Laurel Wreath has invited us to share our New Year Meditations, the hopes, dreams, and goals we have for 2007.

This post has been simmering on the back burner for several days. I had some other obligations and deadlines this week, and then when I did sit down to write about this, I couldn’t quite think through what I wanted to say. I’ve been experiencing a bit of brain fog with a cold this week. I think what I’ll do is divide my thoughts into categories.

Spiritual Goals:

The thoughts that come to mind are “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (II Timothy 3:14) and “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18a). For instance, years ago the Lord dealt with me about spending regular time in His Word. Once that is settled, however, the temptation some days is to just drag my eyes down the page to get that part of the day done and then go on. I need to keep in the Word, but I also need to stay engaged mentally, to remember I am there to meet with the Lord and have Him speak to me, not just fulfill an obligation. Then through His Word, both read on my own and preached and taught about at church, He continues to develop my relationship with Him, shows me things that need to be dealt with, areas in which I need to grow, etc. We probably never have a virtue or character trait down perfectly in this life: we will always need to nurture and cultivate those traits. And we continually need our “blind spots” to our sin and selfishness revealed. So spiritually I want to stay the course, keep in God’s Word, keep growing, maturing, and to gain ground over my “besetting sins.”

Personal Goals:

Incorporate some form of regular exercise into my life.
Learn and incorporate healthier and more moderate eating.
Get back into sewing. I have fabric and patterns (I used to work in a fabric store) and I can rarely find things I like that fit well and are affordable.
Make a winter reading list. I read all the time, anyway, but I discovered with the Fall Reading Challenge that it only takes a little planning and making a list to include some of those books I’ve “always wanted to read some day.”
I tend to be “task-oriented” and need to be more “people-oriented.”

Family Goals:

There are specific areas I am praying about for each member. I want to continue to treasure the time I have with them. My oldest is likely going to “leave the nest” some time in the next year or so. I am sure that will be a shock to my system.

House goals:

Do some sorting and organizing in the attic and shed.
Make or buy curtains for the family room.

I am sure new things will come to light as the year progresses. But these will keep me busy for a very long while. 🙂