ENTITLEMENT

"I WANT"  "I NEED"  "I GOTTA HAVE" 

In this age of entitlement(entitle: Webster'S-1)to give a title or name to -2)to give a right or claim to)we have added yet another layer to materialism.

No, I don't want to work for it.  I want "you" to provide it to me because I am ENTITLED. 

I am so thankful that I was raised being taught:

"A penny saved is a penny earned"

"Watch the pennies and the $ will take care of themselves"

&

Pride in a job well done, for the pure joy of accomplishment.

Mickey & I raised our 4 children with these same values.  Sadly, we seem to have found ourselves in a society where about 50% of the population were not being taught these values. Add to this a generation that was, and is, being taught that there are no "absolutes", The Bible and The 10 Commandments are "obsolete", and we are watching as our entire nation is crumbling.

Add to this a large majority of professing Christians who's main focus in life it not winning the lost or showing the love & compassion that The Bible teaches but are busy as bee's

working night & day for the almighty Dollar

building up their IRA

&

 "KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES"

As we watch The Church lose it's effectiveness and our entire nation crumble even more.  

Well, as for me & my house we will:

 serve The Lord 

believe with all our heart & soul

enjoy each day The Lord gives us 

&

someday hear:  Good & faithful servant 

Entitlement????

I am not "entitled" to anything; but by the grace and mercy of God, and the sacrifice of The Son of God, JESUS the Christ, upon that cross I have been GIVEN everything.

&

HE gives me the best title in all the world & creation

A CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."  I Peter 2:9  

GOALS

How would you like to change your life this year?

This is the 2nd Writing Challenge I have selected to do.

As we travel through life, and especially as we walk this walk of faith, Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, there are all kind of road sides and directional markers along the way.  Some to help us and point us in the right direction and a lot to confuse and point us in the wrong direction. 

I have been a goal setter all of my life.  I have found setting goals for myself helps point me in that right direction that I desire to go.  Do I always reach my goal?  NO - In fact I probably fail them more than I accomplish them, but that being said, I do so much better than I would otherwise.

Now to the core of this 2nd writing challenge - 

How would I like to change my life this year?

or as I usually put it -

What are my goals for 2012?

First - I am beginning 2012 with a 21 day liquid fast.  Why?  Because I wanted to start out this year with discipline.  Doing a fast breaks my normal pattern and calls for a commitment to place more reliance on Christ and less on myself.  This is the start of day 9 - How am I doing?  I was perfect until Saturday evening when I broke down and ate a strawberry yogurt.  That being said, I am back on the liquid only goal.  I will keep updating this along these remaining 2 weeks.

Second - I not only want to lose weight, but I need to lose weight.  I even hate to list this one because it has been one of my goals year, upon year, upon year.  Accomplishing this goal would really change my life this year.  I list this one 2nd, not in importance but because it will be helped and kick started with #1.

Third - To begin to live a more giving sacrificially life.  Mickey & I are givers:  we have always tithed and we give a lot of our time but I do not think I have ever given to the point of what could be called a sacrifice.  To be honest, I'm not sure what that would mean or require of me.  It is a goal this year to find out and be obedient as The Lord shows us.  You'll notice I jump back and forth between using "I - me" and "we-us" because Mickey & I truly are one flesh and what I do effects we and not only me!!!!

Fourth - To be involved in Godly activities and service.  These include:
1- First and foremost to attend regular church services, which in our church is Sunday morning small groups & main service, Wednesday evening and the 1st Sunday evening of every month.  Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more, as we see the day approaching. 
2-The King's Kitchen - a ministry within our church, which my husband started in January, 2010, where each Tuesday we prepare and serve a hot meal to elderly shut-ins.
3- Continue the WOW woman's (Woman of the Word) Bible study in my home every Tuesday evening which I began on January 18, 2011.
4- Resume attending a Bible study every Monday morning at my friend Judy's home.  She's starting it back up today.  This group has been meeting for the past 3 years (with a few breaks) and I attended from the beginning but dropped out during my daughters illness.
5- Continue to step-in to teach the Senior Adult Small Group class as called upon to do so.
6- Attend the monthly meetings of Bridges For Peace at a private home each 3rd Thursday evening.  We attended last month and were really impressed.
7- Attend a Friday 11 a.m. prayer group, let by a close friend of mine, at the Library.
8- To become more involved with Coweta House of Prayer.
9- To participate in as many small home groups meeting for prayer and/or Bible study that The Lord directs me to.

