Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The week in between

The week between Christmas and New Years. I'm never quite sure what to do with this week.

Work?
Play?
Vaca?
Piddle around between work and play?

In my corporate life, I had this week off and it was play and vaca time. I'd visit family and friends. But now that I'm self employed and work at home, this is the oddest week of the year.

What to do with the "week in between?"

I have a deadline for March 1 and am a few thousand words away from finishing the first draft. I really need to use this week to finish. And I will. I will!

BUT, my husband is home, on break from church and school. He's asking me if I want to "go to lunch" or "see a movie." Ahhh, yes!! But, um, No!!

This is the week I assess my life. How did I do last year with my goals and disciplines? What do I want to do differently next year? What do I need and want to change?

During the "week in between" I feel like I can do anything and everything. Yes, I can exercise an hour a day with Tony Horton five days a week. Yes, I can eat salad for lunch every day. Yes, I can spend at least an hour a day in prayer and the Word. Yes! I can write the best book EVER in six weeks. Yes, Yes, Yes!

Then January 2nd hits. I'm sluggish and tired, and I don't want to spend an hour with Tony Horton making my body hurt. I don't want salad for lunch, but a sandwich. What? Write the best book ever in a month and a half. Fergettaboutit.

But hanging with Jesus? I must! I will! I can do without all the rest. But not Him. I'm not perfect by any means at carving out time for prayer and the Word. I get distracted, tired, even bored. Not with Him, but with myself.

The best things in life come with discipline, focus and setting goals. Being determined. Yet even so, we need God's grace and vision for our lives to enable us to do the very things He's put on our heart to do.

So, what will I do with this "week in between?" Write. Assess. Pray. Get ready for 2011 knowing God is good. Knowing He loves me.

My biggest goal for 2011? To tap into His divine nature. After having a "joy attack" over Thanksgiving, I'm realized I can do more, be more, than just existing and surviving. I don't have to "not" have a panic or anxiety attack, or worry attack. I can actually engaged God's divine nature and experience JOY and PEACE, and LOVE at a holy level.

Look here: 2 Peter 1

2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

That is an unbelievable statement. We can become partakers of His divine nature! That's my goal for 2011. To gain understanding and insight into this.

What about you? What's your plans for the "week in between" and 2011?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Working on my Constant Contact account and first edits on next book set in Texas during the Civil War, His Steadfast Love. So I guess the answer is WORK :) We always take our tree down on New Year's Day.

collettakay said...

As a mom with 2 yound girls, it is time to get the house back under control, catch up on the laundry piled up from the holidays and try to eat all the cookies in the house so I can "start by diet" on the 1st.

Also lots of naps to recuperate from the unending December activity.

Ahhhh....

Sharon Hayes said...

I agree this is a strange week - I hope you take time for lunches w/Tony & a movie or 2 - you both will be so busy after 1/2, Tony teaching/church work & you leading worship/writing/traveling etc, etc. Take the time. Of course your time w/Jesus is first.

You are an amazing woman of God, a successful writer, a tremendous friend to SO many a good wife & daughter. And best of all a Lover of Jesus.

Rachel Hauck said...

Golden, it's always goodnto get CC updated. And get edits done! Sounds good. When does the book release?

Collettakay, yes, being the mother of 2 keeps you busy! This is a good catch up week.

Thanks Mom! I learned so much of it from you!

Cheryl Smith said...

This is exactly the reminder I need today. I've spent nearly a week with Peter's family in Canada, have a few days with just him and then two more with kids at home before school starts (weird winter schedule this year). I need that time alone with Jesus each day this week in between, but every day in between now and Then. Love and blessings to you! And great Joy!

Southern Belle View said...

Joy to you, Cheryl! May this be a great year for you and Peter and the fam!

Rachel