Forget the Former Things

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV)

It’s the end of the year and the conclusion of a decade. As such, it is a time of reflection.

What has happened? What have I accomplished? How have I grown (and where did I need an extra measure of grace)? Do I have any regrets? What would I have done differently?

Do you have the answers to those questions in mind?

Now, put them behind you.

That’s right. Examine them long enough to learn from your mistakes and measure your progress in life’s journey. Then move on.

There’s a new year and a new decade waiting right around the bend. It’s time to forget the past and look forward to the new experiences and new friendships on the path ahead.

What about you? What are you hoping lies around the corner of the New Year? What plans have you made? Are you leaving room for life’s surprises?

The Gift of Goals

I know Christmas is behind us but there is one more special gift that I received this year.

I started 2009 with a list of five areas in my life that I wanted to focus on. For each category, I wrote down specific things I wanted to accomplish.

I gave myself the Gift of Goals.

And my list of goals gave back. Because I had something to aim for, I could measure my progress. And seeing my list was like a silent accountability partner raising an eyebrow and asking what I’d done lately to move closer to checking something else off.

So, I’m taking time this week to examine my goals for 2009 and dream up a set for next year. (And the new decade, too.)

In some areas I made progress but fell short in the end. Did I dream too big? Or were some of life’s detours to blame?

In other places I must have set the bar too low since I’d checked everything off by August and needed to add a few more items to the list. Had I underestimated my own ability? Or did I find this particular category easier or more interesting and therefore gave it more effort?

Regardless of whether I finished my list or not, simply having goals made all the difference.

What about you? Did you start the year with a list of goals? Did you reach them? Did you make progress? Why or why not?

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

May you enjoy the day with family as you celebrate the reason for the season. That the Light of the World came to Earth as a baby. To be God with us and eventually hang on a tree.

He took the ultimate journey to give encouragement for our journey.

What's in a Name?

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder, And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. " ~ Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

I remember when I learned I was pregnant with my first child. In addition to wondering if the baby was a boy or a girl - and what he or she would be like - I started thinking about to call the newest member of the family. Should we name the baby after a relative? Find an original and unique name to be butchered by teachers for years to come? Select a name because of its meaning or because it sounded good with our last name? Reject a name solely because we used to know somebody with that name and didn't like them?

The process of name selection took time and a lot of debate. In the end, our kids all carry short names from the Bible and share middle names with their parents or grandparents.

This past weekend, our church choir sang a song based on this verse and it got me thinking about Jesus and His name. Or should I say names? In the opening verse alone, He is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. That doesn't include other names like Savior, Redeemer, King, Friend, Healer, High Priest, Fortress, Light, and Shepherd. (And the list goes on and on.)

Why so many names? I think perhaps it is because God doesn't fit into a box and a single label can't adequately describe Him. In fact, language in general falls short. Yet, somehow, in the middle (or muddle) of a pile of names, a hazy picture emerges of who God is and how He relates to His creation in their individual circumstances during different seasons of life.

So, as I continue to reflect on the Christmas story and the reason for the season, I'm reminded that there is a mountain of meaning in a name. Because even the seemingly simple name of Jesus means "Jehovah saves" and that is a name to change the world.

What about you? What importance do you place on names? What names for God mean the most to you and why?

The Gift of God

It wouldn't be right to remember the gifts of the past year and leave out the most precious Gift of all. (Especially this week when we celebrate the day God gave Himself to us wrapped up in a baby.)

The Christmas story tells of The Ultimate Journey.

Jesus left heaven behind (along with His rights and privileges) and came to Earth. To confine Himself in the womb of a young girl and be pushed from that warmth into a cold stable. To be laid in a manger and visited by shepherds. To become one of us. To walk in our shoes. To experience friendship and joy along with rejection and pain.

To be Emmanuel. God with us.

So, as I reflect back over 2009, I am thankful for the gift of God in my life. Especially that He never left my side. That He was with me in and through every situation. Honestly, without faith, I would have lost hope many times. But, knowing that I am not alone - and that God Himself has walked this Earth and knows my pain - has turned every challenge and failure into opportunities for growth and grace.

What about you? Has God been with you this year? Has His presence made a difference?

Friday Focus - The Love of a Community

One week until Christmas and I'm reminded of all of the characters in that lifechanging story.

Starting back with the angel appearing to Zacharias to announce that Elizabeth would have a baby boy named John. Add Mary, Joseph, a town of critical neighbors, Caesar Augustus and the Roman officials taking a census, roads crammed with travelers, busy innkeepers, shepherds, more angels, a star, a jealous king and three wise men. And of course the incomparable baby Jesus.

The ups and downs of Mary's spiritual, emotional, and physical journey were surrounded by a community of other people. Some characters were hurtful. But others helped, brought gifts, and worshipped.

On the past couple of Fridays I've shared pieces of the Woodhouse Family story. A rollercoaster of a ride that impacted the community of Colorado Springs in ways many will never forget. You see, after losing their house, this family was chosen to be on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. And a community stepped in to build them a home in just seven days. Hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers gave of their time and talents to meet the needs of others.

