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FOCUSED Ministries, Inc.
Focusing On Christ Until Spiritual Excellence is Demonstrated
Proverbs 4:25-27 Hebrews 12:1-2
| | Listen and Lean in with Dr. Baker | | | | |
Dr. Baker, Founder & CEO, FOCUSED Ministries, Inc.
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With Dr. Baker
~~ Seasons ~~
It's summertime! School is out, and the busy routines of the academic year are finally behind us. No more lesson plans to prepare, PE, Math, or ELA classes to teach, papers to grade, student conflicts to mediate, or early morning rushes to get everyone out the door on time. For both students and educators, summer offers a well-deserved opportunity to step away from the demands of the school year, unwind, recharge, and be refreshed. It's a season to rest, reflect, and prepare for what lies ahead. Summertime is a season of life that comes and goes, just like Fall, Winter, and Spring.
God created seasons, and within each season, there is purpose. According to the Word of God, He established the seasons as part of His divine order for creation. Seasons mark the passage of time, provide rhythms for planting and harvest, and remind us of God's faithfulness and provision. Genesis 8:22 declares, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease." The changing seasons also teach spiritual lessons, reminding us that just as nature experiences different seasons, our lives do as well, and God remains constant through them all. God's faithfulness and God's consistency is the one thing we can count on. We can also rely on the fact that summers will also come. So, I pray that you have the opportunity to unwind, recharge, and be refreshed, in His Word and in His presence, I pray that you be reminded of God's faithfulness and provision, and I pray that the Lord keep you and your family safe.
In your resting this summer, join us for mid-week/mid-day prayer. Every Wednesday, 11:30am - 12:00pm, we are setting aside time to pray and an opportunity to share His Word. Use THIS LINK to register. The first session is June 17, 2026.
Finally, June 27, 2026, 11:00am - 12:30pm, will be our last Family Conference session until Fall 2026. Come join us as we wrap up this season of faith and fellowship. Look below to register, and we will see you there! Our weekly prayers will continue.
Keep FOCUSED Ministries in your prayers this summer as we, too, use summer to rest, reflect, and prepare for what lies ahead for another season of ministry in the fall. If you have not given to the work, prayerfully consider planting a seed. Thank you for supporting us. We very much appreciate you! The Lord bless you!
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Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts
(Is. 55:6-9 NIV). If you have not asked the Lord to come into your heart, I encourage you to do it today! When you seek Him, you will find Him. Amen!
In His love and always FOCUSED on Him,
Dr. Baker, Founder & President
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Our cousin, Rev. Ellery Hunter, offers this week's prayer and reminds us that we can bring all of our cares to the Lord, and He will answer. Join him as he leads us in prayer.
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REFLECTION
I spend a lot of time thinking about myself. Some of my thoughts are simple, like what I’m going to eat for dinner, while others are much deeper, such as wondering about my purpose in life. I think about my health, how to fit exercise into my day, and whether I’m making wise choices with the food I eat. I think about my finances, how to earn more, save more, and spend wisely. I also spend time praying about these things, asking God for guidance, provision, healing, and direction.
There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s natural to think about our own needs and concerns, and God invites us to bring them to Him in prayer. But when Jesus was asked what matters most, He gave an answer that shifts our focus beyond ourselves. He said to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, the same care, concern, and attention we naturally give to our own lives should also be extended to others. Just as we seek God’s help, blessings, and well-being for ourselves, we are called to desire and pursue those same things for the people around us. The challenge is not simply to love ourselves well, but to let that love become the measure of how we love others.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Heavenly Father, I honor You as my Creator. In Your hands, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Because You created me, and You sustain me, and because You gave Your life that I might live, my life is valuable. Furthermore, because You created us all, and sustain us all, and because You gave Your precious life so that we might live, all our lives are valuable. So, all of the good things I wish for myself I also wish for my neighbors. I pray that those around me experience good health. I ask that You bless my neighbors with the things they need to live and the good things that they want. Lord, I pray that You pour out Your wisdom upon all of humanity. Eternal God, I ask that You help us live in harmony with one another, that You remove evil intentions and violent tendencies from those who are plagued with them. Father, I pray that You help us to protect those who are vulnerable, to comfort those who are miserable, to feed those who are hungry, and to befriend those who are lonely. God of Heaven, I intercede with You on behalf of all my neighbors and ask that everything that I want for myself that You do for them too. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Offered by Rev. Ellery Hunter
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~~FOCUSED Ministries Family Conference~~
Next Conference date youth, families, and the community. You're invited to attend.
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM
Where: The Harriet Tubman Church located at
2715 Hurd Street, Evanston, IL 60201
What: Feeding Your Soul and Fighting Temptation
It's about strengthening your relationship with God so you can make wise choices and stand firm when challenges arise. Just as our bodies need healthy food to grow and function well, our souls need God's Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship to remain spiritually healthy. When we consistently feed our souls with truth, we are better equipped to recognize temptation, resist unhealthy influences, and live according to God's will. This lesson encourages youth and families to develop daily spiritual habits that build faith, deepen their walk with Christ, and provide the strength needed to overcome temptation and live victoriously. We look forward to seeing you!
~~ REGISTER HERE ~~
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Prayer of Repentence
If you’re questioning your faith or considering following Jesus for the first time, this message is for you. Today is a beautiful opportunity to say “yes” to Christ, a decision that can change your life and into eternity. If you’re unsure where to begin, click the Prayer of Salvation link here. Know that FOCUSED Ministries is praying for you and here to support you every step of the way. Jesus loves you, and so do we. Blessings!
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We hope you're enjoying the journey as we go through FOCUSED Prayers Devotional.
Today's devotional, June 10, was offered by Mrs. Shirlene Baker on May 18, 2016 with the accompanying scripture found in Daniel 2:20. Be blessed!
Get your hard copy or paperback at Christian Faith Publishing. You can also get a digital copy to take with you on iTunes. Attend the Family Conference on June 27, 2026 to get your autographed copy.
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