Reflective Exercises to Release the Year

1. 5 Minutes of Memories
Set a time for 5 min. Without any preplanning, begin to write everything you would WANT to remember from the past year...as if you were to get amnesia tomorrow. You only have 5 minutes. 

It is interesting to note and reflect on what came up and what have even been forgotten, when the pressure was on. Read into it what you may. 

2. Thankful List
This can go one forever, setting a timer is wise. Make a list of all you have to be thankful for this year.

2A. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty one. Stick to ONLY praises at this time.

3. What you accomplished, learn, are proud of, over came...this year.
Yes, it's time to take credit for everything you have done RIGHT! Learning is a process and overcoming challenges gets credit! Take inventory and write it down. 

4. Bring to Light-meditation
Say a prayer asking God to reveal or bring to light anything that needs to be dealt with: resentment, unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, failures etc. This is not for condemnation but for *release*. Now meditate/listen for the Lord to speak to you, via a picture/vision, thought, sense or feeling, or a memory.

4A. After meditating (listening to the Lord)...WRITE down what the Lord revealed to you, whatever came to mind. Don't spend too much time on this either, don't stare at it, don't memorize it!

5. Release
Take your list from #4 to a safe place to burn. (I like to tear mine up into as many pieces as possible too) We used our outdoor fire pit. Drop all pieces into the fire. Optional: Anoint yourself (or hands) before hand, if you like, so your paper will be anointed.

5A. Say a prayer of RELEASE! Pray repentance for your own faults, failures, etc. Thank the Lord for his sacrifice in your place. Pray blessings upon your enemies, pray a release from all bondages of unforgiveness. Pray that any and all of your offenders are released from any sense of entitlement to retribution, repayment, obligation and unforgiveness. Declare them forgiven, released, free and clear--as their debts have been paid on the cross and they owe you nothing. Thank the Lord for forgiveness of your own sin. Open your hands and pray to now receive all that the Lord has for you, favor, prosperity, future and hope etc...

6. Decree and Declare
In the name of Jesus, write out a declaration for the new year...your hopes and dreams, blessings according to His word, IN FAITH. Whatever comes to mind. It's almost like a *mission statement* for your year. Include blessings over yourself, your family, your business, your household, employment and relationships.

*Bonus: Pray, ask and meditate (listen to the Lord) for a *word* (like an actual ONE word--though it could be a bible verse too) or *theme* (like a title) for this year. Receive it as a promise and prophetic blessing for your year.   

~*~*~*~*
These are just ideas. Feel free to personalize. Be inspired. I've done *some* form of this every year. 

What did I do all year?

If you asked me what *I* did through out this year--ALL I can honestly say is, I PRAYED! (of course, I still AM)

I cried, I whined, I screamed & cussed at God. (He's a Big God, he can handle it!) I laid on my face, begging, pleading. I questioned, I exalted, I praised, I listened, I sang, I groaned, I brought myself low. I humbled, I repented, I adored...& at the end of the day--I KEPT praying!

EVERY moment. EVERY tear. EVERY disappointment. EVERY question--I prayed THROUGH!  I was honest, laid bare--most often literally--on my face in the shower. haha.

There is nothing, no part of me, no secret, no place in my soul that I am aware of, that I did NOT let God into. And He was faithful to expose & reveal all the nitty gritty details of ME...& show me HIS goodness...above all else, over & over & over & over again! He showed me where I was hesitant to let Him in, where I held back, what I tried to hide, the places I wasn't trusting HIM.

I'm sure there's still more cause this life is a process...but it's way past time for us to really get HONEST before ourselves & before God & let HIM do THIS WORK that we keep trying to manage on our own.

God is always listening.
God is always answering.

We don't have to impress, put on airs or use fancy language.
He already knows who we are...and He knows everything He has created us to do AND be.

My life changed so dramatically this year.
If you know me personally, your first thought may be that I am referring to my circumstances...and sure, there's that. Besides that though, is this whole other part of me, there's all of me, there's ME. I started the year kicking and screaming and railing against God. Not understanding why He wasn't changing my situation....quickly.

