Forward , Onward and Upward

Took a couple days off of writing. Had a funeral to go to on New Years Day of a friend that died after a battle with cancer . He was a solid Christian. So it kinda framed the rest of the day for me as I entered 2011.

Then yesterday I also took advantage of the weather and went to visit my Mom's grave site. So in the quiet of the grave yard , with the wind slightly blowing over the snow covered ground I prayed .

I resolved to look forward . For way too many years I have spent too much time lingering and dwelling on past sins ,mistakes and failures. I do believe one should try to heal hurts one has caused , seeking forgiveness and reconciliation , undoing the wrongs one has done to the best of ones ability but at the same time if we dwell there if things don't go the way we want , we will be stuck in the past. We must except that if we confess of sins , God is faithful to forgive our sins . To linger and let them bog us down is ultimately an insult . Therefore looking forward I will resolve to read Psalm 51 daily , to mark my life with repentance and trust in the promises that in Jesus Christ , I'm whiter than snow . My sins are remembered no more .

I also resolve to move onward in the call to take up my cross ,deny myself and follow my Lord where He leads me (Mark 8:34 ). To truly desire growth and grow in grace in my life not for the purpose to naval gaze , but to exult  Jesus Christ ,to glorify the Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can be more effective in my witness to others and service to my home Church . I want to love more, forgive much and share more . 


Finally I want to press upward ." I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."Philippians 3:14) I want to set my eyes upward and set my sights on Jesus . This life can pummel you and leave you barren and weak. The flesh(sinful nature) the world and the devil want to rob your joy and peace one has  in the Lord. So the the hope that is found only in Christ , is what I wish to press towards. Just as a runner  that sprints for the finish line , one must fix ones eyes on the finish line . Most successful runners will tell you , to run well you must not focus on who is behind,beside or even ahead of you . One should focus on your goal that you see for yourself ahead to succeed . May the gospel of Jesus Christ, the wonder of the cross and the power of the resurrection be ever in our sight.


So those are my brief resolutions for 2011. May this year be full of God's grace and His glory be the goal . God bless .