The New Year comes in quickly like a thief stealing time and at the same time creating new opportunities, new paths, new journeys and experiences. The new year is both like a mirror in which we can reflect and a blank canvas by which we can paint and create.
I've reflected upon 2010 and written my goals for 2011, determined my 3 new habits I'd like to form using the handy guides I've found and set my mind to ordering and using the moleskin journals I ordered for scripture memory, as that is one of my habits for 2011. I've planned through March our Family Worship, determined to make it intentionally WONDERFUL. Cole is set about for school and the twins enrolled in their usual classes to keep them having fun, and miss Brynn, growing too quickly, also set about to learn and experience new things this year.
We have plans to determine a family Mission Statement, Justin and I, when the time allows and his travel has subsided. This is to assist in the INTENTIONAL Living and DAILY breathing of our family. As we move in and out of life while it often rests easy like the calm of the sea and sometimes roars like the tides of the ocean. The Family Mission Statement a place to keep us grounded, with our sights set upon the goal, and moving in a direction.
This will take work. Time, money, planning, commitment, prayer, and much more to achieve. But, I will not be thwarted! I think to myself, "I will TRY harder this year". For there are many years before this when resolve was made and goals set that did not get returned to as the months passed. We are creatures of strong, often unchangeable habit. Thus the need to form NEW HABITS. I love what Ann posted on her blog today about trying harder:
Trying harder only results in harder trials.
I've reflected upon 2010 and written my goals for 2011, determined my 3 new habits I'd like to form using the handy guides I've found and set my mind to ordering and using the moleskin journals I ordered for scripture memory, as that is one of my habits for 2011. I've planned through March our Family Worship, determined to make it intentionally WONDERFUL. Cole is set about for school and the twins enrolled in their usual classes to keep them having fun, and miss Brynn, growing too quickly, also set about to learn and experience new things this year.
We have plans to determine a family Mission Statement, Justin and I, when the time allows and his travel has subsided. This is to assist in the INTENTIONAL Living and DAILY breathing of our family. As we move in and out of life while it often rests easy like the calm of the sea and sometimes roars like the tides of the ocean. The Family Mission Statement a place to keep us grounded, with our sights set upon the goal, and moving in a direction.
This will take work. Time, money, planning, commitment, prayer, and much more to achieve. But, I will not be thwarted! I think to myself, "I will TRY harder this year". For there are many years before this when resolve was made and goals set that did not get returned to as the months passed. We are creatures of strong, often unchangeable habit. Thus the need to form NEW HABITS. I love what Ann posted on her blog today about trying harder:
Trying harder only results in harder trials.
Self-striving nurtures self-hatred. Toiling in the flesh produces foiling in the soul.
The wind lifts the branches of the spruce trees that tower outside my window. I cannot see the wind, where she comes from, where she goes, but I watch a thin veil of snow, blowing in with her, going off with her.
And the wind whispers with rumors from Home: to track new ways, one needs wind’s hope, His Spirit.
His Spirit wind covers our muddled tracks. The grace of His Spirit, fills our empty spots, intercedes, and gives us a fresh start every day.
“God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible.
What a pity when we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” -A.W. Tozer
1. SET BACK TO THE WIND
Set back to the wind, and let His Spirit gently carry when the feet are too weak to carry on.
Not to try harder but to pray new prayers that transport to new places: “Spirit, fill more of me. Lift me, Spirit.”
Set out into New Year knowing,“It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing” (Jn 6:36).
Set back to His Wind and let the Spirit Himself fill the sails of life.
2. SET JAW
Set back to the wind and set jaw to persevere. “For we add to our faith, perseverance.”
The day will be long, the way deep. Discouraged, we’ll be tempted to turn back to familiar, rutted paths. But set hand he plow and refuse to turn back.
For, really, what can go awry? The Spirit’s got your back.
3. SET TIMES
Set, fixed, times to make certain tracks each day allows for the wind to move us, for inspiration to surprise us. Sporadic creativity or intermittent commitment generally fails to forge a steady trail. Progress is born out of rhythm, routine, regularity….set times.
It is how the saints met God: Daniel prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10), the psalmist purposed to praise seven times a day, the early disciples prayed at fixed hours (Acts 2:15). If set times are the necessary catalysts for spiritual growth, so are set times critically compelling elements for life growth. With back set to the wind, and jaw set, set habitual times to pioneer new habits. Uncertain times lead to certain failure.
4. SET SIGHTS
Every day keep the intermediate goals in clear line of sight.
Set goals into achievable segments, and fix sights on the these midway markers: one pound shed this week, 15 minutes of organization, one date night a week with a child. Set sights close…
“By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I am not turning back” (Phil 3:13 MSG).
5. SET OUT
Simply, finally, take the first step. Again and again.
The wind, hope on its wings, sweeps each new day clean before us, and sweeps over our tracks from yesterday, filling with grace.
“Jesus said…You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day” (Luke 9:62 MSG).
This is my prayers. To put my mind and my heart here, towards God, drawing nearer to Him that our best laid goals and plan and habits would come from His strength, His resolve in Us, and His will. It will only be by His Great Power that we move INTENTIONALLY this year.
This is my prayers. To put my mind and my heart here, towards God, drawing nearer to Him that our best laid goals and plan and habits would come from His strength, His resolve in Us, and His will. It will only be by His Great Power that we move INTENTIONALLY this year.
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