It's A New Year, So It Must Be Time For Resolutions

I'm hearing a lot these days about New Year's Resolutions. Certainly not a new phenomenon, but the topic you hear every single year at this time. The most popular seem to be to lose weight, eat better, stop smoking, start saving more money, etc. I don't really do resolutions because it feels like a setup for failure. I'm not going to go from eating Hostess cupcakes today to grapefruit tomorrow. Just ain't gonna happen sister. However, I do like to evaluate my life and see if I'm on the right track so to speak. So here I go.

Eating. My body is a "temple of God" so pouring donuts and Diet Pepsi into it probably isn't honoring my body as a temple. So I should eat better. There is always room for improvement there. And truthfully I have been eating better. Maybe not the five vegetables and fruits per day as recommended, but quite frankly if I get any in a day, I let myself feel pretty good about me.

Exercise. I actually don't mind exercising. Today at negative whatever below zero kept me from my hangout at Anytime Fitness, but I can be fairly regular. Of course, the challenge is not getting there, but working at a beneficial pace rather than just taking a stroll on the treadmill while watching the Today Show. Because it's so much more fun to just stroll. I try to be aware of how blessed I am that I am able to walk, to move. To dance if I feel like it although not if anyone is watching. Not everyone has that blessing.

Save money. I love to shop. But if a need comes up, I want to be in a position to write a check or give money in that instance. My work hours are Monday through Thursday noon to 5 so that give me a 3-1/2 day weekend every single week. I earn approximately 4 hours per pay period of PTO (paid time off) that I can use for vacation, if I get sick, etc. However, with a 3-1/2 weekend every week, I rarely dip into that PTO time and thus I have accrued quite a bit of time. With our Employee Giving Campaign we could give away PTO hours or if a fellow employee has a need for lots of hours due to illness or a family crisis. So with the number of hours I had built up, I have had the opportunity to give many of those hours away. That's how I visualize the money in my life. Have enough stored up to be able to give it away when I see a need. So, I'm becoming a relentless bargain shopper in all areas of my life and the truth is, the more you give away, the more you have.

To Know God. This is actually #1. When I am right with God and spending time in His Word and prayer, then the other stuff falls into place. I will never completely know God until I am no longer on earth, so it's a goal I won't achieve, but I think the journey is pretty fabulous. Because there are many circumstances where I am surrounded by people who do not know God, being with people who are committed to Him is a blessing I can't begin to describe. So keep strengthening relationships and being focused on knowing Him better is something I truly desire. "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."1 Chronicles 16:11

As part of growing closer to God, I want to keep reaching out to people with notes, phone calls, anything that God puts on my heart. It's easy for me to send the note, the hard part is to do this and expect absolutely nothing in return. Too often I expect a thank you or some sort of return. That's what I'm hearing from God right now. Do it in His name and delight in His joy. "... it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20.

Happy 2009.