WEBVTT

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 Well, here we are at the start of another year.

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 2022 is here.

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 2021 is over.

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 And as we begin this new year, I want to encourage you

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 and share with you a little practical wisdom from God's Word.

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 So my message this morning is going to draw mainly from various Proverbs in the Bible,

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 and it will be a very practical word.

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 Let me begin by asking you a question.

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 Have you taken some time to reflect on 2021?

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 Some of you might be thinking,

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 I don't have time to sit down and reflect on last year.

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 And besides, I'm not sure I want to remember a lot of what happened in the past year.

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 But I want to encourage you this morning,

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 taking time to reflect on the past year is wise.

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 Proverbs 14, verse 8.

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 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.

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 Proverbs 14, verse 15.

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 The prudent give thought to their steps.

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 Proverbs 21, verse 29.

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 The upright give thought to their ways.

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 Proverbs 4, verse 26.

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 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet,

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 and be steadfast in all your ways.

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 At least these four times,

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 God speaks through Solomon to tell us

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 that it is wise,

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 it is prudent,

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 to give thought to our ways.

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 That is, to take time to think about the paths that we have walked,

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 the decisions that we have made,

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 the things we have done,

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 and where those decisions have brought us.

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 What has been the result of them?

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 So taking time to reflect on this past year

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 is not just a helpful idea,

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 it's much more.

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 We might even call it a spiritual discipline,

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 a good habit of grace.

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 But let's think about why for a moment.

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 There are some people who go through life

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 and make the same mistakes

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 over and over and over again.

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 They might pause and wonder briefly at times,

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 why doesn't this work for me?

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 It seems to work for other people.

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 There are other people who seem to be successful

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 in this area of life,

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 but why not me?

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 Oh well.

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 And they just keep on doing what they've always done.

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 Proverbs 26, verse 11.

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 As a dog returns to its vomit,

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 so fools repeat their folly.

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 Think about that.

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 Have you ever watched a dog do that?

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 Puke up something on the floor

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 and then sniff it and lick it,

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 and then walk away,

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 and only one minute later,

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 come back and sniff it and lick it again.

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 Dogs do that.

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 It's almost like they're so captivated

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 by the smell of things

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 that any intelligence that they have

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 is just bypassed,

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 and ooh,

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 what's that over there?

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 It's like they completely forgot

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 that it's there because of them

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 and that it's no good.

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 And, says Solomon,

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 people can be like that too.

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 We do foolish and stupid things,

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 and then we do them again,

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 and again,

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 and again.

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 just kind of sniffing our way through life

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 like a dumb dog

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 who learns nothing from his experiences

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 and continues to forget

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 what he's gone through.

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 So coming back to 2021,

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 there are two things that we can do.

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 One is,

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 to more or less,

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 relive it

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 again,

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 and again,

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 and again.

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 Make the same mistakes.

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 Do the same dumb things.

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 Give into the same

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 mindless sniffings.

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 Scratch the same recurring itches.

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 Say yes to the same regular urges.

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 Or,

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 we can stop.

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 We can break the cycle of foolishness

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 by giving careful thought

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 to our ways,

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 to the things that we have done,

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 the decisions that we have made,

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 where those decisions brought us,

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 what has been the result of them,

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 and what can I learn

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 from all that I experienced in 2021?

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 It's only then

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 that we have the opportunity to change.

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 To grow.

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 To become wise.

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 Prudent.

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 To become successful in that area of life

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 that's been a continual struggle

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 or challenge for us.

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 And so if you haven't done it yet,

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 I want to challenge you

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 to take some time,

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 whether a morning,

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 or an afternoon,

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 or an evening,

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 whatever works for you,

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 to just sit down

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 and quietly reflect

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 on this past year.

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 Having your calendar out

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 can be helpful

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 to jog your memory

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 and trigger memories

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 of what you experienced

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 this past year.

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 For some of you,

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 a paper and pen

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 might be helpful

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 to keep you focused

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 and lessen distractions.

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 You might try and list out

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 a few of the wins

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 of the year

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 and also a few of the failures.

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 What are those weaknesses?

