NewYear's resolutions, living godly

[Singlemom]

Lately, I spoke to others about being a lethargic Christian. Here is a copy of an email I received from my pastor. I hope this email proves to be as big a blessing to you as it is being to me. Let me know if you decide to put this into practice, especially as a New Year's resolution.

May God bless with an extra dose of His Spirit as we do

In Him,
Brandy

TIPPING POINT: The Year in Review



I used to think of the week between Christmas and New Years as a throw away week. It was a time to decide to somehow stop eating everything in sight and try to put together a few New Year's Resolutions I knew I wasn't going to keep.



Then I got an idea that changed my mind about the week. I now view it as maybe the most important week of the year. Instead of watching and listening to the mindless dribble of television and radio reviews of what happened on earth last year, I spend time with God thinking about what heaven thinks about my life last year. Since I'm addicted to journaling, I dedicate this week to reading through the pages of my spiritual journal from the year before. Using a red highlighter, I underline and make notes asking God to help me condense last year into the one lesson He was teaching me.



At the end of the week I complete this sentence and write it on the first page of my journal for 2008: "In 2007 God taught Ed ____________________________.”



Last year He taught me that the main reason I struggled with depression and anger was that I didn't have the faith to rest. It wasn't what I was expecting when I picked up my red pen, but it was what He said. That was a Tipping Point of faith for me in 2007. I told the elders, told the staff, and they held me accountable to take more time off. I did not feel guilty like I usually do when I rested because I knew that my Heavenly Father had ordered the rest.



I have no idea what He's going to teach me this year, but I do know that it will be a Tipping Point of faith in 2008.



Even if you're not a journaler like me, you can easily do your own "Year in Review" this week. It will take about an hour of your time, but I promise you it will be one of your main Tipping Points of faith in 2008.



Find some time to be alone with God this week. Ask Him to specifically help you remember the ten or twenty most important events of your last twelve months from His perspective. As His Spirit brings them to mind, write them down.



Finally, on your knees before Him, pull out your red pen and ask Him this, "Father, how do I complete this sentence?"



“In 2007 God taught [your name] ____________________________________.”



Father, what a waste it would be to live an entire year without one lesson of faith. Please help us all to see 2007 with your eyes and give us the faith to choose life by learning our primary lesson of faith, our Tipping Point truth for 2007. Amen.



Ed Underwood



Questions? Email: [email protected]





This email you have just received is about what happens when everyday people decide to look at their life in a way that will make their life count forever—and, in the process, become the man or woman God meant for them to be.



My name is Ed Underwood, and I pastor Church of the Open Door in Glendora, California. I want to help you choose the life God is offering you by focusing your energy on the decisions that matter most, the ones that will set the trajectory of your life today and in eternity.



This e-devotion came to you either because you are part of the extended family of Church of the Open Door or a friend forwarded it to you. I hope you will take the few minutes to consider the impact this week’s truth might have on your life. And, as your life begins to tip towards God and you feel His presence and purpose in your heart, that you will forward these encouragements to choose life to someone who is special to you.



Every week I will send you what I hope you will consider a note from a friend, a friend who cares very much about your ability to choose life. I want to help you identify the dramatic and eternal Tipping Points of your life, those specific thresholds of life when your choice matters eternally.



Warmly,



Ed Underwood

 

[Singlemom]

Keeping our Focus

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

I originally posted something from my Pastor on Talk Jesus and have obtained permission from Chad to post the link for the "Tipping Points" website. I have contacted my home church; "Church Of The Open Door" to post this link and I hope it will prove a blessing to you, as it is being to me.

This is the link: front door

AND the link for my home church is: Church of the Open Door

They have weekly "Tipping Points" Let me know should you choose to use these. It would prove an encouragement to some at church and me as well

BTW, this was one of my new year's resolutions..........hope it helps if this was yours as well!

May you continue to grow in "grace and truth"

Amen!

 

[paganmystic]

ty very much for this post ... personally i think the name is awesome "Tipping Point". A part of what I do involves this week very much more wanna be Christians lose their faith in this period through dispair. Nothing more it is the one time of the year my heart is heavy not for me but for people i know, squander their faith in lavish delusions and are unprepared for the reality in which they live. Its sad and I was try to be there for them. with limited success. You have a very clever pastor. Count yourself blessed.
Just don't get me wrong when I said my heart is heavy it always is when family and friends are down, In my mind it is the humility of my reality which I am always "usually" prepared for. My Lord and Saviour watches over me intently. I know that therefore those I care for I watch over intently

God Bless you my sister

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I gave up New Years Resolutions years ago, starting at about the time I realized the futility of trying to keep them by my own very limited abilities. I substituteded the habit of regularly and often turning my will and my life over to the care of God.

The end result is that quite a number of the bad habits and most all of the negative thinking I wanted to be rid of are gone - not by my works - it is the gift of God.

SLE

 

[paganmystic]

obviously Ed is Spirit Led
ty I talk to others often about this subject, I am glad when they just consider the words and look at their bibles and pray ... those are the ones that are able to move forward with their lives. The others always end up in a cragmire of of broken dreams and delusionment of how this should be. We must reach out to them, and bring them back into the light.

I found a most wonderful place too see so many who took they steps they had to to remain followers of Christ. Blessed are the new followers only now search for their path and came across ours

Blessings and joy to all and always remember the last verse of "footprints in the sand" my precious precious child in those times you thought I had deserted you because saw only one set of footprints. When your trials became to great to bear it was then that I carried you.

probibly the one thing many of us don't consider have a blessed week-end

 

[Singlemom]

Then how about a daily resolution?

I gave up New Years Resolutions years ago, starting at about the time I realized the futility of trying to keep them by my own very limited abilities. I substituteded the habit of regularly and often turning my will and my life over to the care of God.

The end result is that quite a number of the bad habits and most all of the negative thinking I wanted to be rid of are gone - not by my works - it is the gift of God.

SLE

Well, I thank you for your post.......... I agree with you. The only way we can keep New Years resolutions....or do anything it is by trusting in God and asking for his strength in all matters.

Ed, you remember my post about the Lord's Supper? I have not taken it at times because I thought I lived my week like a lukewarm Christian. I have made it my "New Years resolution to read my Bible and be in intimate communion with Him and thus be "transformed" and not be conformed. I know that this decision was placed in my heart. You see, I have always been very sensitive to the Spirit's leading in my life. If I sin, I feel the conviction kicking in right away. My peace is gone, and He doesn't leave me alone until I get back on the straight and narrow path.

I know that my walk with the Lord is my responsability, but I know I cannot do it without Him. He empowers me to be able to obey, to have the faith to listen to His leading, and to finally repent and be cleansed when I fail. In the long run, when I have lived like a lukewarm Christian. I come back, because I know that God is answering my prayer to keep a string tied to His heart to mine.

I think "New Year's resolution" should be a misnomer, I think we should be making this a daily resolution. Each day we should resolve to ask God to strengthen us to live a pleasing life in His sight.

It is only when we are in an intimate communion with Him that we are able to live the ''Christian Life" or living by Faith, and not by works. I labeled it New years's resolution because it was the beginning of a new year and it had a catchy name......many still make resolutions.........I have never made them for that specific day.....I make it a daily resolution to ask for the Spirit's leading.

On The same token, devotionals can be an encouraging way to "be encouraged" That is why I submitted Pastor Ed's devotionals, which will help to encourage and to continue to live a life that leans, and rests in the Lord.

Amen.

I think you will understand, because you are right in saying that we cannot trust in our own strength. Amen