For reasons that are somewhat unclear to me, I find setting goals to be something akin to solving a Rubik’s cube. I know it’s possible, and other people can do it incredibly well, but even with a book giving me step-by-step instructions, I find it nearly impossible.
This year I plan to do the unthinkable, and set a list of goals for myself.
I plan to do a series of things each week, and each month, and next year.
A precursor to my next post, I guess. I read Psalm 1 this morning during my … not-sure-what-to-call-it time; quiet time seems too trite, devotional time seems too clichéd. Verse 2 “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” left me a bit thoughtful. I’m currently wrestling with how I feel about the Old Testament, the “law” if you will.
David was making a point, but if I’m no longer under law, but justified by faith (Gal 3:23-25), what use is it to me to meditate on the law?
Fast forward a few hours, and I’m cleaning the bathroom, a little frustrated with a member of my family for the state it was left in (no names). As I cleaned, I was thinking about how best to deal with this person. This lead to me considering what the most Christ-like response would be, and whether that response should just be an attitude of servanthood. After all, I’ve left plenty of mess behind for others to clean up.
And then it hit me. I was meditating on the best way to be Christlike, and in that process found my attitude changed. So, I hope that makes sense.
However, I still need to carry through with it instead of just thinking about it. That’s just a little bit harder 
Yet another admission; It’s been a long time since I picked up my Bible and seriously read it. When I have, I’ve tended to stay around the gospels because it’s easy to waste time arguing over Paul’s theology, but the words of Jesus… that’s where I’m at… man.This struck me this morning, from Matthew 5 (Sorry about the KJV, I don’t have to © attribute it!):-
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is Jesus saying that we are to be doing good works, and visibly. Somehow, I don’t think filling a pew on a Sunday quite meets the requirements. To me, this ties in with “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love one for another” and “Love your neighbour as yourself”.
This is what was on Jesus’ heart – love. I would interpret this to mean that I should be doing good works, out of love, not to impress others.Then this arrow pierces my heart. What visible “good works” have I done? Am I doing? Can I do? There is more to think about, and critically, something to do.
Pax.
It’s NOT a New Year’s resolution, but I’m blogging again. I’ve also taken up Jeff’s challenge. I have read my bible cover-to-cover, once, many years ago. I’d like to try this finish-it-in-one-year thing. Wanna join in? I’m not flush with cash for a new copy of the One Year Bible, so I’m going the cheapskate route and doing it online via One Year Bible Online.
Pax