It is already twenty-ten. So hard to belive. And I have no where near finished posting the best of 2009, so I will be posting more all through January!
I am very much looking forward to this year. I have many highlights coming, and lots to do. But as I sat and read everyone's post's about their new year's resolutions, I was thinking, what is mine? Well The sermon in Church today was perfect, so I am going to copy some of the pastor's and then include some of my own.
.STAND IN THE LORD... Whatever He chooses to bring my way in the next year.. I know HE will be my driver, the one that keeps me going through all the wonderful high's and harder low's.
. Choose Joy. Happiness, and joy are choices. Not feelings. Choices. Every morning, I want to get up and CHOOSE to be happy. Look at stuff on the bright side. Live for God, and Love for God, be Joyful for God.
.Focus on others. Though many people's resolutions are all on THEIR goals for the future, (and most of mine are too) I want a lot of the next year to be focused on others. Not myself. I want to help, care for, and LOVE others, just like God does for me everyday. Specific ways I can do this? Spend more time with family, reach out when babysitting, not be afraid to share God with others, and give more of my money, stuff and time to others.
Pray, don't worry. This is just something that is hard for me. I am very type A, so therefore I tend to worry about everything. All the plans, the exactness of everything. But this year I want to give those over to God, not only not worry about them, but let God lead me in the ways HE wants me to go. And Pray. Pray much more. Pray about the things I truly desire, pray for others, pray during the high's and low's. PRAY!
Forgive in relationships. This is something I never thought I had a problem with. But God has been showing me just in the last day, that even though I don't have a huge grudge in my heart, I still do have trouble forgiving, and this is something I definitely need to work on.
Ok so there were two more in the sermon, but I want to apply those very specifically in my own ways so I have saved them for last.
Be Gentle. This is something God has truly been convicting me in, VERY much. So over the next year I want to strive to be more gentle in my manner, words, voice and touch. I want to apply these VERY specifically to my life. In my manner, I want to act gently towards everyone, but start working very hard on it towards my family. This means, sharing everything, being willing to give up remotes, spots, chairs, places, time, fun, food, and sweets for my siblings or parents. Not to argue over any of the past listed things, and to be grateful for what I do get, and to be graceful in the way I do it. In my words, I want to work very hard on not using words that hurt others. This means specifically with my family, when someone makes me mad, to return with words filled with LOVE and GRACE. When I don't get what I want, to still use those words filled with LOVE and GRACE. Also to learn when to see the time to use no words at all, or to speak when it is very hard. In my voice, I want to mainly strive to keep it gentle at ALL times. Wether my siblings or parents have made me mad, or I just am not having a good day. To never let me anger get the better of me. Keep my voice calm and gentle, as if I were talking to a bear :) This is something that I think will be very hard for me to accomplish, and I only will with the grace and strength of God! And in my touch. To use it wisely. To use it more with my siblings in a gentle manner, but also NEVER use it when angry. To not hit, pinch, bite, or kick, even in teasing.
And the next was Be Self-controlled. I am going to apply this to my physical area of life. Mainly my fitness. I am going to strive to become more fit, and not only do it, but keep my body fit and healthy, and have fun while I am doing it. How am I going to do this specifically? Mainly by spending more time doing physical activities. Give up most of my TV time to go outside and play. Play with my brothers, hid'n'seek or tag, teach them games like ultimate frisbee, go on walks with kids, go on bike rides with my mother, sit and do school outside (in better weather.) Do anything possible to get my self outside and moving. And also to eat healthier. This does not mean I am going to not eat sweets, becuase at the moment, I think it is ok for me to. But this means to control the amount of food I eat, (even meals) to stop when my body is full, and not eat till it is hungry again. To eat an apple for snack instead of chips, and to choose a salad over chicken nuggets for lunch. To give my self small servings of dessert and enjoy the little bit I get.
And last but definitely not least to LOVE. To LOVE everyone. Not with the word love, but with the true LOVE the LOVE from the bible. I love this verse, but never really thought about how I can apply it to my life. How I can truly really LOVE everyone like the verse says.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.
I pray that all of these, I will do with God by my side, and fully believing He can help me do anything.
~Rebekah
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