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New Year Resolutions
Why do we make New Years resolutions?
Usually, we have the desire to
change something in our lives.
What is the definition of resolution?
• the process of resolving something such as a
problem or dispute
• decision: a firm decision to do something
• determination: firmness of mind or purpose
• solution: an answer to a problem
Success occurs when desires becomes action. And your desire is
strong enough to take action on them right now!
Most people are stuck in the WISH stage. They
wish their life was better. They wish they were further along
than they are. They wish…. With no decisiveness. Some have moved
to DECIDE. They decide it’s time to change. They decide on a
couple of goals. They decide to start soon.
Without support, most never make it to the
PLAN stage. Some do get their thoughts written down, but then
are lost on how to begin and ultimately don’t make it to that
final breakthrough.
Are You ready to move forward?
What is it that you want to change? Do you want to change
your:
• Weight
• Exercise
• Job
• The way you view
yourself
• Relationships
• Habits
• Spiritual growth
• Witness for Christ
• Reactions to situations and/or problems
• Health
• Debt situation
• Mind sets
Plan to succeed:
1. Decide that now is the time to change.
2. Write your goal—make it obtainable and clear. Habakkuk 2:3
3. Formulate a daily plan to work towards the success of your
goal.
4. Choose an accountability partner. Share with them your goal
and your plan. Ask them to keep you accountable to it every day.
5. Measure your progress
6. Choose scripture that will help you achieve your goals and
build your faith.
7. Make God the center of your goal. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
I tell you the truth, if anyone says to
this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not
doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen,
it will be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you
stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him,
so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.-Mark
11:23-26
Upcoming Event
The Women’s Ministry will be hosting a “Day At
The Spa” to raise funds for the Easter Production. We invite
everyone to participate in this very exciting spa day which will
take place on February 9th. Gift the spa day to someone you
love, to someone who has gone out of their way for you, someone
that you know needs a break, or a “just because” gift. This is
also a perfect opportunity for mother - daughter bonding.
husband - wife bonding, sister bonding— or friend bonding time.
Come enjoy a fun, relaxing experience and at the same time help
us raise money to offset some of the cost for the 2008 Easter
production where individuals will give their hearts to the Lord
and others will rededicate their lives to the Lord.
Great things are happening in 2008. be a part
of what God is doing!
For The Love of God
God's love impelled Jesus to take action to help
His creatures gone astray so when the time had fully come, God
sent forth his Son, born of woman
(Gal 4:4). Jesus is the Son of God, the Second Person of the
Trinity, who was sent for love of mankind: In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him,
and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was
life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the
world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,
yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own, and His own
people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who
believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God;
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of
the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father.
(Jn 1:1-5,9-14)
In the last three years of his life, Jesus taught the truth
behind the Jewish law (Mt 5:17): the fullness of the truth about
man and his place in creation. The morality of Christ is not a
set of arbitrary laws designed to keep people from enjoying
life. Quite the contrary. Jesus' teachings reveal who man is,
and by accepting the truth about oneself, one becomes truly
free. This is why Jesus himself proclaimed, ``You will know the
truth, and the truth will make you free.'' (Jn 8:32)
God is love and has given His love freely to us. He has blessed
us with the capacity to give and receive love. Shower those
around you in the Love of Christ. Show them the way to their
creator.
God’s New Life Resolution To You
As we close another year, many people have mixed feelings about
2007.
For some, this past year was characterized by an abundance of
God’s
blessings and favor: an unexpected promotion, the purchase or
sale of a home, the birth of a child, or the salvation of a
cherished loved one.
For others, however, the year brought tremendous pain, and
feelings of personal failure such as the loss of a loved one,
divorce, foreclosure, or sickness. If you are like me, the year
was bittersweet; brimming with new life and joy yet also
sprinkled with harsh realities and sad disappointments.
As such, it stands to reason that I would resolve that the year
2008 would be much better than 2007. Like most Americans and
many others around the world I will ring the New Year with a pad
and pencil in hand full of resolutions and aspirations for a
better year.
In addition to my yearly resolution to lose 15 lbs, I also
resolve to deepen my personal devotions and to spend more time
in the Word and in prayer. As a secondary school teacher, I have
decided that this is the year that I will implement more
exciting teaching strategies in my classroom and that I will
pass all of my certification exams by
December.
Hopefully, with diligence and determination, I will meet these
goals; however, for most people New Years resolutions are broken
by the second day of January.
But have you ever wondered about God’s view on New Year
resolutions? And what exactly are resolutions? According to the
American Heritage College Dictionary, a resolution is a “formal
statement of a decision or expression of opinion that is put
before or adopted by an assembly.” We make these formal
statements every year, yet God has also made several formal
statements in His Word concerning our lives and well being as
saints and joint heirs with Christ. As believers we call these
formal statements “promises” and unlike fallen, sinful man and
his inability to keep resolutions we can stand firm and trust in
God to carry out his “promises” because Scripture tells us that
God’s Word cannot return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
Scripture is filled with these rich promises from Almighty God
concerning every area of our lives! Therefore, we can have great
hope because “all things are possible to those who believe.”
(Mark 9:23)
So just what is God’s resolution for us in 2008? In regards to
our finances, the God Who is more than enough resolves to
“supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4: 19)
Should we stumble in our walk with the Lord in 2008, we know
that we can go to Him and seek mercy and grace because “through
the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions
fail not. They are new every morning.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23)
God’s resolution for our health is that we are healed by
the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:4, 5)
As we battle the world, ourselves, and all of the attacks
of the enemy, we know that God’s promise is that we shall have
the victory through the “blood of the Lamb and by the word of
our testimony.”
(Revelation 12:11)
Most importantly, because of God’s resolution to us, we
can be sure that the work that God began in us shall be
completed as “He who has begun a good work in [us] will complete
it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:6)
“For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Thus, as we approach the dawn of a new year, it comes with the
promise of a new beginning, a fresh start, and hope.
So this year, in addition to the traditional list of
resolutions, I challenge you to consider God’s New Life
Resolutions for you. Make it a point to meditate on them as you
seek God in 2008!
Many blessing on your New
Year's Resolutions!
Reverend Marsha Valmyr
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