New Years Resolutions

1 John 4: 19 – 5: 4 “Beloved, we love God because he first loved us….This is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother…”

We have such nostalgia and hope as we finish a year and enter a new one. As we review our year, we look at the aspects of our lives that are important to us and evaluate them based on our needs and wants. We relish in the positive that happened in the year but also focus on whats lacking.

Its the whats lacking that provide the greatest opportunity for growth for us. Some of our goals are superficial. Losing weight, a toned body, improving your health, getting out of debt or making more money, getting a job or a better one, buying a house, making more friends, etc. It focuses on what we have to do or what we have to change and in order to fill the lack. For others new goals just give us a sense of purpose or continue to pursue self improvement. There is nothing wrong with these but sometimes it is best to go deeper to find the true lack.

Whether you have new years resolutions or not, the end of the year is just such a natural time to re-evaluate our lives.For me this is certainly the case. It always happens that I reflect on relationships. This year was no different but my new years resolutions are different. The passage I referenced at the beginning of the blog is the basis of my new years resolutions. As we approach the end of the Christmas season, I continue my reflection on my relationship with God. For in honoring and developing the relationship with Him, can we begin to develop the virtue of true love for others.Focusing on His love for us can not only save us but provide us with the ultimate joy and peace.

So what of my new year's resolutions? Well it focused on how and what gifts the Lord is leading me to explore. These will develop and may morph as I let Him lead me but it begins with exploring voice and music composition through taking lesson and classes, practicing with friends and going public with it.

It focuses on the gifts necessary to be public in ministry and not just private. Another is to honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy. To study and learn more about the inspired word, it's purpose, its authors, the history and the language (Greek for the new testament). To devote daily a little time to everything that brings me joy, to have joy in all the little things I do daily and that starts and ends with my relationship to God.

As we reflect and bring on a new year may we know that Love is always there and our purpose is to constantly develop our capacity to receive and give it. Receiving does come first. For if we truly are open to receiving God's love, the giving of that love will surely flow. And that is always a good new years resolution.:-)