Happy New Year

2020 Book List

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Well, it’s the end of 2020 and this year was definitely not as planned for anyone. But one thing I did get to enjoy more of this year was reading! I had the opportunity amidst lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates, to take a few extra seminary classes, as well as catch up on some leisure reading! Here are the books I read this year:

  • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (Comer)
  • Christian Women of the Patristic World (Cohick & Hughes)
  • Who God Says You Are (Snodgrass)
  • Hinds Feet on High Places (Hurnard)
  • Adorning the Dark (Andrew Peterson)
  • Baptist Foundations (Dever & Leeman)
  • The Paris Architect (Belfoure)
  • Don’t Fire Your Church Members (Leeman)
  • Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing (Dr. Pennington)
  • Apologetics of the Cross (Chatraw & Allen)
  • Emotionally Healthy Leader (Scazzero)
  • Soul Keeping (Ortberg)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia – The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; The Horse & His Boy; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)
  • The Hidden Life of Trees (Wohlleben)
  • Gentle and Lowly (Ortlund)
  • Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches (Hammett)
  • Understanding Church Discipline (Leeman)
  • Removing the Stain of Racism (Jones & Williams)
  • Greek for Life (Merkle & Plummer)
  • Learning to Read New Testament Greek (Dr. Black)
  • Deep Survival (Gonzales)
  • Deep Discipleship (Dr. JT English)
  • The Art of Group Talk: Teenage Girls (Bohinc & Chiang)
  • Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Collins)
  • Lead Small (Joiner & Shefchunas)
  • Deeper Greek (Kostenberger, Merkle, and Plummer)
  • Managing Leadership Anxiety (Cuss)
  • Kisses from Katie (Davis)

As you can see, it is a wide variety of books! Everything from books for the Residency Program at The Village Church, to seminary class books, to fun and random books! Comment and let me know what books you read this year and suggest for my 2021 list! Happy New Year!

Purpose.

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We all want to have a purpose in life, we want our life to matter in this world. Purpose is something I believe we are all searching for in life.

Some people find purpose in their jobs by reaching the highest positions and simply being really good at what they do. Some people find purpose in their families, seeking to raise children with good manors and kind hearts. Some people find purpose in their hobbies, by starting non-profits, giving their time up for charities, or traveling around the world. None of these things are bad. In fact, these are all really good things that most people should aspire to! We should all desire to be good at what we do, raise up families that are known for kindness and compassion, and use our talents and loves to make the world a better place.

But there is just something more when we think of the word purpose.

Purpose. It’s the reason we are created, the reason for existence. And there just has to be more in our purpose than being a good employee, having a good family, and doing the things we love. Purpose is something deeper because we want to matter in this world. We want to know why we were created and then live into that purpose!

For the year 2020, PURPOSE is my word. I want to know what my purpose is and live into it. I want to help others see their true purpose in life too. And I believe that the Bible answers the question: What is my purpose in life?

From the very beginning pages of the Bible, we see that our purpose was to be with God. Yet, sin entered the world causing a vast separation that could never be bridged… until Jesus! And now, because of Jesus, we can be with God again! So our purpose is to be with God!

Not only are we to simply be with God, but we are to be a reflection, an imitation, an image of God to a broken and lost world. The more you are around certain people the more you become like them. This is true about being with God too! The more you are with God, the more you will be like Him!

Purpose. It’s a big word, but it holds a lot of important meaning. And I believe that our purpose is to be with God and glorify Him forever! 1 Peter 2:9 is the verse that comes to mind and the verse I want to live into this year.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

And I pray this year you will find your purpose in God as well. I pray that you will know that God loves you, cares for you, and desires for you to be with Him!

New Year’s Resolutions.

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What’s your New Year’s Resolution this year!? Some people love New Year’s Resolutions and some do not. But almost all people do not follow through with them even if they make them.

A resolution is firm decision to do something or to not do something, to start something or stop something. Common resolutions are typically things like… eat healthier, go to the gym more, or get out of debt. These are all great things, but they seem to fail us. One reason I think these fail is because they are not measurable, so there is no way to be held accountable for reaching these resolutions.

But I think resolutions are important. They help establish rhythms of life and keep your focus on the right things. Resolutions show that you are passionate about something specific and will fight for that thing to be made right. Resolutions could also be considered as “habits.”

So, why do we only make resolutions or good, healthy habits, with the start of a new year? Why can’t we make a new resolution whenever we feel ourselves slipping into a direction we do not want to go or falling out of a good rhythm of life?

Resolutions do not need to be made only with the start of a new year, or a new decade. They can be made all throughout the year! But with the start of a new year, I want to encourage you to think about who you want to become this year and just take one step. Then next month, re-evaluate that step, change it, add to it, do what you need to so that you are still taking steps to who you want to become. Begin new habits and quit poor ones that do not add anything good to your life.

As you decide on this year’s resolution, or maybe just this month’s new habit, consider spending time with God. Ask Him who He wants you to become, and then go in that direction with Him. He loves you, friend. And I bet He has a much better and bigger idea for your life than you can imagine!

Happy New Year! And best of luck on those resolutions! Here are a few of mine for 2020:

  • Read through the Bible in a year.
  • Get off of Instagram for a year.
  • Simplify by donating one thing each day.