My wife jokingly handed me the following piece over the weekend. It is titled 'Twas The Month After Christmas. If the truth be known, it hits a little too close to home around the Jackson house.
'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,
At the holiday parties, had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales, there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store, (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous, meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces, and beef nicely rared,
The sweets and the sausage balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never said, "No, thank you, please."
As I dressed myself, in my husband's old shirt,
And prepared once again, to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can spend a winter… disguised as a man!"
So-away with the last, of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food, that I like must be banished
Till all the additional, ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew, on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot, and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore-
But isn't that what, January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet!
Does this sound familiar? For many people, it does indeed. No doubt, many will be making New Year’s resolutions to get in better physical shape this coming year. Alas, not everyone will see them through. I saw a cartoon this past week that depicted the parking lot at a gym full on January 2, but then empty on February 2.
Resolutions about physical health are certainly important. After all, in First Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV), the Bible says… “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
While the emphasis of this passage is on the body, do not miss the phrase “and in you spirit”. This is a subtle reminder that we, as human beings made in the image of God, are more than mere physical creatures. We have a spirit as well. And we should work to nurture, to exercise, and to grow the spiritual component even as we do the physical one.
For this reason, I leave you with the following piece, worthy of your consideration for a set of spiritual resolutions for the coming year. It is titled “I Will”.
Like Paul, forget those things which are behind, and press onward (Philippians 3:13).
Like David, lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help (Psalm 121:1).
Like Abraham, trust implicitly in my God (James 2:23).
Like Enoch, walk daily in fellowship with my heavenly Father (Genesis 5:22).
Like Jehoshaphat, prepare my heart to seek God (2 Chronicles 19:2-3).
Like Moses, choose rather to suffer, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:24-25).
Like Daniel, commune with God at all times (Daniel 6:10).
Like Job, be patient under all circumstances (Job 13:15-16; James 5:11).
Like Caleb and Joshua, refuse to be discouraged because of superior numbers (Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9).
Like Gideon, advance even though my friends be few (Judges 7:7).
Like Aaron and Hur, uphold the hands of the leaders of the church with prayer and support (Exodus 17:12).
Like Isaiah, consecrate myself to do god’s work (Isaiah 6:1-8).
Like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to Christ (John 1:40-42).
Like Stephen, manifest a forgiving spirit toward all who seek my hurt (Acts 7:60).
Like Timothy, study the Word of God (2 timothy 2:15).
Like the Heavenly Hosts, proclaim the message of peace on earth and good will toward all men (Luke 2:13-14).
Like the Lord himself, overcome all earthly allurements by refusing to succumb to their enticements (Hebrews 4:15).
And that, my friends, is a worthy set of resolutions for a Christian hoping to get in a little better shape in the coming year.
POEM SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for instance: http://www.dezert-rose.com/humor/christmas/diet.html.
RESOLUTION SOURCE: Available in numerous variations, some longer, some shorter. See for instance, http://www.housetohouse.com/HTHPubPage.aspx?cid=8190.
'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,
At the holiday parties, had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales, there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store, (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous, meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces, and beef nicely rared,
The sweets and the sausage balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never said, "No, thank you, please."
As I dressed myself, in my husband's old shirt,
And prepared once again, to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can spend a winter… disguised as a man!"
So-away with the last, of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food, that I like must be banished
Till all the additional, ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew, on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot, and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore-
But isn't that what, January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet!
Does this sound familiar? For many people, it does indeed. No doubt, many will be making New Year’s resolutions to get in better physical shape this coming year. Alas, not everyone will see them through. I saw a cartoon this past week that depicted the parking lot at a gym full on January 2, but then empty on February 2.
Resolutions about physical health are certainly important. After all, in First Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV), the Bible says… “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
While the emphasis of this passage is on the body, do not miss the phrase “and in you spirit”. This is a subtle reminder that we, as human beings made in the image of God, are more than mere physical creatures. We have a spirit as well. And we should work to nurture, to exercise, and to grow the spiritual component even as we do the physical one.
For this reason, I leave you with the following piece, worthy of your consideration for a set of spiritual resolutions for the coming year. It is titled “I Will”.
Like Paul, forget those things which are behind, and press onward (Philippians 3:13).
Like David, lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help (Psalm 121:1).
Like Abraham, trust implicitly in my God (James 2:23).
Like Enoch, walk daily in fellowship with my heavenly Father (Genesis 5:22).
Like Jehoshaphat, prepare my heart to seek God (2 Chronicles 19:2-3).
Like Moses, choose rather to suffer, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:24-25).
Like Daniel, commune with God at all times (Daniel 6:10).
Like Job, be patient under all circumstances (Job 13:15-16; James 5:11).
Like Caleb and Joshua, refuse to be discouraged because of superior numbers (Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9).
Like Gideon, advance even though my friends be few (Judges 7:7).
Like Aaron and Hur, uphold the hands of the leaders of the church with prayer and support (Exodus 17:12).
Like Isaiah, consecrate myself to do god’s work (Isaiah 6:1-8).
Like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to Christ (John 1:40-42).
Like Stephen, manifest a forgiving spirit toward all who seek my hurt (Acts 7:60).
Like Timothy, study the Word of God (2 timothy 2:15).
Like the Heavenly Hosts, proclaim the message of peace on earth and good will toward all men (Luke 2:13-14).
Like the Lord himself, overcome all earthly allurements by refusing to succumb to their enticements (Hebrews 4:15).
And that, my friends, is a worthy set of resolutions for a Christian hoping to get in a little better shape in the coming year.
POEM SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for instance: http://www.dezert-rose.com/humor/christmas/diet.html.
RESOLUTION SOURCE: Available in numerous variations, some longer, some shorter. See for instance, http://www.housetohouse.com/HTHPubPage.aspx?cid=8190.