Written by Jamey Free
The term “New Year’s resolutions” has basically become synonymous with the beginning of each year. Because of my lifetime success rate of zero percent with New Year’s resolutions, I recently got curious and researched some statistics. This is what I found about Americans and their resolve around the New Year:
– Better financial decisions – 9%
The only surprise for me was that THAT many people keep their resolutions — to any eight percenters reading this, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. And obviously these stats don’t apply to all of us … they certainly don’t apply to me, as I gave up on New Year’s resolutions years ago.
It did get me thinking — why are New Year’s resolutions so difficult to keep. I have some theories.
1) The Pressure — We’re expecting to change habits that we’ve been accumulating for (oftentimes) years in a short amount of time. It doesn’t take long for our brains to figure out it’s much easier to give up.
2) Terrible Timing — Eating healthier when you’ve justified cookies for breakfast for the past three weeks? Feeling confident to make better financial decisions after going over your holiday budget by 400 percent? Maybe April resolutions would make more sense.
3) Lack of Real Resolve — let’s be honest … if a person is really that motivated to make a change, he or she would start right away. If I break my arm in July, I’m not going to wait until January to get a cast.
So should we just skip resolutions altogether? Paul didn’t.
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” – 1 Cor. 2:2
Determination and unwavering commitment to Christ was the resolution Paul gave to the Corinthians.
Fanny Crosby was eight years old and blind when she penned these words.
O what a happy soul am I?
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don’t!
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot, and I won’t.
After much thought, I’ve decided resolutions aren’t the issue…it’s what we are resolving to do. As believers, we know the void can’t be filled with temporal things. We aren’t truly satisfied with what the world has to offer when we have an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled reserved for us in heaven.
Instead of eating more kale in 2018, I think I’ll take a page from young Fanny’s book and resolve to be content and fixated on Jesus Christ, like Paul.
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The Discipleship Council
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Our first book club meeting will be postponed until further notice. We will NOT be meeting on January 22 at Alice Hall’s home. Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. Thank you for understanding!
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Thank you to everyone that volunteered to serve on the “Prayer Team” at The Gathering Conference back in September. This was a great outreach to the young women in our community—many that attend Shadow Mountain and even some that do not. What a great opportunity for the Women’s Discipleship Ministry to reach the younger generation. We encourage you to continue finding ways to serve in 2018.
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8:30-10:30 am
SMCC Generations Building
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details to come via email.
If you plan to attend the training, please RSVP to Ronnie at RonnieAdair@cox.net
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About You
– Name: Katie Long
– Spouse: Mike
– Kids: Libby (Cocker Spaniel)
– What do you do for work? Graphic Designer at Turning Point
– What 3 words would you use to describe yourself? Crafty, easy-going, athletic.
Regarding Discipleship
– What is something God is currently teaching you regarding discipleship? I have taken a little time off from discipling which made me feel guilty at first. But I realized that I needed a little time to grow and God was using that time for other things in my personal walk with Him. I’m confident that what I’m learning in this season will help me with future disciplees.
-What do you find most challenging about discipleship? Meeting consistently with busy schedules.
– What advice do you have for anyone that might be hesitant to begin discipling? Talk with the woman who discipled you. Ask her if she has any advice for you. Chances are, she will encourage you to step out and do it! If you truly invest yourself in the life of someone else, God will honor it and grow you both in the process.
Personal Life
– How do you enjoy spending your free time? I love to crochet and recently opened an Etsy shop! I also love doing puzzles and playing board games.
– Favorite vacation spot? I am going on a cruise in a couple months, and after I get back, I’m hoping “The Caribbean” will be my answer for this!
Miscellaneous
– What is something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance? I tried going sky diving 3 different times, but they wouldn’t let us go because of wind. I took that as God’s way of telling me not to go sky diving.
– What is one thing you can’t live without? Blankets. I’m always wrapped in a blanket at my house no matter what time of year it is.
– What is your favorite holiday? Easter. There’s something about that spring morning, the joy in the songs about Jesus defeating death, and everyone wearing bright, sunny colors!
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Excerpt taken from DesiringGod.com
Posted on September 4, 2017.
Written by Greg Morse, Content Strategist, DesiringGod.com
For years I’ve struggled with a sinking sense of inadequacy.
This usually plays out in a disposition of deference: Why would I speak up when others could? Why should I teach a class when others are more capable? Why would I take that position when others are more worthy of it? Whether speaking, acting, or receiving, I let others go first. The self-designated (six-foot-six) runt among the litter.
I never challenged this because I considered it a blemish of humility. If pride is the preoccupation with oneself: a life of self-insertion and mirror-gazing, then the opposite must be humility. But as I avoided different opportunities due to a sense of inferiority, the debilitating sense of my own smallness only grew.
If, like me, you’ve lived under a dark cloud of inadequacy; if the parasite of self-pity drains your energy to go where God calls; if anxiety over your littleness anchors you from stepping out in faith; I encourage you to join me in repentance.
Small in Your Own Eyes
He hid among the baggage.
He never wanted the role. He never campaigned to be king. He was from a humble clan of the least of the tribes of Israel (1 Samuel 9:21). Who was he to be in charge? Thousands of capable men surrounded him, why should he be Israel’s first (human) king? Fear gripped him, the people chose him, Israel sought him — so he fled, hoping never to be found.
A sense of insignificance caused Saul, the tallest man in Israel, to play hide-and-go-seek to escape his calling.
But he lost and the people found his hiding spot and crowned him king. Surrounded by a sea of enemies, Saul soon faces an army he cannot defeat alone. God grants Israel the victory and commands Saul to devote everything — and everyone — to destruction. Instead, the people both kept the best livestock and treasures, and kept Agag, the defeated king, alive. When Samuel confronts Saul as to why he hears sheep bleating, Saul told him what they had done.
Now listen to what Samuel says to Saul,
“Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed’” (1 Samuel 15:17–19).
Saul disobeyed God because he was too small in his own eyes. The giant of Israel felt as a dwarf compared to the people (1 Samuel 15:24). He feared them more than God and compromised the mission God gave to him because of it.
To read the rest of the article, and we suggest you do, click here.
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Women's Discipleship Newsletter 