my morning game plan

i am not a list person.

something about looking at a list overwhelms me and makes me feel all hemmed in.

if i were to make a list each morning of what i actually end up accomplishing

by the end of the day anyway, i might be prone to climb right back in my bed.

ridiculous right?

i guess i prefer the free bird feeling over the mark it off as i go plan.

i am however a very organized person who rolls better when there's a schedule around.

i like a game plan.

a non-list making organized scheduled rebel type A.

can you say conflicted?

anyway....

this year there are several things in which i have an interest, but debated  'joining the group'.

i think there's a little rebel inside of me that if i 'have to' it takes away the joy.

while i need accountability i also need flexibility too.

while i'm not big on lists

i am big on writing down dreams and journaling my thoughts

so

the other morning dan & i spent the morning together.

we head out on a date each week. 

forget movies and nightclubs, we're all about the eating.

eating out...definitely my love language!  ha!

anyway, over a hollywood omelet at The Flying Biscuit

i read off the litany of things i'd love to accomplish this year

which includes some pretty lofty dreams.

( yes, i did indeed make a list)

while i'll hold off on sharing some of those lofty dreams right now,

i will share a couple of the things i hope to have in my life on a daily basis.

~reading through the Bible in chronological order.

there's no right or wrong way to read the bible. not at all.

i am interested in seeing how the stories are connected.  cause & effect if you will. so i chose this particular order.

i've started this several times but am committed to finishing this year. i have one of my mother in laws bibles (actually i have several of hers ) but i will use her NIV Life Application each morning. 

she has written in the margin of every page. seriously. 

i can hardly wait to turn the page to see prayers and little notes that are years & years old.

just precious & priceless to me.

i use a 24/7 bible to give me the schedule to follow but use her bible to read the actual passages.

i have a little notebook that i use to journal as i go. i don't typically write my personal thoughts or interpretations in this book, it serves more as a what's going on journal.

i especially love the old testament stories. they are full of drama, revenge, family dysfunction, battles and war, sex, love and poetry.....which sets the stage for an amazing redemption later to follow.  

i've mentioned before i basically watch no prime time tv.

an occasional grey's or glee to bond with one of my daughters but that's it. intentionally. 

with all the aforementioned, who needs it right?

~scripture memorization.

thought about joining beth moore's group.

i looked the other day & she has 9000 comments from others joining in this powerful plan & wonderful accountability!

i figure i'd fall flat on bimonthly new scriptures by february,  so i decided to pick a passage a month to work on. period.

i keep these in a small 4x6 simple brand little book. picked up at target.

that way i can have all the scriptures i've memorized together.

i will also write them on little notes to keep with me

or on a chalkboard in my kitchen.

it's just what works for me.

this is my passage for January.

ephesians 3. 14~21

 For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

 

when i was growing up

i remember coming down the stairs

every

single

morning

& seeing my mom

sitting in the living room.  surrounded by notebooks, red pencils, prayer journals

bibles in multiple translations, picture of friends she was praying for,

etc

while i have already gotten behind & it's only the 12th of the month

it is my desire to show my girls

what matters to me.

my hope is to balance a schedule and accountability

with some grace and flexibility.

most of 2010, the girls came down one by one each morning

to find me on photoshop,  fb or blogging.

while these things are good,

i'm tweaking my schedule

& hoping they will see me spending time first thing in the morning

doing what is most important.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.