The ONLY Resolution you need to make!

In 2008, I resolve to . . . .

What did you resolve to do in 2008? Did you write it down? Make a list? Was it longer than your grocery list? Did you make any resolutions or goals at all?

In years past I have had goals and resolution lists longer than the Constitution and all it's amendments. . . . . ok . . . maybe not quite that long . . . but close! And each year I felt like a big fat loser in looking at how many resolutions and goals I actually kept or obtained in the 12 months God gave me that year. So last year I decided to do things differently. . . .

I didn't make any goals or resolutions! I figured - if you don't make 'em, you won't fail at keeping them! :)

It worked! :) I am happy to report that I didn't fail at keeping any sort of resolutions this year. And I am still the same weight as last year, my house is just as messy, I saw the same amount of friends, and my spending habits didn't change. :)

Is that good? . . . . yes and no.

I do have to say though - it is nice to not feel like a failure at the end of the year. :) But I also would have loved to have felt a little toner, had a few more dollars in my savings account, seen a few more friends, and had my house a little cleaner (but not done by me! hee,hee) - amongst other things.

However, God has been teaching me a lot the past couple years about learning to just "BE". Be in- the moment, the situation, the day, the presence of friends or family, the happiness, the sadness, the good times and bad, etc.

And above all - He has been reiterating to me the importance of the only resolution and goal I ever need to have - not just each Jan. 1st - but every day -

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

as well as . . .

Matthew 22:36-40 - "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

My only goal and resolution in 2009 and everyday of my life is to be a Lover of God - to seek Him first - His kingdom and His righteousness - and let Him take care of the rest! He can do it! He does it all the time! We just have to trust Him to follow through with His promises when we follow through with ours!

If I am loving God with all my heart - the rest will come . . . I will love myself more (because I will know WHO I am in Christ and how God sees me) - which may lead to taking care of myself more - toning up the gravity-induced sagging areas, resting more, etc. It will lead to loving others more (as I have learned to love myself) - so more time will be spent with family and friends. It will lead to a more balanced approach to how I spend my money (which I've done fairly well at - but there's ALWAYS room for improvement!). It may even lead to a cleaner house . . . . . maybe . . . maybe not. :) It may just take off the stress that I feel about it - realizing that people and God are so much more important than a clean house!! A friend may pass away tomorrow . . . but the messes never will!! They will only continue! So . . . choose people over cleaning any day! That's my philosophy! :) (so - come visit me . . . but expect to be able to write me a note in the dust on my furniture! . . . . ok . . . it's not always that bad!)

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!

I know that God LOVES new beginnings! He invented them! If 2008 hasn't been the best year for you . . . look forward with anticipation to a new beginning in 2009! Seek God first and foremost - and you can't go wrong!! Give Him your worries, your resolutions, your goals and ask Him for His! They are always MUCH better than anything we could dream up!!

Blessings!!

My Rock of Peace!

This week I have been carrying around a small rock in my pocket. Now, that's not unusual for me in the past - especially when my kids seemed to hand me new little pebbles, medium sized stones, and some large rocks each and every day. Eventually those stones would secretly make their way back into my garden or backyard. My pockets (and countertops) just couldn't hold onto them all!

I do know why they felt compelled to give me these rocks. How do I know? Because I asked them. Their response . . ."because we know you LOVE rocks mom!" :) ??? Hmmm . . . how did they know that? I don't recall saying that I loved this part of God's creation.

I did have a polished rock collection from my years of scouring the ground and quarries in rural Minnesota when I was in grade school. I would use my own rock polisher machine to make my agates, amythists, and other precious stones shine and sparkle. It was my own private gem collection! I was hooked! I couldn't help but look down everywhere I went - seeing what kind of rocks I could find. Occasionally I would find other treasures . . . coins, broken toys, candy wrappers and more. It was awesome!

So why have I been carrying around a small rock in my pocket all week now? No - it's not from my kids. Thankfully my kids outgrew (or forgot about) their habit of giving me such lovely stone gifts. This rock is a small smooth river rock that I had written "God's peace" on it during a MOPS craft activity last year. Here's how it ended up in my clothing.

