CHECK YOURSELF!

The month of January is thirty days plus one from being over and now is a good time to check yourself on the New Year’s same old resolution that you made in 2009 and again in 2010 to see just how far you have gotten on fulfilling it in 2011. It just might be a good idea to find a way to put yourself in check each month to make sure you stay on the right track to completing your goals for 2011.
Pick a day, same day with the same number of the day for the remaining eleven months and ask yourself the following questions each month.

1. Have I accomplished what I set out to do?
2. If I’m not at the finish line, then what do I need to do to continue or change to get there?
3. Are there obstacles that need to be eliminated, and what resources do I need to refer too, to make it happen?
4. Have I spent enough time planning so that my journey progressives forward?
5. Did I redeem the time that I had to move toward completion?
6. Is it time to make a mid-course correction and go to plan ‘B’ or ‘C’?
7. Did I stop and pray and ask God for His guidance?

I find that if I keep myself in check, it doesn’t leave me much room for others to find fault. I further believe that if I follow God’s plan I’ll get to complete every resolution penned on paper and in my heart. I plan to consistently check myself by His Word so that when 2012 ushers itself in with the Auld Layne Sine tune again, I will be able to set new resolutions that will continue to line-up with the Word of God and when the next year is birthed so will new horizons rise towards planning for a brighter and more prosperous future.

Check yourself!

What's Your Score?

If you are one of the many people who take surveys from time to time then you know about the assigned numbers from 0-10 that you are asked to tabulate at the end of the survey. Zeros tend to be the lowest you can give and ten shows the excellence of your highest regarded thoughts. We use this system to let others know what we think about a given subject, theme or person. I think of it as giving my learned opinion.

Picture yourself as one who the survey is about. Some of the questions might read like this: Please give a value from 0-10 according to how this person influenced your life in a positive way.
1. Showed kindness to you regardless of your response.________
2. Gave hugs and kisses whether you deserved them or not._______
3. Offered forgiveness for all the wrong done to them.________
4. Gave grace and mercy when you deserved condemnation.______
5. Affirmed your self worth even when you couldn’t look up.______
6. Said to you too many times, I love you when you didn’t love yourself.________
7. Remained by your side and carried you when you couldn’t carry yourself______

These are just a few questions that could be asked by those who you deem important in your life’s cycle. How do you think you’d score if someone you knew was taking the survey? If you think you will or would score less than satisfactorily then you may want to make a change in how you interact with people in general and perhaps to be more intentional with those you love the most.

Your final score should get as close to 100% as you can. If you are seeking to leave a positive score I suggest you ‘beef up’ your score by following a tried and true plan that helps you to score big. You may want to go to the Bible and find your way to Proverbs. Read all 31 chapters one a day to start you on the way to wisdom and scoring highly on life itself. Just to get you started: Proverbs 2:6-15 (New International Version, ©2010)

6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright;
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

Fellowship

As the holiday comes to a close and a new year has started out briskly. I sat in church and wondered yet again where is my peace? While I was at home I enjoyed blessed quietness and uninterrupted fellowship with my God. I found that He was a great conversationalist and the things He revealed to me in 2010 literally blew my mind. He told me” I still love you, probably more than the minute before. Each second of the day I compound my love for you __for you are truly my blessed one.” He said to me. “I know that the times are a little hard right now, but I shall continue to be with you as I have before. I won’t leave you nor forsake you. I am your God and you are still my child.
I’m always there when you call on me and I know that I have not failed you yet. I enjoy the sweet communion that we share when you take the time to fellowship with me. Oh Sheila, how I love you. I have so much more that I want to share and give to you. Are you willing to stay with me so that you can be a blessing to me and others?

I hope that your answer is a firm yes for I know the plans I have for you. Intentional plans never to harm you, but plans to give you a hope and a future. That my child is what I have planned for you. Trust me more fully this year for I want to take you on a new journey. A journey that will open new doors of godly opportunities to glorify me as you become more of a blessing to others.

To receive these blessings, all that I require is that you follow me and continue to fellowship and sup with me. Oh! and one more thing. Forsake not the fellowshipping with my people. Show thyself a worthy servant so that when you come to your final destination I can say “well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of the Lord.”

I received what God said to me during that time of fellowship. And now I look forward to another year where I can increase my time with Him. I love you too Lord and may the time of fellowship I have with you be a blessing I can pass on to others.