Tag: New Year

No Resolutions, No Goals, No Pre-planned Ideas

On By Tina "Richele" BallingerLeave a comment

This might sound completely foreign to those of us who are resolution makers, goal setters and over achievers with well thought out plans dating all the way back to 19 72. But looking back, what exactly did those resolutions, goals, and plans do for us? How far did we make it into the year before we through them all out the window and hoped for better results in the next year. I have found many more times than I care to admit, that I barely made it through the first week before I realized I had already gotten off track and felt the urge to just give up. This year as I approached the new year I thought long and hard about the way I have always done things, fully remembering the old cliche “doing things the same way over and over again and expecting different results is insanity”. Yes, looking back “insanity” could describe the way I met each new year. As I reflected it came to me that the reason that each year came and went with very little success in keeping my resolutions, achieving my yearly goals, or accomplishing my well laid out plans had to do with “me”. Each of those resolutions, goals, and plans were ones that I felt were best for me to have a “successful” year. Not only were these things that I felt were best, but I also thought I would accomplish each and everyone of them in and of my own effort. There in lines the problem, the insanity of thinking that I could establish my own plans, carry out those plans on my own, and still make it through the year to even January 15th without failing miserably. This is where the insanity part occurs.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

This year rather than identify any new year resolutions, or identify any specific new year goals, or make any new plans I will rather wait and see what his thoughts are for me, because I know that his thoughts will bring peace, his thoughts will result in progress. So, rather than do the same thing I have always done expecting different results I am choosing a word from him. His work for me in 2025 is the word “ABIDE”.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except you abide in me.” John 15:4-5

To Abide means to remain, to stay, or to dwell in a place. In 2025 I want to remain in Christ, I want to stay with Christ, I want to dwell in Christ and I fully expect that I will find at the end of 2025 the thoughts that He had for me will be accomplished toward the expected end just as He intended. So no resolutions, no goals, and no pre-planned ideas for 2025. I will simply ABIDE !

Finding the Rhythm of Life

On By Tina "Richele" Ballinger1 Comment

“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Exodus 12:2

As we experience the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, there is a certain peace that comes as the holiday season draws to a close and we look toward the “New Year”. We look forward to once again “finding the rhythm of life” as we look toward the possibilities of a new year. Among the clearing away of the old and welcoming of the new, we tend to focus on a new set of goals or priorities that we hope to accomplish. There is anticipation of all that might be as we enter a new chapter with the beginning of a new year. I know that every year, I attempt to organize my life trying to find the “rhythm of life” that will allow me to experience a greater sense of peace, one that will lasts throughout the entire year. I look for ways to bring order to the chaos that life often brings, organization to my home, organization to the planner that seems to constantly overflow with “to-do’s”. I color code, enter important dates, categorize, and strategize in an effort to start the year in organized style.

With the new possibilities comes new accountability, old habits often have to be broken in order for new ones to become a reality. As time progresses we often find ourselves faltering as we meet the every day challenges life brings our way.  I know that as I start each new year with excited anticipation I all to soon find myself feeling the frustrations of failure the first time I fail to follow through with my new plan for organization and cohesiveness; as my so called “rhythm of life” hits a speed bump its as if my whole year is falling apart just as it was getting started.  This is when I need to be reminded that the answer to finding and maintaining the “rhythm of life” is to look to the only one that can successfully guide us through. I must stay focused on the things of my Creator first, before any of the other elements of my life will ever stay in “perfect rhythm“. “And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statues, and his commandments, and his judgements and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” 1 Kings 2:3 Aside from Him I will fail.

If I am to maintain the “rhythm of life” by walking in His ways, I have to maintain my time with Him. For me, I find that starting my day with Him enables me to find the “rhythm to my life” that will keep me on track throughout the day. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)  When I make time to start my day with my Heavenly Father I find the peace and joy that truly brings “rhythm to my life“.”Thou will shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11