Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year And Merry Tenth Day of Christmas!



New Year's Resolutions... some people like them, some people don't.   I like the idea of a fresh new year.  I like a fresh start, this year especially.   2010 was a bad year.  It started out with mom in the hospital, then she died.  My husband's friend (best man at our wedding), who later married my cousin and became family, died.   My husband had some health issues, which are thankfully over now.   I broke my toes, which are now healed.   What am I thankful for from 2010?  THAT IT IS OVER!!!!   I have hope for a new year, a fresh start.
That said, my first resolution is a continuation of last year's resolution, which, when carried out, added up to one positive change a month, however small.  (Really, tea one month, wheat bread the next... not a whole lot to accomplish actually, but overwhelming if attempted all at once).   I know, I missed some  months, but I'm really happy with the changes I did make, and want to keep moving forward.
My second resolution is to organize one room in my home per month.    The idea of organizing my whole house seems overwhelming, but at one room a month, I should be organized before the year is over with part of the year to spare (maybe I should include the garage and cars, huh?)!    Even if I have last year's track record of achieving my tasks just over half the time,  that would mean half the house is organized, which is better than nothing.  (Did I mention it has been a tough year?  I may have gotten just a wee bit depressed and let things go.... Okay, I totally did...)
My last resolution, most tellingly, should have been my first, and I am already struggling with it.  It has to do with "first fruits".   Too often I start the day without prayer, and find myself squeezing God in somewhere at the end.  It's not like I'm that busy.  I just fail at putting him first.    I need to SCHEDULE prayer time, just as I schedule getting together with my friends.   Really, it's not like I pop in on them at 10:30 or 11:00 at night (ahem, 1:30 am) because I finally thought of them.   While God IS there for me at that time, and not exactly bothered by having to be up early and needing His beauty rest,  I can see that I have fit God into the borders of my life rather than the center.  The only way I can see in my head to remedy that is to give God some "Prime Time" if you know what I mean...  Time that I wouldn't infringe upon for just anything... (Because really, I'm sure that He'd be cool with "rescheduling" if need be, but if I wouldn't "reschedule" friend or family for whatever reason, it'd be a poor reason to reschedule prayer...)


Fellow blogger Sharkbait, did a post a couple of days ago where, though he himself does NOT like resolutions, he suggests choosing a word to focus on for the year.  I like that idea.  I choose the word hope, because I truly hope it will be a good year for us all.
href="http://sbreef.blogspot.com"><img alt="" width="180" src="http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/davidseven7/REEF.jpg" height="180"/>
(click the above link to see Sharkbait's post.)

6 comments:

HisFireFly said...

Late last winter the Lord clearly told me to place intimacy (with Him) before internet.. so I daily choose to start my day with Him and my journal.. asking Him to share His heart. If I wait until later in the day it all seems to get lost somehow.

I pray that He shows you where and when He desires to meet with you, and what begins as a habit will become a delight for you!

katdish said...

2010 was a difficult year for many people. Lots of good things happened, but lots of bad things, too. I'm with you. I'm glad it's over. As far as resolutions go, I'm just going to try to start over every day. Try and be better than I was the day before.

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

I like your goals and your plan. Little by little, a step at a time is the only way to go. I know that, but I still struggle. Maybe in your set prayer time you could ask God to give me more grace for that. :)

Thanks Helen and happy new year!

Shark Bait said...

Hoo Ha Ha!! That's me!

I like your first fruits idea though, and I think I'll be trying to do that. Not as a resolution, but just as a good idea.

Wendy said...

Yeah, 2010 did kinda suck for ya, didn't it? I hope that 2011 is the polar opposite for you and that you get your socks blessed off! Love to you!

Kelli said...

I whole-heartedly agree that 2010 kinda stunk! I'm very hopeful for 2011 as well! Love your idea of "baby steps" instead of big resolutions :). Kind of reminds me of that movie "What about Bob".

Thank you for the great ideas! May you be greatly blessed in 2011!