Hi Friend!
Last week I was a guest blogger on Kate Lloyd’s blog. Kate is a great fiction author and a fellow critique group member.
On her blog, I shared a few more details about my goal setting process. Check it out here.
I’m happy to share that I started my online writing course, “Writing Fiction Like A Pro“. I am well on my way to accomplishing my writing goals for this year.
Steve and I worked out everyday this week! We are a little sore but feeling great. My family started a fitness challenge page on Facebook. We are encouraging one another to get healthy in 2014. My niece Trisha is our coach and started us on the T25 workout. I hope to get back to my bar method class too. Get Fit in 2014!
I’m working on some areas of personal growth. I’ve been reading books and listening to tapes that have helped me understand many of my communication patterns, or lack thereof.
When you grow up with nine siblings, effective communication isn’t always taught. I continue to learn to be a better communicator through counseling, reading books, listen to tapes and doing what it takes to create a healthy atmosphere in my home. I have a good feeling about 2014 when it comes to this area of my life.
My word for 2014 is STAND. I will stand strong in the courage the Lord gives me every day by grace. This is my #NoFearNewYear
How are you doing with your goals? Can I pray for you?
Be blessed.
Gigi
Hello Friend,
Happy New Year!
I pray you are excited about 2014.
I hope you are thankful about 2013.
As I turned the calendar over to a New Year, I spent time reflecting on all that transpired in the last year.
I am most thankful for the lessons learned. And I know that God has been there all along.
In 2013, I read many helpful books that opened my eyes to healing in several areas of my life.
Come back to my blog where I will be sharing notes from those books in the coming months.
I spent the last week working through an online course titled “Five Days to The Best Year Ever” created by Michael Hyatt, the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Michael Hyatt has much wisdom in leadership and goal setting. I recommend you follow his blog.
I had an eye opening experienced as I scribbled answers to the first question he posed in the workbook provided with the course.
In what areas of your life have you settled?
Deep breath….
Pause….
Reflect….
I wrote
and wrote
I prayed and I wrote some more.
I found several areas of my life where I’ve settled.
- Health – I stopped working out consistently and gained what I had lost.
- Relationships – I have an ongoing struggle being authentic and vulnerable.
- Finances – I haven’t paid as close attention as I’d like.
- Writing – Writing has taken a back burner for the busyness of life.
- Speaking – I didn’t speak as many times as I had hoped.
- Faith – My deep relationship with Jesus has at times taken a backseat.
Then he asked the ever challenging question: How does settling make you feel?
I cried and I wrote
I sighed and I wrote
I prayed and I wrote some more.
After writing pages and pages of realization of the areas where I settled, I found the motivation to do something about it.
I know that when I seek FIRST the Kingdom of God, all else falls into place.
I know I must take a STAND for righteousness, peace, and joy.
So I spent time in prayer and asked God to show me baby steps for each goal.
I created SMART goals for each area with action steps designed to get me back on track.
Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be reporting my progress and hope you’ll help me stay on track.
Will you share your goals with me so we can keep each other accountable?
Can I pray with you to help you examine your purpose?
Leave a comment on my blog and I will email you a copy of the SMART goal template I recently created.
Bless you with a touch from God on your 2014.
Gigi
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NKJV)
Stand Fast
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.