Letting Jesus in on our New Years Resolutions

New Year photos:  Peter and Belinda

It is the new year and we are all looking at New Year’s resolutions, change, fresh starts.  What is this doing to our heart?

When our focus is so intent on change, on doing better, on being different we soon become discontent with our now.  Not everything can be new, not everything needs to be new and we need to find a level of contentment with where we are at.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference.

(Reinhold Niebuhr)

At the same time there will be things that we know we should be doing better in.  The question is though are we going to change because the world tells us we should be skinnier, healthier or more orderly or because God puts something on our heart.  Then again, if God is whispering in our ear, we can either strive to make change happen in our own strength or we can walk in the spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in us.  This happens as we focus on Jesus, as we spend time getting to know him, as we allow him to fill our thinking moments.  As he fills our mind, our heart, our will, our convictions our actions will change too.

Let the one thing we change this year is listening to the call of Jesus:  I stand at your door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)

I’ve been thinking about this verse – when people come to dine with me, share a meal together, there is lots of talking and laughing going on.  We get to know each other a little bit more.  That’s what happens when we let Jesus in, spend time with him, get to know his heart.  Our lives are better for the interaction.  And yet, our dinner guests tend to leave at the end of the meal – Jesus wants to stay and have this type of fellowship day by day, moment by moment.

All for Jesus  By Asa Hull

All for Jesus, all for Jesus!

All my being’s ransomed powers:

All my thoughts and words and doings,

All my days and all my hours.

Let my hands perform his bidding,

Let my feet run in his ways;

Let my eyes see Jesus only,

Let my lips speak forth his praise.

Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,

Cling to gilded toys of dust,

Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;

Only Jesus will I trust

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus

I’ve lost sight of all beside;

So enchained my spirit’s vision,

Looking at the Crucified

Oh, what wonder! How amazing!

Jesus, glorious King of Kings,

Deigns to call me His beloved

Lets me rest beneath His wings.

Reading Goals for January (and maybe February)

After reading Joyfullmothering’s blog post, My book list for January 2013, I was inspired to set myself a goal for reading for January as well.  I was a little overwhelmed with Christin’s list and asked her how realistic it was.  She outlined for me when she reads which makes it a very doable list (for her).

There is no way I can get through such a long list, but the idea isn’t to do the same as Christin, but to be inspired by her.

Goals are supposed to be measurable and specific.  And yet I’m not sure how much time I will really be able to put aside for reading.  I have an idea, and it looks doable on paper, but will I really be able to do it.  I don’t know so though I’d like to think that I can get through three books in January – we’ll see.  Part of my setting this goal is to measure how long it takes for me to read a book, and how much time is realistic for me to read.  So for now my goal is for January and maybe February!

I tend to read for 10min before I fall asleep and I leave this reading to my fiction.  I have designated 30minutes after lunch for most days – my home days anyway.  But until now this time slot tends to get used for other things.  I’d like to make reading more of a priority and make that happen at that time.

I’ve chosen 3 books:  one for fun, one to grow in my relationship with God and one to learn something from. My chosen titles are:

The Time Keeper, by Mitch Albom

Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time, Catherine Martin

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reason I have set this goal is to try and be intentional with my own studies.  If you like this idea I’d love to hear from you in the comments – let me know which books you are going to read
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Here are some blogs  I’ve read this week that have encouraged or challenged me:

I just read this blog this morning and I’ve bumped it up to the top of my list for this week – not that I usually put them in any order, it is just that if you only read one link read this one.  Let Me Boost your Confidence, by Aussie Pumpkin Patch.  Fantastic.

I often get asked:  How do you encourage independent learning?  This is a good article answering that question.  How to Encourage Independent learning

I refreshed myself on the Heart of Wisdom teaching method by a quick overview here.  I have found the HOW teaching method very helpful over the years.

Overwhelmed?  Am I living by my priorities?  A good question for me to ask myself (regularly!!)