Now, at the end, I can look back and see how far I've come, WE've come, together. How much He has changed me, which in essence, changes my situation. I didn't do anything. Actually, I believe, when I stopped trying...it began to happen. The change.

I kept envisioning myself just falling. From a cliff or off a bridge, into the sky or the water. I kept having that free-fall sensation. But it wasn't a falling off, it was a falling into.

Falling into Christ.
Falling into grace.
Falling in, falling into love.

I would lay on my back, on my hard wood floor, on my bed, the beach, the grass at the park, my front sidewalk, the trampoline...and just look and stare up. Far up, as far as the sky could go...and say a prayer.

I just kept falling...into prayer.

He heard.
He moved.
He changed...me.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continuously

I did.
And I survived.
And I thrived.

How much work He did when I stopped trying...but kept praying.

More or less

Some people start off the new year with goals and resolutions to get done and accomplish. Some start off with a verse for the year. Some even claim just one word as their year long theme.

I reflected and meditated about all those things and none of them 'hit the spot'. I just wasn't feeling it. What I WAS feeling though, what kept coming back to me was this idea of giving.

Giving beyond what I am or think I am capable of giving. Limiting myself. Along with this idea of giving were two statements...two statements that kept returning to my thoughts, two statements that I fashioned into a prayer.

Therefore, what I have is a prayer.
A prayer for my year.
From my heart.


Less of what I want and More of what I need.

That is my prayer for myself for the year.

I know I am blessed beyond measure, especially materially. It's America for goodness sakes. I want to put myself more fully into the hands of God and trust Him to supply my needs instead of relying on myself or other outside forces.

The idea of having limited giving, of oneself or resources, primarily out of fear, in my opinion. Fear of being taken for granted, taken advantage of, committing and not being able to follow through, getting burnt out...etc.

But what if I said yes more and then relied on God to provide the HOW and way to produce that "yes".

What if I reduced my "wants" not only to my idea of what I need but to what God thinks I need. I am excited to see what happens.

So I will continue to pray this heartfelt prayer and hopefully report back...

Fresh Priorities

New Year's is such a special time. Everyone feels like it's an opportunity to start fresh. Reflect and reevaluate our lives. What worked? What didn't? What can we change, improve, let go, add more of etc. blah, Blah, BLAH!!!

Here are some great links to check out that I think are fabulous! It's truly about priorities and creating a life that will have an impact, right?

The reason I've specifically chosen the links below is because they are the type of plans and guides that can basically be picked up and started right where you are, regardless of the day or date. No need to play catch-up or think you can't start if it isn't exactly Jan 1st. You can start at ANY time.

What are you waiting for? Get started! :-)

First, I think prayer is the number one life changing act we can participate in, on a daily basis. As wives, it is our responsibility and privilege to lift up our husbands in prayer *daily*.  Here is a free printable prayer guide I absolutely LOVE. You pray each day of the month and then repeat the next month. If you like to write and keep logs you might enjoy this free printable prayer journal that goes along nicely with praying for your Mr.

Children are not forgotten. As mothers, the same obligation applies. And really, what mother DOESN'T call to God each day? Sick kids, explosive diapers or vomit, rainy-stuck-in-the-house-for-3-days anyone?

Here is a free printable prayer calendar of virtues to pray each day for your children. This one is just slightly different and basically the same but I wanted to give you the option.

I print out these calendar pages and store them in my One Year Bible. I LOVE my OYB. Seriously! It makes reading through the Bible so easy. Just start where you are and keep going. Next year, just start over. Personally, having grown up in church, I found it took a good year just to get everyone else's opinions and sermons out of my head while reading. It was so worth it though. Even if you don't have a OYB you can still follow the reading plan. Guess what? There's a free One Year Bible printable schedule for that too!

Of course, decluttering your soul will probably lead to a desire to declutter your life. So here's a link for that too.

This is a great link. A FREE calendar with tasks to do each and every day of the year to keep you DECLUTTERED and on track to enjoying the space you call home. It's absolutely FREE!
A decluttered environment allows creativity to flow freely, thinking to be clear, peace and tranquility.

