2025

 

It's the second day of a new year.  I meant to post something yesterday, but spent the day taking Christmas down instead!  It's a lot of work, both putting it up and taking it down, but I love how my house looks for the holidays.  I also love how clean it seems after everything is put away.

Goals?  Resolutions?  Plans for 2025?  

I'm a bit blank on these right now:

I finished reading my Bible for the year on Tuesday and started a new plan on Wednesday.  I got behind a couple of times last year - both times when we were out of the country.  I was able to catch up within a week and now I'm back in Genesis!  It never gets old.

I've got to drop some weight - pounds that have slowly snuck back on in the past two years.  I know what to do - track, track, track what I eat!  Too much sugar and not enough water need to change. I won't eliminate sugar completely, I just need to cut back a lot.

 

OUCH!

I've started the year with a run many times, but this year I kicked my year off with a bike ride!  It was a chilly one - about 43 degrees the entire time.  It was a gorgeous first day of the year and hit about 70 mid afternoon.  I'm looking at blue skies as I work on this post.

I looked back and realized that I never wrote about our vehicle change in 2024.  We started the year with three cars - our faithful 1992 Saturn and our 2006 Porsche Cayenne here in California.  We also had a 2008 Saturn Aura in Hawaii.  When we went to Hawaii in March, we cleared out everything and gave our car away.  Over the summer, our other Saturn started giving us trouble.  It died while at a stop light when Les was driving it a couple of times.  The second time, it wouldn't start at all so we had it towed to our mechanic.  The cost for repairs along with money we have spent the last two years, finally pushed us over the edge and we chose to donate it to charity instead.  It served us so well for over 32 years, but it was time to let it go.

 

Now we only have one car!  It's been four months and we've made it work.  Since Les works from home, it's hasn't been too challenging.  I've been forced to think ahead if I need anything on Saturday because that's usually when Les will take the car to meet friends for a bike ride.  Other than that, we're content to just have one car for now.

I'm very thankful that we were both healthy in 2024, minor colds/flu were all we dealt with.  Les continues to enjoy his job. We're anxiously awaiting the day when we can break ground on our new church property!  We're believing 2025 will be the year when things really change for Victory Tabernacle.  We are bursting at the seams and are so excited for this next stage.

Happy New Year and may this be your best year yet!

New Year's Resolutions

 

I didn't make any resolutions to start this year.  That doesn't mean there aren't areas in my life that need improvement, but I do my best not to wait until January 1st (or Monday) to readjust.  I just Googled "how long do new year's resolutions last?" and there were over 300 million results!  Here are just a few:

How long do New Year's resolutions last? 43% of all people expect to fail before February, and almost one out of four quit within the first week of setting their New Year's resolution. Most people quit before the end of January, and only 9% see their resolutions through until succession.

 

Although New year's resolutions are popular, they are not always successful. According to U.S. News & World Report, the failure rate for New year's resolutions is said to be about 80 percent, and most lose their resolve by mid-February.

 

A new poll of 2,000 Americans found that it takes just 32 days for the average person to finally break their resolution(s) — but 68% report giving up their resolutions even sooner than that. In fact, one in seven Americans never actually believe they’ll see their resolution through in the first place.

I know that some people make resolutions as a joke just to see how quickly they can break them.  Others fail because they make unrealistic resolutions or don't have a plan.  Two years ago I desperately needed to lose weight.  I knew what had worked for me in the past and with a lot of patience and determination, I stuck with it.  Last year was about keeping it off and this year is more of the same.  My personal healthy eating journey has always included treats, usually in the form of chocolate.  I'm sure I could have lost weight more quickly, but it was about more than just weight loss.  Any change needs to for a long term difference.

I receive a weekly email from TrainingPeaks and there are a couple of articles I wanted to share. The first one came a few weeks ago. "4 Common Weight Loss Mistakes to Avoid"  The article was actually about weight gain during the holidays, but I thought the information was great for anytime.  The author trademarked an acronym for D.I.E.T. that I really like ~ Disaster Imminent Every Time™!  The disaster happens when we set an unreasonable goal and try to do it in an unreasonable amount of time.

