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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Looking Forward To The New Year


When a friend asked me the other day if I had made and resolutions or goals for 2014, I had to admit I hadn't even gotten around to thinking about it. I spent the last couple of days thinking about what my goals were for the coming year (better late than never)

I would like to be more consistent with my devotional time.  I found a ESV Daily Reading Bible that incorporates the M'Cheyne  reading plan, my goal is to read the bible in a year. I will probably continue to use several different devotionals,  I am currently using are "Morning and Evening" by Spurgeon and "Life is a Vapor" by John Piper. I also like "Solid Joys" by the ministries of John Piper. That one is nice because I'm able to  download to my phone, so now when I find myself waiting somewhere, I can pull up the reading for the day.

Another goal  I have is to eat healthier, in particular to cut down on process foods as much as possible. (if it has an ingredient that we can't pronounce we avoid it) Hopefully there will be a financial as well as health benefit to this. I have continued my "dairy free" and "egg free" cooking and hope to add more recipes that will work for our family. (I would have never thought it was doable, but it is)

I did a 365 Challenge last year and I am going to do it again this year. Taking a photo a day can be tedious (many an evening photo was taken before bed because I had forgotten to take one that day) but I have found, like most things, that if you don't set any goals you just drift aimlessly along or you don't do it at all.

I also want to be more aware of my time and what I am supposed to be doing with it. The Lord has me "free" to be available for his purposes and I want to be more aware of the opportunities his puts in my path. It's easy to think that now that my children are grown and I am no longer working outside the home that my days are my own, but this simply isn't the truth, my days belong to him. I want to incorporate that truth more into my everyday life. I am so easily distracted!

 I am sure I will re-evaluate these goals and add to them in the months ahead, as life continues to change. How about you, what kind of goals have you set for this year?

10 comments:

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I love your paragraph on being aware of your time and what you need to be doing with it. That is something that I am working through, putting into practice.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Great post. I too, can be easily distracted.

I want to be more organized this year, this past year I was pretty frazzled with the loss of my dear husband. God is my strength my faith is in Him.

I signed up for the email devotional by John Piper. Thanks for the link.

Have a nice Sunday and a great week.

FlowerLady

Debbie said...

Good morning! Well my friend I find that we have some VERY similar goals as a more devoted devotional time is right at the beginning of my list. And eating more healthy is right behind it...Seems I STARTED this way before, so the goal is to finish this way this year. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Delvalina said...

Thank you for sharing this Maryann.

I also have similar thing with you at the first paragraph. Nothing precious than we stay closer to heavenly Father. and thanks for sharing the 365 challenging headed to check it out.

I hope your days filled with His mercies.
Blessing,
delvalina

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, It is too cold to go to Church today :(
I do not set goals but I do inquire of the Lord each day for His direction! I love reading devotions and I quit trying to read the Bible through in a year, as I find a schedule that has the boxes just not the day planner part.
I am so happy you got to see your (Sibs) I sure miss mine. Maybe a trip in the Summer back to see them might be in His plan.
I so enjoy visiting you!
Blessings Always, Roxy
I just want to also say YOU GO GIRL on the 365 days Photography!!

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Great goals for sure and I, too, love devotionals on my Iphone and Ipad. It just makes it so convinent to read them over and over. Blessings for the new year!

Camille said...

Lovely post my friend. Great goals you have laid out for yourself. And, yes...our days are the Lord's...so easy to forget! I appreciate you. Keep your eyes fixed. Hugs to you! Camille XO

Creations By Cindy said...

Love this post my friend and yes me too....putting priorities where they need to be is hard sometimes but a must for me in order to stay on task. I have ask the Lord to help me to stay to focused on Him and what is important. Happy New Year! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Hello Dear blogging friend! SO nice to stop by and catch up with you! I read through the Bible twice and John has just completed his third time using the link on my blog. I like the Spurgeon devotional too and have it in my email each morning via Alistair Begg Truth for Life.

Loved seeing your Christmas photos and reading about the surprise visit with your family. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Hi Maryann, I loved reading your post and the thing that grabbed me was this line: but I have found, like most things, that if you don't set any goals you just drift aimlessly along or you don't do it at all. - So true this. I decided to stick to a few things too this year. Something that no doubt each of us will at sometime blog about :)
God bless
Tracy