As we close 2012, many of you are considering New Year’s Resolutions. We make these year after year but many are not followed through on. I’m suggesting something different for 2013: set specific goals with a specific vision in mind. What are you trying to do? Do you want to loose weight? What is your vision of that? For some, it’s a new dress one size smaller or attending a school reunion 10 pounds less. Can you see what that looks like? Set milestones along the way so you have stages along the way to meet. Celebrate arriving at each milestone and then keep moving forward. If you are leading people, push them to set goals. If you are leading a division or a larger business component, set the vision for everyone to see, layout the course and get to work. Have faith in yourself and your organization: 2013 will be a great year!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Have faith or keep the faith are two phrases we hear often. The Internet story about a little who talks about God in school is a perfect fit here. When asked about what she’d like to see if she were to go into space, little Suzy said confidently “I’d like to see God”. The teacher said “Oh Suzy, there is no such thing as God”, to which Suzy replied, “Yes there is”. The teacher asked her “Have you ever seen God Suzy? If you can’t see it, it’s not real”. Suzy thought for a moment and then asked “Teacher, have you ever seen a billion dollars?” The teacher shook her head no. Suzy said “But you believe it exists don’t you?” There is a lot of debate about Darwinism, Creationism, Big Bang Theories, etc. I’d like to suggest that we might not be able to determine with scientific certainty what the human truth is. We can however, be certain of this: God’s truth is eternal. We need faith going forward into a new year, being sure of what we hope for. Faith in the triune God will lead to eternal life and while we can’t see it; we know it in our hearts – right where God put it.