Search the hashtag #resolutionfail and you may break one of your resolutions if it is to spend less time on social media. The never-ending list of entertaining tweets consumed an hour of my — eh hem — research time.
For example, @JustSomeGuy8675 posted on Jan. 1: “My #NewYearsResolutions were to avoid Twitter and to start eating breakfast. Woke up at noon, checked Twitter and had two coffees. Best of luck to the rest of you! #resolutionfail”
On Jan. 3 @tpfeifer posted: “Oh the irony of driving past a gym as cars circle the lot to get a parking spot close to the door. #resolutionfail.”
But despite all the jokes made about New Year’s resolutions, January does provide a natural opportunity for evaluation.
At The Alabama Baptist (TAB), we take time in early January to select our best work from the past year for awards competitions.
Without looking back and assessing we might not remember to celebrate when we got it right nor appreciate the moments when we made a difference.
The evaluation time also provides us opportunity to improve our work going forward.
And with each evaluation process I always find an article, column or letter to the editor that reminds me of something important in my spiritual journey, work experience or life in general. It’s never the first time I’m reading that particular nugget of information, but it isn’t in the forefront of my mind until I see it again.
If this is true with issues of TAB, then I have to believe it happens in our Bible reading, job descriptions, wedding vows and those moments when we spill our guts to friends and stay up all night evaluating our lives.
Are we guilty of reading through these documents — or thinking about all that was shared in a heart-to-heart conversation — only once and determining the content is seared forever in our minds and hearts, never to be overridden or forgotten? Or maybe we only skim the information and feel confident we understand it and will stay true to it.
To remain on the right path with clarity, focus and purpose, periodic review and reflection are necessary.
As I self-evaluate and attempt to recenter each January, I am amazed at the clutter and unproductive habits I’ve allowed in my life over the previous 12 months. I realize the importance of pulling weeds from my life to avoid becoming enslaved to the clutter pressing down on me.
So I commit to reboot and start again — determined not to repeat the negative parts of last year, hopeful to add more positive results in the coming year and grateful for the reminders God scatters along the path.
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Rashional Extras – Absolute necessity of Scripture memory
By Pastor Scott Slayton
Chelsea Village Baptist Church, Chelsea
Make an appointment with yourself every day to work on your Scripture memory.
As you are consistent with this over time, you will see a myriad of ways the Lord uses it to conform you to the image of His Son and to help you live a life that bears fruit for His kingdom.
Here are seven reasons you need to store God’s word up in your heart:
1. To know God
The Bible’s first verse introduces Him, and the whole of Scripture is a testimony to His character, glory, love for His people and plan to redeem a people for Himself.
The only way for us to know God is for Him to … disclose Himself to us. He has done this generally in creation.
Romans 1 says we can look at the world which God has made and see something of God’s power and glory — yet it is in the pages of Scripture we see God the most clearly.
2. To fight against sin
When we face temptation, God’s Word convicts us of the foolishness of succumbing to it. When we face a difficult ethical decision, God’s Word shows us which way we need to go. This only happens, however, as we read, study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word.
3. To grow in godly character
When we bathe our minds in Scripture, it changes the way we think and the way we live.
4. To understand sound doctrine
5. To share the gospel
6. To help other Christians
7. To be encouraged when times are hard
One sad morning when I did not know what the future held, the Bible reminded me that whatever I was about to face was in the hands of the sovereign God who loves me, sent His Son to die for me and who works all things together for the good of His children.
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Execution over emotion. Emotion overwhelms you. Passion is connected to purpose and task.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
University of Alabama defensive back
(According to ESPN on Jan. 8 prior to
National Championship game)
Prayer is indeed a dialogue as we speak with [the Lord] and as we linger in His presence to hear the small, still voice He speaks in our lives.
Pastor Johnny Hunt
“The Need for Intercessors”
“Living in the Light” devotional book
The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.
Peter Drucker
Author and businessman
God deserves excellence in all we do. We will thrive when we strive for excellence in our worship, work and witness for God.
Pastor Bill Wilks
NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville
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We have a lot of lost church members today. One of Satan’s names is Deceiver and one of his deceptions is about man’s soul.
You don’t have to go to heaven and you don’t have to go to hell, but you can’t stay here.
Allen Scroggs
Director of operations
Timothy+Barnabas ministry
Report the facts. Rhetoric tends to overcome what are the true facts. Report the truth and not so much outside noise, then folks can make their own decisions.
Steve Marshall
Alabama attorney general
Scott Slayton (see entry above) recommends the Scripture memory app ScriptureTyper to help with memorization.
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