The Resolution for a Girl who Hates Resolutions

So I don't really do New Year's Resolutions.  It's the big national joke that no one keeps any... and I'm no different than anyone else.  Picking an otherwise arbitrary day to list all the things you'd like to change and decide to do it all at once?  It hardly even makes any sense.  All actual decisions for change in my life have sprouted organically after an actual desire to change something specific, not because I pulled some ill-thought idea out of nowhere.

Well, if my pastor just didn't crush my own resolution to not have a resolution.  

(oh yes, the irony almost hurts)

The whole reason I landed at my current church is because I could tell I would be challenged in my faith there.  I know that one of my downfalls is to be complacent in my faith if there isn't anyone to challenge, at least a little.  And, I'm so glad my first impression was right.

Two weeks ago (a week an a half?  who's counting?)  Pastor Ron gave a sermon of faith to start a new sermon series.  He made the analogy of faith as having 4 "levels."  It was cheesy.  And pretty simple.  

But it spoke truth straight into my life, loud and clear.  Basically, God's just not the center of my life, and I'm not seriously committed to growing in my faith.  Agh.  A half a year after leaving InterVarsity, from my community, from a life where I lived for God and was growing in my faith... I've actually taken a step or two backward.

And the challenge of the message?  Commit to growing to the next level of faith this year.  It's so cheesy that I might actually need to rephrase it to hold onto it, but until then my commitment is loud and clear:  I will grow to level 4 in 2011: "Christ-Centered."

Here's the description of Level 4 that separates it from others, as per handy sermon notes:

• Passionate about connecting with Christ on a personal basis most days
• Willing to make significant sacrifices for His kingdom
• Thoughts/concerns about His kingdom dominate most days

So, I have a resolution for the year.  And it's one I'm quite [excited, nervous, happy] about, and one that will actually stick.

So of course I've turned to my arsenal of IV Press books.  To get inspiration and further challenge for growing in my faith I've turned to Faith on the Edge: a book I've attempted to read multiple times but haven't actually made it through.

So here's to the best year ever and the best resolution I've ever had :)