Christian Living

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Recipe For the New Year


by Chaplain Dan Langerock








A recipe is a formula that helps us get a desired result, usually associated with cooking. If we want to make bran muffins, we find a recipe that suits our tastes and follow it to get the desired product. The same can also be said for our lives. We can put a dash of this and that in, but what comes out is not always the greatest. Here are a few suggestions for your consideration that may help you in the coming year and beyond.





Attitudes





Think about the attitudes you displayed this past year. What were the results of what your personality displayed? Did you hut or alienate someone? Do you want to mend that relationship or let it go on the way it is, possibly making the situation worse?


Sometimes, we have the wrong tone of voice when we communicate with others and don't even realize it. I had this problem when I first got married and was able to correct it thanks to my wife's help. We don't always know when we hurt someone. Another way this can happen is when we are too tired and say the wrong things because our normal sense of what we say is not as intact. Try to avoid communicating with others, especially if it is important, when you are tired. Set an appointment if you can to take up the matter again later.








Spiritual Growth





What have you done to help yourself grow in the spiritual sense? Have you lived up to the commitment you once made in this area or have you slacked off? What caused you to become less than enthusiastic in this area of growth? Do you realize that your spiritual condition often if not always sets the tone of the rest of your life? A sobering thought! How can you make a recommitment to do better this coming year? Trim your schedule? Sort your priorities? Why isn't spiritual growth as important to you as it once was?





Relationships





How have your relationships fared this past year? We have already covered part of this phase of the recipe in the attitudes section, but what wasn't covered in that section that should be put in here for your benefit? Were there other things that affected your relationships besides your attitudes?


Have you forgiven everyone who has wronged you this past year and beyond? Are there still hurts lingering in your mind that need to be resolved? God doesn't expect you to have to do this by yourself because He would like to help you? Will you let Him? Is forgiveness a vital pat of your life or do you tend to procrastinate it to a later date? Hurts just get worse over time if they are not addressed properly and forgiven. Can you bring yourself to take time out right now and work on this forgiveness that is nagging at your consciousness?





Rest





Are you resting in all four realms: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual? Are you a content person? If not, then one or more of these areas can be the reason and you need to confront that and do something about it. If one or more areas are not true for you, then it will affect the other areas as well. It is a package deal, all or nothing.


How do you deal with the stress in your life? Do you know what is stressing you or are you oblivious and just coasting along? You need to identify the stressors and work on the ones that are bothering you so you can rest. Many physical maladies can result from the trigger of unrecognized or ignored stress. Take an inventory of what is going on in your life and work on what you find before it is too late.





How did your recipe turn out? What did you find as you went through each category? Now the hard part begins, that of doing something about what you have found. God is willing to help you if you will let Him, but He will not force His help upon you. He loves you very much and is interested in every detail of your life. Include God in the recipe of your life today so you can have a better tomorrow. Happy New Year!








Chaplain Dan welcomes questions from our readers about any relative subjects that concern them. He will answer them as to appropriateness etc. Thanks for your participation. Send questions to: Chaplain Dan Langerock, 1400 E. Menlo, #22, Hemet, Ca. 92544

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