God's Goals - Check! by Glynis M Belec

One of the hardest things for me, when it comes to setting goals, is being realistic. Second on the tough scale is following through with them. Third is reviewing them.

It's not that I don't want to behave and do it all right and follow exactly my mindset as it was at the beginning of the year. But for some reason, my life isn't like that. I long, and sometimes (admittedly) I used to envy others who seemingly travel a straight and narrow path.

I've discovered, over the last while, God's goals and mine are not the same. Too often the unexpected creeps in and there go my plans. But I have given up bemoaning the fact that my plans don't always match God's and in that I find peace.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9

I took a quick glance at my January covenant, though, because of this month's prompt about reviewing our writing goals. I was curious to see if I have managed to lasso even a few over the past eight months. Let's have a look.

I will write at least 500 words a day - CHECK

The writing 500 words a day has come to pass, so in that one I rejoice! I actually do a lot more than that on any given day if I get to count the writing I do on behalf of other writers for my Angel Hope Publishing company. And then there is the new paid blog gig I got two months ago and the regular monthly column I am writing in a local magazine. So I can safely say I might even be able to add another zero onto that number some days.

I will write in my journal every other night - BUSTED

 I am still sporadic at best. Sometimes I write every night in my journal. Then the wind blows a different way and I forget or go to bed too late, or need to gobble up one more chapter of that great novel before shut eye. I will work on that one. Ugh.

I will read a chapter from the Bible each night starting at Genesis - BUSTED

I'm starting to feel like some kind of a backsliding sinner. Seriously, I started out at Genesis - really. Then I found that devotional book (with scripture) on Hope and that took over. I read the Bible every morning, with my devotions. Does that count? But I really did want to make it through the entire Bible front to back. Jumping back in the saddle. In the beginning. . .

 I will bite my tongue when I want to lash out to prove how right I am - CHECK

Biting my tongue instead of spouting my so called 'my way or the highway' attitude has shown significant improvement. I find the more I choose silence as an option, the better it is. It's also improved my listening ability. Imagine that.

I will tell others more often that I love them and show it - CHECK

This was an easy goal to achieve. Lots of reasons for being thankful and loving lots. Lots of reasons this year to cling tighter and be breathless in expressing love for those near and dear. Lots of reasons to never ever forget how much Christ loved me and sacrificed it all. Least I can do is pay it forward with a few sincere words.

 I will get in touch with my new writer friends and offer some helpful tips, taking time to really listen without monopolizing the conversation - CHECK

Helping out writers has been an easy and fulfilling task this year. I love encouraging and helping scribes discover their God given gifts. One thing with this goal, - sometimes I have trouble finding the off switch to the detriment of my own work, but God is also teaching me a little bit about balance. Even Jesus had to get away sometime to breathe. I find that a tough act to follow - setting boundaries. But I'm trying.

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

Mark 6:30-32

And then there are all those other fabulous personal goals that sounded so achievable January 1st. Exercise. Weight loss. Saving money, Recycled promises.

Sometimes I flop. I try. But life happens and sometimes there are times I don't follow through with some of my goals even though I really, really want to. I've dealt with guilt and shame because of my failures but then, God whispers and tells me I'm being too hard on myself. He reminds me that when I'm on a personal mission and include Him, I've got the right focus and the prize is near.

Not to mention. God Goals far surpass Glynis Goals, anyway. 

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.(CHECK!)

Philippians 3:14

Two MILLION DOLLAR Reviews - by Tracy Krauss

Both of these books are from a series called MILLION DOLLAR WRITING. may I just say that they are probably not for dabblers.

Review of MillionDollar Productivity by Kevin J. Anderson

In a very no nonsense style, Kevin J. Anderson reveals the secrets to being a prolific author. As a New York Times best selling author who has written over 125 books, he might just know a thing or two about the topic. In fact, his methodology isn’t really very mystical. It all boils down to hard work and no excuses – period. He shares his typical writing schedule and explains eleven specific tips to help writers make the most of their time. Most of what he shares is just common sense, although his use of a recording device to record the first draft while hiking sounded intriguing. It is a fairly short book – it took me about an hour to read it through, so I won’t go into more detail here. I did find it very motivational, although his style is far from a fluffy “Rah-rah you can do it,” type of motivation. His tone is more, “Quit being so lazy and just do it!” which is probably more useful and more effective. Some people might feel overwhelmed with his apparent obsession with squeezing writing into every second of his life, but he is unapologetic. If writing is your job, then start acting like it! I recommend this book to any author who feels like they aren’t making progress or to those who are struggling to find the time to write.

AMAZON

Review of MillionDollar Outlines by David Farland

If you’re looking for simple solutions in the form of templates or systems, this isn’t the book for you. I might even go so far as to say this isn’t a book for newbies or hobby writers. When you’re ready to move past milk and want to sink your teeth into some steak, then read this book. There is a lot of psychology about why people read (or want to be entertained – he uses a lot of movie references as well) and he delves into the deeper emotional responses that readers experience during various phases of a novel. It’s not all philosophy – there are lots of very practical and specific examples of ways to make one’s writing better, but most require more than a skim over. This is ‘strong meat’, to put it into biblical perspective, which needs to be chewed on for a while. It is not an easy ‘do this and you will be successful’ type of book. However, I highly recommend it as a valuable resource for serious writers. By the way, Farland isn’t just some fly by night ‘expert’. He’s coached the likes of Stephanie Meyers, Brandon Mull and James Dashner as well as countless big time Hollywood screenwriters.

