Looking Forward to 2009

Since I did a post on Looking Back to 2008 I thought it was appropriate to include a post of what my goals are for the new year. I've never been great at making or keeping resolutions but I do think it's important to evaluate where you've been the previous year and see what you might like to improve for the next year, especially spiritually.

So my "resolutions" (I prefer to call them goals) this year are focused on prioritizing my life the way God designed it and resting in Him to help me be the woman He's designed me to be.

1.) He first and foremost designed me to walk with Him in a close personal relationship. He is always there ready to forgive and ready to speak to me through His Word. I however, am not always so attentive. Sometimes my actions, or lack there of, don't necessarily say "I love you Lord". So I have a few things I've been convicted of that I can do to bring me closer to my Lord and Savior.

I, like many of us who strive to walk closely with Him, neglect & forget the opportunities God has given us to speak with Him because of the death of His son.. I need to work on my prayer life and plan to to read a book soon making my prayers more powerful and heart felt instead of going through the motions. I'm up for suggestions if anyone knows of a good Biblically sound one. The next is finally reading through the Bible. I have maybe 10 books to go and then I'd like to start reading the Bible chronologically. The third thing I'd like to do to improve my relationship with Him is keep a prayer and blessings journal. I think being able to see where God has answered my prayers will also help me pray more boldly.

2.) My second most important relationship is my husband. David and I have been through a lot this past year and it's been a blessing in disguise. We realized our strengths and weaknesses in our marriage. We also have come to really appreciate one another more. So one of the things I'm doing to be a better wife to Him is to finish the book , The Love Dare. We're also starting to read The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace in my women's accountability group. I've learned from The Love Dare, The Bible, and Christian friends that I can't expect my husband to change if I'm not first willing to change. I also shouldn't expect my husband to change just because I am. I should focus on the knowledge that I'm changing and growing to be a better wife is not for my husband but for the Lord. This has made a huge difference in our marriage this past year. The timing couldn't have been any better either. I mean what man would be encouraged after he loses his job by a wife who's nagging at him and just waiting for failure? That was the old me but slowly she is dissolving, thanks to God!

The other thing I plan to do to strengthen my marriage is to make sure we have a date night at least once a month. With two kids, working opposite shifts, and dealing with a tired pregnant body there isn't much "Us" time. Therefore some issues that may seem small at the time turn into mountains once time goes by and then when you are together you don't want to spoil the mood by bringing up old stuff and the cycle just goes on and on. I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with David. If anyone has cheap date night ideas I would love to hear them. That's the biggest hurdle... What do you do on a low budget?

3.) My third relationship I will work on nurturing this year is with my handsome boy.

I've been really feeling convicted of not making more of point to help bring my son closer to the Lord. I feel like I have my relationship with the Lord and he has his but it's normally not something we share together. Keep in my mind I'm still a "baby" Christian in a way. I think God has been working on me these three years pruning me and making me ready to where I can now pass what I've learned to Eian. So I have been getting him up early and we spend time reading a few verses that Eian usually picks out and then discuss their significance and what he thinks God wants us to learn from the verses. You can see he really looks forward to it when he jumps out of bed when I mention devotions. It just fills my heart to see his enthusiasm!

I also want to spend more time being a teacher to him. I would love more than anything to home school but God just has not made a way for my husband to solely provide for us at this time. So I have resolved to making the most of the time God has given me with Eian now. Eian and I plan to pick one country a month to study, study their culture, language, geography, and food. We'll then pick a weekend to cook something from that country. He's really looking forward to that and so am I.

Well I know I have my work cut out for me but I am keeping my focus on the Lord and He will be my helper. I can't wait to get to started!