Last week I asked if you knew why Santa Claus has three gardens. By now I'm sure you figured out it was so he could hoe, hoe, hoe. Anyway...

Near the end of this page are 31 great questions from a dear friend. Go ahead and copy/paste these questions into a new document, print it out, and then answer one question a day as the new year begins. If you want to be a "step ahead," go ahead and answer them before Monday!

By the way, www.mygoals.com might be the site to get you started on those New Year's resolutions.

+ <L A S T  W E E K><

+ One of Scott's sisters-in-law was visiting last week, so he asked that she would give her life to Jesus while she was here... Shirin writes, "Thank you for your prayers. She has been to Jasmine's Christmas play and a Christmas Eve service and has heard Jasmine speak about what the birth of Jesus means to her. We know God's word will not come back void."

+ You joined Shirin, Jasmine and some co-workers in prayer as they put on a Christmas party at the Lazarus Home for Girls. You prayed that the girls would learn the true meaning of Christmas through the games, crafts and Christmas play that they had planned for them as they looked forward to seeing God bring these precious girls into His Kingdom... Shirin writes, "We had such a great time at the party. Thank you for praying! We played games, made angels and passed out small gifts. Instead of us reading the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 the older girls acted out the story. It is amazing how God is getting into their hearts and minds."

+ Jasmine asked that you pray that she and her classmates would "speak up" during last Saturday's Christmas play... wow, did they ever! She and her classmates were loud and clear. When I heard how loud they were, I remembered how you were praying :-)

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< Scott asks for travel mercies during Jasmine's Christmas break and subsequent visit from his sister-in-law.

<>< Pray that Jasmine will have time to relax from local school and catch up with her home schooling lessons while enjoying time with her Aunt.

<>< Jasmine asks prayer for her classmates to be safe throughout the Christmas break.

<* Pray for the Northern Thai of Thailand.><

When debt becomes demonic.

Kids inspire church to dig a little deeper for Lottie Moon.

Tried to outgive God lately?

(Thanks, Darryl!)

Breakfast for Champions

“Reflection is the breakfast of Champions” is a classic phrase that is harnessed by coaches for their teams who are seeking the gold or looking to secure a national championship. A coach who is worth his weight will encourage his team to take time to reflect and learn. Without a doubt…championship teams are teams that have learned the value and discipline of reflection because reflection is the key to learning, growth and development. In the book of Haggai, the prophet reminds and coaches the people of God to “consider their ways”. He instructs and urges them to reflect on some of the things that are happening and to evaluate their personal spiritual condition in light of what God has told them. All faithful believers need to pause and take the time to think about the direction of their lives. The beginning of a new year provides an ideal time to pause, look up in prayer, reflect and recalibrate. Here are some questions I came across that will hopefully help us ….so let us consider our ways prayerfully in His presence and look to Him for direction and guidance for 2007!

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

In addition to these questions, here are 21 more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year, you will be more likely to remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.

The Bottom Line:

Let us evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this New Year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5, NAS). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NAS). [ Return to Top ]