Already October!

I can't believe it is already October. So much has happened this year. Jann and I both changing "careers" and moving in NEW directions. Jeni and Lissa both moving home to finish the college years - and we are reveling in family time! How I pray this fall is a grace filled time of growth for our family.

I was reading Robin Dugal's blog where he gives props to his daughter for writing about having a time machine to reflect on some of her life. She takes seasons of time and recalls how having hindsight would have had her "do overs" create a different kind of life.

I hope I can blog soon on some "do overs" I would like to have as a part of my lifesong!

** I started this blogline almost one month ago - October is now almost over. I want instead of my "do overs" from the beginning of the month to do my "top ten" things I want to see happen in my life before 2005 is over. Tim Woody has done this on his blog and I wanted to copy with my own additions for me!**
Back at the end of December last year, Tim Woody provided a list of “Ten Things to Think On” regarding 2005. He took that same list and rewrote it from the perspective of having only about 10 weeks left in the year, and I’ve included it below.Please do three things for yourself right now: 1) Ask God to cleanse you of any bad attitudes regarding slow progress, setbacks, misdirected passions, etc. that might be causing you to “end with a fizzle.” 2) Read through this list with a pure heart and answer these questions honestly. 3) Choose to take action and finish 2005 well!

1. What one thing have you done in 2005 that increased your enjoyment of God? Will you finish well by continuing in it?
*I have started reading Christian Blogs by men and women who have encouraged me in my walk with God. I plan to continue to read these each week as 2005 ends.

2. What is the most humanly impossible thing you asked God to do in 2005? Has it occurred? If not, are you willing to still believe and finish well?
*I prayed for God to take away my bitterness towards a person. I have moved to wanting to fix this relationship – I am still believing that God will do something here.

3. What is the one most important thing you did to improve the quality of your family life in 2005? Are you willing to keep it up and finish well?
*We have both our girls at home; we have arranged regular family times; and we have made plans for future family times.

4. Which spiritual discipline have you progressed on the most in 2005? Will you maintain its preeminence and finish well?
*I need to come back to this one in a future post. My first response is “none”, but I think I could find something!

5. How did you take action upon the biggest "time-eater" in your life in 2005? Are you willing to finish it off well?
*I changed my job description from being with student ministry to being in sports ministry.

6. What helpful new way did you bring strength to your church in 2005? Are you finishing it well?
*I helped find a new Senior High director; I am helping to run our 1st fall flag football league; and I have added value to the Sports ministry of our church.

7. For whose salvation have you prayed most fervently in 2005? Have they come to Christ? If not, are you willing to keep praying and finish well?
*Sergio – our church gardener. (not a Christian)

8. What is the most significant way you attempted, with help of God, to make 2005 different than previous years? Are you keeping it up and finishing 2005 well?
*Change jobs. I have transitioned and feel good about finishing well!

9. What one thing have you done to energize your prayer life in 2005? Is it working? Is your prayer life finishing 2005 well?
*Blogging has been a help here. I have found Sacred Space and Morning Prayer to be places that have helped me pray more often!

10. What single thing have you done in 2005 that will matter most in the year 2015? In eternity? Are you still working on it? Are you willing to finish it well?
Deepened my walk with God.
Strengthened my relationships with Jann, Jeni, Lissa, mom, Kliff and Keith.
Leading up to Alan and Dave
Leading next to some great volunteers like Mike, Marc, Bill, Phil, and Bob
Leading down to some new folks as 2005 ends.