New Year ~ New Resolutions

Welcome 2016! Can you believe a new year has come? With each January, people make resolutions for the coming year and they will inevitably break those resolutions by the end of the first month. I've never been much for resolutions though I am goal oriented. However, over the last couple years, I have been less focused on goals, and I need to get back to that because I feel as though I'm spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. Do you know that feeling?

This year I received Sarah Young's devotional Jesus Calling. It had been recommended to me by a dear friend and pastor's wife. So my resolution this year is to spend more time in God's Word, attempt to visit this devotional on a daily basis and utilize my time more efficiently and with less tunnel vision (too focused on one thing and abandoning the rest). 

Thoughts on devotional #1 January 1st. "Do not cling to the old ways as you step into a new year." This of course brings to mind Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

How often do we cling to the old instead of moving on to the new? It's time to transform our minds and cast off those things which keep us down, that keep us from serving God to the fullest. 

Let me close with one of my favorite verses. Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. So enter 2016 with hope knowing God is in charge of your future and give it all to His glory!
 

Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed New Year,

Cindy

 

Summer Bible Study

A couple weeks ago, I started a new Bible study. I love going to church Bible studies. Not only does it get me into the Word each and every day, but I also get to fellowship with lovely Christian ladies. The problem I seem to find for me is that during the fall/winter or the spring, things seem to pop up (school, life, frustrations, etc.…) that keep me from attending every week. And then I get behind and don’t want to go if I haven’t done the homework.(You know, you've probably been there.)

A good friend of mine invited me to start attending a Bible study at her church that would be held during the summer. I thought to myself, “how perfect!” That’s exactly the time of year I would love to attend a Bible study, but my church doesn’t hold them during the summer.

So, this summer I’m studying the book of Esther. We’re doing the Beth Moore study called Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman with the accompanying DVDs of Beth’s teaching (Wow! She’s some speaker, isn’t she?)

I’ve already learned so much from a book I thought I already knew pretty well (and I've only just started chapter 2!). I love history (history degree/history teacher here) & any Bible teaching that comes from a historical perspective makes me sit up and take notice more than anything else. And then once God has my attention, he pulls me into his Word and teaches me things about myself that surprises me. 

I’m looking forward to learning more from Esther and hopefully I’ll have the time to share some of those insights with you here.

Happy Reading Friends (& studying)!