The Only Resolution

From: The Sacred Sandwich

New Mercies Every Day

(This is my traditional annual January 1 re-post)

I used to find people who spouted what I considered to be trite phrases like "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" to be very irritating - on the same level with those who plastered smiley faces on everything they owned. However, I have since had to repent of that opinion and attitude, because: (a) I realized I was sinfully proud, and (b) I realized that they were right.

For Christians, every day is New Years Day.

How else can you explain the Scripture in Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness." If God's mercies to us are new each morning, then every day is the first day of the rest of my life; every day is new years day. Christ is the God of new creations, new births and new beginnings.

Here's how songwriter Carolyn Arends once put it.

New Year's Day
by Carolyn Arends

I buy a lot of diaries
Fill them full of good intentions
Each and every New Year's Eve
I make myself a list
All the things I'm gonna change
Until January 2nd
So this time I'm making one promise

Chorus:
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day
I believe it's possible
I believe in new beginnings'
Cause I believe in Christmas Day
And Easter morning too
And I'm convinced it's doable'
Cause I believe in second chances
Just the way that I believe in you

Last week I wrote that for Christians it is always Christmas. Now I am writing that it is always New Years Day. I'm sorry if this seems trite - but sometimes trite sayings really are true. Happy New Year to you all- and may each day in it be filled with new beginnings, new possibilities, new joys and new mercies.

4 Christian Principles For Making Resolutions

Ligonier's blog has an article by Nathan Bingham called 4 Christian Principles For Making New Year's Resolutions

His 4 principles are:

1. Resolve Sensibly.
2. Resolve Dependently.
3. Resolve Humbly.
4. Resolve for Christ's Sake.

Sound sensible and biblical to me. Full explanations at the link.

Resolution Dangers

Making any 2012 resolutions?  As you do, it's good to remember The Tyranny of Advice Christianity: 

I saw a commercial once (at 2 a.m.) that said I have to do whatever it takes to “actualize my best me.” Jargon aside, it makes sense, really. Doing results in being. Cause and effect. Want six-pack abs? Just buy the right product and give your new, healthy lifestyle 110% for 10 weeks and maybe you’ll see results. (Phew, I guess it’s time to get to work on those resolutions …)  It makes sense to assume that doing something will produce some change. But a personal makeover obsession won’t do one bit of good when it comes to fixing the human condition.

When you feel defeated by sin, burnt out by expectations, and discouraged by your inability to get it together, the last thing you need is “good advice.” So I don’t have any new advice for you. But I do have a bit of helpful hyperbole: Advice is tyranny. Okay, that’s a little over the top. But there’s a reason for the overstatement.

Much more at the link.

Mid-Year Bible Reading Update

Well, we are now half way through the year 2011. Hard to believe it - where did the time go? Did you make a resolution last January to be more faithful in Bible reading this year? Anybody commit to reading the whole Good Book in 2011?  How are you doing in keeping that promise?

The church I attend put out their own plan to read the whole Bible in 2011.  There is something extra special in having a whole church famili;y reading the same passages every week.  At the half way point I am current on our plan and half way through the Bible.  Feels good.

If you made a resolution but have slipped in your commitment, why not start again with a mid year resolution?  July 1 is also a good time to start!

Link to Bible Reading Plans for 2011

2010: Finishing Strong

In just two weeks it will be Thanksgiving (in the USA) then full speed into the Christmas season.  The end of 2010 draweth nigh! 

What shall we do with the remaining seven weeks in 2010?  Justin Childers at "Cross-eyed" suggests we Finish Strong in 2010: 

"Why not take some time to refocus for this final month and a half of 2010. Finish well. Redeem the time. Here are just a few tips:

1. Revisit your goals or resolutions. Not to condemn yourself for your failure, but to keep going by the grace of God. Did you set goals that are now unattainable? Re-evaluate them so as to make the most of them through the rest of the year.

2. Recommit to your Bible reading plan. Make sure you know where you will be each day through the rest of the year. The holidays are the most difficult time to stay consistent in personal devotions. Visitors, traveling, vacation, and family make it difficult to carve out time to meet with God.

3. Plan now to avoid the sin of materialism. The stores have been plotting for a year as to how to get you buying things you don't need. The ads will be relentless for the next month. And you don't stand a chance unless you are equipped and prepared to resist the temptations.

4. Make attendance at your local church a priority. Its easy during the holiday season to neglect the church. As much as possible, plan your schedule around the corporate gathering of God's people.

5. Pray for Joy. The holiday season can be one of the most depressing times of the year. This world cannot deliver on its promises, which often leaves us feeling empty and meaningless. Jesus is enough to sustain your joy through the highs and lows of these next few months. Take refuge in the Savior.

10 Questions to Aid in Making Resolutions

From Peter at "Already Not Yet," quoting Don Whitney, here's 10 Questions to Ask in the New Year

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

New Year and New Beginnings

I used to find people who spouted what I considered to be trite phrases like "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" to be very irritating - on the same level with those who plastered smiley faces on everything they owned. However, I have since had to repent of that opinion and attitude, because: (a) I realized I was sinfully proud, and (b) I realized that they were right.

For Christians, every day is New Years Day.

How else can you explain the Scripture in Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness." If God's mercies to us are new each morning, then every day is the first day of the rest of my life; every day is new years day. Christ is the God of new creations, new births and new beginnings.

Here's how songwriter Carolyn Arends once put it.

New Year's Day
by Carolyn Arends

I buy a lot of diaries
Fill them full of good intentions
Each and every New Year's Eve
I make myself a list
All the things I'm gonna change
Until January 2nd
So this time I'm making one promise

Chorus:
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day

I believe it's possible
I believe in new beginnings
'Cause I believe in Christmas Day
And Easter morning too
And I'm convinced it's doable
'Cause I believe in second chances
Just the way that I believe in you

Last week I wrote that for Christians it is always Christmas. Now I am writing that it is always New Years Day. I'm sorry if this seems trite - but sometimes trite sayings really are true.

Happy New Year to you all- and may each day in it be filled with new beginnings, new possibilities, new joys and new mercies.