Looking Forward

New year, new calendar, new goals, and a proverbial clean slate. 2009 has dawned and the key question is what will you do with it? What will I do this year to separate it from all the other years, past and future? Personally, 2009 promises to be a year of big decisions: internship or not, photography school or not, and so on. Doors will open and close, but the decision is a matter of what is His perfect, pleasing will for me this year. Where do I need to be and who do I need to be encountering? I can tell you that so far, I have sought for more godly counsel in the past few months than in years past; from my Word, from my spiritual parents, John and Misty, and in prayer. That is the mold I want the rest of the year to follow.

I am realizing more and more that nothing I can do will really change anything or anyone. I have nothing to offer anyone of myself. Just as Jesus said that of myself I can do nothing, I have to rely on the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit within me. He is my source of strength and in Him I can do all things.

On that note, what do I plan on doing this year?

1) Exercise 1 hour a day at least 3 days a week.

This one is already going very smoothly; right now I'm at 5 days a week. I always feel so much better after a run or lifting, I don't know why I stopped last semester.

2) Read 1 book a month.

I'm fairly convinced that my total of books read in 2008 could not have totaled more than 12. And I'm normally the girl with a book in her bag, always reading a chapter here and there! Hopefully 2009 will mark a return for me.

3) I really want to get all A's one of these semesters; so I will be increasing my study time and improving my skills this spring especially.

The physical, passing ones are so much easier to pinpoint. Spiritually- how do you say specifically where you want to be? I can say that God has continued to speak to me about delighting myself in Him, and dropping everything else. So I will continue working on being who He says I am and should be. I am learning that only His words matter, no one else's; not even who and what I think I should be is the way to follow.

4)Being myself, according to God.

5)Taking everything one day at a time. From schoolwork to decisions to my photography, my focus must remain on finishing what I need to today. Tomorrow will worry about tomorrow.

This year also promises to be one of shifting and rebuilding. God has a sense of urgency about the year upon us. There are priorities which must change, and what was tolerated in the past will be stomped out this year. I've heard instances of this both within the ministry and without
it. Something about this year is very special. I believe this year will be one of stretching and molding, one of intense seeking, but also one of great reward if we will hang in there and take God at His Word.

I'll leave you with this quote I came across.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think Emerson hit the nail on the head- the day at hand should be our focus and we should embrace it with whole-hearted joy. This quote echoes of Christ telling us not to worry about tomorrow, what we will eat, or wear. Christ is sufficient for all things, all days.


Blessings to you and yours,
Liz

In With the New...

With a new year, there is usually an accompaning joy and anticipation of what it will bring. But first here is a look back at 2008 and all the adventure it brought along.

+ I joined Awaken in November of 2007, but my first performance wasn't until spring of 2008.

+ I bought my Canon camera in April and haven't put it down since. God has been blessing my photography with contacts and opportunities galore.

+ Awaken performed for more churches and events than we ever have in years prior! Glory to God; His kingdom is advancing!

+ Awaken went to Washington, D.C. for the Call 2008. We witnessed history in the making while observing the historical relics of yester-year. Asking for God's intervention while standing on ground sacred to American history. It was absolutely amazing!

+ Unite and Conquer: San Angelo's annual Christian music festival effectively blew up this year. Performers included Kutless, Superchick, decemberadio, and... Awaken's drama team!! So humbling and exhilirating to perform in front of so many people and big names.

+ TLC Academy's volleyball team went to the state tournament! We finished with the 2nd place trophy; and although it wasn't the outcome we had hoped for, the girls played their hearts out and Coach and I couldn't be more proud.

+ Nameless Faceless recorded their first album in Del Rio. We were so blessed to be invited into a group of brothers and sisters so welcoming and devoted to the Lord's work two different times this year.

On another note, one of the main lessons God taught me this year was to not worry. While I'm not immune to my moments of trying to figure out money or school and such things, on the whole, I feel like I can give every decision to God. He has given me many opportunites to give it all to Him and just let go. He is so much bigger than anything I could be consumed with and He never fails. His timing is always perfect and what does worrying and obsessing improve anyway? Honestly, there has not been a single instance this year where I've said, "God, you let me down; I needed you to come through and you didn't." On the contrary, everything I've placed in His control He has taken care of beautifully.

I simply cannot convey to you the peace and joy that comes with knowing you are exactly where God wants you- in the middle of His perfect and pleasing will. It is the most content and joyful feeling knowing that you are accomplishing your specific purpose for that moment.