Tips on New Year’s Positive Resolution for Christians

Towards the end of this week, 2010 comes to a close. Some may just want to put 2010 behind them and forget about. Others don't want this year to end. Along with a new year comes the traditional setting of New Year’s resolutions that millions of people make each year in an attempt to better their lives. Follow my FB for tips on making informed resolutions for the year 2011.

If we as Christians make resolutions, what kind of resolution should we make? Many Christian’s resolutions are so general; to pray more, read the bible more or attend church on a regular basis. But if there is no power in your resolution, these resolutions will not last.

Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Put God in the center of your New Year's Resolutions... for better results.

For Proverbs 19:8 says, "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers." A new year shouldn't necessarily mean a new resolution. If we put God first in our lives and seek his will, then every day will be a "new day" with Christ.

When you are ready to set your resolution, you may need to write it down. Take time to analyze your life so that come next year you can make significant step towards positive goals to enrich your future. Don't forget that you are different and your resolution suits you and not others.

New Year's resolutions can be tricky; many people make them and than slowly forget about them. Do you want to be one of those that make dramatic resolution that would have otherwise changed life and then dump it in one week?

If this would be the case with you, make a resolution to NOT MAKE A RESOLUTION THIS YEAR. Remember you should keep to the goals here too.

However, making a tangible resolution will give you a mind set to begin the year on a positive note. A resolution well reasoned will give you a sense of purpose throughout the year.

For those who are looking forward to more spiritual resolutions, here are some tips: Be realistic in setting your resolution. Make sure you don't overwhelm yourself, wanting better results. Note, too many resolutions can result to over commitment. Follow through your goal plan.

Be realistic: Don't aim to Jupiter, when you have not landed on the moon yet. i.e If you are not committed to spiritual matters on a lower lever, don't seek higher level as yet. Don't resolve something like this, “I want to Know God Better" if you have not born again yet.

Don't overwhelm yourself: Don't plan to attend every Church function. In any case functions in the church will not save you. Plan on which function will help you build your relationship with God. i.e. Church services, small fellowship group, small bible study groups e.t.c.

Better results: It is not possible to grow overnight. Growth is a process. You need to realize that it will take time for you to get mature in the things (Word and Knowledge) of God. See 1 Corinthians 13:11.

Follow through your goal: Missing one day in a series does not mean you have lost. Keep pushing to your goal. Remember when you resolve to build your spiritual life; temptations will always be at your door step. Remember Satan is tempter and spiritual enemy. See Matthew 4:3

It doesn't matter what your resolution(s) is (are), one sure thing is that making new year's resolution is a perfect time to recreate your live both at spiritual level and of course physical.

Many others will make resolutions to stop bad habits, ie smoking, drinking, and infidelity among others. In these categories of resolutions, the advice here is: find support system, someone you can be accountable to. In this way you have someone to help you attain your goal.

Support system may be your family member(s), your peers, pastor, face book friend(s), bible study group(s), spouse, and the list is endless...

Always be accountable to yourself even in the midst of the support system. Be conscience of your resolutions and the goals you have set. Remember it is about you not them.

If the resolutions are not attainable in the first week in the New Year, revise them without changing the goal. If you change your goal, one week would go to waste.

Many people will make resolutions relating to health issues. The advice here is that one should be realistic in setting the goal concerning health, i.e. do you want to change your health or improve it?

The following will help you on health issue resolution(s): Is it weight that you want to loss? Do you want to eat better foods? Is it excise that you need?

Whatever your resolution(s) is (are), make sure you set a goal on what you want to accomplish. The goal you set must be personal.

Don't make a resolution like..."As for me and my house we will serve the Lord" Josh 24:15. This is not personal. Serving God can be good resolution, but involving the whole family, marks the beginning of failure.

My resolution is to Keep John 3:16. I want to believe in God that I may live.

So kick off 2011 with a few resolutions, and do not be afraid not to live up to them for where there a will there is a way. Happy new Year You All.

Christmas - A Celebration of Man.

I just finished reading a small book by Lee Strobel entitled “The Case for Christmas” This small book is a gift from my “favorite nurse” at the hospital where I am a chaplain and she is a communicable decease control nurse. In this book Lee investigates from a journalist view point the Child in the Manger. After reading the last chapter of this book, the identity of the Messiah, I was left wondering why man is so much involved in celebrating Christmas with feasts and not faith in this Messiah. Christmas than becomes the celebration of man.

We have all heard the statement, “the feeling of Christmas is in the air”. For most people December brings along with the cold and winter some special feelings. In fact this is my first white Christmas. My family and I are enjoying it in Columbus Ohio.

In December we begin to see the Christmas lights and decorations. We see many nativity scenes, some of which are equipped with live animals. Most of these decorations are in people backyards. We experience the overstocked and busy stores. We see Santa Klaus in department stores bidding children to sit on his lap and leave their Christmas wishes. We soon see gifts wrapped and placed under the tree.

All of these things remind us that Christmas time is here again. This is a season that special feelings cause heightened reactions. It is a season of cranky sales clerks, quick trips to the mall, a season in which we spend more than we have, and eat more than we need. But Christmas is much more than all of that. Christmas is not a time of celebration. It is the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Yes celebrating His birth.

Christmas seems to become more eloquent each year.

