The Roys are here! The Roys are here!

Tomorrow I get to see my dear sweet Sambug! Tomorrow can't come soon enough! I did, however, get to talk to little Sammy on the phone! He put a smile on my face and made my day! Thanks Mrs. Elizabeth for letting me talk to him! There is much excitement in our house as we anticipate our visit with the Roys!

2007 is gone. Memories are left. What do I see as I look back over this past year in my life? How can I see evidence of God in my life? What do I wish that I had done differently this past year? How can I do things differently in the coming year?

I see that God has brought me closer to Him. He has given me new ways to trust Him and rely on Him completely. God has closed doors in my life, and opened new ones full of opportunities to glorify Him. He gave me many times to perform musically for people and to give point the way to Christ. I've been able to share Scripture with many ladies through an online Bible study I was a mentor for. I have been given many opportunities to serve my family. I have taught many music students. I have to striven to be in the center of God's Will.Yet, I do have regrets. I regret not spending more time studying the Word of God. I regret not memorizing more Scripture. I regret not being disciplined enough to get up early to spend more time in prayer. I regret not being more self-sacrificing in my family. I regret the bad attitudes that I've had. I regret the times I allowed my pride to insist on my own way rather than being willing to yield.

So, how will this reflection on the old year influence the new year we are now in?

1) The foundation has to be my personal time spent with the Lord. For this area greatly affects the rest of my life. If I don't have my roots sunk deep into the gospel, how can I be effective in other areas of my life? I purpose to keep personal time with the Lord a high priority. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105; Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

2) I also want to be receptive to ways that God has in store for me to build godly character.  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, w have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.. Romans 5:1-5

3) To be willing to yield and submit to authority. Therefore, submit to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7; But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17

4) To be self-sacrificing, looking for opportunities to meet the needs of my family and others that God puts in my path.  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13

5) Taking every thought captive unto Jesus so that my thoughts and attitudes will glorify Him. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

6) To memorize more Scripture so that I am equipped to not sin, to not give in to temptation, to use Scripture to praise the Lord and to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that lies within me. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Wow, I have high standards and goals for this next year. But I know that nothing is impossible with God! I pray that He would work all this in my life for His glory and according to His good pleasure. May my life be a testimony of Him!

What are your goals for 2008?

Oh, I was about post this and realized I wanted to comment on my current reading material. I highly recommend this book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. What I have read so far is excellent. Manhood and Womanhood are clearly defined and explained. This is good for anyone who desires to get back to Biblical Masculinity and Femininity. I am grateful that I was encouraged to read this book.

We had a guest speaker at church. Dr. Tom Schreiner. He is here from Oregon to do a family conference at our church. I was unable to hear him this morning as I was in the nursery.  It is such a delight to take care of the little ones! I did get to be in the service this evening for the message. It was quite good. The text was Ephesians 5.

I am studying Galatians. I am so grateful for the grace of Christ. And for the Law, which reveals our need for grace.

Florida is coming up soon!

I did something totally bizarre, out of the ordinary and highly unusual (for me). I auditioned for the play Madeline's Christmas with my sister Elizabeth at the Germantown Community Center.  We both were called back. What was I thinking? What if I actually get the part? Maybe I did it because there was a need and the director was begging for people to audition. (They needed a Miss Clavel.) Maybe I did it for Elizabeth. Who knows! But I have done it. And I have to return Monday night to find out my fate.

We shall see.......