New Years.... Resolutions.... Goals??

Just to forewarn you, none of these photos have anything to do with the title of this post. They are simply some fun photos from the year past, 2008.
Are you plagued every year with the thought of having to make that famous list of "New Year's Resolutions"? I must confess, I'm a bit double-minded about it. There are times when I get excited about goals for this coming year and other times when I think, "what, on earth, is the point?"This year I had sort of resolved (no pun intended) to make NO resolutions. It's just a distraction from the important things in life, so why should I bother to take the time. After talking with my friend, Ruthie, I realized that it is important to set goals for the upcoming year.

It's the kind of goals that you set that determine whether your year will be fruitful or not, after all. Will you settle for a mere "I will lose 30 pounds" ect, or will you strive for more lasting goals having to do with character and Kingdom? (Mind you, I think it's fine to want to lose weight, heaven knows I need to shed some cushion!)

With the looming new presidency and economic doom, I need to turn my thoughts and goals toward Heaven. What will I allow the Lord to do in my life this year? What sin struggles will I surrender to Him? What areas do I want Him to grow me in? How can I become more like Christ?

I'll share a couple of goals that I have, with you. One of them is to curb my laziness, by replacing that sin with service. I'll be honest, that is a hard one for me because I cling to my time like it's "the precious"!

Another goal is to use my time more wisely. This is another tough one for the same reason as the previous. A schedule is in the near future, but it will be good. Time is something we never gain back and I waste soo much of it!

I have other goals, like trying to be a better friend/sister-in-Christ by giving more of my time to these wonderful people that God has placed in my life.

The most important aspiration, is to spend more time in prayer and in God's Word. It is the sustenance I need desperately and lately, I have been very negligent in that area. I want to have a Kingdom mindset. Corrie Ten Boom always said that her sister seemed to live in another world- she saw things more clearly, was able to forgive more easily and had a strength of character like she'd never seen. Betsy Ten Boom had a heart completely belonging to Christ. That is what I want!

So, is anyone else setting some prayerful resolutions this year?

May God bless you all in this two thousand and ninth year of our Lord!