Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. I am in need of your instruction for if I heed another's, I will surely fall away.

Today was a very lovely day. The weather was perfect, the sky was clear, and the ground was perfect for planting. Today, we invested some money, time, and sweat into furnishing our deck with chairs, plants, and some other aesthetics. Lowe's was blessed with our presence 3 times today and with each visit came more goodies. We vowed to replace all patio furniture even purchased a side table to go with our chairs. When we arrived home, we realized that even though our present table look worn, tarnished, old, weathered, and pollenated, it still held the promise for future use... All it needed was a little bit of TLC...someone to recognize its worth despite its present disposition. Now it looks good as use and fits in perfectly with all the "newbies". Who new that a 5 year old table would look as good as new....A LITTLE TLC goes a long way...Take time to love...

There is an anticipation, an expectancy, a knowing that God is ready to manifest great vision in and around me. Lord I pray for continuous renewal of mind, spirit, and body. I sense newness and life to all things that were dormant until this time...Manifest Lord...

Have you ever had a dream so big that it consumes you?? A dream so big that you are dissatisfied when you are not accomplishing what you have been predestined to do??? A dream so big that it will take more than one person to bring it to past??? A dream so big that it takes foresight, insight, hindsight, and crazy faith???

It is said that the poorest person in the world is one without a dream. You are not living unless you are dreaming... You are not living purposely if you do not see to it that this dream comes to past. It is imperative that you seek the purpose for your existence. Make purpose your passion. Let it drive you until the vision God has for you is complete. You are responsible for stirring up your God-given gift. The world needs you and it most definitely needs your dream... So remove the limits off God and He will remove the limits off your dreams.

We know that God can do exceedingly much more than you can ever ask or imagine according to His power that is constantly work in us. Trust Him with your dreams...

1. Who I Am In Christ:
   
   Until you discover who you are as a child of God, you will continue to strive to be accepted. Even your self-acceptance will be based on your performance. Real security is found in knowing who you are in Christ. “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God …” John 13:3, (NIV). There’s real security in knowing who you are and whose you are. As a Christ follower you are:
   
   
   • A Child of God John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2
   • Forgiven Colossians 2:13
   • A Saint Ephesians 1:1
   • Complete in Christ Colossians 2:9-10
   • A Member of God’s Family Ephesians 2:19
   • Chosen by God 1 Peter 1:9
   • Called Out of Darkness into Light 1 Peter 1:9
   • No Longer Condemned Romans 8:1
   • Free In Christ! Galatians 5:1
   • Christ’s Friend John 15:15
   • Deeply Loved of God 1 John 4:9-10
   • Secure in Christ John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39
   • At Peace With God Romans 5:1
   • A Citizen of Heaven Philippians 3:20
   • Protected from the Evil One 1 John 5:18
   • Accepted by God Ephesians 3:12, Romans 15:7
   • God’s Workmanship Ephesians 2:10
   • Saved by Grace Ephesians 2:8,9
   • Indwelled and Empowered by the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8
   • Able to Do All Things Through Christ Philippians 4:13
   • A New Creation in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17
     
     
2. How To Have A Daily Quiet Time With God
   
   One of the characteristics of Jesus earthly ministry, was the priority He put in time alone with the Father in prayer. Mark records, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Mark 1:35 (NIV) Luke says “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 (NIV) John records one of the most lengthy prayers of Jesus in John 17. Obviously, if this spiritual habit was an important part of Jesus life, it must be essential for yours as well. Here are some simple suggestions that will help you get the most from your time alone with God:
   
   
   • Make an appointment with God—set a time and place. Jesus would spend time alone with God early in the morning or late at night. Choose a “solitary” place where you won’t be distracted. Often Jesus would pray outside in a garden. He also spoke of using a “prayer closet.”
     
   • Consider this a special time set aside just for you and God. Learn to listen as much as you speak.
     
   • Take your Bible and a journal to record what insights God may give you.
     
