Questions -

... to think about at the start of a new year:

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

CHILL OUT with all my ideas about 'being spiritual' and just BE. In the book we've been reading at work (The ME I Want to Be) there was paragraph on feeling guilty because we're not praying, serving, devoting, worshiping, witnessing enough. How we get all worked up about sacrificing sleep and joy in order to be 'more spiritual'... 

"Like you hear about someone who gets up at 4 am in the morning to pray and you feel guilty because you don't pray enough. So you resolve to do that too, even though you are not a morning person - at 4 am you are dazed and groggy and grumpy and no one wants to be around you at that time of the morning. Even Jesus doesn't want to be around you at 4 in the morning. But you think, Well this is exhausting and miserable - I certainly don't like doing it - so it must be God's will for my life. It must be spiritual."

Hahahaha. I have to stop thinking God is happiest with me when I shut myself in a room to read and pray and confess and realize I can enjoy God by living the life He has set out for me. I need to wrap my mind around the idea that I am enjoying God when I am laughing with friends, eating with my kids, walking along the beach, talking with my mom, crying in a movie theater, reading blogs, taking photos, using a glue gun, writing words, drinking tea and decorating a Christmas Tree.

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

He totally did what I asked Him to do last year.
So this year I'm going to ask, just as boldly, that He would find us an affordable home in an area closer to the freeway, that has a basement suite, an attached garage, a private southern-facing back yard, 3 bedrooms, a dining room and a rec room in the basement for Drew. I've been looking for this home since last August. I'm asking Him to find one for me this Spring. 

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

Just to keep praying for my kids. 

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

I would like to intentionally memorize scripture. Last year I bit off a passage (39 verses) that was too big to chew. I need to be more realistic about what my 50 year old brain can contain. Maybe single verses. The good ones.

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

Facebook gaming. Holy cow. Between Scrabble, Wheel of Fortune and now Words with Friends, I must waste a few hours a day. What am I going to do? Be disciplined? Limit myself to one hour a day? I'm getting hives just thinking about that.

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

Praying for it's leadership.

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

I've got a list. A long one. And don't think God doesn't hear from me daily regarding these people that I love. Because, oh boy, he does.

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

I just lived through one of my favorite years ever. Not sure I really want to make 2012 too much different. Except December. I would love to make next December different/better/less sucky. How will I be able to do that, though? Eat more vegetables, get more sleep, get up at 4 am to pray?

:)

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

Keeping a prayer journal was the best thing I did last year. I will keep it up this year. 

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

I am committed to praying for about 100 young people; other than that - I don't know. Anyone have ideas? What are you doing?

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