I've loved the lazy, rainy start to the new year. Gave me lots of time to think. and read. and do a little reflecting. 2010 just wasn't such a standout year. Nothing HUGE happened. No moves (YAH!!), no major accomplishments, just lots of little, everyday joys, smiles, failures, and disappointments. It. was. life.
It's easy to bounce from one high to the next ... or to mark years by successfully managing one low to the next. But I think lots of our growth just occurs in the regular, everyday kinds of stuff that's not any too exciting or any too harsh. That's what this last year was ...
I'm not sure who said this, but I wholeheartedly agree ...
The work of God is always slower, deeper, more costly and more rewarding than anything I would ever choose.
So, I am walking into 2011 dreaming of some new adventures, hoping for some answered prayers, anticipating God to do lots of stuff, and excited for a reason to reevaluate and start fresh. There are many reasons to be thankful and many things to be excited about: going back to Zambia, taking 40 medical folks to Haiti, training for the Warrior Dash (anybody in??? It involves fire, mud, and a little running!), training to another half marathon, being healthy and feeling good, being intentional to keep up with people who have been a part of who I am, being creative - I have LOTS of crafting projects on my mind ... hmmmm, I think I'm glad 2011 is here!!
I was looking at my goals from last year ... and although I didn't meet them all at the level I had wanted, they were consistently on my mind, heart, and calendar. So, I think I'll take them and with a little tweaking, keep them, and hopefully meet them in new ways for another year ...
1. Spend daily time with God. It's been a blessing to be in a sweet habit of starting my day with my diet coke, my little corner of the couch and God. However, I realize how much time I waste that could be better spent. So, in addition to my quiet time and the studying, etc. I do for work, I want to make it a goal to read one book each month just to help inspire, challenge, motivate my personal relationship with Christ.
2. Be healthy! I am back in the WW bandwagon, planning to lose back to my WW goal by March. I feel so much better when I am active and healthy and this is the area I failed most in this past year. Eating out and late, long days, being tired don't make this easy. But I'm going in proactive and gonna make it work! Training for a Warrior Dash and half marathon make this a little more exciting. And January 10th, I start a 21 day Daniel fast with some awesome girls! I am really excited about these 3 weeks of prayer, fasting, and discipline. God has laid on my heart some areas to concentrate my prayers on. It's not gonna be easy (no Diet Coke!) but it's gonna be good.
3. Community. I love the opportunity to share life in this small little way via the blogworld ... andI realize that necessitates consistency. But I am also seeking a small group I can be involved with here in "real" world as well. Not sure what that's gonna look like or how/when it will happen, but I'm looking and praying.
4. Intentionality. We miss so many incredible opportunities sheerly because we don't look or act. I'm going to be more intentional about the things I enjoy: people, creating, adventure, entertaining. Can't wait to see what God provides in this area. And more importantly, going to be more intentional with my faith - taking time to share the hope that is IN me, to care about others (reminded of Jesus teaching that what we do for the least of these we've done for HIM), and to love people.
I've had these words in my head all day, so as I walk into a new year, thankful to not be doing it alone ...
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
(In Christ Alone)
1 comment:
Love you and hope my 2011 has a LOT of you in it! :)
Post a Comment