In Mark 14, we read that Jesus is preparing for what He knows is inevitable....His death on the cross. As we read His words, we are drawn into the story, observing as He shares with his friends, the disciples, these words, "You will all fall away...for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." And good friend, Peter, says "Even if all fall away, I will not." Peter doesn't see what Christ sees. Peter is oblivious to his own weakness, but Christ gently reproves him.

The Savior looks deep into his eyes, to the very center of Peter's soul. He sees the reflection of what Peter cannot see. He observes the dark corners and shines light into denial, making a truthful statement to pierce the darkness. Jesus tells His beloved friend, "I tell you the truth....today-yes, tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will disown me three times." And Peter looks back at Jesus and emphatically says, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."

We know from that same passage that when the rooster crows the second time, Peter remembers what Christ told him and breaks down and cries. He's confronted with the ugliness of his own sinful nature, and is reminded that his friend, the Savior, saw this and warned him.

It's the beginning of a New Year and I have a tradition with a couple of my closest friends. We sit down over a steaming mug of coffee, in a quiet corner, and pray together. And then we go around the circle to each person and they ask, "What do you see in me?" We tell that friend the most encouraging thoughts about their life. And then we choose one thing that we see where they need to work, and present that to them lovingly. They take that piece of the corner of their soul, that one piece that they cannot see in the daily reflections of the mirror of their life, and they began to pray about it and work through it. We all support one another.

It is a task that only works with hearts that rely on the grace of God, and the willingness of the others to know that they want to walk closer to their Savior and do better. What better way than to start the New Year with a new goal on becoming a better person and walking out your best life?

Perhaps you don't have someone who knows you that well. Or perhaps you don't have someone in your life whom you trust to be a truth teller. It is something that I treasure....to know that people love me enough to call out some of the ugliness inside my heart, so I can work on being more Christ like, and being a better leader.

Even if you don't have that someone in your life to chat with over a cup of coffee, it's a New Year and time for you to make some changes. Pick up the mirror of life and take a good long look at your soul. Ask God for help. You'll see the beauty and the ugliness..... if you look hard enough.

It's never too late to make changes...start today...start living your best life.

Here we are again at a time of change - the calendar year that is.  Being a goal-driven person, I don't typically make resolutions for the New Year, but our family does have a tradition to mark each year's passing.

If you learn nothing else about our family trivia, you must know that we all love a good art project, especially where creativity can reign supreme.  In a world where there are a bazillion choices on how to spend your time (and pull families in multiple directions), one way to bring our family closer together is projects where we can be creative side-by-side.  Some of our best conversations are when we are creating a family masterpiece.  My children range in age from 6 years old to almost 14, and everyone still loves to get involved.  Encouragement and teamwork abound, which can be a blessed respite from quarreling and sibling rivalry.

To tie together our family's love of creative expression and our commitment to each other and our traditions, a few years ago we found the best way to merge them all.  Every New Year's Eve, we put together a collage of our hopes and dreams.  The sky is the limit - you are allowed to dream, wish, or hope for anything your heart desires.  We usually use a poster board and agree on some type of background theme.  One year it was the night sky and our dreams were written on stars.  Now on this list, you can carry over items that didn't happen, and as we have discovered, a year later, some items may not be as pressing anymore.  For example, my dream to watch salmon swim upstream has been on the list for 8 years running and it will be again. 

The amazing thing about this collective list is we are able to look deep into each other's hearts.  We were all stunned when our now 11 year old declared that her biggest dream several years ago was to be baptized.  We have also learned that of all the ways to spend our days, what we cherish the most is time spent together, even if it means tubing down a freezing cold river to help someone else achieve his dream.  Each year when we create the collage, we are given a choice to think BIG, but also think about who God is molding us to be.  When we look at the finished product, we marvel at its beauty, and as the year unfolds and we get sucked into the busy, hustle of life, we can look to that project as to what really matters.  Life doesn't seem so complicated, and we are able to simplify, simply by looking in each other's hearts. 

