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What’s the Bible Word for Goals?

  • Posted on December 31, 2008 at 9:54 am

Yesterday afternoon I started to think about what the Bible has to say about goal setting.

I searched for plan in Bible Gateway. No returns.  Goal. Not there, either. I’m most comfortable with the King James Version, so that’s how I search, but I then remembered the ESV does have a word translated goal.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:14

That seemed a good place to stop at, since I’m drawing a blank on other passages. I’m sure there are places in Proverbs that are relevant, and I’ll look there later. For now, this whole passage gives me some good ideas about goals and goalmaking.

  • Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
  • Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:12-21
  • First,making goals doesn’t mean I’m perfect or what is accomplished is credit to myself. I haven’t made it on my own, as Paul says. I must remember that there is no contradiction in personally striving for mastery, and allowing God’s grace to work in my life. And God gets the glory, always.
  • I must not fret about the past. I do that when I make goals. The whole reason I’m making goals is that I’ve failed in some area to some degree or another. It’s hard to press toward a mark when I’m looking behind me.
  • I’m also going to consider that reaching goals is hard work. We want the life of ease, and the Christian life is about effort and discipline.
  • Surrounding oneself with others who take the Christian life seriously is important.
  • So is remembering that I am a citizen of Heaven. We keep our eyes on our Saviour, which is where the power for change comes from anyway.

Now, what goals to have?

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Did I Forget All My Goals?

  • Posted on December 30, 2008 at 5:00 am

I thought for sure I had written about goals for this last year, but I cannot find them written down anywhere. I did a search for goals and resolutions, and nothing showed up, either.

The one goal I’ve been working on is the chronological Bible reading plan. And on that goal, I did… okay. I was full of stops and starts and gaps throughout the year, but I’m still glad that I worked through it even when I failed.

I can’t remember any other goals. I suppose if I make new ones, I should add an extra goal that I review all goals throughout the year so I don’t forget them! My husband set up Google to send me reminders about things he wants me to do while he’s gone, so I bet I can get him to help me set up some reminders each month about what my goals are.

I may not reach my goals, but at least I won’t forget them!

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Why Make Goals When I Fail?

  • Posted on December 29, 2008 at 11:28 am

  • I mentioned to a friend that I enjoy making goals. I like the process of evaluation.  I like the feeling of starting fresh. I like dreaming about accomplishing good things.
  • But I also have found that I fail. I fall short of my goals, nearly every year, and then I’m discouraged. Should I stop making goals? Am I making unrealistic goals?
  • Recently I decided I would run a half marathon while Lee is gone. I needed a big goal, and something to keep my mind busy while Lee is gone. It’s a little scary, since I’ve never run competitively, and I’m not in great shape right now. So I might end up racing on May 9th, and I might fall short of my goal, realistically, although I’m not planning on failure.
  • What I do know is that I’ll be in better shape on May 9th than I would be without this goal.
  • Now I think I can make goals with my marriage and children in the same way. I recognize that I may not reach all of my goals. It might be because I have too many. It might be because of circumstances beyond my control. But I know that I’ll reach more goals by trying than if I didn’t try. Growth isn’t failure, period.
  • So this week I’ll be thinking about my goals from last year and evaluating how I did. I’ll also be thinking about my new goals for next year.I’d like to do some brainstorming about passages that will help me think biblically about this process. Maybe you have some ideas you’d like to share, too.

