Ups and Downs

I need some phraseology help if any of you out there are good at that sorta thing. I know there's a downhome saying about having to take your own advice, something about eating what you cooked and this post would be so much better if it would come to me. But it won't, so we move on!

I was reading my first writing sample for Marketplace Connection that went out this morning about resolutions. As I read, I thought to myself, "Well, crud. I did say that, didn't I?" And I made some this year. Of course, I didn't stick to my own advice. That would be too easy. Here's what I came up with:

1. Buy more jewelry (this I can do. Got it. No problem, since more would just be...like, a pair of earrings. I'm not a good shopper.)
2. Work on my Diet Coke thing. I was using "Quit Smoking", but I don't smoke so that's just cheating. Right? It is, right? Because I'd still like to use it because it's easy but...OK, it's cheating. So I managed to cut down to 1 a day. Until yesterday. And already today. This isn't looking good.
3. Lose weight and exercise more. The problem with this one is that it's way too general. And that's probably my only hope of meeting it! Still, so far, I've managed to diet for 4 days. And exercise for 4 days. Not a record, but a modest success.
4. Write that book I've been meaning to get done. This could be the biggest violation on my list: it's not simple and with all the dieting and exercise, my brain is not functioning as well as it used to.
5. And I put "Find my soulmate" down because it was on the list of most popular resolutions. And I thought it was funny. And I figure...if it's that easy for everyone else, I ought to be able to do it too, ignoring all the evidence to the contrary. Right? I'm pretty sure writing the book is going to be easier than this one.

Really, as I look at the list, they're all things I want to do. And with the exception of #5, I think they are all things I can do, things I will do. So, overall, not too bad.

And then I run through the things that I've been thinking and saying to myself all week. Defeating myself before I've even begun. That's the thing with me. I take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. If you look at the post right before this one, it was all about fresh starts. I believed it then and now I'm beating myself up over the past. And that just has to stop.

I do believe God is going to do a new thing. And He will do it in my life if I'll just get out of the way. I have to keep my eye on the goal, stop looking back. In Philippians 3:12-16 (Msg), Paul wrote:

Focused on the Goal
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

I'm fairly certain this is going to take some patience. And that's not one of my strong points. Paul's a great example. I don't have it all together either, but I can't let that stop me. I've gotta get on the right track and stay on it!