Angela Breidenbach is a multi-award-winning inspirational speaker, popular conference presenter, and author of the Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life and the new Kindle release of Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guideposts, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She connects missions to her work with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, Montana. Angela Breidenbach on the web: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com, http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com, and http://TheFaithGirls.com on Wednesdays each week. 

Visit her Christian Speakers Service page for speaker bookings.

New Year’s resolutions are common, but are you able to keep yours? Most surveys report resolutions are abandoned in the first month. Some in the first week! God inspires us with hopes and dreams. He’s calling each of us into a purpose. What if your resolution had something to do with your life purpose? Would it have a deeper importance? If so, how do you keep yours?

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Ex. 9:15 NIV).

1. Change the word resolution to goal. Too many people joke, disrespect, and denounce resolutions. The word has become synonymous with failure.

2. Write down the giant overview of that goal. What’s the big picture? Embrace what that goal looks like and feels like. Imagine yourself at that point of success.

3. Break it down into monthly goals. This is the first step in making your goal feel like it’s within your reach.

4. Break those monthly goals into weekly goals. Smaller steps walk you closer than standing and staring from a distance.

5. Break those weekly goals into daily opportunities. Every day you have the opportunity to make a choice. But often we don’t put our goals into our daily lives, and then we don’t understand why we didn’t accomplish it.

6. Write the daily opportunities on your daily calendar or to-do list. The difference between forgetting about it and getting it done is planning to do it.

7. Go back over the goals and determine if any need additional research or education. How will you work that need into your schedule? If you don’t think about it, you’ll keep putting it off.

8. Put the additional research or educational needs into your daily schedule. Yes, life gets in the way. If that happens, reschedule as soon as possible. Don’t just let it slide by without rescheduling.

9. Find a friend to trade accountability partnerships. Check in with each other weekly at a set time.

10. Report truthfully to your accountability partner. Review both mini successes and mini struggles with your partner.

11. Brainstorm and adjust your daily plan as needed based on your review.

12. Celebrate every successful step along the way to reinforce the sense of reward for your effort. (Reinforcing reward builds confidence and belief in the ability to achieve and succeed.)

Simple steps complete a more complicated plan. You’ll be amazed at how far you’ve gone even a month or two into your New Year’s resolution.

Here’s a simple recipe that makes a big pot of soup. Perfect for a winter warm up after a cold day.

Quick & Easy Egg Drop Soup

This is so easy and fun! My favorite simple way to make Egg Drop Soup is to buy ready-made chicken broth and start from there. But if you have chicken bouillon, it works fantastic as well. Serves 4–8, depending on serving size.

8 cups chicken broth
1 heaping Tablespoon cornstarch
1–2 cloves of chopped garlic
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
Sprinkle of powdered ginger
2 eggs, beaten
4 sliced mushrooms
1 large fresh tomato, chopped
Chives for garnish, if you like

Pour 7 cups of chicken broth into soup kettle, reserving one cup to mix with cornstarch. While broth is heating over high heat, sprinkle in ginger, garlic, mushrooms, and soy sauce. Mix the cornstarch with the still cold cup of broth. Whisk until blended. Pour broth-cornstarch mixture into the kettle and continue to stir well occasionally.

Beat eggs. Once broth has hit a boil, lower heat slightly and stir to get a gentle current going in a circle. The eggs will have a more flower-like look if they swirl gently while cooking. Drizzle eggs in a steady but slow stream. Stir gently to keep the current going in the kettle. Once all eggs are in the kettle, add the chopped tomatoes. The trick is to add the tomato at the end so it’s hot, but not overcooked. It adds tang to the soup. Egg Drop Soup is a family favorite.

Recipe courtesy of Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance.