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Subject: Staying Focused Throughout the New Year
Date: January 4, 2001
Staying Focused Throughout The New Year
As the clock strikes 12:01, New Year's greetings and resolutions are shared. However, in the weeks that follow, those resolutions fade. Can we truly set goals and stay focused throughout the year? Please join us for a stimulating discussion.
1. How do we determine what our focus is?
2. Where does one develop the discipline to remain true to goals?
3. How do we overcome the obstacles that hinder us?
4. Where does God fit into our focus and our staying on track?
5. What role does the Holy Spirit play in our life?
cwt "Lord, I come to you tonight ... and I thank you for the opportunity we have to come together and discuss how we can stay focused - especially on you during this upcoming year. I pray for Ladywolf that you will enable her to stay connected technically ... and that you will comfort and guide her in the difficulties she is going through. May your spirit direct and guide us. In Jesus Name Amen"
cwt Hi snakewind. We are just about to get started
snakewind get started?
Faith are you the moderator cwt?
cwt Our session today is on Staying Focused throughout the New Year .... it is a hostess directed
cwt Yes I am the moderator.
Faith I am new to all of this so please bare with me.
snakewind where should i go to talk to someone about atheism?
Ladywolf Welcome snakewind.
cwt I don't know if any of you went into the new year with resolutions for this year.
Ladywolf Morning and evening prayer and bible study time alone. My closet.
snakewind no, see, i don't want to intterupt your session, i just wondered if there was a room i should go to.
cwt As we enter into a new year ... it is a good time to refocus our perspectives and values.
Faith I want to focus on Jesus first, husband and then children
cwt Any of you want to share what areas you made resolutions in?
Ladywolf I hope I didn't cut the others off?
cwt No ladywolf - you didn't cut anyone off.
Ladywolf I am praying to break bondages in our lives.I still smoke and I know the Lord will deliver.
cwt As we look at areas we want to work on .... we usually need to determine what it is that we really value and how to maintain our focus
Shey this year I want to become a better wife and mother
snakewind thanx cwt
cwt Bondages are often areas that we look at resolving.
cwt How can we establish our priorities? Do we know what they are?
Ladywolf Stay on snakewind.We'd love to have you.
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cwt What people and goals in life matter the most?
cwt Is that a question you know the answer to in your own lives?
cwt I know for me that often fluctuates
Faith God and family matter the most.
Shey for me my priorities are my family and the things I am commited to at church
Ladywolf My priorities are God first, husband, then kids just like Faith.
cwt I also encounter the difficulty with knowing what I value the most ... but allowing my time and priorities to go towards the most immediate crisis at hand.
Ladywolf It seems I have to really listen for the Holy Spirit to guide me.
cwt If we are really honest with ourselves ..... how much do our values line up with our calendars?
Shey probably not very well
cwt When we are in tune with the Holy Spirit .... he has a beautiful way of helping us stay in tune with that which is most important.
cwt It is only when I take over and allow the dailyness of life to take over that I lose my focus to my true priorities and goals.
Ladywolf That's the hard part. I have to get alone to pray and make that time on my calendar.
cwt If you ask yourself the question: Which things that we do are good but not necessary to fulfill my purpose?
Faith How can we better stay "in tune" with the holy spirit?
Ladywolf Good question.
cwt Living the Spirit-filled life is one of the simplest things we can do ....
cwt You will notice on the right hand panel - a link to living the spirit-filled life.... but I will briefly expand/
cwt It is a simple as breathing in and out.
Faith Thank you. I see the link.
cwt We confess to God our sin (as the Holy Spiirit makes us aware of it)
Ladywolf I will go there too.
cwt Then we breathe in the good ..... the spirit's direction
cwt As we literally exhale and inhale we find ourselves living in tune with the spirit.
cwt He guides and directs and we follow.
Ladywolf Does the spirit bring peace and conviction in a gentle way?
cwt The thing that happens is if we parallel it to driving a car .... Jesus is in the car with us ... but we hop into the driver seat and miss out on being a passenger with a tremendous driver
cwt The spirit brings peace and conviction in a gentle way.
Ladywolf Thankyou.
cwt That does not mean a pain-free or trouble-free life , but that deep inner sense that things are under control - even though we cannot see how things will work out.
cwt Our focus is to be and do what God is leading us towards.
Ladywolf How do we overcome habits? I've tried many ways but I feel God is saying wait.
cwt When Christ says he will give us the desires of our hearts, it amazes me when we are in tune with the Spirit, He changes our desires.
cwt You know when we try really hard to do something on our own, it is very very difficult. We find it hard to gather the resolve we need.
cwt I don't really think that God cares so much about our actions as He does about our hearts.
cwt If our hearts are in tune with Christ, it doesn't take long and the actions follow.
Faith I guess we need to learn to rely on God for everything.
cwt I sometimes think that God wants us in a situation where we know that we know that things are being changed because we are trusting Him.
cwt I think so Faith ....
