So, Those Resolutions…

Every year so many of us set out to start the new year fresh.  We make our list of resolutions.  I was no different than the average person this past year – see, I even posted my resolutions for anyone to see.  So, now that the year is more than half over, I thought – hey, maybe I should check in on what those were?!!  Have I even come close to keeping any of them??  And you know what – by God’s sweet grace to me, I was rather shocked…

1. Find a new place to call my church home.  I think we can say yes, I am finally at a church that I am excited to call home.  It was not easy by any means.  It is hard to go to a new church every weekend.  Or, go to one church that you sort of liked a few times then to find – eah, still not the right fit.  I was not super excited to check out Hope at first, for reasons I cannot really pinpoint – but basically I thought only college students went there.  Plus, it was only a block away from my old church.  Thankfully, I got over myself and finally went.  After being there for about two minutes – I was like, dang – I think this might be it?!!  Guess when you know, you know?!!  And by no means is Hope perfect, but it does seem to be a great fit for me and I have been enjoying being there – it has been sweet for my soul.  I am so thankful for God’s grace to me in this process and letting me step out of my comfort zone and all that I knew as a believer and trust Him as I explored the unknown.  Funny how it’s not so scary on this side and I look back and am like, dang why did it take me so long to make the switch?!!
2. Go to Thailand (and of course, ride an elephant while I am there) – Okay, so I have not actually gone yet, BUT my ticket is purchased!!  I am planning on being in Thailand (and maybe even sneak over to Bali for a few days!!) from October 2nd – 19th.  I am so stoked – especially since I feel like this has potential to be my last big trip all on my own 🙂 …
3. Better respect for my body.  Let’s see – overall, yes.  Thankfully, by God’s grace to me in so many ways I can say yes – in purity, consumption of less alcohol, making healthier food choices (primarily Vegan – not right for every body, but exactly what this body needed), and protecting my time on my yoga mat.  All of those things together have made for a healthier body, but even more a healthier mind and soul.
4. Read more, and actually finish the books I start.  Well, this I sort of blew out of the water while I was in Yoga Teacher Training because I read a book a week practically!  Since then, I have not kept up reading that much, but I have had a desire to protect my reading time.  I still have a handful of books I have started and haven’t finished – but it is only July…I have time!  It is at least trending in the correct direction!
5. Start dating my future spouse.  Okay – not going to lie, this one is the weirdest to give an update on because let’s be honest here, I am not God – so who knows how this will all work out?!!  BUT, with that I am dating someone.  And he is pretty darn amazing.  I could get all girly and totally gush all about him, but I won’t bore you with that – just know I am very happy, thankful, and grateful.  I had no idea a man like this really existed (though, I do still need to get him on a yoga mat…) – he really does help me love Jesus more.   It still is very new in the grand scheme of things, but I am hopeful – so again, this one is trending in the right direction!

There it is – I set out 2013 with 5 resolutions and I have actually managed to keep on track.  I am not so certain that is normal, but I think the key has been walking with Jesus on all of these.  It isn’t about all this amazing work I have done because I could have never done any of this on my own.  And not all of it has been easy by any means – but I am grateful for the changes and excited for where they are taking me.

Did you make resolutions for the new year?  How are you doing on achieving them?  How do you follow up on your resolutions?

Resolutions…

It is a new year, so we are all supposed to stop and make resolutions, right?!  I think there has been a movement in the last couple of years to try to make more realistic resolutions, but I still seem to be reading some over the top ones.  Either way, I am always curious to stop and hear what others want to see change in their lives.  I know there are things I want to see change in my life – I just do not know that I want to call it a resolution, as I do not have much control over them.  Here is my current, honest list (brief first, reasoning to follow)of, for lack of better words, resolutions…

1. Find a new place to call my church home
2. Go to Thailand (and of course, ride an elephant while I am there)
3. Better respect for my body
4. Read more, and actually finish the books I start
5. Start dating my future spouse

