2016: The Year of Zeal! Motivational Monday!

     I know it's Wednesday, but this is still my Motivational Monday! So, just pretend it isn't Wednesday, just for now. 
   
     I had a different post ready for the new year, but then I changed my mind about it because the pastor at our church spoke about zeal, and it got me thinking.

    How many things do we do in a day with little to no effort, no passion whatsoever, no zeal at all.

    Zeal is defined as great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. I like this definition too: "fervour for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavour; enthusiastic diligence; ardor" 

    I am not one for new years resolutions, mostly because they are unrealistic. I've talked about having hope for a new year, and last year I shared some thoughts on just generally aiming to become a better person, but now I desire to have some zeal!

    What does zeal look like? For one, it looks like the 2 beautiful woman in the photo below.

     Those lovely ladies are my sisters, Andrea & Sharon, and they are zealous about helping refugees. The Brantford Expositor ran a story about the Brantford Cares-Refugee Response Team and their extremely zealous efforts to support a family that is displaced because of the wars in the Middle East (here's another article they ran about it too).

    A portion of the article says, "Contributors to the effort have already bested an online fundraising goal of $32,000. And now the group is aiming higher with a new goal of $52,000 to enable sponsorship of a second Syrian family to Brantford, Richardson said".

    You don't raise that much money without a real passion and drive!

    Deciding to sponsor a family requires a great deal of time, research, and commitment though, but as Sharon said in the article, "The weight of that responsibility doesn't escape me, but the weight of doing nothing is greater". ​

    My wonderful friend Kelly has a heart for the homeless in Belleville and is raising money to open a shelter, Grace Inn, that focuses on "community, mentorship and dignity". There are many road blocks ahead for my friend, but I am confident that her zeal for the homeless will see her dreams become a reality. To support Kelly's effort, check out Hope for the Homeless in Belleville gofundme page.

    What can you be zealous about this year? You can have zeal in giving, sharing & being forgiving. Be a peace keeper, or a peace maker. be zealously joyful and pass it around!

    Zeal doesn't have to be a big thing, its a matter of your will and a drive in your heart.  Galatians 4:18 says that "it is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good"-so set out with purpose to do good, and to do it with fervour!​

​    The thing that really (really!) stuck with me about what our pastor said was that I need to have zeal in my own life to fight for what matters most to me and what God has given me! My family, my body and health, my home, my resources, and for anything else I know God has for me!

   I don't know what this year holds for me yet, I have some ideas, but there is a lot unknown. So, I want to journey though this year with intention, with drive and with zeal.

     Oh, and on my Health & Fitness page I talk about zeal in health & fitness, so check that out!

    Can you think of something you could be zealous about this year? Share with me! Share zealously! :)  

xoxo

​Happy New Year!!!