{March Goals}

"'and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,'
declares the Lord." Jeremiah 31:14

This morning I was reflecting on notes from listening to Lisa Chan speak at a women's conference a couple years ago. Y'all, she is such a beautiful gem! She brought a powerful message from the Word & I have been challenged by it countless times since then. At that conference, Lisa shared a fantastic analogy of our lives here on earth:

We're all on a camping trip - off-roading, traveling along the road the Lord has put before us. It may be a 70- or 80-year trip down this dusty, bumpy road & that's all it is. This world isn't our home, or our final destination. She challenged us to ask:

Am I living as if I'm not of this world? Or have I tried to set up camp, kicking my feet up & making myself as comfy as possible? If we gorge ourselves on the things of this world, we won't have a huge appetite left for Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21 reminds us of where to place our value/treasures:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy and where thieves break in & steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So, the questions to ask ourselves are: What is my treasure? What do I treasure?

When I'm setting goals & thinking through what I want to be about each month, I try to reflect on this principle: We are only temporarily here on this earth. Jesus is enough. He should be our heart's greatest joy, hope, treasure. Lay up treasures in heaven, dear sisters.

May this be true of us all: "God, stamp eternity on my eyelids." {Lisa Chan}

March Goals

>> Finish reading On Photography & Happiest Baby on the Block (carryover)
>> Clean out 2014 hard drive (carryover)
>> Paint end tables (carryover)
>> Make pillow covers (carryover)
>> Buy frames + hang photos
>> Make laundry detergent
>> Enjoy a Girls' Weekend getaway
>> Review our budget + plan for April

{February Goals}

"You crown the year with Your bounty; Your wagon tracks
overflow with abundance." {Psalm 65:11}

My word for this year took several weeks before I finally put my finger on it. Looking back on my past goals & journal notes, I saw the word jump out to me: g-r-a-c-e. It's by God's grace we live, move & have our being. It's by His grace we are saved, redeemed & enter into the family of God. Grace, not perfection are the words I want to shout from the rooftops in these coming days, weeks & months. So much is about to change as I transition into motherhood this spring & Lord knows, I will need heaping amounts of grace to live out His calling, figuring about diaper changes, midnight feedings & raising up our little girl to love the Lord.

Power to Redeem is a beautiful song by Lauren Daigle, featuring All Sons & Daughters. The lyrics have washed over me with a reminder that God is in control & He is the one that brings out the life transformation in us we so desperately long for & need.

You take what is and you make it beautiful.
When love floods in, we're resorted forever more.
With breath it brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame and nail it to a tree
You alone hold the power to redeem.

No guilt competes with innocence crucified.
No grave can hold what Your grace has justified.
With breath it brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame and nail it to a tree
You alone hold the power to redeem.

Rejoice o child of God
Lift your eyes to see.
With every morning light,
Again we are redeemed.

Rejoice o child of God
Lift your eyes to see.
With every morning light,
Again we are redeemed.

With breath it brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame and nail it to a tree
You alone hold the power to redeem.

Oh you alone, hold the power to redeem.
Oh you alone, hold the power to redeem.

February Goals

>> Complete the 1-year Bible reading plan with Hubby
>> Pick a new Bible passage & memorize
>> Decide on 2015 family verse (carryover)
>> Attend an Ownership Class at church
>> Take a gun class with Hubby (I'll only be learning about how to handle firearms, not shooting, since I'm pregnant)
>> Order prints for Dean's office, our bedroom & the nursery
>> Read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, The Happiest Baby on the Block, On Photography & The Meaning of Marriage (Ch. 3-5)
>> Establish our new 2015 budget
>> Finish thank you cards (carryover)
>> Clean out our 2014 hard drive
>> Paint our bedroom end tables & add new hardware
>> Make new throw pillow covers for the living room
>> Finish decorating the upstairs & downstairs guest bathrooms
>> Organize the den

{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

{August Goals}

Thanks to this beautiful Be Still print by Julie Song Ink, I've been reminded of the importance of being whom I'm called to be over doing what I feel like I have to do. It's currently gracing my laptop background as a, "Hey, this is what you should be about" prompting throughout the day.

August Goals

>> Finish reading A God Entranced Vision of All Things (carryover)
>> Relax with Deano & celebrate our anniversary in Canada/Vermont!
>> Share sample album(s)
>> Budget for new lens or flash
>> Plan & gather inspiration for upcoming portrait sessions
>> No sugary foods! Sugar Fast, Round 2, here we go
>> Continue apartment searching & line up visits

What is your tending list for the month?

{July Goals}

"If it matters to you, cultivate it." Lara Casey

July Goals

>> Read A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards by John Piper
>> Drive stick shift on the main roads, y'all!
>> Finalize will & healthcare forms (carry-over)
>> Sign up for a gun class with Hubby (carry-over)
>> Order new LMP business cards (with the schmancy new logo!!)
>> Update client workflow
>> Design & order album(s)
>> Book 2 weddings
>> Faithfulness serve our church, my SG ladies & Pretty & Polished ministry
>> Start apartment searching

What are you cultivating this month?