1. MAKING THE MOST OF THE NEW YEAR PROVERBS 17:24

2. INTRODUCTION Another year is coming to an end. A New Year is about to be born. We can do 2 things this coming year.

3. 1.Waste It – sitting around, worrying about the things we have failed to accomplish. Have a pity party. or 2. Make the most of the New Year Make it the greatest year yet.

4. Time waits for no one. It will not wait for you to make up your mind. It moves on. The bad news is -there is nothing we can do to change the previous year. The good news is – we can learn from the previous and make changes.

5. Life is brought to us in small pieces – hours, days, months. God expects to us to use this time in the best possible way for His glory.

6. Prov. 17:24 – An intelligent person aims at wise actions. That means this person has a goal or an objective. The second person (a fool) goes in many directions with no plan of action.

7. Which best describes our church? Are we going to enter this year with a clear set of goals that we want to accomplish or just let the New Year pass? We need a plan and need to start working that plan- everyday.

8. 1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DECISIONS. People like to blame others for their problems and difficulties. They look for someone to accept responsibility for them. Everything bad is someones else fault.

9. Gal.6:5 – Each person must be responsible for himself. 2 kinds of circumstances: a. Those we have no control. They just happen. (weather, economy)

10. b. Circumstances as a result of my choice, actions or lack of action. (Traffic Summons)

11. Three types of people: 1.Accusers – blame everybody for their problems. 2.Excusers – always have an excuse. Prov.21:25 3.Choosers – they choose the direction of their life.

12. Where do you see yourself? Once you take responsibility for your own life, you can now go to the next step.

13. 2. SET GODLY PRIORITIES. God has given us an incredible gift called choice. With this, each of us can decide what we want in our lives. If we want to excel, we need to have clear cut priorities.

14. Prov.29:18 – Where there is no vision, people perish. Your values / desires determine your vision / direction. Many have no aim in life, so they achieve nothing.

15. What does God want to accomplish through you in 2012? Make a list. Clarify what you want.

16. Three things that need to be at the top of the list. 1.YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. How are you going to improve and strengthen it?

17. 2. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY. Build better and stronger families. 3. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHURCH Improve the quality of your church.

18. 3. DO NOT WAIT TO BEGIN Do it now. If you wait for the right situation or right circumstances – you will miss life all together. Ecc. 11:4 – Do not wait for a perfect time.

19. Decide now. Change begins with us first.

20. CONCLUSION Are you prepared to take responsibility for your life in 2012? Are you prepared to set priorities? Are you prepared to begin now?