New Years Eve 2013...

This has been an extremely busy and life-changing year. I started out here: 

 

 

                        And then moved here:

 

 

And then here:

 

Talk about extreme moves…

Anyway, every year millions of people set out their goals or resolutions for the New Year. And as many millions of these people, any goals I set are usually failed before the first week is out. These goals usually consist of some materialistic endeavor we have absolutely no intention of keeping, hence our failure by first week’s end. J

 I’ve done weight loss, smoking cessation, temper control, focus on being a better wife, mother, etc… And as all humans, I have failed to meet my own expectations. Out of that list I have prevailed over the years in some areas of each one, but ultimately failed to meet my own requirements to the fullest of my imaginings. I did quit smoking…I have better control of my temper, and I’ve lost fifteen pounds in the last month and a half. But it isn’t enough. I still push myself to reach these stupid goals.

And then it hit me; I’m trying to do this on my own, and we all know how that’s going to turn-out. I can do nothing without my Lord and Savior.

Anyway, this year I’ve set a better goal, one more important than anything else I could ever seek to do, and all it requires is submission. J Sounds easy enough, right? But it isn’t.

 I’m just like every other Christian out there. If I don’t fill my brain with His Word, I’ll fill it with something else, and it’s never good. So…I’ve decided to study God’s Word more. Pray more. Seek His will more. Be more like Jesus. And witness more.

Most people who know me would tell you I talk about God all the time. I’ve even been told I talk about Him too much. Worry too much about it, and need to quit telling everybody I come into contact with for more than five minutes about Him. But those people are unbelievers, so they don’t know. They don’t realize I don’t pray like I should, or witness like I should, or read my Bible as much as I should, or submit like I should. But He died for me. I need no other catalyst to make me desire more of Him, more of everything about Him.

Let’s put it in perspective for a few minutes. God is God. The Almighty I AM. He is Spirit. He is a God of love, and a God of wrath. He is long-suffering, but just. Two thousand years ago He came into this world as flesh and blood man. He was 100% God, and 100% man. I don’t pretend to understand just exactly what that means, but I believe it because the Bible says it, and that makes it true. J

 And He did wonders and miracles, but His people rejected Him and sent him to a cross. He could’ve stopped the whole thing because He is God. But He didn’t because that’s what He came into this world to do. He went to that cross and took upon Himself every sin we’ve ever committed, or will commit. His Father crushed Him, and He was happy to do it. Do I understand this? Yes and no, and of course not. I cannot fathom sending one of my children to death for something they didn’t do. Can you? But His act of mercy allowed some of us good for nothing humans to have salvation. He deserves worship and exaltation.

As time passes, I notice more and more how vile the world is becoming. But then I wonder if it’s always been this evil or if I’m just noticing more because it is I who is changing.

The Bible tells us things will keep getting progressively worse, so I think it must be a little of both. The world is going crazy and most of us are just hanging on for the ride, powerless to do anything about it. But are we really? Powerless that is… We have the most important message of all time emblazoned on our brains and alive in our souls. Do we have the right to selfishly keep it there, afraid to tell others so they might possibly share it with even more people? Do we have the right to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father and not tell others of it? Who are we to keep the knowledge of our Lord and Savior locked away inside our head?

I think about these things a lot. The knowledge of the Lord keeps me sane. There are haters out there. There are even haters in my own home; children whom I have failed, who many have failed. But God never has, yet they turn on Him like rabid wolves.

I have family members who have shunned me. I don’t care overly much. I spent years away from them. I can continue to do so. I will still tell them of God if I get the chance. That’s who I am. My failing has been in not being persistent enough. If I don’t tell them, who will? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’m anyone special. But God uses us lowly, weak humans to witness to others. I count it a special blessing that my Lord would allow me to glorify Him so.

What I need to do is make sure I take every opportunity to glorify Him. Time is growing shorter. We don’t know when this will all end. Do we want to miss the chance to witness to even one person? I know I don’t. I want to learn of Him. Talk to Him. Glorify Him, and I want others to do the same. He gives us the very breath we breathe. He gave us eternal life. He loved us, and saved us, and gave us the ability to return that love. There is no loyalty in this world to match that. So, for this year’s resolution, I choose to desire a closer relationship to my Lord and Savior. I choose to pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, so that I may know Him more fully. I choose to actively seek to witness to the lost. Pray for them, and even be ridiculed by them, if it would save even one. I pray for the strength and ability to do this and the desire to want to want to do it above all things.

Stay safe and know that God is a God of love, but He is also a God of wrath. Someday we will all have to answer to Him for what we’ve done, or not done. Give God the glory He deserves. I know that’s what I seek.

Happy New Year!