Chaplains' Corner

Judy Pressler
State Chaplain
3011 Halfmoon Valley Road
Port Matilda, PA 16870
(814) 692-5217
jxp2@psu.edu
 

 

How did you spend New Year’s Eve?

How many of you have spent the past couple of weeks on a strict diet, walking or running more than 10,000 steps every day, suffering through nicotine withdrawal, writing notes to all your long-lost friends, visiting the local nursing home to play games, handing out Grange recruiting material, leading a Bible Study?

Well, CONGRATULATIONS!!

You’ve kept at all those resolutions a lot longer than most people!!

Now let’s be frank with one another. How long did it take you to make up your list of resolutions? Did you stick to them longer than it took to make up the list?

I just mentioned a few of the “usual” resolutions that people make. I am sure there are a lot of more unique ones that are personal to each of you. At least thinking of ways to improve your lifestyle has a lot of merit. The first step to “changing” a bad habit is to recognize we have it!

We are not perfect and do not lead perfect lives. We, like Paul, can truthfully say, “why do we do and say things that we ought not to do and say and why don’t we do and say the things we ought to do?”

We can make all kinds of resolutions but if we say, “I AM going to begin this or that or I AM going to quit this or that or I AM going to give more to this or that,” we are forgetting the most important part of the pledge. There is only one I AM and we need that ONE’s help to accomplish any goals we’d like to meet. Jesus said “all things are possible with God.”

And Paul reminds us “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” So in this New Year, if we really want to make some changes in our lives...changes that will last longer than two weeks, the recipe for success is to ask for God’s help. He’ll be with you every step of the way.

Picture Him beside you when you open that refrigerator door or reach in that box of candy. He will accompany you on any number of walks or jaunts as often as you can stand it...He won’t get tired before you do. He will hold you steady while you are craving nicotine. He will prompt you to act on your good intentions to visit, write or call your friends. He will give you the words to introduce your neighbors to the Grange. He will be delighted with your progress in studying His word.

January is a good time (actually, any time is a good time) to start anew. So, might as well get started on the right foot in this brand new year. You don’t really have to make resolutions and you can forget about those verbal ones that have already been broken. Just put our trust in God. He has been so good to give us the beginning of another year, so let’s do our best to make it a good one that will please Him and spread His Peace and Joy everywhere we go.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND MAY GOD BE BESIDE YOU AND IN YOU!