THOUGHTS
JANUARY 2012
This is a new year; a year full of endless possibilities. I recently read a blog by Bonnie Gray, about New Year’s Resolutions. How many of you make them? I used to, but I stopped quite a few years ago, because I never seemed to be able to stick to them. For the last several years, I have tried to work on one aspect of my character, every year, a part that I believe needs improving. When I read her blog, it reminded me that I had not yet chosen an aspect of my character that I wanted to work on this year.
In her blog, Gray talks about choosing a word that allows her to focus on her spiritual walk for 2012. She says, “I don’t make new year resolutions. They’re great for setting goals at work or getting things done. But at the end of the year, my life isn’t about what I’ve done, but who I’ve become.” She would rather call it a “Soul Resolution”, because these resolutions are not about what you are doing, or have done, but about what you would like to become, in Christ.
This is along the same thing that I look at every year, but this year, I liked the idea of focusing on just one word that describes who I would like to become in 2012. In the next couple of weeks, as I read scripture, I want to hear and find that word God wants me to hear and focus on it. I want to hear God’s answer for my life and character in the word that I find. What will his answer be? I have to admit that I am a little nervous about what that answer will be.
This last year consisted of very big mountains for me to climb, and I saw quite a few character flaws. We all have mountains to climb, even though we are all in different seasons of our lives. I have been reminded, again and again, during the last few weeks, that when a door closes, there is a window or door already open, but sometimes we don’t see it. Maybe we don’t want to see it. For me, an open door always seems a little too easy. I seem to do things the hard way all the time, so why would I expect an open door; an easy door?
Rev 3:7-8 - 7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True - David's key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open - speaks: 8 "I see what you've done. Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough.
I think we all have open doors, made available to us, but we don’t always see them. In the scripture above, it says that there is a door that God opens, that no one can shut. This past year, amidst all the upheaval and frustrations, I have had the opportunity to be in “jail” a couple of times. Sharing with those who are incarcerated for making a poor choice, perhaps choosing a closed door, I have learned a lot about myself. Life is full of uncertainties, and we need to do the best we can with the decisions that we have made. These men are so grateful for the time that we spend with them. Our presence, in their lives, opens up a door that they are not allowed to go through at this time. But they see the door, and look forward to it opening up to them in the future.
The other door that has opened up for me is the care of hospice patients. David and I are hospice volunteers, and have spent time with a patient in a care home. This gentleman does not seem to be aware of his surroundings, but his caregiver is convinced that he knows what is going on. David and I spend time reading to him, and praying with him. There is not much response, but we hope that our presence is helpful. I was at the care facility last week, and our patient was already in the dining room, so I chose to read to him there. He did not respond, but I met his tablemate “Alice”. She is a cute, elderly lady, who had trouble remembering how old she was, but she knew where she was from! I shared the words of some of my favorite hymns, and the stories behind them. As I read to them, she wore a huge smile. She was so thankful and so appreciate of the little bit of time that I was able to spend with them.
These doorways, that have opened up for me, make me realize that sometimes the open doorways of our lives are through taking care of others. We spend so much time anguishing over our uphill climb, but sometimes sharing ourselves with others is the only way to climb up our own mountains. Ms. Gray chose the word “delightful” for 2012. She said, after looking through her journals, she picked a word that she felt least confident about, one that would require a lot of faith to work on. She said that she wanted to live her life in the light of remembering that the Lord delights in her. This would be a difficult word for me because it is hard for me to believe that God delights in me. You see, I have to find my own word, my own truth that God wants me to see.
What doors do you see opening up for you in 2012? Will those doors require you to take a hard look at yourself? Are you willing to focus on one aspect of your character, and work on that?
This month, I am asking you to think about one word that would describe a part of your character that you might like to work on. If you would like to share, I would love to know what word you come up with! I hope to have my word by the next writing, so hold me accountable! It would be interesting to see what everyone comes up with. We can all set Soul Resolutions, because our lives are about what we are becoming, not what we are doing! So take care, stay warm, and I pray that you have a wonderful rest of the month. Enjoy the process of becoming! Until we talk/meet again…
Blessings, Clr
This is a new year; a year full of endless possibilities. I recently read a blog by Bonnie Gray, about New Year’s Resolutions. How many of you make them? I used to, but I stopped quite a few years ago, because I never seemed to be able to stick to them. For the last several years, I have tried to work on one aspect of my character, every year, a part that I believe needs improving. When I read her blog, it reminded me that I had not yet chosen an aspect of my character that I wanted to work on this year.
