2010 LIFE GOALS

As we prepared to roll out of 2009 and transition into 2010, it's important to be intentional about coming into the next level that God has for us. Of course New Year's Resolutions don't work. Oftentimes it is because we attempt these very lofty ideals that leave us disappointed and sometimes disillusioned before January has ended. Thus its crucial that we are intentional and focused on those things that will truly help us move ahead.

So I want to propose some 2010 Life Goals (to concentrate on for the first quarter of the year) that I believe will help to catapult us into our next level in 2010. Here goes:

#1 - Become more serious about your Personal Relationship with the Lord. I know you are saved, sanctified, and all that stuff, but let's be real! You go to church and maybe even serve on a ministry or two. But you know that you have been operating on "automatic pilot" for a while now. You have been going through the motions, and your relationship with the Lord has taken a hit. Your devotional time is stale and maybe even non-existent, your prayer life is lackluster, your attitude has been blah, and your faith has been wavering. In 2010, plan to become more serious about the Lord. This means that you must be ready to "kick it up a notch", (and you know exactly what that means for YOU). As you sow to your spirit, you will reap supernatural benefits!

#2 - Move away from Negative People. Negative people are draining, taxing, and they DO NOT help to catapult you to your next level. Whether you realize it or not, there's a pay-off for the type of people that you allow to be in your life. Some have negative people around because it allows them a "safe" person to vent with and complain with, and the positive people won't allow them to go there. Yet others have negative people around because they have a need to "rescue" others from their despair. And even others deal with negative people because those persons have been in their lives for a long time, and they are afraid to move them out. Question: How's that working for you? I mean really, all of us have bad days from time to time, but to be in a perpetual state of negativity is unnatural for a child of God when we understand that "the joy of the Lord is our strength". (Neh. 8:10b) As you start to move away from negative people, you will begin to feel more refreshed and less weighted. Before you know it, the Lord will open the door for new and healthy relationships. Trust me....it works!

#3- Be More Balanced - This is a huge one, because I "know" that I'm called to do 50 different things, all at the same time! But seriously, it is so important to know what God has called you to do "in this season", and to know what he has not called you to do. Of course there are some things that we must do such as making a living, possibly going to school, if married, investing in your relationship, and if we have kids, we must feed them, clothe them and take care of them. But other than the obvious, how do you know what God has really called you to do? Ask yourself these questions: Is what you are doing keeping you from the Lord? Do you have a passion about what you are doing? And are you good at what you are spending most of your time on? If you answered "yes" to the first question, then you need to go back to Life Goal #1. If you don't have a passion about the thing that you're spending your time on, then is it really for you? And if you're not good at what you're spending your time on, then maybe your focus is on the wrong thing.

Dr. John C. Maxwell, in one of his awesome books, (I don't recall which one), says that we need to invest our time and energy on the things that we are good at. We have a great potential of excelling when we enhance the gifts that we already have, than if we spend a lot of time on the the things that we are barely good at. . So it's necessary to re-evaluate everything that you are spending your time on and trying to juggle, in order to determine what really deserves your primary attention and what can take a backseat.

So, as we look ahead to another year that the Lord is gracing us with, let's agree to commit to these life changing Life Goals for the first quarter of 2010. If you are serious, they "will" make a different in your life. Send me your praise reports. I can't wait to hear how God is re-directing your life. I'm on the sidelines cheering you on. Remember, you are Called to Excellence!

Happy New Year!

The Reason For The Season

Can you believe that it is already December? Before we know it, 2009 will be behind us and we will be scrambling to get our lives in order for 2010.

For many of us, this is a joyous time of the year. And for others, it brings great sadness. I can truly identify with both ends of the spectrum. It is sometimes sad because I'm forced to remember that my mother and father are no longer living. I miss sharing this time with them, talking with them, and being babied by them.

But it is also a joyous time of the year. It keeps me in touch with the true "reason for the season". Jesus is the true reason for this season. And when we celebrate His birthday, we are more and more in touch with the purpose of His birth, the life that He lived, and the life that He gave up for you and me. Even in the midst of difficult times and a turbulent year for many, God is still good! Just knowing that there is someone who loves you more than you could EVER love yourself, should be comforting. Just knowing that there is someone who loves you and me in spite of us, should be reassuring. Just knowing that there is someone who continues to give us chance our chance our chance, should be encouraging.

There are so many things to be thankful for, even in the midst of our storms. Jesus who died for our sins, loves us so much, and this time of year gives us a formal opportunity to thank God for Jesus. And guess what, the best gift that you can offer someone this year, is the gift of salvation. When we reflect on where we were before Christ came into our lives, we should be lining up on the rooftops, to sing His praises.

So don't fret. Don't get overwhelmed. Don't even get caught up in the hustle and bustle (unless you enjoy it like I do). Just enjoy Jesus who is the real Reason for The Season! Agape!

 

I NEED A WORD

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace". Isaiah 9:6

I'm so glad that God sent Jesus as our Light and our Deliverer from sin. He is Wonderful. He is Mighty. He is Eternal. He is Magnificent. He is Glorious. He is Holy. And this is why we should celebrate His life and the difference that He has made in ours.