New Years Meditations

UPDATE: Click HERE to see the winner of the Spectacular Giveaway!!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone has gotten their greens & black eyed peas today! Or is that only in the south? I'm not one to make New Years Resolutions, but when I saw that Lori (formerly known as Laurel Wreath) was doing a New Years Meditations, I knew this was something I wanted to participate in!

I have been reading and re-reading the book Spectacular Sins, by John Piper, preparing for a book club with Lisa. I don't normally get to do a lot of extra reading these days, with two little ones, but I do love a good book when I get the chance! To say this is a good book is a huge understatement! It's a fantastic book! It's deep, but written in a manner that even the newest of Christians (or someone with Mommy-Brain) can understand.

This book along with other things in the world and in my own life have given me new insights, renewed hunger to hold as close as I possibly can to God. I look at the world today and it scares me to think about what it will be like in 10 or 15 years when my babies are stepping out into the world as teenagers. I pray that we can instill in them knowledge and faith in God that will be unshakable no matter what they face.

....and by "we" in that last sentence I mean God, my husband and myself, our families, church, community. I mean everyone that comes into regular contact with them.

I hold myself accountable to those I come into contact with as well. From my Sunday School class, Awana class, nieces, nephews, family, community, and anyone I come into contact with.

The saying "it takes a village" is more true now than ever before! So I guess that would have to be my New Years Meditation. I want to be the best I can be in every area of my life with the understanding that every breath I take is for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God.

My goodness, how I fail Him.

I am also starting to read The One Year Chronological Bible with the start of the new year and I'm excited about reading the Bible in this way! There are several studies going on using this Bible and I look forward to gaining insight from each of them.

I am also challenging us to become more self-sufficient, more "green", more "live off the land", if you will, as a family. After all, God created this beautiful world for us to live on, the very least we can do is take care of it!

I will stop right there on that topic for fear of getting more "resolution" than "meditation". I'm sure you'll hear more about that as the year progresses! Especially considering the fact that every year when I start talking about "my garden" my husband wants to know how many acres I want to plant. I start having flashbacks of the summer he talked me into planting "acres" of watermelons. Guess who had to help hoe them? Or the summer we planted "acres" of sweet corn. Guess who helped pick it?

Didn't I say I was "stopping right there"?


Anyway! In the spirit of the new year and the wonderful book I have been reading I am going to be giving away a copy of Spectacular Sins. It is truly a great book and a must read for every Christian today.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. I'll announce the winner on January 7th!

In the meantime, head over to visit Lori, formerly known as Laurel Wreath, to join in her New Years Meditations . You can join until the 6th!

Thanks for hosting this Lori, and I totally think you should go by Lori, formerly known as Laurel Wreath.....haha!

UPDATE: Click HERE to see who won the Spectacular Giveaway!!