Looking Ahead

On the one hand I’m not into New Years Resolutions.

Anything worth planning for or resolving is something that should be part of every day life, so I have no recollection of any New Year’s resolution I’ve ever made and I have no recollection of making any in the last year or so.

On the other hand however I am into planning.

I read someone’s approach to resolutions being on the negative because they were more interested in what God would send their way.  It’s very much a more responsive approach to life rather than one that’s taking the initiative and setting out larger-scale plans.  In as much as I understand that approach and by no means wish to be presumptuous as though I can dictate what will be, it can be somewhat passive, as if God throws us stuff and we’re only here to react to His stuff.  I am happy to believe that the same God who gave me the ability to respond to every day life issues is also able to instruct me as to how to map out an aspect of the route of the journey – not that I’ll know everything, but it will literally give direction and focus.

I was intrigued to consider some things about the year ’11.  For example it’s all about the 1’s really and so it will be no surprise that I’m hoping this year will be about pursuing Jesus Christ and Him alone as well as the unity of the Body.

11 is also two individual digits together and in being numerically significantly larger suggest that its better together than apart.  I definitely want to focus on my marriage this year.  The last two years has been one in which by necessity we have been brought closer together and have begun to learn a bit more about how to do this life together business.  I’m only too aware that Deborah, Abigail and Zo-Zo needs to witness love in action between father and mother.  As well as that and more importantly, I want to love Authrine more this year than ever before and also be able to support and encourage her further this year.

11 is the number of players on a football team – my favourite sport being football.  Thus hopefully this year will be more about team-work and developing those essential team and spiritual community family links to do life, church and mission together.

Finally for now I’m 33 for the majority of this year and that is a directly divided number of 11 to the number 3 I believe and of course 3 has its own significance as does 33.  So I’m hoping this year to be further growth in honouring the Father by pursuing the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit at an age of sacrifice, which I’m hoping to be able to make in whatever expression.

I do have plans for the year beyond this concerning this blog and other things, but I’ll let these roll out as time goes by.

I want to point out Eric Carpenter’s current trial of faith – he’s a blogger I’ve been reading recently with a growing level of admiration and respect for putting his growing convictions into action, however hard it is proving to be.  Please remember him in your prayers.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd