Happy New Year Ladies! Is anyone else pumped for the new year? On Sunday I was ready to be back at work, after so many days off and away from my daily routines, I was desperately craving to be back at work. Not to mention, Mike and I ate like wild animals during the holidays, we were ready to get back on track and back at to the gym.

This year my goals are simple but will probably be the hardest to accomplish. This year my goal is to focus solely on my relationship with the Lord, I want to be reminded of his grace continually in my life, I want to love like Jesus loved and I desire to think of myself lowly placing others before myself. The scripture verses I have memorized to help me accomplish this are Philippians 2:1-5 Over the years, I have realized that when Christ is first everything else falls into place, it is easier to be more successful at work, eat better, practice self-control and self-discipline because my heart is focused on pleasing the Lord in everything I do.

Our pastor shared this with us and I constantly read it over and over again, as we start the new year, I thought I would share it with you Ladies to be encouraged and refocused on what truly matters.

"Over the years, I have known many people who said they were Christians and it showed in their lives. Others I have known said they were Christians but I could not tell by looking at their lives if they really were born again. Only God knows with absolute certainty who will get to heaven and who will not. But we are informed by Scripture that we can know whether we have eternal life. ( 1 John 5:13 ). When God saves, there is a change in heart, mind, and life. There is implanted a new nature that compels the believer to love God and His will as revealed in the Word of God. God's will for His children is to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.( Romans 12:2 ). Every Christian must fight against fleshly habits and thoughts that we bring into our new life in Christ or ones that we allow to creep in as Christians. Our love for the salvation we have been given by God's grace ought to move us to be holy and deny ourselves and separate ourselves from all that is displeasing to God. Those who have Christian doctrine and vocabulary and do many "Christian" things like attend church and pray, but who have become conformed to the world and not really separated themselves, are in that realm of uncertainty. They are question marks. Pray for one another that we will not be those who have a "form" of godliness but really love the world more than God. May God help us to not want to enter heaven by the "skin" of our teeth but to meet Him on that day with confidence that we have lived for Him on earth and dedicated our lives to His glory." - Pastor Bob Dennis

I sincerely want to thank each of you for reading each post, for every comment, and every email. I am so encouraged by all of you! With so much love and thankful heart, Nioby.

#GOALS