New Year Thoughts
As the mothership is down yet again…
I gave up on New Years resolutions a long time ago.
Having said that, there is something good about taking stock of where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you want to go.
What one thing do you want to change about your walk this year and what will you do to make that one thing happen?
For me, there is a great need to work some discipline into my spiritual disciplines.
I’m not sure what thats going to look like yet…but I know the need is there.
How about you?
One thing I would like to do this year is to begin to attend Saturday night Vespers regularly. Too far to drive to the Vespers at our own church (I have terrible night-driving vision) but the Russian parish here in my own town has Vespers. I always claim I attend them but in fact, I’ve probably only gone once or twice. Vespers is a wonderful prayer service that would do my soul a lot of good! As to how to make this actually happen… I dunno. I just have to do it.
And I would like to find one more “do-gooder” volunteer job this year. This type of activity is not only good for the community but (selfishly) I find it very beneficial to my life in Christ. He likes me to do stuff with Him. š
And I would like to finish reading my Spanish language Bible this year but that is slow going…
I need to make time for regular study, prayer, and meditation that isn’t related to sermon prep, but for my growth.
Easier said, than done….
Never been a resolution guy, but I’m rethinking my life now and realizing that I need to make some changes……. I going to try to workout more, which I hate, and blog much less, which I love……
Home stretch for my BA…. I’ve decided if I can’t make it work that I’m going stop…….. and consider my options…. so this feels very much like a do or die year for me…… hoping to be enrolled in seminary by this time next year….. which means I’m going to be saying no to a lot of good but unneccesary stuff this year like conferences, trips, speaking engagements (not that they come in abundance). It’s easy to say, and very hard for me to do…..
Centy says “Iām going to be saying no to a lot of good but unneccesary stuff this year”
I say “AMEN”
I am going to focus on doing less and embracing GRACE more…. and not being motivated by guilt. The verse that speaks to me right now is Acts 23:1 “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience this day”.
Having been through the terror of the world of cancer last year and now being blessed by the gift of still being alive and healthy, I am seeing the beauty and benefit of being calm and experiencing “truth in the inner man” (Ps. 51).
Our home has become a sanctuary of calm for others. That is my pursuit.
Having said that, Centy, may I encourage you to continue on for the B.A. God strengthen you.
I’ve determined maturity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be so I’m going to engage in more juvenile silliness, pranks, and irresponsibility. The current crop of adolescents need some seasoned immaturity to live down to, so I’m stepping up to the plate and taking the lead in helping teens be more productive, focused, and purposeful in their bad habits. If it is worth doing (or avoiding) do it (or not) with excellence! So, 2010 will be the year of subversive adulthood. Perhaps there is a book or reality show in it for me. š
That’s only partly true. š I’m finishing my MA in Education Administration this year, sending a son into the Marines and another graduates from high school. Our catering business has grown to the point where we need to make decisions about its growth and our plans for it. Writing rather than reading will be the transition I try to make this year as time may allow for it and the pressure of impatient stories/ideas mounts. We are also looking to invest heavily in friends and family.
Phil
Way to go with the MA!
Centy
I was going to see if you could come speak at my church!
I got nothin’
2009 ended with some changes taking place and it may be that this coming year may be a year of great change for us. Please pray with us. We truly only want to be where and doing what the Lord’s will is. That can be difficult, frightening….the unknown is a daunting place. But at the same time, I know from experience that as long as we walk with Jesus, “leaning not on our own understanding, but in all our way acknowledge Him, He will direct our paths. ” We are trusting Him. As long as I look at life from that perspective, it is an adventure and not a burden.
Happy New Year to you all !
My devotional life blows. Not very consistent.
I’m seriously considering buying the “Treasury of Daily Prayer.” Each day’s devotion features a reading from the book of Psalms, an OT reading, NT reading, an excerpt from the writings of a prominent historical theologian (e.g. Martin Luther, John Chrysostom, Anselm of Canterbury), and a prayer.
For some reason, I do better with a structure as opposed to making it up as I go along.
http://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Daily-Prayer-Scot-Kinnaman/dp/0758615140/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262198980&sr=1-1
I’d like to find a home church. My wife and I are due to have our first child in about five weeks, so our perspective on churches is changing; I think we’d be willing to give up our search for spiritual community or whatever if we could find a church with good nursery services and Sunday School.
I’d like to read the Bible through again this year. About three years ago I got bogged down in Jeremiah and gave up and I haven’t opened the Bible in a regular and systematic way since. I’ve got the 2200-page Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, and it’s been glaring at my since I got it, so I’d like to read that thing through this year, cover to cover.
And I need to get back to journaling on a regular basis. That did me no end of good and I gave it up without good reason.
My reading list this year was embarrassing; I need to read more for edification and less for entertainment in 2010.
Happy New Year everybody.
Lutheran –
There’s a devo collected from the writings of Martin Luther called “Faith Alone.” We used it during our family devos for much of this year & thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve seen it in a bunch of bookstores…it may be worth checking out.
I am hoping to read through my E. W. Kenyon library again.
For me…
(1) More consistent family devo times. We do pretty well (hitting more days out of the week than not), but I’d like us to be better about it.
(2) Better personal prayer time. I can’t describe what exactly needs to change, but I know it needs to improve.
(3) More time reading for fun, rather than research & study. I received a new copy of Pilgrim’s Progress for Christmas (updated language, which made it a bit easier this time), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we can get to the point where reading is all “work” & that’s not a good thing…it puts a damper on even our personal Bible time.
Here’s an online devotional that many EO use:
http://www.dynamispublications.org/
A daily Bible study š
Xenia –
My brother told me a while back that he does Vespers every Saturday night at his church, and he loves it.
Tim,
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll see if I can find it.
For our daily readings, we continue each year with Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening. We also read Streams in the Desert each year and we use the Book of Common Prayer for daily reading schedule. All are a continual blessing, year after year.
We will look into the ones mentioned here as well. Thanks
Re: Pastor Chuck, just found this:
http://au.christiantoday.com/article/after-suffering-two-mini-strokes-pastor-chuck-smith-is-doing-tremendously-well/7416.htm
The mothership is back up…