Some of us make resolutions like one man, named George. George said to a friend: "There's nothing like getting up at six in the morning, going for a run around the park, and taking a brisk shower before breakfast."

His friend Bob asked, "How long have you been doing this?"

George said: "I start tomorrow."

The year 2006 is almost over, and many of you have made resolutions regarding what you plan to do differently in 2007. The most popular resolutions every year tend to be things like losing weight, exercising more, quitting smoking and getting out of debt. Of course, the hard part is not making the resolutions; the hard part is keeping them.

I heard of one wife who said to her spouse: "I don't want to brag, but here it is February and I've kept every one of my New Year's resolutions. I've kept them in a manila folder in the back of my desk!"

A new year seems to be an easy time to make changes. We can say goodbye to the past year with all of the mistakes we made and start afresh with a year that is unblemished. May I remind you, though, that each day of our lives we have the opportunity to start over. In fact, I would encourage you not to wait until Jan. 1 to begin making changes in your life. If you have habits that need to be changed, start today! Don't wait until January 1st to start dieting. Start today! Don't wait until January 1st to quit smoking. Start today! Don't allow yourself to live two more days with habits you need to get rid of.

And if you falter in your plans to make improvements, don't wait until January 1, 2008 to start all over again. Remember -- every day is a new opportunity to start afresh.

"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)