Ladywolf My heart is there.But I have been praying for 6 years and quit a bunch of times. Sorry Faith and others.
cwt We are very self-consumed people and very independent. It takes a lot to trust God.
cwt Are you referring to smoking?
Ladywolf Yes I am.
Ladywolf I am sinning in my body and I am ashamed.
cwt Ladywolf, I think we can get so hung up on the obstacles in our lives.
Ladywolf So I should just keep on trusting.
cwt I was just recently talking to someone about the whole issue of how God sees all our sins in the same light.
cwt The problem is that Christians don't do that ..... we tend to grade them and judge people.
Faith Should we trust God and then work to rid ourselves of addictions?
cwt I think as we trust God .... we allow Him to take control and then some of those things just happen by themselves.
Ladywolf Been there done that but I think I played my own God.
cwt If we try to "white-knuckle" our way through any sins or struggles we seem to gravitate toward it more.
Ladywolf Let go, let god.
cwt It's learning to trust God to love Him and seek Him .... and as we do that our priorities and focuses will truly become more Christ-like.
cwt We really can derail ourselves by trying so hard in our human flesh to do something.
Ladywolf Amen.
Faith Very well said, cwt.
cwt Sometimes people say that God of the old Testament did amazing miracles.
cwt God is the same yesterday, today and forever
cwt He can do those same miracles today.
Ladywolf Shey are still there?
cwt I was just on a short-term mission and we saw God do amazing miracles there.
Shey still here
cwt We wonder why He does it there but not so much at home .... and I think the reason is that at home I rely so heavily on myself
cwt and I am not in situations where I know that God and God alone will do this in and through me.
cwt I would like to pray for you Ladywolf now if I may?
Ladywolf Me too. Then I asked God to break my will and heart and turn it to him.
Ladywolf Thankyou.
cwt Lord I pray for Ladywolf that you would reach down and enable her to place her eyes on you and that she would not look at these difficulties in such a way that she alone can fix them. Help her to trust you and walk in your spirit and that she would experience all that you have planned for her. Amen"
Ladywolf Amen. I feel I am taking all of the others time.Please feel free to go ahead others.
cwt If we look at our upcoming year and determine what areas we want to trust God in, let's discuss how we can develop discipline to remain true to our goals.
cwt Ladywolf .... I think the points we were discussing apply to each of us in different areas - so please don't think you are consuming our time. It challenges me to live more in tune with the Spirit.
Ladywolf Thankyou again. What a vessel for the Lord you are.
cwt So .... we determine our upcoming goals .... how can we stay on track.... and accomplish them?
cwt (Thanks ladywolf)
cwt I think we need to take our goals and break them into bite-size pieces.
Ladywolf Like How?
cwt For example .... if I determine I want a deeper devotional life ....
cwt I need to come up with a plan that is realistic to where I am at in my life so that I will truly do it.
cwt Then I need to choose a time that works for me and do it.
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cwt If I miss a day .... I need to pick up and keep going the next and not feel like giving up.
cwt Hi kcats24
Ladywolf Yes, I get up earlier than the kids and pray and study.
cwt We are discussing how to stay focused throughout the new year ..... and how we can stay disciplined to what our goals are.
kcats24 HELLO
cwt Any other examples of breaking down our goals into realistic and bite-size pieces?
cwt How about accountability? Is that important? Is it necessary?
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cwt Hi
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cwt You know even the area of physical exercise is similar to spiritual discipline.
cwt If we try to run a marathon a week after we have started exercising we won't make it. We will be discouraged and upset.
Ladywolf You do it even if you don't feel like it.
Shey Iwant to spend more time with my kids so should probably go from week to week and see the little changes rather than look at the whole year
Faith I guess we should make a decision, come up with a plan and follow through.
cwt However, if we train properly .... keep going when we fall ... understand that some days really are terrible .... but to keep on going and training.
cwt I like that Shey ....
cwt I agree Faith.
cwt Ask someone who cares about you to help you.
cwt Explain your purpose to them and elicit their support. Ask them to understand when you need to focus and to remind you when you're off course.
cwt Pray together about the fulfillment of your purpose and how they can help you .... and then do the same for them.
cwt Mark your plan in a journal .... remember to mark the progress.
Shey that sound like a great odea
cwt It's so easy to see the bad days.
Ladywolf I tried the journel. It's great.
cwt For example .... Ladywolf ... in the area of smoking ... maybe there are 3 out of 4 days you smoke less. Don't let the 4th day defeat you.
cwt Look at the 3 days you did less
cwt We have a minor failure or trip-up ... and we let it undo all the good we have accomplished.
Ladywolf You are right. Find the glory in the little things too.
cwt That is right
Shey the little things can be so encouraging if we let them
cwt Take a look at your schedule .... which things contribute to your purpose? Which things do not?
cwt Then ..... be courageous and begin untying yourself from the purpose-busting activities. You can unleash yourself from some activities immediately, others will require time.