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Broken Nativity Set

  • Posted on December 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm

  • Long ago, before we had children, we were given an inexpensive nativity set. We discovered after we had children that the pieces were quickly broken. I’d have thrown it away this year, but Bethel is delighted with the set and plays with it nearly every opportunity she gets.
  • When I asked the children if Heaven was better than Christmas, David replied with an emphatic NO. :) What a joy to explain that Christmas is not even close to what God is preparing for His children. Eyes grow wide with wonder.
  • David picked out a present for his dad, and I pitched in a little since his savings was a little small.  It’s probably the closest I’ve seen him to be truly excited about giving something away. Or maybe it’s because it’s a model car and he knows his dad will be making it with him.
  • Bethel decided she wanted to purchase some little dogs for her sister with her own money. When she saw them, she was ready to change her mind. I told her that she didn’t have to buy them for her sister, but she couldn’t buy them for herself that day. She decided to buy it for Laurel after all, and she’s hoping to save some money to buy one just like it after Christmas. In other words, we’re still working on teaching them all to be givers.
  • I just realized my children can actually clean up a house with me without tears and complaining and my constant intervention. More joy! Bethel has begun making up a song about making her bed without complaining that makes me smile each morning. Yes, they still complain at times, but I see a big difference in their actual ability to stay on task and get work done. Hurray!
  • My parents are coming this week, and Lee has the week off. I may check in, but most likely I won’t be blogging until after Christmas.
  • Bob Bixby posted this article on “The Dark Side of Christmas.” It was a good reminder to consider those around me who may need me to leave my comfortable self-absorption and reach out to them. It’s worth reading.
  • And Ann posted a 1 Corinthians 13 and Christmas list that I liked, too.
  • That’s all for today! I pray that your Christmas makes much of the cross and our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Is Heaven Better than Christmas?

  • Posted on December 19, 2008 at 5:00 am

The last few weeks, we have talked quite a bit about giving and receiving presents. We’ve talked about the motivation for giving gifts (love) and how the only way we can truly love others is by God’s grace in our lives. We have talked about receiving gifts with a thankful heart (although I haven’t yet done the thank you notes with the children that I intended to a few weeks ago).

I have been praying for our home to reflect the joy and peace that marked Christ’s coming so long ago. It’s been hard this week, because I’ve been sick and rather irritable. I’ve had to ask forgiveness of my children more than once, and I probably need to ask it again after they wake up from their nap.

Here is the question I want to discuss with them next, joyfully:

Is Heaven better than Christmas?

Of course, the answer is yes. In fact, it gets better. Christ is better than Christmas.

It’s the reference point that seems useful to me. For a child, presents and candy and parties all in the space of a few weeks is overwhelmingly wonderful. How much better is Christ? In this way, the whole holiday becomes a metaphor and teaching tool, of tremendous value because the excitement is accessible to children. Here is the passage I keep thinking of:

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now(U) we have received not(V) the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.I Corinthians 2:9-12

You can sense the excitement and anticipation in this passage. We can’t even imagine what God is preparing for us, but God has given us His Spirit, and has promised that He will help us learn and understand all those wonderful things about our Savior.

Christ is all in all.

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Teaching Babies the Bible

  • Posted on December 18, 2008 at 5:00 am

The other night came across a journal I kept right after I had Bethel, when David was 16 months old. What struck me the most was the intensity with which I wrote about teaching David spiritual truths.

In the past, I’ve shocked a few people with “low expectations,” because I tend to think smart parents overestimate their children’s ability to understand abstract concepts. Now, I shocked myself because my youngest daughter is 26 months, significantly older in terms of comprehension, and I think I’ve been rather narrow in instruction lately.

I was particularly challenged not to expect my youngest child to simply “absorb” the instruction I give to the older two. So I prayed for an opportunity to spend some time with her, and God provided!

I’m certain God knew I needed a nudge at such a time as this, because baby has been more fussy than usual and needs more mom time. Since I’m rather scatterbrained, I missed the need and was simply chalking it up as mere fussiness and irritability.

The other afternoon, we sat together with my fuzzy blanket and talked. We talked about what and whom God sees. Does God see Mollie? [the dog] Does God see Laurel? Does God see Bethel cleaning her room [a little louder just in case Bethel was listening]? Does God see Laurel sharing with David? Does God see when Mommy tickles Laurel? Laurel likes these question games and we kept going as long as she was interested. I want my children to rejoice in God’s omniscience like King David.

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; Psalm 139:1-6

Now I’m praying for more opportunities to teach simple truths to my little one, and giving thanks to God for the wisdom that he gives at just the right moment.

