As we start the new year I thought I would share some of my resolutions and hope that they might be an encouragement.
I resolve to be Kind
I have never caught myself saying; “Wow, I wish I would not have been kinder to that person.” I have however caught myself many times saying sorry that was not very nice of me. Or even thought later wow I wish I had not said that, so this year I resolve to be Kind. Eph 4: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
I resolve to be Faithful
“Be a man of your word, if you said you were going to do then, Bless the Lord you should do it!” I can still hear my Grandpa saying that. He was a great example of being faithful. Luke 16:10 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. I can truly say it is always my goal to have others say that I was a good friend I remember the words written by Shakespeare “He was my friend, faithful and just to me!” I believe that in our world of many changes, success and technological advancement we have forgotten to be faithful! Faithful to others. People count on us to be faithful! They depend on us to be people of our word. If we say it; we should do it. Be careful to not promise that which you cannot deliver. We need to be Faithful to our God. How much does the Lord of all the creation deserve your loyal faithful heart? Are you faithful and just to God? Do you make his church a priority or just a place? Is your life centered on the thoughts of what can I do to make my Lord and King proud of my service; or has His service become problematic and lacking sincerity? We should make faithfulness to God a consistent everyday goal! Read a portion of Scripture daily, meditate on it throughout the day, stay in the mode of prayer all day in every moment of the day. This does not mean you need to stop the line at the local Walmart and get down on bended knee and pray. But you can pray while standing in line or sitting in traffic or even eating your Fruit Loops! Just make certain you are faithful to the one who has His name inscribed as the faithful and true! Rev19:1111 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,
I resolve to be Loving
Loving real men are lovers of God! The Bible describes people who are not lovers of God and it is not complementary (2Tim 3). We must strive to loving, and not just to the loveable. In my case it is really easy to love my cute nephews. They are adorable and so pure. However the Bible gives us a command to love everyone as Jesus loved. (John13:34) We should love people with the same love that God loved us with. Because we were loved before we were worthy of love. So let us love one another with a Christ like love.
I resolve to be encouraging
I saved this one for last because I believe it to be so important and a needed necessity for our world today! I do not ever see Jesus joking around, making fun, or just kidding. I do see Jesus having a sense of humor, I can even see in my mind’s eye he must have been fun or kids would not have loved him! However, I believe that Jesus was careful with His words there is a fine line between have fun with others and making fun others. Beware! be careful for I know I have danced on this line way too many times in my own life! The Bible tells us in Mark 12:34 “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The Bible also tells us what we should let our heart dwell on! Phil 4:8 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things Yet to many of us spend so much time dwelling on others faults, let us provoke each other to Love and Good works, not to wrath! Let us be men of encouragement, and ladies of grace. That statement our Mom’s taught us is still true, if you don’t have something nice to say then don’t say anything at all! Bless people be a blessing! I hope that when I die people will say Pastor Joe was a consistent encouragement who showed the Love God through every part of his life, He shared the gospel to every person he met through being faithful in his singing, preaching and his living! Be an encourager there are enough critics in the world. Remember what has been said it true “A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.” Be a person of encouragement!