My two resolutions for the new year...

With each new year, there come new resolutions...new hopes, dreams, and the possibility of change.  How often do we give up on the resolutions before we ever start?  When I look around my home today there are so many opportunities for change. My kids are facing a new year with new challenges. My dad is here visiting and has ongoing health issues. Heck... I know I certainly have issues of my own and that there are things in my life that I definitely need to change.  I know life will never be perfect, but...I know I can always work on improving my life and providing a better life for me and my kids. We cannot control every part of our lives, but we can seek God's advice on how Christians should act, and what we should do.  Maybe... just maybe...if we seek His will first, things will fall into place - just as they should be.  

There are many resolutions I could come up with... lose weight (I always need to do that), keep my house clean (I have lots of teenagers all the time, so why bother?), or be more active (my activity consists of shuttling 15 year olds from place to place).  Instead of torturing myself with never accomplishing that size 4 body from 20 years ago... I have decided to choose a passage from Colossians and work on it all year long.  In Colossians 3: 12 - 15 it says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live peace. And always be thankful. "

What kind of world would we live in if we all focused on tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness,and love? How much richer would we be at the end of the year if we had more of these?  What if we took the time to realize just how blessed we are?  So...in 2016, I will focus on living and focusing on Colossians 3: 12-15, and counting my blessings.  We will fill up our "blessing jar", and on December 31, 2016 will look back and realize just how blessed we are!