Monthly Archives: January 2019

New Year’s Intentions

New Year’s Intentions

Well, here we are, three weeks into the new year, the year for 2020 Vision, and I stink. Some of my New Years stuff I am doing quite well. Some of it has been a total loss. I wanted to lose some weight this year, I think I have gained about 4. I wanted to run 3 miles every day. I think I need to run 37 miles tomorrow to get caught up. This whole “Trying to Be a Better Man” thing is not as easy as I thought.

But there is a difference between New Year’s Resolutions, and the commitment to do and be better. New Year’s Resolutions are yes or no, pass/fail. I do them until I don’t and then it’s over. I’m a miserable failure. I’ll wait until next year. Commitments, intentions to change and improve, are an all year affair. I may have stops and starts, I may fall behind a little, but the desire to change is ongoing and I can pick up again as soon as I am through the slump. 2020 Vision is not a resolution, it is an INTENTION. So, here we go again.

The first quarter I am focusing on being faithful in the Word of God. Actually, that one has gone pretty well. Here is my plan for this year:

  • I am reading through the Bible this year. I do that about every year. It just gives me some direction and the impetus to keep it up. This year I am reading 5 chapters a day. I read 2 chapters from the Old Testament, (I started with Genesis, so today I read Genesis 41-42), 1 Psalm and 1 Proverb, (so I finished Psalm 21 and Proverbs 21 this morning), and 1 chapter from the New Testament, (Matthew 21 today.) That should have me finish the whole Bible by late October, so I have a little room for error. (Or for the day I get to Psalm 119 and I spend the whole day JUST on that.)
  • I am reading that in a new and different translation this year. That helps me to stay interested, focused and engaged. I found a copy of The New Century Version of the Bible laying around and decided to use that. It’s modern, fresh, but not too wordy. I also found the Streetlight App which is kind of an edgy, almost rap feeling audio Bible app. Sometimes I play it and follow along with my Bible.
  • Lastly, I am color coding my underlining. I keep a handful of colored highlighters with me while I read. Every verse that makes an explicit promise I am marking in orange. (Go Vols!) Every verse about the Holy Spirit, even in the Old Testament, I mark in blue. It’s surprising how many references to the Spirit of God there are in Genesis. Marking like that helps me keep track of where I am, keeps me focused, and turns this into a reference project that I will use for a lifetime.

So, whatever your 2020 Intentions are, don’t give up. Get back to them. Start over. It’s not too late. Next week I am planning a video blog so we will see. Whatever you do, put the keystone habit of staying in the Word of God back on your plate today. You can do this thing. Make 2019 the year of 2020 Vision.

My Response

My Response

I was in Jr. High School I think, (back when they had Jr. High Schools). I was at a party (back when I went to parties) and my parents came to pick me up about 8pm and we were headed home. We lived in Georgetown, SC. My father was listening to the radio and the… Continue Reading

He Restoreth My Soul

He Restoreth My Soul

WORSHIP Be still and know that I am God. 4X  Key change. Repeat I am the God that health thee. I am the Lord your healer. I sent my Word and I healed your disease. (I am the Lord, your healer.)   Key change. Repeat. Tag   As the deer panteth for the water, So my… Continue Reading

He TOUCHED Me!

He TOUCHED Me!

My father had a great voice, a deep, baritone, with a rich tone and power. Everywhere we went people loved to hear dad sing. He had a quirky thing. He sang from the side of his mouth, not straight on, out the front, like most people. He always moved his mouth to one side of… Continue Reading

January 1, 2019 Follow-up

The keystone habit for spiritual development has to be consistent time in the Word of God. Prayer is vital. The spiritual disciplines like tithing, witnessing, service are all crucial. But everything we do spiritually rises out of a regular, focused, intentional plan for staying in the Word. My friend Robert and I have been to… Continue Reading

2020 Vision

2020 Vision

Let me make a confession. I talk to myself. A lot. When I’m alone in the car, late at night while closing up Branches, working out at the farm, I have great, lengthy, impassioned conversations with…well, ME. And yes, to answer your question, I talk back to me. To be truthful, some of the most… Continue Reading