“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) In the summer of 2017, two longtime commercial fishermen—John Aldridge and Anthony Sosinski—set out to fish from Montauk, Long Island. About forty miles offshore, Anthony was sleeping below deck while John started to get things ready for fishing. John was pulling on a handle of a cooler with all his might when it snapped, sending him sprawling—right off the back of the boat. The boat was on autopilot, so it just kept going. As soon as John surfaced he began screaming for help but he knew there was no way his mate Anthony, sleeping below deck, would ever hear him. John watched as the boat went up and over the crest of a wave, and then it was gone. He was alone, treading water in the ocean, without a life vest, thinking this was how he would die. While John was trying to calm down, and stay afloat, he realized that his boots were floating. So he took one off, emptied the water, flipped it over and plunged it back into the water creating an air pocket. John then stuck one floating boot under each arm…. At least he could stay afloat…. A ray of hope. Four hours later, Anthony woke up and realized John was gone. He called the Coast Guard frantically reporting his friend missing. The Coast Guard commander admitted he didn’t have much hope of finding John in so much open water, an area the size of Rhode Island. Through a series of events the search area was narrowed down, but the hours kept passing by with no finding of John. As morning came, John saw a fishing buoy. He was able to swim over to and climb on. There was a new surge of hope. Less than an hour after climbing on the buoy, a Coast Guard helicopter flew nearby and spotted John waving and splashing. They pulled him up to safety. “We’ve been looking for you for nine hours today,” the Coast Guard rescue diver told John. “Well, I’ve been looking for you for twelve,” John answered.[1] "Hope is waiting in confident anticipation for what you know will happen." In the midst of unprecedented times it is easy to lose hope. Feeling like you are floating in the middle of the ocean, lost at sea, with no one coming to rescue, but there is hope. According to the Bible hope is not a whim, wish or dream. Hope is waiting in confident anticipation for what you know will happen. Hope is like waiting for a train in Germany. If it is coming at 11:27am, you know it will be there at 11:27am. Hope is like waiting for the sunrise. You might be standing in the dark but you know morning is coming. Hope is knowing when your Mom promises pie on Easter the best pie will be waiting for you. Hope looks beyond our circumstance to a God who knows the beginning and end, who holds time in his hands. Who knows the past, present, and future and promises us a hope that is beyond this world found in Jesus. Hope looks to the future not in fear but with confident anticipation of a God who is in control. Friends during these uncertain times, find hope in Jesus and no matter what happens here a rescue is coming. [1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lost-at-sea-a-harrowing-story-of-survival/.] A common practice for millions of people at this time of year is to make New Year’s resolutions. From getting healthy, starting a new career, going back to church, or saving money, many of us enter the new year with high hopes of what we are going to accomplish or change. Unfortunately, according to U.S. News, the harsh reality is 80% of these resolutions fail by February. Why is it that so many of us enter with good intentions but by the time we are just getting over the holiday hangover of too much food and spending, we are already giving up on our goals for 2019? Well, here are four ways to have your goals last past the holiday hangover. "Start slow, set a realistic goal, and if it is too easy, make it more challenging as you go." First, be realistic. I have seen and set many unrealistic goals. If you are currently not exercising at all, setting a goal to be in the gym five days a week is not realistic. If you are plowing through junk food like a freight train and now decide you are going on some new diet, it’s going to be painful. If you are disconnected from God and the church and then decide to read the whole Bible and be at church every time the door is open, it might be a stretch. It is easy to begin strong but true change requires a dose of realism. With these examples in mind, more realist goals would be to evaluate your diet and exercise and take a look at your schedule to prioritize God in the little moments. Start slow, set a realistic goal, and if it is too easy, make it more challenging as you go. Second, a goal is a marathon not a sprint. I am a runner and this past year I ran my first (and maybe last) marathon. For those who don’t know, this is a 26.2 mile run. When I began to train I realized quickly that my pace for my shorter runs of three or four miles could not be maintained for 26.2 miles. I needed to adjust my pace and not just think about the first, second or even twentieth mile. I needed to figure out how to finish well. This forced me to plan ahead with clothing, hydration, fuel, proper sleep, scheduling time and more. And with all this preparation and planning, I finished my first marathon. It is the same with goal setting. You need to look at the big picture, not just a short burst of energy. If this is a permanent change of lifestyle you are working towards, reminded yourself of the goal (get healthy, get out of debt, connect with God). Then when you know your goal, make a plan, think through it, start slow, and pace yourself. Then one day, you will wake up having achieved it. "...it is in these moments we need to give ourselves grace." Third, give yourself grace. Often, we set goals thinking everything will go perfect not only with our goals but in all areas of our lives. But then life happens. Things break, you get sick, a job is lost, an injury happens. When this happens, it’s easy to look at yourself as a failure, but it is in these moments we need to give ourselves grace. There were certain weeks in training for the marathon where I was sick or injured. Instead of pushing hard, I gave myself grace by resting and