resolve.

 
"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve." - Benjamin Franklin

January 1st.

Just twenty days ago, hundreds of thousands of people proclaimed their annual new year's resolutions. Some stood determined to lose that extra weight. The double-chin. The flabby arms. The love handles.

Others vowed to hit the gym every day and to stay in shape. Visions of treadmills and stationary bicycles danced in their heads.

Some just desired to be more organized. Tired of being affectionately known as the family "pack rat."

Twenty days ago. 480 hours.

Unfortunately, the majority of those potentially life-changing resolutions are now but a memory to some. Making a new year's resolution became nothing more than a tradition. Something expected of us, but inconsequential if broken.

Paul wrote in Romans 7:15: "...for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do." (KJV)

I like the way The Message words it by saying, " What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise."

So many times I have heard others reference this passage, not necessarily to make sin exusable, but to defend their weakness or maybe lighten their responsibility to lead an overcoming life.

If they would simply continue in their reading to Chapter 8, they would find in verse 9 that we "are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."

One cannot simply cling to the fleshly weakness of Chapter 7 and claim to be of the Spirit described in Chapter 8.

Society has made it so excusable to be wishy-washy. "Promises are made to be broken..." or at least that's what we're told. It's perfectly acceptable to be as vague as possible so as not to ruffle anyone's feathers. We have to be politically correct, you know. (sarcasm intended.)

Joshua 24:15 says, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve."

Jesus said in Luke 16:13, "No [one] can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other."

Who or what are you serving? What direction are you headed?

What have you resolved to do?

This is not a time for cowards. Nor is it a time for fence riders.

We must resolve to do that which is good and right, and then do it.

Resolve to have resolve.

decisions.

I've made a random and humorous observation about people in general.

Whenever required to make a quick decision, they recite a speech. One that I believe has been rehearsed since birth....molded into our brain before we were even born.

I discovered this after observing my husband. Every time we are in a restaurant or drive-thru, he recites from the same script when ordering. Word by word. It's almost disturbing.

Waitress: Hi. Welcome to (enter establishment name here). Can I take your order?

Jeremy: Umm......let me see here. Uh.....ch....ch....ch....ch....chh. I'll have theeeee.....uhhhh.......hmmm. The number 10.


Funny thing is he almost ALWAYS orders the number 10. But still.....same script every time. And don't think I'm just picking on my wonderful husband. I've observed this in probably 99.9% of people at some point or another. It cracks me up.

What's with the sound? Ch...ch....ch....ch.....chhhh.

How does that help? Are we summoning our cerebral juices? Does that universally buy us time to pause and think about our answer? If so, I plan on using that technique often!

For instance, my pastor calls on me to testify. "Uh...let me see here......ch....ch....ch...ch....chhhh."
My college professor chooses me to answer the question that no one else will volunteer to. "Hmmm.......ch....ch....ch...ch....chhhh." My best friend asks for my opinion on her new dress. "Oh....uh....well......ch....ch....ch...ch....chhhh."

It has gotten to the point where I almost laugh every time I hear someone do it. I even catch myself subconciously participating. How embarrassing.

I think I'll create a new fad. A new era of decision making. Let's turn life into a musical. Everytime someone asks us question, we must answer in a song. Sounds better than ch....ch....ch...ch....chhhh.

Friend: Hey Amber! What'cha got there?

Me: (sings) I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. Deedilly deeeeeeee.