A New Resolution

New Year's resolutions scare me. I honestly don't know if I have ever followed through on goals that I have set at the beginning of a year. As a lover of lists, it is overwhelming when I am unable to cross things off, and my list of resolutions always ends up feeling like a list that I'm never able to complete.

If I were to make a list of goals for 2013 it would be full of things for me to do: read my Bible daily, be truly present where I am, joyfully go where God is leading me, invest in relationships, be a better daughter/sister/friend/roommate/girlfriend, etc. This, to me, is an intimidating list. How do I tangibly complete these things that I so desire to be a part of my life?

The only way that I will outwardly display these characteristics and complete these goals is if the Lord changes my heart. 

Refine (v):

• To free from impurities or unwanted material.
• To free from moral imperfection.
• To improve or perfect by pruning or polishing.
• To become pure or perfected.

My resolution for the new year is to allow the Lord to refine my heart; purify and cleanse it; give me a heart that allows me to love others well, be present in all circumstances, and joyfully enter into the unknown, all in response to what God has already done for me. I'm excited to begin this journey of scripture reading/memorization and prayer as I trust the Lord to continue changing my heart as he has faithfully been doing.

"...I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, 'They are my people';

and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"

Zechariah 13:9

"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." Psalm 86:11

Psalm 86:11

My prayer for the end of 2012, the start of 2013, & forever:

Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

a little bit of everything

It has been quite some time since I've posted anything, so what better way to make a reappearance than to offer you the best ever study break? Here are some articles/videos/other finds I have accumulated over the last few weeks that have interested me...some are funny, others lean to the more serious side, but all are equally wonderful!


Carolina

Wonderful game. Wonderful night. Wonderful team.

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/1163359.html
From There to Here - Tyler Zeller's Journey
http://www.tarheelblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022912aab.html

For Fun
"10 ways to have a horrible first date if you're a Christian" - you've just gotta laugh.
http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2012/02/10-ways-to-have-a-horrible-first-date-if-youre-a-christian/#more-6850

Boom! Roasted. - If Danny Franks posted it you know it's a good one
http://vimeo.com/37218606

Prayer
72 Daily Prayer Points - 72 Days of Freedom for the 72 Million Slaves
http://72daysforfreedom.com/pdfs/72DailyPrayerPoints.pdf
http://72daysforfreedom.com/

[and now a little IJM plug since we're on the topic of freedom...Sign Your Name and Stand for Freedom! http://www.ijm.org/content/sign-your-name-stand-for-freedom?utm_source=rotator_1&utm_medium=rotator&utm_campaign=SOTU2012]

The Summit Church: 40 Days of Prayer
http://www.summitrdu.com/prayerguide

Random Finds
You Never Marry the Right Person - I just happened upon this one; Tim Keller is always great, though.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/27749-you-never-marry-the-right-person

The Color Run - One of my friends in Texas just did this and loved it! and it's coming to Charlotte in October! Who's with me??
http://thecolorrun.com/locations/

Psychology
I get to write a research paper about this for my Child Development class. Really.
http://www.nickjr.com/dora-the-explorer/

Religious Studies
Remains of early Christian followers of Jesus have allegedly been found in a tomb near the Talpiyot Tombs in Jerusalem, a place that some years ago was said to be the place where Jesus' tomb was/is located. I haven't finished reading through all of these discussions and responses to the discovery (they're quite lengthy, but were all recommended by one of my TAs, so they should be good), but there is a lot of controversy surrounding it and essentially, many respected scholars and archaeologists are skeptical of the find.
A little bit about the find:
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/28/10521007-new-find-revives-jesus-tomb-flap
Doubts about the 'Jesus Discovery':
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/28/10534008-doubts-about-the-jesus-discovery
Response to the discovery by Professor Christopher A. Rollston:
http://asorblog.org/?p=1642
Eric M. Meyers of Duke University, Response:
http://asorblog.org/?p=1612
And finally, Jodi Magness' response:
http://asorblog.org/?p=1654