Christmas in Spain – I enjoyed reading about Christmas in another country, especially where there was such an emphasis on celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The other week I did a mum’s session on “Me, a Friend” and this article on “when you wonder why everyone else seems to have friends” was a good example.  There are more people out and about without friends that we would be led to think!  We need to step out and be a friend.

How Journaling has Impacted my Faith – an encouragement to write more than your complaints!

A bit of fun:  Chalkboard Calendars.  Only one would work for me – check out that whole wall chalkboard!

I read on Facebook a quote from Corrie ten Boom:  ”Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”   This is true.  I smile at the times when I see God at work – but often that is far down the track!!

Saying Thank You (5 minute Friday)

Our Family at Crocodile Rock

Saying thank you is an outward expression of an inward feeling of gratitude.  It recognises that another person has helped you.    Even though saying thank you is one of the first manners our parents taught us we still often forget to say it to the people in our daily life, maybe we get too familiar with their involvement in our life…. But no excuse really – we need to express our thanks.

Peter – thank you for encouraging me to be me in so many facets of our life.

Joshua – thank you for constantly making me think deeper about the things of this world in connection with the truth of God’s word.

Jessica – thank you for always looking out for me and being available to help me in those areas where I am weak.

Naomi – thank you for bringing laughter into our home – for always being on the lookout for ways to make life fun.

Daniel – thank you Daniel for your heart to do the right thing and for putting things right when you don’t.

Saying thank you guards against a sense of independence, a subtle feeling we can have where we falsely think  we can do life on our own.  God placed us in a family because we need others in our life.  Therefore, we need to give thanks to God and to each other daily as we recognise that blessing.

5 minute Friday

Five Minute Friday is a challenge where you write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, over thinking or backtracking on a given topic.  If you would like to read what others are sharing about this topic pop over to Lisa Jo’s 

The Journey – Our discussion on Mary

The Journey

 

Last night we began the Bible study “The Journey – Walking the Road to Bethlehem”.  We started with a short dvd which showed us the geographical location of Bethlehem, and in particular caves which were likely to be dwellings in the time of Mary and Joseph.

Our text was Luke 1:26-34 – the Annunciation.

Our Bible study is very much a discussion – and we end up at all sorts of places so what did I learn this week?

About God?

• God keeps his promise – he had promised a saviour for generations; the people of Israel had been looking forward, all through history for this moment.
• God uses people for his purposes – if God used Mary God can use us too.
• God found favour with Mary, and God can find favour with us.  Mary didn’t do anything spectacular to find this favour – she was a believing girl.  We don’t have to do anything to earn God’s favour other than believe.

About Mary?

• As I’ve already said, she believed – she was a woman of faith.  And we can see in her song (with Elizabeth) that she was also humble.
• She was of limited understanding – she asked, how can this be?  God can make sense of what doesn’t make sense to us.
• Her questions weren’t ones of disbelief (like Zachariah) but rather one of relationship – she was talking this over with God.

What is there for me to learn?

• Mary heard God and accepted the task he had for her.  Do I?  Do I hear God talk to me?  Am I willing to be used by him?  Do I respond humbly and willingly?
• I am sure Mary faced some tough stuff when she faced her community with an unusual pregnancy – but she saw God’s bigger picture and trusted him.  Will I?
• Will I treasure the things God has said to me, the promises he has made, and walk through those hard things with my eyes on him, even though I may not understand it all?

God doesn’t change.

Mary lived a long time ago as someone we can have as an example.

So for me today – it is a choice.

• Will I choose to hear God?  For he does still speak to his people.
• Will I choose to respond and rejoice in the circumstances he has me?
• Am I prepared to be a vessel God uses for his purposes? As Mary was.

As you read the very familiar Christmas story over the coming month can I challenge you to think deeper -think about this as God interacting with his creation, his people:  God interacting with you.  What is God talking to you about as you read the Christmas story.