My Name Is What?

      A little while back I was teaching our Young Adults class at church and as people were trickling in I was talking with them and catching up. We had a couple new people join our group, and as I was making conversation with them I was trying really hard to remember their names. It seems it takes me at least a couple times meeting a person to remember their name, and I was determined to not forget their names. After we had a brief conversation I realized I hadn’t yet put on a name tag. I went over and filled out a name tag just before we started the class, all the while trying to remember the names of the people I had just met. What I came to realize after the class had ended was that I had put one of the new peoples name on my name tag! And no one said anything through entire class! I couldn't believe it! Coming to that realization amongst a group of friends was embarrassing and hilarious all at the same time. We laughed for a while.
      I had been focusing on the names of the new people in the class to remember them and make them feel welcome, and the object of my focus came out in my actions without thinking about it.
      When no one is around, in those quiet times in the morning, driving to and from our destinations, during workouts, the times where we are alone with our thoughts, the object of our focus is the true test of our character.
     
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 
   
       It is the focus of those times that emerge out in our daily lives, whether we are aware of it or not. Let’s be men of character who set our focus on the things above that will bring life, joy, and true freedom.
     
Joshuua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.