Resolved

Wow. It's already 2015! I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season. We had some incredible time off - more on that and some catch up from the fall coming soon! (I hope. Clearly my blogging consistency is spotty at best - anyone still out there?)

I am currently sitting at my kitchen table in my new home in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The sun is just starting to go down and if I sit just right all I see is a picturesque scene of trees blanketed in four inches of fresh snow. I'm drinking a big mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane. It's actually pretty wonderful.

But that's not what I sat down to write about. I actually want to share a quick word on new years resolutions. It seems that they can get a little controversial. Around the new year there are inevitably a slew of posts that try to convince their readers that you can't make resolutions and understand grace at the same time, or that building habits works and making resolutions doesn't. I'm sure they all make good points, and I am not trying to argue that there are many ways to address this common practice. I, for one, have wavered back and forth between a thousand different views on new years resolutions. I think I've made them more years than I haven't. They have taken as many different formats as years and were largely ineffective.

However, in 2014 I made some resolutions and actually followed up on my progress throughout the year. I may not have successfully completed them all, but I found them to be very practical in helping me to pay attention to my growth without becoming either apathetic or overly self-analytic. I think that resolutions can be a useful tool. We should always be seeking to become more like Christ and to serve him better in a myriad of ways during our time on this earth, but sometimes life just gets crazy and it's hard to keep that in mind. It has been beneficial to me to have something in writing that I can come back to time and time again. There is no reason these have to be done on January 1, but it's a logical time, especially if you have a touch of OCD in you like I do!

So, here's how I write new years resolutions - I am sharing because I hope it might be practical or encouraging for someone. If you tackle this idea of measuring your progress in a different way, please let me know! I would love to learn.

The most important thing to remember about New Years Resolutions is simply what they are - things we decide to do for a season that we think will make our lives better and more worthwhile. They are not commands from God that we have to live up to in order for him to love us. If I fail - I fail. I cannot and must not condemn myself for failing to live up to my own made up standards. True, we could resolve to do things that are in fact commanded by God, and if we fail at those we need to address the issue as the sin that it really is. The bottom line is that if I am in Christ, I am completely and wholly accepted by God based on the record of Christ and not on my own. Nothing I can do can change that. So, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will use these goals a tool to move me towards Christ-likeness, and not another measuring stick to look at and then beat myself up.

That all being said, I find it most helpful to keep the resolutions simple, ambitious but still attainable, measurable, and concise. I like to come up with 10-12 resolutions in the categories of spiritual, social, physical, and personal. I have one major goal, and then I will write some ideas or explanations. The whole thing took up no more than two small journal pages. Also, many of them were consistent from last year. I took out a few that didn't meet the adjectives I described above, and added a few as well. However, don't fix what ain't broke.

Throughout the year, at the first of the month (don't panic if you skip one or two) I write out the numbers of my resolutions with a short title and add one or two sentences about what progress I've made towards them.

So, to make this concept practical, and as a way of letting you know what I'm working on and learning these days, I'll share mine for 2015. I give you all permission to ask me about one of them when you see me - accountability is always good! Here goes.

SPIRITUAL
1. Finish reading through the Bible
{This was a goal last year, but I didn't make it so I'm making it a two year goal!}
2. Grow in prayer
{Here's where I would list tangible ideas of how to do this. So far I've ordered Tim Keller's new book on prayer, and identified some specific times in my day when I can turn to the Lord with focus.}
3. Study and write
{Many of you know I have hopes of some day going to seminary, so I want to do some more serious study through online resources and write through what I learn in order to discern if this could be something in my future.}
SOCIAL
4. Have 5 phone conversations and write 5 letters a month
{This only counts for out of town friends and excludes parents and grandparents and a select few friends that I talk to weekly! I have found it is a great way to hold myself accountable to being intentional with long distance friendships.}
5. Creatively serve others
{Learn to look for ways to serve in a season that could easily be selfish. For example, today I shoveled snow for the first time ever, and I did my neighbor's sidewalk while I was at it. Simple! But can be habit forming by God's grace.}
PHYSICAL
6. Pursue health
{Not going to get specific here, because that's boring and let's be honest - I'm not exactly sure where to start. But I have an overall goal of increased health rather than picky diet and exercise plans.}
PERSONAL
7. Get to 3000 gifts
{Continue to cultivate gratitude in all things by adding 1000 blessings to my list. If you haven't heard of this, check out Ann Voskamp's blog and book.}
8. Read 10 new books and reread 3 old ones
9. Challenge and stretch myself
{This is another form last year, where I look for chances to learn new things, do hard things, and get out of my comfort zone. Maybe publishing my resolutions can count for this!}
10. Finish projects
{I made a list of all the things I've started and haven't finished and I'm tackling them!}
11. Be a better housekeeper
{Having no kids and currently no job, this is a great chance to figure out what works for me as far as cleaning and cooking schedules and organization. Also it's a hugely practical way to love my husband well.}
12. Give away 2015 things
{This has a dual purpose - cultivating generosity and living simply! I'm counting things I clean out and give to goodwill, gifts to others, and dollars. Don't panic, each loaf of bread and each dollar counts as one. So I don't think the number is crazy.}

If you made it to the bottom of this post, congrats! I hope this was somewhat interesting or encouraging to you. Don't forget to comment if you have any awesome resolution making practices!