It is Monday, January 14, 2008. 2008! Wow! For some reason it's hard to believe that it is 2008 and halfway through the first month of this year.

At the beginning of this year, I did not have many resolutions. Not sure why, but it just happened that way. I was not really prepared for a new year because of a crazy season with lots of speech and debate activities before/during it. My main resolution (and one, apparently, that I have gone on to try to forget) is to do a better job of encouraging my brothers in Christ in their walk with God.

Now I am finding myself up against a brick wall of sorts. That brick wall is what exactly I am supposed to be doing with relationships. Pick any relationship with someone I know, and you will probably find many ways that I could improve and am currently messing up.

My desire is to know and follow God's will. Even if I do not know what it is, I desperately want to do what I know will honor Him. That means focusing in Him in ALL the relationships I have right now. That is a difficult concept, because often I separate my relationships with people from my relationship with God, and never the twain shall meet.

But I think God has been telling me through numerous instances that I need to allow Him into the picture of my life. He gave me the relationships I have right now (Praise God!!!!), and I want to honor Him by giving them back to Him. That does not mean that they end, but rather, He is enthroned where He belongs.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I love people. Almost everyone who reads this is going to be a close friend of mine. I love you, whoever you are! You are precious to me! However, I want God to be the One honored in our friendship. As my friend, I ask you to hold me accountable to this goal.



On Eagles' Wings, by Michael Joncas

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord: "My refuge,
My rock in whom I trust!"

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear:
Under His wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day;
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

For to His angels He's given a command
To guard you in all of your ways;
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

Adaptation of Psalm 91