Not Just Another Year

What makes this year different than last?

As I think about it, in all my 40+ years, they are all just about the same; New Years, Valentines, Easter, July 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. All of the holidays, school, seasons, family, friends, work, and life goes on… It is so easy to let a year slip by and miss the ride altogether.

Every year during the month of January I prayerfully reassess life and commit to make the current year the best possible. Now that does not mean that I avoid the bumps and bruises of life. No, in fact I often find more than most. Usually because I push the edges of possibility, live with passion and enthusiasm, vibrantly share my faith and life with friends and family. I choose to pursue life and not wait for it to find me. I choose to listen for God’s voice and bravely act on things that others think irrational or impossible. Sometimes it is as simple as that, to choose rather than to wait for what you are handed.

Here are a list of some of the things that I consider each year:

• Education – What do I want to add to my base of knowledge?
• Health – What do I need to do to honor God with my body?
• Work – What could God have in store, and how can I seek it faithfully?
• Relationships – How can I offer myself as a friend and support to others?
  • Do I need to adjust time or prioritize differently?
• Faith – What disciplines can I work on more?
  • What do I need someone to hold me accountable for?
• Fun – What hobbies, crafts, interests can I develop?
• Adventure – Think bucket list, what haven’t I done that I want to?
  • What may be life threatening, but makes me feel totally alive?

Here is a list of Goals I have set for myself, family, and ministry in 2015:

• Education – Read 2 books/month, attend conference on evangelism, study Spanish for mission trip
• Health – Personal weight goals, run & condition 3 times per week, run 3 mud races
• Work –
  • JROL – attendance +50%, 5 new small groups, door knocking
  • Hopkins – Attendance +50%, learn community
• Relationships – Nathan’s graduation, date night, family trip, church friendships
  • Always be open to the people and God moments that just appear
• Faith – Fasting discipline, daily prayer and devotion, share my faith daily with one person.
• Fun – Special Stained Glass project, write 3 songs
• Adventure – Hang-gliding, spelunking, base jumping (2017?), hiking & fly-fishing CO,
  • Find the best “hole in the wall” restaurants

My Challenge:

• Don’t settle for just another year.
• Choose to make 2015 better than every year previous.
• Make a list of goals and ask a friend to hold you to them
• Place God at the forefront

Life is a gift. Each day, month, and year is an opportunity to push ourselves, and live new dreams. Don’t allow contentment to stifle your life. Instead live vibrantly in all that you do; be Christ in Community, and let others see the Spirit of God alive in you.

Pastor Craig Ferguson