New Year's Resolutions

I've been thinking of what I want my New Year Resolutions to be...some of them, well, one of them is pretty easy to accomplish. The others I will definitely need some help from the Lord and some accountability from some friends and the hubster. So, easy one first: 1. I will not buy any new books on my nook until I read the ones the I have purchased. Ah. Will power! Ok, harder ones now: 2. I will complete the program on my new Couch to 5K iphone app. I am waiting on hubby to tell me what my reward for completing this is...I LOATHE running. 3. I will have a better prayer life. 4. I will have a stronger relationship with the Lord through bible study. 5. I will work on my relationship with my family, especially with O...truly being grateful what the life God has given us together...listening to guidance from Him. 6. I will seek to eat healthier. 7. I will do my dead level best to get Greyson to eat something besides chicken nuggets, nutella and cheetos by prayinig over his appetite. Ok, that is enough. I don't want to over do it. I mean, I know it was only 7 things, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. I know that having too many goals can make it hard on someone to accomplish them. I also know that I need a strategy to accomplish them so...I'm working on a more specific plan for each. For example, to accomplish number one I plan to read a book for 30 minutes at least 3 days a week before I go to bed. I have to work on the others. The couch to 5K is actually planned for me 3 days a week. So, I will post up what my other plans are for the last 5, and then I will also try to keep up with my progress on here as well.

Sweet Brothers

An Accomplishment

...or atleast a goal met. I struggle to call it an accomplishment, because I am actually just being obedient. By this Tuesday, I will have completed my goal to read the New Testament in a year (well, it took a little longer than a year. Our discussions got so in-depth that we had to slow down our reading. That's a good thing though.)

I am glad that I blogged about most of my reading, and I do regret that I didn''t blog these last few books. But, it is really hard to find the time to blog with a new baby in the house. I can at least go back and read over things that I have learned. I have grown so much , and I really feel like an can God's voice much clearer now. This is most likely because there is a wealth of scripture that I can be reminded of now. I also feel like I am more aware of things that I need to be doing and of opportunities as they arise.

There are implications to what I have learned though. Luke 12:48 tells us that we are required to do much with what we have been given (very loosely paraphrased). I have been given a lot of knowledge over the past year, and I know that God wants me to use it. So I need to be praying about that.

So, what will I do next? I am going to watch David Platt's Secret Church study with a friend. I also plan to attend another bible for a little while to get some nourishment for my soul.

I will get back to leading soon. I also plan to get back to blogging...I know I say that every time I blog. But it really is a goal of mine!

Confession

Before I begin with my confession, I would like to apologize to anyone who follows my blog. I have truly been a slacker in keeping this updated, but I have not slacked off on reading my bible!!!! I only have some chapters left in Luke, and I will have read the New Testament, yay!! So, I'm sorry I haven't been blogging about it, but I'm almost finished with that half of the bible.

Now...
My Confession.

I am jealous of people who can just whip up a meal. Just whip it up. No cook book. No guide...just put it together. I cannot do this...

I was at my friend, Farrah's house the other day for a play date. We hadn't really planned on eating with her, but we ended up doing that. Farrah whipped out some chicken salad so fast it made my head spin. I thought, while she was making it, wow...that was so simple. Why can't I do that??

Now, let me clarify. I can cook. I am a pretty awesome cook actually. I think there is a chef just dying to get out. But here is the problem...

I was sitting down the other day and was going to try to make a monthly meal plan for like the 4th time ever (really helps to save money because you plan ahead for what you will need and buy in bulk...blah blah blah). So, here I am. Excited to try once again. I ask the hubster, "What are some things that I have made that you really like? I want to plug them into this meal plan."

Silence. Silence for like several minutes. Now, I know he likes my cooking, so I'm guessing he is just distracted by the game on t.v. So, I prod..."Babe. Did you hear me? What are some things that I've made that you like?"

Ok, here's my problem. Ready? He said, "Honey, I love everything, but I have a hard time remembering anything because you haven't made anything more than twice. Most things only once."

So, I thought about it. Started counting, and he's right. I don't. I have an illness. I can't stop buying cookbooks and cooking magazines or pinning on pinterest. I have to cook new things. I can think of about 15 things that have reoccurred in my cooking repertoire. Wow.

You may be thinking, "That's awesome. Good for you." But I have no idea where I got the recipes...as in, which magazine or which cookbook. AND I've cooked so many different things that I can't remember them myself. Owee asks me a lot, "Mom, you remember when you made ( )? That was awesome!" Um, no. Sadly, I have no idea what she is talking about.

