Happy New Year

The first post of the year, should it be reflective or inspirational? Is the end of the year a time of looking back or looking forward? Will the lessons we learned in 2005 help us make wise choices in 2006? According to Webster's dictionary, wisdom is understanding what is true, right, and lasting. Definitely the scriptures contain wisdom. They have lasted more than 2,000 years and the truth contained within them is still relevant for our lives today. I love pondering that.

The word of the Lord is worth remembering. It is given to us for strength, comfort, and wisdom. "There is nothing I can not master with the help of Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4:13 JB)." The more I learn about Christ in the scriptures the more He can help me. You may have learned that lesson over Christmas as you tried to give good gifts to people. The more intimately you know them, the easier to know what would make a good gift for them. Distant neices or nephews are difficult to buy for. Though you love them dearly, you don't know them well enough to discern a great gift for them. In order to exchange good gifts with God, stay in an intimate relationship with Him by learning all you can about him through study of His word and by telling him often the desires of your heart.

I think of wisdom as a type of learning that discerns truth from the past, whether it be your own experience or someone else's, for use in the future. Certainly the New Year marks a time to gain in wisdom so I will share a little wisdom from Sunday's teaching within this post . "Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper (Proverbs 19:8 GN)." What did you learn in 2005? Remembering it will help you prosper in 2006.

Taking in account the lessons learned in 2005, it is wise to make plans for 2006. "An intelligent person aims at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions (Proverbs 17:24 GN)." Aim at something in 2006 by setting your goals now. Sunday's teaching encouraged us to set goals in four key areas: Intellectual, Physical, Spiritual, and Social. Similarly I encourage goal settings in eight areas: physical health; emotional health; intellectual knowledge; spiritual knowledge; intimate relationship with God; relationship with believers, family, and friends; physical ambience; and ambience with non-believers.

We are called to make productive use of our time and use all our God-given resources wisely. Through the study of God's word and Godly advisors we can work toward goals that make productive use of our time on earth and our lives here will matter in heaven. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven Matthew 16:19."

I hope you will share your goals in these areas by commenting to this blog. Writing them down increases your chances of accomplishing them.

2006 Goal Areas (Be Specific and Measureable)
Health: Physical; Emotional
Knowledge: Intellectual; Spiritual
Relationships: With God; With Family, Friends, and Fellowship
Ambience: Physical; In Ministry to Non-believers

My 2006 Goals:
Physical Health: I am going to work out to my Denise Austin DVD's at least 4X a week and cut down on the fast food by eating meals at home (no more than two meals out per week). REWARDS: Wear my Capri's riding this summer, have more energy for my chores and horseplay, and spend less money on eating meals.
Emotional Health: Without denying my feelings, I will keep my emotions in check by approaching those who offend me in love and honesty within one week of the offense. I will allow them to respond without any expections on my part. I will give the outcome to the Lord satisfied I did not harbour the hurt in my heart. REWARDS: Eliminate ulcers and be able to focus on the good relationships in my life each day and not run them off with anxiety and complaining about other people.
Intellectual Knowledge: I am going to finish researching and writing my book this year by completing the rough draft by May (6 chapters per month) and editing it for publication by September. REWARDS: Get this information into the hands of home managers looking for a great tool as well as possible financial rewards for improving the ranch.
Spiritual Knowledge: I am going to read the one year bible daily this year checking off each day's reading on the front calendar. REWARDS: Know God's heart and his clear step by step instruction for my life.
Relationship with God: I am going to spend each morning and/or evening where morning dawns and evening fades in Songs of Joy and intimate conversation with God. I am going to make a daily log of what I hear in the quiet voice of the Spirit. I have a list of places to meet God: On the deck watching a sunrise or sunset or the horses in the pasture, at the Piano singing songs of praise and worship, or alone in the garden praying. REWARDS: Drawing closer to God for the exchange of good gifts and the infilling of the Spirit to shine God's light to the world. "One tiny light in each of us, a ray of Hope ... "
Relationship with Family, Friends, and Fellowship: I am going to seek to make one close friend at my new church. I am going to start by attending the Wednesday night study group. I am going to prepare a meal at my home at least four nights each week for inimate conversations with the kids. I am going to make at least four phone calls a week to friends and family. I am going to begin having crockpot meals prepared at our house on Sunday afternoons/early evenings for friends and family and volunteers who show up at the ranch to work. REWARDS: Surrounded with Godly people for mutual encouragement and support.
Physical Ambience: I am going to create a tranquil home by creating a functional, clean, inviting haven for those who live here and all who visit. I am going to start by completing the 30 Day project and setting priorities in each area of home management. REWARDS: A home that functions without undue stress and is a place of refuge for all who enter in.
Spiritual Ambience: I am going to create a place for non-believers to mingle with believers in a non-threatening way at the ranch by opening up my home and property for guests each Sunday afternoon. For those who schedule to participate and those who just want to come out and watch what is going on. REWARDS: Seeing God heal hearts and save souls.