2009...

A few weeks ago I joined the 5:16 AM club that is being hosted by Sarah Mae. If you are looking for an inspiring, encouraging, and challenging way to start the New Year, check out her blog as well as the other women who are part of this club. One thing we do is share each Monday what God is doing in our lives or things He is showing us. I thought I would leave this last post up and use it for Motivate Me Monday. Have a good one friends!

As I pull out my new, crisp calendar for this year, I am reminded of the verse from Psalm 90:12 which says, " Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." When I took down the calendar from this past year, I went through each month where nearly every little box had something written in it. Days of appointments, anniversaries, school schedules, birthdays, vacations, lunch or coffee dates with friends, reminders, and even family nights that we had to schedule in. Really, it has been a condensed version of my family's life in 12 pages.

There are days that I can remember so clearly and yet others that I have forgotten as this year has come to a close. Whether there was something written for that particular day or not, each one held a significance of it's own. There were days filled with joys and celebrations - birthday parties, the first day of school, Jessica's appointment for her senior picture, Sam's first band concert, and the sleep overs Ben had with his friends. There were other days that were marked with trials and difficulties like the six weeks beginning in late September that Jessica battled a horrendous migraine.

The old calender has been taken down and the new one has taken it's place on the desk. A clean, fresh start. Besides where I have filled in birthdays, anniversaries, and school schedules, there is nothing yet to fill these pages. There are no reminders of things to do yet, items crossed out, or arrows drawn to other boxes. What will this year have in store?

Knowing that there is a new year ahead, I find myself thinking about how I will spend my time. How will I make my days matter and just like what was written in the Psalms, how will I number my days aright and gain a heart of wisdom.

This really is going to be a very significant year for our family. I have a lot of anticipation and excitement that is already building knowing a few of the things that are in store for us. Our daughter, Jessica will celebrate her 18th birthday the beginning of February. I still can't believe that this is where we are in our life right now.... where she is right now. With that comes the graduation plans - parties, announcements, and knowing that we really are on the countdown until the day she leaves. Oh, how I want to make these days count and matter. My sister, Sarah will be having her baby girl this Spring. A baby that has been dreamt of, prayed for, and hoped for. This summer will hold the celebration of our son, Sam, turning 13 - officially a teenager. I can only wonder what these days will have in store. Once Fall rolls around, we will begin school again. This time I will only be sending off two. Jessica will be finalizing all of her plans and preparations as she gets ready to leave for YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in either Maui or Australia. This will definitely be a year like no other. A year of being in new places and many opportunities for my faith to grow and be stretched.

From January 1 to December 31, the days are already numbered and God knows exactly what each day is going to hold. I find such comfort and peace in knowing that. There are no trials yet that have been part of the new year, but neither are there any joys either that have graced them. There are 365 days for me to let slip away or to make matter. The choice is ultimately mine.

God has been teaching and showing me so much this past year about living a purposeful and intentional life. I know this lesson will be one I continue to learn as I begin planning and numbering my days this year. I really want my days this year to be ones of knowing that I have surrendered myself to Him and am allowing Him to use me - wherever, whenever, and however He chooses fit.

I am going to allow Him to be the Planner of my days and find the peace that comes from knowing that I have yielded my plans. I will trust Him for the details that each day will bring.

To number my days well also means that I am in His Word - reading it and memorizing Scripture. Learning, growing, allowing it to change me and hearing Him speak personally to me through His words. I also want my days to be filled with worshipping Jesus and pursuing Him above everything else.

I know that there will be many days in this new year that will be filled with insignificant things and daily tasks of little consequence. Even in those I want the Lord to be glorified and I want to know Him in those mundane tasks. Even the mundane can become divine.

So, I give this new year to the Lord. I pray that I am a woman that does the tasks that He has called me to do and that He finds me available. In all of the busyness that I know will come, I don't want to make my plans and then wonder if I have allowed Him to fit in somewhere. I choose to seek Him first. I pray that He gives me a heart to learn and a heart that finds enjoyment and peace in all the details, no matter how big or small. I just want to see Him in it all. I pray that He will give me the gentle reminders of when I need to slow down and get re-focused. I want to know and recognize His voice in the midst of my days, whether it's a quiet whisper or a tender shout. To know and experience His presence all of my days.

"Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." ~ Psalm 139:16