The word “Inventory” invariably comes to mind every year at the end of December.

Gone is the hustle-and-bustle of the Christmas season, and as we lounge together as a family in our pajamas on Christmas day, the reality that another year end is one week away always invites me to take inventory.

As I was looking for definitions of the word inventory, the intrinsic meaning of the word in latin inventarium jumped from the page:

Late Middle English: from medieval Latin inventorium, alteration of late Latin inventarium, literally ‘a list of what is found.’

My husband worked as an inventory manager for Coca-Cola for many years, where his plant was recognized as #1 in inventory accuracy in the country for several years in a row. I remember our long conversations, where he explained the importance of accuracy in inventory in every process of manufacturing. From the raw goods that enter the factory to counting the losses on the assembly line, to the finished products as they leave the factory and reach the warehouse.

In each process, my husband and his team were committed to knowing exactly how much product they had. The process is mathematical, and therefore good inventory accurately reports only the facts.

It is with this process in mind that I tend to approach the end of each year.

I look at the goals that I had set out to accomplish in January, pick up the clipboard and start going through the list.

Invariably, what starts as a positive task quickly becomes an exercise in self-judgment.

Why?

Because – confession time – I recognize that:

• I don’t offer myself much grace when I fail.
• When I look honestly at my goals for the year, I must admit that not all the bullet points in the list were God-given.

Some may have been great, well-meaning ideas. But they were mine. Not God’s.

Ouch.

As it goes, my tendency is to look at my accomplishments for the year that is ending with cynical eyes – ready to judge my lack of commitment to some of the goals I had set out. The result is a New Year’s Eve often filled with a sense of defeat… and a deep urge to set out goals, once again.

Good motives… wrong process… even worse approach.

[bctt tweet=” My tendency is to look at my accomplishments for the year that is ending with cynical eyes, ready to judge my lack of commitment to some of the goals I had set out. Good motives… wrong process… even worse approach.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

As I looked for a passage to illustrate my point, the Lord led me to Acts 20:1-24.

Paul had been traveling through Macedonia and Greece, accompanied by several leaders of the church. He then sailed to Troas, where he raised Eutychus from the dead. He continued to cities in present-day Greece: Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos and finally arrived in Miletus (Greece), where he sent for the Elders of the Ephesian church. When the elders arrived, Paul reminded them of how he had been fulfilling God’s commands to him as an apostle of Christ: to preach the gospel with boldness, wherever the Lord sent him. And then he says:

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:18-24 (emphasis mine)

As I read this account, a confirmation on something God has been showing me about my work for the Kingdom flashed through my mind.

Paul did not have a New Year’s resolution list.

I cannot imagine him going through a list of how many books he should write, and how many times he would speak that year.

Paul didn’t waste time thinking about how popular his ministry was… or if there would be provision for him when he reached items 4 and 5 in his New Year’s list.

Nope.

Paul’s words as he “inventoried” his journey to the elders, centered in only two objectives:

• Act as the Spirit compelled.
• Complete the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace for as long as the Lord allowed.

[bctt tweet=”My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 #2020Vision” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Paul’s single-mindedness and method to accomplish his goals called me to reevaluate the way I approach my inventory of 2019.

And… It put a smile on my face.

Because the truth is – I have accomplished the two tasks that God had put in my heart to accomplish this year for Soaring with Him:

• The first online Bible Study for the ministry platform is ready and I am working with our web designer to have it launched in the beginning of March – CHECK.
• She Soars Conference happened in April, and it was a wonderful day of teaching and worship that blessed 130 women and glorified the Lord – CHECK.

The other bullet points on my list were add-ons. My ideas, not His. And so, some of them did not get done.

And it’s ok.

Yes, my friend. God’s objectives for us every day are much simpler than we often set them up to be! God’s objective is never to overwhelm us with endless tasks, which are often centered in making US successful in the world’s eyes.

His path is clear and uncomplicated.

His instructions are few… and often one at a time.

And the proofs that we are walking on His path, not ours, are the (often miraculous) open doors, the people He sends to help us, and the provision that we need to accomplish the tasks He assigns.

[bctt tweet=”The proofs that we are walking on His path, not ours, are the (often miraculous) open doors, the people He sends to help us, and the provision that we need to accomplish the tasks He assigns. #2020Vision ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

With this new approach in mind, I want to take this blog post to share with you God’s 2020 plan for Soaring with Him Ministries, and invite you to partner with us by volunteering, praying and giving:

Our one goal:

To bring glory to God by challenging women to build a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our tasks for 2020:

• Launch the online Bible Study for my book Twelve Inches – coming up in March.
• Host the fourth annual She Soars Conference in the Fall.
• Write the second online Bible Study – Pressing On – A Study of the book of Ezra.

That’s it. The goal is clear, the tasks are not many, but they are God-given. And I would love for you to join us in the mission Yahweh has given us.

It’s a 2020 Vision. Clear Vision. Will you join us?

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Will you consider giving to our Non-profit? If you give before midnight December 31st, your gift is still tax-deductible for 2019. Your gifts will help us give free Bible Studies and scholarships for our women’s conference. Click below to be directed to our Donations Page:

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