New Years Resolutions.

Do you make New Years resolutions? Why? Is it in the hope that the new year will be better than the last. Do you want to have a little control of your life?

Jeremiah reminds us: "I know, O Lord that the way of human beings is not in their control, that as mortals they cannot direc their steps." (10:23: NRSV)

He also reminds us: "I know the plans I have for you. says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope." (29:11: NRSV)

Whatever resolutions (plans) we may make for the new year, it is really comforting to know that God has better plans. I have read this verse in many different versions. Some say, "I will bless you with success" (CEV), "They are plans for good", (NLT), "plans to bring you prosperity" (GN), "plans to prosper you" (NIV) "plans for peace" (GWT). The one I love the most is "plans for your welfare".

I recently read this in the `New Revised Standard" version. I have had a difficult 2010 - no success, not very good, definetely no prosperity, and peace was a little hard at times too. But I am still here in 2011. God has taken care of my welfare, and I have learnt and grown a lot on the way. I still have a future with lots of HOPE. That word is the same in all versions.

Starting to make my New Year's resolutions I decided - better eating, more exercising and lots more bible reading, prayer and Blogging were important. So far so good, but how long it will last who knows. The last 2 days I have been getting up early for my Bible Reading, exercise and today - I tried some BLOGGING. But my husband has just awoken - "Where's my cup of tea", "I hope today you will clean the house", "That spare room looks worse than when you started tidying it up", "Come and have your breakfast with me".

So I leave you with this prayer that 2011 will be a good one - maybe not a lot of success, prosperity and peace in the times you would like them - but a year with LOTS OF HOPE!!