New Years Resolutions

It is that time of year again. New Years Eve and we begin to make New Years Resolutions. You know those things that we have the best of intention of doing in the new year and after about a few days totally forget about. Sure, I like a lot of you have made New Years Resolutions that I have not stuck to in the past. This year I feel that I can stick with the resolutions that I have made.

So here are the resolutions that I hope to stick with in 2017,

1. Reading my bible more
2. Spending more time in prayer
3. Snacking less
4. Instead of snacking drink water
5. No eating after 7pm
6. Drink more water
7. Go to bed at a decent hour
8. Less technology and more time with family and friends
9. Exercise More
10. Write in a journal

I hope that in 2017 that I can stick to these resolutions for myself. I know that it will not be easy, but it will be a challenge that I am up for.

What are your New Years Resolutions? Do you have any? Do you chose not to make any? 

Prayer Journal

So one of my New Years Resolutions is to make a prayer journal. This came after watching the movie War Room (for like the 10th time). I thought that this would be a way to encourage myself. There are lots of ideas on the Internet of how to do one. You need to do one that fits you.

You can chose to do it in a journal, notebook, or binder. You can decorate the cover if you choose. Then you can get started. 

On the first page of my journal I have written some inspirations that will encourage me to keep with this and encourage my faith at the same time.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. James 4:7-8

My God is faithful,

My God is powerful,

My Gd is in charge,

You can't fire him, 

And he will never retire,

Thank you Jesus

Glory Hallelujah

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight O, Lord my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Then starting on January 1 I plan to write a prayer a day about an area of my life that I need God the most. Things like family, finances, church, job, health, and so on. I will pray that prayer during the day. As part of my prayer I plan to submit that area to God and tell him that I have faith that he has already done what he needs to do in that area. I also plan to write in the prayer that I believe that God is going to do what only he can do for me no matter what.

I also plan to write one way that I have saw God at work in that area of my life that day. Kinda like a praise report if you will.

I also want to write the name of one person that has been put on my heart for that day that needs God in someway. I will also pray for that person  during the day submitting them to God and his will. Telling God that I know he is already doing what only he can do for that person or persons. 

I will also include a bible verse on the page that I feel will give me encouragement for the day. 

Now again you don't have to do it this way. This is just how I plan to do it. You do it however you see fit to do it. It is yours to do with. 

Prayer is the most powerful weapon that we have to fight the battles of this life. A prayer journal to me is like having a book of plans and stratages that will help you fight the battle. Almost like a bible for prayer. 

I encourage you to make time in your day for prayer. Prayer has a purpose and it is powerful. I hope that once I get going good with this prayer journal that I will be able to share it with you in my blog so that you can have an idea of what to do. 

Also check out: http://arabahjoy.com/how-to-make-a-simple-prayer-journal/ for another idea of what to do.

Faith and Blessings Jars

I recently saw online a suggestion of taking an empty jar and filling it each week with a note about one good thing that happened that week. Then at the end of the year reading the notes to see what kind of year you have had. 

That got me to thinking. What about instead of good notes each week how about writing a bible verse a day and putting them in the jar. At the end of the year you could give the jar to someone that you knew might need some encouragement. 

Another thought that I had was that you could write daily messages of encouragement or blessings to put in your jar. Then you could really bless someone at the end of the year that you knew needed a little encouragement or blessing. 

The jars could be passed on when the person is finished so that more people are blessed. It is a great way to share the word of God and God's love with others. 

You could even encourage your church to do this. Have a jar in your church were each member writes down a bible verse, encouragement, or blessing (whatever jar you are choosing to do) and adds it each week. At the end of the year your could give it to someone in your church that is shut in or even do it as a surprise gift for your pastor (if you feel they need it).

Also another thing that you could do with the jar at church is make it a prayer request jar. Have people place their prayer requests in the jar at the beginning of service and then at the end of service have each person take out one request to pray over for the week. Those that are left in the jar the pastor and his family can pray over for the week.

Here is an idea for teachers. Have a jar filled with encouragements. At the end of each day have each student take one out. You never know how that will brighten the day of a child. You could even have the students each write an encouragement note at the beginning of each day and then each student pull one out at the end of the day.

These are just some ideas of things that you can do with the jar. It is up to you. You decide. I know I am going to do one or more this year so that at the end of the year I can bless someone else. I know that I am going to do the bible verse jar. I am going to make sure to write on a calendar the bible verse that I put in each day so that I don't put the same one in twice.