Done for the Week 2 September AJ Challenge found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-art-journaling-week-2-focus.40404/

FOCUS is the art of knowing what to IGNORE. Does that mean we have to ignore our memories? Can we live in the NOW but remember the PAST? I believe we can. After all, our memory is a gift God gave to us. Our memories tell our story. Memories encourage us to remember God’s faithfulness, the lessons we’ve learned, and the important events that shape our spiritual journey. When we remember the joyful and challenging moments of our past it helps us grow in wisdom and trust in God. “This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23. We have to live in the present, but we don’t have to forget the past! “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11. That being said, our FOCUS for everyday living must be directed to the LORD. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success,” and 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” When we put God first, we live our lives with the purpose of pleasing God, following His will for our lives and obeying His commands and the Holy Spirit's direction.