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 Those opportunities

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 for growth

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 in your life?

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 What can you do differently

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 this year,

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 2022,

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 to grow

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 in those areas?

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 And of course,

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 I would encourage you

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 to pray about all of this

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 as you do it.

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 As I went through

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 that process again

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 this past week,

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 I was reminded

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 of just how good

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 God has been to me

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 and to my family

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 this past year.

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 And I was also reminded

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 of how merciful

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 and forgiving

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 and patient

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 God has been to me

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 this past year

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 with all my failures,

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 sins,

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 shortcomings,

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 sins.

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 So give careful thought

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 to your ways,

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 to your steps.

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 But this doesn't mean

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 just to reflect

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 on the ways

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 and the steps

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 that we've taken

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 in the past.

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 It also means

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 that we should give

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 careful thought

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 to the ways

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 and steps

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 that we are about

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 to take

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 now

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 and in the days ahead.

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 Inevitably,

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 as you look back

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 on 2021,

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 you'll remember

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 and you'll see things,

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 steps that you've done

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 that you wish

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 you hadn't,

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 things that you said

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 that you wish

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 you didn't,

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 ways you went down

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 that you wish

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 you could go back on.

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 And for those things,

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 praise God

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 for his grace

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 and for his forgiveness

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 through Jesus,

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 our Lord.

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 But now,

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 this is a new year.

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 This year

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 will be full

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 of new decisions

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 to make,

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 new opportunities

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 to do things

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 differently

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 and better.

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 You'll have opportunities

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 to get off

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 some of those

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 old,

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 tired,

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 and well-worn paths

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 that have been

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 getting you nowhere

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 and instead

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 to cut some new trails,

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 trails that by God's grace

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 may take you

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 where you really want

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 to go

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 with your life

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 and where he

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 wants you to go

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 with your life.

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 But to make

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 those changes,

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 you first need

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 to stop

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 and give careful

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 thought

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 to your ways,

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 to the steps

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 that you will take

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 today

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 and tomorrow

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 and in the weeks

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 and months ahead.

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 And so,

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 I want to encourage you

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 to set some goals

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 for 2022.

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 There's more than one way

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 that you could do this.

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 You could write down

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 a handful of goals

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 for the whole year

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 on a page

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 or you could sit down

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 and write out a few goals

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 for each month

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 as it begins.

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 Some of you might be thinking,

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 goals?

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 Who does that?

00:08:55.180 --> 00:08:56.259
 Goals are for CEOs

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 and people who take life

00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:58.379
 too seriously.

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 I don't need goals.

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 And I used to think

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 like that myself.

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 I'll just kind of do

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 and feel my way

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 through each day

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 as it comes.

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 But that's not really

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 giving careful thought

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 to your ways.

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 That's called

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 flying by the seat

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 of your pants.

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 And eventually

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 that merry-go-round

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 gets tiresome

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 and you realize

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 that you're getting nowhere

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 with many of the things

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 that are most important

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 in life.

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 One of my favorite quotes

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 that's not from the Bible

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 is,

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 if you aim at nothing,

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 you will hit it

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 every time.

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 And it's true.

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 Goals

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 lead to habits.

00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:44.120
 Little decisions

00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:45.000
 that we make

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.599
 about how we spend

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 our time

00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.519
 every day

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 and every week.

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 Habits

00:09:52.099 --> 00:09:52.979
 like those

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 lead to progress

00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:54.620
 in whatever

00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.559
 we're aiming at.

00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:58.979
 Do you want

00:09:58.979 --> 00:09:59.899
 to make progress

00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:01.419
 in 2022?

00:10:02.619 --> 00:10:03.419
 Do you want

00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.000
 to grow

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.779
 in 2022?

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 Or do you want

00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:09.099
 to fritter away

00:10:09.099 --> 00:10:09.859
 half the year

00:10:09.859 --> 00:10:10.899
 scrolling through

00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.419
 news

00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:12.639
 and social media,

00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.399
 watching TV,

00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:16.199
 playing games?

00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:19.700
 the wisdom

00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:21.200
 of the prudent

00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.259
 is to give thought

00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.680
 to their ways.

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:27.420
 And so set some goals

00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:28.800
 for this year.

00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:30.440
 And I want to encourage you

00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.280
 to set at least

00:10:31.280 --> 00:10:32.040
 one goal

00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:34.020
 that's not a work project,

00:10:34.660 --> 00:10:35.680
 but a character

00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:36.660
 growth

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 kind of goal.

00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:39.939
 as you look

00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:40.980
 back on 2021,

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:44.059
 what did your

00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:45.120
 decisions reveal

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.480
 about your character?

00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.860
 What character

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.460
 quality

00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:51.639
 would you like

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.679
 to grow most in

00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:54.100
 in this coming year?

00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:56.679
 Make that a matter

00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:57.200
 of prayer

00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.200
 and focus on it

00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.679
 this year.

00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:01.839
 It may lead you

00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:02.859
 to listen

00:11:02.859 --> 00:11:03.839
 a little differently

00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:04.519
 as you read

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.620
 through your Bible

00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.519
 again this year.

00:11:07.239 --> 00:11:08.259
 It may lead you

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:08.819
 to seek out

00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:09.299
 the wisdom

00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:09.959
 of those who

00:11:09.959 --> 00:11:11.399
 have that quality

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.319
 and maybe even

00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:14.039
 make some much

00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:14.759
 needed changes

00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:15.799
 in your life.

00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:19.799
 As we think

00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.539
 about goals,

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.279
 we must also

00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.159
 admit that it's

00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:24.099
 possible to have

00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:25.219
 a whole page

00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:26.240
 full of goals

00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.199
 and to accomplish

00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:29.139
 every single

00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:29.899
 one of them

00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:30.759
 by the end

00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.319
 of the year

00:11:31.319 --> 00:11:32.860
 and yet have

00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:33.939
 wasted the entire

00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.399
 year.

00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:36.819
 Goals only

00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:37.460
 get you

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.559
 somewhere good

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.759
 if they are

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.000
 worthy goals.

00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:43.139
 Solomon's not

00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:43.779
 just telling us

00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.699
 to be intentional

00:11:44.699 --> 00:11:45.059
 here,

00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.159
 but to be wise,

00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.120
 to give careful

00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:48.860
 thought to our

00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.840
 ways and steps

00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:51.199
 so that we

00:11:51.199 --> 00:11:52.240
 take the ways

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.360
 and steps

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.419
 that are good,

00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.279
 that are right,

00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.500
 that are most

00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.039
 beneficial,

00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:57.639
 that are most

00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.100
 important in life.

00:11:59.139 --> 00:11:59.340
 life.

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.559
 And our goals

00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:02.279
 should reflect

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.279
 what's most

00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.279
 important in life.

00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:07.539
 Leaving Solomon

00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.199
 for a moment

00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:08.960
 and going to

00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:09.439
 Moses,

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.220
 Psalm 90,

00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.600
 verse 12,

00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.240
 a psalm of

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.559
 Moses in which

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.399
 he prays to the

00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.279
 Lord, he prays

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:17.639
 this,

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.000
 teach us to

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:20.620
 number our

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:22.159
 days that we

00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.259
 may gain a

00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:23.939
 heart of wisdom.

00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:24.000
 wisdom.

00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:25.740
 I love these

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.100
 words.

00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.440
 First of all,

00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.580
 a heart of

00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:29.920
 wisdom.

00:12:31.180 --> 00:12:32.080
 It's one thing

00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:32.640
 to have a

00:12:32.640 --> 00:12:33.520
 wise mind.

00:12:34.260 --> 00:12:35.160
 It's one thing

00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:35.760
 to know in

00:12:35.760 --> 00:12:36.760
 every situation

00:12:36.760 --> 00:12:37.620
 what you ought

00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.040
 to do,

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:38.720
 what you should

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.100
 do,

00:12:39.520 --> 00:12:40.920
 but it's another

00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:41.600
 thing to have a

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.840
 heart of wisdom,

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.240
 to deep down

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.860
 love to do

00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:47.840
 what is best

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.340
 and desire to

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.460
 do what is

00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:50.880
 good.