 

The second article is "4 Steps to Achieving Your New Year Goals."  While this article focuses on racing season for runners and cyclists, the principles are applicable.  A key statement, "Remember that great performance doesn’t require perfect preparation; more often, intelligent adjustments in the face of setbacks make the difference."  Setbacks will come, no matter what your goal, but adjust and keep going.

I think Henry Ford summed it up perfectly:

Happy New Year!

 

 

2023 here we go! I'm working on some thoughts about goals and hope to get them written up this week.  We only have one service today - this evening at 6:30, so I got up and ran 10 miles this morning.  It was a great way to start my year.

 

We've had a lot of rain lately so things are really starting to green up.

We start this year with a clean slate, but even if we blow it today, we can start again.  Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."  The Lord's mercy and compassion are new, not just on January 1st, but every morning!

Stroke of Midnight

Where were you last night when 2013 turned into 2014? Is that where you’d wanted to be?

 
I could not pass up this post.  Not because we did something exciting on New Year's Eve, but because it reminded me of where we were when the calendar turned to 2014!  We were finishing our first year on Oahu.  Our lease would be up on February 7, 2014, so we decided to stay through the holidays. I did a photo a day challenge that December and my final photo was of my running watch after a three mile run.

I remember that New Year's Eve.  We were living in Discovery Bay.  I'm pretty sure we did not stay up until midnight because the next day I wrote about getting up for an early morning run.  I was, however, exactly where I wanted to be because Les and I were together.

On January 1, 2014 I wrote a post called "Great Peace."  You can read the entire post here, but I just wanted to share a little today:

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."  Psalm 119:65

 

How can we have great peace when we are being bombarded?  One commentator put it remarkably well:

Great peace have they -  They have great calmness of mind. They are not troubled and anxious. They believe and feel that all things are well-ordered by thee, and will be conducted to the best result. They, therefore, calmly leave all with thee. As a matter of fact, the friends of God have peace and calmness in their minds, even amidst the troubles, the disappointments, and the reverses of life. The love of God is the best - the only - way to secure permanent peace in the soul.
Which love thy law - It is the love of law, and the belief that the law of God is in accordance with justice, that gives peace to their minds. God’s government is a government of law, and therefore it is loved.
And nothing shall offend them - “They shall have no stumbling-block.” Hebrew, “And to them no stumbling,” or stumbling-block. The meaning here is, that they would not fall into sin; they would be kept safe; they would be preserved from the power of temptation. The meaning is not, as it would seem to be in our version, that nothing would pain, grieve, or irritate them; but, as above, that as long as they were obedient to the law, and disposed to obey it, they would be safe from the power of temptation.

Seven years later, I still believe that great peace is possible!

Happy New Year!

One of the last things Les and I talked about last night was what the new year brings.  No matter how much we wish it was true, some things don't go away when we throw out last year's calendar.  The hospitals still have COVID patients.  That didn't change over night.  The drama of 2020 is still here this morning.  It's not going to change just because we want it to. I do like the idea of a fresh start, but that fresh start can happen in April or August or even December.

I don't tend to have new year's resolutions.  I want to continue forward and learn from the past.  I finished my Bible reading plan on December 30th - it was a 365 day plan that didn't consider it was a leap year.  I turned to You Version this morning looking for a new plan to follow for the year.  Instead I found dozens of short plans.  Most of them are five to seven days, a few are as long as 30.  I going to go from the plan to plan this year and see where that leads.  Today I started "Finishing Well:"

Anyone can start something, but to carry it out to completion? For your whole life? That’s a whole different matter. But, what if you could? What if the Bible offered insights and encouragement for moving you on toward finishing well? 

Today's Bible reading included Hebrews 11.  My devotional talked about it, "For instance, Hebrews does not herald the faithfulness of couch potatoes, pew-sitters, or worship-exchanging ball-game goers. Whether they saw the victory in this life or were sawn in two for what they believed, the aim was the same: Regardless of the cost, finish well."

 

Whatever 2021 throws our way, that is the ultimate goal - Finish Well.  To finish well, we've got to get started.  Or re-started.  Each of the great heroes of faith in Hebrews had to start before they could finish. 

I've finished four marathons, but I had to start running a little bit at a time first.  We will celebrate our 30th anniversary in May, but we had to commit to each other first.  I've read the entire Bible many times, but I had to read one chapter first. 

 

I wrote a blog called Lifetime Commitment ten years ago, here's a portion of it:

It's funny how we view age and aging. First, we're too young. Then somewhere around 20-25 we're finally old enough. Then come 40, it's over the hill! Who decided that, anyway??

There are so many Biblical examples of people doing great things at all ages. Young men like Joseph, David, and King Josiah who was 8! Older folks like Abraham and Sarah, Anna the prophetess, Caleb who 85! And people every age in between.

If you've got big goals, I say go for it!  If you've got small goals, I say go for it!  Whatever you need to see happen in your life, it's not going to happen by you sitting on the couch (figuratively, spiritually, or physically!)  Here's to a year of starting and finishing well!

2020 Vision: Fear Not!

Happy New Year's Eve!  Will you be up past midnight tonight?  We try to celebrate the new year with New York (three hours ahead of us) so we can be in bed by 9:30.

As I previously mentioned, I'm embarking on a new study this year.  I'll be studying visions from the Bible.  The first time the word vision is found is in Genesis 15:1.  I'll be studying the entire chapter next week, but for today I just want to focus on two words:  "Fear not."

Several commentaries on this verse agree that when God told Abram "fear not," He was talking about what happened in the previous chapter.  Genesis chapter 14 is the first war mentioned in the Bible.  Abram got involved because Lot had been taken captive.  Although Abram was victorious, it was thought that he could have been fearful that the nations that belonged to the kings he had triumphed over would come after him.

Other commentaries said that it addresses his future when Abram said in Genesis 15:2, "Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" Whatever Abram was fearing, God said, "fear not."  The rest of that verse says, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

The words "fear not" are found 62 times in the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation we read "fear not."  God spoke these words directly or through an angel or prophet to Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, the children of Israel, Gideon, the widow of Zarephath, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simon Peter, Jairus, the multitude, the women at the tomb, Paul, and John the revelator.

I've often heard that hindsight is 2020.  That's true for mankind, but God's vision is 2020 all the time.  He sees what lies ahead when we don't.  We often spend our time fearing the future or looking back wondering if we truly defeated the enemy of our past, when we should really be looking forward without fear.

The entire text of Genesis 15:1 is "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."  The commentaries on this verse were remarkable, and I'll return to them next week, for today I'm just going to share what Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible had to say:

"After these things," the victory, the blessing, and the self-denial recorded in the previous chapter.  

“The word of the Lord,” manifesting himself by speech to his servant.

“In a vision” the intelligent observer passes from the merely sensible to the super-sensible sphere of reality.

“Fear not, Abram.” The patriarch had some reason to fear. The formidable allies had indeed been defeated, and the fruits of their marauding enterprise wrested from them. But they might resume their purpose, and return with an overwhelming force. And Abram was still a stranger in a foreign land, preoccupied by tribes of another race, who would combine against him as soon as they suspected him of being an intruder. But the Lord had stood by him and given him the victory, and now speaks to him in the language of encouragement. 

“I am thy shield, thy exceeding great reward.” The word I is separately expressed, and, therefore, emphatic in the original.
I, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of myself to man, and not any creature however exalted. This was something beyond a seed, or a land, or any temporal thing. The Creator infinitely transcends the creature. The mind of Abram is here lifted up to the spiritual and the eternal. (1) thy shield. (2) thy exceeding great reward.

Abram has two fears - the presence of evil, and the absence of good. Experience and conscience had begun to teach him that both of these were justly his doom. But Yahweh has chosen him, and here engages himself to stand between him and all harm, and himself to be to him all good. With such a shield from all evil, and such a source of all good, he need not be afraid. The Lord, we see, begins, as usual, with the immediate and the tangible; but he propounds a principle that reaches to the eternal and the spiritual. We have here the opening germ of the great doctrine of “the Lord our righteousness,” redeeming us on the one hand from the sentence of death, and on the other to a title to eternal life.

I'm saying goodbye 2019 with all it's battles, victories and defeats.  Here's what I'm planning for 2020:

I will Fear Not because
The I AM, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of Himself to man
IS my Shield, my Protector and my Defense Who will stand between me and all harm,
He is also my exceeding great, superlatively multiplied Reward.
Or as David put it, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

2020 Vision

Last night during Youth Service I had an interesting thought drop in my heart.  This happened during announcements, not during the preaching!  I really did pay attention.

