Where's Your Focus #321

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Don’t give up!! Don’t lose heart!! Never become discouraged!! Faint not!! These are just a few of the admonitions of the Bible related to present troubles. At some point in time everyone will face “Trouble.” How can you have any victory over your problems? The writer says because we have something that is more powerful than our troubles. That something is God at work in our lives. We too often look at the present and forget there is a future where God receives all the glory.

Our current troubles are small and won’t last long compared to the glory that is to be ours for all of eternity. That glory will last forever.

So why keep our focus on the present when the future is so bright. What we see and experience now is just temporary. In order to look past trouble we must look at that which in reality we cannot even see.

For that reason we live by faith and not by sight. We focus not on troubles that are so real in the present and look to the unseen. Fix your gaze on the things you cannot see. Live by faith; for without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6.

Faith in the unseen is what gets us through trouble.

Trust what you cannot see.

_________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Home in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This past week I have tried to remember to tell everyone, "Thank you, I appreciate you." As always God opens doors to share our faith with whoever will listen. This week I was blessed as I got to share a 'word of truth' with one of my Doctors. He is far from a believer in Jesus Christ. But he listened as I shared the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16 which states that "Although this outward man is decaying the inward man is  being renewed day by day and for that reason we never give up."

Praying that all is well with you and to tell you if it is not then it still is well. God is in charge and knows every need we have and is interceding for us with "groanings  to deep for words," Romans 8:26.  

'Remember God is Good!!!'

School is over for the kids for a couple of weeks. They are excited about the vacation. Christmas is so much fun for young and old. The two little grandsons went to see the lights and the nativity presented yearly by our church on our pastor's street and back yard. The back yard is totally decorated with the Christmas story. Last year over 50,000 people went through the display. The pictures are of Johnny dressed like his Campa Koleszar and Justin showing off his abs. 

Our family will gather for Christmas Dinner as is our usual custom. 

It should be a fun time for all and of course very special for me. 

This would be a great year to focus on Jesus; his birth, death, resurrection, and second coming. As we celebrate remember we are celebrating the God of the Universe becoming a Man in Jesus and coming not only to live for us but to die for us on the cross. Praise His Name. 

I am on my way to Houston to the Excel Diagnostic Cancer Center. NO I AM NOT GOING TO MD ANDERSON. Check out Excel on the web. 

We are still in need of funds. Here are the two main ways of giving:

if you are interested in receiving a tax deductible contribution please send the check payable to First Baptist Church of Tempe, AZ. The memo on the outside of the envelope and on the memo line of your check MUST say MEDICAL FAITH FUND. Please DO NOT WRITE MY NAME ON THE CHECK. You will be sent a tax deduction at the end of the year. The Church address is FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF TEMPE, 4525  S McCLINTOCK DR. TEMPE, AZ 85282. Another way you may help us reach our goal is by going to Google and to "Dennis Wood's Carcinoid Cancer Treatment Fundraiser" on GiveForward.You can donate to the fundraiser and give words of encouragement in the form of a "HUG". Thank you for your support.   I really need your prayers for strength, weight gain (down to 149 lbs this morning).

I saw the Oncologist today and the tests I had run this week shows the cancer is not only in the liver, lymph system and bones but has now moved to the lungs. I am really weak and praying that the trip to Houston and the treatment will not be too much. I so appreciate your prayers, concern, and love. 

I am so grateful for all of you how have made this possible through your generosity. God Bless you real special. 

Again have a very Merry Christmas.  ~ DGW