healing. Then when I was feeling a bit better, I got back on track. I gave myself grace when needed but returned to the goal. So, when you over eat, overspend, skip your daily time with God or don’t show up at church because you decide to sleep in, instead of the negative self-talk, give yourself grace. And finally, when you fall, get back up. Grace is great and grace is meant to motivate us to keep going. So, when you fall, don’t just say grace, but get back up again and keep going. I have seen way too many people throw in the towel on their dreams and goals because something came and knocked them down. I have also seen others who have grit and determination, so when life knocked them down, they got back up. A pastor I served with told me, “Mark, don’t ever quit. Don’t ever give up. Keep holding on trusting God, and he will take care of you.” I took those words to heart and when I face adversity, challenges, or things out of my control trying to derail my hopes and dreams, I make the decision to not quit but to get back up. Sometimes life is like a boxer and you are the punching bag. If you just keep getting back up, there will be a time where the blows stop and you can see your goals being achieved. When I look back, I see these four practices in my life again and again. I did not start college until I was 28 years old and working full time. I believed God was calling me to get an education so I set a goal, enrolled and began my journey. Over the next ten years, through the birth of four children, many transitions in ministry and life, I was able to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree. Were there times I wanted to give up? Yes. Were there people who both encouraged and discouraged me? Yes. But ultimately, I had a dream and a goal, and I accomplished it. So, if you want to set goals for the new year that will last past the holiday hangover, be realistic, think marathon not a sprint, give yourself grace, and when you fall, get back up and keep going.
The holiday season can be a time of stress instead of peace - a time of busyness instead of relaxation from all the holiday parties to family gatherings, to expectations of gifts to give and receive. If you are not careful it is easy to enter the new year feeling drained, broke, and having collected many things you didn’t want or need including a few extra pounds. So as you prepare for the holidays in front of you, here are a few tips to keep the stress levels lower and avoid the holiday hangover come the new year. 1. Practice Gratefulness With all of the advertising and people reminding us of what we “need," this is a good time to take inventory of what you already have. From simple things like a warm house, clothes, food, a job, shelter to more immaterial things like friendships and family (even if they are weird). So slow down and simply think about or write down what you are grateful for that you already have. 2. Simplify Holidays can get complicated, and it is easy to feel like you are just moving from one party or store to the next. Instead of frantically trying to meet others expectations, learn to say no. There are some parties you just don’t need to be at. There are some gifts you just don’t need to buy. Or if you feel like you have to be at multiple events, bring the same gift. Most likely the only one who will ever know is you. 3. Spend Less The default for many of us when considering gifts, is going to a store and purchasing something. Yes that is easy, but there are alternatives to buying gifts. Now I am not suggesting you knit everyone socks (unless that’s your thing), but you can think of more immaterial things to give. It could be a coupon for babysitting, a night out, cleaning, cooking or some other low cost activity. If you do feel the need to buy gifts, set a budget and stick to it. Avoid the impulse buys and come up with list before you hit Amazon or the local mall. That way you won’t be dealing with an empty savings account or over extended credit card come the new year. 4. Give Generously Now this might seem to contradict the last point, but I think it is more of a different mindset. Often when we are thinking about spending around the holidays it can be with an expectation of something in return. Generosity does not expect to get something back but to bless others. So look around and see what are the opportunities to bless others. Maybe instead of getting little Billy the extravagant toy he doesn’t need and doesn’t want, you can go and purchase groceries for someone in need, or give to a charitable organization that is blessing others through their service. It’s incredible how far even a small (or large) amount of money can go when blessing others. And you know something, when you give to others, you do actually receive a blessing in return. It’s a great feeling knowing you have helped in a way that is making a difference in your community, world, or in the life of another. 5. Be More Present Let me just be blunt. Put down the phone and be present with those around you. If you catch yourself checking out of relationships and checking into Instagram, Facebook, or some other sites, just silence your phone or notifications. Or even better, if you are the host of the party, put out a basket for mobile devices and tell people the gift you would like everyone to give is more presences this year. We are forgetting how to have conversations, how to ask good questions. We need to re-learn what it means to be present. And isn’t that what Christmas is really about…presence. That God wanted to be present with us. Through the birth of Jesus, God forever took on humanity. I love how Eugene Peterson in the Message states the incarnation of Jesus. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. Jesus became humanity. He became present with us and I believe he desires us to be present with others," (John 1:14). So at this time of year, practice gratefulness, simplify, spend less, give generously, and be more present. By doing this, once the New Year rolls around you will have a full soul without the holiday hangover. Interested in knowing more about God's presence? Join us this Christmas season as we experience God With Us! Sundays, 9am & 10:30am |