My word for 2012

"We can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough."

------Katherine Mansfield

These past few days, I've been a little under the weather, so I've been sitting around here staring at the walls and out the back door at the sky. {One of the many reasons I LOVE my new back door}. While I've had the opportunity to sit and stare, I've been thinking about what the next year will bring.  It seems that with every year, time goes by even faster than the year before.  Now that I have children it's even more real.  Our time here is so short.

  As James says, "Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14  

Wow! 

As I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Lemonade Makin' Mama , I was given an idea.  I had already been thinking about what I would like to change or resolve to do better in this coming year so when I read her post, I was inspired to come up with "my word". 

"My word" for 2012 is intentional.

Intentional- conscious, deliberate, purposeful, willful.

There is a program on Faith Radio with Dr. Randy Carlson, called Intentional Living.  Dr. Randy offers people Biblical tips to strenghen their marriages, improve their families, and grow a closer relationship with God by doing that one thing every day to live more intentionally.

By making a conscious effort every day to be intentional about each decision, we tend to live more disciplined lives.

"Success consists of a series of little daily efforts."
------Mamie McCullough

This year I would like to be more intentional:::

1.  With my time. I am a very scheduled and organized person.  I like to have things clean and in order.  That's all good but I don't want my time to be consumed with just that.  I want to spend more time with my children making precious memories.  Spend more time doing for others.  Spend more time with Jesus in prayer and Bible study.  And less time doing things of no value. 



2.  With my giving.
I would like to be more generous.  Generous with my money, time, thanksgiving, grace, and gratitude.  I want to give of these things above what is easy.



3.  With my diet and exercise. 
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"  I Cor. 3:16 
Those who know me, know that this is huge! If there is one thing I do well, it's eat! I live to eat. I love to eat.  And I eat too much.  And I certainly don't have the most healthy diet in the world, and I spend zero time exercising.  This could surely be the reason fat girl can't squeeze in any of her clothes:) God has convicted me about the way I eat and the lack of discipline in this area.  Oh my, watch out!



4.  With my speech.
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of ediying, (building up), that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29
I want to be intentional about the words that come from my mouth.  What I say about others and how I handle situations.   The way I repeat what others have said.  Do I relay it with any embellishments of my own?  Whether I  should repeat what others have said. What I say to or about my children.  What I say to or about my husband. 
{I mean with something that looks this good for a husband, how could I say anything bad :-)}

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24


5.  With my thoughts.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8
I think this may be the most influential aspect to our daily lives.  The way we allow ourselves to think.  Whatever thoughts our minds are consumed with will eventually in every way consume our living.

"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions, and not our circumstances."
------Martha Washington

I know these cover a wide range of ideas and maybe you're thinking "only in a perfect world will that ever happen."  And I agree.  Thank God for his grace!  I know that I will fail often, but we gotta start somewhere :)

It's a new year, with a fresh start!

What one thing do you want to change in your world?

Happy New Year!