To The New Year - Family (Part 5 of 7)

There are a lot of things families can do as traditions. I follow a blog called The Art of Manliness it's one of my very favorite blogs. I probably read more articles from them, than any other blog. They have several fun articles about traditions that I had to add them on this series.

Family
- Yearly Form -
This can be especially fun if you have younger kiddoes! Simply make a form that asks for their name, date, and things that will show their growth as they get older. Such as: favorite color, favorite song, favorite Bible verse, favorite sports team, favorite animal, best friend, height, favorite thing to do, etc.

Then put their forms into your families "New Year" (or the name you give it! after all, it's YOUR binder!) binder, so that in future years you can look back over the growth you've all had.

- Be more patient with relatives -
So, when I asked people about "New Year's Day" resolutions, I got a surprising amount about working on being more sociable with their relatives. Coming from a pretty close knit family, it's sad to me that so many need to have this as their resolution…BUT…I will say, I know what it's like to have rougher relationships, and work on fixing them or risk losing them.

Relationships take investment, if you are unwilling to invest, chances are they won't try either.

Christian, here is the deal.

If you are related by blood….honor your father and mother (even if you've got a bad relationship).

Mark 7:10

"For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’"

Matthew 15:4

"For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’"

Ephesians 6:1-2

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),"

If you haven't seen this person in years…love your neighbor as yourself.

Galatians 5:14-15

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."

James 2:8-9

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."

Romans 13:9

"For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”"

If you hate their guts…love them anyways, show them that Jesus transforms people, and give mercy as you have been given mercy.

Matthew 5:43-45

"“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

Luke 6:35

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."

If they are a Christian…love them as Jesus Christ loves them.

John 13:34

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

- More Family Less Tech -
My generation seems engrossed with discovering how many screens can captivate our attention per day. Even myself, I can be "watching" (just listening) to the TV, texting a friend, and typing up an email…that is THREE screens going at once. That may sound like a lot, and I guess it is, but it is nothing to what happens when my brother is working on his music…he says "I'd like to have at least a quad set up." That is he would like to have at least 4 computer screens for his music work alone! Not to mention another screen as his phone.

So, if you have too many screens in your life, and not enough IRL interaction maybe try some of these:
- unplug for one day a week,
- at home put your phone on your dresser or in a drawer,
- leave your phone at home when you go to church or on a date,
- turn the WiFi off after 7 pm,
- unplug while on vacation/during holidays,

- Spend time Outdoors -
I love to be outside! I love to go hiking, walking, try my hand at almost dying while attempting parkour…
But adventure does a body good! This past summer I jumped off a 27' waterfall! (and I didn't die!)

So take time to go camping with your family, or do something outside with your college group. Just get outside and do something fun and soak up some vitamin D.

Matthew 22:34-40

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And he said to him,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the great and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”"

To The New Year - Things to do this year (Part 2 of 7)

So, we all enjoy doing things that make us happy, feel satisfied, and at least most of us will enjoy making other's smile. Thus, today's post. These are things that you can do that will grow you and maybe make someone else's day that much brighter.

Things to do

- Hand Made Gifts -
Maybe you are a crafty person! DIY things are very cool gifts! I made my Momma a decorated trashcan for her sewing table using an empty oatmeal canister.
Maybe you are not crafty, but wish you were. Well my dear, there are a bunch of tutorials out there…google some things and have at it! Maybe this year, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, or personalized cards will be hand made by you.

I know as someone who has received such gifts, it's a very special way of being told that someone loves you enough to spend the time in making something for you with their hands.

- Learn to Crochet/Knit -
YAY! Now that I've convinced you to make something, knitting or crocheting something is a simple project, and is something that can be used to create quite intricate and complex patterns. With this you can make everything from pot holders, coasters, washrags, to table runners to clothing!

You can listen to music, talk, watch TV, take your projects on vacation, or just about anything you want to do!

Enjoy your projects!

- Volunteer -
This year make a point to do things purposefully benefiting someone else. Volunteer your time and resources and expect nothing in return!

Maybe babysit for free for your best friend to on a date with her husband.
Teach a class at church.
Volunteer to take meals to the couple who just had their baby.

- Do your best work. Always -
I'm not arguing that your boss is a nice guy, actually he might just make your life a nightmare! But do your best. Get your work done well. Get your tasks done on time. Honor your boss.

Your performance is noticed.

- Stay in touch with loved ones -
Life gets hectic sometimes, I know. I'm a college student. I know somewhat of insanity. But there is always time to send a text, email, write a letter, call, or something to tell a friend we remember that they exist and that we haven't actually died yet.
It's a wonder that I didn't die of insomnia as a freshman, but I survived…and my friends remember that I would still take time to send them "I love you" messages.

I treasure the cards, letters, and memories of when THEY would take time out of their crazy lives and remind me that they loved me and I am special to them.

This year, commit to loving your family and friends more than you love watching the game and more than you love falling asleep in a pile of novels.

- 10 People. 10 Blessings. -
Ever had a awful day, and God does something special to remind you that He's still right there with you?

I love to see people smile, and I love to tell people that Jesus Christ is REAL! So when I think about it, I buy people dinner. Once I was on a date with my Daddy, and a homeless man came to our table asking for a quarter. Daddy didn't have change with him, and so the man walked away. I followed him and discovered, he had all the money needed for his dinner…except the quarter. He saw me standing beside him, and while I couldn't give him a quarter, I told the two people he was trying to purchase his meal from, and told them I would be paying for his order.

You see, that is not my generosity, that is God's love and mercy that He has put into me, and He uses to minister to people through me.

That is the giving side of it. But what's it like on the receiving side? I've had complete strangers pay for my food and it's just stunning, I'd never expect a person I don't know to come purposely choose to buy my dinner. It's a beautiful thing, and it reminds me of God's faithfulness.

So, what can you do to bless 10 people this year?

Buy the meal of the person behind you at the drive-thru.
Baby sit for free.
Send someone a special card.
Take someone hunting.

What will you do? Please comment with ideas! This one excites me to see what you will do this year!

- Unplug -
I doubt it shocks anyone anymore when they look around and most people are engrossed with some screen. I mean, I get excited when I see someone reading a book, like you know, with paper and ink in it!
But what is wonderfully shocking…is when someone unplugs themselves and spends time away from their desk and electronics!

Maybe make it your goal this year to unplug one day a week. Spend that day reading, or hiking, or just being around people you love. Maybe pick up a game in your new found time?

Ephesians 6:5-9

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him."