God used 2010 to show me what potential I had…and how much of it I was wasting. Through friends, family, and others, He opened my eyes and showed me what I had allowed myself to become: average.

Early 2010, I moved back home from a near two-year internship with CollegePlus! and finished my BSBA in General Management while continuing to work with CollegePlus! from home. I have since realized that, in the absence of externally-enforced schedules and deadlines, I lowered the expectations that I set on myself and “chose out” of self-discipline.

During the months that followed, I got a new job in, and moved to Springfield, MO. This meant living on my own for the first time. During the move and transition I, again, chose to act unrestrained and aquired nearly $3,000 in credit card debt (my only true experience of debt as I earned my degree debt-free).

The year 2010 was a full and good year. I admit, a lot was accomplished last year. God be praised, even as I was choosing a life toward rebellion, procrastination, and immaturity, He continued to work His good and perfect will in my life.

I pray that this year will be a year of remarkable results in my life: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and whatever other “-ally” you can think of! This year is to be a year without time to waste. This year, I hope to achieve the extraordinary! To do the amazing! To be used of God, somehow, in the lives of others. One day, I hope that others might see the work that God has wrought in my life and that they too will be inspired to Christ-like greatness!

What follows is a list of a number of the goals that I’ve set for myself this year. There are more, but I’ve left them out as they would need further explanation. The reason I’m including these at all is so that you might hold me accountable to completing them. Also, the goals are not listed in any particular order.

• Read through the Bible twice (read it the first time through in 90 days)
• Read, at minimum, 40 books (I’ve already compiled a list of the books I’ll be reading)
• Eat properly/healthy and start cooking again!
• Learn Spanish with my younger brother
• Start taking dance lessons (swing, initially)
• Start taking piano lessons again (It’s been a while.)
• Enroll in Animation Mentor (in the fall)
• “Insanity” workout (at least once through) followed by P90X workout (at least once through)
• Design and build a bookcase for the apartment
• Write, illustrate, and publish a children’s book
• Memorize scripture (especially Romans 6-9)
• Create another Christmas-card-project
• Save $10,000 for a down-payment on potential rental property
• Pay off credit card debt before May
• Family Camp

As I said, there are others but these are the goals that I feel to be the most public in nature.

There are 365 days in this year. Last year, I wasted so many of them. This year, I want every day to count for something incredible. I want to begin to claim every day, starting right now, for the glory of God!

As a way of encouraging you to do the same: A friend of mine used to pray like this: “God, you’ve given us this day: January 5, 2011. It’s the only one that ever has been or ever will be. Let us be good stewards of our time and spend it wisely. Let us glorify you today in all that we say and do.” May we, also, pray that prayer and live that life each and every day this year and forevermore!