I know a lot of people choose One Little Word or a Word of the Year each year.  I've only done that once before in 2015 when I chose "Reset."  I like the concept, but don't always have a word that comes to me.  But don't you think the year 2020 is a perfect year for the word Vision?

What will I do with this word?  At this point it's little more than a concept.  I do plan to study each case in the Bible when someone had a vision or when the word vision is used. The word vision is found 79 times in 73 verses.  For today, I just wanted to get the idea written down.

Key verse will be Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  I found some very interesting commentary on this verse:

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible said this:
Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance.

The Pulpit Commentary said this:
The revelation of ancient prophecy was not continuous and uninterrupted, but it came in flashes, between which there were intervals of darkness. Sometimes those intervals were long and most distressing to a people that had learnt to draw its chief lessons from Divine oracles. Such a time was experienced in the days of Eli, for "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no open vision" (1 Samuel 3:1); and another and longer period was that of the "four centuries of silence" between the closing of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament.

A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown broke it down like this:
no vision — instruction in God’s truth, which was by prophets, through visions (see 1 Samuel 3:1).
people perish — are deprived of moral restraints.

As an election year, I feel sure that 2020 will have its share of challenges and drama.  Instruction in God's truth, not what the media or politicians want to sell, is what we need to see clearly.

Do you choose a word for your year?  Have you chosen one yet?

2018: Thankful

Happy New Year!  I've written before that I'm not a big New Years resolutions person.  However, I do love the idea of a fresh start.  As 2017 was winding down I started thinking about a focus for 2018.  One of the most enriching years of my life was in 2015 when I studied women of the Bible.  I didn't rush into it, but week by week, I studied women in the Word  - both good and bad.  I learned so much.  If you weren't following along back then you can read each entry on this page:  Women of the Word.  My word for the year was Reset and I loved learning about women in the Bible who reset and made a difference.

I tried to come up with another study I could do this year and kept drawing a blank.... until I went for a run this morning.  Many of my great ideas happen during a run.  I think of it as my meditation time.  This morning I asked the Lord to give me guidance.  About a mile from home my mind started spinning and I had my plan. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."  On the heels of those verses came a quote from my baby book regarding my first Christmas.  Rod was hospitalized, Mom wrote, "Kathy spent the day with Irene Wilkinson. We had planned a beautiful Christmas - spending the day at home with the children. Of course our plans were shattered by Rodney's sudden attack. Kim and Rickey spent Christmas with Grandpa Hogan and Grandma Luella. We spent the day running back and forth between the hospital and home. We've got a lot to be thankful for anyway."

I am going to spend this year remembering compassions that have never failed.  I want to be thankful for mercies that are new every morning.  I won't be studying anyone from the Bible - I'll be studying my own life.  I want to take time each week to think of one year of my life and find what was significant and what I'm most thankful for.  I plan to include a verse or passage that fits with the year as well.

I'm sure there are years that I'll have a ton to write about and others not as much, but I do know I have a lot to be thankful for.  There may be years that I write about an event in the life of someone close to me (perhaps that little boy in North Dakota who was healed of Muscular Dystrophy.)  There are ministers, Sunday school teachers, family members, and friends who have impacted my life.  I have a lot to be thankful for.

In case you're concerned, no, I am not ill in anyway.  I'm not working on a bucket list.  I just feel like I need to take some time each week to reflect on God's mercies and faithfulness.  It's easy to lump everything together in November and call ourselves thankful, but I have a lot to be thankful for.

I'll also be reading the Bible through this year.  I'm following YouVersion's Bible in One Year 2018 plan.  I've downloaded it to my new tablet and today's reading has been completed.  Each day the reading includes a Psalm or Proverb, chapters from the Old and New Testaments and a short devotional.

So here's to 2018 and being Thankful.

Do you have a word for 2018?  Any great resolutions, plans, or goals?   If you're feeling a little down about how 2017 turned out, I suggest you read The Ballestero Blog from yesterday and begin again!

2016 in Review

This has been another busy year for us.  We were gone from home for about 30 weeks, mostly in Hawaii.  We are healthy and blessed.  Here are our monthly highlights, many of which never got blogged about:

January
We made our first of eight trips to Hawaii.

