise promising promote promoting promotions promotion prospect prosperity prosperus prosper protected protecting protection protector protect provider provides provide providing provision pure purify purposeful purposely purposes purpose pursue pursuing pursuit questioning questions quitting race radiance raise random reaching reaction reading reality realize rebuilding rebuild recharge recieve reciprocated recognize reconciliation redeemed redeems redeem redemption redemptive redirect refining reflecting reflections reflection reflects reflect refocusing refocus refreshment refresh refuge refusal regrets regret rejected reject rejoices rejoice rekindle relationships relationship relation release reliance relied religious relinquish reminded reminder reminds remind remorse renewed renew repair repeating repentance repent replenishes replenishment replenish request require rescued rescue resources respect respond response responsibility rested restful restoration restored restores restoring restricted restrore rest resurrection retaliation returns reunited revealing revelation reward righteousness righteous risen rises risk rituals rock roles romans royalty rulers running saaanctified sabbath sacrifice sacrificing sadness safety sanctification satisfaction satisfies satisfy saved scribes scripture scrutinized sealed seasons secures secure seeking seeks seek seize self-control selfishness selfish selflessly self senses seperate seperation sermons serves serve service serving settle shackles shame share sharing shattered shield shining sidetracked sight significance significant signifies single sinned sins sin situation sleep society solutions solution solving souls soul source sovereignty sovereign spare speak special specific specified spirirt spirits spiritually spiritual spirit stability standards stewardship story straining stranger strenghth strenght strengthens strengthen strengths strength stress striking strive striving stronger strong structurally struggled struggles struggle struggling struglles study stumble submit succcess succeed successful success suffering suffer suggests supernatural supporting support surprised surprises surprise surrendered surrendering surrender surrounded susceptible suspend sustains sustain swallow takers talents teachings teaching tears tear temper temptations temptation tempting testament testimony test thankfulness thankful thanksgiving thanks thank thoughtful thoughts time timing title together tomb tragedy transformation transformative transformed transforming transform treating trials and tribulations trials tribulations triggered trigger troubles trouble troubling true truly trusted trusting trustworthy trust truths truth ultimate understanding understand unexplained unified unimaginable unites unity unworthy urgency urgently utilize validation valuable values value victim victorious victory vilence violation vision void voyage vulnerable waiting wait walk wandering waste wavering weakness weapon weary welcomes welcoming well wholeness will of God willingness willing wisdom wise 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