Happy New Year 2011

ah, the start of a whole new decade. amazing. I'm thankful for all 2010 held and how God Himself held me and my family in everything we went through.

He is in the business of doing new things (Isaiah 43:18-19) and I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing what streams He's placed ahead. My prayer is to drink deeply of His presence, fill up with His Spirit and allow the overflow to bless those He has placed in my life. I wonder what 2011 will hold...there's so much to discover. How will He continue to grow me? What is on His heart to accomplish in me, in my children, my family? How can I participate in His Kingdom plan, serve those in need, bless those less fortunate, cooperate in doing His will on Earth as it is done in Heaven? Answers to these questions are in the living of the days ahead. I am excited yet fearful. O for grace to trust Him more.

Tomorrow, Abel and I will set our 2011 goals. I'm not sure what all of mine will be, but I do know I'll be joining several thousand women memorizing scripture! We all did this through Living Proof Ministries two years ago and it was just wonderful. Anyone is welcome to participate! If you haven't heard about it yet, find details HERE. I'm really excited to join two new church friends on this journey. My first verse of the year will be Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Additionally, I want to join Ann Voskamp in "multitudes on mondays" as you see at the top left of my side bar. I've started reading her book One Thousand Gifts (which I love...it's like she's inside my head!!) and have set my mind to be more thankful this year, to see God's hand in all things, yes, even the hard, difficult events. I purchased this beautiful new journal to start writing down my #1000Gifts (hashtag for Twitter people) and would like to blog some of them too. We'll see if it happens with school and all! If you get a chance, stop by her blog. She writes so beautifully, so poetically, so uniquely. I think you'll love it!

Usually, we try to have spiritual goals, physical goals and family goals. It's always been (fun?) to look back at the year and see what God has done. Then also to look at previous years to evaluate our progress. I've mentioned in the past we don't do resolutions because they are typically broken the following month. But goals (even if it's just a matter of terminology) seem more realistic to us. However, I saw this quotation by Jonathan Edwards and think it is a life long resolution that resonates in my soul.

"Resolved: that all men should live for the glory of God. Resolved second: that whether other do or not, I will."

How about you? Any goals, ideas or resolutions you'd like to share?

May the LORD bless you and draw you closer to Himself. He is so good and faithful to His children...and so much better toward us than He has to be. Let us continue to praise His name!