February
We settled in to our rental in Hawaii Kai - our home away from home for nine months this year.

March
March was full of highlights:
I got my second bike - My Bella Vita:

Les' dad, Bill, stayed with us for a few days on his way home from Guam.

I went to the Big Island for the Hawaii District Ladies Conference.  Sis. Claudette Walker was the speaker and it was wonderful to see her after so many years.

April
I raced the Ford Island Bridge 10k and Les raced the Tantalus Time Trial.

May
We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!  We had an amazing two week vacation to Europe.  If you haven't read the details, there are a ton of posts under the 25th Anniversary Trip tab.  Living life with Les McElhaney is a grand adventure and I wouldn't have it any other way!

June
I spent the entire month blogging about our trip!

July
I continued to blog about our trip!  We did go to a Fourth of July picnic, but I couldn't find any pictures!  Les had a cycling race on July 3rd.  It rained the entire time (of course!)

August
Les celebrated his 53rd birthday.  We had dinner at Duke's in Waikiki, then while we were relaxing in the courtyard of the Moana Surfrider Hotel we saw Bro. and Sis. Bryant from Mississippi.  I have known Sis. Bryant since we were teenagers.  It was the first time we have just bumped into someone from the mainland while we have been in Hawaii.  I never blogged about that either. 

September
Les raced (and I volunteered at) the112 mile Dick Evans Memorial Road Race (did not blog about it.)

We were also very busy at New Life Pentecostal.  We attended several Bible studies with the students at the University of Hawaii.  And the district was blessed with a music workshop led by Mark Yandris.

October
We really enjoyed the Hawaii District Marriage Retreat with Dr. and Mrs. James Hughes.  We also moved out of our rental in Hawaii Kai (no post written.)

November
We were so happy to be home almost the entire month!  We celebrated Pastor and Sister White's 35th Pastoral Anniversary, with guest speaker Elder Morton.  No photos taken, but I did blog about it!
We also enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family in Visalia.

December
We split December in half and spent the first half in Hawaii and the second in California.  There was the NLP Christmas banquet...

 Honolulu Marathon...

 Tea for two with Sis. Mac...

We made it home in time for the Victory Tabernacle Christmas recital that I did not blog about...

Christmas morning the church was full for our Sunday morning service (no pictures or post.)  Our door is full of cards from many wonderful friends and family...

Les spoiled me this year with gifts.  I see this gift every morning when I wake up, it is pretty special...

Thanks for being part of my journey in 2016.  I'm looking forward to 2017 being a great year!

Starting 2016 Without 2015

I started a new devotional this morning.  It's called "Everywhere I Go:  Learning to See Jesus."  There is a short devotional to read then several chapters in the Bible.  Today's devotional was "The Red Lizard of Lust," by C.S. Lewis:

Author C. S. Lewis spins a remarkable story about a little red lizard that a certain ghost carried on his shoulder. The lizard twitched its tail and whispered continually to the ghost, who urged him all the while to be quiet.

When a bright and shining presence appeared and offered to rid the ghost of his troublesome “baggage,” the ghost refused. He understood that to quiet the lizard, it would be necessary to kill it, and that seemed too harsh. Maybe the lizard need not die, but could be trained, he reasoned. The presence responded that training would not work; it must be all or nothing.

Finally, with the ghost’s permission, the presence twisted the lizard away from him, breaking its back as he flung it to the ground. Then an amazing thing happened. The ghost became a perfect man, and the lizard became a beautiful silver and gold stallion, full of power and grace. The man leaped astride the great horse, and they rode into the morning as one.

Lewis ends the story with these words: “What is a lizard compared with a stallion? Lust is a poor, weak, whimpering, whispering thing compared with that richness and energy of desire which will arise when lust has been killed.”

As we step into a brand new year, we think about a new start.  As long as we are carrying last year's lizard (baggage) we won't be able to go forward.  What are you carrying from 2015 that is still whispering in your ear?  Did you set some goals that you didn't meet?  Were you hurt, talked about, or mistreated?  Maybe you were the one who did the hurting.

Getting the lizard off your back might may take a little work.  A phone call or an apology.  You may just have to let some things go.  Hit the reset button, again.  When you get 2015's lizard off your back, be ready for the ride of 2016!

