New Year's "Resolutions"

New Year's Resolutions. What a strange thing. Half of America makes a list a couple days before New Years -- a list of goals, often set far too high, that there's a good chance they're not going to be able to accomplish. Doesn't it seem like a rather odd phenomonen to you? Why in the world would anyone want to make a list of a bunch of things they know they're not going to stick with more than a few days? What a let-down! What nonsense!

Why do they do it?

As I was just contemplating this situation, the thought struck me -- because they want to try to make themselves feel like decent people by "pretending" that they'll do as much good as they can in the next year.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I know that sounded pretty harsh -- I know that a lot of people have motives other than this! But...it seems to me that a good lot of people make these resolutions -- and then just leave off, and fail themselves. And I realized that the reason often is that people want to be able to feel good about themselves -- without having to realize that God is the only One who can help them "clean up their act" -- and so they do this small act of "sacrifice" and "self-righteousness". And, of course, there's always that excuse, when their conscience pricks them -- "Oh well; who really keeps all their resolutions anyway?"

Okay -- I'm not writing this post to get you on a guilt trip if you fail to carry out your resolutions all through the year! I'm not saying that if you commit to not another bite of sugar for the rest of the year, and you do end up having a bite of sugar, you should beat yourself. (For one thing, committing to not eating a bite of sugar for a year is, after all, a rather unreasonable goal. :) And two -- the Lord does call us to be responsible for ourselves -- and accountable to Him, and our brothers and sisters in Christ -- but He doesn't call us to condemn ourselves for messing up!)

Here's what I'm getting at. We all know that the Lord determines even our every breath, and that His blueprint for our lives is ALWAYS the best way to go -- but I believe it does please Him when we prayerfully set reasonable (again, I repeat -- reasonable) goals for our lives, years, months, days -- keeping in mind that whatever He speaks to our hearts is to be our end-all goal.

When I was younger, New Years Resolutions really didn't mean all that much to me. I think I made them a couple times, and kept them till about January 10th. :) This year, however, I feel differently -- the expansive, new, and at times frightening horizon of adulthood is slowly broadening before my very eyes; I'm beginning to see life with new responsibility and, yes, excitement. I feel that I need some more goals -- goals in my life to keep me on the right track, to keep me going in the way that I feel the Lord is leading me to go.

So with this, my dear friends, I would encourage you to set goals for yourself, too! :) REASONABLE goals! Don't set up for yourself a let-down! Prayerfully consider what the Lord may have in store for you; talk with your parents (if you're still living at home) about it; write them down -- and do your best, with the Lord's help, to carry out those goals!

And now -- is anybody interested in hearing my New Year's Resolutions -- er -- Goals...or...well, whatever you want to call them!? :)

If it's the Lord's will, in the next year I desire to:

1. To continue to grow in grace in the knowlege of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
2. To be a more effective witness, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ with me wherever I go
3. To develop more of a servant's heart
4. To become better at keeping in touch with the Lord, my family, and my friends and dear brothers and sisters in Christ
5. To be more of a blessing to those around me
6. To continue on faithfully in my schoolwork
7. To continue to learn and grow in my developing homemaking skills -- namely, cooking/baking, cleaning, decorating, needlework, seamstressing, childcare, hospitality, gardening, communication skills, etc.
8. To become a successful and more accomplished photographer, having opportunities to minister while we're working, always keeping the Lord in His rightful place -- first! :)
9. To develop and hone my writing skills and to move ahead in my writing
10. To get my boutique (fellow members of the blogosphere, you will hear about this soon...) up and successfully running, and to be creatively "designing" clothes that people -- and the Lord -- will love
11. To develop my love for and hone my graphic art skills
12. To become a more accomplished vocalist
13. To study and learn cosmetology and get my apprentice license (under my Mom)
14. To move far ahead in my *************, preparing for the final lap of the daring, yet exciting, prospect of ********** for the first time! (Again -- fellow members of the blogosphere, you will hear about this soon enough! :) Am I good at suspense or what?!?!)

May the Lord bless you and your family in the upcoming year! And remember this as you contemplate this strange phenomonen called "New Year's Resolutions" -- and remember that they don't have to be a let-down!

I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me!!! ALL things!!!! (Philippians 4:13, some emphasis added :)