Happy New Year!

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 

Happy New Year to all, the year has flown by, I needed to remind myself that today is 2013. Can you believe it? What will this year hold? Only the Lord knows, but one thing is certain we must be “about the Master’s business”.

As each day goes by it is another day closer to eternity. What can I do differently this year from what I did in 2012? Each year I set goals for my life. I reviewed my goals yesterday and noticed I “fell short” of meeting some of them. Does that mean I set no goals in 2013? No, but it does mean I review and think about why I did not meet them? Was I too busy doing other things than things I should have been doing? Did I set the goals too high? Did circumstances change from the beginning to the end of the year?

There are a lot of variables when we set goals. We need to be realistic. I usually set a goal of 4-5 Christian (counseling, growth, biographies) books to read. I love to read so it is usually a realistic goal for me, if you are not a reader setting a goal of 1 or 2 Christian books a year might be just right. Knowing ourselves and our time constraints will help us to attain practical goals.

Here are some suggestions:

·        Prayer journal – record your prayers/answers

·        Be thankful – make a thankful journal and write something in it every day or once a week

·        Read the Bible daily

·        Attend a Bible study or pick up a Bible study to do individually (Kay Arthur, Elizabeth George, Beth Moore, etc.)

·        Acts of kindness – do something for someone every week or month – make a meal, call, send a card, babysit – it will be different for different people

·        Memorize verses to help your spiritual growth

·        Read non-fiction Christian books

The main goal during 2013 is to grow closer to the Lord.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18  

As you set goals for 2013, do not look back on what you did not do, look forward to what you will do, with the Lord’s help.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Have a wonderful day and a  Happy New Year.

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Happy New Year

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

A new year is a time we reflect on what was and what will be. We cannot change what was but we can learn from it and make goals for what will be. Think and reflect on last year. Did you accomplish everything you set out to do? Did you make and keep resolutions? Did you set goals for last year? Did you meet the goals?

Personally, I do not make resolutions but goals. What is the difference you may ask? I looked up the definitions in Webster’s dictionary. Here is what the dictionary says:

Resolution : the act or process of resolving: as a : the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones b : the act of answering : solving c : the act of determining d : the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance e : the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents f (1) : the division of a prosodic element into its component parts (2) : the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable g : the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum

Goals -a : the terminal point of a race b : an area to be reached safely in children's games
2: the end toward which effort is directed : aim

I know people who have 5 and 10 year goals. The goals they set are usually for their careers, future homes , future vacations or retirement. We need to set goals for our spiritual life as well as our physical life. Our goal each year should be to grow closer to God. Where are you this year in your relationship with the Lord compared to last year.

When planning goals for the coming year, be realistic. Write down what you plan to accomplish, look at it periodically to stay on track. Do not get discouraged if you fall short of some of the goals, adjust if necessary.

Here are some ideas for the coming year:

Read God’s word daily. (Psalm 18:30, Psalm 30:5, Psalm 119:105, 130)

Memorize verses that will help your spiritual growth. Do you have a problem with anger? Look up all the anger verses and commit to memorize a few of them. Do you have a problem with gossip or envy? The Bible has the answer. No matter what the situation we can go to our guide book for life. (Psalm 119:11).

Do you love to read? Pick up a few Christian books such as biographies, spiritual growth or nonfiction.

Do you have a spiritual gift? Yes, we all do, read about spiritual gifts and pray for guidance to use yours. Get involved in a ministry at church, it doesn’t matter how big or small the involvement is, just get involved. Use your gift to help and encourage others. (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12)

How is your prayer life? Do you pray only when everything is going wrong? Prayer is talking to your Heavenly Father. Put time aside each day to speak to God. Our prayers do not need to be eloquent but simply opening our hearts to God. What would your life be like if you never spoke to your spouse or children or only spoke when you needed something? We need to keep the gates of communication open between all our loved ones, especially our Heavenly Father. (I Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6)

Be an encourager to others in your corner of the world, write notes, help someone financially, or volunteer. (Romans 12:10)

As you make plans and goals for the coming year remember to keep the focus on God.

Have a wonderful day,
Donna