00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:53.759
 for most of

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:53.879
 you,

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.539
 these things I'm

00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:55.080
 sharing with you

00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.220
 this morning,

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:56.820
 I'm sure you've

00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:57.700
 heard these before,

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.879
 you've already

00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.679
 got that wisdom

00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:00.419
 in your head,

00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.019
 but have you

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.620
 got it in your

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:02.939
 heart?

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.600
 Is it in your

00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.360
 heart to do

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.059
 these things,

00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.379
 to live wisely

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:11.419
 and productively

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.860
 in this next

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.139
 year,

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.600
 to accomplish

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:15.960
 much that is

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.620
 good and

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:19.100
 right for the

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:19.899
 glory of Jesus

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.539
 this year?

00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:24.139
 you might

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:24.439
 wonder,

00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:24.700
 well,

00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.460
 how do I

00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:26.240
 get wisdom

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.059
 not just in

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:27.679
 my head,

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.840
 but in my

00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:29.200
 heart?

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.799
 And God

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.580
 tells us here

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.460
 through Moses'

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:34.240
 prayer how it

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:34.960
 can work.

00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.620
 He says,

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.720
 Moses prays,

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.519
 teach us to

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.120
 number our

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.539
 days,

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.340
 that,

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.919
 so that we

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:44.460
 may gain a

00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:44.820
 heart of

00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:45.159
 wisdom.

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.179
 So it is

00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:47.919
 possible to

00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.019
 gain a

00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:49.700
 heart of

00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:50.080
 wisdom.

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.139
 wisdom.

00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.120
 How does

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.600
 it work?

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.280
 By learning

00:13:54.280 --> 00:13:54.759
 from the

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.920
 Lord to

00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.759
 number our

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.220
 days.

00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:00.080
 It is

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.860
 possible to

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.440
 break the

00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.540
 cycle of

00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:03.220
 going back

00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:04.180
 to sniffing

00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:04.960
 and licking

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.280
 at your own

00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:06.900
 vomit,

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:08.600
 to gain a

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.020
 heart of

00:14:09.020 --> 00:14:09.420
 wisdom,

00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:10.440
 to stop being

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:10.840
 a fool,

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.620
 to stop doing

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.100
 the same

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:12.940
 stupid things

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.500
 that we do

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.280
 over and

00:14:14.280 --> 00:14:14.860
 over again.

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:16.919
 and it

00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.220
 comes by

00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.019
 learning to

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.820
 number our

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:20.259
 days.

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.980
 For some

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.460
 people it

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:23.840
 takes a

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.159
 terminal

00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.580
 illness to

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:25.940
 bring them

00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:26.240
 to the

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.680
 place where

00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.240
 they finally

00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.060
 realize that

00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:30.019
 every single

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.700
 day is a

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.360
 precious gift

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:31.940
 from God

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:33.240
 and that

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.519
 they've

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.720
 wasted many

00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.139
 of them.

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:38.620
 think about

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.220
 your life.

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.779
 Each new

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.860
 day is part

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.120
 of a

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.199
 limited edition

00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:47.259
 series that

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.000
 will soon

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.580
 come to an

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.319
 end, both

00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.480
 for you and

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:50.899
 for me.

00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:53.340
 2021 is a

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.860
 good example

00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.259
 of this.

00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:54.759
 It's already

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.679
 been spent.

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.199
 It's done.

00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:00.879
 Your 2021,

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:01.919
 my 2021,

00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:02.759
 is written

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.240
 in the

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:03.779
 history books

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.240
 of heaven

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.159
 and it

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.600
 cannot be

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.039
 changed.

00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:09.819
 Teach us

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.639
 to number

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.819
 our days.

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.439
 Already

00:15:14.439 --> 00:15:14.919
 today,

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.120
 there are

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.879
 only 363

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.720
 days left

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.480
 until 2023.

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.720
 there are

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.480
 only 29

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.000
 and a half

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.699
 days left

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.240
 until we

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:25.959
 start February

00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:26.539
 again.

00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:28.039
 Blink

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.240
 and it'll

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.759
 be spring.

