A little late getting into the "new" year, part II

So if you stopped by yesterday, you read my reflection on my 2010 new year resolutions (if you made it all the way to the end...).  Today I am going to pick up where I left off and share with you my resolutions for 2011 and the word that sums them all up.  Again, I decided to leave out the things that I would probably end up doing, resolution or not.  Some examples of those from last year are: learn to sew, get a new sewing machine, visit 3 different states.  These are things that I love and would need no push to do them, so obviously I was struggling with what a good resolution is when I made mine for 2010.  Okay, I'll stop blabbing now and tell you what I've got:

 {"Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4}

1. Be consistent in spending time with the Lord.  A great and practical way to do this is to make sure that I do my BSF studies on a daily basis as opposed to realizing that it's already Sunday and doing 2 a day.  God should get my bests and my firsts - not my lasts.  This should be a priority!

{All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17}

2. Memorize scripture on a weekly basis.  This was an important resolution that easily got thrown under the bus from last year - I am determined to not let it slip between the cracks this year.  I have a topical memory verse system that I got when I was living in Lexington and studying the Word with Frankie (one of my favorite people ever - my Bible Study leader and Lexington Mom).  Stephen and I are going to do this together - this will help to hold me more accountable.

{"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17}

3. Be healthy.  I'm not going to make lofty plans to become a runner and to be able to run "x" amount of miles each time I go to the gym because I've found that I'm a VERY mental exerciser.  If I make a goal to run "x" amount of miles when I go to the gym, and then I go to the gym and I don't run that amount I feel like a failure and defeated and then I stop going to the gym (look at me: exhibit A).  So I'm just making a resolution to work out 2-3 times a week.  That may be a long walk, that may be a run, that may be an exercise ball in my family room.  I just need to work out.

{"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:11-13}

4. Stephen and I stick to a budget when it comes to our expenses. Two things happen to our money before it even makes it into the budget: we give it back to God (it's really His money) and then we put some away into savings before it hits our budget books.  Even though we have a budget, we like to challenge ourselves to not spend all the money that we've allocated in our budget (all you Dave Ramsey fan out there are judging me right now...).  The only way we can do this is if we actually keep up with putting our receipts into our budget spreadsheet in a timely fashion.  Otherwise, we won't know how much we've spent!  Last year we were in a bad habit of putting our receipts in like a month late and while we didn't overspend, I'm sure we could've saved even more by being aware of how much we were spending when we were spending it.  This year, we are going to put our receipts into our budget on a weekly basis.

So that's that!  Those are my 4 major resolutions for the 2011 year.  The word that sums up all of these resolutions, and that says what I want to be better at this year is disciplined.  I want to be disciplined in doing things that I know are the best for me and will make me a better person.  I want to be disciplined at doing the small things: going to bed at a decent time, not wasting time on the computer or watching television, flossing my teeth, you get the drift.  I also want to be disciplined at doing the more important things like spending time reading the Bible and in prayer.  So, this year, I am working on becoming more disciplined.

 "My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
   and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in."

Proverbs 3:11-13