Hi Friends,

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great holiday with family and friends. Ours included several Christmas get-togethers over 3-4 days, a New Year’s Eve party, and two trips to Longwood Gardens (see picture above). I just got done posting my favorite pics to Facebook. It was also our first Christmas in our new house and I had a week off to think and pray through my goals and resolutions for the new year.

Usually I have 3-5 goals—never resolutions—and I carry them out with the idea that “we don’t serve the plan; the plan serves us.” Although I sympathize with those who’ve come to hate or make fun of resolutions, I have always been pro-goals. They give focus and, as someone has well said, “Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time.”

This year, in thinking about turning 53 and what God has put in my heart, I’ve decided to strengthen these goals to commitments, entering closer into the territory of resolutions. In considering these, I’ve been sobered by the John Owen quote I closed last week’s post with:

“To suppose that whatever God requires of us we have the power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect.”

This is in synch with what Jesus told his disciples: “Without me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5), and the truth is, I need your help too.

I have two books I want to finish by this time next year:

• How I Became a Christian Despite the Church
• The Dangers of Growing Up in a Christian Home (and how to avoid them!)

The first of these, I did a four-part blog series on last year and many of you really enjoyed it. The second is related to a seminar I’ve done associated with my doctoral ministry project. As Pam and I begin our empty-nest season, I hope to refine and share this seminar and other related topics in various denominational, inter-denominational, and non-denominational church settings. You can learn more about that here. I also plan to share a lot of the content with you from both books as they’re being developed in the weekly blog.

Because this is a spiritual endeavor and writing and speaking well require a lot of daily discipline, I don’t think I can succeed without your committed prayers and feedback. If you’ve been blessed by reading this blog, would you consider praying with me in a committed way over the next year for success and God’s anointing? If so, would you also kindly drop me a note at gregausten@comcast.net and let me know?

Here are four ways you can be a great help this year:

1. Again, please pray: that my heart would be fully his, that I would be faithful to all he has called me to, that I would stay disciplined, and that God would bless the work of my hands (Psa. 90:17).
2. As mentioned, this year I’ll be sharing via the weekly blog a lot of content from the two books above. Would you, as you’re led or able, send any feedback you feel would be valuable? I’m confident that many of you have excellent insights or stories related to the topics above. Any suggestions, questions, corrections, or encouragement would be greatly appreciated and will enhance the finished product.
3. As appropriate, share the blog with others and encourage them to subscribe. Currently there are 110 subscribers and I would love to see that number doubled or tripled this year.
4. If any of the seminars (see here) would benefit individuals or families in your church, please consider asking your church to host one. If you would like an info sheet or flyer to review or share, just email me at gregausten@comcast.net and I’ll send you one.

Finally, I’m praying that you too will give God all you are and make the most of 2019. Not because we need to earn God’s love. That’s silly. We could never do that. I’m praying we’ll do this because God is great and God is good.

Regarding his goodness, may you be energized by his loving heart to give him your best this year and, again, I covet your prayers that I’ll do the same.

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