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.039
 Blink

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.059
 again and

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:32.600
 harvest will

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.000
 be drawing

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.759
 to a close.

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.439
 Before you

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:35.759
 know it,

00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:36.439
 we'll be back

00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:37.000
 here again

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.620
 saying the

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.079
 same kinds

00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:38.399
 of things

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.240
 about 2023.

00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.459
 But here's

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:41.959
 the kicker.

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:43.759
 None of us

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.720
 truly knows

00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.919
 just how many

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.579
 days we have

00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:46.980
 left.

00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:48.879
 And we'd

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.419
 be fools

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.199
 to assume

00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:50.879
 that we all

00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.759
 will live

00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.080
 to the

00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.500
 ripe old

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:52.879
 age of

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.360
 96.

00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.159
 Let's not

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.000
 forget also

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:57.720
 that health

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.620
 and strength

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.720
 often start

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.879
 going downhill

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.320
 even decades

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:02.860
 sometimes

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.519
 before we

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.259
 get to 96.

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.000
 You might

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.200
 think,

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.419
 well,

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.120
 I'll give

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.779
 more of my

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.240
 time and

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:08.820
 attention to

00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.240
 those things

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.480
 that are

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:09.919
 important

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.919
 later.

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.439
 When I'm

00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:12.879
 a little bit

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.220
 older,

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.919
 when I've

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.259
 got more

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.820
 time for

00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:16.019
 them.

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.799
 but when

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.100
 you get

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.159
 to older,

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.779
 you might

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.360
 not have

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:21.939
 the health,

00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:22.819
 the strength,

00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:23.860
 the mind

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.939
 to do

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.419
 those things

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:25.840
 anymore.

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.559
 Truly,

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.000
 God could

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.559
 take any

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.220
 one of us

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.480
 out of this

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.579
 world any

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:33.879
 day.

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.500
 It could

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.480
 happen by a

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.299
 tragic accident

00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:39.259
 or by

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.019
 critical organ

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.539
 failure,

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.919
 you name it.

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:44.319
 we are

00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.319
 fools to

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.879
 presume that

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.279
 God will

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:47.599
 give us

00:16:47.599 --> 00:16:48.259
 more time

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.139
 down the

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.559
 road to

00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:49.899
 do the

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.599
 most important

00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.139
 things in

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.539
 life,

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.199
 the things

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:53.519
 that he's

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:53.879
 called us

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.339
 to do

00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:55.099
 today.

00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:57.919
 It's only

00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.579
 when we

00:16:58.579 --> 00:17:00.599
 learn to

00:17:00.599 --> 00:17:01.240
 number our

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.259
 days that

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.059
 we realize

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.759
 what is

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.859
 most important

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.960
 in life.

00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.839
 Not how

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.319
 much money

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:09.740
 is in our

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.460
 bank accounts

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.420
 or how

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:11.839
 nice to

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.500
 houses or

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.079
 the vehicles,

00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.619
 not what

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.519
 level our

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.119
 video game

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.000
 character is,

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.740
 not what

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.079
 the best

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.679
 golf score

00:17:20.679 --> 00:17:21.299
 was or

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:21.679
 whether we

00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:22.159
 won or

00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:22.699
 lost the

00:17:22.699 --> 00:17:23.359
 sports games

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.699
 that we

00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:24.139
 played.

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.199
 It's only

00:17:26.199 --> 00:17:26.559
 when we

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:26.879
 come to

00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.259
 see that

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.679
 our days

00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:28.119
 are running

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:30.899
 out that

00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.519
 we realize

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:31.879
 what is

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.619
 most important

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.559
 in life

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.240
 and it's

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.240
 then that

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:35.659
 we begin

00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.119
 to set

00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:36.619
 worthy

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:38.419
 goals of

00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:38.779
 what we

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.379
 might do

00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.259
 with the

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.939
 days that

00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.459
 we have.