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cwt Scaling back will enhance your passion and pleasure for fulfilling your purpose.
cwt Where does God fit into our focus and help us to stay on-track?
Shey I think He has to be the center of it all or the rest will never turn out as good as it could
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cwt Can you share more about areas that you want to focus more on this coming year?
cwt kcats ..... is the new year a time when you re-evaluate and make resolutions?
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cwt Welcome back .... did you get bumped out?
Ladywolf I just got disconnected again.? Is there a time limit?
cwt No ....
Ladywolf I am new at this, sorry.
Shey this year I want to spend more time with each child by themselves giving them individual time to let them know they are all special
cwt That is so good .... how are you going to do that - do you have a plan?
Ladywolf That is so special and sweet. Bless your heart.
cwt I find nothing is more effective than booking something into the calendar. That is the only way it happens for me.
cwt My intentions can just go in the wind.
Ladywolf well said.
cwt Sometimes just verbalizing these ideas can put feet to them.
cwt I feel accountable if I state something.
Shey I've been reading a book called Loving Obedience and it just has lots of good Ideas as to how to build their selfesteme and make them into good people. I want to follow some of those ideas
cwt That sounds excellent.
cwt How old are your kids?
Shey six almost four and sixteen months
cwt I think that principle can fit any age .... even husbands.
cwt We have such an ability to influence those people whom God has allowed into our lives.
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cwt Ladywolf - do you have children?
cwt Hi pumkin
cwt Welcome
Ladywolf Yes i have two. Six and four who really love the Lord.
cwt We are just discussing the how to stay focused and enable our goals to take place.
Ladywolf Hi pumkin,how are you.
Shey the book is by William Richardson and I would highly recomend it to all parents
pumkin hey ladywolf i'm doing fine and yourself?
cwt That sounds excellent Shey ..... pumkin ... she just shared about building into her kid's lives and spending time individually with them to build their self esteems.
Ladywolf Great I am praying for your family.
cwt Do you two know each other?
Ladywolf We spoke the other night for alittle while. Great fellowship.
cwt Neat ...
pumkin thank-you i'm praying for you also i just got out of service tonight and we had a good time praising the lord
cwt Was that in this chat room?
Ladywolf Yes cwt. It's a blessing.
cwt In our final segment of this session I would like to discuss how we can help our families focus more on Christ in this upcoming year.
cwt What kind of ideas do you have that we could help our families come to a deeper relationship with Christ?
Ladywolf I bought both kids new bible with their own carriers. They think they are neat.
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Shey I'm try to have devotions with them on there own levels
cwt Do you have devotions with them each night too?
Shey I try to
Ladywolf I do my best but I would like everynight and we have cuddle and prayer time in the am.
pumkin i have an idea, stay in the word and the word is christ. and thats how we get closer to Christ and thats how we get a deeper relationship with Him.
cwt I am noticing our oldest is getting to the stage where he reads quickly to "get it done" and I want to help him find more meaning in his quiet time.
cwt He is 01
cwt 10
cwt I am thinking of having a short discussion following each reading to see what he has learned
Ladywolf I would love devotional time with my husband but I don;t want to push it.
pumkin i thank
cwt I think having devotions with our spouse is something as wives we need to be sensitive about.
cwt It isn't an issue that should be contensious.
Shey what do you mean cwt
cwt It's easy to allow it to become a legastic and sometimes divisive issue but I don't think that is what God would want.
Ladywolf I really don't understand either.
cwt If our spouse isn't ready to, willing or able ..... I think we should just pray for them and love them.
Ladywolf Should we invite or ask?
cwt I think it is fine to ask.....
Ladywolf Thankyou again.
cwt I think if we want to have it every day with them if they are not ready .... then it pushes the men further away from you.
Ladywolf I already learned that the hard way.
cwt Perhaps when a family member is going through a hard time ... he might be ok with you asking if you could pray together for that person.
cwt Start small .... and watch it grow.
cwt I don't know why ... but I think many men fear they might be put into a box and they panic.
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cwt So if this issue is handled with an open-hand with lots of love, it could get a very different response.
Ladywolf I will just gently ask this year and smiles even if he says no.
cwt That can be hard too as we allow ourselves to feel rejected .... so pray that God will give you lots of inner strength.
cwt It seems that many women struggle with this issue of desiring deep intimate devotional times.
Ladywolf I will. And He will.Shey please go on.You have great insight.
cwt But ... be encouraged, that doesn't mean that your husband doesn't love God or you .... it may just be very uncomfortable for him.
cwt He may have never seen it modelled.
cwt Our hour has flown by .... thank you so very much for joining us. I would like to close our time in prayer.
Ladywolf I must go now. Thankyou all, it's late in Florida and may God Bless you all Greatly.
cwt "Lord, thanks for this challenging discussion. I ask that you would guide and direct all of us as we seek you this year. In Jesus name Amen."
cwt Thanks ladywolf ... God bless you.
cwt Goodnight