AMAZON

My Goals Then and Now by Steph Beth Nickel

These were my goals from January 2016. This is how I've done.

Spiritual Goals

Digging into God's Word and spending time in prayer daily are at the top of my list. These goals are still at the top of my list, although I must be more deliberate about making them a priority. Personally, I find reading through one book of the Bible at a time and prayer journalling the best ways to stay on track.

Writing Goals

~ three devotionals per week for HopeStreamRadio (Writing for HSR is an honour, and I hope to be able to do so for years to come.)

~ one book review per month for HSR (This hasn't happened. Next year, I'll likely make it a quarterly goal.)

~ Deb's book proposal (to be completed by mid-February at the latest) (Although it wasn't done by the middle of February, it was eventually submitted to the publisher, who is interested in seeing the manuscript when it's done. This is a follow-up to Deb Willows's memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances. We have tentatively titled it Still Living Beyond My Circumstances.)

~ posts for this blog and my website (This is still on my "to be accomplished" list. I will have to create a schedule or this goal will continue to get pushed back.)

~ guest posts for Christian Editing Services, Kimberley Payne, InScribe, Janet Sketchley, and the InScribe Professional Blog (I have kept up with my guest posting. I find it easier to write for others than for my own sites.)

Editing Goals

~ keep up with my current projects (I must devote more time to a major project I've been working on for some time now.)

Skills Development Goals

~ listen to at least one COMPEL Training podcast each weekday (check)

~ participate in the COMPEL FB group (Check out the Friday Five posts on Mrs. Disciple's blog. And yes, I know I have more than five goals, but I know she'll be gracious and allow me to link to this post. :D) (I've participated in the critique group but haven't participated in Mrs. Disciple's Friday Five.)

Reading Goals

~ read from fiction and nonfiction books Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (I read several days a week, not just on the weekends.)

ROW80 Sponsor Goals

~ visit my ROW80 peeps once or twice per week (This is an accountability group I belong to. I stop by and cheer on some of the others at least once per week.)

Fitness Goals

~ incorporate one new healthy habit per month (This hasn't happened, but I want to incorporate it from now until the end of the year and then into the new year as well.)

I know some people feel discouraged if they don't accomplish everything on their To Do list. My goals, however, are in a constant state of flux. How about yours?

How Do You Review your Writing Goals? By Sandi Somers

Do you review your yearly goals throughout the year? If so, how often? What is your process like? If you don’t review your goals, what would be the challenges and benefits you could derive from doing so? Tell us about your process.

“A View from the Balcony”

This morning I’m basking in the sunlight on the porch of my next-door neighbours’ house, notebook and coffee with me. My neighbours have asked me to house-watch while they’re on vacation, and this morning I’m finishing my goals review and writing this blog.

 View From The Front Porch Next Door

I often review my writing goals every six weeks or so while outside the city. In the wide view of the parkland and mountains beyond, I’m enveloped in God’s creation. My head clears as I gain a new perspective on life and writing.

Last summer I discovered a wonderful set of questions to guide my review process. Rochelle Melander advocated getting away from your usual space—to a balcony, as it were—to rethink your goals. (Check the link.) Her questions were as revealing as they were thorough.

As a result, I’ve developed better action plans. Part of the plan was to break down goals into three-month or even one-month segments.  It worked! I couldn’t believe how much doing so focused me on the immediate and realistic priorities and tasks.

I’ve also begun to interweave a spiritual component with goal setting. This summer as I reset my goals, I prayed for God’s grace, insight and wisdom.

Insight came from our pastor’s sermon on Ruth and Orpah, the two young widows faced with a choice: they could walk into an unknown future in Israel with their mother-in-law Naomi, or they could return to their native Moab (Ruth 1:1-18).

Orpah chose to return to Moab and to her gods—she played it safe and lost so much of God’s potential for her.

But Ruth, drawn to Naomi and Naomi’s God, dared to believe that He could do great things.

Decisions

And without knowing her place in history, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David, and Jesus’ ancestress.

         

 In reviewing my notes from that sermon, I came across these profound quotes:

“It takes faith to walk in a new direction. A bold choice." 

"When you honour God with your decisions, He honours you.”

“Pay attention to His tugs—His promptings.”

“Bold decisions impact our faith. God wants you to risk boldly.”

“Believe God can do great things!”

“Step out from the familiar and attempt something daring.”

 God is challenging me to be a Ruth and step into God’s greater plans. As a result, I've asked Him to:

·        Do something to bring the greatest glory to Himself.

·        Confirm me in the next stage of His greater plans.

·        Bring people into my life at the right time to implement components of those plans.

·        Fill me with His words: to exalt Jesus and to impact people in my generation and in the next.

 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13, NLT).

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” 

William Carey

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” Nelson Mandela