00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.399
 goals that

00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:44.759
 lead to

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.899
 habits that

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.500
 take us

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.179
 where we

00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:48.019
 really want

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.459
 to go in

00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:49.559
 life and

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:49.899
 where the

00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.959
 Lord wants

00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:51.539
 us to go

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:53.379
 in life so

00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:53.759
 that we can

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.439
 look back on

00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:56.159
 2022 in

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.980
 years time and

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.179
 say thank you

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:59.299
 Lord for all

00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.000
 the worthwhile

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.179
 things that you

00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:02.859
 enabled me to

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.539
 accomplish this

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.159
 past year.

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:07.700
 back to

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.700
 Moses for a

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.019
 second.

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:10.560
 There's

00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:10.840
 something

00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:11.279
 humbling

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.620
 here.

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.540
 It's in the

00:18:13.540 --> 00:18:14.240
 way Moses

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.120
 says it.

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:15.880
 He doesn't

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.880
 say thank you

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.460
 Lord that you

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.100
 have taught me

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:19.500
 the lesson of

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.980
 how to number

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.660
 my days and

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.080
 that you have

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:21.680
 given me a

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.019
 heart of

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.340
 wisdom as

00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:23.640
 if he's

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.180
 already figured

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.000
 this out as

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.279
 if he's

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.120
 already got a

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.480
 heart of

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:26.800
 wisdom.

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:26.940
 him.

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.019
 No.

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.319
 Moses dare I

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.139
 say is even

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.740
 humbler than

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.240
 we are.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.399
 He includes

00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:37.119
 himself in the

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.419
 prayer.

00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.480
 Teach us

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.480
 including me

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:41.240
 says Moses to

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.919
 number my

00:18:41.919 --> 00:18:43.879
 days so that

00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:45.319
 I may gain a

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.700
 heart of

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.039
 wisdom.

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.839
 I don't know

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.339
 when he wrote

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:50.980
 this or how

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.720
 old he was or

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.000
 what had

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.480
 happened in

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.099
 his life but

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.759
 there came that

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.839
 time when

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.279
 Moses admitted

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.899
 to the Lord

00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.680
 that he had

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.319
 need for

00:18:59.319 --> 00:18:59.940
 wisdom in

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.440
 his heart.

00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:02.220
 That he had

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.759
 need for the

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.420
 Lord to show

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.339
 him what the

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.119
 span of his

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.839
 life really

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.220
 was so that

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.799
 he could live

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.559
 more wisely.

00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.500
 Will you make

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.160
 that your

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.980
 prayer this

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.259
 year?

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.200
 Teach me

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.879
 Lord to

00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.440
 number my

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:20.480
 days so that

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.899
 I may gain a

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.259
 heart of

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.579
 wisdom.

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:28.000
 I wonder

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.339
 what you're

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.940
 thinking right

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.480
 now as you

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.240
 hear all this.

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.059
 Reflect on

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.779
 2021.

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.759
 Set goals for

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.420
 2022.

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.440
 Well I know

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.119
 that's right.

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.759
 I know that's

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.079
 good.

00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.259
 But

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:53.680
 Proverbs 22

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.640
 verse 13

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.900
 the sluggard

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:58.660
 says there's a

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.460
 lion outside

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:01.160
 I'll be killed

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.700
 in the public

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.200
 square.

00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:06.579
 26 verse 13

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.220
 a sluggard

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.680
 says there's a

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.480
 lion in the

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.859
 road a fierce

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.240
 lion roaming the

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.700
 streets.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.759
 Well I would

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.680
 get out and

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:21.420
 work but I

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:21.980
 can't.

00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.620
 It's not

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.120
 safe.

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.839
 Excuses.

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.660
 Now this might

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.160
 sound a little

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.000
 strange to us.

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:31.559
 I mean if there

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.460
 actually was a

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.299
 lion roaming the

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.819
 streets it would

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.980
 be prudent not to

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:37.059
 go there and put

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.940
 ourselves in danger.

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.240
 We wouldn't

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.859
 typically call such

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.440
 a person a

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.620
 sluggard or

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.000
 lazy.

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.480
 So is there

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.539
 really a lion out

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.160
 in the streets

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:48.319
 or is maybe this

00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.140
 person more like

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.839
 Chicken Little?

