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A NEW YEAR (not just another one)


Beautiful things don’t just happen, they are crafted. 

See below a 13th c hand-written Bible text (Ps 69).

It required: vision (seeing), planning and work.

It was not: quick, easy, straight-forward, accidental

It was: long-term, messy, costly, intentional - and rewarding



Crafting a beautiful life is the same. 

It requires vision, planning and work.

It is not quick or easy or straight-forward or accidental

It is long-term, messy, costly, and intentional - and rewarding.


The pattern of seeing, planning, working is not new, it is in our design - we were made for it.

We practice vision, plan, work because God does. It is life in the image of God.


God sees: He sees the end from the beginning (vision)


God plans: God makes good plans

Jer 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Psalm 40:5: Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us...


God works: God works to see His plans completed 

Rev 21:5: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”


Jesus told John He was making everything new. And told him to write it down.

Part of His creation - is you. He is making you new too.

Yes - one day - fully glorified you, and that will be awesome beyond description.

But He is making us new here, now. 

God has vision, plans, and works to make all things new.

And so - we have vision, plans, and work to make all things new.



Starting point

What is your vision? What do you see ahead?

What is your plan to make that happen?

What are you working for today that will be built in a week, year or decade from now?

Use the guides below to help you see, plan - and work to get there


Guides


Q&A

Isn't "goal-setting" worldly and prideful?

This is a Biblical model for creating vision, plans and working toward them. Some call it goal-setting. Some Christians are put off by that, sensing it’s too worldly. After all, Jesus taught us “don’t worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own.” And that’s true. But it doesn’t say don’t think about tomorrow or plan for tomorrow.


God is the original planner, designer, gardener, architect, builder, carpenter. Planning is universally praised in Scripture and lack of planning is universally condemned. Pr 27:12: “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Pr 31:27: “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”


I'm tired of trying and failing. What's the point?

There are two ditches with goals - too low and too high. The "freebird" (gracious?) people tend to buck goals - to restrictive - forget ticking boxes and just let me live my life and see what happens! But that is not freedom - it's chaos. And it doesn't build life and spiritual equity over time. The "legalist" (perfectionist?) people tend to love ticking boxes and find delight and energy there - until it gets overwhelming and either implodes witht shame or explodes in blame.


Love the messy middle - God's grace and your grit. Treat goals as coaches - who push you, but allow you to fail (as part of growth). Who give you direction, but don't demand performance at all costs. You set your own goals as the best version of you - and then work for them by God's grace and your grit.


Is this really necessary?

No. But - you and I will stand before God one day, and either celebrate a life that has built an eternal legacy through a lifetime of faithful love for God and others OR lament a life that just lived spiritually hand to mouth, living on little nuggets of spiritual input here and there which we burned up surviving, much less building and passing on anything of value.

All are busy. Some are building. By His grace and your grit - let’s go!!!

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