Where has the year gone?

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Where has the year gone? In just one day we will enter a new year, 2015. It seems like yesterday that I was in high school and thinking about “how old” I would be in 2000. It is now 15 years later and I’m still marveling over the New Century.

What was this year like for you? Did you do a lot of traveling? Where family members “added” as in a marriage or a new birth? Did you do something you always wanted to do? Did you complete anything on your “bucket list”? Did you make goals at the start of 2014? How did you do?

Each year I make “goals” for the coming year, activities that will enhance my spiritual and physical life. I write them down and review a few times a year. I am a “list” person, I write it down and cross off as I complete things. It helps to “see” the accomplishments. Whatever works for you do it; we are each unique and what works for me will probably not work for you. Find what makes you comfortable and do it.

Making goals for the coming year should not be hard. Start out with small things. If you already walk 1 day a week make it two. If you read a chapter a day in the Bible try to read it through in a year, there are so many “reading plans” that one of them will probably work in your schedule. There is also a Bible reading plan to read it through in two years.

Think outside the box. Look for opportunities in your community, school, work, and church that you can do or help with.

Here is a list that can get you started:

à       Attend a Bible study

à       Keep a thankful/grateful journal

à       Read the Bible

à       Memorize scripture to help with problems/issues

à       Volunteer

à       Encourage/help others

à       Exercise regularly

à       Pray and ask the Lord for guidance

As you look forward to next year, take a few minutes to reflect on 2014. Like most families, our family had sad and happy times this year. We suffered the sudden lost of my beloved brother-in-law, Thomas, but it drew us closer together. Cousins renewed friendships with cousins and old friends mourned with us. Everyone banded together and dropped whatever they were doing to be a help and an encouragement. We have so many happy memories of things we did with him, of this I am so thankful.

I will close with some entries, written throughout the year, from my thankful journal:

à       Protection from storm

à       Cup of tea

à       Food

à       God’s glorious creation

à       Morning sounds of birds and squirrels – I can hear

à       Mark doing well after surgery

à       Breakfast with friends

à       God’s wonderful creation

à       Kayaks

à       Family

à       Job

à       Coffee

à       Bible – daily comfort from God’s word

à       Stove – I don’t have to cook over a camp fire

à       Refrigeration – keeps my food cold

à       Winter coats

à       Ireland trip with the family – blessing and within budget

à       Neighbors – we are so blessed with great neighbors

à       Knitting

à       Annual “tea” with granddaughters

à       Beautiful sunrise – I can see

à       God’s mercy

à       Skype with grandsons

à       Children

à       God’s faithfulness

à       God’s greatness

à       God’s comfort and peace in tragedy

I could go on and on of my thankfulness to God for all He has done and will do.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

Start the New Year with a “goal list” and maybe a thankful journal and you will be pleasantly surprised when you review next year.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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

Goals 2012

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

As I sit and reflect on the past year I remember many things, some are positive and some are negative. As I wrote I thought, negative to whom? The Bible says, “All things work together for good to them that love God …” Romans 8:28

I usually set spiritual goals for myself each year, reviewing periodically to “stay on track”. One of the meanings for the word goal is “the end toward which effort is directed: aim “. My aim is to draw closer to the Lord to “know him and the power of his might” Ephesians 6:10

Today I reviewed the goals I set last January. I kept or surpassed most of the goals. There was one that I didn’t even do, which I will again put on my list. I was encouraged by what I did accomplish.

Do you want to grow closer to the Lord this year? Set some goals. Do not start with big goals but with little goals.

Suggestions:

1. Keep a prayer/praise journal. What can you write? Write prayers to the Lord. Write down answers to prayers. Write down praises, thanksgivings and gratitude to God.

… I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. Psalm 9:1

2. Memorize verses that will help with a problem in your life i.e. gossip, anger, selfishness etc.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

3. Read the Bible daily.

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:16

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5

4. Pick up a daily devotional or sign up for an email devotional.

5. Be an encourager in your corner of the world. Send cards, emails or make phone calls to those hurting or those who need to be encouraged by a kind word or deed.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

6. Read nonfiction Christian books i.e. spiritual growth, biographies.

Everyone is in a different spiritual place in life. Don’t look at what others are doing, ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to do.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. II Corinthians 10:12

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. 2Peter 3:18

As you set goals for 2012, 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 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

Goals

What is a blog? A place to share with others.

I have always wanted to share notes from my Bible journal I have kept though the years. Some of the notes are long, some are short. Basically, it is how the Lord has spoken to me.

This is the beginning of 2010 - a great time to set new goals for the year. Here are some ideas to help you along.

Pray everyday
1 Thes. 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

Read Bible daily
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Do daily devotions
Psalm 119:103
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Read books that will help your spiritual growth
Philip. 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Encourage others – write notes weekly, monthly
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Ephes. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Memorize Scripture
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Be Content
Philip. 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Be Thankful
Col. 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Psalm 118:29
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1 Thes. 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.