Fifth - To reach out on the social media networks.  This would include:
1- Recommit to my blog with the same dedication I had in the beginning.
2- Continue to build the Hearts In "1" Accord fb prayer group.
3- Extend the WOW Woman group to those God chooses for the fb group.

Sixth - Mickey & I continue our morning reading and prayer time :  The Bible - My Utmost For His Highest - The Word For You Today and what ever current book we are reading, and praying together.  We both treasure this time and are so thankful to The Lord that we long ago established this.

Seventh - But by no means last, be open to the leading, speaking and direction of The Holy Spirit.  To have eyes to see and ears to hear what The Spirit speaks to ME.

Some of these are changes for me but most are to continue in the things I feel God has called us to.

How would you like to change your life this year?  I'd love to hear from you!!!!!

Be sure and leave a comment so your name will be in the drawing for the gift I'm giving away on the 27th to celebrate 5 years of blogging.

GOALS for 2011

Well, here it is already the 4th day of this brand new year and I am just now getting around to posting my goals although I did actually begin on them on December 31st!!

First, I wanted to go back and review my goals for last year and see how I did. As you all know, as the weeks and months wear on we have a tendency to become lack and even forget, or worse yet, discard those goals.

Here is the link to my goals last year.

#1 - Begin a 21 day fast with water only for the first 4 days then 2 meals a day - ACCOMPLISHED.

#2 - After January fast for 1 day a week the remainder of the years - FAILED.

#3 - Lose weight - FAILED....actually I did a good job of losing weight at the start of the year, then gradually gained back about 5 lbs. I did maintain there for most of the year, until Suzette got sick and then I proceeded to put back all but 5 lbs. SO, I start off this year with just a weight loss of 5 lbs, which to me is FAILURE.

#4 - Purchase only milk, bread & fresh veggies & fruit during the month of January to cut the January grocery bill way down. ACCOMPLISHED - in fact I continued on for the month of February and only spent around $100 both months. SO, double ACCOMPLISHED!!

#5 - Hold down grocery expenses for 2010 to what I spent in 2009, in spite of rising grocery costs. ACCOMPLISHED - I actually spent an average of $17.13 a month less in 2010.

#6 - Make extra house payments and pay-off our house mortgage. ACCOMPLISHED!!!! This was a BIG one for us. Although I was not able to make the extra principle payments earlier in the year, as planned, we did pay-off our home and it's mortgage on November 10, 2010. I am soooo thankful for this.

#7 - To hear God's voice and be lead by the Holy Spirit and to be obedient to what, and where, He is leading. ACCOMPLISHED - Even though there is more and more of this needed I do honestly feel I kept this as my focus and my eyes & ears fixed on HIM.

NOW TO 2011 GOALS

#1 - Continue our early morning Bible reading, devotional time, and reading additional Christian literature and PRAYING.

#2 - Take my supplements and vitamins regularly. I was very lax about this last year.

#3 - Exercise by walking every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

#4 - Make up menus for each week or month using primarily my new 4 Ingredient Diabetic cook-book and purchase at the first of the month the needed ingredients. Since this is January 4th I have already accomplished this for January. Yeah!!!

#5 - Lose weight and KEEP IT OFF. Let's see if 2011 is the year I can FINALLY accomplish this almost every New Year resolution!!!

#6 - Get rid of more "stuff" around the house. I did clear out some in 2010 with a huge garage sale and then taking ALL that was left to Good-Will but there is still way too much stuff in this house.

#7 - Organize the garage by purchasing chests & cupboards to store things instead of having items stacked and laying everywhere.

#8 - Continue to watch our grocery and eating out expenses and keep them in line with 2010.

