For my inaugural blog, I would like to share what my very special (she is a Washingtonian, Calvinist and works at Starbucks, what more can I say!) friend Sarah posted this on her Facebook at the beginning of 2008. I've borrowed (and pasted in below) this from her site because it is so powerful.
I am grateful for friends like Andrew and Sarah. Thank you for your help in getting this website and blog going, your hope filled words when I've needed to be reminded of God's faithful sovereignty and victory, and for the magnificent ways you reflect Christ to me.
I pray that what I post might be an encouragement to those who read it - to strengthen hearts in praise to our most glorious Lord whose lovingkindness never ceases.
May our lives ever be filled with joy!
~ Kathryn
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Four or five years ago at Christmastime, my pastor sent our church body an e-mail encouraging us to set wise goals for the upcoming year. He included a list of questions by Donald S. Whitney, written to urge believers to reflect on their walk with God, to "stop, look up, and get our bearings." These questions had a great impact on my life at that time, and are the reason that I boycott New Year's Resolutions and, instead, prayerfully evaluate wise goals that I should set for myself.This list was given to me again last night, and again caused me to think and evaluate this new year. I hope that it blesses, encourages, and challenges all of you as much as it has me. Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
What's one thing you could to this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life?
What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more the help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.
What's the most important decision you need to make this year?
What areas of your life most need simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify that area?
What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
What habit would you most like to establish this year?
Who do you most want to encourage this year?
What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can make toward achieving it?
What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
What's the one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
What's one thing you could do this year to enrich teh spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year? What single blessing form God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year? What's the most important trip you want to make this year?
What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
What one Biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?
In what area of life do you most need change, and what will you do about it?
Written by Donald S. Whitney
