31

JAN

Resolutions

posted on Sunday, 2010

I just realised that for the past two years, Allan and I had ended the old year and started the new year by living out of our suitcases.

 

It is definitely a blessing to be able to go on vacations, but it’s tiring as well. Nothing’s static during our holidays… I don’t go on beach resort holidays to put my feet up and read books for a week. I would rather go-go-go/shop-shop-shop/eat-eat-eat to make the trip ‘worthwhile’. This would always be accompanied by the packing and re-packing and worrying about excess baggage.

 

And dare I say it, the lack of daily routine is rather wearisome.

 

I really like life to be set on cruise control… same-old-same-old, smooth-sailing, comfortable… no crisis, no bends, no surprises.

 

I don’t really like to have to keep moving on and going against the grain of my natural inclinations.

 

And no disturbance of any kind…

 

Just leave me alone and I will be at peace…

 

We were really exhausted from the trip and after returning to Perth, it was almost like time suddenly stood still again. But we realised that we were also glad to have the opportunity to make the trip back to Singapore. All the fellowship (ahem, and food) have been such a source of refreshments and blessings!

 

So I did realise that there is a need to keep pace in life... keep moving … keep packing my bags to ensure that I don’t lug around any excess baggage.

 

I looked with horror at the 2009 resolutions and realised that I had merely sat on good intentions instead of packing in the actions.

 

Here, I humbly submit my 2010 resolutions and may God help my weak resolve!

 

In 2010, I endeavour to be:

 

 a Disciplinarian

Thank God, I didn’t have to see the doctor for indigestion during the recent vacation! I had to do that last year due to over indulgence. Finally, I realised that there is no absolute necessity to eat everything in sight!

If I could borrow Solomon’s style in Ecclesiastes 1:

 

"Abundance! Abundance!"
says the Glutton.
"The food’s in abundance!”
What does man gain from all his eating
and he toils to eat all he desires
All the good food flows into his stomach
yet his appetite is never satisfied.
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Glutton.
"So what’s for breakfast?!”

 

I have resolved to be disciplined for all aspects of my life in 2010. My desire is to be a fit Christian this year, rather than a sluggish one, in both the disciplines of the spiritual and the physical. The discipline set in place for diet, exercise, time and financial management will be both the result of and the booster for spiritual discipline.

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,

but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.

They do it to get a crown that will not last;

but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly;

I do not fight like a man beating the air.

No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others,

I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I Corinthians 9:24 to 27

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—

and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

II Timothy 4:7 to 8

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,

scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1 to 2