1,000 Things for 2013

Take a look at my newly purchased Gratitude Journal:

Isn't is awesome?  I love it!  It originally said 365 things I am grateful for in 2013.  I added in "days of" and for 365 "days of" things I am grateful for in 2013, and counting my 1,000 grateful using Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare list. 

I am keeping my daily list in the paper journal, but I will be updating this page once a week or so.

My One Word Update

Wow!  Hard to believe it's already the 15th of January.  My Momma always said that the older you get, the faster time pasts.  Boy, was she right!

I haven't had a great 15 days in my strive for diligence.  I have been sick for most of those days, so haven't felt like doing much of anything.  Bronchitis is NOT fun!

Some Diligence updates:

1. Bible Study/Quiet Time - I have had the most success here.  Reading is about the only thing I have felt up to doing, and I have enjoyed it!
2. My Health - Sunday night I started Made to Crave by Lysa TerKurst, so I'm working on 2 days of good health, before this week - ugh!
3.  My house - Just barely keeping up with the clutter :(  (But that will improve)

What I have learned most - What I want/feel the need to be diligent about is not necessarily what God wants for me.  I had all of these grand plans to master this thing.  God had different plans.  With all the laying around, I read a lot of scripture & devotionals, and watched a message by Charles Stanley.  This was my first time hearing him.  He preached on prayer.  My bible reading has been in Psalms, and the verses I have read all seemed to point to prayer.  My first time back to church when I was well the message was - about prayer.

I talk to God throughout the day while going about my daily business, but I realized that I don't really spend time on my knees focused only on talking to God.  Maybe God was slowing me down and showing me that before I can be diligent in the other areas of my life, I need to show more diligence talking with my Father.

I'm looking forward to coming weeks!

 

Melanie at Only A Breath is hosting a Monthly One Word Linkup Party.  Click over and check out the other One Word posts there:

My One Word Buttons

I'm showing off my new buttons made by Melanie at Only a Breath.  Isn't she awesome?  Thank you Melanie!

My One Word 2013 - Diligence

According to Wikipedia -
Diligence is steadfast application, assiduousness and industry—the virtue of hard work. 

According to  Merriam-Webster:
Diligence is persevering application 

My favorite definition, according to Dictionary.com:

Diligence is constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

I have so many things I need to improve on in my life -  lose weight, be more financially responsible, keep my house cleaner, cook more instead of eating out every night, keeping my regular quiet time/bible study time, be more productive at work.

I look at that list and think "I'm a mess, I'm hopeless.  There's no way I can do any of the things."

It's all a vicious circle.  I'm overweight, and that make me have no energy to clean, exercise, cook, even study my Bible.  

When I first heard about the book "My One Word", I was intrigued.  I bought the book for my Kindle, read it and started searching the internet (Google is my friend lol).  I found several blogs, lots of people have been doing this for years and they think the concept is amazing. I prayed and prayed, and started my own list of words I might pick for the year.  I wanted something like "Joy" or "Love" or "Peace".  You know, easy words.

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is] the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8–9

 The first word to come to me was "Diligent".  I crossed that one off of my list right away!   Then other words starting popping into my mind. Words like "Mindful", "Discipline", "Intentional", "Fruitful".  I started look up verses & definitions.  The word I kept coming back to for almost 2 weeks was "Diligence"   I found a picture:

source

This is ME! I would rather sleep than anything.  I LOVE sleeping.  But, what blessings am I missing out by sleeping?  I wake up to dishes in the sink & start my day off in a bad mood.  I eat a double cheeseburger and large fries and have massive heartburn.  I am convicted when I go to bed and haven't made time for God.  

So, I have committed to Diligence as My One Word for 2013.  I have it on my computer:

I have the squirrell as my computer desktop background. I have started a Pinterest Board here. I have a list of Bible verses that I'm still adding to. 

I'm looking forward to getting better next year.  My first step toward diligence is to post something here weekly about my progress.  No, my first step is going to be pray, pray, pray.  My second step will be posting here weekly.

Thankful Day 19

I am very thankful for Christian writers & authors.  I love to read, and it is exciting to me when I find a great Christian Author.  Some of my current favorites: 
1. Lysa TerKeurst
2. Steven Furtick
3. Renee Swope
4. Karen Ehman

(there are lots more that I love, these are just who I have read recently, or are reading now)

Thankful Days 17 & 18

17 - I am thankful for a clean house which gives me time on the weekends to do #18

18 - I am thankful for hobbies - my current favorites are knitting & crocheting.  I am currently working on a knit sweater for myself and when I need a break knitting I am working on a crochet bedspread:

This is a very soft & lightweight yarn that will be perfect come springtime.  I know crochet make you think of cold weather, but this is so lightweight that it will work better than my current comforter, which is very insulating!  (Not great for hot flashes lol!) 

Thankful Day 16

(I thought I had already posted this)

I am thankful for our armed forces and their families. Without them America would not be America.  God Bless them!