So, we will start from the beginning of the list.  I want to first say I am very thankful to the Lord for BBC.  It is where I became a believer because John Piper saw the need for a stronger college ministry at his church.  He led the movement to bring Campus Outreach to Minneapolis.  It is through those specific events that the Lord chose to use them to work in my heart and first reveal Himself to me.  For that, I will forever be grateful – it literally changed my life.  However, that does not mean that it is always going to be a perfect fit for me – so, the search has begun for me to find a new place to call home – maybe not tomorrow and maybe not forever.  So, I am still currently a member at BBC and will stay in my small group until the time is ready for me to commit to a new place.  I just know in my heart that this is what I need – and who knows, maybe the process will lead me back to BBC, but for now this is my biggest resolution as I feel it has clearly been laid on my heart.  As one friend plead with me, “Please do not throw the baby [literally – baby Jesus] out with the bath water,” because he wants me to be walking with the Lord in a year from now, which looks like may best be done at a different church home that better ministers to me.

Number two is fairly simple – go to Thailand to visit my dear friend, Laura.  Putting it on paper makes it more real to plan for.  I cannot wait to get over there – as I have wanted to go to that part of the world for thirteen or fourteen years now – and the opportunity has finally presented itself.  Pretty excited, especially to get to ride an elephant in it’s natural environment (versus the circus when I was a little girl).

Three just finally made it on my list after sitting and thinking about others’ resolutions.  I mean sure, I am a girl – so who wouldn’t want to lose a few pounds?!  But it is so much more than that – when I think about having better respect for my body.  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”  So, with that I think about wanting to make decisions that honor the Lord with my body because He is dwelling in me.  I do not want to break that intimacy with Him by running to other idols, which in 2012 played out more clearly in physical things that impacted my body negatively.  Simply abstaining from the things that hurt me is not the necessary solution, as it changes the behavior but does not get to the heart behind it.  So, this is one resolution that I am leaning fully on the Lord to cultivate a spirit in me that wants to fight to have deeper unity with Him over momentary pleasures in this world that break intimacy with him.

I used to read all the time.  It was one of the sweetest parts of my week.  Sneaking away to a coffee shop to get lost in books that challenged my mind and stretched my thoughts.  It stirred my affections for the Lord so much.  Not that it is a cure all, but even the little bit I read over the holidays revealed to me I need to go back to this – as it ministered to my soul so much.  So, I am going to try to get some more reading in, which will start with TrueFaced, The Calvary Road, and Mark Driscoll’s new book, Who Do You Think You Are?  I have a couple other books I also want to get to, but for now I think this is a good starting point – take me back to who I am in Christ.  I think remembering my true identity will deal with the heart, and Lord willing, lead to my hands to live out better respect for my body – as they are so closely related.  Behavior can only be managed for so long, this is needing some deep heart work, which is only going to happen by the Spirit doing some work – and me wanting to let the Lord do that work.

Oh, and well five is to put a smile on your face – and for me to be honest and vulnerable.  I know that many see me as this independent woman, who likes to play off that she does not need a man.  And honestly, that statement is very true – I do not need a man and I like to do a lot of things on my own.  I have been pretty independent the majority of my life, but that does not mean I have to be exclusively independent.  However, I do still want one and not just anyone – I want a man who I respect, who is pursuing the Lord – by no means perfect, but willing to come alongside me in this life so we can help one another come into a deeper union with Christ and see Jesus more clearly.  It will be messy, but I still there would be some pretty great parts.  This is also one of those resolutions that I have zero control over, but now as my readers you know – so feel free to pray, and dare I say even match make?!!  Eah, I am open to that…I think…

So, there we have it.  My resolutions for 2013.  I want all of them to be grounded in being resolved to seek the Lord more – I do not want any of these just because, but rather I want these to be means to know my true lover more.

Do you do the whole resolution thing?  What are your 2013 resolutions?

Much love,

B