WE NEED TO FOCUS!

I admit it. I have been too busy lately. As I think about it perhaps "busy" is not the word. While I have no doubt- been busy I have also been disorganized. That is to say I have not exercised the necessary discipline to be at my best for The LORD, myself, my family and others. This morning my wife woke me up and informed me that we were supposed to be in Washington D.C. this weekend. We should've arrived last night. She knew this, because of a facebook message from the host pastor who was trying to reach me via text but was unsuccessful. He was unsuccessful reaching me via text last night because I was attending a one year anniversary banquet for one of my "son's" in the ministry ... and I failed to respond to the text. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. In concert with my being "too busy" and undisciplined I mistakenly thought we were supposed to be in Washington D.C. the second Sunday in November ... NOT the second Sunday in October. I immediately got up, called the host pastor, apologized profusely, told him to give me five minutes and I would change my reservation and be in D.C. this afternoon. Initially he said "okay". Two minutes later I was sitting at the computer logging on to change my ticket and the pastor called me back. He shared that the Sunday I booked my airline ticket for is their Church Anniversary and that instead of my changing my tickets, etc. and coming to preaching for the Men's Day- tomorrow; he would have me serve as the guest preacher for their Church Anniversary. Still I offered to pay for one night of the room as we was supposed to arrive last night and hotels require a 24 cancellation notice in order to not incur at least a one night fee. The pastor was sooooo gracious and told me not to worry about the mix up and not to worry about paying for one night of the room. Still I intend to pay for one night anyway. Here's my point, though our God's grace is sufficient and even though our God grants us His mercy and love ... there is still no excuse for MY mistake. It's something I messed up with due to my own lack of focus and being, according to some- "too busy". Brother Pastors, preachers, minister's- let me encourage all of us to FOCUS! I think of the Apostle Paul's writing in Philippians 3:13a where he says: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but ONE THING I DO,". It is clear that the Apostle is FOCUSED on ONE THING! Going forward, I invite all of you pastors, preachers, ministers and laypersons who will to join me in making a fresh effort to FOCUS on the most important thing! This will no doubt mean for me that I will turn my cellular phone off at times or hand it to one of the ladies in the office when I'm working at the church so that I can focus on what I am doing at the moment. This means that I will not be distracted by an email in my inbox when I have gone into my email to do a specific thing that is unrelated to this "new" message. Etc., etc., etc. Please pray for me. I am praying with and for you. Agape, Sherman J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST