Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Matt's Matters: Resolutions


Every New Year millions of Americans make new resolutions about how their life is going to be different, somehow better than the year(s) before. Typical resolutions vary from improving one’s health, time management, financial situations or relationships.
New Year’s resolutions are good things. Resolutions tend to come as a result of remembering what has happened up till this time. Even if this past year was the worst year of our lives, all of us have things we can be thankful for.  I’m thankful for the people of Eugene. The warmth and hospitality of this community is unlike any other.
Resolutions come as we review what has happened over this past year, all of us can find areas which we would like to see improve.
A man spent over 3 hours enduring the long lines, rude clerks, and insane regulations at the Department of Motor Vehicles. After this he stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for his son. The man brought his selection—a baseball bat—to the cash register. There the clerk asked, “Cash or charge?” “Cash,” the man snapped back. Then apologizing for his rudeness, he explained that he had spent the afternoon at the motor vehicle bureau. So the clerk then asked sweetly, “Shall I gift wrap the bat, or are you going back there?” :) Maybe this is an area where we could use a little improvement.
Resolutions require us to refocus our lives. When one refocuses their life they think about what is most important. Life is unpredictable. We don’t even know what will happen today, much less next week or next year. The truth is that no one can predict the future. Life is short. We need to resolve to make the most of the time which we have.
Many will make New Year’s resolutions only to give up within the first week.  For this reason many will avoid making resolutions in the first place.  However, the odds of one achieving something which they are actively working towards are higher than someone who never attempts to make the change. Therefore, I encourage you, instead of making a resolution, to make a bucket list. Think strongly about what you would like to accomplish in life. God promises us that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).
Over the next five weeks, we at Eugene Christian Church are going to be working with one another to make 2014 the best year ever. Thus, I want to encourage you to join us as we seek to make this New Year soar.
In His service,
        Matt 

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