2015 ~ Reset

Happy New Year!  It's really hard to believe that we are in the year 2015.  Where have the years gone?  Weren't we just working on our Y2K plans?

I was up at 5:30 this morning and headed out for a run.  I was thinking about my plans for this year.  I've never been big on New Year's Resolutions, but I love a fresh new start.  As of this morning, my miles reset to zero.  And that's when my word for 2015 hit me ~ RESET.  Miriam Webster defines reset:

: to move (something) back to an original place or position
: to put (a broken bone) back in the correct position for healing

: to put (a gem) into a new piece of jewelry

What a beautiful way to start this year.  Getting our priorities back in position.  Taking what was broken in 2014 and positioning it for healing.  Finding gems of wisdom to put in our lives.  RESET.

Lamentations 3:21-23 says, "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

I'm resetting this morning.  Laying aside the weights of 2014.  I'm sure 2015 will have troubles of its own and I'll need to reset and reset again.  But that's what I'll be doing.  Because His mercies and compassion are new every morning, I can press the reset button.

As I was thinking about this, I came upon a new Bible study plan for this year.  Perhaps it's been done before, but it's something I'm going to do this year.  Up until this morning, I was planning on reading the Bible through again this year but chronologically this time.  But this morning I came up with a new plan that I'm calling "Women of the Word."  While I was running, I came up with more than 40 women in the Bible and now have 52.  I'm going to choose one each week and study them.  I'll use my Bible first, then other study guides, books and commentaries we have on hand.  I'm working on a format - questions about each woman.  What can I learn from her life? Her mistakes? Her victories?  How can I be like her or how can I avoid being like her?  And did she reach a place in her life that she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or for evil?

I am SO excited about this!  I really feel like the Lord laid this on my heart and I'm ready to dive right in!  I don't have a schedule yet, I'll be praying about who I want to study each week.  I will be choosing both godly and ungodly women in the Bible.  We can learn a lot from both types of women.  I want to finish the year, as we work our way to Christmas, with the women who were in the direct lineage of Christ.  I plan to do two posts about this each week - introducing my Woman of the Week on Monday with scriptures and study questions, then following up with what I've learned on Friday.  I hope you'll join me in this study!  Let's reset and grow together!

Great Peace

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!  That's a lot more fun to say than Happy New Year!  I hope you're starting this year off right.  I went for an early morning run.  I have found the perfect place for running prayer - Tantalus Mountain.  It's very distracting and busy when I run in Waikiki and around Diamond Head, but when I head to the mountain, it's peaceful.  I enjoyed a good run and a great talk with Jesus this morning.  I think running is a great time to hear from God - I'm too out of breath to do much talking.

I began a new Bible Reading plan this morning.  It has readings from the Old and New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  I didn't read my Bible all the way through last year and have every intention of doing it this year!

For the last couple of days, I have thought about a verse for 2014.  I asked God about it.  I don't expect Him to reveal what 2014 will hold, but this verse has been rolling in my brain and I thought I'd study it out a bit:

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."  Psalm 119:65

We don't have to look far to find things that offend us.  Open up your favorite news website or newspaper.  This world is full of offensive things.  Jesus said "offences will come."  It's unavoidable.  When you walk through the door of your place of employment, or your school, or your church, you are walking into a place where you may be offended.  Relationships end because one party has offended the other.  Lawsuits occur because of offences.

How can we have great peace when we are being bombarded?  One commentator put it remarkably well:

Great peace have they -  They have great calmness of mind. They are not troubled and anxious. They believe and feel that all things are well-ordered by thee, and will be conducted to the best result. They, therefore, calmly leave all with thee. As a matter of fact, the friends of God have peace and calmness in their minds, even amidst the troubles, the disappointments, and the reverses of life. The love of God is the best - the only - way to secure permanent peace in the soul.
Which love thy law - It is the love of law, and the belief that the law of God is in accordance with justice, that gives peace to their minds. God’s government is a government of law, and therefore it is loved.
And nothing shall offend them - “They shall have no stumbling-block.” Hebrew, “And to them no stumbling,” or stumbling-block. The meaning here is, that they would not fall into sin; they would be kept safe; they would be preserved from the power of temptation. The meaning is not, as it would seem to be in our version, that nothing would pain, grieve, or irritate them; but, as above, that as long as they were obedient to the law, and disposed to obey it, they would be safe from the power of temptation.

