Open Heart

Gooooood mooooorning New Year!

There's one last day to sleep in at my house, so it's very quiet here except for the sound of my plastic snow flakes hitting my window as the heat whooshes out of the vent. In NC, snow-lovers have to be satisfied with simulated snow most of the time.

Today's the dreaded day. The day to declare New Year's resolutions. I was all happy last year about my resolutions, but after not living up to them so well, I'm not as enthusiastic this year. I thought maybe my first 2 should be:

1. Resolve to never make New Year's resolutions ever again.
2. Resign yourself to failure.

But that seems a little dismal for such a beautiful day at the celebration of new beginnings.

Instead, I'm going to keep it simple. In 2012, I'm going to be more intentional about watching for God and being responsive to His interruptions. I have in mind especially making it more about people and less about my check lists.

It sounds simple, but I know myself. I get so blinded by what I need to do next, I often miss the opportunities to love people who are right in front of my nose. I'm also praying about how to reach out to broken women. It was so easy to compartmentalize that calling into my trip to India, but I know I'm supposed to be engaged here.

So that's it. No grand announcements. Our women's class studied about Balaam from Numbers 22 yesterday. I took note of how he made a very grandiose claim,"Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God."

But then he didn't listen to God at all. He pursued his greed.

So I'll make quieter resolutions this year day by day as He speaks. Then I'll pray, pray, pray that I'll be faithful to what He shows me.