DictionaryIt's the last day of the year, and I've delayed writing enough. One of my goals for next year is to be more consistent with this… among other things.
I was able to finish the streak I started a couple days before 2012 started. Although I went to South Korea back in March (still need to blog about that trip) I was able to log at least 1 mile every 24-hour period of my life in 2012. Sometimes I did 1 mile just before midnight and 1 mile just after, (I think I did that about 7 times) and many times I did 1.05 just to make sure I got a full mile of running, since the speed up and slow down on the treadmill ticked a couple hundredths off before I got to the desired speed. But when it was all said and done (at about 1212 last night/this morning) at least 365 miles were logged on these feet of mine, and that gives me the motivation and confidence for the goals this next year. Although I plan to keep running, this time it will be 100 pushups per day, every day, no matter what. I doubt I'll do 100 prior to midnight and 100 after, but who knows…
Anyway, here's what I really wanted to write about this afternoon. Setting up a systematic approach to every month of the year. I got this idea back in June after reading “Humility" by Andrew Murray, I “gave up" media for a month. At the end of the book Andrew Murray challenges the reader to stop everything: don't read, don't write, don't watch TV or listen to the radio, just pray that God would take away pride and make you more humble. I was going to blog about the experience, but it was one of those times when I felt like God was saying: “This is just for you, kiddo."
So, after Humility month in June, with the 4th of July in my sights, I decided it was time for “Freedom Month" and from there I designated something to focus on for every month, and something to give up. In July I gave up caffeine and alcohol to practice being free from the effects of substances. In November (Thanksgiving Month) I gave up complaining. The 12 months are still a work in progress, but here's what I've got so far, with a verse of meditation added to help me stay focused:
- January: “Peace Month" (Isaiah 26:3)
- February: “Love Month" (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
- March: “Mercy Month" (Lamentations 3:22)
- April: “Grace Month" (Acts 4:33)
- May: “Serving Month" (Mark 10:45)
- June “Humility Month" (James 4:6-10)
- July: “Freedom Month" (John 8:36 & Galatians 5:1)
- August: “Meditation Month" (Joshua 1:8 & Psalm 1:2)
- September: “Praise & Worship Month" (Psalm 146:1 & Revelation 21:9)
- October: “Holiness Month" (1 Peter 1:16)
- November: “Thanksgiving Month" (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- December: “Generosity Month" (1 Timothy 6:18)
So there they are, I'll do my best to post at least once a month on each of these with what I plan to remove/give-up/sacrifice for the 29-31 day period to help me focus on what I'm putting into practice/taking-up/offering to grow in the knowledge of The Holy.
Happy New Year folks. See you in 2013.
Peace,
Adam