Conversations: Edition Fourteen

By -
Photobucket

Continuing our weekly conversations...

The deal: Each Thursday, we announce a question of the week. We seek to ask questions that spark interesting conversations, whether it simply be about books, traditions, spiritual disciplines, more theological matters, or anything related to life in general. You can join in our conversations two ways:

1. Leave a comment with your thoughts!

2. Or, if you prefer, post an answer on your own blog and leave us a link to your post so we can comment and add to the conversation. If you post on your own blog, you are welcome to use the picture above as long as you link back to us somewhere in your post.

This week's question...

As the new year approaches, what changes or additions has the Lord placed on your heart to do in 2011?

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 11:26 PM

    I'm currently on holidays from uni until March - far too long, I think! - and the Lord has challenged me to prepare myself for the year ahead. He's challenged me to prepare myself for when I'll meet my future husband; spiritually (spending heaps of time with the Lord), physically (learning how to cook, study and run a household properly), and mentally (learning to be more respectful and obedient).

    It might sound a bit vague, but I'm soooo excited about doing this; I know that God doesn't put stuff like that into our lives until we're ready for it, and I want to be ready as soon as possible!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex PerrierDecember 31, 2010 at 1:41 AM

    Too many.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 31, 2010 at 6:56 AM

    God has given me a defined purpose, and a defiant answer to continuous prayers of the last few months. He has renewed His love in my heart, and humbled me... I go into the new year with His strength ready to change lazy habits and contine studying wholeheartedly for Him in all areas.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LauraDecember 31, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    In the past, my New Years resolutions have almost always been about bettering myself...and I almost always fail at completing them. This year, however, I believe God is convicting me to place less of an emphasis on self. Therefore, most of my resolutions for the new year are about pouring myself out for others. This can include anything from Anneliese's resolution about preparing for her future spouse, to proactively carving out time in my day to arrange to meet with a friend to pray (even when I am "too busy"), to talking to a stranger in the cafeteria line who looks like they could use a friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SunshineDecember 31, 2010 at 8:05 PM

    Very like Laura, the Lord's been asking me to place less emphasis on bettering of self- and focus on bettering my relationship with Him, as that is the only thing that will truly alter me!

    Wishing you all a blessed new year!

    ~Sunshine

    ReplyDelete
  6. MeganJanuary 1, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    Anneliese - wow, that is one long holiday!! But I love your plans and preparation. Regardless of when you get married, I know you'll be blessed by knowing and practicing this! And I might copy you and focus on those things too, especially over the summer (my long break).

    Laura and Sunshine - what a fantastic point. New Year's resolutions DO tend to be rather selfish, don't they? Or at least just about us, since it's the one thing we can (supposedly) change. I love that yours is to focus on others.

    ReplyDelete
  7. KatelynJanuary 1, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    I just got back from a conference with my church that went on this past week. God showed me that I need to learn to be content with where I am at in this next year. Apart of that means seeking out ways to serve the people around me no matter how much I don't want to. I am excited to grow in this area even though it will be (and already has been) hard. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell

By -
Image
For over 11 years, Bloom! has existed to spur you on in your journey towards Biblical womanhood.  What started as a big dream in the hearts of three teen girls, turned into an international print magazine and then later turned into a thriving blog.  Our heart has been to go beyond the fluff and dig deep into God’s Word and into how to practically apply that to our daily lives.  If any good has come out of Bloom! , we know it is because God is the one who waters the seeds we plant ( 1 Cor. 3:7 ).  This journey of magazine and blog has spanned for over a decade and what a thrilling and beautiful one it has been.   God has deepened and widened our worldview.   He has given us a deeper understanding of His ways.   He’s brought me (Joanna) through some really hard times and pushed me to write despite the pain .   He’s shown me that although I am nowhere near perfect, He can still use me anyway. One thing He’s been teaching me recently is that sometimes, some chapters mus
Read more

How a Journey of 8,000 Miles Changed Me, part 2

By -
Image
Make sure to check out part 1  here !                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Want to make friends in a new country?  Be prepared.  This isn't always easy.  Sometimes you meet someone on the train and instantly, you're buddies.  Sometimes you try and try and nothing happens.  Many things factor in - you're a foreigner, you're different, your first language isn't the same as everyone else around you.  Not only all that but your perspective, worldview, and beliefs are almost guaranteed to be different.   Then there's the fact that you've been shaped by your own culture all these years, so yeah, cultural differences are big as well. All this...and I still live abroad.  Better yet, I  choose  this life!  Sure, there's been plenty of disappointments, confusions, misu
Read more

Tales from Taiwan #22

By -
Image
Dear Sisters, Thursday night while I was volunteering at the rescue home, I asked one of my boys, Liam* (name changed) how his summer was.  I expected him to smile and answer with all the fun things he had gotten to do.  Instead Liam sobered and said quietly that his dad had passed away.   The kids who live at this home are rescued from abusive, unhealthy or dangerous situations.  Some are orphans and some have family.  They rarely talk about the family they do have, usually because they've been extremely hurt by them.  But no matter what, I've found that family is still family and more than anything, that's what these kids long for - loving, healthy, safe families.   I told Liam I would be praying for him and his family.  He stopped, looked up at me and asked me if I really would pray for them.  After I reassured him that I really would, he smiled and said he would pray for his family too.  What a moment of beautiful, childlike faith!   Liam's simple "You sai
Read more