Another new year has started and are you thinking about the new years resolutions you made? Or are you like the rest of us who are already getting caught up in the reality of a new year and have other hopes and dreams that we are trying to attain.

Sometimes I wonder why we make New Years resolutions? Is it because we are expected to, or are we actually using them as goals? whatever the case may be, we need to make sure God is part of the equation.

Life gives us a lot of choices that make us do things we either want to do or have no desire to. This makes for choices that are either warranted or mistakes that we will pay dearly for later. We can choose to over-indulge and see the answers to these calamities in their dark glory or we can choose to set aside and save for later study.

1 Corinthians 9:26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I'm not just shadow-boxing or playing around. TLB

A lot of people put off saving for retirement and pay for it later. And some may give up on some good pleasures that when we get older, wish we had taken advantage of. Regret is not something that we should dwell on. Instead it is better to look at as many positives as possible when we get older and think of life as more of a learning process that is fraught with mistakes, and realize that no matter how much we may have done, that we will look back on our lives with regret of some kind or other.

But unless we choose to take life, such as it is, and try to make the lives of others better, our own lives will always be limited in scope and regret will sink in. If we over-indulge we are choosing to act selfishly.

When we graduated from high school, we thought that our lives would make a difference. But in order to make a difference we need to look beyond ourselves and seek those things and feelings that will benefit the world out there, and not always the world in your heart. Otherwise the treasures you gather here on earth will not make any difference.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven-it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well. TLB

"Use their money to do good." That is not to say do not indulge, because sometimes we need to give ourselves a little reward from time-to-time, but it means do not take that selfishness to a point where we forget about the important things in life. Sometimes you have to use your money for good things.

They say time is money, so take that money to do good. Spend the time to do good. Otherwise regret will set in. So rather than getting to your death bed at an old age and thinking that you could have been a lot more selfish, think about what contribution you made to society. Because you can't make a difference if you get caught up in keeping up with the Joneses.

Prayer: Thank you for watching over me and understanding the mistakes that I have made. Let me learn from them, and help me to not let what I could over-indulge in get the best of me. Help me this year to set goals for myself and attain them, and give me the insight to understand the clues to a better existence that you give me every day. I thank you for all your many blessings. Amen.

Benediction: Now, Lord, Bless us in our daily lives. Help us to smell the roses whenever possible, to shine our light on those less fortunate than us, and lead us in the path we should go. For you are the light that keeps our path well lit. Help us to follow it, until we meet you, in a land where milk and honey abound, a place where our most wonderful dreams are fulfilled. Amen.

Hi, my name is Bryan, a messenger of hope who would love to hear from you. God Bless.

© 2007 Bryan Hill

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