A Fresh Start.

To say it's been a while would be like saying that amputation is only a flesh wound!

For that, I am truly sorry. Life has been just a little bit fraught. My final year of school, friend's birthdays, mad family life, running on a low spiritual tank, and the hubbub of a hectic Christmas have all coloured the last few months of my existence.

I wish I had time to explain, but seeing as its all in the past, and this is only meant to be a short break from doing my English Coursework, I'm going to look ahead. I have no intentions of making any New Year's Resolutions, as I know I will only disappoint myself, and I don't want to start getting legalistic with my life

Starting from the ground up, this year I'm going to let Him decide.

This doesn't mean that I get to sit back and relax, but rather that I just need to get better at time management. Rather than losing hours that seem to whizz by with work and friends, although those things are important, I want to wake up and know in my mind that every day is an opportunity. If I get my head down and work conscientiously to the best of my ability in the time that I set myself, then I will discover freedom. By being efficient with my work time, I can relax during down time, and really make time for the Lord. I want to hear his voice again.

I've been told that your final year of school is the hardest year of your life, in terms of workload and prioritizing time. I do not find this hard to believe. With the constant pulls of life, I need to make sure that my foundations are secure. I've heard it said that it's OK for the top to wobble as long as the foundations are secure. God is my rock. Let me never forget that.

So here they are. The things that I want to work on this year. They're not rules, and they're not goals. They're simply a way of me being more aware of myself and making the most of my time in this world...

1. Read my bible -  This has become something of a rare luxury during school time, but I want to make this a necessity. How can I travel the road if I haven't been looking at the map? Learning one bible verse a week is also a great way of being armed with the word, so this is something I want to get better at. Maybe I'll try and post a verse on here each week, with a thought... we'll see how that goes!

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

2. Challenge myself academically - Could I hand-on-heart say that I tried my absolute hardest on every piece of work I handed in last term? No, probably not. Accordingly, this year I want to challenge myself to work my absolute hardest on every assignment that I'm given. I want my work to be a good reflection of the gifts that God has blessed me with, and to glorify him through it.

May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. - Hebrews 13:21

3. Create - I believe that creativity is something that God has blessed me with. Not just in an artsy, craftsy way - although I do have a ridiculous amount of love for cute fabrics, buttons, and recycling old stuff - but also in the way I live my life. I'm not great with routine, and I don't want my life to get stuck in a rut. Instead, I want to constantly be working on my friendships and relationships with others, creating and discovering new ways to enjoy myself, have fun and appreciate every blessing God gives me.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms - 1 Peter 4:10

4. Read - As I am looking to study English Literature at university, books should be rather an important aspect of my life. As an unashamed lover of Austen, I'm not keen on branching out into other genres but it's something I've got to do if I want to have the rounded basic knowledge required for university. In this way, I aim to be armed with some form of literature at all times, in order to read as many books as possible this year... Does 52 sound too ambitious? We'll see...

A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. - Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. - Jane Austen

Nobody minds having what is too good for them. - Jane Austen
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. - Jane Austen

5. Persevere - I hope that 2012 is going to bring a lot of good times, but I also have a feeling that things are going to get tough in a few months time. May I never give up, but always remain firm in the face of adversity.

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:9

When troubles come your way consider it an opportunity for great joy - James 1:2

6. Worship - For Christmas, due to the wonderful generosity of my parents, I got a beautiful guitar. It's definitely one of my best presents ever. I have not managed to name it yet, but suggestions would be much appreciated! I'm teaching myself, so progress is slow, but I want to be able to use my guitar to worship God whenever I get a free moment. Not only do I want to worship in song, however, but also in my words and actions. Let my life by one long song of praise.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. - Romans 12:1

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. - Acts 20:24

7. Listen - Finally, as I said earlier, I want to hear God's voice in my life again. With all my recent business, the still small voice has been rather drowned out by the noisiness that I have allowed into my mind. I'm quite a talker, as pretty much anyone who has met me will testify to. This year, however, I want his voice to speak instead of my own. As big decisions come up in the future, I need to hear what God has to say about it all.

"For I know the plans I have for your," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. - Proverbs 16:9
Well there you have it... I don't have a word for them yet. I was thinking 'workpoints', but that doesn't have quite the right ring to it.

Do feel free to hold me accountable to this blog post, as although I may not appreciate the 'Did you really try your best on that essay?' at the time, those are the questions I often forget to ask myself, yet need to be answering.

Thanks for reading,
God Bless,
Eve xx