New Year’s Resolutions

Some years you just want to slam the door.  Lock the bad memories in a box and throw away the key.  You count down the days to the New Year and say good riddance when the ball drops.  I’ve had years like that.  They suck.

Then there are some years that have their fits and starts.  Good days and tough ones.  Nothing too painful, nothing too remarkable.  Sometimes you need those to just recover from the rough ones.  I hear ya.  I really do.

But 2015 my friends…2015 is our year.  Know how I know?  Because 15 is the number of REST in the Bible.  15 isn’t just a lucky number for us because we have 15 kids, it’s a great number in the Word of God too.  Five is the number of grace, and three times five is 15, so I am expecting a large triple measure of God’s grace in my life, for our country and to be given out and experienced by all of us this year!

This week, let’s make a solid effort to get our goals written out and placed where they will be daily visible.  Write out measurable/reasonable/but-out-of-your-comfort-zone goals. Share with us in the comments anything you would want us to pray for, believe with you about, or encourage you in!

We like to write out goals in these areas of our life:

Spiritual: What are some things I could work on to help grow me in my faith?  

I know for me, I listen to sermons while I work out or fall asleep, read the Bible and pray for a while during naptime, and try to keep a journal of my prayers, so I can look back and see how my Loving Father answers my every whisper.  This year, I want to get more consistent with my journaling.

Physical: Are there things you would like to change physically about your appearance?  Accomplish competitively?  Reach a personal best or record in?  

I’m not a gifted athlete but I love to run.  This year, I have goal times I am striving towards in a 5k and half marathon.

Relational: Are there any relationships that could use work?  Maybe getting a more regular date night?  Is it joining a Bible study to meet some new friends? (Hey!  Lookie there!  That kills two birds with one stone!  A Spiritual goal and Relational!  Effective!).

I know for me, this wonderful ministry and my bigger kiddos means I have had a real challenge finding time for my friends.  I’m going to get better at that this year…I hope. 😉

Professional: Are there things you would like to accomplish in your career this year?

I know as a mom, this mostly included things that my career encompassed…schoolwork with the children or ways I could help David.  Of course, now with this ministry, my professional goals include BelieveWithMe!

Educational: Is there anything, any new skill you’d like to learn?

One year I really wanted to learn to sew…I had been given a machine but was always too afraid to even try that powertool!  But you know what?  I learned!  Write down a skill, language, subject or talent you would like to learn more about…And don’t be afraid to give it a try!

Financial:
Sometimes the sheer act of writing down financial goals is enough to begin to hold us accountable.  Go ahead…write them down.  And if you haven’t already taken a Dave Ramsey class, find one and sign up.  It’s life changing.

As an individual, this is important for me…but I get my kids in on the deal too.  I have them write out their own goals and then quarterly we assess how we are doing.  Some goals are exceeded, some are left untouched, and others at least get forward momentum!  Not everything gets done, but forward movement is the goal.  For example, for 2014, Daly Kay had the goal to compete at Alcatraz…she not only competed, SHE WON.  She did not finish her screenplay, but hey — she got somewhere on it!  Ryli set out to read the Bible consistently, and she read through the entire book this year!  She didn’t do as well as she had planned in Cross Country, but she improved.  You get the idea…goals are good, but the goal becoming a taskmaster is not.  But the very practice of goal setting is vital, in my opinion.