Is It Broke Yet?

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

Where do you fit?

• You totally dismiss the idea.
• You make one but, based on past behavior, know you won’t keep it. 
• You make one with excitement and you're disappointed when you fail.
• You make a one and keep it.- Congratulations!

I waver between the second and third one, but I cling to the hope that each year will be better.

There are the old stand-bys:

1. I’m going to lose weight.
I remember the year I resolved to lose 20 pounds and I had the chainsaw in the garage to prove it! Well, I didn't lose 20 pounds and I chickened out on the whole chainsaw thing.

2. I’m going to exercise.
I bought an expensive gym membership. Surely if I paid for it, I’d go.
Turns out, money’s not that great a motivator.

3. I’m going to eat better.
That worked - until I saw that carton of Rocky Road ice cream in the store.

4. I’m going to finish ----. Fill in the blank.
Unfortunately, I had about twenty things to put in that blank. I threw my hands up in defeat.

Anyone else out there with these problems?

Ah Ha!!!
Then I found the secret.
Our resolutions fail because they start in the wrong place:
With our desires, rooted in our strength.

The heart of every resolution must be rooted in God.

That tweaked my conscience.
Do I make resolutions without spending time with God?
Yep.

So, I tried to stop saying, “I’m going to…” and started asking God, “What do I need to change?”

Then it happened: I started hearing things about discipline; my devotionals focused on discipline; my time in Scripture directed me to stories about people who weren't disciplined.

I’m pretty dense so it took a while to dawn on me: Discipline!

Without the discipline to obey God, without His strength, I can do nothing.

Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do 

nothing.” John 15:5

My Year’s resolution is to pray for more discipline.

Of course, at 12:02 AM on New Year’s Day, I stumbled.

Did I break my resolution?
NO! I probably dented it, but I didn't break it. God always catches me before I fall. He stands me up, dusts me off, and promises,

"His compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; 

great is Your faithfulness." 

Lamentations 3:22b-23

How do we find success with our resolutions?

Begin with God!!

My resolution for 2014: Discipline
Do you have a resolution?

I Need HELP!!

Blogger is refusing to download images so

imagine a picture of a beautiful path.

Help Me!!

I’ve noticed my blog going in a different direction lately. It’s following my heart: Bring God’s Word to life in people’s lives.

When I began, Sherry’s Light Blog focused on the concept of God’s light, drawn from verses that referred to light in any of its many forms.

But, over time, my focus has changed.

Again, imagine a picture of
a lamp shedding light.

I’m drawn back to Psalm 119:105,

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.”

We all walk different paths. Our paths change as the days, months, and years go by.

But, no matter the path, God’s Word is our light, our wisdom, and our guide.

This is where I’m asking for help.

As you can see, the banner for my blog is a night launch with 1 John 1:5b,

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

I want to keep the banner – it’s unique to who I am. But I’ll replace 1 John 1:5b with Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.”

2 questions:

1. I’m afraid the verse is too long to use in the banner without shrinking the font a lot.

What about putting “Your word is a…light for my path.”?

Is it OK to modify the verse like that? I assume I need the ellipses?

2. I need a new name! I want to stay with the idea of light to go with the picture.

I've got an idea but I want to hear from you.

There might a prize for the winning submission.

Imagine a picture of a hand cupped at
an ear as though trying to hear.

Have any ideas? Let's hear 'em!