Friday, January 1, 2010

My 10:10 Challenge

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly."

So for the year 2010, I am going to memorize this verse and it's reference because I'm going to discuss 10 goals for the year 2010 with the frame of mind that Jesus came for me to have life...and have it abundantly. I will call this my 10:10 challenge.

1. You've already read several blogs last year about my efforts to lose weight. I know that I must pray for the fruit of the spirit of self-control. I will have to pray for this daily (umm...probably more like hourly). But I know He does not like how I'm indulging in unhealthy habits (poor food choices, lack of physical activity) so my goal this year is to lose 40 pounds AND run the 5K Susan G Komen Race for the Cure this year...hopefully with a certain friend who said she would train with me!

2. To be a genuine follower of Christ, I must spend more time in His word. I fall short with this so badly. And even if I read a passage that I have studied in the past, it's always amazing to me when He reveals something completely different the second, third, etc time that I've read it. To live abundantly, according to His word, means I have to be IN the word. My goal is to read the bible daily, more than likely in the morning before everyone is up - unless I'm training for the 5K at that time, then I'll need to read at night when everyone is in bed! :o) I would like one of those Joy FM "Read the bible in a year" cards...

3. While Josh and I really love the principals that Dave Ramsey teaches, and while it has really changed how we go about doing things, I am still not a perfect FPU student! My goal is to be debt free (with the exception of our mortgage) by August. This means that every "big" check that we receive from now until then MUST be put towards our AES payment (student loans). So when I see that big deposit in my account from our tax return (there is one financial plus to having many small children...ha!) or when Josh is paid in March for coaching basketball, or when he makes extra money this summer (either teaching summer school or working at UPS) I cannot let myself get off track. I also must stick with our debt snowball and continue making extra payments towards AES, even though we owe far less each month. Living abundantly means being free from the bondage of debt. What a freeing feeling this will be.

4. One of the topics I did not mention was "off limits" back in my why I blog entry has to do with me and Josh. I will not discuss our specific struggles, even though I've read "famous" bloggers and their confessions of trying times. Like when MckMama shared that she and her husband had a fight so bad that the cops had to be called. No, that has not happened to us! As if that would be kept secret anyway in a small town! ;o) But I just can't see myself telling my readers that type of thing. Mostly because - for me - it's a respect issue. But I will share that this past year has been very difficult for us, and in 2010 my goal is to make Josh - our marriage - a top priority. I feel as though I have let "us" fall by the wayside. I want to speak kindly in all circumstances. I want to encourage him daily. And I want to commit to being more consistent with physical intimacy...yeah, that's sort of blunt, and perhaps TMI, but I realize that a marriage needs intimacy in that way.

5. Proverbs 31:28 says "Her children arise and call her blessed." I keep thinking...when my children are old enough to understand, would they arise and call me blessed? If they are asked, "Who influenced you the most in your spiritual walk?" would they say me? I want to be a better mother, really. I want to keep my cool when they disobey, and I want to pray for my children and with my children every day. My goal is to become a more Godly mother, and while I realize this is a hard one to quantify, I know that the Lord will bless me in my efforts and show me in the days to come how I can be more like Him to my children. I know that living abundantly means raising my children in the way God has asked me.

6. While we're speaking of Proverbs 31, in verse 27 it says, "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." My goal is to be a better homemaker, and while that title usually doesn't set well with me, right here in this verse it clearly says that I am to be a homemaker! Even working moms are homemakers. We are to watch over the affairs of our household. And I know that this means being on top of the house work - laundry, dishes, bedrooms, etc - and it also means not to be idle. Sometimes it's easy to just sit and watch a show with the kids, and I'm not saying that I won't ever do that. But I needed to realize that playing is a part of my day just as much as keeping up with the house.

7. Another goal is to seek ways to further His kingdom with the gifts He's given me. I know that He has equipped each of us with specific talents and abilities, and this year I've been really having a hard time knowing what I'm supposed to be doing with those abilities. I like to write. Should I be using it in some way other than my blog? I like to sing. What do I do with that? So this one will be a daily journey for me, I'm still trying to figure it out. But I want to be more consistent with seeking His direction for me.

8. Over the course of the last eight months or so, I must confess that prayer has been difficult for me. But...my goal is to have consistent communication with God. To pray...even if I don't understand.