The show's gifts transformed the lives of one family. Yet, they were not the only ones touched by the experience. Countless strangers sent notes sharing they were blessed to be a part of the story. As one wrote, "You'll never know how my life was changed by participating in this week."

As I reflect back on the community surrounding the birth of Jesus, I wonder how many of them could have said the same thing? That their lives were forever changed by being a part of something bigger than themselves?

What about you? Has your life been impacted by the love of a community? Or have you been blessed to show that love to someone else?

Failure?

You've failed many times, although you don't remember.

You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1330 times but he also hit 714 home runs.

Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

-- Author Unknown

In thinking about this year's gift of grace (see Monday's post), I also had to remember the many times I failed. Over the course of a year, the failures were both varied and plentiful. Enough that I almost threw a pity party. (Forgetting all about last week's gift of growth where each challenge turned into an opportunity to develop my character.)

In my own search for encouragement, I came across today's opening quote. I love the last two lines so much that I just have to repeat them. "Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try."

Whenever I try, I'm bound to fail at least sometimes (and learn how NOT to do it the next time). However, never trying at all? I think that is the true definition of failure.

What about you? Do you look at failure as a stumbling block or a stepping stone?

The Gift of Grace

In the countdown to Christmas (and giving), I'm taking the time to remember the past year and the various gifts I've already received.

The first (discussed here) was the gift of growth discovered through all the challenges I faced. The second was the gift of grace.

Favor granted by one who doesn't have to. A temporary immunity or exemption. A reprieve. Grace.

This amazing gift came in those moments when I really deserved a different outcome.

Like when my patience snapped with my kids and they forgave me. When I scrambled to find time to polish my Genesis contest entry and my husband took the kids to his parents' house for the day. When I discovered that I'd lost three small diamonds from my wedding set - on the heels of an expensive car repair - and my husband offered comfort. When I let my busy schedule eat into my quiet time and God kept knocking until I made time, again.

In every failure, I was never alone. And once dusted off and back on my feet, I had the chance to continue my journey.

I didn't deserve grace. Yet it came.

What about you? Have you received grace this year? Have you passed it on to others?

Friday Focus - Consider It Joy

Ever had a Bible verse that won't leave you alone until it transforms your life?

Kimberley Woodhouse, author of Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy, had such a verse. After several miscarriages, Kim went in for surgery only to have it cancelled because she was pregnant. On her way out, a nurse slipped a slip of paper into her hand.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

Those words changed Kim's life and set her on a journey to joy. And those words emerged repeatedly over the next years through debilitating morning sickness, rushing their baby boy to the ER as he struggled to breathe, and searching for a diagnosis for their tiny girl with intense eczema and the inability to sweat or feel pain.

When a sudden power outage stranded her in a dark garage when she should have been on her way to lead a Bible study, Kim decided to consider it joy whenever she faced problems. So, on the top of her vehicle searching for the emergency garage door release cord (with a sock soaked with dog pee from the pet she'd tripped over), Kim sang. Along with her kids already strapped into their carseats. As she said, "What good was memorizing Scripture if I couldn't apply it to my life?" (page 67).

Their journey to joy continued when her daughter (the one who couldn't feel pain) lay in agony from crushing headaches. When brain surgery was the only option. When they faced losing their home due to massive medical bills.

And the journey continues today.

What about you? Do you consider it joy when you face trials? Is there a verse or song that has transformed your outlook on life?

Small Jobs

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves."

(Dale Carnegie: Inspirational Quotes on Getting Better)

I'm one of those people who starts out every year with an ambitious list of New Year's Resolutions, only to fade mid-January into the old ruts and habits.

This year, however, I determined to be different. Before climbing into bed each night, I'd open a journal and record what I'd done that day toward achieving those goals. The progress. The failures. The ho-hum monotony.

While my journaling goal collapsed in mid-September, I've learned a lot by looking back.

My resolution to live healthier? I didn't dramatically change my lifestyle overnight. (That shock to my system always backfires!) Instead, I decided to do one - just one - "healthy" thing per day. At the burger place, I chose apple slices or a small salad instead of fries. I wore a pedometer on my waistband and recorded how many steps I took. I parked in the first available spot no matter the distance from the doors instead of driving in circles looking for the closest opening. I remembered to actually take my multi-vitamin.

Just one small thing. Repeated daily. And, guess what? It's December and I'm healthier than I was at the start of the year. And I lost about ten pounds too! Like the quote above, I did the small jobs well and the big job took care of itself.

My resolution to finish one book this year? I broke it down into small tasks and set weekly goals. Write one new chapter this week. Send one chapter to my critique group. Edit two chapters per week. Well, December isn't over yet but my novel has been written and had one full rewrite already. While I'm in the middle of editing round number two, I've come a long way through small weekly goals.

My resolution to pare down our family debt? Once again, I made a series of small decisions. Skip the fast food meal and eat at home. Order water with the fast food meal instead of a Coke (oh, and that was a healthy choice too. Bonus.) Sell a couple things on Craig's list. Add an extra hour per day to the part-time job and use the additional income to make a larger loan payment.