Christmas is much like many of the national holidays we celebrate. These holidays are also birthday celebrations of great men who developed our heritage into what it is today. In America we have the president’s day; in Kenya we have Mashujaa Day and so on. These holidays are named after the men we celebrate, or season and events that make us who we are. Christmas is also the birthday of a man who we should admire and give honor to for what He has done for us and given us. We also should be proud to claim what He so graciously has given us salvation.

As we celebrate Christmas, we must remember that Jesus Christ is the heart of Christmas. It is in His name that we gather together and celebrate. The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:5 it is about Jesus we preach, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

When we celebrate the birthday of a great man in history, we think about the kind of man He was. As we celebrate Christmas the question should also come to our mind is, what kind of Man was this whose birthday splits time into B.C. and A.D.?

Who was in the manger that Christmas morning? Some say he would become a great moral leader, others a social critic. Still others view Jesus a a profound philosopher, a Rabbi, a feminist, a prophet and more. Who was he really? How can you know for sure? My next article in this blog is the summary of Lee’ book. But the conclusion of Christmas the celebration of man is: Who was Jesus?

The most important question we can ask to determine what kind of man Jesus was is, What do you say about Him? This is the most important question because the answer will determine your eternal destiny. You only have two options. You can accept Him as who He says He is. You can say, “I believe Jesus is the most unique man who has ever lived, and I believe His uniqueness can be confirmed by the fact that He was God himself living among us.” Or, you can say, He was the biggest liar in history and His lies laid the foundation for history’s greatest mockery and foolishness.

Your answer to this most important question will determine whether or not you experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Pitfalls to Watch for in your Christian Walk

Is Jesus just a believe system for you or do you have a vital and living relationship with him? Many people know about him, study him but they are missing a personal and living relationship with him. In this article I will show you four approaches that you have to avoid at all costs in order to enter into a very personal and intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Luke chapter 24. 1-12 we find the resurrection account of Jesus. Three women, Mary Magdalena, Joanna and another Mary went to Jesus’ tomb but discovered that his body was not there. They loved and followed Jesus. Now they are terrified because there Jesus is not there. Two angles appeared and asked them a very important question. The same question is to this day a challenge to you and me:

“Why are you looking for him who is alive among the dead? He is not here: he has risen!”

The all important and challenging question in this story is that of the messenger in the tomb, "Why are you looking for him who is alive among the dead?" Many people today still look for Jesus among the dead.

Firstly:

There are those who regard him as the greatest man and the noblest hero who ever lived - but who also died like everybody else. Don’t fall into this trap. I hope that Jesus is not just a moral model for you. Not just a great person who was and did good. Believing in Jesus means not just to acknowledge that He once lived but that He is alive and well today. He wants you to accept Him as your personal saviour so that He can come and live within you.

Secondly:

There are those who regard Jesus simply as a man whose life must be studied, his words must be examined and his teachings must be analysed. Some Christians tend to think of Christianity and Christ merely in terms of something to be studied. When we come together in our Bible study groups - do we only come together to study, to examine and to analyse and to discuss?

Yes, without any doubt, study is necessary and important!

But Jesus is not only someone to be studied! He is someone to be met in person! If you want to know something about Jesus why not ask Him? Jesus is someone to be lived with every day of our live.

He is not only a figure in a book, even if that book is the greatest book in the whole world - Jesus is a living person. He wants to walk with you, and he wants to talk with you. He desires to be your friend. Wherever you are, whatever you do, he is there with you and He wants you to realise that.

Thirdly:

There are those who see in Jesus just the perfect pattern and example. And yes, he is that. But a perfect example can be the most heartbreaking thing on earth. For centuries the birds gave men an example of flight - and yet not until modern times could men fly.

Can you remember, when you received your first writing book in grade one? At the top it had a line of copperplate writing; below it had blank lines on which we had to copy it. Remember how discouraging it was to try to reproduce that perfect pattern, that example? But then the teacher would come and take our hand into his or hers and guide our hand with his or hers and we got closer and closer the ideal.

That is exactly what Jesus does. He is not only the pattern and the example. He helps us and guides us and strengthens us to follow that pattern and example. He is not simply a model for our life - He is the alive - he is the life.

Fourthly:

Some Christians look for the living Christ in dead tradition. Mark 7.6-8 (New International Version) He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

I am so glad that over time many of our churches and denominations did let go of dead traditions and moved into the freedom of the Holy Spirit. For many years it was more important to live by manmade church rules than to obey God’s commands.

If you sang the right songs, used the appropriate instruments, wore the right cloth and had your hair done in the right way, then everything was good and you where a good Christian. You tried top live by those rules but did that satisfy your soul? Of course not! Because pleasing man puts you under bandage. You are trying, but you can never please man.

But pleasing God brings wonderful results. It brings peace and joy. It opens the doors for God’s blessings. It really satisfies you.

My dear readers, I encourage you not to look for Jesus in the wrong places. Don’t look for Him in History. Don’t try to find Him at university. Don’t look for Him under the noble man. And please don’t try to find Him in tradition.

But meet Him as you pray and read His Word. Meet Him while you have fellowship with other believers. And meet Him as you do acts of kindness for your fellow man

The living Christ wants a vital and living relationship with each one of you.