This is the time for New Year's Resolutions and goal-setting. While the practice can be a healthy one, most of us will admit that our resolutions often don't stick. So, I'm taking a different approach. Here are five popular resolutions I will not follow in 2009.

1. I will NOT read the Bible through in a year.
I've done this before and while I certainly don't think it's a bad thing to do, it can easily lead to a shallow routine of simply "getting the chapters done." I started in January 2008 going through the Message version, and as of today I am in Luke. So I didn't complete it in one year. I still think I went too fast. So in 2009, I think I will read smaller amounts and try to digest and pray through them instead.

2. I will not (simply) lose weight.
I need to lose some, probably 10-12 pounds. But "lose weight" is too general. Instead, I want to love God and myself enough to develop healthy habits and let my body respond in its time with the proper weight for me.

3. I will not get more organized.
If I simply look at stewarding and managing the home and life He's given me as an act of worship, I think becoming more orderly and organized will be the result, not a goal. I will BE more organized, not GET more organized.

4. I will not pay off debt.
Financially, I'm debt free except mortgage, so this is a partly irrelevant goal for me when worded this way. However, again, stewarding money well will result in continued growth in financial wisdom, giving, and saving, increasing our emergency fund for example. And, one debt will never be paid off--the debt of loving others. (Romans 13:8) That is one debt I will not pay off.

5. I will not give up sugar or coffee or chocolate or some TV or whatever.
I believe God has given us many things to enjoy, but the problem is we tend to WAY over-enjoy them. One piece of dark chocolate can be a treat. Decaf coffee can be enjoyed as well as the "real" stuff. (No, I don't taste a big difference.) A small dessert can be enough, especially if I partake slowly. Some TV time can be relaxing. Rather than trying to give something up completely (unless of course it is completely unhealthy) I can say, "I will enjoy coffee in moderation." "I will treat myself to one small piece of dark chocolate per day." "I will limit my viewing."

What I will do? Love God, love others, and yes, love myself*. Those are resolutions worth keeping, and I have a feeling most other things will fall into place when those heart attitudes are healthy, because if your heart is not in it, no external change is going to last.

(*We're told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, right? If some of us treated others as we treat ourselves, we wouldn't be very loving people, would we!?)