Categories: anything-and-everything
Date: 03 January 2007 20:53:14
Thanks to those who left Christmas and New Year greetings *cheerful grin*. I of course wish everyone a satisfying, generous and peace-filled 2007!
I'm enjoying a few days off at the moment which offers time for a bit of random reflection as well as relaxation and recharging. Though I'm not too fussy about exact starting times, I do like to think about resolutions at this time of year. I spent a while this afternoon thinking about my life as a Christian and a phrase of purpose came to mind that summed up what I think I will be focusing on for a while... This may seem rather obvious really, but I think it's sometimes the obvious, summed up and kept in our thoughts, that can be most helpful in guiding the way we live our lives. The phrase was this: "To live with reference to God; that is, God made known in the person of Jesus Christ." That's my resolution for 2007, a simple sentence that describes what it means to be a Christian (though of course there are many ways to describe what it means to be a Christian) and that reminds me in every and any situation and circumstance to thank and pray and ask and listen and give and obey and worship and enjoy and delight and imitate and love and serve... so that in all things I might live with reference to God.
I also said a little bit about resolutions on Sunday morning, and will be trying to put into practice some of my own suggestions...
"Ask God - pray - listen to his still small voice or the challenge of his written Word - let him direct your growth and your resolutions - hear what he has to say - quite often what God is concerned about in our lives is quite different to what we think is important.
Be realistic. God doesn't expect us to change overnight - the more unrealistic our expectations are, the more we are likely to fail. But if we do fail, it's important to remember that we walk with a God who allows us to come to the cross again and again, to ask for forgiveness and to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and start all over again - without condemnation!
And do it with God's help. Acknowledge your need of him and ask for the help and presence of his Holy Spirit. Because as Christians we need to learn that we do nothing without him, and that we can do all things through him who gives us strength."
That should keep me occupied for a while!