Goals aren't ultimatums!

Let me say that again... Goals aren't ultimatums!  They are simply directions!  Thank you to Holley Gerth for that word today - it really helps me to put things into perspective.  She was honest with us today in her blog post (link):

"God-sized dreams aren't about being perfect.  Or getting what we want.  Orth things working out the way we planned.  You will feel fear.  You will fail at some point.  And you may eve find that you have to let a dream go."   BUT... "You will also become more courageous.  You will have victories you never thought possible.  And you will be filled up with what you really need, which is less of your and more of Jesus in your life."

In the day 2 of her book "Do what you can plan" she reminds us that goals are merely directions and they can be changed, they are not set in stone.  We have to listen to God and seek him with our goals and if they need to be adjusted or removed, God will show us the path we should go.

I am going to go back to my Goals list for the year and do some adjusting already - and that is OK!  I need to make sure I have the right priorities and will be praying as I go to make sure that the adjustments are what God wants me to do. 

I listened to Nicki's Two Minute Tuesday Clip today (link) and she asked a really good question that I want to unpack while I go over my goal list...

"What are the things you can adjust in your soul to be a better reflection of God?"

Wow - never really thought about it like that!  I am going to make another list of soul adjustments that I need to work on that go along with my Goals for 2013.

Counting my blessings

As I wrap up 2012 and reflect on all the gifts God has given me, I am gently reminded to be grateful...  Grateful for the good times and for the challenges.  Grateful for the lessons I learned and the new opportunities that await me.  Grateful for the big things that are awe inspiring... and the little things that seem so insignificant at times but are ultimately part of the bigger picture - it is in these little things that I catch a glimpse of God.  He is always there, right beside me and He never leaves me - and I can depend on Him.  I often look back on these and refer to them as "God Moments" - when the God of all creation revealed a small piece of himself to me.

Two years ago I read the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp and have made attempts off and on to record all the gifts that God gives me... I have started my list more than once but this year I chose to move forward and just keep going on my list.

My mustard seed goal is to record at least one gift every day.

Here is a link to Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare Challenge - where she gives you daily prompts to record 3 gifts each day - so that at the end of the year you too will have a list of 1000 Gifts!  

January 1st - 3 gifts heard:  a kind word, an encouraging work from a friend, heather running always keeping us warm
 
January 2nd - a gift outside, inside, on a plate:  the grill, cookbooks full of yummy recipes, perfectly ripe avocados on my burger

Won't you join me today and give thanks to God for the gifts he has given you?

 

God-sized dreams

I love it when God drops exactly what you need right in your lap - He is so good that way!  He knows our inmost dreams and desires and He wants to bless us in ways we could only imagine.  

I recently started reading a blog by Holley Gerth and she has posted an invitation to open the door to a "God-sized dream" in 2013.  It started with this post:  http://holleygerth.com/if-youve-ever-broken-a-new-years-resolution-read-this/ - (take a few minutes and read this short post)

I realized that I hate making New Year's Resolutions because... well, I fear failing... so why make them if you can never keep them?  I know I am not alone in this... we all start out with good intentions but then LIFE HAPPENS and you end up off track and discouraged.  Holley talks about the mental list we often make -  "When things are normal then I'll... (fill in the blank with 'exercise, eat better, have a longer quiet time.')"  but Life will NEVER BE NORMAL!  What are we waiting for?  There will never be a perfect time, we just need to move forward. 

She then offers an invitation to open the door to a God-sized dream in 2013 - "Dare to do what you can because you serve a God who can do more than you can even imagine."

What is a God-sized dream?  Sounds really big and intimidating right?  "God-sized dreams are not really about size at all - they are about what perfectly fits YOUR heart.  It's really another way of describing your purpose.  And we all have one."

So what are you waiting for?  Download her "Do What you Can Plan" ebook and join me on moving forward!

I will be sharing my journey and pursuit of my God-sized Dream in 2013... I can't wait to see what God has in store for both of us this year!

May the God of all creation bless you abundantly as you pursue Him!