God has this great focus on His followers being His children. My laptop's battery is about to die, or I would look up the verses. Look it up yourself at this site. Scripture says He adopts us into His own family. Jesus also focused on family ties, re-associating Himself with the believers instead of His natural kin.

This was incredibly enlightening for me yesterday. I am God's child. I am no longer associated with any earthly bloodlines. I am His. When I accepted Him and He accepted me, the fear of inheriting bad genes left. He has the power to overcome those genes through me. Hallelujah! I'm HIS daughter. His traits are all I should be expecting to have.

Ben and I just read through Habakkuk. It starts out with images such as, "Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight." I can empathize with that. Sometimes I look at news, at media, at motives, at governments, and I see a wasteland. In the first chapter, Habakkuk complains about the ungrateful, immoral world. In the second chapter, the Lord replies to Habakkuk's complaints by reassuring him that good will overcome evil.

But the third chapter is my favorite. Habakkuk sings. He glorifies the Lord in a musical prayer that is so poetic it makes my skin tingle. "In Your anger, remember Your mercy," he cries out. This is the common ground of humanity. Somewhere between God's anger and mercy, in the wasteland, we cry out for salvation. In that very moment, God moves. We can choose to recognize Him like Habakkuk did or to ignore His majesty. I question if ignoring is really possible, or if we just pretend we did not see it. And if we do recognize Him, will we choose to reflect His glory in our art and lives, or will we forget with the next passing distraction.

Distraction is a trap for Christians. It is human, yes. It happens innumerable times each day. But a spirit of distraction will constantly hit the disable button that allows the Lord to guide us. It is completely possible to find focus through Christ. Habakkuk's prayer was totally focused on the splendor of God through nature and events. The Lord's cause deserves our focus. Our nonchalant approach to the Gospel has got to go. We must be renewed and made surefooted daily. Our notions and beliefs must be defragmented by the Lord to create an organized focal point of our service. Habakkuk's thoughts were defragmented in this prayer, and his goals were pinpointed solely on trusting in the Lord and reflecting his glory.

"I see God moving across the deserts of Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden. . . . When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One! . . . Was it in anger, Lord, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! . . . The sun and moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and your glittering spear flashed. . . . You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. . . . I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights" (Habakkuk 3).

Are you distracted? Fragmented? Let the Lord redirect you to a focal point that does not move.

I am so thirsty.
I could drink a gallon of water right now.
Cold. Clean. Fresh. Clear.
Give me water! Then I could focus on this paper.

Roomie1 : I'm gonna go downstairs and get a drink. Oh my gosh, I need a drink.
Roomie2 : What kind of drink, Roomie?
Roomie1 : The good kind.
Roomie2 : Oh no.
Roomie1 : Oh yes, Roomie. This semester has driven me to drinking.

Man, I could go for a drink right now.