Goals for 2014

Sadly, I am not a goal oriented person.  I have determined to do things before with very poor track record.  It goes well for a few months and then goes into quick decline.  I thought that my friend Mrs. T at http://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/ had a good post about questions concerning the new year.  A little introspection might be good for me, so here goes:

She says there are 31 questions and I didn't check the link to these, but the 10 questions she has answered are good ones...

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

I am currently working on two word studies, soon to be finished, but this seems to be a good way for me to dig into God's Word, at the suggestion of our pastor who has been doing these on Wednesday evening.  I have learned a lot through this study method.  Any suggestions of words for word study?


2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

I am going to be a little selfish here.. yet not really selfish I guess.  I love to have folks over for fun times together.  Since we have lived here we are so limited in space.  I want to have people over, but don't want to squeeze them into the camper and the weather is unpredictable in the summer with no cover over our picnic area, so my prayer is that we will have the moble home to live in VERY SOON.  That way we can enjoy family get togethers here, have a "game night" once in a while or just have friends over for dinner.  Also would make a more delightful place for our grandson to come and visit during the summers.

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? 

Pray more effectively for each one on a daily basis.  Help and encourage Mr. D in all the tasks he has around here.  Keep better track of the bookkeeping also.

4. In which spiritual discipline do you want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

I would like to memorize more verses than I did last year.  I see the importance of having God's Word hidden in your heart.  Memorizing scripture is easy for me, but remembering where these verses are found in the Bible is a challenge.  I have a desire to work on this.

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

Though I procrastinate heavily, I do not waste the time generally.  I just would like to be less busy with non-necessary things.  I remember someone telling me once if you touch a paper more than once it is a time waster.  If I pick something up to take care of it, I don't want to set it down without putting where it is supposed to go, even if that means a trip to the mobile home or to the trash can.  I determine to not spend more that 2 hours on Saturday to do the general cleaning of my house.  It shouldn't take more time than that and then another hour to clean one area deeply.  Laundry takes a while, but if I do a small load several times during the week it should not consume my whole Saturday.  This will allow me more time to spend with family or working with Mr. D on some special project that needs to be done.

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

Be an encourager.  Take the time to talk to more folks and say something encouraging to each one I talk to.  We have some in our congregation who go from one to another and tell them how tasty the meal was they brought to potluck... it encourages me try new things.  I want to be an encourager. 

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

My unsaved relatives and friends.  I will also be praying for relatives who are not currently walking with the Lord the way they know they should.  Whatever it takes, Lord and help me to be bold.

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year better than last year?

I'm hoping to keep myself healthier by getting more exercise and eating better.  I also want to take better care of the garden this year.  I let the weeds grow after initially working hard to keep them down, they just seemed to get the upper hand.  We would have had a much better harvest if I had kept after them they way I should have.  I also hope to take on as much responsibility around here as possible so that Mr. D can work on the house.

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

I mentioned this earlier, but I want to pray more for my family members and church family by name a specifically.  Our pastor last year encouraged us to pray for specific ones in the church who were struggling and I have tried to do that.  Lately though this has sort of fizzled and I want to renew my commitment to this.

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Consistency.  Something I have struggled with all my life.  I need to be consistent with all the things I've already mentioned.  Witnessing, praying, memorizing and studying.  This is what will matter eternally.