What do you want out of 2012?

I’ve been writing this post in my head for some time. For the record, it was much easier up there.  Now that I have keys under my fingers, I’m discovering that I can’t stop hitting the delete button. I keep erasing everything and starting over.

Not completely sure what that’s all about, but here’s what I suspect. I’m intimidated. I don’t have time to write a long, beautifully wordy essay and I’m not altogether sure I ever could, even if the clock wasn’t ticking on a hundred other things that need my attention. Hence the trepidation about putting my New Year’s thoughts out there with all of the awesome, articulate posts I’ve seen around the web the last few days.

Ha! Just as I thought. Typing those words disarmed the Doubting Voice. My fingers feel lighter already.

So, New Year’s resolutions….I haven’t officially made them in years. Oh, sure, I always plan to lose a few pounds, exercise more, eat less, get organized, etc. (That last one is particularly funny. The other voices are having a field day with my organizational intentions!) But concrete goals? Not so much.

This year, however, I’ve been thinking about 2012 in terms of goals since the first of December, in that consistent, right below the surface of my everyday life way that I’ve learned to recognize as a heavenly prompt.  So, what do I want out of 2012?

1. I want to do everything I can to encourage people to embrace the transforming power of God’s word, to enjoy the sweet fruit that is the easiest picking, and harvest the untold treasures embedded in its depths.

2. I want to understand more of the enormous debt that has been forgiven me through the Cross. I believe we believers would be more capable of walking in the unqualified forgiveness Christ taught if we really understood the size of our own accounts that He settled on the cross. Lately I’ve been obsessed with the subject of forgiveness. I’m writing a Bible Study on it for my Sunday School girls.  (If I don’t teach it soon, I may  just burst!)  Here’s a teaser. It’s taken from the parable of the King who forgave the ginormous debt of the servant that couldn’t pay up– only to discover the newly forgiven servant demanding that his fellow man (who was into him for a much smaller debt) pay up asap!

There’s a point in this passage where it’s all to clear that the first servant had no idea of the enormity of his own debt. Why do I say that? Listen as he says to the King, “Have patience and I will pay thee all,” Matthew 18.26. Really? If he couldn’t pay before, what made this guy believer that, with time, he could settle up/measure up/line up through his own efforts?  What mercy, that Father would settle accounts with us despite the limited understanding we have of what He has done. I want to grasp more of this great salvation.

3. And finally, I want to use this platform to help you in your own walk. But, I need your help in the form of some feedback. If you’re familiar with my writing, you’re pretty familiar with me. I’m what you would call an open book. (Not that this is always a good thing!) Tell me, interactive social media friends and quiet lurkers alike, what do you want to know, if anything, about my experience with Christ? If you aren’t comfortable commenting aloud, hit the contact button on my website or friend me on Facebook and send a private message, but do keep in mind that often your questions and comments help others form their own.  I’m all ears.

There now. That wasn’t so hard. 🙂

Happy New Year Hugs,
Shellie

What do you want out of 2012? What do you want from me?