   • Try a devotional aid, but don’t substitute it for the Bible. I recommend: My Utmost For His Highest, by Oswald Chambers; Experiencing God Day By Day, by Henry Blackaby; One Day At A Time, by Neil Anderson and Mike and Julia Quarles
     
     
3. Spiritual Breathing
   
   Just as breathing is essential to physical life, so spiritual breathing is essential to your spiritual life. Without even thinking about it, you exhale the bad air and inhale oxygen to energize your blood cells. You won’t survive by holding your breath for very long; your body must exhale and inhale. Breathe in and breathe out, that’s all you have to do. Our spiritual vitality requires the same exercise. We can maintain unhindered fellowship with God if we will exhale through confession any sin or struggle we are experiencing, and inhale God’s cleansing grace that forgives and restores our fellowship with Him. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins to God, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.)” (LB) Breathe in God’s forgiveness! It will revitalize your relationship.
   
   
4. Where The Power Comes From
   
   “Christ-likeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation.” You will never reproduce the character of Jesus by your own willpower. Your best intentions and New Year’s resolutions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes in your life that God wants. The Bible says, “God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT) Just as a light must be connected to a power source in order to shine, so you must be connected to Christ for His light to shine through you. Obedience unlocks God’s power in your life. Don’t wait until you feel powerful, to obey. Move ahead in your weakness, in spite of your fears, and do the right thing trusting God’s Spirit to give you the power you need. The power comes from the indwelling Christ. “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you.” Colossians 1:27 (NLT)
   
   
5. What Is My Part
   
   Spiritual Workouts – The Bible says, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV) There is a balance in spiritual growth between God’s part and your part. You are to “work out” what He has “worked in.” That means that spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit (the power source). God’s Spirit works both in you and with you in the process of making you like Christ. This verse is speaking to believers, not about how to be saved, but how to grow spiritually. Notice that it doesn’t say “work for” your salvation. As in physical exercise you work out to develop your body, not to get a body. God has given you a new life in Christ! He has given you the Holy Spirit to work both in you and with you. You cooperate with His purpose as you yield your life to Him daily and learn to walk in Christ. How do you do that? “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith …“ Colossians 2:6 (NIV) It requires the same faith to “continue” or walk in Christ as it did to “receive” Him. You will grow in your faith as you cultivate that relationship with Christ through developing spiritual habits (workouts) in your daily life. Here are some spiritual habits essential for growth:

• Change the way you think by renewing your mind with truth. To change your life, you must change the way you think. Your behavior is motivated by your belief. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (TEV) To grow spiritually you must develop the mind of Christ. The Bible word for that is “repentance” which means “to change your mind.” You repent, every time you change the way you think to reflect the way God thinks about you, sin, faith, your relationships, your finances, etc. The Bible says we can do this daily by means of His Word. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” Romans 12:2 (NLT) Spiritual growth, then, is the process of replacing lies with truth. To those who had believed on Him, Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 (KJV)
  
  
• Bring every thought you have into “captivity” to make it obedient to Christ. Your feelings are essentially a product of your thought life. Emotions can’t distinguish between fact and fantasy. We can choose to be led by them or by the truth, regardless of how we feel. To live victoriously in Christ, the Bible says, “We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (GW) In other words, you must choose carefully what you think about. If it isn’t true, don’t think it. Instead, choose to think the truth. “Keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable or commendable.” Philippians 4:8 (GW) This is the principle of replacement. Satan can’t deceive your mind when you are thinking on the truth. This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word you can reprogram the way you think.
  
  
• Spiritual maturity takes time. It is neither instant nor automatic. You are a work in progress. The Bible says, “I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.” Philippians 1:6 (LB) The spiritual habits you develop will cooperate with the good work God has begun in you to bring you to maturity.
  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

As we seek to prepare for the dawning of Vision 2010, many resolve to create resolutions and to see these resolutions throughout the year. I am one to also admit that I also have begun my "TO DO LIST" for 2010 but my desire is to begin and end successfully. I read a very beneficial article today courtesy Real Simple Magazine (Jan 2010 issue). It highlights the nine secrets of highly motivated people. I have done the honors of posting the abridged version.

9 Secrets of Highly Motivated People

1. When you make plans, anticipate bumps
2. Channel the little engine that could
3. Don't let your goals run wild, but work on then every day
4. Go public with it
5. Lean on a support crew when you're struggling or need motivation
6. Make yourself a priority
7. Challenge yourself and change things up
8. Keep on Learning
9. Remember the deeper meaning and the real reason you begun your quest.

Remember ALL Goals must be S.M.A.R.T.
S- Specific
M- Measurable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-bound

http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/table-contents-more/january-2010-00000000026689/index.html