REID : My plans thus far are to be more focused on time management. I feel that is a huge part of me that needs to get better. I am hoping to start working on a day to day schedule that I may get more proficient at the things I do.

KELLY : This fall I want to focus in on my
education and truly dig deeper into gaining knowledge instead of worrying so much about making good grades. Hopefully the knowledge will lead me to good grades though. The other thing that has been placed on my heart is to continue to grow in my prayer life. I want to know what it means to be with God constantly, to always be at His feet seeking His guidance and wisdom.
 
ANNA : I plan to read more--I always say that, but never have the time. I love reading and I want to make more time for that. I want to be a better friend--I am terrible about keeping in touch with people and making the initiative in my friendships; then I get offended when they don't take initiative. I want to maintain a close walk with the Lord--He has brought me so close to Him this summer and has laid on my heart several things that He wants me to do; I want to follow through with those and seek Him passionately.
 
JOSH : I want to be diligent in the ministry God has
placed me in at Anderson. I don't want to start off strong and excited, then let it wane and gradually die as the year goes through. I want to persevere and be obedient to the calling God's put on my life to serve as an RA this year and in leading worship around campus and Anderson, especially when the semester gets hard and things get busy- because that will most definitely happen.
 
TJ : I want to be fully obedient to God. For a while now, I've been giving God my "good enough," and not everything which I should. I was reading in "The Cost of Discipleship" where Bonhoeffer said, "Only those who believe obey; only those who obey believe." For a while, I've been having some struggles in my personal faith in God, and I think little disobediences here and there have been causing a rift between us. I want to be giving all of myself to God, not just a little here and a little there.


On lesser notes, I'd like to storm the field in Chattanooga when Furman wins the National Championship, raise my GPA by a few tenths, and live the dream like always.

 
LAUREN : I want to take more time to smell flowers, sit
and watch the sunset at the Furman pond, and watch the sunrise at pretty place. I want to be more focuesed on the needs of people around me. Scripture memory is something a friend and I are going to give more time and effort to. With that, I plan to memorize some verses about trust and God's faithfulness to help me not worry and trust that God is powerful enough to protect us and comfort us, because this year holds some situations that can be very worrisome.
 

TIFFANY : I want to go into this new year open. I want to be open to however God wants to use me.  I want to have the attitude that God can use me in every little task, every small acquaintance, and every tiny step I take.  I resolve to stop and listen to God often, not just do all the talking.  I also can't wait to, and commit to, build some deeper relationships with friends this year.

KAT : 1.  Spend more time in Scripture, making sure that I'm seeking God's guidance and really understanding the scriptural basis of my beliefs.

2.  Be more intentional in my relationships with people.  Attempt to love those people who just annoy the heck out of me.

3.  Find opportunities to serve, and make those opportunities a priority in my schedule.

SCOTT : The toughest verses for me to teach this summer in the sermon on the mount were Matthew 5:46-47 where Jesus takes us to task on loving those that are hard to love. I often just love those that have shown me love first, but i know that is not the way Christ desires us to live. As He says, "Do not even the pagans do that?" I'm asking Him to give me that supernatural love for those that are hard to love in my world.


Along with that, I want to learn more about forgiving those that have hurt me. I'm asking God to reveal specific situations where I've been hurt and am holding a grudge. I want to go to those people, deal with those situations, choosing to forgive them, so I can worship God from a pure heart.


I resolve also to "unclutter" my life...my desk at work, my room at home, my car...they all really need a ton of work. Honestly, it's getting out of hand!

 

KATHY : I'm hoping to read more. This is something I would like to spend more time doing. I want to make sure that my focus is on the Lord, so that I not only grow closer to him, but I'm able to recognize areas and opportunities of where to serve.

BILL : Reset. Interesting theme for this time of our lives. Shari begins college this fall, prompting many to point out that we will soon have an "empty nest." That's really a misnomer. The nest will not be empty. Kathy and I plan to continue living in it. But it will be the first time in 24 years that our year 'round full-time residency will be back to the two of us.


So how will that effect us? Travel more? Read more? Pray more? Play more? As for resolutions - I resolve to do more of some things and less of others. No question about it. But still a lot of questions.

 
SHARI : I guess my main resolution would be to just
fall deeper and deeper in love with Christ. I know that seems simple, and that's pretty much everyone's, but that's the best way I know to put it. Along with that, I want to keep making a continuous effort to be a better person. Instead of trying to figure out what's wrong with everyone else and how my friendships and relationships could be better, I want to work more towards being who God wants me to be. I can't fix things that I'm not even worthy of having. So yea, sorry that got long, but I like to somewhat explain things.
 

MITCH : I guess for me I just want to be able to fully trust in God’s plans for my life. I mean I know he’s gonna take care of me but now I’m back at home. I got to get crackin’ on something so I guess I would resolve to trust fully in God’s plan for me. Tim out.

ALAN : My plans are to rely on God and trust that He will give me a renewed strength throughout this school year. and like Josh I want to be diligent in the ministry that I've been placed in.

EA : I want to be more consistent in connecting with God daily. I also want to be more devoted to prayer. I want to pray for my family and friends, but also for my future and the students that I will teach and how I can reach them academically and otherwise.