"Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Running the race. Looking ahead. Endurance. Staying the course. It's a new year. It's a time when many people make resolutions. People make great plans to make huge changes in their lives. I've been thinking about that lately. I'm not great at making resolutions. Probably because I know that statistically there's a pretty good chance I won't keep them. But I do want to know that I am on track, that I'm on the right course. Jesus knew His end at the beginning. He ran His race. He finished well, very well, and He's sitting at the right hand of the throne of God. I want to run well. So, what is my race? What is my course? I'm a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom. That's not going to change for a long time, not until I graduate my youngest son. So that race looms ahead. We will just keep running, completing our goals, enduring the long hours, days and weeks. We can see the end, but its a long way off. No major changes here.
Raising my children. I'm learning there is no real end. Even at 21, they still need me. Sometimes I think they need me more as they get older. Becoming an adult is hard. Finding your wings, but keeping your roots. It's a challenging idea. The fact they they need me so much keeps me on my knees and in the Word. It is a great responsibility to raise them up in the Lord. I want to run this race well. I don't want to misrepresent the Lord in anyway. I don't want to lead them astray. I take this appointment from the Lord very seriously. I realize He has entrusted His precious children to me. He has given me four children of my own. He has also blessed me with other beautiful children who call me "mom". I love each of them and strive to meet each of their needs and know them for who they are. I love getting to know them and seeing who it is that God has made them to be. They are each precious, precious jewels and I am humbled that God would allow me to be part of their lives.
My art. It's a huge part of who I am. My hands, my heart, need to create. It's who God made me. I have come to really enjoy paper-crafting. My arms and hands can't do the knitting, crocheting, quilting and stitching so much anymore. I still try, but it is limited. Paper-crafting doesn't hurt. Yet. And I'm glad for that. I'm starting to find my style. I'd like to be more creative. I'd like to do my own thing rather than trying to fit some mold. It's my art. It should always be fun. And I want it to bless others somehow. That's what I want to discover this year. Who am I as an artist? Where am I going? How can I bring honor to my Lord with the gifts He has given me? I want to know I am on the right track. I want my art to grow. And in all honesty, I want to be on a design team. I want the quality of my work to grow to a level that I am asked to be on a design team. I want to meet other creative women. Not just follow their amazing blogs, but truly know them. Home-schooling and raising my children are just part of who I am. I want to stretch and grow and learn artistically.
The last goal I have been thinking about is for me physically. I started exercising seriously again in August. I'm proud to say my "old-lady" arms are gone. I have worked my arms hard. I have some muscles. And I want more. In the last 3 years I have lost 40 pounds. I want to lose 5 more. I want a flat stomach. I want to be strong and healthy. I don't want physical limitations to what I can do. I want to be in control of my body and health.
So, those are my thoughts. I am chronicling then here for...accountability? Maybe. I know when God has spoken so extensively to me that my heart will follow. These will be my focus.
Lord, I pray that You would help me persevere. Help me run the race this year. Help me to diligently seek Your face and be led by your Spirit so I can arrive at the end of this year victorious, glorying in You and what You have done in my life.
May you be blessed this year in all that you set out to do.
Blessings & Hugs
Michelle
