Happy New Year Everyone!
It’s pretty cool to spend the day reflecting on the goods and bads of a year and trying to learn from both. It’s also a good time to set measurable and realistic goals for the coming year. Not necessarily resolutions but actual goals with success incentives.
So, lessons learned in the last 12 months, Don’t rush change, people must feel that there is a need to change and have the desire to want more. Unless urgency and desire are created any change, even good ones have some very bad ramifications. I also learned that in order to really walk with Christ you must love people even when it hurts. I thought I had really accomplished that until this and then I had to learn it all over again. I definitely learned that transitions while some times scary are often just what is needed. We had several transitions at the church this year and taking the time to step back and look at the big picture each transition needed to happen and brought us one step further on the journey. This year I learned what it’s like to work on a team. I haven’t felt that way very recently but I’m sure we’ll get through this too. The staff have really become a team and that’s probably the one achievement I am most proud of in 2009!
Goals for 2010 – For Asbury some goals are to get our new database software off the ground with all kinks worked out by the end of February and to pester people until they use it so we can have a real assimilation process and help people meet Jesus. I also want to complete the final part of the NACBA certification by March 15th, hopefully sooner if I can get some alone time in Flordia; I work better in a warmer climate!! I also feel the need to establish team development ideas with strict follow through. I don’t want to lose every thing we’ve gained in the last year.
Personal goals are to re-achieve my summer weight by Easter. I started yesterday, intentionally not a New Year’s Resolution, and let me tell you, sitting around the house on nibblly New Years Eve has not been very easy. But, the scale was really mean yesterday morning so I am still motivated. Mike and I are taking several days next week and through out the year to invest in us. We’ve fallen pretty far apart and are probably better coworkers right now than friends or life partners. We’ve let work drive a very large rod in between having any type of relationship so fixing that is a huge goal for 2010. I have adopted a 15, 15, 15 goal for my relationship with Christ. 15 minutes in the word, 15 minutes talking to him and 15 minutes listening for him each day. This isn’t much time and I am not even committing to doing 45 minutes at once but if it’s really my calling and an important part of my life I must find the time. I think I also need to spend some time working through the fact that I don’t really value community or fellowship and at times when I need it the most I crawl inside my house and sit silently. I know this must change if I want to continue to grow.
So, what are your goals for the coming year? What are lessons you’ve learned this past year? How is God stretching you to the next level? It’s very good for the soul to take time to reflect!
