buh bye 2010...hello 2011...

"what lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us...”
ralph waldo emerson

wishing you all a safe & happy new year's...

my friend let me "borrow" this fabulous picture....
isn't it fabulous?

glimpses of His own heart...

choices and decisions...

but because i don’t know what i want...i don’t know what to ask God for...and as i was thinking all this nonsense...another set of thoughts interrupted me...and something hit me...

i’ve asked God for so many things in my life...and everything He gave me due to my prayers...i now don’t even remember...most of it all has been temporary and exchanged for new things...

absent of value...

a few things i asked for and He gave me...i later couldn’t understand why He listened to me if He knew the damage it would bring...

and then there were the prayers He never answered...

thank God...

looking back...i realize how much danger...destruction...and unnecessary drama He saved me from...by not granting my foolish pleas...

and the things i never asked for...such as a broken heart...loss...tears...scars...the things that caused me the most pain...valleys in my life i begged Him to get me out of and save me from...things i couldn’t understand...now make perfect sense...and i am most thankful for...those are the moments in life i see His perfect fingerprints in...those are my most precious memories...my greatest...boldest blessings...glimpses of His own heart...

loving relationships...

"keeping struggles to yourself eats away at your spirit...it is amazing what a change in feelings happens when you dare to share your struggles with a spouse, a loved one, or a special friend...pouring out your soul, being able to say to someone, “i trust and love you enough to share my problems with you,” is a liberating experience...you may be surprised by their response...loving relationships will make you feel accepted and supported..."
wessel bentley

ready...set...pray...

"i press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus..." philippians 3:14

this is the verse that sits on the first line of my business plan...my business plan...which also holds my personal plans...physical & spiritual...guess it really should be called my "life" plan...i have never liked the exercise of planning on paper...the plans for the new year...but it really became a regular exercise with a networking group i started about 3 years ago...a group of women entreprenuers...we encourage each other...we are accountable to each other...and we check our "business plan" quarterly...to see if we are on track...very structured...something i have a really hard time with...

and another thing i have a hard time with is...

new year's resolutions...guess in a way it could be interpreted as another type of life plan...but the name sticks...everyone knows what new year's resolutions are...and...we all make them and most of us fail or give up on them...usually by the end of february...i believe the reason we fail or give up on these resolutions is because we don't give ourselves any grace to slip...we set goals with a pass/fail mentality...we become so focused on the goal "i am going to _____," determined not to fail...that the obsession sets up the failure...we become so legalistically determined to meet the goal we forget about giving ourselves grace as we strive towards it...

so i say this year let's let go of the old tradition of pass/fail legalistic-minded resolutions...and embrace grace in setting God-driven...Spirit-inspired goals for 2011...

how do we that? first and foremost...we need to seek God in setting the goals...many times we set goals that are not intended for us...we are made in the image of God and the goals we set should be made with the purpose of becoming like Him...so ask God what you can do in 2011 to become more like Him...perhaps it is spending more time in His word...or praying for others...maybe...you forget your body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and you don't treat it as the temple that it is...perhaps God wants you to be more evangelism or mission minded in 2011...

second...go to God's word for support for your goal...record the scriptures along with your corresponding goal in a spiral index card notebook...this notebook will be your quick scripture support when you need it...and it is small enough for your purse...or for my men readers...in your briefcase or car...my main "business plan" is done on a word document...purely for the ease of "tweaking"...because...there have been times where i have needed to start new goals...and change others...this is not a document that can never be changed...be flexible in where God opens doors...

third...enlist accountability...this doesn't necessarily mean announce your goals to your entire sunday school class or put them on the class prayer list...unless God tells you to...these goals have been prayed over and inspired by God...ask God to lead you to those who will pray for you...as well as hold you accountable to your goal...keep in mind that God might lead you to someone other than your best girlfriends or guyfriends...allow Him to surprise you and work in new ways in your life...

fourth...(and SO important)...embrace grace...give yourself a break if you slip back a bit...keep your eyes on the big picture...the end goal of becoming more like Christ...remember God inspired your goals...when He calls you to do something...He supplies all you need to accomplish it...even grace...showing yourself grace does not mean you are giving yourself permission to continue to slip...it means that if you slip...you admit it...step up the prayer...and keep pressing forward...

lastly...set a monthly or quarterly check point with your accountability partner(s) and allow for the Holy Spirit to work in tweaking the goal...setting long-term goals is difficult for me...if i tell myself that i only have to make it until next month...i am more likely not to slip...

sounds so easy doesn't it? =) probably not...obtainable? most definitely...ready...get set...pray...start praying today...He has amazing things waiting ahead in 2011...

i am thankful for the hope of a new year...and as i am planning my goals...i pray that i become more and more like Him...i know this is His plan for me...

winding down...

well...here it is...the last week of twenty ten...who would have thunk it...seriously...this year has flown by...there has been some sadness...some stress...some unfortunate circumstances...but hey...no one is immune...right? besides...with that...there has also been the incredible presence of the Lord through it all...He has been so evident in the midst of all the muck...and because of that...i have to say...it has been an incredible year...

there is something about saying "the Lord is with me" vs feeling the Lord with you...and i have to say...this year...there were times that i heard myself saying it...although faintly...never not believing it...but more saying it to continue to believe it...and it was in the times when i least expected it...He came through so incredibly crystal clear...that at times...i just stood in amazement...of His never ending love for me...and my tiny life (in the big scheme of things)

i am excited about ending this year...this chapter in my life...but holding on to the moments...the memories..and i am that much more excited about the coming year...and all the "newness" that will come with it...

merry christmas...

...to you & yours...may you feel His love & peace this christmas season...

almost christmas...

yes it is! my favorite time of year...and the anticipation is mounting! ok...i admit...i am like a small child when it comes to christmas...love everything about it...the outside lights on homes...yes...i still squeel when i see a really nicely decorated home...the christmas trees...the music...everyone seems to be in semi-better moods...what is there not to like?

ok...be it a bit stressful as well...i choose not to dwell on that...what needs to get done...surprisingly...always does...and if it doesn't...well...will anyone truly notice?

and family time...this has been a tough year on ours...but we are still standing...truly by the grace of God...He continues to pour His love over us...and for that...i am grateful...so so grateful...

so...last minute errands still need to be done...and then i will be in full on "enjoy the season" mode...what could be better?

be sure to take a moment or two...from the busyness...and focus on what is truly important...love...family...friends...and our wonderful beautiful Savior...