Always Learning: My Belated New Year's Resolution

Sunday, January 19, 2014

My Belated New Year's Resolution

This is new for me. I have never made a New Year's Resolution before. On January 13th, I decided to make one. I read this verse, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

My New Year's resolution is to seek Him. I want to be rewarded by Him. He also tells me, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

I am not stupid. I know God is a promise keeper. If He tells me to earnestly seek Him first and then I will receive rewards and provision, I best be seeking Him earnestly. The dictionary says that earnestly means: serious in intention, purpose, and effort, sincerely zealous.

What will this look like for me? I have pondered this because I want to take it very seriously. It means I will spend daily time in His word and in prayer. When I have sleepless nights, which I have many, if I am in a lot of pain, I sing a hymn or chorus in my head over and over. If I am not in much pain, I will sing in my head or pray so my nights are covered!

During the day, I will be more careful what I fill my mind with. I will be intentional about what I watch on television. I will listen to more godly sermons and read inspirational books. I have always done this fairly well, but I want to do it "earnestly" for now on.

We have no idea how much more time we get on this earth. Our days are numbered. This is not our home. We are strangers and aliens. We are told that we show we love God by obeying Him. He knows it benefits us greatly when we seek those things which are above.

Can I challenge all of you to seek Him earnestly? Can you spend more time with Him? Can you control your thoughts and think good thoughts and watch good things? He is coming back. He wants us to be ready for His arrival. We must not waste any more time.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

***The picture was taken from my balcony a few weeks ago. God is an amazing artist!

Comments (21)

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Gennny · 584 weeks ago

Lori, We are to show our love for God by loving our neighbor....Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28. Also, this earth IS our home! It is God's good creation, and it is the home God has provided for us in which to dwell and become what He created us to be!!!

6 replies · active 583 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 584 weeks ago

I am not sure I understand what you are trying to tell me, Aunt Genny. Jesus was asked what the greatest commands were and He answered to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and soul and to love others as yourself. We are called to know Him and the only way we do that is by spending time with Him. I consistently teach loving others, even those unlovable husbands! I agree with Ziggy. God calls us strangers and aliens here on this earth. Many blessings to you! Love, Lori

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Aeris · 584 weeks ago

Lori, I have been reading your blog since the end of September, and while I haven't agreed with everything you've ever written, you've definitely given me a lot to think about (because I do want to be the best wife and mother that I can be) and I've started coming to your blog every day to see what you've written. With everything that's been posted over the past week, I've checked out the blogger that you wrote about with the dishwasher incident.

I have to ask if loving your neighbor includes what Sunshine Mary posted today on her blog. I don't have a problem with her using what people have written on a public forum to make her points, but I don't agree with the fact that she listed all of their names and links to their FB profiles. In the comments, I can see that people are clicking on their names and laughing at their expense based on pictures and things posted on their FB walls. This saddens me greatly. I was really hoping that you and Ken would ask her to at least remove the names because of the fact that it could humiliate them. I saw your comment about not wanting to humiliate your readers, but then thought it was fine if they learned something. Honestly, it makes me afraid to ever comment on FB with my real name because I don't want someone else putting me on their blog and attacking me for being part of a discussion. I understand that your blog's FB page is a public page, but I doubt any of those women who commented thought their names and comments would be posted in such a humiliating way.

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Ken · 584 weeks ago

Yes Aeris,

I will take your concerns as Lori is headachy today. The SSM post with names listed is something that Lori and I have been struggling with back and forth today. We certainly do not want to humiliate or be unloving to anyone, and we had no idea that SSM would post the Facebook names with pictures, and links that work.

The social media is not an easy thing to do perfectly and it points out the need for all who comment to be willing to own their words. If people are clicking on the links and making fun of the actual Facebook accounts, this is not acceptable.

SSM’s message, although it should not show names and links, is an important and serious message for the church to consider. It is not a laughing matter, or something to make fun of others. The last thing we want is to be unkind, or even seem unloving, or unkind. We receive many unthoughtful and unkind remarks daily, as we know that this is a public place. Lori has decided not to link back to the SSM post in future posts that she does, although we may refer to it.

Again, this is not an easy issue, because many of the responses received do show that perhaps the majority of Christian wives do not believe in the true headship of their husbands with one excuse or another. SSM simply went to a public forum and is showing the data. The Facebook links and names is quite unfortunate.

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Aeris · 584 weeks ago

Ken,

Thank you so much for your response. I will keep Lori in my prayers. I know that my headaches do not compare to Lori's, but even with the horrible tension headaches that I have had, I know that they can be awful and debilitating. I hate for anyone to have them. Thanks again for your response!

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Ken · 584 weeks ago

Thanks Aeris,

I have asked SSM if there is a way she can remove the names and links. A review of the comments finds only 1 or 2 I think referring to clicking on a link..

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Ken · 583 weeks ago

SSM has removed the links and last names.

Although the post does become quite humorous when each Facebook comment is placed in one of SSM's ten categories, the humor actually comes from some of the FB comments themselves, and not SSM's commentary.Someone accused SSM of mockery and I could find nothing that shows of mockery except allowing the FB commenters to speak for themselves.

