Weight loss promotions. Gym membership specials. Sales on age-defying products. Make-up specials that will create a flawless complexion and minimize the appearance of fine lines.
The list is endless – what will we do this year to improve who we are? What will make us more beautiful on the outside so that, God forbid, no one knows that we might be cracking on the inside?
Before I began walking with God, I never gave new year’s resolutions much thought – I didn’t really commit to the few I did make and eventually just quit the habit.
But then last year, it occurred to me that if God is really going to use me for His kingdom and while He loves me right now where I am, He also loves me too much to let me stay there.
Improvements of self are integral to our walk with Him otherwise our faith, and essentially us, remains stagnant. Just there. Very Truman Show-like.
When 2010 was just a newborn of year, I wrote down what I hoped to do or achieve because I had read somewhere that if we WRITE down our goals, we are more apt to follow-through with them.
I often thought of that list throughout the year and knew that I didn’t want to sit here, while 2011 is still a newborn, and realize I hadn’t done a single thing.
The bummer of it all is that I can’t locate that list so perhaps one goal for me this year might be to organize my files a bit… But I do remember some of the more important ones. If memory serves me, my list looked like this:
1. Walk deeper.
2. Understand more.
3. Forgive.
4. Start writing on a blog and submit for publication.
5. Keep my cool in the daily mothering of my young children.
6. Make my husband feel like he is important to me.
And yes, what are resolutions without the proverbial exercise goals?
7. Work-out at least three times each week.
I’m happy to say that I grew in all areas (but certainly didn’t “arrive), with the exception of #7. :) I’ll try to start that again for the first time this year. Maybe.
Sometimes I think we get so clouded, so weighed down by the intensity of what we want to improve that we forget the simplicity of His desire.
He wants us to yearn for a relationship with Him because He pursues us more often than we could possibly imagine. He wants us to walk deeper, to love more, to dispense more grace.
Should we choose to do this “new thing”, we start to see with fresh eyes.
We begin to realize that our beauty doesn’t come from what we see in the mirror. That we should exercise for stress release and better overall health so we can be in shape to serve His kingdom and not because we want to wear a size 0 jeans. We will see those fine lines for what they are – the road map of a life being lived.
I had planned to write about my new obsession with guacamole and chips today, but I scrapped it for next Monday because I came across the following verse and was immediately inspired:
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah 43:18-25
See, I am doing a new thing. I’m taking where I was and continuing on. Those resolutions from last year? Yes, they’re the same for this year, too.
He will lead me through the wilderness. He will provide streams in the wasteland.
And may I proclaim His praise.
On this beautiful first Monday of a new year, my list of 1,000 things continues…
251. I am coming off of an absolutely wonderful two weeks of loving my immediate family, visiting dear old friends, and time with extended family near and far. Though it is cliche to say, it was truly a beautiful blessing.
252. I didn’t Facebook (much) and I definitely didn’t Twitter. I didn’t write. I read good, good books. I thumbed through catalogs and magazines without feeling like I should be doing something else. Lovely.
253. New pajama-clad punks on Christmas Eve
254. Tofanelli wine with my hubs and dear friends
255. A hug from a polar bear playing in Christmas day snow with his new snowball maker delivered from Santa
256. Swinging in the snow with mismatched mittens because that’s the way we roll…
257. The simple joy of watching popcorn pop and eating it out of a July 4th bowl on Christmas
258. A new unicorn – I mean, does it get better than a new unicorn?
259. An afternoon with dear friends who we haven’t seen in ages and we adore. Jennifer and Courtney, we miss you so much but yet we love how we can so easily pick right up where we left off. Love you.
260. My most-favorite New Year’s Eve to date – a “secret adventure” trip to Build a Bear, our first lunch in an official food court, a visit with sweet friends from number 259, a pizza party for dinner, basketball in the bathtub and watching the ball drop on YouTube at 8:30 p.m. – from the year 2000. And no one knew any different. (Well, JJ and I did but we just wanted to get everyone in bed at that point so we didn’t really care)
May you do a new thing in 2011 and may you fervently pray and ask Him to reveal it to you. It will be good.
I absolutely LOVE those verses. After discovering the song by Misty Edwards (People Get Ready) I came to really just love them. They are on my list to memorize this year. There is such beauty when He is doing a new thing. :o)
.-= Christy´s last blog ..Peace =-.
