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.

The Year In Review

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2015 is drawing to a close and 2016 is lurking at the door waiting to burst on the scene. As I sit in my office, I am taking the time to review the past 12 months. The year 2015 has been an eventful year for me personally as well as professionally. There have been high and low points throughout the year. Quite honestly, I did not reach a single goal that I set at the beginning of the year. I’ve accomplished several things that I find very encouraging that will help me in my determination to make 2016 even better.

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Personally

  • I’ve lost approximately 40 pounds. I did not reach my goal of 75 pounds, but I am very encouraged by the amount of weight that I have lost. I believe that I am on my way to losing the total amount of weight that I believe I need to lose.
  • I’ve read 15 books. I know that I set the goal of reading 2 books per month, but 15 is more than I have ever read in a single year. I actually believe that I am becoming a reader.

Professionally

  • I had the privilege of participating in a conference as one of the leaders. That weekend was a great highlight of 2015 professionally.
  • I was called as the interim pastor of a local church in October. I have always believed that pastoring was something that God had in store for me and this is a confirmation of that belief.
  • I also had the opportunity to preach 19 other times in 2015, including once at my home church which was a major highlight of the year.
  • I completed training as a Christian Life Coach. This area of ministry enhances Directed Path Ministries as I continue to minister to individuals and couples as they strive to improve their lives through Christ.

2015 has been a great year. I might not have accomplished my goals but many great things have been accomplished. I truly look forward to what 2016 is going to bring.

What are some things that you have accomplished in 2015?

New Year’s Goals

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I have set New Year’s Resolutions for years.  Most of the time the resolutions have been about losing weight or being more productive in certain areas of my life.  Even though these things are important, I would ignore them or break them after just a few weeks or even a few days.  This year I am seeking to do things a little differently.  While participating in Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever, I have decided to work on some goals that would be meaningful to Directed Path Ministries as well as to me and Lisa as well.  I would like to share with you some of those goals that are related to the ministry.

Goals

  1. Write at least 2 blogs per week.  I believe that this goal will help me in my discipline of writing and challenge me in my study of ministry.  (Several months I will be participating in a blog challenge that will cause me to blog daily.)
  2. Write an e-book.  I have an outline for that book already.  I am looking into the format that will be the best way to publish that book. 
  3. Develop a Do-It-Yourself Marriage Counseling Video package.  This product will be to help couples work through some of the minor issues in their relationships.  Prayerfully it will help foster marriage health.
  4. Read a new marriage book every month.  This goal is one that will be a true challenge for me as I am also reading for my next degree.  Reading has been very trying for me most of my life.  I do believe that this goal will help me in all areas of this ministry.

I know putting these in writing is very daring on my part as it will hold me accountable.  Let’s make 2015 the Best Year Ever.

Brad 2014Bradley D. Watson, BCBT

Directed Path Ministries

After spending more than 25 years on church staffs, God has allowed me to take the experiences and knowledge that I gained to develop a Biblical Counseling ministry.  The basis of this ministry is to allow God’s Word to shine on the main issues in peoples’ lives in order to bring His resolutions to problems.

Develop The Life and Marriage You Desire

2014 and Directed Path Ministries

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LogoforteesAbout this time every year, I begin evaluating the year that is winding up and looking toward the year that is just around the corner.  I know that a lot of people and business owners do the same thing.  I believe that it is a healthy practice because with out proper evaluation and goal setting, the status quo would be the norm.  I don’t know about you, but the status quo is not what I want to accomplish.

As I reflect on this past year, I can see some progress in Directed Path Ministries.   The operation budget has increased, which means growth.  The clerical needs have increased as well.  Over the course of the year, I have averaged 11 appointments per week.  I have had at least 1 new appointment each week.  Now I realize that these numbers do not sound like a lot, yet it reflects an increase in the ministry from last year.

Now as I think about this coming year, I obviously want to see more growth.  I have been asking myself as well as praying about how that is going to be accomplished.  Over the past few weeks I have been in several pastors’ offices introducing the ministry of DPM to them.  I believe the more pastors that I can have a face-to-face with, the more referrals I will receive.  I also am asking for more feedback from individuals so that I can be more sensitive to the “customer service” aspect of owning a business (even if it is a ministry). I am looking to visit with more business-minded individuals as well to understand the business side of running the ministry.  I know that you might be thinking, if it is a ministry why do you need business ideas?  I believe that I have ignored the business side of Directed Path Ministries for the first 3 years of her existence and it is beginning to show in some areas.  My desire is for Directed Path Ministries to be seen as a ministry of excellence as well as a ministry of compassion for people.

I share this with you today for two main reasons.  The first is that I would ask that you would pray with me concerning the future of DPM.  In relationship to the future, I have some specific requests for prayer. images

  1. The ministry would increase.  I would love to be able to see more people each week.  I know there are hurting people and I believe that Biblical Counseling can help heal the hurts.
  2. There would be an avenue into the churches.  I am praying about offering seminars or different events to minister to the area through the local churches concerning specific topics.
  3. The finances would increase.  Yes, I am asking for prayer concerning the finances of DPM.  Even though I have seen growth in the ministry, so many of the people I counsel with are individuals that cannot pay for the counseling.  I am asking that God provides all the needs so that I can continue to minister to each and every person that calls.

images2The second reason that I share these things with you is to ask you to pray about you becoming a financial supporter.  To be quite honest with you, I hesitate to even write this request.  My board of directors knows that when it comes to asking for money, I am the worst.  I never want to be seen as someone that is only doing something for money.  I know that God is going to meet the needs of this ministry.  I am asking you to see if you are supposed to be an instrument of God concerning the finances of Directed Path Ministries.  If you would like to give, you may do so through the website, www.directedpathministries.org.

I want to thank each one of you for reading today and doing what God has laid on your heart to do.

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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