You will not be the same person at the end of 2009 as you are at present. The question is not whether you will change, but in what manner and to what degree. Perhaps the following self-evaluation tool will spur you on toward righteousness. It is a series of questions derived from the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be.”
MY LIFE
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
- Have I ever consciously acknowledged Christ’s ownership of my life?
- Have I made a volitional, unconditional, lifetime surrender of my life to Christ?
- Am I seeking to live out that surrender on a daily basis?
- Are there any “compartments” of my life over which I am reserving the right to exercise control?
MY TIME
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
- Do I live with the conscious realization that all my time belongs to God, or have I merely reserved a portion of my time for the “spiritual” category of my life?
- Am I living each day in the light of eternity?
- Am I purposeful and intentional in my use of time, seeking to invest the moments of my days in ways that will bring glory to God?
- Do I seek His direction as to how I should use my “free time”?
- Am I squandering time with meaningless, useless conversation or entertainment?
- Do I set apart time each day for worship, prayer, and personal devotion?
- Do I readily respond to opportunities to serve others, even if it requires sacrificing “my” time?
- Do I become resentful or impatient when others interrupt my schedule or when I am faced with unplanned demands on my time?
- Do I view my job as an opportunity to serve Christ and bring glory to God?
- Have I considered any possible vocational change the Lord may want me to make, to devote more time to the advancement of His Kingdom?
MY BODY
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
- Am I yielding the members (parts) of my body to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13)?
- Do I use the members of my body to express the kindness and love of Christ to others (e.g., using my hands for serving, for gentle touch)?
- Are any of the members of my body – eyes, ears, hands, feet, mouth, etc. – being used to sin against God (e.g., stealing, lying, listening to or repeating gossip, inflicting physical harm on mate or children, listening to profanity, viewing pornography, sexual sin)?
- Do I treat my body as if it is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)?
- Am I abusing my body in any way (e.g., with food, alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs)?
- Am I willing to be physically spent in serving God and others?
- Have I relinquished the right to have a healthy body? Would I accept and embrace physical illness if that would bring glory to God?
- Am I submissive to God in relation to what (and how much) I eat and drink, and how much and when I sleep?
- Am I morally pure – what I see, what I think, what I do, where I go, what I listen to, what I say?
MY TONGUE
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
- Do the words that come out of my mouth reveal that my lips and tongue are fully surrendered to God?
- Do I habitually verbalize the goodness and greatness of God?
- Do I regularly ask the Lord to guard my tongue?
- Before I speak, do I ask the Lord what He wants me to say?
- Am I filling my mind and heart with the Word of God, so that what comes out of my mouth will be “messages from Him”?
- Do I speak words that are critical, unkind, untrue, self-centered, rude, profane, or unnecessary?
- Do I look for and take advantage of opportunities to give verbal witness for Christ?
- Do I intentionally use my tongue to edify and encourage others in their walk with God?
MY POSSESSIONS
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
- Do I treat any of my possessions as if they were mine rather than God’s?
- Do I give generously, sacrificially, and gladly to the Lord’s work and to others in need?
- Do I own anything that I would not be willing to part with if God were to take it from me or ask me to give it to another?
- Am I a wise steward of the material resources God has entrusted to me?
- Do I view God as my provider and the source of all my material possessions?
- Am I content with the material resources God has given me? If God should choose not to give me one thing more than what I already have, would I be satisfied with His provision?
- Do I give my tithes and offerings to the Lord before I pay my bills or spend my income?
- Do I become angry or upset if others are careless with “my” possessions?
MY MIND
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
- Am I “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)?
- Am I disciplining my mind to get to know God and His Word better?
- Am I wasting my mind on worldly knowledge or pursuits that do not have eternal, spiritual value?
- Do I habitually think about things that are just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), rather than things that are unwholesome, negative, impure, or vain?
- Am I guarding the entrance of my mind from impure influences (e.g., books, magazines, movies, music, conversations)?
- Am I devoting my mental capacity to serving Christ and furthering His Kingdom?
MY WILL
Take my will and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
- Do I consistently seek to know and to do the will of God in the practical, daily matters of life?
- When I read the Word of God (or hear it proclaimed), am I quick to say “Yes, Lord” and to do what it says?
- Is there anything God has shown me to be His will that I have been neglecting or refusing to obey?
- Is there anything I know God wants me to do that I have not done/am not doing?
- Do I become resentful when things don’t go my way? Do I have to have the last word in disagreements?
- Am I stubborn? Demanding? Controlling?
- Am I quick to respond in confession and repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin?
- Am I submissive to the human authorities God has placed over me (e.g., civil, church, home, work)?
MY AFFECTIONS
Take my heart; it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
- Am I moody? Temperamental? Hard to please?
- Do I love Christ and His Kingdom more than this earth and its pleasures? Is there anything or anyone that I am more devoted to than Christ?
- Am I allowing Christ to reign and rule over my affections, my emotions, and my responses?
- Am I easily angered or provoked?
- Am I allowing anyone or anything other than Christ to control my emotions and responses?
- Are my desires, appetites, and longings under Christ’s control?
- Am I in bondage to any earthly, fleshly, or sinful desires or appetites? Am I indulging or making provision for my fleshly desires (Romans 13:14)?
- Do I trust God’s right to rule over the circumstances of my life?
MY RELATIONSHIPS
Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
- Is it my desire and intent to love God with all my heart, above all earthly relationships?
- Do I enjoy and seek out the friendship of God as much as I do human friendships?
- Do I love God more than I love myself? Do I seek His interests, His reputation, and His pleasure above my own?
- Have I surrendered to God all my desires, rights, and expectations regarding my family?
- Am I willing to let God decide whether I am to be married and to whom?
- Have I surrendered the right to have a loving, godly mate?
