a joyfully abundant life

no resolution zone

2012-01-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

I have never in my life been successful at New Year's Resolutions. I have failed to even come close to meeting my own expectations. Usually by the end of the first week. They just don't work for me. Instead, this year I want to work on creating HABITS.

The number one habit I want to develop is also the habit that would affect every part of my life in a positive way.

Get up at 5:30am

Now I don't like waking up. But I sure do love BEING up. And my girls don't get up until 8:30. This would give THREE HOURS(!!!) of quiet in the morning. Enough time for devotions and study. Enough time for blogging. Enough time for planning. It would make my life so much simpler. So why, when the alarm rings at dark-thirty, do I resist? I have no answer for that. I have NEVER regretted getting up early once I was awake. Never.

This will be my number one habit to focus on this year. I even have a promise from the Lord for this habit:

As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You);

I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

Psalm 17:15 (Amplified)

When I set up my alarm on my phone, I named it "Psalm 17:15" to remind me why I'm getting up at that insane hour. I know I won't do this perfectly. I know I will want to give up. But day by day I know this can become a habit. A habit that will enable me to grow more like Him and bring glory to His name.

joyfully abundant priorities

2012-01-02T09:55:00.000-05:00

There are certain words that make my heart pound. Library. Bible study. Notebook. Meal planning. Chocolate. Organizing. Sewing.

And "priorities". I was first introduced to the concept of a godly woman's priorities way back in the mid-80's when I read the book Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman. This book introduced me to day planners, priorities and life management. My copy is beat up and highlighted. I loved this book even as a teenager. (I know, I know, I'm a nerd.)

Fast forward to the late nineties when A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George came out. Same concept. More in-depth.

As I have prayed over the years, my priorities for my life have become more and more clear. I know what they are and I hope my life is becoming more and more in line with them. I plan to blog about the priorities I have chosen to live by.

Priority #1 - my relationship with God
Priority #2 - my relationship with my husband
Priority #3 - my relationship with my children
Priority #4 - my home
Priority #5 - taking care of myself
Priority #6 - extended family and friends
Priority #7 - ministry
Priority #8 - my hobbies

For me, these priorities are a guide in helping me choose how to spend my time. They are not a legalistic set of rules. I feel quite sure that if in the middle of my quiet time my house catches on fire, I'm not going to say, "Well, my first priority is God - so let me finish up with my quiet time and then I'll get out of the house." These priorities help me to evaluate my time, attention, and focus. They help me to make decisions and guide me in when to say NO.

Occasionally, a priority may temporarily change place with another. For example, sometimes priority #5 temporarily becomes (dare I say) #1. When I have allowed myself to get rundown physically and am not feeling well, I will take a day to rest. This doesn't happen often. Too often I'm feeling rundown because I have allowed my priorities to get out of whack. So, I will stop. Rest. Recover. Then I am able to respond with joy to my abundantly busy life and the priorities and plans God has for me.

hello, twenty-twelve!

2012-01-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

I love New Year's Day. There is such an excitement about the future. Such a "now THIS is the year everything changes!" feeling. I will lose weight! I will be more consistent in reading the Word and in prayer! I will get organized! Does this sound familiar or am I the only one? By the end of the first week I have usually failed in each and every area. That doesn't stop me from hoping that THIS year will be different. Well, we have launched into 2012, ready or not.

For me, 2011 was an incredible year. We saw God move in miraculous ways in our family. The most life-changing event was our move from Florida to Tennessee. We are so very thankful and amazed that God has allowed us to serve a wonderful church family here in Middle Tennessee. It did not take us long to settle in and fall in love with the people of our new church. They have accepted us and welcomed us with loving, open arms. We couldn't be happier here!

In my quiet time this morning I felt the Lord saying that 2012 would be a year of release. On my part, to release the things that have held me back from all that God wants in my life. On God's part, I believe that He is ready to release wondrous things into my life and into the life of our church.

This was confirmed during our services today as my husband spoke over our church and used the word "RELEASE". I hadn't said anything about my quiet time to him - yet during the first service, he was speaking what God had spoken to me! I love it when God confirms that I am hearing His voice instead of talking to myself. :-)

I am excited to see what God is going to do in twenty-twelve!