Friday, June 9, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner Where Has Your Focus Been Lately?


When we are taking pictures and are adjusting the camera lense, at first what is seen in the camera lense may be blurry until we can adjust the lense to come into focus. Just like the camera lense, we too can lose our focus and everything around us becomes blurry.


A definition of focus is the center of interest or activity. What has been your focus lately? Has it been Jesus or everything else? The plan of the enemy is to keep us distracted so we lose our focus on Christ.

Ways we lose our focus:

1.      Take our eyes off Jesus and onto our problems and circumstances.
2.      Agreeing with what the enemy shows or tells us.
3.      Getting overwhelmed by someone else’s problems or issues.
4.      Trying to follow the crowd and what everyone else is doing.
5.      Carrying burdens that are way too heavy for us to carry.
6.      Comparing ourselves to others.
7.      Pleasing man instead of God.
8.      Being too busy-with work, with church, or other activities.

A little acronym to help you remember to FOCUS:

Filter out all distractions.
Obtain victory through taking every thought captive.
Connect to God daily.
Utilize your time better; instead of worrying-pray.
Surrender all your fears, anxieties, and worries to Jesus.

When we lose our focus, we lose our perspective.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…Hebrews 12:2

The Christian life involves hard work; it requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God. To live effectively as Christians, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him and stare at our circumstances.

It takes discipline to focus on Jesus and not the turmoil around us. Focusing on our troubles will only divert you away from Jesus.


As Jesus becomes the center of our lives, worry, fear and depression will dissipate and will be replaced with joy, peace, and confidence.  

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner Progress Not Perfection


A definition of progress is to move forward or onward. A definition of perfection is a condition, state or quality being free from all flaws or defects.


Making progress in your life does not equal perfection! Making progress means moving forward step by step, day by day, and never giving up.

As you move forward you will experience bumps and a few set-backs, this is to be expected. When the bumps come, learn from them and keep moving onward. Don’t get stuck by dwelling on what you did wrong-you will never be perfect and will make from time to time mistakes. Learn quickly from your mistakes, repent if you need to, and then get back up.

List some short and long-term goals you would like to achieve, and then break them into categories for professional, physical, relational, spiritual, personal, and financial. Everyday move towards your goals. If you have a stumbling block to your goals one day, don’t beat yourself up and want to quit; try again. Remember you want progress not perfection.

What do you want your life to look like? Write out what you want to achieve (your goals), and ask for the Holy Spirit to help you. You won’t be able to change on your own, you can try but true change comes when the Holy Spirit leads and transforms you to the image and likeness of Christ. Miracles of transformation can happen instantly, but usually the Holy Spirit transforms you one step at a time or one area in your life at a time. I wanted God to change me instantly, but He has desired to transform me a little at a time. I wanted perfection by being changed instantly and God wanted Christ-like transformation. I believe when you have to go through the process of transformation, you can be better equipped for ministry.

The key to remember is to not get stuck on expecting yourself to be perfect with every lesson that God may bring to you, or even with mistakes that you will make along the journey.

 Getting unstuck and making progress means letting go of what others think of you. Letting go of other’s opinions about you will move you forward. People know your name but rarely do they know your story. Making progress means letting go of the past, including past failures. You can never move forward while holding onto your past.

Keep moving forward. Don’t look back at your past. Everyday get up and move towards a better you, and if you mess-up, shake it off and continue to make progress.

Moving on doesn’t mean you forget about things. It just means you have accepted what happened and continue living. SayingImages.com

Stop focusing on what happened and start focusing on what’s going to move you forward. Possibilityoftoday.com


Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner:
In God’s Presence There is Peace, Safety, Guidance, Joy, and Love.
  

Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, lacking in peace and joy, frustrated or even worried? Are you involved in various church activities, functions and attendance but don’t feel refreshed? Maybe it’s time to step away from the busyness of life and step into His presence. People may not understand, and they may try and sway you to do things. There is refreshment and restoration in His presence. Sometimes we need to say “No” to things and people, even if they are good things. Life will keep you busy.


You should get into a quiet place and get rid of all distractions like electronic devices.

If we stay so busy we can have trouble hearing from God and what He wants for us. We can become easily distracted and lose focus. Our strength comes from the Lord. If we feel weak and worn-out, we may need to step away and go to the throne.

When you come into His presence He will lighten your load, and will speak truth about your situations. There is no other place to “fill up” like this. We try and bring comfort to ourselves with food, TV, staying busy with activities, electronics, and for some it can be sex, alcohol, and drugs. But there is no replacement for God’s Holy presence.

What can you do in His presence?
You can sing and worship with praise music.
You can read the Bible and selected scriptures to meditate on.
Be sill and listen for His voice.
Cry, rejoice, and talk to God as if He is your best friend.
Journal what God speaks or impresses to you.


There is no formula to being in His presence. You can do a mixture of things or just one thing, and each time you spend with God can be different. Don’t be set on spending time with God in a certain way. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what He wants you to do.

Anyone need refreshment, restoration, and guidance? If yes, plug into the source, the presence of the Holy Spirit. After being in His presence you will feel refreshed and renewed and in His presence there is no fear, worry, anxiety, stress, and frustration. Step away, carve out time, and say, “No” to things/activities that would pull you away from this time. Everyone needs this, not just pastors and leaders but every Christian who is fighting in this spiritual battle needs to be in His presence. Every Christian also needs this for God to direct and guide their steps, plans, and pour out His anointing on what He has called you to do. In His presence you can receive an outpouring of grace, mercy, joy and peace, and every believer needs this.

You will show me the path of life. In your PRESENCE is fullness of joy;
As your right hand are pleasures fovermore.
Psalm 16:11





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