Have To Start Somewhere!

Goals for 2011...

These goals are in no particular order nor are they all that I want for my life in 2011, but you have to start somewhere. These are just a few things that have been on my mind and heart.

1. All throughout my life, Scripture memory has been vital to my walk with Christ. I grew up in a private, Christian school that encouraged Scripture memory. The school even made the memorization of God's Word part of the curriculum. I am so grateful, because the Word of God does not return void. It's been a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105) from the time I was a young girl to now in my mid twenties. While staying in the Word has always been a priority in my life, I have slacked off on Scripture memory. At times I have done better, but I want to pick it back up and run with it! My goal is to memorize one passage of Scripture a week. Not because I have to, because I want to! I know how much I need it, and I feel that it's a spiritual discipline that we sometimes neglect as adults. Paul writes in 2 Timothy that we need to do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. The Word of God is alive and powerful. It exposes our inmost thoughts and desires, and we are to hide it in our heart that we might not sin against Him. Lord, let my delight be in Your law. I long to meditate on it day and night. For those that do are like trees planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither.

2. I recently bought a mail organizer for my kitchen. I am the world's worst at not checking my mail box every day, letting it pile up, opening mail and sticking it in a drawer or some other really random place. It drives me crazy that I do this. So, I fixed this a few months ago by making a simple purchase. However, I still have not gotten a system down. I found the perfect organizer for the perfect place in my kitchen, but not too much has changed. My goal is to check my mail every day, and have designated spots within my organizer to place certain pieces of mail (bills, invitations, etc)...

3. This next one will not be easy. My goal is to reduce the number of times I visit the yogurt shop, and by reduce I mean that I will only visit the shop I love so dearly once a week. I am spending entirely too much money on yogurt. I never understood how someone could spend the money they do on coffee (i.e.Starbucks), but now I am doing it with yogurt. If something is that hard for you to give up, you know it's a problem. We need to tell our flesh "no" more than we do. It's good for us, good for me.

4. The cold weather makes it more difficult, but I must continue with my physical fitness. My goal is to go to the gym 4x/wk, with consistent cardio and weight training. I fully intend on continuing with Boot Camp, but I know myself. This extreme weather is not for me. I can handle cold, and bundle up... to a certain degree. But I'm thinking I'm going to have to pick back up with Boot Camp in the spring.

5. Recently, the company I work for made some changes in regards to dress code. To be quite honest, I was dreading the change. For two years, I have been completely comfortable in scrubs and tennis shoes every day of my working life. And for the majority of my life, with the exception of college, I have had the privilege of wearing some type of uniform. It makes life so easy. I've always been the girl that wants to be cute and comfortable. And... that is still me. However, I'm realizing how much fun it is to get dressed again, and how when I put a little more effort into anything (especially my dress) it makes me feel even better. Anyway, I'm still trying to figure out my closet. Some days are easier than others, but this brings me to my next goal. Keep clothing, shoes, and accessories organized for the purpose of putting together what I already have and using it well.

6. Quit putting things off. Just do it. (Whatever it is!) Several years ago, Point of Grace released a song entitled "How You Live." The lyrics are simple but profound. I frequently think about the song, but this year it means a little something different to me than ever before... Check it out.

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want but want what you have
And don't spend your life lookin back

[Chorus:]
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
And let it all out
Cause you won't regret it
Lookin back from where you have been
Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you lived

[Verse 2:]
So go to the ball game
And go to the ballet
Go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be okay

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Wherever you are and wherever you been
Now is the time to begin

[Verse 3:]
To give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
Cause all that you do is bound to come back to You
So think of your fellow men
Make peace with God but make peace with yourself
Cause in the end there's nobody else

[Chorus]

Cause it's not who you knew and it's not what You did

It's how you lived

7. As long as I have been following Christ, I have always had a desire to know more and for Him to take me deeper. Last night I went to church with some of my dearest friends and was so encouraged by the message. Our text was Proverbs 3, and the Pastor was speaking on choices. Even before the message, certain verses throughout this text had been penetrating my heart. In fact, I had been praying for myself and some sweet friends (all in different situations) that we would not lean on our own understanding but trust Him. Last night I was reminded of so many things and how life is simply a sum total of the choices we make. It's not as simple as that, sometimes our choices are quite complicated. Sometimes, they don't make sense. Sometimes others don't agree. Life gets messy, but Jesus is not surprised by the messiness or the chaos or the complicated choices. He is present in the midst of it all. In 1 Kings, the Lord asked Solomon, "What shall I give you?" His response was one that I think would be familiar to all of us. He said, "I do not know how to go out or come in. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind-that I may discern between good and evil." Solomon asked for wisdom and God granted Him that and so much more. The Lord was pleased with his request, and so I want it to be in my own life. I'm crying out for myself, for my family, for my friends that God would grant us the ability to apply truth and knowledge to our lives, so that we might live successfully for His glory. Wisdom is the sense that God gives, and we have been given the mind of Christ. My goal is to continue making choices in faith, knowing that He is good and that His love endures forever. My goal is to continue to allow the Word of God to transform my mind that I might be able to discern His will better than ever before in the daily choices I have to make. My goal is to fear less and to delightfully anticipate more of what God has for my life. The pastor reminded us last night that our today's turn into tomorrows. We don't have to worry about the will of God, because if we are loving Him, abiding in Him, making Him known...He will make our paths straight. Truly, the best way to know the will of God is to do the will of God. It won't always be easy. In fact, a lot of times it will be just plain hard. But that keeps our hearts aching and longing for the day when there will be a new heaven and new earth and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

To Know Him is to Love Him, To Love Him is to Trust Him, To Trust Him is to Obey Him...

And blessing will come....