In her blog, Gray talks about choosing a word that allows her to focus on her spiritual walk for 2012. She says, “I don’t make new year resolutions. They’re great for setting goals at work or getting things done. But at the end of the year, my life isn’t about what I’ve done, but who I’ve become.” She would rather call it a “Soul Resolution”, because these resolutions are not about what you are doing, or have done, but about what you would like to become, in Christ.
This is along the same thing that I look at every year, but this year, I liked the idea of focusing on just one word that describes who I would like to become in 2012. In the next couple of weeks, as I read scripture, I want to hear and find that word God wants me to hear and focus on it. I want to hear God’s answer for my life and character in the word that I find. What will his answer be? I have to admit that I am a little nervous about what that answer will be.
This last year consisted of very big mountains for me to climb, and I saw quite a few character flaws. We all have mountains to climb, even though we are all in different seasons of our lives. I have been reminded, again and again, during the last few weeks, that when a door closes, there is a window or door already open, but sometimes we don’t see it. Maybe we don’t want to see it. For me, an open door always seems a little too easy. I seem to do things the hard way all the time, so why would I expect an open door; an easy door?
Rev 3:7-8 - 7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True - David's key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open - speaks: 8 "I see what you've done. Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough.
I think we all have open doors, made available to us, but we don’t always see them. In the scripture above, it says that there is a door that God opens, that no one can shut. This past year, amidst all the upheaval and frustrations, I have had the opportunity to be in “jail” a couple of times. Sharing with those who are incarcerated for making a poor choice, perhaps choosing a closed door, I have learned a lot about myself. Life is full of uncertainties, and we need to do the best we can with the decisions that we have made. These men are so grateful for the time that we spend with them. Our presence, in their lives, opens up a door that they are not allowed to go through at this time. But they see the door, and look forward to it opening up to them in the future.
The other door that has opened up for me is the care of hospice patients. David and I are hospice volunteers, and have spent time with a patient in a care home. This gentleman does not seem to be aware of his surroundings, but his caregiver is convinced that he knows what is going on. David and I spend time reading to him, and praying with him. There is not much response, but we hope that our presence is helpful. I was at the care facility last week, and our patient was already in the dining room, so I chose to read to him there. He did not respond, but I met his tablemate “Alice”. She is a cute, elderly lady, who had trouble remembering how old she was, but she knew where she was from! I shared the words of some of my favorite hymns, and the stories behind them. As I read to them, she wore a huge smile. She was so thankful and so appreciate of the little bit of time that I was able to spend with them.
These doorways, that have opened up for me, make me realize that sometimes the open doorways of our lives are through taking care of others. We spend so much time anguishing over our uphill climb, but sometimes sharing ourselves with others is the only way to climb up our own mountains. Ms. Gray chose the word “delightful” for 2012. She said, after looking through her journals, she picked a word that she felt least confident about, one that would require a lot of faith to work on. She said that she wanted to live her life in the light of remembering that the Lord delights in her. This would be a difficult word for me because it is hard for me to believe that God delights in me. You see, I have to find my own word, my own truth that God wants me to see.
What doors do you see opening up for you in 2012? Will those doors require you to take a hard look at yourself? Are you willing to focus on one aspect of your character, and work on that?
This month, I am asking you to think about one word that would describe a part of your character that you might like to work on. If you would like to share, I would love to know what word you come up with! I hope to have my word by the next writing, so hold me accountable! It would be interesting to see what everyone comes up with. We can all set Soul Resolutions, because our lives are about what we are becoming, not what we are doing! So take care, stay warm, and I pray that you have a wonderful rest of the month. Enjoy the process of becoming! Until we talk/meet again…
Blessings, Clr