My number one goal for 2014 is to:

Love His Law, so that
I will have Great Calmness of Mind;
Leaving it All in God's Hands,
I will be Kept Safe, and
Nothing will Cause Me to Stumble!

Already There

Much is being said and written about the new year.  Dreams, hopes, plans, goals, resolutions, desires.  I've seen "Verse of the Year" and "Word of the Year" - ideas that intrigue me.  How do you choose a verse or a word for your unseen future?  I've heard people say, "This is my life verse."  And I'm amazed by that.  How does one single verse fit a lifetime?  I have so many "favorite" verses!  A verse that fit 2010 wasn't relevant to where I was living in 1985.   Snatches of verses come to mind, "my times are in thy hand," "great peace have they which live thy law," "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread."  Verses that hold great meaning in my life.  I could never choose just one.  (I don't have one favorite song, either!)

I was thinking about all this when I was in the car this morning.  I heard the song "Already There" by Casting Crowns.  It was the reminder that I needed.  Yes, I need to make plans for 2014, but I need to leave the outcome in the capable hands of the One Who is already there.

Already There

From where I'm standing, Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going and where You're leading me
I wish I knew how all my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out in a world I can't control

Oh, oh

When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

Oh, oh, oh, oh

From where You're standing, Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined when You breathed me into life
And all the chaos comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece of Your picture perfect plan

When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
I can't wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
Cause You're already there, You're already there
When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

You are already there 

So whether you're excited or nervous about the upcoming year ~ remember, He's already there.

Looking to 2013

Happy New Years Eve!  Another year is quickly coming to a close.  I've decided I will celebrate my New Year's on London time, around 4:00 p.m.  Then I can go to bed at my normal time!  At least that's what I told Vivian last night when she invited us to their party.

2012 has been a year of ups and down.  These past few months have had quite a bit of stress, but I can truly say that God is good all the time.  I talked to my Dad today and he sounded so good.  His number one goal now is to recover and concentrate on therapy so he can finally go back home.  He has been sick almost this entire year, one infection after another, but he is looking forward to a healthy 2013.  He said the surgeon told him he did better than expected with his surgery and I am so glad for that.

Last night Pastor White preached an incredible message.  I believe the title was, "Finishing Right to Start Right."  In order to start 2013 on the right foot, we need to close out 2012 on the right foot.  His main point was forgiveness.  We have all been faced with times that forgiveness is needed - we need it or we need to give it.  Holding on to hurts from the past will not take us forward in the new year.  It's a struggle.  Sometimes we want to hold on to those hurts so we feel justified in our anger, but unforgiveness will only hold us back.

I am praying about my goals for 2013.  There are somethings that don't change - I'm going to keep living for God, loving Him and my friends and family, keep striving to be a witness, and live healthy.  But I don't want to grow stale or stagnant, I want to grow in new ways this year.  I honestly don't know what that means, but I'm praying that God will work in my life for His good purpose.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
`Beverly Sills, American operatic soprano

Will you stay up to see the new year in?

Finding Time

My Runner's World thought for the day was simply this: 

We find time for the things that are important to us. Period.
~Scott Douglas

And today's verse of the day is:

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
~ Psalm 90:12 

As we start another year, I'm sure most of us have goals or resolutions or plans.  Many of those plans, by the end of February, will be put into the "I don't have time" pile and discarded.  Before you get to that point, look closely at your time.  It's amazing how much time we can find if we really look!  Don't have time to read your Bible, but you're reading this blog? (Ha! That wasn't really planned when I started thinking about this post...)

Earlier this year, Les and I started a home Bible study with Jose and Maylee.  We would go to her mother's house on Thursday evenings and it was working out great.  Les had a job change that turned his commute into 75 miles each way and bam! Thursday evenings were no longer available.  We missed several weeks and it really bothered all four of us.  Finally, the only time we could get together was Sunday afternoons just before church.  Yes, it cut into my Sunday afternoon nap.  Sometimes it seems like we just get home and eat and it's time to turn back around.  But it has been worth it.  We finished the formal Bible study and are continuing on, digging deeper into the Word.  It's important to us.

