Hello friends and neighbors and welcome to my view from here on this Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Today I am thinking about the process of making New Year's resolutions. Generally speaking, we all pretty much could name what ends up on most people's list each year: 1. Lose weight. 2. Quit smoking. 3. Spend more time with family and friends. 4. Help others. 5. Learn something new. 6. Enjoy life more. 7. Get out of debt. 8. Get organized. 9. Reduce stress. There's probably more but we get the idea here. These are the things that haunt most people because while we may have great intentions and we may even get started on some of these, often before we even remember to write 2010 instead of 2009 they have already gone by the wayside. How many folks purchase exercise equipment or a health club membership and begin their regimen with great excitement early in the year only to see it become a very underutilized feature of their life by the end of February? Sure, there are some who do make a list and muster the grit and determination needed to make progress, but obviously that number is fairly small.Essentially, we all have a condition that looms large in all of this, it's called the human conditi
on. I've been working on a lesson for this next Sunday that will focus attention on the new year and the working title is: If not now, when? How about 2010? In this lesson I hope to focus my attention on the area where I need the greatest help, that being the area of spiritual development and growth as a child of God. This doesn't mean the items listed as resolutions are not important but for those of us who are believers, getting our spiritual life in order should not only be our number one priority, but based on what I see in The Scriptures, this is most likely the key to all the other areas in our life that need attention. The class I teach is not a young adult class. Most of us have been around the block many times and if we are not careful we might think we should coast the rest of our way home or allow the younger ones to carry the load. NOT!!! I am reminded of Moses who lived 120 years with the last 40 being the most prolific in his life. His first 40 was spent in Egypt. His next 40 was spent getting Egypt out of him. His final 40 was in leading God's people out of bondage. The Bible tells us that when it came time for him to die he was still a dynamic and robust person. (Deuteronomy 34:7) What a testimony and what a challenge for us today!
on. I've been working on a lesson for this next Sunday that will focus attention on the new year and the working title is: If not now, when? How about 2010? In this lesson I hope to focus my attention on the area where I need the greatest help, that being the area of spiritual development and growth as a child of God. This doesn't mean the items listed as resolutions are not important but for those of us who are believers, getting our spiritual life in order should not only be our number one priority, but based on what I see in The Scriptures, this is most likely the key to all the other areas in our life that need attention. The class I teach is not a young adult class. Most of us have been around the block many times and if we are not careful we might think we should coast the rest of our way home or allow the younger ones to carry the load. NOT!!! I am reminded of Moses who lived 120 years with the last 40 being the most prolific in his life. His first 40 was spent in Egypt. His next 40 was spent getting Egypt out of him. His final 40 was in leading God's people out of bondage. The Bible tells us that when it came time for him to die he was still a dynamic and robust person. (Deuteronomy 34:7) What a testimony and what a challenge for us today!How can we make progress towards being all God would have us to be in 2010? That's not a trick question because God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, according to the Apostle Peter's testimony as preserved in his second letter (2 Peter 1:3). It begins with getting our heart right and our motivations in tune with the calling Go
d has on our life. You didn't know that God has a calling on your life? If you belong to Him, He does! That calling involves the use of everything He provides into your life for His honor and glory. This includes but is not limited to serving within your family, among your friends, and especially in the ministry to fellow members within a local fellowship of believers. Where do we start? We first get serious as we seek God and His power through prayer and through Bible study and faithfulness to those areas where we know we should be faithful. Just do it! This can be a scary process as we begin to know and appreciate His will for us and how this might challenge and confront many of our deepest thoughts and ideas. Obstacles? Yes, there will be many from within and without because our adversary wants to defeat any and all progress in the life of a believer. But with God's help we can see Him honored and many lives touched as we yield ourselves to Him. I need this and most likely many others do as well. May God help us to grow and prosper in this, our first priority as His child! Amen. .....More later.
d has on our life. You didn't know that God has a calling on your life? If you belong to Him, He does! That calling involves the use of everything He provides into your life for His honor and glory. This includes but is not limited to serving within your family, among your friends, and especially in the ministry to fellow members within a local fellowship of believers. Where do we start? We first get serious as we seek God and His power through prayer and through Bible study and faithfulness to those areas where we know we should be faithful. Just do it! This can be a scary process as we begin to know and appreciate His will for us and how this might challenge and confront many of our deepest thoughts and ideas. Obstacles? Yes, there will be many from within and without because our adversary wants to defeat any and all progress in the life of a believer. But with God's help we can see Him honored and many lives touched as we yield ourselves to Him. I need this and most likely many others do as well. May God help us to grow and prosper in this, our first priority as His child! Amen. .....More later.
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