The Year in Review, The Year Ahead

As ‘09 draws to a close and we get ready for ‘10 to start, many groups, businesses, organizations, etc. look back to review the previous year and set goals for the upcoming year. I’ve done this for a few years now to track how I’ve met my personal goals and set some for the upcoming year. I don’t make resolutions, just goals for things I’d like to accomplish in the upcoming year.

Looking back on last years goals, I did decent job at some items;

• Stayed jail free
• Stayed out of court (formidable task, but accomplished)
• Improved financial situation
• Daily Bible reading/devotion (85-90% at best though)
• Spent more time with family
• Displayed a kinder/gentler attitude toward others (still a work in progress)

But as always, there’s room for improvement on many items;

• Relationship with my Children improved only slightly if at all
• At times have troubles with issues from the past
• Self-forgiveness
• Tendency to be unkind/short toward others
• Waste too much time on matters that are unimportant
• My lack of trust has still caused stress in relationships

There are several items on both lists that I’ll keep private, but all in all the year was a good one. Not great, but not as bad as some in the past either.

So where do I go from here? What are my goals for the upcoming year and how can I make adjustments to improve on reaching the goals I set for the upcoming year?

I have several things that I’d like to accomplish this year. Some are recurring goals from previous years. Some are easier to accomplish than others. Some may never be accomplished, but you fail at the outset if you don’t at least try. I coached baseball for many years and if a young boy wanted to try and be a pitcher, I at least gave him the opportunity. You never know if he was good at it or not unless you gave them a shot at trying out. Just looking at them is not a good judge of whether or not they could or couldn’t do it. You have to give them a try. The same can be said for anything we want to try in life. So make a preliminary list, pray over it, think about it and see if any changes need to be made to the list. Then set out to accomplish all that you have on your list.

So far some of the goals I have are;

• Spend more time with in-depth Bible study. (less superficial study)
• Continue to rebuild the relationship with my Son Corey and my Daughter Heather. There are many difficulties involved as they have a large amount of negative influence in their lives, but I will continue to try.
• Continue to overcome shortcomings/”addictions” of the past
• Pay off my truck again this year
• Pay off the formers vehicle this year
• Continue to improve/payoff the remaining financial commitments
• Increase charitable giving
• Work to build stronger relationships
• Learn to trust others more (not everyone is out to take from you, leave you, or stab you in the back)
• Be a better pastor and devote more time to lessons/studies
• Relocate
• Get to know a certain person better and be more of a part of their life (many obstacles)
• Reach out to those who are searching or seeking and give them guidance to obtain the hope that I have and realize that there’s more to this life than eyes can see

There are a few more items that as I stated earlier will remain private, but I’ll strive to accomplish or improve on what I have listed.

As a person, I have several roles in life. Some include;
Christian
Father
Son
Brother
Uncle
Nephew
Cousin
Employee
Friend
Boss
Pastor

If I strive to accomplish my goals for the upcoming year, it can help me in every aspect of my life. Improvement in my life helps improve the life of those around me.

Goals are important in your life. Each person needs a vision of what they want in the future. In Proverbs 29:18, God says that without a vision His people perish. I recommend that each person set aside time to map out your goals for the year. Not resolutions, they often disappear by the end of January and you’ve forgotten them in a very short time. But real, long term goals for your life. If you have a vision of where you want to be, you stand a better chance of getting there. Having them written down somewhere so you come across them on a regular basis improves the chances that you can accomplish the goals and improve your life.


More to This Life
Steven Curtis Chapman

Today I watched in silence as people passed me by,
And I strained to see if there was something hidden in their eyes;
But they all looked back at me as if to say
Life just goes on.

The old familiar story told in different ways,
Make the most of your own journey from the cradle to the grave;
Dream your dreams tomorrow because today
Life must go on.

But there’s more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there’s more than this life alone can be.

Tonight he lies in silence staring into space,
And looks for ways to make tomorrow better than today,
But in the morning light it looks the same;
Life just goes on.

He takes care of his family, he takes care of his work,
And every Sunday morning he takes his place at the church;
And somehow he still feels a need to search,
But life just goes on.

So where do we start to find every part
Of what makes this life complete;
If we turn our eyes to Jesus we’ll find
Life’s true beginning is there at the cross where He died.
He died to bring us . . .

More to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there’s more than this life alone can be.

Some of the Christmas Cookies Recipes

I used to cook on a regular basis. Then life changed and with church and kids, eating at home became only a few times a week. After the kids turned into teenagers, it got down to about once or twice at week when we would eat at home. Since I'm now by myself, it's too much trouble for me to cook real often because I don't have the room or the utensils to cook with and I'm getting lazier. I still love to however.

Nevertheless, during this time of year, I usually make some treats for my "wonderful" co-workers. Here's two of the more popular recipes;


Chocolate Butter Pecans

Ingredients:
Cookies:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup pecans (finely chopped)

Chocolate Icing:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pecans halves

Directions:
Cookies:
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix butter and sugars in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg, salt, and vanilla then blend. Stir in flour and chili powder and mix again. Add chopped pecans and mix to combine into a smooth mixture.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown and crisp at the edges. Cool completely.

Chocolate Icing:
Place chocolate, chili powder, cinnamon, and vanilla into a large microwave dish and heat for 30 seconds on high, stir at 10-20 second intervals and continue heating until chocolate is melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over cooled cookies.


Dark Chocolate Lava Drops

Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Hershey’s chocolate kisses
½ sanding sugar (regular sugar will do)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°. Put butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high pausing every 30 seconds to stir, continue until all is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Add ¾ cup sugar and egg to melted mixture mix and then add flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth.

Shape into 1 inch dough balls (appx). Press chocolate kiss in dough and completely cover with dough.

Place ½ cup sugar in bowl and roll dough balls in sugar, place on cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.

Mixture should make about 24 cookies.


Good luck & enjoy,
GLW