"I have to make a resolution to keep a resolution"

I uttered this statement to a co worker the other day.

After I got overwhelmed thinking about all the things I hoped to accomplish in 2011.

I told her:

" It's like you go into the new year with all of these lofty goals, then you fail at them, and by the end of that year you look back and think, damn, I wasted another year of accomplishing none of what I wanted to. Then the cycle starts all over again for the next year."

It's a sad cycle I am guilty of. 

I have so many things I want to improve or get started on come 2011.

So much so, that I am actually scared, to type them out here for the world to see because I am already afraid of failing at them.

But I am going to be transparent, 

put the fear aside

and share what I am hoping/praying to accomplish and improve on in 2011.

1. Find a local church I really love and get involved in a Sunday school class or small group.

I have never actually made this a resolution before. But it is definitely something I have failed at miserably year after year. 

I have a local church I enjoy but I am awful about being a regular attender. And don't even get me started on committing to a small group.

FAIL. Epic Fail.

But after a dismal year of church attendance on my part in 2010 (yes I am admitting it, go ahead and judge.) I have realized the importance of being a part of a local body and more importantly being knit in with a small group of believers. 

2. Read through the whole Bible

I am scared that I even just wrote that down. Geez, I know it is done all the time but it is sort of a scary sentence to write.

Read through the whole thing? 

Even Lamentations? Really?

Can I skip Numbers too? 

3. Run a half marathon

OOOH! Gosh Darn It!  I was so on track to accomplish this at the very beginning of 2011.

And (CROSSING EVERY FINGER) I am hoping it still may be possible to accomplish.

But due to an injury it is up in the air at the moment.

But I think this goal should probably be number one on my list.

Just for the sheer fact that is is something that I have longed to complete for a very long time.

2011 is my year to do it.

3. Read a book each month.

Now I'm not really scared of failing this one.

I love to read.

Take away every electronic and leave me books and I will be just fine.

4. Pray

Sorry, Im not trying to get all spiritual on you here.

But I guess over the year of 2010 I have seen a need for me to get back to my own spiritual growth more than ever.

And that involves prayer.

I pray.

But I dont think I really get down to business with praying for things that I need breakthrough in other issues in my friends lives and my own.

I need to learn how to pray and really dedicate some time to it.

So there you have it my goals/resolutions for 2011.

Scary? Yes.

But I am willing to make one more resolution:

Keep these resolutions and accomplish them.

That is even scarier!

And last but not least. 

I heard, maybe in a sermon sometime, about choosing a word to apply to the year ahead. For instance say you went through an awful year of depression or hurt or pain, maybe you would choose the word Joy. Bye choosing Joy you start to apply it to areas in your life. You can think about it in the context of choosing joy even when your down or continually praying for joy for yourself and others throughout the year.

I guess I see it as choosing a word you need to see breakthrough and blessing in that area of your life.

So I am choosing a word, on top of my actual goals for the year.

Discipline

" Discipline is remembering what you want."

Peace,