Hahahaha! Of course NOT! For some reason my mind thinks staying fit is NO fun & lots of boring hard work. However, staying ACTIVE always sounds like fun. I try to avoid *exercise* as much as possible in this life. Honest. But I DO love riding my bike, a lot. I love the outdoors, hiking and {wistful sigh} I even used to love running. I'm not making any promises...but I am determined to be a better pet owner and walk my dogs regularly this year. So far so good!

If you do want to start running, and trust me, you won't regret it, this is the best beginner plan. Really. Hey! No pressure though.

While we're at it....why not create your very own customizable Owl themed calendar? Use card stock to print each months page. Then use a large file clip to hold them together. Flip the ends of the clip upwards to use as a hook to hang on a nail. Easy peasy!

You are beautiful. You are going to have a fabulous year, I just know it! Don't be afraid any longer. You can do this. Relax and CREATE something beautiful. 

Planting seeds that grow into bridges

I saw an episode of a documentary the other day about various cultures called Human Planet, presented by the BBC channel. One particular culture really stood out to me. They are the Khazi people of India. One of the men they interviewed had planted  a seed, 35 years prior that grew into a tree that he then shaped to form into a bridge. (clicking on the link above will take you to a picture of one of the tree bridges)

The man learned how to coerce the roots across a small creek. He was instructing his daughter how to handle the roots to form more bridges. These bridges are literal, living structures. They are not swinging bridges but solid bridges, eventually their 'floors' of intertwined roots are filled with soil and rock steps and looking down upon them, hardly seem like they were not original ground of the earth itself.

The creek bed was chosen because the man knew, eventually, it would be a river. This man had a vision of the future and how his work would affect it. The bridge is a pathway that all of the villagers use regularly. He explained to his daughter that her children and her children's children will use the bridges that she shapes and creates.

What a legacy!

I was struck by how forward thinking this man was. He purposely chose to plant a seed in a specific place not because of any effect it would have on his present but the effect it would have on his future, the future of his family and the future of his community. Imagine if he had given up early on. Or if he had only been concerned with his present life, what could benefit him most at the time. Caring for a plant certainly seems of no benefit initially. Time and energy is used, for what? Of course, he also had to choose the correct seeds to plant. The type of seeds that would grow into a tree with big, strong roots.

He also instructed his daughter how to tenderly care for the roots. Taking care not to break or cut them. From my limited gardening knowledge I know that nicking a root can cause it to sprout fresh trees in other places that will drain nutrients from the original tree. The roots cannot be forced, they are slowly and carefully trained into shape.

A man sticks to his purpose, faithfully and is able to positively impact the future for generations. Not only the generations he will live to see either--some of the trees of these bridges are over 500 years old.

The bridges are sturdy, sturdy enough to withstand floods. In one scene the camera showed two bridges right above each other. I don't know why, but I can imagine that an extra bridge may have been created in case the other one gave out. Or perhaps it was to be able to cross over from a different height of land.

I want to be a bridge builder. One that is not afraid to plant a seed for *future generations* to benefit from, even if it takes 35 years to grow and build that bridge. I want to teach others how to cultivate the roots that these seeds form, into more bridges for others.

This was such a significant visual for me, as a parent and a Christian. Aren't we all called to guide others along a path that leads to Christ and to teach others how to build those bridges? I may not even need that bridge in my own life, but others will. Future generations will need bridges. I can plant a seed that will become a bridge decades later to be used far into the future.

Let me not be so present minded that I lose sight of the potential future for all I may come in contact with. And may I not lose sight of the responsibility to teach others how to build those bridges. May I not be afraid to plant seeds in the same places to replace potential loss. May I plant seeds that will lead to roots strong enough to endure the unforeseen obstacles that may come against it. May I teach others how to tenderly care for and not neglect those foundational roots.

2012 NOT to do list

Inspired by a brief article I read, I am not making a to-do list this year. I am making a NOT to-do list.

In 2012 I will NOT...

1. scowl more than I smile
2. deny the creative impulse
3. make decisions based on fear
4. complain more than I give thanks
5. eat more fake food than real food
6. over look opportunities to celebrate
7. discount the accomplishment of hard work
8. with hold love
9. be surrounded by anything that I do not consider lovely
10. spend more time in front of a screen than face to face with those I care about