The church I attended in my early days sang a song entitled I Am Resolved . Phrases like "Faithful and True each day", "He is the True One, He is the Just One, He is the Living Way" used to reverberate through the rafters of that little white frame church in Lowell, Indiana. I loved that song then, and it is still one of my favorites.

Every once in a while the issue of the propriety of making New Year's Resolutions would come up. Some thought they were frustrating exercises in futility, others thought they were admissions of either a lack of faith or of a prideful swaggering of unsurrendered personal will. I made them anyway!!!

One of the things I have learned is that in the "dance of life" one never gets to "dance" with his desired partner if he doesn't get up enough nerve to ask for the opportunity. It is that resolve to be vulnerable that wins the prize so keenly sought.

It takes courage to resolve on any issue of life. That courage is also a gift of God that must be shaped, disciplined and brought to maturity.

I took out an old box from the closet this morning. In that box is every love letter I have ever received. As Sandy and I went through the box together again, it was a joy for both of us to be reminded of the things we used to say to each other. We will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary later this year.

One of my New Year's resolutions is: Lord, help me not to confuse maturity in expressing my love with failure to do so.

That's NOT the one I already broke!!! I'm willing to be as vulnerable as Sandy needs me to be. Shucks, after 25 years, my lady still surprises me and it thrills me to have her accept my invitation to join me in the dance of my life.

Thank You for not only reconciling us to You and redeeming that relationship, thank You for helping us in every relationship that our life brings to us. Help me to be a better husband, a better parent, a better pastor, a better friend, a better citizen, and a better mentor for those who watch my life in You. Lord, I can't do any of this without You, so, help me fulfill my commitments and attempts to minister in ways that will be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight as I honor Your name.