{September Goals}

"There's 0% chance, 100% God."

A couple weeks ago, we had the privilege to hear one of the members of our church share about his journey with a brain tumor. He so boldly spoke of his trust and full reliance on the Lord in the midst of getting his diagnosis, how he and his wife had come to answer the ever-so-common question, "So what are your chances of surviving?" with 5 small but powerful words: "There's 0% chance, 100% God."

Wow. That hit me like a punch to my stomach.

Here I am, tumor-free, and am I actually trusting God to the full extent of my brother and sister in Christ who are actually experiencing a situation that makes it difficult and challenging to trust Him? Does my faith prove weak and futile in the time of trials, let alone in the good, easy times? Instead of figuring out the chance of this or that happening, what would my life look like if I surrendered it all to God, knowing that He is sovereign over it all?

I'm praying that God would continually remind me of my need for Him, every day. In good times, let us lean on Him and praise His name. In the tough times, let us praise Him still.

"Lord, I need You. O I need You. Every hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness. O God, how I need You."

September Goals

>> Study Aimless by Ange Smith with a girls' small group
>> Commit new verses to memory
>> Plan for our 2-year anniversary trip (YAY!)
>> Spend a week in Florida with my family
>> Finish reading From Anger to Intimacy
>> Take a daily walk with Madison, weather permitting
>> Lovingly serve our LMP clients
>> Reach out to designers for LMP rebrand
>> Review our budget and plan for October

What are your goals for this month? I'd love to know what your aim and focus are set on!

{September Goals}

"and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." {Colossians 3:10-11}

This passage in the letter Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse is so powerful! The believers were called to put OFF & to DEATH the old man, the fleshy ways that they once were so accustomed to. As 19th century English preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "We are to leave the grave of iniquity & the graveclothes of our sin behind."

Instead, they were to put ON the new man & clothe themselves with tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering & love (v. 12, 14). As believers today, we're called to the same transformation. It is certainly a life-long journey & like the beautiful quote above says, we're not done yet but we're not the same that we once were.

Philippians 1:6 is an awesome reminder of God's continuing work in our lives: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  When will we see that perfection? That day when we reach heaven's streets of gold :)
 

September Goals

>> Finish reading A God Entranced Vision of All Things (carryover) & Through the Gates of Splendor
>> Drink 4 water bottles of water (or more!) daily
>> Take firearm class with Deano
>> Catch up on all LMP editing, website updates, etc.
>> Shoot 2 wonderful Winchester & DC portrait sessions
>> Continue apartment searching & line up more visits
>> Have our monthly budget meeting

Weekly

>> Read & mediate on God's Word
>> Pray (Adoration | Confession | Thanksgiving | Supplication)
>> Set aside time to truly rest & reflect
>> Date night
>> Connect with family
>> Seek to serve & bless others
>> Go for walks/run
>> Blog 2x
>> Stay faithful to our budget