Goals

This afternoon, I am focusing on a couple of things. Namely, a personal mission statement, a list of goals I'd like to accomplish & a bucket list.

First a definition of each:

A personal mission statement- Who I am, what my roles are,  what convictions I profess, what I prioritize etc. Thus, when a decision comes up, I can weigh it against my priorities & decide whether or not this one decision/activity etc is worth investing my time in or not.

Goals- to be accomplished this week, this month, next month, next year, in 5 years, in my lifetime etc the Lord willing (key- Proverbs 16:9 & James 4:13-17).

Bucket List- This is more of a "fun" one. What I would like to see, read, visit, experience, do etc in my lifetime (similar to goals except more specific). Again, if it is within the Lord's Will for my life. I do not want to desire anything apart from His Plan for my life...

So... Some questions to get you started-

Who are you?
Where do you find your identity?
Who do you align/associate yourself with?
What do you believe, deep down in the core of your soul?

Where do you find enjoyment/pleasure?
What are your priorities?
Where do you invest your time?
Where do you invest your money?

Why do you "do what you do"?
What would you no longer do, if you didn't have to do them anymore?

What do you wish you could do, but are currently unable to do them?
What needs to happen to help you accomplish your goals? (again, if they are in line with God's Plan!)

What do you hope to accomplish today?
This week?
This month?
This year?
Next year?
In the next 5 years?
Important: What are you currently, actively doing NOW to accomplish your goal???

What would you like to see in your lifetime?
Where would you like to go?
What would you like to do?


That's just to get you started. I'm sure that there's many more questions that I have forgotten or omitted...

I would love to hear your answers to these questions! :) But this is more for your use, to think about the questions, pray & mediate over your answers... I hope you use this tool & take the time to answer the questions!

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of this!

Be blessed today, my friends! :)

Remember! Remember! Remember!

                                                  

                                                 

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge 

 

Just a small blog post today. Just some thoughts I've been having recently. Last night I was reading "Doug's Blog" on the Vision Forum website. I was reading about their recent Titanic100 event & their D-Day DVD series.

It got me thinking: This morning I am reflecting on the IMPORTANCE of really KNOWING our nation's Providential history. If we forget our God, our history, our defenders, the sacrifices, problems, mistakes etc that have gotten our nation where it is today, then _______________...? [you fill in the blank]

 

 What will be the consequences? What has happened to other nations/empires in history who have forgotten their heritage & their identity? "Lord, may it NOT be so with us!" 

"REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER!"

 

Preparation for Easter

As most of y'all know, yesterday was Good Friday. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Today is the day in between the two of those. As you stand interim, now is a good time for reflection- for remembering what Christ did on the Cross & what it means to you.

I pray that you take some time today to reflect on the great weight & price of your own sin. How we can do nothing to earn Salvation in & of ourselves. Our great need for a Savior. How Christ was born of a Virgin, lived a completely sinless life, fulfilled all of the Prophesies about the Messiah, was crucified for our sins, was buried and rose again on the Third Day! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

I heard it said once that Christ's Resurrection is the most important tenant of our Christian Faith. Because, without Him rising from the dead, all of our faith would be worthless, as He would be no different from any other man. But He did rise from the dead! We are free and forgiven!!!

I am reminded of the song "Christ Has Risen" by Matt Maher. The words to the song are:

"Let no one caught in sin remain/
Inside the lie of inward shame/
But fix our eyes upon the cross/
And run to Him who showed great love/
And bled for us/
Freely You've bled for us/

Christ is risen from the dead/
Trampling over death by death/
Come awake, come awake/
Come and rise up from the grave/
Christ is risen from the dead/
We are one with Him again/
Come awake, come awake/
Come and rise up from the grave/

Beneath the weight of all our sin/
You bowed to none but heaven's will/
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown/
No burden great can hold You down/
In strength You reign/
Forever let Your church proclaim/

O death, where is your sting?/
O hell, where is your victory?/
O church, come stand in the light/
The glory of God has defeated the night/

O death, where is your sting?/
O hell, where is your victory?/
O church, come stand in the light/
Our God is not dead/
He's alive! He's alive!"
- "Christ Has Risen," by Matt Maher

Amen! May your Easter celebration tomorrow be full of this Remembering- walking in celebration of what Christ has done for us! Be blessed!

"What's the Least I Can Believe & Still Be a Christian"- A Respose

I saw a blog post by Ken Ham yesterday, in a response to this book above. The title really bothers me. And it's written by a Methodist pastor from Tennessee! Scary.

Are we truly CALLED to believe the LEAST bit possible? To me, that's like asking the question, "How close can I get to the fire & not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27) Or "How far is too far?" or "What's the LEAST I can believe & still get into Heaven?" (the real thing at stake here- a relationship with Christ is not even a question!)

WE'RE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS. How about asking "What ELSE can I POSSIBLY do to deepen my relationship with the Father?" instead? Or "How may I please Him MORE today?"
 

COME ON, PEOPLE! *Wake up!!!!*

“All things are permissible,” you say- but not everything is beneficial." - 1 Corinthians 10:23

Death

On Monday, I saw this Christian t-shirt. It reads "Statistics Prove 5 Out of 5 People Die" &"Death Is Certain, Life Is Not." I haven't been able to get the words out of my mind.

And then Tuesday, I heard the news that the father of one of my mentors has passed away. This saddened & grieved me immensely, especially since I am not sure of his being truly saved or not.

This (& other things) made me start thinking...

 "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" - James 4:13-15



Therefore, if our lives ARE as short as this verse says (in the grand scheme of things), we should be doing everything that we can to ensure that all of our family & friends know Jesus as Lord. Do you feel urgency of the situation?

We do not know the day nor the hour, both of our Lord's return (Matthew 24:36-44) nor of our own deaths (James 4:13-15). The times are uncertain. Apart from Christ there is no hope. But we, the believers, are unafraid & unshaken. Our hope is sure. We walk by faith (Hebrews 11:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Make the most of the time that has been given to you (Luke 12:48b, Matthew 25:14-46, Matthew 28:19-20). Be a faithful witness to the Truth. Work hard to preserve what the Lord has entrusted to you. Reach out to your family & friends with the Gospel Truth. Invest in what really matters. Remember: Only what's done for Christ will last. And our time is short.

Temptation

I was reading in 1 Corinthians 10 this morning- "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (verses 12-13)

Some food for thought...

When you come under temptation, are you actively looking for a way out?
Would you know a door out if you saw it?

What do you struggle with?
What are your weaknesses?
Where are you most tempted?
What is hard for you to do?
Where are you tempted to cut corners?
Where are you still in slavery?
Where are you subjected to idols or addictions?
What do you try to cover up instead of bringing it into the light?

Will you trust Him?

If you don’t feed your spirit with Truth, you won’t be able to stand up to the tests of the Enemy. Our vision and perception of God are all the more clear in times of trial. Draw close to Him. "Look to the Word for your Deliverance."  And lastly, hold fast to your confession of hope. Stand firm- unwavering, bold and victorious. For He is Faithful. 

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6

The Woodcarver DVD giveaway

 Miss Sarah over at Joyful Service recently did a review on The Woodcarver DVD and is giving away a copy of the DVD. Feel free to enter the giveaway!