A New Year leads to New Year Resolutions with New Beginnings

• As people we like to celebrate new beginnings
  • New Year leads to New Year Resolutions with New Beginnings
    • Earliest New Year Resolutions date back to Babylonians in 4000 B.C.
      • Resolution was to repay debts and give back borrowed tools
      • New Year was March 25 on Vernal Equinox, Lunar Calendar
    • 700 B.C.  Roman Emperor adds January, February to Calendar
      • Originally 10 months with 304 days, now 12 months & Solar Calendar
    • 45 B.C. Julian Calendar reset by Julius Caesar, Jan 1 as New Year
    • 1582, Gregorian Calendar established and mandated by Pope Gregory XIIII
• Studies show that close to 40% of population will make New Year Resolutions
  • 8% keep resolutions / 80% fail by end of February
  • why do we love new beginnings so much?

• We like to do things our way
  • Exodus 34:1-9
    • We are a “stiff-necked people”
      • this term occurs 18 times in the Bible
        • Exodus 32:9; Deut 9:13: 2 Kings 17:14; Psalm 78:8; Jer 19:15
        • Story of Stephen, Acts 7:51
        • God is first to call his people “stiff-necked” Exodus 32:9
      • This is a second copy of the original covenant with God’s people
        • story of Aaron the golden calf
        • Moses gets angry and breaks the tablets

• We want to be saved but we do not like to be told what to do
  • The power of tantrums in human development
    • we rebel against being told what to do
    • we get upset when we don’t get our way
    • we look for alternative solutions when we don’t like the solution given
  • I want to do it your way as long as it is also my way
  • We do not have the power to save ourselves
  • We are prone to seek our own answers even in spite of warnings
    • never touch an electric fence on a dare
    • “this smells terrible–here, smell this”

• Good news is given first to the shepherds of the field
  • People who would understand the need for guidance
  • People who would understand caring for those who do not know the way or what is best for them
  • Mary ponders the words in her heart
    • without speaking Mary begins to wonder what this means for her
    • she is in a place of silent thought where God can speak to her
    • she does resist or insist on her way but waits and ponders
  • True change begins in the heart
    • studies show it takes 18-254 days to change a habit, averaging 66 days
    • change of habit means change of approach, change of coping mechanisms
    • what leads me to want the things I want?
    • what is in my heart?
    • do I really desire to change?

Don’t forget to email your notes to yourself so you can keep them!