Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Thinking ahead to 2008....

Recently our church had a series of lessons in Sunday School with a rotation of teachers. Each teacher taught two weeks on their subject. The last speaker taught on maturity. He used Hebrews 5:11--6:3 as his focus.

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."

This lesson and the following week's lesson got me thinking on maturing. We aren't supposed to ever forget our foundation as mentioned in the beginning of chapter 6. We need to mature. These lessons really encouraged me on things I can do to improve and mature this year. I thought the new year would be a great time to post these goals for 2008. Then at the end of the year I can review and see how I did, as well as hopefully post progress along the way. Some of these are physical, some are spiritual, some are just things I want to write down so I'll remember to do them!!

So here is my list:
--spend more time in prayer. I want to be more active in praying God's Word.
--verse memorization. I mentioned this in yesterday's post of my goal to memorize a new verse each week.
--verse memorization with Caleb. Children have such sharp little minds. I want to fill my little sponge with more Bible verses this year.
--read with JMP. We go through periods when we read more together than at other times. I want us to get into some habit or pattern of reading together regularly, whether from the Bible or a study book.
--read through the Bible. JMP is joining me in this. We got a "One Year Bible" to read together.
--book reading. I keep a list of the books I read. I am interested to see how many I finish in a year starting today! Actually I finished on that I had started. I'm going to start a new list. My guess today is that I'll read at least 50 this year. Also in with the book reading I want to read one book for my continuing ed. credits and at least one in a genre I don't normally read. Today I'm thinking maybe a biography.
--continue going to the food pantry. I want to make a conscious effort to get there at 8. I've been lagging behind and getting there after 8 lately.
--our budget. JMP got the Total Money Makeover for Christmas. It was exciting to make our budget together. I'll write more about this another day this week.

Happy New Year to you and your family! I hope you see many blessings from the Lord.
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"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 56: 9, 10 NIV
I thought of something else add to the list:
--be faithful in my exercising.

2 comments:

Sandi said...

Thanks for visiting my site. I like your blog. I also like the verse you choose to memorize this week. I think I will try to memorize it too. I'll let you know how I do.

Kathy said...

Those are some great goals! 50 books in a year? Wow, I'm impressed!