Looking Forward to 2011...

I have never really been one who makes New Year's Resolutions...I guess I just don't like setting myself up for failure. lol   I do, however, try to set some spiritual goals for myself at the beginning of each new year; i.e. Scripture memorization, journaling, Bible reading plans, books I want to read, etc.

I LOVE the idea of having a "fresh slate" every January 1rst.  For the previous year's goals that I failed to reach, I have a brand new opportunity to start over and do better in the new year. For the goals that I WAS able to attain in the previous year, it is a time to reevaluate and "set the bar a little higher" in the new year.

I can hardly believe how fast the year 2010 has gone by. It has been a difficult year, but it has also been one in which I have learned so much and seen God's hand on my life in so many ways.  I would not trade the difficulties of the year for all the life lessons that I have learned through the process.

As I was riding home on Tuesday, I was listening to the radio and thinking about the new year that is right around the corner and some of the things that I hope to accomplish next year.  A lyric to a Casting Crown song that I have heard many times suddenly jumped out at me and I have not been able to get it off my mind.  The lyric was,

"I want to sign Your name to the end of this day, knowing that my heart was true...".  

I couldn't help but wonder how many days in 2010 that I would actually have been able to sign His name to?  


How many days did the words I said and the things I did bring a smile to Him? 


How many days was I His hands and feet to reach a dying world?

Oh, how I want to be able to sign His name to the end of each day, knowing that my heart was true. If I could do that, then 2011 would surely be a year with no regrets and would definitely be my BEST year yet! If I could do that, I would be one step closer to that day when I will hear those words that I so long to hear from Him, "Well done, Thou good and faithful servant".

So for the year 2011, Lord....

May the words I say and the things I do bring a smile to You, God.


May my life be a living sacrifice so that I will be Your hands and feet to a dying world that is very much in need of You.


Give me Your eyes to see the things that I keep missing.


Remove all the distractions that are constantly competing for my attention and keep me focused only on You.


Quieten all the "voices" that are "screaming" at me to listen to them and give me only ears to hear Your still small voice. 


Give me Your love for humanity. 


And this time next year as 2011 comes to a close...
                     I pray that I would be able to sign Your name to it, 
                                                                                  knowing that my heart was true.

I NEED YOUR HELP!!

**Edited to add: Thank you so much to all of you for taking the time to vote for my daughter. She did win the contest, but things turned out to be a lot more complicated that we ever anticipated. I appreciate your help nonetheless!**

My family is very excited about my youngest daughter, Grace's upcoming April wedding. Her and her sister, Faith ,have been busy planning and coming up with ideas for the wedding. God has already worked in many ways to make their day be a special one on a very limited budget.



Faith recently learned of a giveaway from an amazing wedding photographer who was having a contest for a FREE wedding package! She told Grace that she should enter.

Grace submitted hers and Josh's story and was selected as one of the top three! Now, here is where I need YOUR help. The winner will be selected by a vote so I'm asking all of you to PLEASE go here and vote for couple #1 - Grace and Josh.

It would be such a blessing if this was another way that the Lord provided for them!

The voting is open until Monday at 9pm, so PLEASE, go and vote and spread the word - blog it, tweet it, facebook it, etc.! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

After reading their story, just scroll to the bottom of the page and vote for COUPLE # 1 - Grace and Josh.

You can only vote once PER COMPUTER so if you have access to multiple computers PLEASE cast your vote from each of them!

Again, thank you so much and I have already been making plans to update my blog and start posting again. Looking forward to catching back up with all of you!