Thanks, sweet friend. I love them too. Now I’m off to find that song…Do we have the same brain?
Good Morning! It’s Monday and I see alot of what is ‘on your mind’ on what is ‘on mine’. As followers of Christ we always are making resolutions, if you will, because we always want to better ourselves in Him. Make ourselves more purposeful for His Kingdom. I too, had a couple of weeks that were our of the norm and it is rejuvenating isn’t it?
Oh, and one of my very favorite things is to watch my kids watch popcorn pop for the first time. This brings a gut laugh right out of me every time!
Have a great week! Marlece
.-= marlece´s last blog ..Monday is on the rise! =-.
Such a good point, Marlece! You are right – we should always be “making resolutions”!
And yes, rejuvenating is an understatement…Need to do it more often, I’ve decided.
What makes popcorn so fun? We love it EVERY SINGLE TIME we pop…
Happy New Year, Marlece and thank you for reading and commenting!
Welcome back and so glad you took and enjoyed your blogging break. It’s fun to just lay some things aside once in a while and “regroup and refocus.”
Love your list and think it could be any of ours.
May your walk with Him grow more intense with each day of this New Year! Blessings!
.-= Lea Culp´s last blog ..Miscellany Monday =-.
Thank you, Lea! I absolutely think, I mean know, that He calls us to “lay some things aside” on a regular basis and so often I choose to just ignore Him. Because, you know, surely I know better than Him, right? HA!
Glad I listened this time…
Happy New Year, dear Lea!
I have absolutely come to love Isaiah after doing Beth Moore’s Breaking Free study, that passage included! It is the passion of my heart that we would learn to see ourselves through God’s eyes and have our actions follow that. And this year is the first in I think at least 6 or 7 that I have NOT made a weight loss/fitness goal for the year, but rather am just working on taking care of this temple for the very reasons you stated. So I can honour Him.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..My Babes =-.
ANDREA! First of all, wow, do I miss you. Secondly, it’s wonderful to hear from you! Lastly, just completed Breaking Free in November and WOW…Talk about “open-heart surgery” as one of my readers called it. Is it ever…
That’s where I fell in love with the book of Isaiah. It’s my absolute favorite.
What a joy to see your sweet face. Happy New Year!
What a beautiful post! I think sometimes we get in such a rush, that we can completely run past the “new thing” – whatever it may be. It is my goal this year to just slow down a bit, and enjoy what He has blessed with me with, as I see you are doing from your list! Thank you for the verses and insight :)
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Feelings as a year has passed =-.
Ah, slow down…Yes I am. And sleep. Though I should be in bed right now but well…
Happy New Year, dear one. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I love your list of resolutions/goals and your multitude list, too. The verse from Isaiah is perfect for such a time as this.
I haven’t made my list yet. Did you find yours, since posting this? I meant to text you this morning to let you know I read, but I just got sidetracked and forgot. Were you able to?
Hope you’re well..
Hey! Not sure whether to love this or hate it;-D I think I may look into linking up on Mondays tho’.
“Sometimes I think we get so clouded, so weighed down by the intensity of what we want to improve that we forget the simplicity of His desire.” So true, my sweet friend! His desire is for us to simply abide in Him and we make it so much more complicated than it needs to be. Happy New Year!
A wonderful post. Just found your blog and so enjoyed your thoughts. :-) Thank you for sharing about your Happy Home!
Beautiful blog! I found you through the Happy Home Fairy and am now your newest follower! Bessings
Getting around to Monday here on a Wednesday — that’s how we’re rolling this week… ;p ;p Love your special 1,000 things from today — so precious (especially the pics)! I just love reading your blog. Thanks for the daily inspiration. :) :)
Oh — and I forgot to touch on the part where I can totally relate to the whole “outer image” thing because I put myself in that arena when I go and do my acting stuff. On any normal day, I look like any regular mom — jeans & a comfy shirt, no make-up, hopefully my hair is clean, etc… But when I put myself in the throes of the entertainment industry, I totally have to think about my size, and whether my make-up and hair are perfect, and if what I’m wearing is “just right”, and should I go get my hair colored so my grey hairs dont give away my age… Lately I’ve been trying to “put on God” and see what that looks like on me. It’s always a perfect fit. :)