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RESOLUTIONS: Intentions don’t count

  Things that control our lives: money, friends, food, shelter, schedules, time. There is only one of these items that we can’t get more of if we lose it or don’t use it- time . Procrastination is a thief of time- Don’t waste time, it is most valuable and you have direct control of how you use it. God tells us what we must do to join him in heaven-don’t focus your attention on things that doesn’t promote you going to heaven-there is not enough time. James tells us in chapter 4, don’t wait to do what ought to be done. There is no guarantee of even tomorrow. There is absolutely no power in intentions . There is really no difference in a person who intends to do things differently than one who never thinks about it. The results are the same. Do you give yourself credit for intentions?   It is easy for us to give ourselves credit for things we intend to do and even take them off your mental “to do list”. You must take action, intending to do something doesn’t give you an...
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RESOLUTIONS: Draw closer to God by slowing down

  There are so many earthly demands on us today that it is sometimes even hard to have time to sleep. Sometimes that lack of sleep is from attempting to meet the earthly demands and knowing we are not meeting the things God wants from us. Is this a catch 22? No, it is a priority thing. We feel so much pressure to maintain a certain level of worldly comfort that we can’t enjoy life due to the demands to maintain this comfort. Back off and examine your priorities. Are they where they should be? We can redo our earthly demands but we can’t redo what God wants. When we slowdown we can, pray more fervently, meditate more effectively, see more clearly God’s handiwork, and gain more studying God’s word. You will be closer to God. Make a resolution to slow down and draw closer to God.
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RESOLUTIONS: Draw closer to God through study of His word

  Spend time alone with God’s Word.   Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.   Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.   Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2   I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character.   God is good. God loves me. God is with me. God knows my problems. God cares. Romans 8:31(b) tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Make a resolution to slowdown and study G...
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RESOLUTIONS: Draw closer to God through nature

    Spend time communing with God through nature . Observe the beauty in the world that God has made for us.   To see a glimpse of His power in the expanse of the ocean and its relentless waves that pound the seashore; to breath in the sweetness of the majestic mountains with their laurels, so breathtakingly beautiful that we, like Jacob, will say, “Surely the Lord is in this place.”    Feel the spider web’s strength.   Listen as the songbirds serenade.   Smell a newborn baby, the smell of a puppy.   Watch the floating clouds and the beautiful sunset.   Stand in the summer’s shower and taste the rain.   By observing God’s creation, our faith in Him and in His power is reinforced.   Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Make a resolution to slow down and smell the roses.  
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RESOLUTIONS: “Draw closer to God through meditation”

  Until we slowdown in this world of hurry we cannot properly evaluate the events going on in our lives. Meditation gives us opportunity to look into our lives and profit from our mistakes.   We can also reflect and meditate on all the things God has done for us.   Meditate on the record of God’s goodness to His people.   This will help us to focus our thoughts on God’s ability to help us rather than our inability to help ourselves.   Read the Bible’s accounts of God’s goodness and meditate on them. Make a resolution to slowdown and spend time alone with God meditating.
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RESOLUTIONS: “Draw closer to God through prayer”

  Knowing God and being able to talk to Him will give meaning and purpose to our existence.   God truly loves us. (Romans 8:38-39)   He is always there, his hand outstretched, waiting for us to seek Him.   He has so much to give us and wants the opportunity to do so (Matthew 7:11). Spending time in prayer is one way to be alone with God.    Our Lord spent much time alone in prayer communing with God.   Many times He withdrew into the mountains to pray and rest.   In prayer we can communicate to God our innermost thoughts, needs, desires and thanksgivings. Talking with God will help you to feel closer to Him and rely on Him for all things, knowing that: “ The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”   James 5:16(b). Make a resolution to slowdown and pray more fervently.
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“Truly Loving One Another”

                               DISCUSSION: There’s more to being a Christian than talking about Jesus or rejoicing in being “saved.” Too often we emphasize our personal, “vertical” relationship with Jesus without thinking how that should affect our “horizontal” relationships with others, where life can be very complicated. Ephesians has some close to-home application here, teaching that the reason for submitting to one another is “out of reverence for Christ.” Explaining Jesus’ command that we “love one another,” some have stated that “Where love reigns, there is mutual servitude,” adding that this applies even to kings and rulers. They must serve their people, as must leaders in the church, elders, deacons, preachers. So must husbands and wives. Applying Jesus’ example to the marriage relationship, Paul mentions the “profound mystery” of Christ ...
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