A fine week it has been. A fine week, indeed!

Forgive, I pray you, the structure of these first few sentences for I have just finished reading Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol. I can, as I type this, feel my mind reforming back to our modern style of speech…if even it can be said to have style. Ah! I am very much going to miss the strength with which Dickens composed and the depth of his messages. Too often I find myself yeilding to the laziness of current times, even in my thoughts. (I may need to add a few more classics of this calibre to my reading goals of this year.)

Now I come to the point of this writing. It is my desire to publish a weekly update of the progress I have made in the resolutions I’ve established. Obviously, my reading ritual is well under way for, God willing, I will have another book completed on Tuesday. Best to save that, though, for the next of these weekly installments.

During these several days past, my focus has largely been set on planning. Here I have laid out a brief overview of how I used my time this week. I have:

• laid out the initial architecture for a daily routine as well as a budget.
• detailed and refined a number of the goals I have set.
• constructed an idea of what story it is I will write (but have yet to outline).
• continued my 90-day Bible reading schedule and have finished Genesis and Exodus already with Leviticus behind me tomorrow! (Also, I kept my schedule even on the weekend, which I have failed to do in times past.)
• been faithful in logging my time (although I will have been two full days late in posting it). ;)
• worked on “Tally Ho!” in rationalizing the program and designing a first representation of its interface as well as worked on the solidifying of its illustrations in my mind.
• made a $276 payment toward my credit card debts.
• purchased a new (old) desk from the Salvation Army for the office which has translated into less strain on my eyes; a much-needed improvement which cost but $25.
• finished 1 book of 40, as I mentioned earlier.
• begun to look after myself by eating better foods, by eating more regularly, and by drinking almost one gallon of water daily.
• watched one movie (The Prince of Egypt) (plus one today, but that will be counted toward Week 2). This is a huge improvement over previous time spent on entertainment, let me assure you.

More could I add to this list if I paid less heed to my old friends: Apathy, and Laziness. These two, it seems, join forces when I get tired. This week, however, (Week 2) they will find that I have discovered a defence against their complacent ways. This week, I will (and have already started to) create posters for each individual goal and hang them about the home. When one of these so-called “friends” pay a visit, I shall have a number of reminders at the ready to ward them off!

God has showed me much mercy, this week, as I’ve been tempted to squander the time He’s giving me. There are certainly hours this past week that have gone unclaimed. Pray with me, please, that I would be ever-vigilant toward these times and that I would place all of my hope in Him who is working a continual and great work in my life! None of this would be possible but were it not for His provision and grace. Blessed be the name of the Lord! The changes that I see taking shape in my life are, to me, nothing short of miraculous. I am truly overwhelmed right now by the sovereignty of the God I serve and the love He chooses to show me.