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Clothed with Humility

  • Posted on December 17, 2008 at 11:00 am

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I’m still feeling under the weather, but it’s been a good week nevertheless. I’ve had to adjust my expectations of some things I planned to do, and I feel like I haven’t said a coherent word to my husband all week, but it still has been a good week.

In our Bible study that meets at our house, we ladies have been attempting to memorize the key verses that go with each lesson. I’ve not been doing very well, and keep putting it off (I’ll work on it later). Of course, we’re half way through the book and I still haven’t memorized any of them. So a few weeks ago, I finally put the cards by my sink so I could see them when I work.

Not surprisingly, I’ve been doing much better keeping the dishes clean right away, and keeping up with my other responsibilities. Here is what I’m working on now.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  I Peter 5:5b

God has been reminding me that any time I am selfish, I’m not clothed with humility. He’s been using this thought to motivate me to put aside my own desires for the good of my husband and children.  I have been tickled to see my actions and intentions adjusted as God works in my heart. He’s been doing this even though I’ve been feeling terrible.

I must be truthful that last night I went to bed without finishing cleaning the kitchen because I was tired and not feeling well. Being clothed with humility doesn’t make me superwoman!
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What has God been reminding you of from His Word?

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I Don’t Feel Like It!

  • Posted on December 16, 2008 at 5:00 am

Today was a really hard day. I’ve been fighting a cold of some sort, and even with the vernors and ice cream my husband brought home I am still feeling draggy. It doesn’t help that I’m at a “low point” hormonally.

My kids are probably not feeling well either, because they’re easily distressed this morning.

I did have my devotions, but they didn’t seem to “help” my feelings of misery (I’m being a little melodramatic on purpose). Then the thought occured to me that perhaps God just wants me to do right even if I don’t feel like it.

That means…

  • I must be patient with my children, even if I don’t feel like it.
  • I must make them lunch, even if I don’t feel like it.
  • I must be productive, even if I don’t feel like it.

And on and on.

So, we cleaned and swept the patio today. It’s a beautiful day, and by the time we were done, we didn’t even need jackets.  I keep reminding myself that each day this month, I’m putting something new in the freezer. And my room is nearly clean.

But I still have to do right because it is right, regardless of my feelings. I think perhaps this is the lesson God wants me to learn this week.

Now for some chocolate ice cream as I finish my room…

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Enemy of God?

  • Posted on December 15, 2008 at 9:41 am

In Children’s church yesterday, Lee asked whether a person who is not saved is an enemy of God. This really bothered one of the children (who to my knowledge, has not made a profession of faith).

The thought occurred to me that a child who knows he is not saved, understands salvation, might not really consider himself God’s enemy.

Some might argue that a child of saved parents (a covenant child) is not an enemy of God, ever. Is a baby an enemy of God?

Then I wondered what Scriptures might be relevant. I’m drawing a blank, so maybe the question isn’t a valid one anyway. This is the only one I can find with a quick word search. I’ll have to do a bigger search.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4

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Discipline Talks

  • Posted on December 12, 2008 at 5:00 am

This morning I read the Hebrews 12 passage to my children. I gave them some hot apple cider, so they weren’t in a hurry to finish breakfast like they often are. While they sipped their drinks, we had an encouraging talk.

I asked them first who God disciplines— people he loves, or people he hates. Bethel was sure that God didn’t discipline people he loves. David wasn’t sure. I asked them if they like it when Mom or Dad disciplines them. Of course, they both said No! Then I reread the part about despising God’s discipline. They understood it.

Then I asked them why they shouldn’t hate God’s discipline. I told them God’s Word gives us two reasons. First, because it shows us that we are a part of God’s family. Second, because it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Since we’ve talked before about repentance, I brought that up.

David responded, “That’s hard” when I reviewed the definition about repentance. Joy filled my heart, because I rarely hear volunteered information like this from him. Hurray! Yes, it’s more than hard. It is impossible to change our own hearts and do right. I explained that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God to those who have accepted God’s gift of salvation. It was a really good opportunity to talk about the Gospel.

They hadn’t even finished their cider!

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