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helen · 584 weeks ago

Thanks Lori for this thoughtful post, I too have been deliberately trying to do this and intend to continue in 2014. I am drastically reducing the amount of non Christian literature I read and listening to more sermons on Christian Radio and watching less TV.
The bible tells us in Philippians to think about good things
'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things'
God bless
Helen UK

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Deb · 584 weeks ago

What a wonderful thing to resolve in the new year. I am also doing more to deliberately seek Him and do His will in my life. I love the photograph.

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Ouida Gabriel · 584 weeks ago

Great post
Lori. This has been my heart as well for 2014.

Is that a Texas skyline? I live in the panhandle of Texas and our sun downs look like that. The best, this side of heaven.

1 reply · active 584 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 584 weeks ago

San Diego! That is the ocean in the background.

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Liz · 584 weeks ago

That photo is amazing! We sometimes get sunsets like those here and although the photos I take are pretty, they never seem to capture the beauty of actually seeing it. Seems like your photo captures my sunsets accurately, though! :-) Thanks for the photo!

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sheila payne · 584 weeks ago

Sunsets are such a testament of God for me. They calm me and strengthen my trust. I soooo wish I could see them from my house. We are surrounded by trees and they block our view. We have thought about moving just to get a sunset view. Financially that doesn't make sense though. Thank you for giving me such a perfect picture today.

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Karen · 584 weeks ago

Ken, I hope you see this even if it is from yesterday's blog. I am so sorry about what happened to your family and your brother many years ago. I can in a way understand why your parents let him get by with things---to almost lose him must have devasted them.
Yes it is hard to discipline a 'special needs' child but you learn quickly that fo
r them to be accepted, they need to act appropriately. Thank goodness for my kids all we needed to do was use our tone of voice or send them to their rooms (you would think by their reaction that we were sending them to Siberia).
The hardest thing for me was to not let my child hug people all the time. People with Down syndrome are known as the huggers. But his teacher suggested when he was only 3 that we discourage the hugging. Why? Because if you don't stop them from doing it all the time, it could cause trouble later. Cute when they are only little kids---not so cute when they are 20 and go up and hug a stranger. Might just get them killed or hurt.
I'm glad your brother is better today.

1 reply · active 584 weeks ago

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Birdie · 584 weeks ago

I would have a million hugs for your dear child. I'm so sorry that we live in a world where we have to be so hands off. May your child be blessed with people that cherish their hugs.

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Gennny · 584 weeks ago

Lori, Jesus said that he is "the way, the truth, and the life". For this reason, I almost daily say to myself, "Keep your eyes upon Jesus." He spent his ministry walking among the masses, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, uplifting women, bringing love and hope to the people who were the downtrodden. He was called a drunkard and a glutton because he ate and drank with publicans and sinners, and his confrontations were invariably with the people of wealth and power, the religious and political leaders of his day. I feel our mission is to bring to the world the good news that Our God, our Lord and creator, loves all of his creation, all of his 7 billion plus created beings. There are people of great wealth and power who do not share this belief, this love, and they have a great impact on how the poor, the hungry, and the sick are treated. We have a big job to do.

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Ken · 584 weeks ago

Yes Genny,

Lori and I are in complete agreement! Anyone who is truly seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness will look to Jesus a their model and ideal. Jesus is very loving and full of grace, but not afraid to speak the truth in love to try and save a lost world. Love without truth is not really love at all. If Jesus is to be believed, many will be told "depart from me I never knew you." That is the sad part of the story, and we must share the whole truth with our words, and model it in love with our deeds, in hope that our lives may save many from their sins, and that they too can become a part of the family of God. God is calling all 7 billion to enter His family today. Oh that many more would come to believe in the saving work of Jesus and be saved.

Have a fun week! ken

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Tracy · 583 weeks ago

Hi Lori, I stopped making new year's resolutions soon after I started blogging as I loved how the bloggers chose a word or phrase for the year. My first one was: Seek ye first the kingdom of God... and it was a great one because it pretty much covered my day to day. I have chosen my word for the year, joy, but not yet found a scripture that resonates with where I feel the Lord is leading me yet. Love doing these things differently and more in line with His ways. Loved your post.
God bless
Tracy

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shannon · 583 weeks ago

Hebrews 11:6 is such a great verse. I had always thought of the faith mentioned as a saving faith, which I am blessed to say I've had since I was seven years old. But as I struggle through a trial that is coming on a year now, I started to look at that verse in a different light. I have realized I am at a point where I have no faith this trial will end. I am sad to admit that, especially knowing all God has done for me. :(
God is faithful (glad He's not like me!)

1 reply · active 583 weeks ago

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Ken · 583 weeks ago

I am so sorry to hear about your trial Shannon :{. No fun at all.
Sometimes I like to see faith in a different light because hope and patience are two great qualities of faith. Hope that your Savior will save you from it, and patience to wait until He does. He always comes through for us, or we discover His purposes through it and see that He can use our trials not just for us, but to edify the whole body of Christ.

You are in my prayers, keep us in yours as we know a lot about long term trials, and God's great goodness.

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Jill York · 583 weeks ago

I certainly need to seek Him greatly this year! Beautiful picture! I saw such beautiful skies and sunsets last October while staying on the beach. We do serve an amazing Creator!

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