H. B. London, VP of Pastoral Ministries for Focus on the Family sends out a weekly email to pastoral leadership. It’s quite good.
He gave me permission to post an article from the Jan. 8 edition. Call them ‘new year’s resolutions’ if you like, but what he said made me think as I enter into the new year.
WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER?
With the New Year now a week old, how are you doing? Now, let me ask, what are you doing?
As I begin 2010, I have been asking myself, “What can I do better this year than I did last year?” Allow me to give you a little self-examination exercise:
1. Have you determined to get more physical activity this year than last? Just 20 minutes a day, four days a week, will do wonders for you.
2. Will you do anything about your eating habits? You really do not need to “crash diet” — but simply stay away from overeating sweets, starches, bread and red meat. Just “push away.”
3. Have you thought of ways you might be able to adjust your schedule for greater productivity? Pastors have told me lately that making the most of the mornings gives them the greatest advantage. From wake-up through lunch can be your most effective hours.
4. How well do you communicate? I really need to work on this one. “Say what you mean and mean what you say” is a very good credo. Try very hard not to leave people guessing.
5. Put some excitement in your life. Are you in a rut? Do you have variety in your day-to-day routine? There should be.Every day, if possible, you need to experience something new.
6. Quality time: I could really make all of us feel guilty on this one, but are you giving your family the attention they need? If not, schedule them in. Are you spending precious moments with your Lord? Same time, same place, on a regular basis is the very best practice. Give quality time to these two areas and you will reap great dividends.
Well, I just shared with you some gentle suggestions as we come to the close of the first week of the new decade. How are you doing so far? What can you do better? “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
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