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ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker

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Still, I would like to eventually read Lee Strobel's books. One of the books I have quotes him extensively, and my pastor has used his work. We had Ken Hamm come speak at our church recently, too (though I had to miss that Sunday, as much as I hated to).

G n M, I have all of Lee's books. They are easy reading and provide the basic reasonings for why we believe, why faith is reasonable, why creation makes sense, and what Jesus is credible. I'd recommend them if you're studying layman's apologetics.

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ORIGINAL: rgod

Periodically, I take the time to assess my life and to pray over and set goals. I was doing this today, since it was my birthday. I also started to think about how my goal setting and life assessment has been impacted because I am single. In sitting and praying about this, I decided not to spend time thinking about what I ideally wanted to be like, but instead I listed the things that I felt that the Lord put on my heart to do. It was quite a list because I haven't done a lot of it yet. So now, those are my goals.

But, interestingly enough, I've been corresponding with a man who wants to know what my 5 year goals are. I shared them with him, but realized that certain goals would be impacted should I get married within that time. I also realized that my goals made me sound very focus and independent. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but I was kind of concerned that when he read them, that he would think that there was no room for a man in my life. He didn't interpret it that way, but it made me think about how I've set goals in the past, or have avoided setting goals because I thought that I'd be married at a certain point in time.

So, I thought I'd open this up for discussion here.

Do you set goals? In what areas of your life do you do this?
If so, how has being single impacted your goal setting?
If you've been married before, are you finding that your goal-setting process is different now?
Have you avoided certain setting or making progress on certain goals (like owning a home for example) because of your single status?
What is your process for setting goals? Is it formal or informal? How often do you revisit them? Do you find that it helps you to make progress?
Do you have an overall vision for your life? If so, do you think that will change if/when you get married? Did it/will it change should you have children?

And ... here is one more question for thought - you don't have to answer it if you don't want to - but if you share it here, maybe we can cheer you on as you make progress on it. Is there a goal that you know in your heart you should be moving towards but that you are procrastinating about or are you in some way stuck? What are three steps you can take over the next month to move you closer to the goal?

Also, feel free to share some of your short-term and/or long term goals if you'd like!

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ORIGINAL: John_O

today I hit one perfectly into the net.....GOAL!!!

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ORIGINAL: rgod

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ORIGINAL: John_O

today I hit one perfectly into the net.....GOAL!!!

Hee Hee! Only you John_O - what would we do without you?

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ORIGINAL: ShallbeRebuilt

I used to try to set goals. Then I found out that either I'm really, really undisciplined, or God has a set of goals for me that are completely outside my ability to figure out.

I found that I only hated myself and became unproductive if I couldn't meet my goals.

So I don't set them anymore...not formally. Sometimes I'll decide there's a thing I would like to do (for instance, I'd like to get my name on the wall for Outstanding Jury some semester). But other than doing what I'm already doing (practice hard and do my best), there's no way to assure that goal.

I have decided that God wants me to finish school and get my degree. That's not my goal, but it's his goal...so He'll see to it that it gets done. I just have to put one foot in front of the other.

I want all my kids to grow up to be godly and comfortable. Thing is, I have no control over that. Again...I do my best, and God has to take care of the rest, and His ideas are quite often so completely different from mine that I risk stumbling in my faith if I set my own goals and have them thwarted by His plans (which are admittedly better, but sometimes quite a bit more painful).

I deeply desire to be married again, but God has said no to that for 10 years...It's easier if I just don't expect Him to change His answer. Next question.

I guess, in short, my goal is to follow God as hard as I can. I try to do that daily. I figure if I'm doing that daily, then the longterm will take care of itself. A lot of the time I am not very good at following God as hard as I can. Sometimes I do ok. A lot of times (and especially right now) following God feels like trying to smell the color 9...there's just no way to understand how to do it or what's right. It's a good thing His mercies are new every morning!

Someday I'd like to really be good at keeping my house clean day in and day out. It'll be too late to benefit my children, though, more's the pity.

Someday I'd like to lose weight...again...for the umpteenth time. I'd like to do it in a way that will conquer the problem forever. Right now it's low on the priority list.

Someday I'd like to look back and find that I have, indeed, found joy in the Lord. It's been 48 years, and I still haven't learned how to do that.

Geez. I'm just getting depressed sitting here and typing this!

So...there you have it. For me, I just want to get through each day. That's more than I can handle as it is.

shallbe

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ORIGINAL: John_O

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ORIGINAL: rgod

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ORIGINAL: John_O

today I hit one perfectly into the net.....GOAL!!!

Hee Hee! Only you John_O - what would we do without you?

Mourn, cry, and miss me I hope. (But I don't expect it)

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ORIGINAL: rgod

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ORIGINAL: John_O

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ORIGINAL: rgod

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ORIGINAL: John_O

today I hit one perfectly into the net.....GOAL!!!

Hee Hee! Only you John_O - what would we do without you?

Mourn, cry, and miss me I hope. (But I don't expect it)

But of course!