Where are your eyes focused?

There is one thing I promise to do in this joyblog and that is to always be real, honest and simply - me. The one thing that frustrates me in this life is how we can play the silly game of thinking, "Well, she never goes through any struggles or hard days, her life is perfect." That, my gorgeous friend, is a major lie of the enemy because each and every one of us, whether we are Lisa Bevere, Joyce Meyers, or just me, Tracee Davidson, have our good days, our bad days, our enemy warfare days and days that we are laughing our heads off. We are human - and yes, I'm so going to go there - we all sit on the same toilet, doing the same thing. lol!!

So, where on earth am I going today - raise your hand if you never get stressed out! Okay, I see that none of you did, so we have all been in the same exact boat. I am no expert at walking out crazy life circumstances and always walking on the water. Yes, I have sunk many many times and that is so not cool cuz it takes me a good 45 minutes just to blow dry my hair after it gets wet. That's a stress in itself. lol!! But, I want to share a few little thoughts that I'm doing in my own life at this very moment, actually - I've only broken my toe, had my laptop crash and lost everything, came down with an upper respiratory infection that lasted 5 weeks, then went back down with another illness with fever this week, had to cancel some events, and am trying to re-create everything that was on my laptop for the coming 2 months of calendar events on my agenda! Stressed, me? lol!!! Soooo, I want to pass a few things I do onto you as well cuz that's what friends are for - to walk through life together. (beware, this will not be a short blog...ha!)

1. Keep your eyes focused on.....(drum roll) GOD! That is the first and foremost important thing that will NEVER fail you. Focus, focus, focus. Man, that's not always easy to do because our problem is: we keep our eyes focused on the problem instead of the solution. God has the answer to the solution, so stay FOCUSED on Him. (As I am re-reading this I just had to laugh because I so have a problem with say, I'm cleaning the kitchen, so I head downstairs to grab some kitchen towels out of the dryer to dry the dishes and then next thing you know, I'm cleaning the laundry room.....lol!!!!)

2. Keep your eyes focused on.....HIS WORD! Back in the day, sounds like I should be talking 1800's dialogue here....but don't worry, I won't! lol! I can recall a MAJOR stressful time in my life when we came back from missions in 2002. I won't go into all the details of that story here but I had never experienced stress like I did then. I was to the point that had it not been for God's Word, I know I would've broken down with some panic attacks. Everytime I felt that anxiety rising up within me, and trust me, it's not like I invited 'it' to appear, I would immediately grab my Bible and begin to read His word. It NEVER failed, God always took over my anxiety with floods of peace. This wasn't like a 2 minute reading...it was more like 20-30 minutes, sometimes an hour. I had key scriptures or verses that were speaking loudly to me during that time so I would turn to them and read them over and over and over again until God would literally begin to flood my heart and calm my spirit...it was through that, that I would regain my focus - in our weakness HE is strong!! He really is!!

3. Surround yourself with close friends. If you are married, this will include your husband but also close girlfriends. God has truly blessed me these past 5 years with some of the closest friends I have ever had. The kind that you can 100% be yourself, hold each other up, be REAL together, and also speak things into each other. Knowing that you are not walking alone, but are surrounded in support, prayer and loads of love will get you through whatever your life brings your way. If you do not have this kind of friendship circle, ask the Lord for it. God is a God that will give you the desires of your heart. Never forget, the first gift of friendship is to be a friend yourself....it will flow from there.

So, I leave you with a verse that one of my inner circle friends sent me today because she know's that I have had a crazy last 5 weeks that has caused me to have moments of crying, pulling my hair out but also, I have had many God joy moments and found oppurtunities to laugh my head off....knowing that she loves me and is praying for me and surrounding me helps me to know, I will get through this - between God, my amazing husband, and my dynamic friends....this too shall pass.

Psalm 27 (MSG)

Light, space, zest— that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces. When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool. I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God. Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!"
When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!"
Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in. Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. Don't throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats. I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God.

Together, we will help each NOT pull our hair out!!

Tracee