9. This next one isn't really all that spiritual in some ways, yet I suppose some would argue that it is. I want to encourage far less TV time within my family. I'm not sure what the balance should be, but I'm thinking two shows in the mornings (for the kids) and then perhaps two shows in the evenings for all of us - like Wheel of Fortune! It just seems like we're spending too much time watching TV. And while we're on the subject of wasting time, I need to limit myself on the computer...drastically. If I'm spending the mornings and evenings reading God's word or training for a 5K and the rest of the time I spend with my kids, that means facebook and blogging would be put on the back burner. But I really love to write, so I'd like to fit it in somewhere! Any suggestions?

10. Ah, the final goal. I want so badly to have a more compassionate spirit towards others. I want to be less critical when someone does something that seems so wrong in my mind. Sometimes we can use scripture to discern when something is right or wrong, but sometimes we just need to show compassion even if someone isn't living according to His word. This is hard for me, and I don't want it to be. I will be praying that God will give me the compassion that I long for.

What are your goals for 2010? What can you change to live your life more abundantly?

I was really sick while writing most of these, so please excuse any typos.

8 comments:

Susan said...

These are wonderful, Chrissy--my suggestion is to go back and read this twice a month. All of us fall short..it is knowing that we have that brings us back to where we should be. Hope you feel better soon!!!

kimberly said...

Chrissy-I love your top 10 in 10! I am so with you on the 5K. I have kind of started to run with the Wii Fit. So that way I can keep up with you. I really am super excited about it. I do hope that you come back to Weight Watchers, even if it is the night meeting.

Unknown said...

I LOVE "resolutions"! I use the term loosely because new goals mean different things to different people. As much as I love making goals I love reaching them sooooo much more!

1. If you haven't discovered realage.com you need to go there. Simple cooking, menus, grocery lists, exercise, ect. It's amazing and it's helping me reach my weight loss goals.

3. I love Dave and I hope you reach your goal. I'm a minimalist by nature so I really like his message. I also really love Leo, writer of Zen Habits. It's not a Buddhist blog, it's an everything blog and he only posts a few times a week so you're not eating up time that could be spent elsewhere. Leo's rising early plan has helped me a ton.

4. This has also been a problem for us as well. In particular the "respect" part and letting our relationship fall by the wayside. Learning to put Alex before our child has been hard, but when I realized last year that it needed to be done, I did it. You're not alone and good for you for recognizing the need to connect.

6. Fly Lady is the best website ever. I put together the control journal and use it in conjunction with Zen Habits. Man is that a magic combo!

7. TV takes up an incredible amount of time in most households. I cut the cable in my house. We get Netflix movies (or TV series) every other day and don't turn the TV on apart from that. I give myself a writing goal of two post per week (I write an anon blog)and I only work on my computer in the morning. I get up at around 4:30 so that I can have the house to myself and so that my brain is fresh. It doesn't interfere with anyone else in the household and I can drink my tea in peace. =)

10. This is goal of mine as well. To be more compassionate and mindful of others. It's something that I always keep in my mind.

Here's to 2010!

accesskas27 said...

girl... you are a very gifted writer!!! And you were sick!!!??

I will be praying for you as you reach your goals... because with God NOTHING is impossible!!!!! I know you can and will reach every one of them!!!

love ya girl!!!!

mom said...

I LOVE this post! We could all grow so much following these guidelines, you should write a book Chrissy! You are an amazing writer and need to share your gift! I really enjoy your blog and hope you meet all your goals this year. As for the facebook, I am struggling with that one as well. I think I may try deactivating and just having everyone use my e-mail then checking it a couple times a week and thats it. I think if I keep facebook it would just be too tempting to go on daily again. Our household is also cable free we have found that you can watch tv shows online lots of times and the kids have some videos, it helps us know exactly what they are watching and how often. Good luck to you Chrissy and thanks for sharing, definately has me thinking about my goals for 2010!

Tina said...

we are not cable free but only have local channels which means the kids can only watch PBS until 1 when the little kids shows go off......
Nice list - I hope you acheive them all!

Mindy said...

What very thoughtful goals! Love them.

I'm horrible (or really good, whatever you want to call it) at spending too much time on my computer... I need to change that. I was thinking maybe if I gave myself a set computer time.. say like I can be on from 8-9 pm.. and that's IT. As long as we could follow it, it would work!

I want to read the whole Bible this year... I have a 1 year Bible.. and I think it only takes about 15-30 minutes a day..so we'll see how it goes! As long as I'm spending much more time in the Word, it'll be a good thing.

Good luck with your goals! I have faith in you!

Unknown said...

Wow very inspired by your 10:10 challenge! I am right along with you on all of them, well except the writing and singing talents. Lol

You can do it with the help of God! Go get 'em!

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