Kingdom Notes--Planning for a New Year

It is exciting and exhilarating to have the prospects of a New Year swiftly approaching our doorsteps in just a matter of days. Here, at the Fuentes household, we have been busily praying and planning about just what that new year could possibly hold. There is so much potential wrapped into the promises of a new year and we want to be sure we are wisely using the gift of time we have been graciously and lavishly given.

As I thought about what I wanted to accomplish this year many things swirled in my mind but what continually and mainly surfaced to the top of my thoughts were that fact that I wanted to get closer to God. Sure, every year I make this one of my goals, but this year it is much different. I am seeking after him much in the way as as a deer pants for water.

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God." Psalm 42:1

This is my main objective and nothing else. If nothing else is accomplished on my list of expectations, so be it. I know if I do this all things will fall into place. My prayer, reading and fasting time is all increasingly critical as I mature in the Lord and I am looking forward to experiencing much more of an indepth walk with Him next year.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.--John 15:5

We have already taken down the Christmas tree and decorations around here to make way for the new. I personally don't like starting the new year trying to clean up from the last. I like to have our home fresh and looking new, this helps us all mentally to envision and focus on what the new year can hold without holding onto some of yesterday. We've done some shopping to buy new storage bins to organize and purge so we can start the year freshly prepared and ready for all things new.

Some areas I plan for are probably the same that you do yourself. How can I better myself, my goals, etc.? First I like to pray about it. Don't start planning without asking the Lord what He wants for the year. When I have done that, I like to jot it all down and see how I did at the end of the year. I was blessed to be able to look at my list just this last week from last year and see that I had accomplished most of what was listed. I was pleasantly surprised and thus it's given fuel to this notorious planner to continually forge ahead without holding back.

"Without vision the people perish." -Proverbs 29:18

One of things I like to do is make categories. Here are some things I'll ask myself--

What does God want me to do in 2010?

How do I envision myself in 2010 serving God?

What do I want to see accomplished in my marriage this year?

What do I want to see accomplished in each of our children/family this year?

What do I want to see accomplished in our homeschool?

What would I like to see each child doing/growing in/serving?

This year we added a new one: how can we specifically help widows, orphans and the needy?

I make categories and I jot down notes of what I prayerfully think needs to be accomplished and then, this is important, I pull out my planner to plan what I need to do to make this all happen in my to-do list. It has to be transferred to make these goals materialize.

My children plan out their year too. This way we can synchronize goals they would like to accomplish and this helps them to plan and learn confidence as they grow and mature. How are they going to grow closer to God this year? What books will they read and how many? What sermons will they listen to? What new skills will they learn? What character traits need to be strengthened? What musical skills need polishing or new instrument needs to be taken up? Will they start a new ministry this year/how will they serve God? All good leaders must plan and this will help them to do that when they are older.

Now for the best part-my husband and I also spend a few hours over coffee with our planners out planning out family goals, ministry, family trips, ideas, etc. This has been invaluable input to me as a wife that I treasure because I acknowledge the fact that I need to not plan my days without my husband. He is the leader of our home and I need to hear where and how he wants to lead it. This is not oppressive as some women might falsely believe, but it is absolutely beautiful and freeing to be able to share with one another this way. God created us to work together and yes, for my husband to lead our family. It encourages me to know what he is dreaming, thinking and trying to implement in our home. It also provides stability as we face the new year hearing what dad has planned for it. It also helps to plan together so I can help him to accomplish what he'd like to do as many times I am the one to help bring these thoughts to life, since I have more freedom in my schedule. Also, the planning we do together blesses us because we are growing closer together, working as a team in harmony and not against eachother or going our own separate ways.

Dear ladies, I hope you will make some kingdom notes of your own--yes, I said kingdom notes. Notes of how you can impact this world for Christ through your life and your families and generations to come. You have no idea how you impact this world. What we plan today shapes and molds lives all around us continuously and eternally. Don't take it lightly, but know and understand the great responsibility and love that is at hand. We also might need to plan to take wasteful things out of our lives. We need to really be prayerful, honest and look hard at what those things are. These are things that hinder our time...they steal time away from our marriages, children, and home. These things need to be closely examined and some need to be tossed out all together.

A wise woman will also plan in flexibility. She will not try to rigidly follow her plans, but she knows that the Lord has a bigger plan and she accommodates herself to Him. Most importantly, I also want us to remember that with all this planning is that our year is not measured by what we do or what our accomplishments might be---but in what the Lord has done, and what He is going to do.

I am looking forward to a new year with all of you as well and have so much I am looking forward to sharing with you... I truly can't wait! I am eager to see what 2010 will hold for all of us. Let us worship the King, and remember to love and pursue Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge him
And he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

*****Many blessings to you all and a Happy New Year*****

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