The Last of 2012

There is just a little over an hour left in 2012. It seems like just yesterday that I was writing about my New Year's Resolution for this year.  I think I was fairly successful. Of course no one masters the Bible and I can always spend more time in it. But I read my Bible every day. (Even the day I had Kevin!) And hopefully learned a few things too. I do not intend to let that go in 2013. I actually started a new morning routine today that will enable me to spend more time in God's Word in the morning. That means it doesn't count as a New Year's Resolution! I've also been trying to focus more on prayer since I had Kevin. Practice the fundamentals.

Photo Courtesy of Simon Howden/freedigitalphotos.net

What is my resolve in 2013? I want to have a greater soul-consciousness. A greater awareness of the people around me who are lost and going to hell. A deeper passion for soul-winning. A boldness to speak to others in my daily life when I'm not out soul-winning with church. That means I must focus on Jesus. And how will I do that? By praying and reading my Bible!

Just a short recap :)

=My favorite thing about this year? Baby Kevin was born!

=My least favorite thing about this year? A struggle that I didn't blog about specifically.  But I definitely remember it.

Other memories
-Justin and I celebrated our five year anniversary last Saturday (the 29th).
-We've lived in our house for a year (November)
-Micah turned 2 (April). There was honestly a time when I did not think that would happen.
-I found out I was pregnant with Kevin on my birthday last year. That's going to be hard to beat next week :)
-We bought a dishwasher! I'm still in love with it! We painted three rooms of our homes. We lived through our first spring/summer seasons here. It's gorgeous.

I've read lots of books (for me), read lots of books to Micah, practiced the piano for hours, went on dates with my husband, waited to see if Kevin was a boy or a girl, sat in the waiting room at the doctor's office, grieved about some serious struggles for others, planned meals, cooked meals, cleaned house, done countless loads of laundry, sat in church services, served at church, shared the Gospel, exercised, gained and lost baby weight, taken innumerable burdens to Jesus, changed diapers, kissed boo-boos, played with blocks, and walked the floors at night with babies. Jesus was with me every single moment and I'm glad He'll be with me every single moment of next year as well.

If I want to be closer to Jesus at the end of 2013. Then I must be closer to Jesus at the end of today. And at the end of tomorrow. And at the end of the next day. Get the idea? Every single day I must draw close to Jesus and do His will. Even when it's not flashy. There are plenty of people I know who could list much more exciting things about their year. But this was God's will for me this year. I've grown and stretched. And I've loved it too. God has been so incredibly good to me.

New Year's Resolution

I only have one New Year's Resolution this year and it's simple in theory. I want to be committed to spending more time in the Bible. Not just reading to say I've read. Not marking time and reading the Bible through. Not skimming while thinking about other things. Not dozing off again and again. Really studying, learning, and applying the truths of the Bible to my life. Allowing the Truth to transform me from the inside out.

The Bible has an amazing ability to impact my personal life. I'm doing a study in Deuteronomy and the command to learn and obey and teach children as been repeated over and over. One of the first commands was "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they might." The focus, the priority is the relationship with God. If I love God, obedience is not an issue. The heart is what needs to be changed. Deuteronomy 5:29 says, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever." It's the heart. If my heart is wrong, everything is wrong. And if I love God my heart will not be wrong. I will have the right heart. The right heart always leads me to obey God. And obedience always brings blessings. (Deuteronomy 5:29; 6:3, 18)

All the other things that I want to accomplish this coming year will be mobilized by my time in the Bible. If I am seriously studying my Bible, then I will be better at obeying God's commands and that will transform the areas of my life that need change. If I am studying my Bible, I will have more wisdom as a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a worker at church. If I am studying my Bible, it will be easier to discipline myself to get up early, to exercise, to guard my tongue. I can focus on what will change my whole life instead of having a list of things to try to do on my own all year.

The Bible has all the answers for all the questions. Will you join me this year in committing to God's Word?