On Resolutions

“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.”― John Heywood

I finally kept a resolution last year. Yes, I did start with January 1, 2011, and finish December 31, 2011. The resolution involved my devotions--a rich practice of applying Col. 3:6. Highly edifying in my life. Study of the whole Bible, with more than just listening to the Daily Audio Bible all year as I have for several years; in 2011 I found my highlight verses for year. Much more punch in my life than just listening to the Bible all year.

I actually typed them up and that list is 164 pages single spaced 11 point type. I used the New Living Translation. In 2012 I will use the NIV Passages Bible in  an e-Book that lets me highlight and shows those highlights in context. Just this week I put this on my Nook and every day it will open up to the OT, NT, Psalm and Proverbs without my having to do much. A comment I heard about e-Bibles is that it is hard to find your way around in them. Not for with this Bible on and e-Book for my purposes on continuing letting the word of Christ dwell in me richly (Col. 3:16).

Jesse Johnson has said much about resolutions in the Cripplegate blog Self-examination and Resolutions post. Go there! Nathan Busenitz also wrote on the same blog  about Top Ten .

But the problem with resolutions is the same as a "to do" list. It depends upon human will. Rather I think we need to have a heart towards God and find out what He wants us to do. Be WITH HIM.

Four years ago this blog was started and my goal was theological. Now I am pretty fed up with theological debates because people are all consumed in the debate. My brother says it's a "guy" thing.  Rather as I age I just want to have that quiet relationship with the LORD, to meditate on His word and to concentrate on prayer--rejoicing, intercession and supplication. This is what I should have been doing all along instead of depending on my efforts of the flesh.

I just started a small journal that I am carrying around in my purse now with prayer for the week:

• Sunday--My church family and other congregations I have been a part of
• Monday--My sibblings and their families and two recent widowers
• Tuesday--My husband's family
• Wednesday--People who are acquaintances and friends
• Thursday--My cousins and the few older persons in the family (we are seniors now)
• Friday--My social media friends
• Saturday--My neighbors, our politicians, legislation, the election of 2012, and the world

This doesn't leave me much room to be self-centered, but I am requesting special prayer from a few friends about my husband's Alzheimer's. On my computer desktop I created Word documents for each day of the week so I can check back. Some of the daily prayers I have also posted on people's blogs. I also am writing prayers that praise God in the book and cherishing this time WITH Him.  Hopefully a new attitude of prayer with come into my life even as Bible meditation did last year.

LORD, make me willing to follow your bidding in 2012.
Help me be with Your program.

Favorite Christmas Lyrics

O come, Desire of nations, bind

In One the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,

And be Thyself our King of Peace.

from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown

When thou camest to earth for me,

But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room

For thy holy nativity,

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus:

There is room in my heart for thee! . . .

When the heav'ns shall ring and the angels sing

At thy coming to victory,

Let thy voice call me home, saying, "Yet there is room,

There is room at my side for thee."

And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When thou comest and callest me.

from Thou Didst leave Thy Throne