Tag: goals

16 Books on My 2016 Reading List

Kathie Phillips

2016 reading list

Happy New Year, friends!  I hope you’ve had a great (albeit short) start to 2016!

A new year brings so many possibilities, doesn’t it?  It’s a time most of us reflect on what we’ve done, what we’d like to do.  Many of us aim to do more of this, less of that…

I have always loved to read.  Whether for pleasure or professional development, reading has been one of my favorite hobbies since I was a teenager.  In 2015, I read more than I have in recent years.  Not because I had more time (I didn’t) but because I made it more of a priority.  Every day.

One of my goals for 2016 is to continue to feed my soul through books.

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” ― Harry S. Truman

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I have chosen 16 books to read in 2016:

For The Love by Jen Hatmaker (I started this book in 2015 – looking forward to finishing)

Move: Nine Conversations to Build Your Kids Ministry by Brannon Marshall

Leading & Loving It: Encouragement for Pastors’ Wives and Women in Leadership by Lori Wilhite and Brandi Wilson

Team Up! The Family Ministry Playbook for Partnering with Parents by Phil Bell

Every Child Welcome: A Ministry Handbook for Including Kids With Special Needs by Katie Wetherbee and Jolene Philo

Do Over by Jon Acuff

The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

Teams That Thrive by Kal Otis and Michelle Marx

7 Family Ministry Essentials by Michelle Anthony and Megan Marshman

Wholly Kids by LifeWay Kids

The Bee Eater by Richard Whitmire

Dear Mary by Sarah Jakes Roberts

Tweetable Leadership by Jim Wideman

Audacious by Beth Moore

The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

Your Beautiful Purpose by Susie Larson

What’s on your “To Read” list for 2016?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

{From the Archives} Dream Big!

Kathie Phillips
Updated 1/8/15: Earlier this week, I talked about goals and waiting for God to reveal His plan for you if your list of goals for 2015 was empty.  [You can read that post here.]
With that being said, I thought I’d share an archived post from a few years ago that talked about dreaming big.  The original post follows.  I wanted to share some quotes about goal-setting that I think tie in nicely to this post.  They are from blogger Michael Hyatt.
“For a goal to matter, it has to stretch us. That means that it has to stand somewhere outside our comfort zone. If you know exactly how to attain the goal, it’s probably not far enough.” 
“For a goal to be meaningful its attainment should lie somewhere outside our comfort zone—in the discomfort zone. You’ll know you’re there when you start feeling emotions we normally consider negative, things like fear and doubt.  Trying to work it all out in advance through detailed planning is just a fancy way of procrastination. ” 
“As we try to set goals that are challenging but still realistic, it’s important to remember what goals are for in the first place. They are about getting things done, yes. But it’s more than that. A goal is not just about what you accomplish.
It’s about what you become.” 
Archived post starts here
Years ago, I was told that I dream too big.  After the initial shock, I began to wonder:  Is there such a thing?  What if I dreamt too small–or not at all?  Would I have had the experiences of being awed by what only God could do?  I am not saying that a person should live in a fantasy world.  But I do believe that dreams help us not stay in a comfortable place, confined by thinking that keeps us in a box.  God has a plan and purpose for us; dreams remind us that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  Go ahead–dream big!
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:20, NLT
So what are you dreaming about?  What’s stopping you from dreaming big?

New Year – And Trusting God!

Kathie Phillips 3 Comments

Happy 2015, friends!  I pray that your new year is off to a great start!

The start of a new year usually ushers in a reflective mood that often leads to us setting goals for various areas of our lives.  I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.  A new year is a great time to reevaluate life and make adjustments to live more in the calling that God has for you.

But what if you aren’t sure what those goals are yet?  This is where I am currently.  I’ve been reading social media updates, articles and blogs about all of the ‘great things’ people have planned for the new year.  It seems that some of these folks have been working on these things for some time now.  I began to feel behind the eight ball – really behind.

When my family gathered to celebrate New Year’s Day, we talked about our responses to the following statements (we were given these in advance to ponder):

Ask God what He wants to reveal to you and through you in 2015.

     Ask yourself where you let a dream fall by the wayside in 2014.

          Ask God to breathe new life into dormant dreams or stir new dreams within you.

               Ask God what He’s dreaming for you this year.

Write down what He is saying to you.

I found myself stumped with statements #1 and #4.  Although I have prayed, I don’t yet know what God wants to reveal to me and through me this year.  And I don’t know what He’s dreaming for me this year.  Of course, there are many things that I’d like to do and dreams that I’d love to see come true, but what God wants and is dreaming – the bigger picture…I’m not sure yet.  And that’s ok.  So, if you find yourself in a similar place of waiting, you’re in good company.

Who says we have to have our yearly plan figured out on the first day?  Or the 6th day?  Or the 56th day?  While I firmly believe that we should have goals and work strategically toward them, I am also content with the fact that God knows the plans He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11).  I know that His ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8).

So…I will wait.  I know that He will reveal His plan to me in His timing – and I can’t wait!!  I know it will be more than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Will you trust God to reveal His perfect plan in His perfect timing?  Will you wait?