Challenge One - Question 16

"What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step that you can take this year towards achieving it?"

My most important financial goal this year is to ensure that we keep ourselves in a position to purchase the home that we want to buy. (Well, that is if I ever find a home that I really want!)

I admit that I have several other things that I consider making financial decisions on but I am learning the art of restraint. This means using our credit wisely so that we get the best interest rate, keeping our savings where we have our down payment and NOT settling for something that I don't want. The last is proving to be the hardest.

I just have the feeling that I am going to drive up the driveway and just now that I have found our new home. Just hoping we can get this done before the end of the summer :-)

Thru The Bible in 2011 - Genesis

Our church is reading thru the bible is 2011. I can already see the fruits of the labor in myself, my family and my fellow church members. It is giving a community of people an amazing experience together. To read God's word, to ask questions and to ponder what God is trying to teach you.

I thought it might be fun to blog what I am getting out of each book of the bible as we read thru in 2011. Since I just finished Genesis this morning, I thought it was time to share what Genesis has meant to me or what I have learned that I want to share. (I am sure there will be many things that I need to leave between God & I; but who knows?)

- I had never thought to ask how old Eve was when she died. She just kind of disappears from the story.

- A funny "Troyism" was that we might have had other animals on earth when Noah came out the ark but he was hungry and who knows what he chose to eat? I got such a laugh from that.

- That very soon God noticed the fact that man could not be alone and created woman. He had a plan for marriage and the exclusiveness of relationships at the very moment that men were made. This just reinforces to me that God will always favor helping marriages succeed because this event was not a by-product of his creation. It was the plan!

- I love Genesis 4:7. I think for my children this is one the verses that I hope to impress upon their hearts. For me, I will live accordingly to this verse as much as I can. My favorite verse from the book of Genesis reads "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

- I was saddened by the number of times that God's heart was described to filled with pain or aching over humankind.

- That Abraham's request to "bargain" for his fellow man was honored by God. Encourages me to pray for the people in my life because God is willing to listen.

-I loved when Abimelech's & his people said "We saw clearly that the Lord was with you". Other stories tell of people seeing God's favor on someone but I wonder if it was always seen "clearly". I so want to live a life where people could say that they saw "Clearly" God was with me.

- It was interesting the Esau's wife was a source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. This encourages me to pray for the future relationships with my children's spouses.

- I loved that when Jacob kissed Rachel he began to weep aloud. I felt that way with Kaleb in months to come; but I love that Jacob was so certain of his love for Rachel that he wept aloud.

- That the favored people of God did acquire wealth. When we are seeking God's will and not man's will God can bless us with worldly things also.

- That Schechem was willing to give any amount of money for Dinah but he did not value her enough to protect her virtue.

- That Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for selling him and attributed the events to God's greater purpose for him.

- That the Pharaoh (who was in charge of everything in Egypt) honored the fact that Jacob made Joseph swear to carry him home to be buried. He could have arranged for it to be done or told Joseph "not a good time" but instead he insisted that Joseph go and carry out the wish of his father.

For me, Genesis is wonderful in that from the very beginning there was a plan for the end. I don't know rather my time is closer to that of the end or that of Genesis but I am glad that God has a plan.

Challenge ONE - Question 15

"Who do you most want to encourage this year?"

This year, in addition to my family, I really want to encourage my Secret Sister. I love taking on the commitment of having someone that I pray for, buy little gifts for and encourage during the year; but the problem I have is that while I always remember to keep my Secret Sister in my prayers I do not always remember to let her know that I want her to be encouraged.

I want her to be encouraged because she pours out so much of herself. I want to know her joys and pray for her pains. I want for her to feel loved even if she never knows who it is coming from.

Challenge One - Question 14

"What habit would you most like to establish this year?"

I want to establish a habit of exercise!

Breaking The Cycle

I have MANY flaws. I know what they are and likely am currently beating myself up over them. So, I already know that I have enough of my own issues to handle before pointing out others but tonight the impact of these "life cycles" are getting a little too close for comfort for me.

Today, I was faced one again with the acceptance of something that is actually one of my biggest fears. In loving the person and the comments that they made, I could not help but want to scream - THIS CYCLE NEEDS TO BE BROKEN! The affirmation of the actions is exactly WHY this particular situation continues to be encouraged within this persons circle of influence. (Could I be more politically correct in this statement?)

I have no intention of going into the details of this particular situation. I do however wonder what the correct way to handle lovingly rebuking an action is when you fear the influence could have a direct impact on your own family? I know pray!

Challenge ONE - Question 13

"What is the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?"

I got tickled at my sweet friend Bethany the other day when we were talking about goals for 2011 and she blurted out something about having hers. She then said sweetly, well I have more then one, let me give them to you in order. If you know Bethany, then you could likely hear the change in the tone of her voice as she converted from shy/timid to confident/determined!

Anyways, when I went to answer this questions I felt the same way as Bethany did about goals. There is not just one answer so I will give you a list!

NEEDS:

1. To inventory those people in my life and determine the value of our relationships. Simply put, I don't intend to dispose of any relationships but to categorize the importance those people should play in my life and the life of my family.

2. To increase my own understanding of where I need to be in 20 years from now. I have already admitted that I am better at short term goals and goals that I can see in the near future. I need to determine where I believe God wants me in 20 years so that I am working towards that path.

3. I need to make a healthier life style for myself and to be an example to my children.

4. I NEED to stop and listen more often.

Not sure all these are considered "burdens" but desires. Might call for a new list based upon that word!

Challenge One - Question 12

What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way that you could simplify in that area?

My work is the one place that needs simplifying. I already have a plan to simplify by recreating my "To-Do List". I use to have a very defined routine and over the last few months I have gotten away from this.

This week has been terrific in getting back on track with my plan. I can handle tons of last minute task as long as my routine task are never out of control!

Watch out work place, you have been "simplified"! Love it!