I’ve set goals and failed so many times, but last year I actually posted goals for the year on my refrigerator.  Believe it or not all of them were crossed off but two, and they are part of this month’s goals.  So I believe if I write them down it will be a constant reminder, keeping me focused, and I will get much more accomplished this year.

One thing  I want to remember though is that no matter what my goals are that they need to reflect God and whatever His intentions are for me each day.  If I don’t meet a goal it’s ok if it was directed at something He has intentionally assigned me today.  I want to keep my focus on Him so that I am not disappointed when a goal is not met.  I’ve fallen in that trap before.  I have plans and life happens, and that is what is important.

Learn more about these goals that would be great for you to implement by visiting Debbie Williams at Blogger Loves the King.

We all know the old saying, “You can’t please everybody”.  That is true in business, in ministry and in life.  No matter what you do, someone is going to be disappointed.

Sometimes that disappointment is justified.  If we don’t live up to a promise, or we make a costly mistake, we have failed to meet expectations and need to do our best to make up for it.

But often, we’ve done everything “right” and with the best of intentions, and still … somebody’s expectations have not been met and they are unhappy.

I find it interesting that Jesus, who lived a perfect, sinless life, managed to disappoint an awful lot of people.  Mary and Martha were disappointed that He didn’t arrive in time to heal Lazarus. The Jewish leaders were disappointed that He didn’t point an accusatory finger at an adulterous woman.  Even His disciples, His closest friends and allies, were disappointed that He had no interest in setting up a military kingdom on here on earth.

So how did Jesus deal with all these disappointed people? Read the rest of the story at Do a New Thing.

The words were flying out of my mouth like projectile missals fast enough to break the sound barrier and they were not “working for peace”.

What – or who – they were working for was me, my sinful self.  They were working to make my point, to have my opinion heard – loudly, to get my way, to force my teenage daughter to stop what she was doing and do what I wanted her to do.

They were not working to resolve the issue…  they were working to cause more strife and discord.

They were not working to prevent hostility…  they were working to further damage an already fragile relationship

My words were not “working for peace”.

Learn how to “work for peace” by visiting Sweet to the Soul.