I really need to get myself together. Get a plan going and somehow keep track of where I find my recipes and keep them somewhere that I can easily get to them. Ugh. But then, the thought of cooking the same things really bores me. Especially when I just got this new cooking magazine the other day with lots of yummy Italian recipes in it. I can't resist!!!

And you know what else is weird? When I go out to eat...

I usually order the same thing.
I'm a weirdo.

Updates

Sorry I haven't blogged, but I am still reading.  My sweet boy will be here in 4 days, so I have been a little preoccupied.  I just finished up Matthew 28 today.  I really love Matthew's account of Jesus's life the best so far.  I still have one more gospel (Luke) to read.

Only 5 more books, and I will have read the whole New Testament!  I have really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to all the ways God will have me use the knowledge that I have gained, because with greater light comes greater responsibility (Matthew 12:42...those who saw Jonah and what he was able to do knew nothing of Christ and look what knowledge of Him did for their lives...I know Christ, and even better now, so I have a greater responsibility to His word/commands).

If you have been reading along, please don't stop.  I'm sorry I haven't been up to speed, and I will not say that I will be better from here on out, because I will have a newborn here...no sleep.  But rest assured that I am reading!  I will start Romans 1 tomorrow.  Our bible study backed down to 3 chapters a week instead of 5, because we were having such great discussion that we couldn't get through every chapter in our time together on Tuesdays.  So, for this Tuesday, the reading is Matthew 27-28 and Romans 1.

Matthew 9-11

Alright, I know I haven't blogged on the first chapters of Matthew, but I just haven't had a moment. I am backing up to chapter 9 though...I just finished up chapter 14. I'll probably blog to chapter 11 today.

Matthew 9
I want to be like these ppl who just had faith and what they needed was supplied to them. True faith - no doubt...that is how you ask - otherwise do not think you will receive what you ask for (James).

Isaiah 35: 5-6 All the miracles that Jesus is performing are fulfilling the prophecy in these verses in Isaiah.

Matthew, hated by all the Jews, because of his profession. He sees that Jesus truly loves him - despite this - and follows Him. Matthew may have had a hard time getting along with other disciples because they may have known him as a tax collector...collecting taxes on the fish they caught. But Jesus' love covers all - we have look past ppl's past/issues...there is a higher goal.

I have never fasted. I need to do this. Jesus did it...and He is my model for how to walk and develop my relationship with God. If He, the Son of God, fasted to strengthen that relationship then I should as well. I don't guess I can do that pregnant, but as soon as I'm able.

Jesus didn't come as a new addition to the old covenant, but as a completely new covenant. Just like His death can't mean for us that we say we believe Him and continue on in our old way of life. We have to be new as well.

*Why are the ppl so freaked out that Jesus cast out this demon? Because the man was made mute by the demon. Jewish priests believed that you had to know the demon's name to cast it out...so since he was mute, they considered him hopeless. Jesus healed him without knowing the demon's name. This made the priests look imcompetent, and the ppl realized that Jesus had more authority.

Matthew 10
God will often meet our needs through the hospitality of other believers.

Persecution --> harmless doves, wise serpents. Jesus says we should allow persecution when it comes and not defend ourselves physically (harmless doves) but only avoid it using wisdom (wise serpents)...Paul really walked this out. Beware! persecution is coming, but when you allow it, you give testimony of Christ to the world.

God will give you the words you need to defend your faith when the time comes. Feeling too unprepared to witness? Then you are doubting that God will provide...this doesn't mean you shouldn't spend time preparing by studying God's word.

v32 No such thing as a secret Christian. If you were put on trial for being a Chrisitan, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Idolizing good things is usually more dangerous than with bad. The most danger to the "best" comes from "second best."

The cross you bear daily is not your trials...it is your own life.

Matthew 11
*Jesus rebuked those cities He names in this chapter because many miracles had been performed there - they knew more, had seen a greather light and therefore had a greater responsibility and they didn't step up to it. What does this say for me? I've been given much...I know the whole story and they were only seeing it partially fulfilled at that time. Am I stepping up?

To take on Christ's yoke means that we are to let him be our guide. We come ready to learn and be guided...taking His yoke doesn't not mean we lay down a burden and walk away.

I'm Still Here

No I haven't dropped of the face of blogging world...nor have I stopped reading my bible. We are currently reading Matthew 9-11, if you are reading along. But life has been a little crazy...getting baby stuff ready, end of the school year stuff, and well...whatever else you can name. I plan to post up some thoughts on this past weeks reading at some point this week.

Just letting you know that I'm still here :)