Who (or What) Has Your Attention?

   In a home full of teenagers I often step away from the action and watch from the sidelines... just to get a new perspective. One corner of our home echoes with loud bursts of gunfire from the 'black Babylonian box of death'  that pierce through the walls. Another glance finds tiny black headphones crammed in one son's ears with shrilling and even possibly deafening sounds. Still, one more glance spies a cell phone plastered to a pure and innocent ear as the voice on the other end continues to gab and yak. For a split second, my attention focuses on one teen fixated and glaring at a computer screen.... speakers blaring.Is your house consumed with other 'voices' demanding your family's attention too?

                                           Or am I the only one?  

            Who (or what?) has YOUR attention?

     Every year at Thanksgiving, our small hometown hosts a Thanksgiving Parade that slowly meanders by our historic Victorian home. My eyes always pan to find the meticulously dressed soldiers that march by in a uniform, perfect step constantly keeping their attention on the commander. The voice of that commander is extremely important. As soon as he shouts "ATTENTION" they immediately focus on the voice demanding that attention. They conform to that voice and it's instructions and commands.

                                Who (or what?) has your attention?

     Our oldest son recently obtained his driver's license. He gives a lot of 'attention' to the gas pedal. To his defense, I have come to the conclusion that most teenage boys do. It's something about the speed, skill, conquering and mastering that thing with four wheels. The warrior in them rises up to fight and defend. However, there are times I just want to nicely say to this charming and servant-hearted 17 year old driver..."It's obvious you are well acquainted with the gas pedal...NOW please make friends with (give attention to) the brake!!"

                                     For. crying. out. loud.

                            So, have I gotten your attention yet?

Please stay with me for just a moment. The Lord has given us ears to hear. Our devotion, time spent, spotlight should be on the Lord and His ways. The ears that He has given us to hear should be tuned in to that still small voice. But why, or why does every other voice and everything else seem to distract our attention from the One True Voice?

Proverbs 4 declares:  
Dear friend, listen well to my (emphasis mine) words;   
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!Those who discover these words live, really live; 
body and soul, they're bursting with health. 

Attention:  care, aid, tending,regard, spotlight

Who (or what?) has my attention?

                                 Who (or what?) has your attention? 

                         

              What has caught the spotlight, the care, the attention of each of us?

I love the Truths in Proverbs 19:20 
'Take good counsel and accept correction— that's the way to live wisely and well.'

                                    WOW! did you just get that too?

                                    Attentively focused to that voice?

My desire for myself and those I hold dear is to possess and to develop an awareness of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. That still. That small. That non-demanding voice. The only way that we can know His voice is by knowing His Word...the two always agree. Oh, to know him more! More intimately, more passionately.To be acquainted  with the only One who's got me covered and Who has His attention focused on me. And on you.

                                         His favorite ones! 

A voice crying out in the wilderness of my life for my life! To truly seek first the kingdom of God. May the voices (WHO?)  of others and the voices of other things (WHAT?)  that try to distort, delay, distract,deter, defeat the TRUE Voice be silenced in Jesus' Name. 

                                  He is the only True Voice. Amen? 

That is the cry of my heart today for myself, my husband, my three 'treasures', 

my family and friends.

I am determined to ignore the sideshow distractions. How about you?

Keep your eyes straight ahead; 

ignore all sideshow distractions.Watch your step,  
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;  leave evil in the dust. Proverbs 4:27

ATTENTION!