“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.” Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758) was a Christian preacher, philosopher, and theologian, most famous for his sermon “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God.”
“Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.” Zig Ziglar (1926 – 2012) was an American author, salesman, and world famous motivational speaker.
“Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you've met your New Year's resolution." Jay Leno (1950 - ), former star of The Tonight Show, is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host.
"For eleven months and maybe about twenty days each year, we concentrate upon the shortcomings of others, but for a few days at the turn of New Year we look at our own. It is a good habit." Arthur H. Sulzberger (1891 – 1968) was the publisher of The New York Times from 1935 to 1961.
“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” Vern McLellan (??), modern American author, speaker, associate pastor, broadcaster, and musician.
“Always bear in mind that your won resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) was the 16th president of the United States.
“Although no one can g back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” Carl Bard (1898-1991) was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln.
“Dear God, my prayer for this New Year is a fat bank account and a thin body. Please don't mix these up like you did this year.” Author Unknown
“I can't believe it's been a year since I didn't become a better person.” Author Unknown
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet.
“Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time. Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.” Author Unknown
“Any new beginning is forged from the shards of the past, not from the abandonment of the past.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“We desire an exciting future, but the demand for familiar and comfortable tempers our steps to the point that often our steps are little more than stepping in place.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“We incessantly vacillate between what’s behind us and what’s before us depending on the current barometer of our courage and the ambivalent nature of our vision.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to.” Bill Vaughn (1915 - 1977) was an American journalist.
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughn (1915 - 1977) was an American journalist.
"Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits." Author unknown
"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other." Author unknown
"Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man
Many of the above quotes provide their own points of application. They do not necessarily represent the views of Orthodox Christianity; neither do they necessarily represent the views of Illustration Exchange.
New Year’s resolutions—is there no end to them?
Here on the cusp of the celebration of New Year's 2015, a simple Google search of the term turned up “About 65,300,000 results.” There are more than 65 million (yes, million!) articles, blogs, posts, sites, etc. dedicated to the subject.
I’m no statistician, but I would say this amounts to statistical proof that people long to change.
Change—real change—doesn’t happen through wishful thinking, sheer determination, or pat strategies and formulas. Eat less, exercise more, drink less, sleep more … yada yada yada. All the “doing” in the world won’t bring about the change you long for.
Real change comes not through formulas, but through faith—“being” regenerated and transformed by power of the Holy Spirit.
If you must resolve to “do” something different this New Year, resolve to honor the command to “be” filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” (Titus 3:5).
Music adds so much to life, and it's all built upon just seven notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G).
We often think a music scale has eight notes (the number of notes in an octave), but the eighth is only a repeat of the first. For example, in the common scale of C-major, the scale begins with C (or Doh) and ascends to D, E, F, G, A, B, and then, once again, to C. Having heard the scale so often beginning with C and ending with C, it makes us very uncomfortable to hear it with just seven notes. Listen ...
(Now demonstrate by singing the scale without the final Doh: "Doh, Ray, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti …" If you're not comfortable singing, have your pianist play the seven notes in the scale, leaving the last C, or Doh, unplayed.)
Can you feel the tension hanging in the air?
(If you want to create more tension, do it again. But it is important to leave it unresolved as you continue. Make them wait for the resolution, but not for too long.)
Life is full of tension, uncomfortable moments, unanswered questions, and unresolved conflicts. We are living our lives very much in need of that eighth note.
(Now sing the scale including that eighth note, Doh, or have the pianist play it: "Doh, Ray, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Doh." )
Doesn't that feel better? Ahhhh!
God has given us a means of resolution to all the stresses of life through our Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn't promise to solve all problems, answer all questions, or resolve all conflicts in this life. Yet, if we will listen in the Spirit, we can always turn to Him and hear that eighth note, knowing that a day is coming when we shall know fully as we are fully known. Every incomplete thing will be fulfilled; all things will be resolved.
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).