It’s that time of year again. A time to make New Year’s Resolutions.

“I’m going to eat healthier.”
“I’m going to exercise more.”
“I’m going to learn a new skill or hobby.”
“I’m going to be more generous with my time and money.”
“I’m going to spend more time in devotion and prayer.”

An oft repeated statistic says that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t have a way of proving this, but I do have my own history of failed New Year’s resolutions to indicate that this is probably true.

This past year our congregation made a New Year’s resolution of sorts, embarking upon a visioning process that has culminated in a new vision statement for us to focus on going forward. We are a caring, welcoming family of believers sharing God’s love by equipping every generation to serve all people as Jesus did for us. This resulting vision helps us understand who Jesus says we are as members of Trinity and what we are called to do.

Now if we are going to be the caring, welcoming family of believers we are called to be, it changes how we act. It makes a difference in our own hearts and lives. We cannot share what we do not have and so if we are to share God’s love, we need to experience God’s love. God’s love must be something we ourselves know and believe, being reminded of this as we worship together, learn together and support and equip one another.

This year, instead of forming a New Year’s resolution that will pass and fade with our passing attention, commit yourself to a grander vision given to you by God to share his love and build others up. This doesn’t depend on our strength or abilities. He will help you accomplish it. And be encouraged by the words of Paul in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

God’s Blessings,
Pastor Nyck