I Always Break New Year's Resolutions

How about you?  Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Why or why not? And, if you do, do you keep them?

Me... I always seem to break New Year's resolutions. And, every year, I make them again. But, I don't break EVERY resolution. And some resolutions I manage to keep for months & months. One or two make it through a complete year -- now & then.  

Why do I make them if my completion ratio is so low? I believe in the value of seasons. And, that's why I make resolutions at the beginning of each year. 

In many ways, I have hated change. I've gotten comfortable with things as they are... you know, settling into the familiar good while ignoring the familiar bad (with the hopes that it will somehow change on its own). I've come to learn... accept... and actually embrace change in my "old age."  Change sometimes means a new, not necessarily awesome thing.  But, more often, change brings something better... something that brings me hope for a better day!

Ringing in the
New Year!

So every year, I decide to put the past behind me & make some changes. The last few weeks of the year (and sometimes the first few weeks of the New Year), I spend some quality time reviewing what was, what is & what I want to BE.  I make a list of resolutions & dive into them -- knowing that some will go by the wayside & other's will be revised BUT, also knowing that good will come from what unfolds.

The New Year is an opportunity to start over... to look at your dreams, hopes, desires, etc... and to make plans to attain those goals... to have a better tomorrow. 

In the words of Dave Ramsey, 

"A goal without a plan is just a dream." 

So begin making a few plans... and bring your dreams to life!

His words:

• "And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new... these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:5
• "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 
• "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

   

First Impressions

As a little girl, my mom used to tell me that I had to be careful what I said or did because there was always someone watching me. Really... did that just happen with me? Was it a "preacher's kid" thing. You know, everyone wanting to let the preacher know when his kids got out of line. I was always trying to do exactly what I thought was expected of me! And, I will admit, I was quite insecure as a young person. And, I might struggle with that a little as an old person too :)

As they say, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." But, how much weight do we put in the first impressions?

• I met a police officer who was taking bribes under the table -- so, all police officers are corrupt? 
• A student came to take an exam & was unprepared -- so, that student is always unprepared. 
• I met a young person who was inconsiderate - so, all young people are inconsiderate? 
• The gay person I work with is hateful -- so all gay people are hateful? 
• I met an overweight person who ate all the time -- so all overweight people lack self-control? 
• The waitress who served me at lunch was slow & grouchy -- so, she's a bad waitress?
• I met an elderly person who was a total grump -- so, all elderly people are grumpy? 
• Those Christians I met were so rude -- so all Christians are rude?

Don't we all want a second chance from the first impression someone gets from us?  Why do we want a second chance but, often don't give that to others.  

Sometimes we just want to start over!

An old Chinese Proverb states, "Don't be over self-confident with your first impression of people."  There's always a back story to what is happening in a person's life.  Yes, we need to be careful to present ourselves in a "true light" - being the best person we can be.  But, we all fall short of perfection.  

For those of us who profess to be Christians, as Max Lucado says, 

"What makes a Christian a Christian is not perfection, it's forgiveness." 

The Bible tells us that... "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:22-23

Let's be easier on each other... an impression is just that... an impression - not always a fact.

Anchor or Helium Balloons?

Have you messed up over & over again? Perhaps even to the point where you feel like you don't deserve forgiveness, healing & restoration from God? I know I have! Even after sincerely asking for God's forgiveness, I often remind myself of mistakes - playing them over & over in my mind; allowing them to bog me down... making a valiant attempt to convince myself that I should not receive "God's best" since I am unworthy!

Let go of your mistakes & let them float away!

But, God's grace is enough... for ANYTHING & EVERYTHING. We don't necessarily deserve it. It's given freely out of His love for us. We just have to accept it!

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Romans 5:20

Don't sell yourself short. Accept God's grace today! He's ready to use you in a mighty way today! 

Your past is... PAST! 

Don't let your past mistakes anchor you in place.  Let go of them & allow them to float away!

Listen to this great song about GOD'S GRACE!