Happy New Year

It's almost the end of 2008 -- a really great year for me and my family. We've probably had as many changes and new things happen to us as in any year in our family's 20 year history. That is, the 20 years since Johnny and I married and the Johnny & Jeanette Dickerson family was started. I started this morning writing in my journal and thinking about all that happened over the last year, all the blessings God poured out on us, and all that I've learned. It's good to recount God's blessings and where He's taken you over the past year. As we read in Scripture, the Hebrew people over & over again recounted their history with God. Even in the NT we can read of the Israelites talking about their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The end of the year is a good time to contemplate the past and anticipate the future. On one of the news programs this morning one of the reporters had gone out to the streets of New York and asked people if they made new years' resolutions and, if so, what they were for 2009. There's nothing wrong with making new resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. We should all have goals that keep us moving toward what we hope to accomplish. The only problem with resolutions is if we make the same ones year after year and never really follow up or even intend to follow through. You know, "In 2009, I resolve to eat healthy and exercise and lose weight." And then it lasts for about a week. (ok, a little confession is going on here....I REALLY am going to do that in '09, though...really) How about this... along with your normal new years' resolutions make some spiritual goals as well. Where do you hope to go, spiritually, in 2009? Then, how will you accomplish that goal. Perhaps you've never really been one to memorize Scripture and that would be a good goal for you in 2009. To make it happen, go buy one of those sets of index cards on the spiral thing and write your verses...one a week, one a month, whatever...and take it with you, put it somewhere noticeable. Ask someone to be your accountability partner and have them listen to you recite the verses you are learning. Maybe have a contest with someone and reward each other for memorizing verses...even if the reward is just a cup of coffee (which, BTW, would be a good reward for me!) or an encouraging note. Whatever your goal or resolution, make a plan on how you will succeed. I really am wanting a heathier 2009. I want it for me and for my family. (can you make resolutions for other people as well?) I want to work out more and sometimes lack motivation. A friend of mine have started running a lot and I've been reading about it on her blog. It's inspired me and I've been talking about it around the house. Johnny thought I needed a little motivation to get me moving so he entered us in a 5K in February. It's a relatively short run but when I started I couldn't even run hardly 1 mile without walking much less 3.1 miles. But, I'm getting there. I have a plan and a training schedule. Johnny says after that we'll sign up for a 10K and we talked to my brother (the 100 mile racing maniac) about it over Christmas. So, I have a goal and a plan and an accountability partner. That's all you need. You can do it!

So, what's your spiritual goal for 2009? I'm thinking about mine. I'm praying about it. And, I'm looking forward to accomplishing it.

I hope God pours out His richest blessings on you and yours in the coming year. To Him alone be the glory!

Serving the King,

Jeanette