Happy 2011!!

Happy New Year!

Everyone get out their New Year’s resolution list. Let’s compare. I bet we have very similar things on our lists.

1. Be a more attentive mommy.
2. Make an effort to… make an effort.
3. Lose a few pounds. Treadmill is lonely.
4. Write.
5. Write.
6. Write.
7. Be genuine or nothing at all.
8. Visit those special people in your life who you keep saying you will visit.

That is not my entire list, but you get the idea. Do we have any matches?

What is it about New Year’s that we feel the need to put more pressure on ourselves? We don’t feel like we live up to our many roles already…mommy, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, cousin, niece, employee, daughter of Christ. Yes some of these are more difficult at times than others, yet we still feel the need (not consciously) for more stress. Especially the mommy, wife, daughter and friend roles.

There is nothing wrong with setting goals for ourselves. In fact I think the beginning of a a new year is a great time to make changes. It helps you (especially if you are a list person) to put a time line to things and it is fun! I plan on reaching some of the goals listed above. Sometimes we need resoultions to help us change our focus.

As we critique, edit, work on and even achieve things on our list let’s not forget one important thing. We are already fearfully and wonderfully made.

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them,they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

~Psalm 139