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Goals and dreams for the new year 2024

2024Image source: BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash

2024
Image source: BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” ~ Melody Beattie

We’re nearing the end of 2023 and the new year 2024 is around the corner, as of this post’s writing. I hope you had a great Christmas with your family and your friends, and have a wonderful, new year overflowing with God’s blessings.

I usually do several things at the end of each year and before the start of the new one:

  • Reflect over the past year and pray about the coming new year. I set aside a quiet time alone to seek God to ask His forgiveness for any sins I may have committed in the past year, and to ask for His direction, wisdom, guidance, and protection for me and my family. I no longer do new year’s resolutions (breaking them too fast). For the last several years, I’ve asked for a “one word” and a Scripture as an anchor for the coming year. The one word has worked much better, and it serves as a theme for the year. I really liked this video on resetting your life and just “dreaming” about the coming year and writing down what comes to mind (although I still think goals are a great and wise idea!). My motto is “Dream big because we serve a big God!” God makes dreams come true, as my life is living proof!
Palm trees & beachImage source: Maarten van den Heuvel

Palm trees & beach
Image source: Maarten van den Heuvel

  • Declutter, organize, and clean. Marie Kondo said, “Tidying is the act of confronting yourself.” So true! Have you ever just really LOOKED at your house, rooms, closets, drawers, yard, garage, and car and thought, “What IS all this crap? Why on earth do I have it?” (Or you wonder why your spouse or kids do!) Decluttering and organizing is an endless task, but such a necessary one. I try to do this several times a year, but especially at the end of the year, to have a fresh new start. It’s SO freeing to give away, throw away, or sell things. You just feel a weight lifted off you, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  “When home feels out of control, no matter what the reason, unsettledness and anxiety can seep in, and then the chaos becomes internal as well as external.” (Myquillyn Smith)
ClutterImage source: Ashim D’Silva

Clutter
Image source: Ashim D’Silva

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Blog, Featured, Speaking, Website news, Writing

New year, new theme

Every once in awhile, I get bored with my life. That may include my WordPress website theme! For 2020, I decided to change it again. What do you think? Please leave your comments below. I want to hear your thoughts!

field of sunflowers

My old theme had a sunflower header. I love sunflowers because they move their blooms to always face the light of the sun, seeming to follow it as it moves across the sky. I feel this is symbolic of us as believers in Jesus Christ, keeping our faces toward the light of the Son. 

beautiful woman on cell phone

beautiful woman on cell phone

I chose the image above of the beautiful woman on her cell phone for this website’s background because I always have my iPhone with me for my business and my personal life.

Our phones are our way of “connecting” with one another. Here at BethJones.net, my desire is to connect more with you, encouraging you to use your spiritual gifts for God’s glory, fulfilling His great purpose for your life, and living a life you love. This is my mission and purpose. I do this through speaking at women’s conferences and retreats and writing books. As a Christian speaker and writer, it’s time to share your powerful message with others!

Beth Jones speaking

Beth Jones speaking, Olathe, KS

The “welcome” page is different now at BethJones.net. For now I’m using my featured and latest posts for the front page. “Featured” means the blog posts I want to highlight for you. “Latest posts” are just that–my most recent blog posts. Any time I write a new blog post, you’ll see it on the front page and won’t have to look for it. If you do want to search for anything on my site, there is a search function at the bottom of this page in the footer. 

woman writing on laptop with coffee

Woman writing on laptop

If you look at the top of this page, there is a little “navigation button,” where you can click on the link of the page which you’d like to view:

  • International Speaker (this used to be my welcome page and shares all about my speaking and writing books, including my media page, speaking topics, and speaking testimonials)
  • Blog (my most recent blog posts–just another way for you to find my blog posts easier);
  • Privacy;
  • Website Disclaimer;
  • Affiliate Disclosure.

At the end of each of my blog posts is my invitation to speakers and writers to sign up for my updates that you get bi-monthly in your email inbox. You’ll receive my free PDF and an inspiring video for signing up–my complimentary gift to you!

woman clicking Facebook like button

Woman clicking Facebook like button

At the bottom of the page for this website are links to other places where you’ll find me online. You’ll also see buttons where you can connect with me further on social media.

If you have any questions or comments for me, there is a contact page on the navigation button for you.

That’s it for now. 

Have a blessed and beautiful day!

Beth Jones
International Speaker & Amazon Best Seller Author

 

Blog, Faith, prayer

One Word for 2018

Several years ago I stopped making New Year’s resolutions because within the first month (sometimes the first week!), I had broken them. You know, things like, “lose 30 pounds, have daily devotional time with God first thing every morning, travel internationally, have a hot marriage, be the world’s best mom.” Then I felt like a failure when they didn’t happen–even remotely. Do you relate?

According to speaker/author Donna Partow, here’s some facts about New Year’s Resolutions:

25% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after 1 week.

60% of people abandon them within six months.

Most people make the same New Year’s Resolution 10 times without success.success-failure sign

I decided that instead of resolutions (or even “goals”), I’d pray to God for a Scripture and a “one word” and/or theme for the coming new year. This has worked out well for me. And I no longer feel like #wifefail or #momfail or whatever fail.

Last year’s “one word” was intentional. 

Each year, I’ve discovered how accurate the “one word” was for that year with both its blessings and challenges to overcome. Throughout 2017, I had to make very intentional choices. 

woman by mountain

woman on mountain peak

For 2018, my “one word” is JOY. Whenever I begin to see or hear a word or a Scripture two, three, or more times, I know that God is speaking to my heart and wants to teach me something. 

I’ve begun to see this word JOY a lot and recently found a Christmas decoration with two red cardinals (cardinals are very special to me), with the word JOY on it. I felt that was the final confirmation that I needed to use this as my one word for the coming year.

I look forward to this, as 2017 was hell, one of the worst years in my life (and I’ve had some bad ones before!). 

joy

My two Scriptures for 2018 are Nehemiah 8:10, NLT, and Psalm 126:5, ESV:

“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10, NLT)

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5, ESV)

This verse in Psalm 126:5 is especially profound, because I cried a lot during 2017. (More than usual!)

On the Blue Letter Bible website, that word “joy” from Nehemiah 8:10 in the original language is chedvah. It simply means joy or gladness. 

You can have God’s joy even in the midst of painful circumstances, because our hope as believers is always in our faith in Jesus Christ and His second coming, not in what is happening around us. We fix our eyes on Him, not the storm.

The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines joy as:

1: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight.

2: a state of happiness or felicity: bliss.

3: a source or cause of delight. 

Here’s a virtual toast to you and me for a much better, joy-filled-to-overflowing year in 2018!

Toasting Glasses Image resource: https://www.graceplacewellness.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/champagne-toasting-flutes.jpg

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions or have a “one word,” theme, and/or Scripture for the new year? Please share what you do and what yours is in the comments below.Â