- Am I willing to love my mate in a Christ like way, regardless of whether or not that love is reciprocated?
- Have I accepted God’s decision to grant or withhold the blessing of children?
- Have I released my children to the Lord? Am I trying to control their lives? Am I willing for Him to call them and use them in His service – anywhere, in any way, regardless of the cost?
- Is there anyone that I “love” in a way that is not pure? Am I holding on to any friendships or relationships that God wants me to relinquish?
- Am I willing to sacrifice friendships, if necessary, in order to obey God and His call in my life?
- Am I willing to speak the truth in love to others about their spiritual condition, even if it means risking the loss of the relationship or my reputation?
MYSELF
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
- Have I surrendered all that I am and all that I have to God?
- Is there any part of myself – my plans, relationships, possessions, emotions, career, and future – that I am knowingly holding back from God?
- Have I settled the issue that the ultimate purpose of my life is to please God and bring Him glory?
- Is it the intent of my heart, by His grace, to live the rest of my life wholly for Him and for His pleasure, rather than for myself and my pleasure?
[Borrowed from: DeMoss, Nancy Leigh. Surrender: The Heart God Controls. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2003: 132-143.]
Since I can’t improve on the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, I appropriate them for my own as I enter the new year.
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards
Being Sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance, in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722)
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’ s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31. Resolved, never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Proverbs 20:6,‹A faithful man who can find?Š may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, to do always, what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’ s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, never to do any thing of which I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’ s; agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.
44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. January 12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty, and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man:‹knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.Š June 25 and July 13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. January 14 and July 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those ‹groanings which cannot be utteredŠ (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those‹breakings of soul for the longing it hath,Š of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’ s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.
I love shopping for clothing at Amazon right after Christmas. Why? The following is an example. I just ordered these 12 items — the most I spent for any one item was $3.40 and was able to get the whole kit and caboodle for $32.44.
If you click through to the items it will appear that the prices aren’t what I show below. However, if you check out the different sizes and colors you will find that each variation comes at a different price. If you can find those variations where they are trying to clear out the last few items in a particular size and color, yahoo, you can get a $30 hoodie for $2.
I think I got the last item of some of those below, but you should be able to find prices that are comparable if you shop around a bit. Happy Hunting!
[Apparel]
[Apparel]A few pictures from Stilley family Christmas 2008. Click on the thumbnails for a larger view . . .
Picking out the Christmas tree
Stilleys from the Christmas hood
Reindeer fly. What about babies?
Smiles that outshine the tree lights
Christmas Hugs
Spiderman
Santa baby
Ready to go under the tree
What
A Christmas group hug
The first gift of Christmas
To record future Christmasai
Wii say Merry Christmas
Indiana Jones battles Prince Caspian and the Power Rangers
Hugs - The best Christmas present
No Christmas disappointment
NICU = Neonativity Intensive Christmas Unit
Measuring Christmas by the mess
When my mother passed away a couple of months ago, people expressed their love and sympathy in a variety of ways. The following is a poem written by a family friend Utah Humphrey.
Verna Stilley
10-21-08
The road God gave you was a very steep climb,
But you bravely went forward day by day.
Clyde was the hero ministering to you
Being there to help you in the part he would play.
Now the long journey has come to an end
And on Earth you won’t suffer any more.
In Heave you are finally free at last
With this freedom you finally can soar.
I remember the years you became my friend
With lots of laughter I still can behold.
The tears I shed now will soon be gone
As I ponder your life as I saw it unfold.
Poor Clyde was often the key to your stories
And his face would turn red as he grinned.
In the room you would have everyone laughing
And through the years you did it again and again.
Leach and Cardin one entered a contest
And when it was over Leach had won.
We met at the camp grounds at GLBA
To fellowship and have lots of fun..
You were the pitcher when we played softball
And I don’t remember who won or who lost.
Both churches had added people to Sunday School
Without either group adding up th ecost.
The years seemed to pass by much too quickly
And retirement years had finally come about.
The price you paid in the last several years
Didn’t carry a lot of laughter or clout.
Please enjoy Heaven and the freedom you have.
We will all be joining you in just a little while.
I wished we could look into Heaven and see you now
With a life filled with laughter and a beautiful smile.
By faith we must keep walking onward toward Heaven
Knowing life down here for us is not through …
Sometimes we will pause during our journey
And when we do we’ll be thinking of you.
Good bye precious friend for just a while longer
And enjoy your new life absolutely free from pain.
We will see you tomorrow on Heaven’s bright shore
Where there’ll be plenty of sunshine without rain.
A friend in Christ,
Utah Humphrey
I have often thought that there is too much emphasis on confrontation and negotiation in the counsel typically given on ways to best resolve conflict. Frequently, I think it is best to simply overlook personal offenses. I received an email today noting that this approach is highly commended throughout Scripture, and share a few of the passages with you here:
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11; cf. 12:16; 15:18; 20:3).
“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out” (Prov. 17:14; cf. 26:17).
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8; cf. Prov. 10:12; 17:9)
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13; cf. Eph. 4:32).
The above passages were taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal ConflictThe Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 82.
Thanks to Uncle Bill, we had a great outing to Six Flags last night… dinner, a visit with Santa, and lots of fun rides. Here are some picture highlights…
Governors of Roman provinces were given freedom to rule them in their own manner so long as they did not mess things up too bad. However, then, like now, there were those governors who pushed the self-destruct button. One such governor of Sicily, Verres, is noted to have spoken openly of the three fortunes he needed to make; one to pay the debts he incurred in getting elected to the office, one to bribe the jurors in chase he was indicted, and another to live on for the rest of his life.
Hmmm…. Sound familiar?
Check out this “I Am Second” video of my friend Pete Briscoe:
