Phrase for 2017 — Renewed Focus

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I grew up in Southeast Texas, not too far from the Gulf Coast. I loved going to the beach as a kid. I loved playing in the surf – jumping waves and floating around in the water. I remember one time playing in the water for a while and when I looked up, I had drifted down the coast quite a way from my family. The undertow had carried me without me even knowing that I was drifting. I remember having to get out of the water and walking back up the shore to get to them. NOT FUN!

Life can be like that. When we are not paying attention, we can drift away from where we want to be. We can drift from important relationships like our marriage or our relationship with our children. We can drift in our jobs or in the area of our physical health. When we look up, we realize that we have gone a long way away from where we started. Most of the time, drifting takes us in a way that we do not want to go.

My phrase for 2017 is RENEWED FOCUS. I have drifted some in my life and 2107 is the time that I will get back on track. It is always exciting to be refreshed and renewed.

shutterstock_415603987Areas of Renewed Focus

  • Health
    • I drifted in my weight loss efforts from the past couple of years and I need to get back on track.
  • Spiritual
    • So much of my study time this past year was directed at preaching. Therefore, I need to get back to some of the spiritual disciplines for my personal relationship with God.
    • Scripture Memory
    • Journaling
  • Professional
    • I have started a couple of certifications for coaching/counseling that I have not finished. I have begun working toward completing those.
    • Reading more books
    • Writing more blogs

RENEWED FOCUS is a phrase that will be an emphasis in my life for 2017. Being able to stay focused on the leadership of God will be the key to having a great year.

What is your word or phrase for the New Year? I would love to hear what word or phrase that you will be working with.

Yearly Evaluation

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Have you ever felt that you were always running just a little late in life? Here we are 3 days into the new year and I am just now getting started with evaluating last year and looking forward to this year. I usually try to accomplish this task during the last week of the year, but better late than never. RIGHT?

HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Our fifth grandchild was born. Amos was born in January so the year started out with a lot of excitement. My wife and I now have 3 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. That sure makes life fun as we talk on the phone or visit our kids. There’s always a lot of laughing and of course some crying.
  2. Another great thing about 2016 was the fact that I was the Interim Pastor of a local church. I got to preach every week, do Bible studies, and pastoral visits and counseling. I had a wonderful time each week. My wife and I made a lot of new friends as well as grew in our relationship with God and each other. This experience was one that I will hopefully grow from the rest of my life.

STRUGGLE

The not so highlights can be summarized with a simple phrase…I lost focus of Directed Path Ministries. I spent most of my study time for the church so I overlooked the need to continue to read and write for DPM. Because of that loss of focus, I almost feel that I am starting over. The best part of this starting over is that most of the pieces are still in place. Those pieces just need to be readjusted and put back in place with tweaks along the way.

FUTURE

So as I look forward to 2017, I am looking with a keen awareness of a renewed focus on DPM and other ministry opportunities that are offered. More Reading…More Writing…as well as other changes that are in the works. Of course I will not share those with you until it is time to unveil what God is leading me to do.

I sure hope that your 2017 is on the right track to being wonderful. I am so full of enthusiasm and hope for this year, I feel I am bursting at the seams. (Maybe that’s just the weight I’ve put on recently.) Oh well, it’s time to start with all things new.

 

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Are You a Goal Setter Like Me?

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Confession is good for the soul, right? Well, here it goes. Hello, my name is Brad and I’m a goal setter. I love setting goals. Every year around this time I start thinking about goals that I would like to accomplish for the coming year. I get all excited about the different goals and I start well. But…

As I look at my life, there are areas of my life that are really on track. I feel that I am accomplishing what I have set out to do. Oh, I know that I can still improve but over all, I am doing fairly well.

But there are other areas that I know that I need to make some changes in order to improve in those areas.

Using the proper measuring tools, we are able to collect the important data and make adjustments in order to improve in that area.

Here is such measuring tool: Michael Hyatt’s LifeScore Assessment Tool.

It is free and it only takes a few minutes (probably less than 10). After you answer questions in the different areas of your life, you will be given a score.

Why don’t you take the time now to go to the link and take the assessment? I don’t believe you have anything to lose but you can gain a great deal.

I know that I will be using the information in this tool to help me develop the areas of my life that need attention so that I can have a great year in 2017.

 

Purpose Statement

I provide Biblical Counseling for:
  • People who are hurting in their marriages and families.
  • People who are hurting emotionally and spiritually.
  • People who are seeking freedom from the bondage in their lives.

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Location & Phone Number

5411 PLAZA DR STE G
TEXARKANA, TX 75503
PHONE: (903) 244-5150


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