Goals for the New Year

New Year – New Memories
New Year – New Pages
New Year – New Book
New Year – New Chapter

I have so many goals for this new year and I am very cognizant that they also need to be realistic. How realistic it is to have improved relationships? It is possible and should certainly be at the list for enhancing your year.

That is my number one goal!!! I have to be completely transparent in that.

In 2015 as far as my household, experienced the opening grounds of renewal, strength and restoration. As we transitioned to the precise place that God had for us on a personal level—we saw CHANGE! Now I have a strong desire to see a deeper intimacy and union with all my relationships.

Obviously that first relationship will be with God! He is my King! He is my Savior! I desire a more intimate place in worship and prayer. I feel like for 2015 I became a worshiper. I was able to fall to my knees, face and prostrate myself before Him no matter WHERE I was. That was deep. Now I want to go into a deeper place called intimacy!

Intimacy is associated in close personal relations, it is characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling; it is very private; closely personal. That is how close I need to be in order to stand firm in my life. We all need that support system and GOD IS IT! He is FIRST and foremost!

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:1-4

Then we have to learn how to have that balance and better our relationships around us. This is important. God is relational. We are relational. It is our essential part of life to interact. A good source or scriptures is found throughout the pages of Proverbs. We will have those foggy days, cloudy days, rainy days, stormy days, snowy days and sunny days. In all we can find a depth of appreciation and fortitude.

For the matrimonial relationships, I found this encouragement by Fierce Marriage:

Intimacy happens when you’re totally exposed and still fully loved. This is your greatest opportunity to love in marriage.

There are two core aspects of intimacy.

1) Being totally honest and open with your spouse.
2) Loving them when they are totally honest and open with you.

This is love without posturing, without faking anything. That is when love is fullest.

May you and your husband/wife be 100% honest with each other. And may you love each other 100% when imperfections are revealed.

It’s risky, but always rewarding to love purely. The safety of true love isn’t found in hiding imperfections or putting up a facade, but rather in your commitment to learning how to love each other even when your unlovable traits are plain to see.

Love fiercely,
Ryan & Selena Frederick

This is such a profound statement indeed because without total honesty you cannot reach a total intimacy. I truly embrace how this couple is sharing out to the married community of believers because this truth is essential for us to grow and be strong. And that we have to be fierce about this major relationship in the house setting.

Marriage impacts our home, church and our society. For us to start at any point whether it is the beginning the middle or the end…we will ALWAYS need to be fierce about it. When we start to ‘not care’ then we experience the consequences of that and many will feel the effects of that.

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Relationships with our children should also be a priority. If they are small or grown. They always need our love in their life. It makes a difference. They need our mentoring. They need our coaching. They need our attention. They need our provision. They need our covering. Our children are a responsibility handed down to us. That should never cease. Yes, as they become more independent in life our involvement will be minimal in that but we can always be one that they can lovingly count on when necessary. All things in wisdom and all things in love.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Psalm 127:1-5

Our dealings with friendships also need to be carefully considered. The person next to us will always impact our journey and so we should be selective on who we are allowing to stand close to us. The influence that we need should always be for good. Some people are constantly draining, complaining and constantly derailing your purpose for life. Those are the ones that need the huge ax and there is nothing wrong with protecting your soul. If they don’t care enough for you then you have to care for you.

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 17:17

Goals on the new pages of the 2016 diary! A prayer goes out to enhance all of these. May we all experience the most revolutionary relationships in our journey for better.