Sense a pattern here? Me, too. Do the small things well and the big stuff takes care of itself.

What about you? Do you break your big goals down into small jobs? How have you done in accomplishing your goals this year? Any tips for the rest of us?

The Gift of Growth

What gifts have you received this year? And no, I'm not posting this too early.

While the Christmas season is one time of giving and receiving gifts, I've been reflecting back over the past year. The whole year as seen through the eyes of Christmas.

So, the first gift on my list was the gift of growth. I didn't get any taller and I won't be disclosing if I got any larger around the middle. The kind of growth I'm talking about is character growth.

Throughout the past year, I was given many challenges - er, opportunities to grow - but I seem to have benefited from all of them in at least one way.

I started the year unable to grip a pen or pencil without pain. Typing wasn't much easier. After a multitude of tests, I was diagnosed with an acute inflammatory arthritis (at age 37) and told it should get better within a year. You try telling a writer that it might take a year for her to write without pain. I'm pretty sure that my pity-party included a few tears. However, as the months went by, my faith in God grew as I trusted him for healing. I focused on improving my overall health. Six months later, I was pain-free, with a stronger faith and healthier body.

I grew.

I started the year with seven (bad) chapters of a novel written. I polished the first fifteen pages and entered them in a contest while continuing to write a chapter a week. In May, I typed "the end" and got a call saying the manuscript was a finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest. By September, the novel had been critiqued by two different groups. Just in time for me to attend a workshop by Donald Maass and get even more ideas for how to improve this runner-up book. Throughout the year, my writing skill has grown. So has my circle of writing friends and collection of writing-craft books.

I grew.

It's also been a year of sibling rivalries in our home. My patience has grown along with my dependence on God for wisdom.

I grew.

A year of financial struggles when an expensive car repair wiped out our small savings. A year of trusting God to provide. A year of seeing blessings come from unexpected sources. My faith has grown - again.

What about you? How have you grown over the past year?

Friday Focus - What is normal?

I'm starting a new series called the Friday Focus where I will spotlight another person's story or a resource to encourage us all along life's journey.

First up? Kimberley Woodhouse and the amazing story of her family's journey to extreme joy. (By the way, I devoured her book in two days and will be sharing an author signing slot with her tomorrow morning on the north side of Denver. Check out ACFW Colorado for details if you're in the area.)

Kim introduced her story with a look at the definition of normal. It's a great place to start our own discussion because I don't know anyone whose life qualifies as "normal."

What is normal? The usual or expected. The standard. An average. Functioning in a natural way. Free from physical or emotional disorder. (Not that I've ever experienced it, but "normal" sounds kinda boring. And who wants to be average anyway?)

Kim's family is far from average. Her daughter Kayla has an extremely rare medical disorder where she feels no pain, doesn't sweat, and needs protective gear just to go outside. Oh, and she had another rare condition causing crippling headaches and requiring brain surgery. Her son Josh has asthma and battled vision problems.

So, Kim re-defined normal.

As she says, "It's my life, and it's my normal. God gave you the same thing, a perfectly normal-to-you life. Stop comparing it to the lives other people live or the life other people think you should live and move on with what you have been given."

What about you? What does your "normal" look like? Have you been comparing it to the life you wish you had? Or are you embracing the journey?

Under Construction

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6 NIV)

The picture of Monday's award reminded me that I am still under construction. And it's a good thing because right now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the mess. Dreams, memories, hopes, worries, frustrations, responsibilities, and regrets are jumbled together not to mention the condition of my house with boxes of Christmas decorations scattered around. In the midst of chaos, I need Paul's reminder to the church in Philippi.

Being confident of this - Instead of hoping that God has a plan and is doing something with all of the scattered pieces of my life, I can be confident. Certain. Convinced. Absolutely sure. Unhesitating, unflinching, unblinking. In the face of troubling circumstances, I know with unswerving belief that this statement is true. Without a doubt.

That He who - It's not me trying to fit the pieces together. Well, it's been me elbowing God aside and attempting to shove the green piece into the pink section of the puzzle. I'm taking my hands off the process (again) and letting Him be in charge.

Began - The work has already started. I don't have to wait until some day in the nebulous future. God's plan is underway right now. Whew. It's a good thing because there's a lot of work to be done in me.

A good work - This construction project is not half-planned or started on a whim. And the work is good even when it doesn't feel like it. God's design will always exceed my own limited ideas, so I'm learning to trust His plan.

In you - Well, in me too. And the transformation process starts inside where no one else can see. Eventually, the work in me will be seen from the outside but a strong foundation is more important than a fancy paint job.

Will carry it on to completion - He's not walking away from this project. No matter how messy, difficult or delayed it gets because of my meddling with the process, God will continue to work inside of me. And every day I get a little bit closer to being complete.

Until the day of Christ Jesus - Yet, completion won't happen this side of heaven. This process is going to take a lifetime. Therefore, I can extend myself a little grace along the way.

What about you? What part of this verse means the most to you? Are you glad God isn't finished with you yet?