Just For Today

Happy New Year!

With the new year comes the natural opportunity to assess what ‘things’ in my life I need to work on. As I compile my list it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed. There seems to be much to work on this year!

I feel the pull to tear the list up and embrace the que sere sere, whatever will be, will be attitude. But I really don’t want to be the same person next year that I am today.  I want to continually grow and be a better version of me.

As I ponder what to do, I am reminded of a list I compiled years ago after listening to leadership guru John Maxwell. In his teaching, Mr. Maxwell talked about what he does each day to ensure he is heading the direction he wants to go and developing the values in his life that are important to him and to God. He has a ‘just for today’ list of 12 attributes he speaks over his life each day that keep him focused on what is important. I think it’s time for me to put this into practice once again!

For example, instead of saying , “This year I am going to be more generous.”,  say, “Just for today I am more generous.” The focus is on today not the year. A year at a time can be hard to handle and overwhelming but a day at a time is doable.

So what are 12 things you want most out of life this year? What character traits are in need of some nourishment and growth?  Here are a few of mine.

 

Just for today:

I have a positive Godly attitude.

“Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus: who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” Phil.2:5-7

I have a grateful and thankful heart.

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

 

This year let’s have lofty goals but take life a day at a time.  For,  just for today turns into weeks of just for today that turn into months of just for today that turn into a year of just for today that result in positive Godly change.

 

Unhindered….just for today…live the Masterpiece!!

 

 

 

Expect Delays

I have a love hate relationship with technology.  I love technology when it QUICKLY does what I want.  I hate technology when it doesn’t work or takes longer to accomplish a task than I deem necessary.  Why doesn’t my phone navigate the variety of apps with the ease of the one on the commercial? Where did the rough draft of my blog go?  All I did was touch the screen? And why do I constantly need to reboot my wireless internet?  Frustrating!!

I am not good with glitches or delays.  (Those closest to me might say that’s an understatement!)  But what if the glitches and delays aren’t really my problem.  What if sometimes the real problem is that I am not very good with perseverance?  

Perseverance– steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

There will always be obstacles that slow down and impede progress this side of Heaven.  I choose how I respond.  I can play the victim, throw a hissy fit and give up or I can press in, re-adjust and continue on my journey.  Oh that I would press on!

So what are you facing today?  Is there an obstacle in your way that is slowing down your progress?  Are you close to throwing in the towel?  Is it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Now is not the time to give up but to press in and press on!  Remaining steadfast may be uncomfortable.  It may be the hardest thing you have ever done.  It may take every ounce of your energy.  Giving up control over timing is never easy but you can do this.  You can persevere because the One who formed and gave you all those crazy dreams is right there by your side and He is for, not against, you!

Unhindered…live the masterpiece!

 

Resolutions

Happy New Year!  Yes, it is the beginning of a new year and the time when many of us set goals and resolutions for ourselves.

Some of us are fairly disciplined and can maintain action beyond the 30-40 day mark to actually form a positive habit in our lives. Others are not so disciplined and will have abandoned our goals in a couple of weeks. Still others of us are so disillusioned and disheartened by our past inability to stick to a resolution, that all goal setting, dreaming and vision casting are simply abandoned.

Certainly there a number of reasons why goals are discarded.  But what if one reason we fail to stick with our goal and resolution is because it really isn’t ours to begin with?  We just think it is a good idea because everyone else is doing it. But maybe your admirable resolution isn’t something I am physically, financially or emotionally capable of achieving at the moment. Guess what…that’s ok!

Or, what if the goal is for us but the manner we try to achieve it doesn’t fit? What if we are adopting an execution plan of another instead of seeking and implementing one tailored made for us? We may have similar goals, but the way I achieve mine may differ than yours. The action plan of someone who thrives on solitude and structure to accomplish a goal looks vastly different than the one who needs people and variety. And that’s ok!

And what if sometimes it just takes awhile to figure out what works well for us. That’s ok too.

Maybe this year it is time to have a bit of Grace for ourselves and others. Grace to grow and learn. Grace to develop our Divine gifts and talents uniquely. Grace to know that each is fearfully and wonderfully made and Grace to call that forth from one another.

Unhindered…live the masterpiece!

” Let us consider how we may spur one another to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)