New Year's Resolutions

Jean 1 here. I have been asked many times these last few days if I have made any resolutions. I have not as of yet, but it did get me to thinking about the purpose of resolutions. Many people fabricate ideas of things that they would like to accomplish using the new year as an excuse, reason or motivation to be successful. To this end, I have begun to think of the things that I would like to see happen in my life, my husbands life, my kids lives and my country.

• For myself....I would like to become healthier. I know that this in and of itself is a usual and oft listed for many people. The realistic side of this goal is that it will require my dedication to being honest and driven to succeed...the key to this is through the Word "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
  
• For my husband....I want to spend more time letting him know that I love and appreciate all that he does for our family. God gave me this verse that says "all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. " Est 1:20b. This is a great reminder for me, since I have found that I sometimes take for granted all he does for us...and if I expect him to honour and appreciate me, then I need to be mindful of doing the same for him.
  
• For my kids....I desire to spend more time telling them things that they need to hear to build them up. As a parent, the don't are so built into the raising and training of them, but I know that the do's need to be as present to give balance to instruction. This is the Word that follows this verse "Children, obey [your] parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
  Fathers, provoke not your children [to anger], lest they be discouraged" Col. 3:20-21.
  
• And finally, for my country...I hope to remember to pray for our leaders, regardless of political affiliations. For when it all comes down to it....I am looking for neither of them to be my savior, but for them to do the best that they can do. We are often disappointed from afar when we get portions of news about certain situations as well as sometimes as a nation we disparage our leaders that God has allowed to be put in service with unkind or unmerciful words. But I know when I humble myself to pray for those doing a job that I would not ever want to do, I find that I have a softer heart for them as well as investing my heart in my leaders well being. (I have been challenged many times in this area....case in point....Bill Clinton....But God allowed him to be in leadership, so I continued to pray for the sake of God's authority over his authority. ) The verse that is my reminder is "For promotion [cometh] neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south." Ps. 75:6
  
  So those are the things on my heart for this post. Do you have goals for your year?