How do you eat an elephant??

I've gone back and forth with the idea of writing down a list of New Year's Resolutions for 2013.
I feel like if I make a New Year's Resolution I'm only setting myself up for failure. I've seen some studies that suggest:

only 8% of people actually achieve their New Year's Resolutions. (sad) 

Some of the most popular New Year's Resolutions are: 

1. Loosing weight

2. Being 'better' at something

3. Saving money  

*Those are all great resolutions!  

{I'll be the first to tell you that goal setting is healthy, and can be very effective.} 

But why do 92% of all people who make a New Year's Resolution fail?

Because those resolutions are too broad.  

My husband, The Good Rev. Mack, elaborates by asking this question:

How do you eat an elephant? One. Bite. At. A. Time. If you set out to "eat an elephant" it would be easy to quickly realize, "I can't do this in one sitting," and give up. To wonder, "What on earth was I thinking? This is impossible!" and throw in the towel. Or even to get a good ways through a "leg" or "thigh" and then see the dessert tray, eat some Zebra Cakes and think, "O no! I ate the Zebra Cakes and now I am disqualified from eating any more elephant..." and walk away, hoping next year will be different.

Horton

His point in this silly example is this: Broad resolutions are great for vision (Eating an elephant), but to actually fulfill your resolution, you need some "mini-resoultions" (One bite at a time). 

Here is an example: 

Resolution: 

Save More, Spend Less

Mini-Resolutions:

Make a family budget (and stick to it)

Plan out your meals (so you only purchase what you need)

Use Cash and save the change in a "piggy bank"

Talk to your significant other before any non-essential purchase (you should also define essential...)

Now, every time you let your budget, not your impulses make a purchasing decision; every planned meal you eat; every quarter you drop in the "piggy bank"; every time your husband calls you before a purchase, you have taken "one bite" towards your resolution of "Save More, Spend Less."Your resolution becomes tangible, and doable, not abstract and impossible. 

Did you make New Year's Resolutions?? Are you going to make "mini-resolutions" to help you become a part of the "Elite 8%"? 

MY RESOLUTION 

Live everyday as intentional as I do in a holiday season.   

This year I got a little frustrated when thinking about everyone (and most of all myself) who 'turns it on' because it's the Holiday season and we HAVE to be nice. We HAVE to be intentional. We HAVE to be joyful. The truth is we have reason be living like EVERYDAY is the holiday season.  

-The Advent and Christmas seasons are intentional celebrations of the birth and life of Jesus Christ. 

-Easter, is the remembrance of Christ's death, burial, and the celebration of His great resurrection! 

-The 4th of July is a celebration of Freedom.

-Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the many blessings in your life. 

-Birthdays are the celebration of new life.

I don't want to wait for a day on the calendar to be intentional about celebrating..

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9.6

And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. 

Luke 24.2-3

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 

Galatians 5.1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

Psalms 118.1

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5. 17

   

My Mini-Resolutions:

1. Growing in intimacy with Christ

                          a. Read scripture on a daily basis (check out shereadstruth.com) 

                          b. Join and attend a bible study (discipleship group) 

                          c. Attend church every week 

2. Live out  the Shema 

(Mark 12.29-31, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.") 

                          a. Journal (for personal inventory; am I holding anything from God)

                          b. Serve in a ministry or mission at least once/ month

                          c. Say the Shema every morning and every night

 3. Place "decorations" in my house

                          a. Write a scripture of the week on our chalk board

                          b. Complete DIY craft projects for each holiday, and place a scripture on it

                    

Just like loosing weight, saving money, or "eating an elephant", this can't happen over night.

BUT we can all take "little bites" in the right direction throughout the year, and earn our spot among the Elite 8%.