~It's Time For A Change~

At the end of 2009, there were some prayers that hadn't been answered, goals that hadn't been meet and desire that haven't been fulfilled yet. So...my outlook going into 2010 was CHANGE. I longed for 2010 to be a year of change...permanent change...not ones that you do for a couple of weeks or months but rather for a lifetime.

I was reminded on Saturday just how fragile life is and how quickly it could be over...either mine, my husband, parents or children. An old friend from my hometown has 3 beautiful daughters with the youngest being 24 years old. Her name is Dani (after her father) had a brain aneurysm at 2 AM on Saturday morning, rushed to the hospital with no brain activity and she died at 8:30 PM on Saturday evening. She left 2 beautiful, young children...a daughter and a son. Her family's life and her children's life changed forever in that instant.

I want to make the best of my life, time with my husband, children and grandson, take better care of myself and love those around me to the fullest because I never know when I will draw my last breath...it could be in an instant and without warning.

Our Sunday morning sermon was based on our new mission statement for 2010...DESTINED TO WIN IN 2010. Our vision statement is an acrostic of the word RIVER.

God had already began to stir in my spirit the changes that He wants to do in my life and my family. I have had several desires or goals running around in my head but just hadn't put them down on paper yet.

It wasn't until I turned off the TV and the lights at 11 PM tonight to go to sleep that I began to put it all together. I sat up, turned on the light, got my pad and pen and went to writing. Then, while it was still burning inside me...I decided to write a blog post about it. So, here I am at midnight Sunday night/Monday morning...keep that in mind when you read my first goal. lol

Pastor Rusty laid out the acrostic this morning for us but do you see how perfectly God had already begun to work these very things into my spirit. After I wrote out all my goals, then I felt the prompting in my spirit to get my sermon notes back out and see where God was taking me on the journey in 2010.

R - RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
I - INTIMACY WITH GOD
V - VALUING GOD'S GIVEN GIFTS
E - EDUCATED IN GOD'S WORD
R - REACHING OTHER FOR CHRIST

He challenged us to "GET OUT OF OUR BANKS"!

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

This is what I jotted down tonight.

PERSONAL GOALS FOR 2010

1. Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night (well, not tonight but tomorrow)
2. Walk 3 x a week
3. Do Wii Fit 2-3 x a week
4. Drink 3 bottles of water a day
5. Don't eat after 7 PM (this will be a challege for me...love to snack in bed)
6. Learn a new hobby or interest
7. Nurture friendships more
8. Waste less time daily and use my free time more wisely
9. Simplify my life

SPIRITUAL GOALS

1. Spend more time in the Word
2. Memorize scripture
3. Spend more time in prayer
4. Step out of my comfort zone
5. Tap into my spiritual gifts and use them

HOME GOALS

1. Get organized
2. Plan our meals in advance
3. Make a workable/doable schedule
4. Cook meals at least 4 x a week (I don't like to cook)
5. Get rid of any clutter
6. Work on my projects to completion
7. Do home repairs that need doing

FINANCIAL GOALS

1. Stick to our budget
2. Find new ways to save money
3. Increase our giving

FAMILY GOALS

1. More quality family time with our children
2. Spend more time with our grandson
3. Eat our meals at the table and not the TV!
4. Family devotions

MARRIAGE GOALS

1. More quality time alone without the TV
2. Date nights/days at least every 2 weeks
3. Weekend getaways every couple months
4. Devotions and praying together

WORK GOALS

1. Get better organized
2. Clean out the office/work closet and files
3. Be more efficient

I believe these are the changes that God wants to see in my life, home, family, marriage, spirit and job. But, not only does God want to see them...but these are the desires of my heart as well. Our desire over the past few years has been to simplify our lives, get back to the basics and not have to work all the time to pay our bills but to pay off our bills and have more time to spend together as a family.

I need you to help hold me accountable in 2010. I love you guys and I pray that these goals will free up some time that I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis. I love you guys!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!