• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Workbooks
  • “CULTIVATE” ECOURSES
    • Checkout
    • Cart

Hope Filled Living

Choosing Hope and Cultivating an Inspired Life with Author, Mary Clewley

  • Home
  • Meet Mary
  • Blog
  • Store
    • Workbooks
    • “CULTIVATE” ECOURSES
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Setting Goals for 2014

October 28, 2013 by Mary


Do you have any life goals that you would like to work toward and/or achieve in the next twelve months? Now is a good time to set some goals for the coming year. I know it seems premature, but if you take just a few minutes at a time during the next two months to think about some of the goals that are important to you–and write them down–you will be all set when the new year comes around. Put them in a highly visible location so you are reminded.
Some areas you may want to consider are family, church, work, personal life, education, etc.  When you set a goal, it is good to write a statement reflecting the goal. Your goal statement should be specific, achievable and measurable. A goal is something you work to accomplish. You do activities and ACCOMPLISH goals.

A good idea or example is to write three goals in the following categories. Remember to make your goal statements bite size enough that you can achieve them, yet big enough that you have to work toward accomplishing them!

Family Goals:
1.
2.
3.
(Good concrete examples are: Spend 30 minutes per day quality time with each person. Schedule a 7 day vacation. etc.)

Educational Goals:
1.
2.
3.

Work/Career Goals:
1.
2.
3.

Personal Goals:
1.
2.
3.

List the goals above in order of priority by assigning them to either A (high priority) or B (low priority). Do the same for the category B priorities!

I realize that most of us set goals at the beginning of each new year. Some of us just mull them over in our head while others list them out.  By June or July, you may have put aside some of those goals or decided that they are not achievable and have given up on the idea of accomplishing them. Before the holiday rush sets in, it is a good time to reflect upon our priorities and look at our goals and perhaps break them down into smaller bites so that we can accomplish them in the new year, even if it requires taking baby steps.

Several years ago when I was torn between two job opportunities and had to make a choice, my boss asked me to do this. It really helped. It’s fun to look back and see what I have actually accomplished from the original worksheet.  

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28 (NIV)

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)

Happy Dreaming and Planning!

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Blog

Thoughts For The Coming Week

October 20, 2013 by Mary

 Monday:  I will listen to the words I speak today. Words can help me make sense of, explain, learn and teach. Words can open doors, the imagination, create change. Words bring joy and laughter. Words can heal. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
 Tuesday: Today I will say “no” without feeling guilty or fearful. I understand that sometimes it is in my best interest to do so. I am learning to love myself enough to not be afraid of the consequences of the word “no”. I am not in control of the behavior or reactions of others. I choose do what is healthy for ME. I am creating healthy boundaries.  “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God;” 2 Chronicles 14:11

Wednesday:  I want to experience new things and make new choices. I am no longer willing to live in the past, but looking forward to moving in the direction of my dreams. I cannot change my past, so I will move on. Each day brings new promise and an opportunity to begin again. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Thursday: Today I will re-think the challenge words: all, every, never, always, nobody, everybody, either/or, should, ought, must, can’t.  I will pay attention to the way I use these words and how I allow them to define me. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2Corinthians 5:17

Friday: I will give myself permission to dream. I will make a conscious effort to put worry aside, and I will laugh.I will think about my greatest dreams. I will think elevated thoughts…thoughts of making my dreams a reality. “I can do all things through Christ, who is my strength.” Philippians 4:13

 Saturday:  Today I will take a moment to think about my personal philosophy. I am strong and my experiences, good and bad are valuable. Today I will decide what to toss and what to keep. I will think about the things that mean most to me in my life. I will create a statement about how I choose to live my life, which will guide me in future decisions. “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7

Sunday: Rest renews my mind, body, and spirit. I give myself permission to sleep in just a little later and stay in my pajamas a little longer than usual. I don’t have to “do” today, but rather– just “be”… I will take time to rest today. “God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” Isaiah 28:12

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Blog

A Wilted Spirit and Roses

October 15, 2013 by Mary


It is getting cold here in Michigan, so I brought in some of my potted roses to weather the winter with us inside. While trimming the leaves and dead foliage, I was reminded that many of them came from the garbage bin at the local greenhouse. When I saw them in a shopping cart piled on top of one another, I couldn’t bear to see them thrown in the dumpster, as many still had signs of life. I knew that with some TLC they would grow, flourish and bring color into our lives through the cold winter months. I asked the florist if I could buy them for fifty cents each and brought them home. I spent the next day or so lovingly pruning them, changing their containers, adding new soil and then placed them under the fluorescent lights in my kitchen—where they stayed until they came back to life.

In the weeks proceeding, I noticed the healthier the roses became, the more thorns they produced. I began to reflect upon a season in my life when I was very wounded. I had developed thorns to protect myself through the storms of spiritual abuse that I had weathered; yet, there waited a beautiful flower ready to bloom. I began to ponder the many ways we protect ourselves, spiritually and emotionally. How many of us develop thorns to keep others at a distance? Do we develop thorns to keep predators away?
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)
Searching for these answers was painful, bringing to the surface the reasons I had developed thorns and the brokenness I felt in my heart and soul. Little did I know that when I rescued these orphan plants that if I looked deep enough inside, there was a message in them for me of my own fragility, my own thorns, my own dead foliage and woundedness. And just as I saved these plants, there was a Savior waiting to rescue me, to heal all the ugliness and bring restoration—His beauty shining, blossoming, flourishing and adding color to my life.
Thank you Jesus for saving me. Thank you for using dying plants to show me that despite having been beaten down and damaged, you still had springtime waiting to bloom in my life. Thank you for being my Light while I came back to life. Thank you for using my compassion for living things to show me just how many thorns I was wearing. Thank you for lovingly pruning me and for breaking off every dead work and replacing a wilted spirit with roses.
“God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT)

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Blog

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Connect with Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Subscribe

Don't miss out on any Hope-Filled Living updates! Subscribe here:

Recent Blog Posts

Need Help Finding Joy in the Midst of Brokenness?

For Those Who Are Weary

Mary’s Hope-Filled Living March Newsletter!

Mary’s February Hope-Filled Living Newsletter

More Blog Posts...

Follow me on Pinterest

Happily Featured Here


Click below for details about my workbooks!

Victorious Living Workbook

Finding Your Path to Faith, Hope & Healing

Prayers & Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness

  • Home
  • Meet Mary
  • Blog
  • WORKBOOKS
  • “CULTIVATE” ECOURSES
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • Need Help Finding Joy in the Midst of Brokenness?
  • For Those Who Are Weary
  • Mary’s Hope-Filled Living March Newsletter!
  • Mary’s February Hope-Filled Living Newsletter

Join Us on Facebook

Join Us on Facebook
  • Home
  • Meet Mary
  • Blog
  • WORKBOOKS
  • “CULTIVATE” ECOURSES
  • Contact

Copyright © 2026 Hope Filled Living