Big Birthdays

Gratitude.  It affects how you work, how you handle disappointments, how you approach goal setting, and how you feel about a big birthday!

This is my year for a big birthday.  I have always dreaded my landmark birthdays.  I want to stay young and I want to look young!  I’ve learned now, with wisdom, that “young” is a relative term.  Forty looks young to me now.  At the time, however, I didn't appreciate turning 40.  I did not want to celebrate my birthday and I certainly didn’t want anyone to know my age.

Fifty was even harder.  I kept it a secret as best I could.  How I wished I were 40 again!

Now, I’m watching my friends turn 60, and my turn is coming soon.  Recently, I had an epiphany about my upcoming landmark birthday.  I realized that I can either be miserable for the next few months until the dreaded day arrives, or I can embrace it and use it to my advantage.

I decided (yes, DECIDED) to embrace 60 and not to hide it.  I am choosing to be happy about it.  After all, if being young is my goal, I am younger now than I will ever be again!

I am amazed by the way this decision has affected me.  I am happy and relieved, now that I have a new approach to turning 60.  I am enthusiastic to set goals for my new decade of life!  I see that my landmark birthday is a BIG OPPORTUNITY to reflect and set new goals, and re-establish goals that I have not yet accomplished.

Here’s my advice to readers who are dreading a landmark birthday:

1.  Start the day with the Lord.  Pray and seek a relationship with your Creator.  Come to know Him through His Word, the Bible.  You will find that spiritual fulfillment will help turn around your negative mindset about getting older.

2.  Express gratitude.  Thank God for your life, your health, family, children, job, etc.  Start each day with a prayer of gratitude.  Don’t say sadly, "I’m turning 60....”  Try saying, with sincere gratitude, “Thank you, Lord, I’m turning 60!  Thank you for giving me life!”

3.  Know your eternal destiny.  Growing older means getting closer to the end of our lives.  This reality can bring a lot of anxiety if you do not know God and you’re worried about where your soul will go when you die.  God has provided a clear path to Heaven… read about it in the New Testament book of Romans.  Jesus Christ willingly died and shed His blood to save sinners (all of us).  Repent and acknowledge your need for salvation, accept Jesus as your Savior, and you will have assurance of your eternal destiny.

If you have a heart of gratitude and assurance of your salvation, you can be joyful, whatever your age.  Your gratitude will impact your motivation and goal setting, and keep you from being sad and discouraged.

For those reasons, I am embracing my Big Birthday.  Instead of complaining about turning 60, I am thanking God for the time He gives me, and I am grateful that He is giving me another birthday.  I am approaching the start of the new decade as a great goal-setting opportunity.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll come up with something BIG to mark the occasion!

Devotion

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.  John 6:47 (NLT)

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.  I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.  1 John 5:12-13 (NLT) (emphasis added)

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for my 60^th birthday coming up in a few months.  Thank you for turning around my attitude about getting older and giving me a heart of gratitude for each and every birthday you give me.  Thank you for giving me joy in my heart, which makes me happy about turning 60.  I pray for those who are anxious about getting older and who need to find spiritual fulfillment.  I ask you to work in their hearts and lead them to explore your Word and find the Truth.  Bless them with confidence in their eternal salvation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2018 Linda Lijewski

New Year's Goals

The New Year is usually a time of renewed motivation to set goals.  Now is the time to sit down and think about what you want to accomplish in your lifetime.  Why not take some steps in 2018 toward achieving your goals?  If you need help to set or re-set your goals, see my blogpost “A New Year Goal Strategy” dated 1/1/17 for quick, easy goal setting.

Here is a reference guide to my blogposts (dates are noted) for some goal-setting tips for 2018:

1.  Choose gratitude.  Turn your disappointments into goals.  (11/30/16 and 12/19/16)

2.  Identify what is in your heart to accomplish.  Don’t let another year go by without taking steps toward your goals.  (4/2/16 and 5/30/17)

3.  Write down your goals.  Make a plan and evaluate your resources.  (4/2/16 and 5/29/16)

4.  Be intentional.  Be proactive!  Remember, “hope” is not a plan.  You must take action to make it happen.  (10/31/16)

5.  Schedule 10 minutes a day to work on your goals.  Consistent action in small steps will help prevent procrastination.  (4/10/16 and 8/31/17)

6.  Visualize the result.  (9/30/17)

7.  Check your mindset.  (6/28/16)

8.  Make sure your priorities match your goals.  (8/31/16)

9.  Change or renew your goal, if necessary.  (9/29/16)

10.  Try something completely new, even if it seems impossible!  (1/8/17)

11.  Health should be your Number 1 priority.  Make a plan to take care of yourself.  (5/9/16)

12.  Pat yourself on the back; don’t be too hard on yourself.  (7/30/17)

I hope you had a productive, successful year in 2017.  May you have new blessings and adventures in 2018, recognizing that your own goal-setting efforts will help to bring happiness and contentment in your life.  Happy New Year!  God bless!

Devotion

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  Psalm 20:4 (NIV)

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for good health, family, a home, job, food, blessings, and the dreams in my heart.  I acknowledge that all I have is from you.  Help me to keep my 2018 priorities in line with your will for me.  I know that I will only be successful in my goals with your help.  I ask for your help, your wisdom, your grace, and your strength in the coming year.  I honor you and worship you – my Lord, my Redeemer, the Creator of all things!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2017 Linda Lijewski

24 Hours

If you work eight hours a day and sleep eight hours a day, you probably have some time left over in a 24-hour period to accomplish steps toward your goals.  Some days you have more time available, some days less.  But continuous days of no goal activity can turn into months, which can turn into years.  To avoid losing precious days, months, and years of missing out on your goals, try to focus on the next 24 hours!

Why are the next 24 hours so important?  Why not focus on the next year or so?  Well, the answer is very simple.  The next year is made up of 24-hour periods.  Why not focus on the manageable 24-hour timeframe and plan daily goal activities?  It is so much easier to tackle a daily to-do list than waiting to try to accomplish everything all at once, and then finding you don't have the time.  We all know how quickly and easily a 24-hour period can be swallowed up by routine activities.  If you are a goal setter, you know that those precious days are gone forever.

A goal journal can help you plan your day and keep track of your daily to-do's as well as your goal accomplishments.  The journal is an easy reminder to stay focused on your goals in a 24-hour period.  The journal also serves as a great encouragement when you begin to lose motivation!

I make an effort each day to pray that God will make it a productive day for me and that He will help me to accomplish what I need to accomplish.  I have my daily to-do lists and I try to make sure I do something, at least one thing, each day to work toward my personal goals.  I remind myself that goal ACTIVITY will move me forward… and that occurs in the 24 hours of each day!

There are plenty of Bible verses that remind us that our days our numbered, and that God knows the number of our days.  Pray today that your next 24 hours will turn into a productive day.  Then make your to-do list and TAKE ACTION!!

Devotion

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.  You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”  Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT)

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be productive in the days you give me.  Let me not waste even 24 hours of the precious time you have given me.  I want to accomplish your purpose and your will for me.  I ask you today to give me wisdom, courage, and strength to follow you and accomplish your will for my life.  I ask you to keep me focused and renewed, on a daily basis.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 © 2017 Linda Lijewski