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Moment-by-Moment Choices

As the New Year approaches, we make resolutions to change things.  What is your resolution?

In the podcast Jim just posted, it's usually about losing weight or becoming more financially sound.

What if we made different choices?

I can make moment-by-moment choices this year -

- I can choose to love and invest in my family; spending less time at work

- I can choose to find joy in each moment of the day

- I can choose to bring peace into situations that are less than peaceful

- I can choose to be more patient

- I can choose to show kindness

- I can choose to exhibit Christ's goodness

- I can choose to be faithful in all things - with my eyes, my ears and my heart

- I can choose to be gentle or I can choose to be cruel

- I can choose self-control by being mindful of the damage my tongue can cause and how my anger breaks down relationship with those I claim to love.

Most resolutions disappear before the end of January has arrived.

- I can choose, moment-by-moment

Podcast #11

Important Please Read

• Your Best New Year's Resolution... Ever!

Mentioned in the Podcast
• Spiritual Discovery Resources click here
• The Forgotton Intimacy click here

A Savior Has Been Born to You ...

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’”
(Luke 2: 1-12)

Merry Christmas, dear readers.

Legacy

As we approach Christmas in the next few days, ask yourself the following question-

Will the plans I make affect my family for future generations?

My husband and I did not become Christians until we were 10 years into our marriage. Our daughters were 5 and 1 at the time. The holidays were very typical with non-Norman Rockwell family dyamics present.  I remember some pretty volatile days spent with relatives where there was less than Christlike behavior from family members as well as ourselves.

We made some hard choices to no longer travel across country to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with some family members.  We decided to stay at home and attend church with our daughters and create new traditions such as reading the story of Christ's birth in the book of Luke.  We did not cutoff all family ties. We chose to visit on the days following Christmas so we could keep our hearts focused on what was important - the celebration of Christ's birth.  Did it create some initial family stress? Yes. However, it eventually disappeared.

Looking back, it was a decision that changed the spiritual future of our family.

This past week our eldest daughter shared the following story about our four year old grandson, Isaiah.  Our son-in-law had done something that hurt Isaiah's feelings and said to him "I'm sorry, Isaiah".  Isaiah's words back to his daddy were, "That's OK, I forgive you because that's what Jesus would want me to do."

I thanked God for the words spoken by Isaiah...words that have created a new legacy for our family.

Wishing you a blessed and "forgiven' Christmas.

Podcast #10

Important Please Read

• The Christmas Story

Mentioned in the Podcast
• The Bible Experience by Zondervan click here

Insidetrac Podcast #9

Important Please Read

• Handling the Holidays with Laura Petherbridge
• A Conversation with Dan Dean from Phillips, Craig, and Dean

Mentioned in the Podcast
• Read the Article: Handling the Holidays click here
• Phillips, Craig, and Dean Top of My Lungs click here