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.500
 The sky is

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:51.920
 falling.

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:54.099
 There's a lion out

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.779
 in the streets.

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.099
 Or maybe like the

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.160
 boy who cried wolf.

00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.380
 There's a lion.

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.299
 Look at me.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.420
 Give to me.

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.440
 I can't work.

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.140
 I don't know.

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.240
 Whether there's a

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.980
 lion or not.

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.160
 I don't know.

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.840
 But the point I

00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.660
 think Solomon is

00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.980
 making is that the

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.220
 lazy person makes

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.880
 excuses.

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.220
 He doesn't get to

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.500
 work.

00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.940
 I would do that.

00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:22.519
 But there's a lion

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.019
 outside.

00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:25.360
 I wonder what some

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.440
 of our excuses might

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:26.960
 be today.

00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:29.279
 I would take some

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.400
 time to reflect and

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.680
 to set goals for this

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.300
 coming year.

00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.740
 I know that's good.

00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:34.580
 I know that's what I

00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.100
 should do.

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:38.379
 But I haven't got

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.879
 time.

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.859
 I'm too busy.

00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:43.039
 I would do it.

00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:46.139
 But I've got all

00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:47.019
 these kids to look

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.399
 after.

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:49.039
 And they need my

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.099
 attention constantly.

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.199
 I would do it.

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:56.019
 But with all the

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.919
 cold weather that

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:58.099
 we've been having and

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.959
 the short days, the

00:21:59.959 --> 00:22:01.079
 lack of sunshine, I

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.059
 just have no energy.

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.659
 I won't be able to

00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:04.139
 concentrate.

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:07.079
 I would do it.

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.619
 But how can I make

00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:11.500
 goals when there's

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.659
 COVID in the streets?

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:15.119
 Or when COVID

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.079
 regulations are

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.339
 constantly changing?

00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:18.419
 What if something

00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:20.179
 changes and I'm not

00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:20.980
 even able to make

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.500
 my goal?

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.659
 Maybe I shouldn't

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.619
 set any goals in the

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.299
 first place.

00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.019
 Excuses.

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:31.019
 Let me be blunt and

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.379
 frank.

00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:33.659
 Let's not deceive

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.839
 ourselves with

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.379
 excuses.

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.179
 Let's not comfort

00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.919
 ourselves with

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:39.480
 excuses in this

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.079
 next year.

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.399
 If you can't make

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:45.039
 the time for the

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.899
 things that are most

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:47.000
 important in life,

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.119
 if you can't make

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.119
 time for the things

00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.299
 that are wise in

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:55.319
 life, then you are

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:55.699
 a fool.

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:55.759
 fool.

00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.519
 And you will suffer the

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.940
 fate of fools and you

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.980
 will repeat your

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.960
 folly again and

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.460
 again and again as a

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.700
 dog returns to its

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.019
 vomit.

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.319
 You'll be like the

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.279
 lumberjack who says,

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:11.120
 I can't stop even for a

00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:13.000
 moment to sharpen my

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.420
 axe.

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.420
 I know it's getting

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:16.640
 duller, but I've just

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.620
 got too many trees to

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:17.980
 chop.

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:21.039
 Or you'll be like the

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.360
 motorist who refuses to

00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.400
 pull over and check the

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:23.720
 map.

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.960
 Got to keep moving.

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.380
 I'll find my way.

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.299
 As long as I'm moving,

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.339
 I'll get there fast.

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.440
 And yet, what if you're

00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.960
 driving in the wrong

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.400
 direction?

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:36.259
 No, we must not make

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.840
 excuses.

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.560
 We must not put off

00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:42.540
 prayerful reflection and

00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:42.980
 planning.

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.360
 We must give careful

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.420
 thought to our ways,

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:48.480
 past ways, present ways,

00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:50.180
 and future ways.

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.160
 We must pray like Moses

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:55.040
 did and ask the Lord to

00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:56.460
 teach us to number our

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.759
 days and to give us that

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.640
 heart of wisdom.

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.820
 In the great race of life,

00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.940
 we might look around and

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:05.080
 see all the hairs bouncing

00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:06.559
 around here and there at

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.640
 breakneck speed.

