A New Year's Commitment

2009!!! Wow, it's hard to believe that all the Y2K worries were nine years ago! My mama used to tell me that the older you get, the faster time flies. Boy, is that true! I pray that all of you have enjoyed the Christmas and New Year holidays and have been able to spend some time (even if it was just by phone) with your family. It seems that all I've heard on TV for the last week is about "New Year's Resolutions" and how hardly anyone keeps their resolutions. Why make them if you're not going to keep them?!? It's never made sense to me. But then I began to think about all the times I've "resolved" to do something for the Lord...like be a better witness to those I come in contact with, or be more committed to Bible study, or reach out to someone who has a real need...but have not "kept my resolution." What about all the times I've "resolved" to do something for the church...like be a part of a particular ministry, or working in the nursery, or teaching a class, or even cleaning out a flower bed...and then, after a short spurt of "resolve," I've faded into the background with my "resolution" in tow. So I've decided not to make any more resolutions! This year I've decided to make COMMITMENTS. Wikipedia defines "commitment" as "A promise or agreement to do something in the future; Being bound emotionally/intellectually to a course of action or to another person/other persons." When you're committed to someone or something, you are bound to that person or action with all of your being. When you're committed to someone or something, you'll follow through with your commitment...no matter how you feel, no matter how tired you are, no matter how inconvenient if may be...because you've made a promise and you are bound to fulfill that promise. So this year I think I'll make commitments instead of resolutions...to the Lord, to our church, and to each of you in the WIW Life Connections class. I hope that you will do the same!

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (The Message)
When you make a vow to God, your God, don't put off keeping it; God, your God, expects you to keep it and if you don't you're guilty. But if you don't make a vow in the first place, there's no sin. If you say you're going to do something, do it. Keep the vow you willingly vowed to God, your God. You promised it, so do it.