#9 - Do better in posting regularly to Penless Writer than I did in 2010. Getting on fb seems to have taken up time that I need to put into the blogging. Blogging takes more time, thought and effort than fb.

#10 - Pay off our car loan......the last debt we have. We owe 27 months so this will be a big challenge!!

#11 - Put God FIRST in all things. Although I always list this last (as I did last year) it truly is my #1 priority. We truly feel that time is short and there is much to be accomplished.

I'd love to hear what your goals are, or if you made any. Please share them with me.

TRACKING MY 2010 GOALS

Last month I posted 6 goals for the year.

Now it's check-up time to see how I'm doing and if I'm on track!!

Goal 1. To begin the new year with a 21 day fast. Total fast (water only) for the first 4 days and then switch to fasting 2 meals a day.

I did 3 2/3 days of total fast. I did eat just 1 meal a day for days 5 through 15 - broke it on day 16th - fasted on day 17 and then stopped it for days 18 & 19 because our Pastor called for a Church wide fast for 32 days beginning January 20th. On day 20 through 31 we have been doing the Daniel Fast, which means no meat or sweets. We still have 9 more days to go.

But we are doing a total fast (water only) for February 1, 2 & 3rd. Then will continue the Daniel Fast for days 4-9.

Goal 2 - Was to do a one day fast for the remaining weeks of the year.

This will be met today for the first week of February.

Goal 3 - To lose weight!!! My goal is 150 lbs and that will be a weight loss of 32 lbs.

My weight loss for the month of January was 13 lbs. With a fast that's a given!!! I still have 19 lbs to go.

Goal 4. For the month of January to not spend any money on groceries except for bread, milk and fresh fruits & vegetables and to rely on the Storehouse of foods we have put back on both our shelves and in the freezer.

This goal was easy to accomplish but I was surprised that I still spent $99.75!!!! Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive and whole wheat bread is higher. Seems the food industry does not encourage better eating!!

Goal 5. To make an extra payment or two on the principal on our house mortgage.

Not able to do that this month :o)

Goal 6. My main goal for 2010 is to hear God's voice and be lead by His Spirit about each and every area of my life and then be obedient to do what He shows me.

I feel I was on track for January on this one. With the 3 2/3 total fast (except water) God gave me 4 very special dreams!!! We have moved step by step in The King's Kitchen ministry He placed on Mickey's heart. I took some major steps in improving and cleaning out the Hearts in "1" Accord Prayer Blog and am delighted with what God is doing within this group of pray-ers.

This is a good time to "plug" the Hearts Prayer Blog!!!!! If any of you are interested in joining the 16 of us who pledge to pray at least 15 minutes a day and participate in this private blog forum, please let me know in a comment and I will send you additional information.

How are you doing so far on your goals for 2010?

GOALS

At the beginning of a new year I try and set some goals for myself.

1. To begin the new year with a 21 day fast. I will begin with a total (water only) fast for the first 4 days and then switch to fasting 2 meals a day. This is my 4th and last day of the total fast.

2. After I complete this 21 day fast I will fast one day a week for the 52 weeks. Haven't decided which day to choose for that yet.

3. To lose weight!!! This has been on my goal list year, after year, after year but they say you haven't lost the battle until you quit and I'm not a quitter so here goes again. My goal is 150 lbs and that will be a weight loss of 33 lbs.

4. For the month of January to not spend any money on groceries except for bread, milk, and fresh fruits & vegetables. I have a vast "store" of food on hand and know I can feed us from what is on my shelves and in our freezer and still not harm the supply I have put back for any emergency. Last year I worked very hard on putting back a lot of items.

5. I kept track of how my monthly spending each month on food and eating out compared to last year for that month and I plan to do the same this year. I will endeavor to reduce the amounts, or at least keep them the same. That may be hard with prices rising like they are.

6. To make an extra payment or two on the principal on our house mortgage. We currently owe only 1 year & 8 months and I'd sure like to get this house totally paid off and clear. I was able to make 3 extra payments in 2009.

7. My main goal for 2010 is to hear God's voice and be lead by His Spirit about each and every area of my life and then be obedient to do what He shows me.

I'd be interested to hear what your goals for 2010 are.