Good Like a Medicine

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. — Ephesians 2:10

Call ‘em resolutions, goals, or the like. Whatever they are, I intend to take them quite seriously, because I serve the risen Christ and because I can enjoy the God who gives me Godly desires. These are the things I want to see, do, and dream about in 2007:

• Love Jesus Christ more than ever before
  
• Serve Eric and be a mother to my children more patiently and diligently; let the overflow of my prayers soften my voice and expression, so that they see and know a steady, joyful wife and mother.
  

12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
– from Colossians 3

• Mark my actions, reactions, and words with much submission and reverence for Eric.
  
  

  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. — Colossians 3:18

• Teach the Word of God diligently, patiently, and cheerfully at home.

  
  

  4″Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. — from Deuteronomy 6

  (Memorize with Lydia and Steven: Psalm 103, Hebrews 3:1-3,
  Colossians 3:1-11, Romans 8: 28-39, Psalm 139, Psalm 19)

And now for my “short list.” Ha. Because I’m a visual, tangible person.

• Study the DJ Bible Reading Plan more consistently in the mornings
• Cook meals more like 5-6 times a week instead of 3-4, and branch out beyond those same menus I tend to run to over and over
• Do better at sending lunch to work with Eric
• Read the books on my 2007 book list (Got any more book suggestions?)
• Read more at bedtime with Steven
• Run at least 3x per week in the mornings
• Record a Children’s Scripture CD with Eric
• Become a better daughter, sister, and daughter-in-law
• Finish those 2 big quilts and make 2 new ones
• Plan at least one night per month for a date night with Eric
• Become a better artist
• Permanently replace my late bedtime with early rising (This might already knock out some of the items on my list)
• Become closer friends with my neighbors, Lauren (13), and LeAnn (14)
• Learn piano theory from my neighbor Lauren
• Start writing my first book (Although I’d love to do some children’s books, this book is probably a novel. Just for fun: what do you think the theme / setting should be?)
• Plant some perennials in the yard

I know some of you are chuckling. I can hear Emily’s mother right now, “My, my! Ambitious Kristi strikes again!” And my sister Katy is probably lovingly rolling her eyes, right, Katy? Most of the things on this list are John Piper’s fault. I was listening to this and this and this on the radio website, and it just got me terribly excited.

I love the law of God, but I sure do hate legalism. I know that if I see every single item on my list come to fruition, God will not love me any more or less. I can’t do anything without God giving me the strength, and doing the things on my “short list” is pointless without the love of Christ ruling my heart. I don’t want to be a clanging cymbal. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try, though.

I saw earlier that there are lots of Christian bloggers outlining the same interests, so I joined the linkage at Laurel Wreath.

God bless you and yours as you begin this new year.