If you want to have a great life, take the time to reflect upon and learn from the past. The end of the year is a great time to analyze how your year went. Did you accomplish any of your goals for the year?
How about spiritual goals? Did you grow in your relationship with the Lord? Were you involved in your church or other volunteer organizations? Did you memorize any new Bible verses or share the gospel with anyone this year?
How about family goals? Did you spend enough time with your spouse and your children? Did you go on any dates with your spouse? Did you take any vacations? Did you use your day off?
How about physical goals? Did you stay physically fit and eat right? Did you work out on a regular basis this year?
How about financial goals? Did you save any money this year? Did you get a raise?
How about intellectual goals? Did you take any college classes this year? How many books did you read?
All of these are good questions to ask of this past year. Even if you didn't complete many of your goals for the year, you can be thankful for the ones you did complete. One of my goals is to read 52 books for the year. I don't know if I have ever met this goal. But I am thankful for the approximately 30 I did read.
Even if you didn't write down goals for 2007, take some time to reflect upon your year. Spend an hour or two writing down the positive things about the year, no matter how small or big, and also write down your "learning experiences." Then plan on setting some goals for 2008. More on that later.
If you want to have a great life, reflect on the past.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Celebrate Christmas
If you want to have a great life, celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. Gifts, egg nog, snow and gingerbread cookies are all fun at Christmas. Going to Grandma's, watching It's a Wonderful Life and enjoying the tradition of Santa are fun for all and build important and meaningful memories for a family. But the only way to have a great life is to know that life does not end when this physical life is over. Knowing that God became a man through the birth of a baby gives us hope and purpose. The miracle of Jesus being born of a virgin in Bethlehem as the prophets foretold (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2) gives us a foundation from which to build the rest of our lives. Knowing life does not end with this sometimes dismal world should bring a smile to our faces. We truly have the victory through Jesus Christ.
Renew your relationship with Jesus this Christmas. Go to a Christmas Eve service. Before opening gifts, read Matthew 1:18 - 2:12. Give a prayer of thanks for your eternal relationship with God through the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. If we have trust Christ as our Savior, we can truly celebrate with joy and gladness this Christmas. Christ, our Savior, is born.
If you want to have a great life, celebrate the true meaning of Christmas this Christmas and every day of your life.
Renew your relationship with Jesus this Christmas. Go to a Christmas Eve service. Before opening gifts, read Matthew 1:18 - 2:12. Give a prayer of thanks for your eternal relationship with God through the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. If we have trust Christ as our Savior, we can truly celebrate with joy and gladness this Christmas. Christ, our Savior, is born.
If you want to have a great life, celebrate the true meaning of Christmas this Christmas and every day of your life.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Get some Exercise
If you want to have a great life, get some exercise. There are so many benefits to exercise, it is hard to have a great life without it. Start slow, but set a goal of exercising at least 4-5 times per week. Walking is a great way to start. Later you can add small weights while you walk, or walk for 100 yards and then jog for 100 yards.
Variety helps you keep up the discipline while also having fun. Though my rheumatoid arthritis and bad knees (etc.) limit somewhat the exercises I can do, I vary my routine with walking, the gazelle, a mini-trampoline, weight lifting and shooting baskets. Yard work also counts as exercise. Quite often I will double up with my exercise. When I go for walks, I also use this as a prayer time. Time on the mini-trampoline is made more fun by playing Nintendo. I usually see if my son wants to shoot hoops or lift weights with me.
According to an article in Mayo.com (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676), exercise has at least 7 benefits. All the way from reducing stress to promoting better sleep. Most of these are common sense, but then again, isn't getting some exercise just good common sense. As always, if you have any questions about an exercise program you should contact your doctor. If you want to have a great life, get some exercise.
Variety helps you keep up the discipline while also having fun. Though my rheumatoid arthritis and bad knees (etc.) limit somewhat the exercises I can do, I vary my routine with walking, the gazelle, a mini-trampoline, weight lifting and shooting baskets. Yard work also counts as exercise. Quite often I will double up with my exercise. When I go for walks, I also use this as a prayer time. Time on the mini-trampoline is made more fun by playing Nintendo. I usually see if my son wants to shoot hoops or lift weights with me.
According to an article in Mayo.com (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676), exercise has at least 7 benefits. All the way from reducing stress to promoting better sleep. Most of these are common sense, but then again, isn't getting some exercise just good common sense. As always, if you have any questions about an exercise program you should contact your doctor. If you want to have a great life, get some exercise.
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