Resolve

So, it’s the 31^st of January….Just how many of those new year’s resolutions have you broken?  Yes, I’m calling you out right here, right now.  There is probably at least one of them that you started that you’ve already given up on.  You did know that you aren’t in the minority, right?  Every year they give us the stats for percentages of people who ‘ve already given them up on certain days. 

I personally am not a resolution person.  Instead of giving myself some unrealistic list of things that I’m going to do this year, I’ve instead given myself one goal a year to try to reach.  Three years ago I wanted to become more physically fit.  Two years ago I wanted to be more spiritually fit.  Last year I wanted to be more family focused.  This year I decided to be more active. 

Now being more active can mean a lot of different things, and I think that is exactly why God has given me this goal.  This is the year that He wants me to put it all together from the past. 

Physically I have gone downhill since I worked hard a few years back at getting back in shape.  This year I’ve felt that it’s time for me not to be lazy when I have free time, but instead it’s time to get active again.  I’ve started doing a few things that are already helping with that.  I hope to ramp it up even more in the future.

Spiritually I’m feeling led to get more involved in His Word.  It’s not good enough to just show up to church and listen to a sermon.  It’s not good enough to just read the Bible, but instead I need to study it.  I also need to do studies with my wife and make sure we’re both on the same page.  Oh, and not to just pray for the basics, but instead pray that God moves in my life and those I feel led to pray for. 

In the area of family focus last year I worked hard on really engaging more and more with my whole family.  My kids are getting older all the time comma and I want to make sure that not only do they know me, but that I know them as well.  I don’t know what the future holds for them, but I want them to use their talents to the best of their abilities.   I want them to focus their lives on God, and to trust in Him to help them in their lives as He has mine.  I also am continuing to make sure that Traci and I are invested in each other and don’t drift off from one another.  We pray together and work on our finances together to stay closer to each other, and hence closer to God.

I guess that my point in telling you all of this is to give each of you a different perspective on resolutions.  They are so easily broken because they are so easily made.  It’s time to focus all of our lives on God and what changes He wants to make in our lives.  I’ve felt for years now that He puts the “resolutions” in my life for each day, week, month, and year.  If we follow Him and what He wants for our lives, then how could we ever fail to meet a resolution again?

Unread

Recently I was going through the stats from this blog that I started back in 2009.  I like to review the posts to make sure that I haven’t written about the same topic too often.  When I was looking through those stats I found something that was rather humbling.  There have been multiple posts that I’ve written that haven’t been read…by anyone.  Does that mean that the topic on which they were written wasn’t worthy of people’s attention?  Does it mean that I should have given up a long time ago?

As I began to reflect on this fact I came upon a realization:  That it’s very possible that those posts will never be read by anyone…ever.  When I came to grips with that fact I made a decision:  that I’m ok with that fact.  You see I write this blog every week for a couple reasons.  I hope to help others that want/need a stronger relationship with Jesus.  I also hope to use these writings to help me to develop my own relationship with Jesus.  Lastly, I write the blog because I enjoy writing and I enjoy this outlet – even when it is burdensome as it’s just another thing I have to get done in a week.

So, I will continue to write this blog for the near future.  I’ll write it if it is read by others or not.  I’ve felt since I began this blog that God had a purpose for me doing this blog, and who am I to question what He has in store for me?  So, in this new year I’ll continue to write on a variety of things that God brings to my attention in my walk with Him.  Whether you read it or not (and I hope you do) isn’t going to be my concern.  Instead I’ll continue to wrestle with what He has put before me, and if you want to come along for the ride you are more than welcome.

Happy New Year!

Time To Relax

That is right, this week I’m going to relax.  In fact, I’m so determined to do so  that I’ve taken the week off from work to spend more time with the family.  Now, that isn’t to say that I’m not going to be doing any work during this week around the house.  But, what I’m trying to say is that I’m not going to be at work, and my focus isn’t going to be doing stuff – but instead it's going to be hanging out with the kids and doing things with them. 

Why am I doing this?  Because frankly,  we all need a break.  We all need time to let ourselves take a break from day-to-day grind and recharge our batteries.  Last year I took the week off between Christmas and New Years as well and I found it really helped me start the new year out right.  So, why not do it again.

So today’s lesson is that we all need to go ahead and take a break from time to time. If we truly want to be on the top of our game, then a break from time to time is required.  And so, if you aren’t taking a break this week, I suggest maybe you think about doing so soon.  Recharge those batteries, you’ll be stronger in the long run.

Clear The Board

It is almost New Year's Eve already! The last day of the year, the last day we have until we clear the board off, so to speak. A new year brings to many the ability to start over with a clean slate.

You do realize that this isn't real, right? The only way you can really clear the board is to start a relationship with Jesus who loves you more than you'll ever know.

Do you have a relationship with God yet? Do you know others who need a relationship with Him? If anyone truly wants to clear the board, then I pray that in this upcoming new year you are able to start a relationship with Him.