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:10.259
 And we might fear that if

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:11.840
 we don't just join in with

00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:13.400
 them, we're going to miss

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:13.720
 out.

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.360
 We won't be able to keep

00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.700
 up.

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.820
 I won't be able to keep

00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:19.940
 up if I take time to stop

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:22.820
 and pray or to reflect or

00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.299
 to set goals.

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:26.360
 I'll be like the turtle in

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.700
 the great race of life.

00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:30.759
 But who wins the race in

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.140
 the end?

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.640
 The hair.

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.600
 Or the tortoise.

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:40.059
 James chapter 3, verse 13.

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.600
 Who is wise and

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.840
 understanding among you?

00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:46.860
 Let them show it by their

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.700
 good life.

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:51.400
 By deeds done in the

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:53.340
 humility that comes from

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:53.740
 wisdom.

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.600
 What good will you aim to

00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:01.219
 do with God's help in 2022?

00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:05.919
 What deeds will be done by

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:08.139
 your hands in this coming

00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:08.480
 year?

00:25:11.919 --> 00:25:13.319
 Ephesians 2, verse 10.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.019
 For we are God's handiwork

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:19.359
 created in Christ Jesus to do

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:22.619
 good works which God prepared in

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.039
 advance for us to do.

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.519
 Let me remind you and

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.639
 encourage you this morning.

00:25:28.739 --> 00:25:29.739
 At the start of the year,

00:25:30.739 --> 00:25:32.799
 God has it in his mind and

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:37.119
 even in his plan for you to do

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:40.099
 good work for him this year.

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.759
 God has it in his life.

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.099
 God has it in his life.

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.759
 God has it in his life.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:44.939
 So let's not, as we often say,

00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:46.599
 take it easy.

00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:50.379
 Let's not say, don't work too

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.740
 hard.

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:53.959
 Let's not say, there's COVID out

00:25:53.959 --> 00:25:55.039
 there, I can't.

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.920
 Let's not say, let's not

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.980
 let's instead say to one

00:25:57.980 --> 00:26:01.079
 another, brother, sister, your

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.819
 days are numbered.

00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:05.839
 Look, man, Jesus is coming back

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.240
 soon.

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.359
 Who then is the faithful and

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:12.920
 wise servant whom the master

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.000
 has put in charge of the

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.879
 servants in his household to

00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.879
 give them their food at the

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.539
 proper time?

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:19.240
 It will be good for that

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:21.599
 servant whose master finds him

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:24.339
 doing so when he returns.

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:32.440
 I don't know who said it, but

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:34.000
 my mind often goes back to this

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.339
 quote.

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:38.960
 Only one life will soon be

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:42.359
 passed and only what's done for

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:44.019
 Christ will last.

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:47.279
 And so may God fill us with his

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.680
 spirit and give us power and

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:53.079
 grace and wisdom and love for a

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:55.019
 fruitful and productive year.

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:57.559
 year for his glory and for the

00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:59.279
 good of the people all around

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.639
 us.

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.680
 Let's pray.

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:10.139
 Father in heaven, thank you for

00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.960
 the gift of life.

00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.680
 Thank you for all the precious

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.059
 moments that we've had over the

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.740
 past year.

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:19.519
 Sweet moments of relationship.

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:22.720
 Thank you for even the challenges

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.980
 and the trials that you used in

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:27.720
 our life to strengthen us, to

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:30.339
 deepen our faith, to grow us in

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.019
 our character.

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.940
 Thank you that you love us enough

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:36.099
 to let us go through hardship at

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.519
 times.

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:41.160
 Only you know, Lord, what 2022

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:45.579
 holds for us as individuals and as a

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:52.639
 church, but we commit the year to you, Lord. We pray and ask that you would have your hand on us

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:56.099
 and bless this year for each one of us.

00:27:58.399 --> 00:28:04.939
 We ask that you would lead us to make good decisions, wise plans,

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:12.099
 and to succeed in those things that are pleasing to you one day at a time.

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:17.059
 We ask this in Jesus' name and for his honor. Amen.