2013 goals

I try to make fresh goals for myself each year, as I am a goal driven type personality. Too often people hate the idea of goal setting (I know my husband hates this)  or what many people say, "making new years resolutions." I think it's probably because of these reasons: 1. We don't want to be accountable to something that will stretch us (beyond what we want to do) 2. We set unrealistic goals, that in a perfect world we would love to accomplish, but we are not in a perfect world. 3. We are too generic in our goal setting. For example, in 2013 I want to be a better wife, a better Christian, a better mother, a better cook, and a better person. Well that plan is doomed to fail with out specific avenues to accomplish that.

So here is my list. I would love some accountability.

Family Goals:
 
To help be a better wife:  I am becoming burdened about how  many marriages fall apart after 25 years of marriage. My eyes have recently been open to how easy it is to become like a stranger to your best friend, when your world is consumed with caring for small kids. So 1 date every month for my hubby and I.

As a mother, I have 2 goals this year. First play WITH my children for 30 minutes everyday, this does not include watching my children play. That 30 minutes has to a mommy fully engaged, no phone, no laptop, no ipad, no tv...30 minutes a day playing WITH them, with out interruptions!
2nd, I want to pray a different scripture for each of my girls for this entire year. I am still asking the Lord to lead me to that right scripture for each of them.

Personal goals:

I would like to learn to be more hospitable. It's not my strength and a little out of mt comfort zone. But in 2013 I am committed to have 6 new couples/families over for a meal that we have never had over before. This one is going be hard for me, but I know I can do it!

Read 24 books. I love to read, and there are so many good books out there that can help me in my journey as a wife, mother, and a Christian. If I don't set a goal, I wont do it though, because it is easy to become too busy. 

Financial goals: 
To buy a car for our family CASH! We worked very hard to pay my Jeep off last year (2 yrs early) and have since continued to put that payment into savings. Doing that for that past year makes this goal seem much more attainable. I know it will feel really good to do that, so I am determined and excited to do this.

Save $7000 towards a new house. This may be a stretch but I know if we stay disciplined we can do it.

Double our mission/gift giving by double! Another stretch of faith. But, God last year DEEPLY convicted me about giving more. He gives us everything we have so I want to show my thankfulness to Him by giving back to Him and others in need.

Spiritual goals:
Probably the hardest ones to keep and stick with will be my Spiritual goals, but alas, if I set no goals I will accomplish little, so I hope to set high and accomplish more then what I thought I could (with God's help of course, because His help I will greatly need).

1. Learn to be more forgiving. Am I the only one that struggles with being a grudge holder at times? Please tell me there are others that struggle with this too. Anybody?  When I think about all that He has forgiven me, I am again greatly convicted about how hard it is to grant someone who has trespassed against me just a little of that forgiveness. I will never forgot a speaker one time saying, "learn to excuse more than accuse!" Wow! It's hard, really hard to forgive sometimes, but if I think about how much God forgives of me, then it SHOULD be much easier to forgive another. God is definitely still working on me on this, I'll just be honest. But, my prayer is that He breaks me and humbles me out of being an unforgiving person.

2. My prayer this year, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" Colossians 3:2. Perhaps, the hardest goal of all is this one. It is EASY to set my mind on things of the earth instead of on things above, well because I live on earth.... But, I find myself in a "stage of life" right now where I feel like I just don't quite "fit in" or belong. I feel like Hagar many days, wondering around in a wilderness alone, feeling unseen, with a great affliction on my heart.
Abraham sent her away (by God's command) with her son Ishmael, with little to eat or drink. And at the point that her food and water supply is gone, she believes her son is going to die, and crys out to God, "do not let me see my boy die" and sat down away from her son, (because she did not want to watch him die). But God sent an angel to her telling her that God see's her, and is there for her and to get up and take her lad by her hand because God was going to make a great nation of Him. And I love this Genesis 21:19 says, "Then God OPENED her eyes and she saw a  WELL OF WATER!" Hagar names her God El Roi "The God who see's me." This story has brought me great comfort. When no one may see me, though I may feel alone, orphaned, or abandoned at times, He has first created my life experiences, is in command of them, and He hears my crys and sees my heart through them.So my final goal for 2013 is simply to focus more on Christ rather then things on earth.

"Sometimes God doesn't change your situation because He's trying to change your heart"