This past Tuesday I was spending some time with the Lord. It had been awhile since I had some quality one-on-one time with Him without too many interruptions. I had alot on my mind to discuss with Him - so I started in. . . . . "What should we do about the kid's schooling next year? What should we do about . . . . What about this? . . . . and this? . . . . " etc - you get the picture. My mind was FULL! I had been feeling overwhelmed with life - not being able to get things done, trying to give my 5 kids and hubby all the attention they needed, getting frustrated at all the things in our house that need fixing - not to mention the fact that it always seems to be a mess and I'm tired of cleaning it . . . . . . . . . I'm just feeling discontent and overwhelmed lately.

I started walking along a dirt path with the Lord (in my mind as I was praying). I was talking to him about all the little stones around us on this path that I felt the need to pick up and do something with. It was so overwhelming as there were soooo many rocks - too many to hold in my hands (or pockets for that matter!). I asked God for what HE wanted to give me. He turned and picked up something - then placed it in my empty arms. It was a HUGE rock to carry! This was His "burden" (yoke) - but I realized that it really wasn't as heavy as it looked like it would be. It actually was quite comfortable to carry, kept my hands and arms completely full, and was really satisfying.

I continued to worry, however, about all the little stones we were passing that I still felt like I should be tending to (ie - all my daily tasks, family issues, my schedule, etc). He said to just focus on the rock that I was carrying instead. I looked at it closer and it had the word "PEACE" on it. I am to carry it for awhile. I continued to ask Him about the other stones (can you tell I'm stubborn??!) - but He showed me that I cannot pick them up without first putting down the PEACE rock. I cannot carry both right now. Maybe later we can deal with the little stones - but for now He wanted me to focus on this big rock. He then showed me a HUGE pile of other large rocks.
"Lori - I have all these to give you." God said.
It did seem really silly to me to want to pick up all the little one now. He said the big ones (which had the words - JOY, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, etc on them) are what He is giving me to use to build my altar/memorial glorifying Him (or foundation stones even). It is for my kids and grandkids to be able to see and say "Look at what the Lord has done." - just like in the OT when Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. God had them take 12 stones from the riverbed and set them up at Gilgal. "Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." (Josua 4:5-7)
God went on to tell me that the little stones (ie - worries of the day - the non-essentials in of true/eternal life) will not make good memorial stones. It would take forever to build with those little rocks! It would not be impressive. I would just be a pile of little stones.

PLUS - God also showed me that by carrying around His large "burdens" - the little stones would seem really easy to carry afterwards! :)

So . . . starting this past Tuesday, and for however long God deems necessary, my burden is to carry PEACE with me - in my life and in my family's life. That night I noticed that I had a good sized rock in my bathroom that I had bought at a store . . . and wouldn't you know it - the word "PEACE" was carved into it! :) I had forgotten about that! Then I found the small stone on my bedside table in a candle holder (with other stones). I have kept it in my pocket since then. Each time I notice my mind wandering down the path of picking up the little stones - I just feel the rock in my pocket and remind myself that I am already carrying PEACE! It has helped alot this week! :)

Some awesome scriptures about PEACE:

Psalm 34:14b - "Seek PEACE and pursue it."

Psalm 29:11 - "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with PEACE."

Psalm 37:37b - "there is a future for the man of PEACE."

Psalm 119:165 - "Great PEACE have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."

Proverbs 14:30 - "A heart at PEACE gives life to the body. . ."

Isaiah 26:3&4 - "You will keep in perfect PEACE him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the ROCK eternal."

Isaiah 48:18 - "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your PEACE would have been like a river . . ."

Isaiah 57:2 - "Those who walk uprightly, enter into PEACE; they find rest as they lie in death."

Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and PEACE as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (this verse got me through our adoption journey!)

Phillipians 4:6&7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everthing, by prayer and pettion, with thansgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God which transcends all understandning will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

And for all of you . . .

"Now may the Lord of PEACE himself give you PEACE at all times and in every way . . ." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Blessings,
Lori :)