A few years ago a friend introduced me to The One Word Project, the goal is to not make a resolution for the new year, but to choose one word and make it your theme. My first word was "intentional" and I've actually hung onto it for the last two years, this year I am changing it to "challenge". I want to challenge myself in several different areas of my life. I feel like I have just been getting by lately and I want to go above and beyond and make myself a better person.
The first area that I am going to concentrate on is developing spirituality. This past Sunday, Blake Holmes spoke at Watermark about developing as a Christian and the need for continual growth. He told a story about his daughter learning to ski on the bunny slope and how eventually she will make her way to green and blue trails. The same is true with spiritual maturity, you don't want to stay on the bunny slope forever, you want to be closer to God, learn more about the word and continue to become more like Christ, essentially you want to move past the bunny slope. You have to set goals for yourself in order to grow and mature to achieve life transformation. Blake notes that growth and maturity are not achieved by checking items off a list (memorizing scripture, reading books, etc.) but is achieved through a change in your heart. My goal is to be more diligent with my quiet times, focus on prayer and mediation and continue to serve within the Singles Watermark Community ministry (as a CG leader as well as an existing-leader coach). I will use these as tools to continue to grow in my relationship with Christ. Here is the link if you want to listen to Blake's message: http://www.watermark.org/media/.
The second area that I am going to focus on is my health. I don't want to drop a bomb on anyone, but...I'm diabetic! I know, right!! :) To be completely honest, sometimes I forget. I have gotten so used to it, that it has become second nature for me. I eat what I want when I want and workout only when I can pry myself out of bed. This needs to change. Two years ago, I spent a week in ICU because my insulin pump malfunctioned. It was then that I realized that I am not like everyone else, I have a chronic illness that makes my life different. I need to be more aware of what I am putting into my body and how certain foods effect me. I also get regular migraines and my beautiful friend Meera, sent me a blurb from an article stating that gluten can have an effect on the sensitivity and duration of migraines. Bye, bye gluten! I probably won't go 100% gluten-free but am definitely going to try to avoid it when I can. This is going to be a huge challenge, but it will have a profound impact on my life if I can make it work. oh, yeah and I guess I can exercise more. :)
I am also going to challenge myself to stick to my budget and continue to save for seminary, to be intentional with the relationships I build with others, and to look for opportunities to serve and encourage where I can.
I have a feeling that something big is going to happen this year. My life will ultimately change for the better. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment