FOCUS!

 

This Facebook article (below) spoke to me this week and I hope it helps you or someone who's struggling with distractions.   I'd been struggling with keeping up with all the things on my plate lately.  I prayed about this and God showed me several things to do.

First, I looked at all of the duties I have as a wife, mother, grandmother, rebbetzin, artist, and writer.  I decided to give up some of my duties at the synagogue.  This helped tremendously.  God bless the members of our congregation.  They have such tender, willing hearts to help us and others.  We are blessed to have such a loving family.

Taking the many synagogue duties off my plate has allowed me to have much more clarity so that I can now focus on my writing.  I have six books that are critiqued, edited, and ready to format for publication.  I'm also working on a project about my paternal grandmother that I'm enjoying greatly.  And I have a book that I illustrated over thirty years ago that I ran across when I was organizing my writing files!  I'm really excited about that project. 

 

The second thing I've done is to write a daily, weekly, and monthly list of things to do.  I learned as a Mary Kay sales director to analyze that list and decide which were the six most important things I'd listed.  After my daily quiet time, I start with number one on the daily list and don't stop until the six things are done.  Yes, there are times I don't finish the list.  No worries!  I just put that thing as number one on the next day's list.  This works.  

 

The third thing God showed me was to stay focused.  Maybe I have a touch of ADD, but I can think about as well as do several things at one time.  I'm learning to write the idea down for later instead of losing focus on the most important task at hand.  

 

The final thing is to put my phone on silent and stay off the internet.  Talk about distractions! These are the worst.  Another thing I learned in Mary Kay is to be proactive instead of reactive.  My focus has to be on the important, not the distraction. So, I'm learning to be like my dear, sweet husband who checks his mail and internet priorities twice a day only. 

 

 This article by Nancy Campbell was a confirmation that God was guiding me.  He is a good and faithful father who answers our prayers and guides us when we come to Him with our problems.

 

ARE YOU FOCUSED?

by Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies

 (used by permission)

In order to counteract distractions this we must get into the habit of becoming disciplined and focused. How can we FOCUS? I'll share an acrostic with you, and as I do, I'll point three fingers back at me!

 

F FOLLOW the Lord closely. Don't lag behind where you are too far away to hear His voice. When distractions get in between you and the Lord, be ruthless and shove them out of the way. What are the things that you have allowed to come in that have dimmed His voice? Are you a Facebook timewaster? Addicted to movies? Whatever it may be, take stock and discipline your time. Stipulate what time you allow yourself to use your electronics.

 

O OPEN your heart to the Holy Spirit instead of all the media and technology all around you (James 4:8). Open your heart to God's Word, which means you must discipline yourself to read it.

 

C CALL upon the Lord to help you (Romans 10:13). You can't do it in your own strength.

 

U UNDERSTAND your calling (Ephesians 5:17). If God has blessed you with children, motherhood is your highest calling. The devil will tempt you to get involved with so many extra "good" things, but they will weaken your power and influence as a mother.

 

S SIMPLIFY your life. The more stuff you have the more it fills up your life, and the more work it takes to look after it all. Get rid of everything you don't need (more fingers pointing back at me)! My daughter, Evangeline, loves to say: "I'm not wasting my time running around after stuff; I'm using my time for God and my children." But it's not only material stuff we must throw out. It's all the time-wasting hours we spend on so many other things. Knock off some things you are involved in. Go out less. Focus on the important. Eliminate the less important. Discipline your life.

 

Keep focused. Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

P.S. Read these Scriptures: Numbers 14:24; Psalm 57:7; 63:8; 108:1; Proverbs 4:25-27; 16:32; 25:28; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:12-14; and Titus 2:12.

 

NOW: Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life by Mrs. Sarah Coller

Have you ever had the experience of finding the right book at just the right time?

This happened when Sarah Coller's book NOW: Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life came into my hands. 

I've always been very goal driven. . .until the last year or so.  Ever since my mother's passing, I've been dwelling in a valley of grief.  I'd put aside my artistic, and writing goals and spent months in reading, writing in my journal, and watching birds while sitting on my back porch.  It was a quiet time of reflection and needed for my healing.

Over the last month, as I read Sarah's book, I began to get itchy. . .tired of staying on the porch.  I began to want something more.

Sarah's book reminded me of my dreams and goals and gave me just the jump start I needed to get back on track.  I was inspired by her journey as a young wife and mother with nine children.  If she could reach her goal of writing a book, then I could, too.  Her book encouraged me to dream again and helped me walk out of the valley of grief.  

Here are a few of the chapter headings of her book:

• Right now
• Purging Procrastination
• Jesus, Be the Center
• The Heart Check
• Looking for Change? Change Your Mindset
• It All Begins With a Step
• Know Your Purpose and Beat Discouragement
• Allow for Speed Bumps, Potholes and Head-On Collisions
• Obedience: Our Primary Motivation

As a believer, her Bible-centered focus reminded me of the One who birthed the goals still on my heart.  She also pinned me down to think through each of her points by providing space in each chapter to pray and write answers to her questions.  

The book is short, as are the chapters.  It could easily be read in one sitting, but it's best when savored slowly while taking the time to pray and write one's responses.  I think the book would make a great group study, too. 

I promise you'll be encouraged, inspired, and will take those dusty dreams off the shelf.  Since reading the book, here's how I've followed through on my long neglected dreams and goals:

• purchased a mountain dulcimer and arranged to attend a workshop this week
• set up an appointment with a mentor to help me work toward publishing a book about how G-d brought my husband and me together after forty years
• set up weekly meetings with a writing accountability partner
• wrote several poems
• worked on a compilation of poems for my first book of poetry to be published on Create Space

I'm grateful to Sarah for this timely book, and for her obedience to G-d in following through on the dreams and goals He's given her.  She's blessed me, and I pray her book will bless others.  

 

You can purchase the book from Amazon at this link:  NOW: Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life.

I'll be sure to let you know when my book is published, Gail-Friends.  I know you'll want to read it, too!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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