I am not much for New Year's resolutions. I used to be, but it just keeps me too preoccupied with self. One common resolution is to lose weight.  Which was always mine. Some folks vow to stop,cussing, smoking, drinking or some other habit they have no wish to drag with them into the new year. By March most resolutions are broken or forgotten. The more serious ones leave disappointment in their wake. Every April I was reminded of  the pounds still on my midsection as I tried to enjoy my birthday cake without guilt. Like I said I am not much for New Years resolutions. This year I might just jump back into the fray. Well kind of but not with a traditional resolution but more of a resolve.

My resolve is to strive for a life continuously yielded to God.  This is because simply stated, I don't always want to do what God says.

I would rather send a letter of complaint to the property manager and condo board about the first floor residents who insist on putting their trash in the hall until they take it out. I prayed about it and God said, take it to the dumpster. Really, God?  Yep really.  So I have yielded to taking out their trash when I see it. In spite of the fact I don't take out my own, that's my son's chore. When my job became something I dreaded, I decided to look for another. I prayed. God clearly said to wait. He went on to say that I was placed there for his plan and I shouldn't go to the left or the right without his direction. So I am waiting and it's getting better. I've gown to like it, some and I have found favor with my coworkers and received encouragement from my supervisor.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:19


I don't know about you but I need help to obey God, because I am nice, but not that nice. I need God's help to stay attentive, softhearted and quick to obey. I have to watch my normal tendencies to be anti social.  Somedays in my selfishness I don't want to be bothered with people. Instead I prefer hours of isolation in front of the glow of the TV.  What I need is to ask God each day to put the person in my path that needs a kind word or a smile or maybe just a little conversation.  I might just be the only person they talk to all day. I need God to keep my heart open, so the friend or stranger can ask for prayer or advice without judgement. 
 
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1


So the New Year will not be about me, or my "self improvement" a humanist view that is limited. Instead I will let God do the improving by submitting fully and faithfully to him. It is where my joy is, my life is and my hope. To do his will is my daily bread.

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:21


So this New Years Eve, I won't fault myself with the things I haven't done in 2009.  I will instead look forward to the year ahead with God, my resolve and all the newness it holds.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.





 Happy New Year!

There are very few words spoken about Mary the mother of Jesus. Some of us have just relegated her to the "Virgin" status and left her there. Some not wanting to be called "Mary worshippers" ignore her all together. Yet there is so much to learn from this woman of God.

She was engaged to a man named Joseph. In those days what we would call an engagement was called a pledge. It was binding as marriage and to end it would take a divorce. So here is Mary going about the business of her life probably happy to become a bride when she gets a visit from an angel.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”



Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”


The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”


“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.  Luke 1:26-38

Wow, so this girl had this incredible experience that was going to turn her life upside down and she didn't think about the repercussions. She just had a will to obey God. I don't know about you but I might have said, "Hey wait a minute I am getting married." or "Could you please send an angel to my parents, they will never believe me." or  "Don't you know they stone women around here?"

Not Mary, she just said.  May it be to me as you have said. She only wondered how it was going to happen, then she gave herself totally to it.  It didn't matter that it was uncomfortable. Or that she might be misunderstood or publicly disgraced. She left the consequences of her obedience to God.  I admire Mary for that. It's no wonder God hand picked her to bring our saviour into the world. 

She was in love with the God of heaven. Take this Christmas season to rekindle your love for the one who loves you. Read over Mary's song  found in Luke 1:46-55 and have a blessed Christmas.

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.”