Having Special Days

During this time it can feel like all the days are running together. Do you know if it’s Thursday or is it Saturday? Are the days just streaming together into one long week? Most people are finding themselves feeling like this. Either because they are quarantined at home they find themselves with long blocks of time or they are working from home and putting in long hours trying to navigate their job in this new space.

Father and Kids
Loving Father

I recently started a new job right before my state, Michigan, went into shut down/quarantine precautions. I bring this up because I’m currently training on said job from home, which has been interesting. 

Everyday can be special with the right attitude Click To Tweet

This past week was my son’s 6th birthday and there were challenges that me and my wife were trying to make sure that his day was a special day. Are you able to make your days special? Can you break up the monotony and have special days in between? Here is what we did and what you can do to have special days during this time.

 

  1. Change up the Morning

 

What is your morning routine? Even if it wasn’t written down most of us have a routine that we go through when we wake up in the morning. 

To make the day special, change up the routine. For my son we made sure to have a special breakfast for him. As a way to change up what he normally does, but to also let him know that this is a special day. 

 

  1. Socialize How You Can

 

Can you go to or have a birthday party? Probably not during this time, but what you can do is find different ways that you can socialize. There are plenty of apps and websites that will help you to be able to see the faces of your friends and family. It may be a little weird for you, but being able to see a friend’s face and hear their voice can be good for you. 

With my son, we  called all of our family members and he was able to talk to them. Then we tried a virtual party on Zoom where he could see some of his friends. It was really nice.

 

Discussion Question:

What are you doing to break up your days?

Setting Goals with God

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Does God want you to set goals? Can we set goals and fulfill what God has for our lives? Are goal setting and following God opposed to each other? For most people these two aspects of our lives don’t come together. So what are we supposed to do?

Effect of Goals on my Life

This past year has been one of tremendous strides. I’ve accomplished things that I hadn’t even really thought about before. I’ve written more than a 100 articles for this very blog, lost weight and changed my eating habits for the better, and I’ve grown closer in my relationship with God.

I was never really a goal setting type of person before the last two years. I can truly say that I’ve only really taken goal setting seriously only within the last year. Just in this small time I can see the impact that this is having on my life.

Goals and God

How does all of this goal setting relate to my relationship with God? There are many times in our lives when God is giving us directions and things that we’re supposed to do. How are we supposed to accomplish the things that God directs us to do, through goal setting.

If you believe in your heart that God has given you an idea on starting a business or non-profit that will help to serve your community, how are you going to get this done? Most people think that God will give them the idea, the details, and the finished product. That’s just not how it happens. If it has happened for you, then you are the exception and not the rule.

If you look at people in the Bible, none of their journeys were easy where everything was put into their laps. From Abraham having to journey to a far land, to Joseph being sold into slavery and then his journey to the top official in Egypt and there was nothing remotely easy about Jesus’ journey.

Together Not Separate

The problem that we run into and seem to have stuck in our heads is that God doesn’t want to be a part of our goal setting. We try to keep these two areas separate, where we should be joining them together.

Our goals are not just meant for work or business aspirations, but they should be used to accomplish the plans that God set before us. Our relationship, faith, prayers, should all be used in our goals to accomplish God’s plan.

Going into this next year, do what I’m planning on doing. Spending time praying asking God for directions on what are the next steps that I need to take. Using my faith to accomplish those goals to do what God has set before me.

 

Discussion Question:

Have you set your goals for the new year yet?