Les had an exercise he did when he was coaching Bible Quizzers.  They frequently "didn't have time" to study.  It didn't take long to figure out that they had time for basketball, the mall, phone calls and goofing off.  Once they looked at their time, the excuses were gone.

I can't tell you what's important to YOU, only you can figure that out. Take a little time to find time.

What a folly it is to dread the thought of throwing away life at once, and yet have no regard to throwing it away by parcels and piecemeal.
~ John Howe

Ready for 2012!

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
~Thomas Hood



People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas ~Anonymous



Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

2011 Bible Reading Plan

The start of a new year always brings resolutions. Here are some of the most popular according to USA.gov:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking Now
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions - it seems they are almost a joke. "My New Year's resolution is to not make any resolutions." "My New Year's resolution is to eat dessert everyday." That is not to say we shouldn't make plans to do better. But our motivation should be for the right reasons, not just to check a little box.

With that in mind, I've changed my Bible Reading plan for 2011. There are dozens of plans that will help you read the Bible in a year - you can find some here. I've tried many of them and have read the Bible through many times. I have also fallen way behind and struggled to catch up, "speed reading" my way through the Minor Prophets and other Old Testament books. I don't think that is what God is looking for in daily Bible reading!

I've prayed about studying the Bible versus reading the Bible this year. I don't want to feel pressured to check a box, I want to immerse myself in His Word. I have started reading the chronological Bible, but I have started in the book of Acts. I've looked ahead and before I finish Acts I will also have read a number of Paul's letters to the churches. I don't have a finish date in mind, if it takes me all year to just read Acts and the Epistles but I've grown in my walk with God, I'll consider that a success!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.
A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”
- Bill Vaughn

Les and I will probably be in bed by 10:00... what does that make us??

2011 - The Year of Obsession

More than a month ago I received this Quote of the Day in my email from Runner's World:

The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more and more life.

I love the second part - "potential for more and more life" because Jesus said "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly," but hesitated to post it because of the use of the word "obsession." Obsession has such a negative connotation. I thought I'd look it up in Webster's online dictionary, here is what I found:

a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling

Examples include:

1. He was fascinated by the actress and tracking her every move had become an obsession.
2. She has an obsession about cleanliness.
3. Her concern about cleanliness approaches the level of obsession.
4. Money has become an obsession for him.

But tucked in, after all the negative tones, was this:

compelling motivation

Aha! That's what I'm talking about! So let's take those same examples above and make a few changes:

1. He was fascinated by the Bible and reading it daily had become a compelling motivation.
2. She has a compelling motivation about godliness.
3. Her concern about winning the lost approaches the level of compelling motivation.
4. Worship and praise has become a compelling motivation for him.

As we enter 2011, we can choose what we are obsessed with. I know there are many who think going to church more than once a week is obsessive! That's okay! I want to get up every morning with a compelling motivation to live my life to it fullest potential for Him! I want to attend every pre-service prayer meeting with the compelling motivation to make a difference. I want my worship to be obsessive! Will you join me in making 2011 The Year of Obsession?

Thanks to my friend, Jen Lord, for pointing to me to "Magnificent Obsession" by Steven Curtis Chapman:

Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You

Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

Happy New Year!

Here we are - another new year! I wonder what 2009 holds for us?

Les and I were talking about goals yesterday morning. Due to family illnesses this fall, I did not reach my goal of 2,600 miles running this year. I ran just over 2,400. A little more than last year. Les said, "the whole point of a goal is to have something to work towards, even if you fall short, you will have accomplished a great deal." And he's right. I don't know anyone else who ran over 2,400 miles this year!

So, my #1 goal is to "press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That means more time in His Word, more time in prayer, more time reaching out to the lost around me. But I also want my time to be meaningful. I don't want my Bible reading to just be on my daily check list. If I only read 2 verses, but they speak to my heart, convicting, cleansing, strengthening, then that is time well spent.

What will make 2009 great? No health problems? No disagreements with friends or loved ones? No financial worries? No weight gain? When I look back over my life, I've had years with each of these, but God has always been beside me. So what will make 2009 great? Keeping my hand in His and letting Him lead me through another year, more victories than defeats, mountain tops after trials, joys after sorrows.

Praying you all have a blessed new year!