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Pastor’s Note
Who or what has your attention right now? Is it the start of summer? The end of spring? The end of the school year? The gardens? Sports championships? No matter what time of year something always has our attention, the question is, does the right thing or person have our attention? I was having a conversation with my kids the other day about this, wondering if they felt that I give them enough or appropriate attention. For the most part their answer was that sometimes they feel like I don’t give them enough attention. I can handle that, because with four kids it is hard to give them all equal attention all the time, especially if they are all doing different things at different times. But as their father I want them to know I love them and support them in all they do and so we, their mother and I, try our best to pay attention to them and give them that attention as much as we can when we can.
I know we are not perfect at this and we fail, but we know that we are only given a small amount of time to invest in our children before they go out into the world on their own, and we want to do our best to let them know they are loved and amazing. We are glad to spend our days chasing them from field to field, from concert to concert, from activity to activity, for we know at one point or another it will end. But our attention is for more than just making them feel good. Our attention on them is pointing them to be attentive to the One who loves them more than we do and will never leave them nor forsake them.
It is easy for them to lose sight of giving attention to what matters most but we must try, knowing they will have to make their own decisions one day when they leave home. This is why I focus on my kids and give them attention: so they can see my attention on Christ and hopefully follow Him themselves as they live out the lives God has for them. I want them to see what they focus on is what they will give the most attention to in life. Our prayer is that they set their gaze on Him. I may fail in giving them all the attention they desire because I am one man, but I know God will never fail them. There are so many things we can give our attention to as we approach summer, and just like we give attention to our kids, our families, our jobs, our vacations and hobbies, let us not forget to give attention to the One who loves us most. Let us fix our eyes and our hearts on Him who deserves it. Let us not forsake the gathering together with the body of Christ that we may be encouraged to fix our gaze, our attention on Him, and use the time He has given us for His glory. So who or what has your attention most?
In His Arms,
Pastor Ari
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