Here we are at the start of a new year....2011!!! Hard to believe!

A New Year brings many resolutions. For many of us, weight loss is near the top of the list. We often start off doing well on dieting and then quickly lose our willpower and focus.

There are several things that can help us in making weight loss programs work. But, remember, there is no "magic fix".

Watch Intake vs. Output

What we weigh is all about intake versus output. If we have more intake than calorie output, we gain weight. If we have less, we lose weight. It takes both cutting back on calories AND regular exercise to have a successful long-term weight loss.

Keep a Food Diary 

I usually recommend that people keep a food diary for about a week before starting their diet. It is a little time consuming but often very eye-opening to see what we are actually consuming in terms of calories.

Exercise Regularly

It is also very important to start getting regular exercise. That doesn't have to mean joining a gym. Exercise can be a simple as walking for 30-45 minutes- 4 days per week. The American Academy of Family Physicians has a program called AIM (Americans in Motion). One of the things they suggest is buying an inexpensive pedometer that will keep track of your steps each day. The goal is to reach 10,000 steps each day as a form of exercise. Three years ago, we tried this through the clinic where I practice, and it is not terribly hard to reach the 10,000 step per day goal!

Portion Control

In terms of intake, it is more about quantity, than types of food. A balanced diet from all food groups is still recommended with portion control being very important. It helps to use a salad plate, rather than a dinner plate, to "fool" yourself into feeling you have more food than you actually do. It also helps to sit down and eat rather than eating on the run. Drink lots of water, and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help fill your stomach and help limit intake of higher calorie foods.

When eating out, share a meal between 2 people, or bring half your meal home. Most restaurant portions are 2-3 times more food than we actually should be consuming at a meal.

When all else fails, keep focus on what God would have us do. Our bodies are His dwelling place, and He deserves our slimmest, happiest, healthiest selves.

"It is only in the process of accepting and solving problems that our ability to think creatively is enhanced, our persistence is strengthened, and our self-confidence is deepened."

John Ortberg 

Beginning a new year brings resolutions. These resolutions often include losing weight, working out more, saving money, or paying off debt. Here are some steps to help you obtain these promises you make to yourself.

1) Set a goal. The goal should be attainable and measurable. For instance, "I want to pay off debt this year" is not a goal that can be measured properly. Make your goal very specific with a time line attached, such as, " I will put $100 from each paycheck towards my Visa bill so the balance will be paid off in 15 pay periods. I will not charge any further items on this card." This way you can specifically track your success per pay period as well as at the end of your timeline. Attach a sentence stating how you will feel when the goal is accomplished. For example, "When I am free of this debt I will feel a sense of freedom, and relief, and will be able to sleep better without that worry of outstanding debt." This makes the goal personal, attaches emotions to the goal, and gives a reason why you want to accomplish it. 

2) Write the goal down.It is statistically proven that written goals are far more effective and more likely to be achieved. Write it down, hang it up on a mirror, or put it up at a place where you can see it regularly and be reminded of it. 

3) Share the goal with someone and ask them to hold you accountable. You will be more likely to achieve a goal if you have to report your progress to someone. Set up an accountability system or find an accountability partner who you report your progress to regularly. A tip for finances is to set up auto bill pay to pay off credit card debt faster without having to write the checks out yourself. That follows the theory that we live within our means, so if a bill is automatically taken out of the bank account then we don't have the opportunity to spend it...a system we set up for accountability!

4) Celebrate accomplishments! When you accomplish a goal reward yourself. We don't want to reward ourselves with chocolate cake if we just lost 10 pounds, or a new outfit that we can't afford when we just paid off our debt. But think of things that make you feel good that are not counterproductive to the accomplishment of the goal. Maybe reward yourself with a day at the beach or an event with a friend. Be proud of yourself and celebrate your success!!!