Exodus 1 Resolutions

The Birth of Moses

The Birth of Moses

  1. I will pray a decade of the Rosary for each of my grandparents.
  2. I will pray for 15 minutes in Adoration for the fruitfulness of my future grandchildren and great grandchildren.
  3. I will discuss with my wife how we might better praise and support a young, growing Catholic family we know.
  4. I will exercise with my son.
  5. I will schedule a time to go camping, hunting, fishing, etc. with my son.
  6. I will take my son to work with me.
  7. I will read the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care.
  8. I will re-assess with my wife our medical care and services in light of our religion.

Exodus 2 Resolutions

Moses in the Wilderness

Moses in the Wilderness

  1. I will spend time in prayer reflecting on a vice that I have and develop a plan with a priest or spiritual director to uproot it.
  2. I will schedule a retreat to find solitude and to converse with the Lord.
  3. I will schedule a retreat for my wife and I to go on together.
  4. I will schedule a romantic weekend away with my wife.
  5. I will tell my children the story of how my wife and I met.
  6. I will discuss with my wife getting a pet and using it to teach our children how to care for the needs of others.
  7. I will schedule an appointment with a priest or a counselor to discuss a significant event in my life that I have been “running from”.
  8. I will bring my family camping or hiking and will teach them the story of Moses and the burning bush.
  9. I will spend one hour in adoration this week expressing my thoughts to the Lord. I will journal what I hear.

Exodus 3 Resolutions

The Call of Moses

The Call of Moses

  1. I will begin a record of my family’s faith life so that I can share with my children how the Lord has worked in the lives of their ancestors.
  2. I will ask my father the story of his religious faith.
  3. I will read a bible story to my children each night this week.
  4. I will brainstorm with my wife how each of us can communicate faith to our children in different ways.
  5. I will reflect on any areas that I am hiding from God and discuss those areas with a priest.
  6. I will reflect on any areas that I am hiding from my wife and discuss those areas with her.
  7. I will go to adoration and write down any areas of inadequacy that I feel on a regular basis. I will ask the Lord to give me courage in these areas.
  8. I will go to adoration and ask God what his mission is for me.
  9. I will commit to being a father-figure to a child I know who needs a father-figure but does not have one.

Exodus 4 Resolutions

God Reveals His Name

God Reveals His Name

  1. I will model vocally praising the name of the Lord to my children by reading one of the Psalms of praise before bed each night (ps. 9, 34, 68, 93, 96-100, 104, 108, 111, 146-150).
  2. I will share with my wife and children the different meanings of the name that the Lord reveals to Moses.
  3. I will plan an activity for my children that we will train for together (5K, 10K, triathlon, bike ride, etc.) and will use it to teach my children how to accomplish a large goal by preparing in stages.
  4. I will encourage my children to try something new that they are afraid of by trying something new that I am afraid of.
  5. I will speak about the Lord with someone close to me who I do not believe will listen.
  6. I will offer a fast this week for the grace for my children to overcome fear.
  7. I will stop what I am doing and give my full attention to my children when they want to speak to me.
  8. I will explain to my children how my friends have been instrumental in my faith journey.
  9. I will have a conversation with my wife about whether or not our children’s friends are leading them closer to or farther away from the Lord.
  10. I will schedule a time to get together with a friend who has been helpful in my faith.

Exodus 5 Resolutions

Moses Goes to Pharaoh

Moses Goes to Pharaoh

  1. I will prepare a defense for the logical principles of my faith in a journal and review it so that I am ready to defend my faith when it is questioned.
  2. I will ask my wife to help me prepare our children to defend their faith by explaining to them the most common objections to Catholicism and the Catholic response.
  3. I will confront someone I know who is abusing his authority.
  4. I will discuss with my wife how we can incorporate the principles of our faith more into our role as citizens.
  5. I will discuss with my wife any changes to the workload and/or allowance that we give to our children.
  6. I will resolve to leave my stress at work and come home and play with my children each night this week.
  7. I will be generous and encouraging to the employees I have under me.
  8. I will question the Lord according to the evidence I see in a situation that is heavy on my heart. I will then spend 15 minutes in silence listening to the response and will journal what I hear.

Exodus 6 Resolutions

God's Mission For the Broken

God's Mission For the Broken

  1. I will begin a journal with my wife detailing the history of the Lord’s relationship with each of us individually and how the Lord has worked in our family. I will share this with our children when it is appropriate.
  2. I will anticipate a burden that my wife is carrying alone and help her carry it.
  3. I will schedule a time with each of my children to ask them what in their life I can help them with.
  4. I will show my family that I choose them by putting away all technology when I get home and interact with them instead.
  5. I will make a list of times in my life when I have allowed brokenness to interrupt my listening to God. I will repent of these times privately to the Lord (or in confession if needed).
  6. I will examine when my own hard-heartedness has interfered with my relationship with God and/or my wife and I will apologize in person.
  7. I will fast from something (i.e. – coffee, sugar, hot showers) for one of my children who has a “hard-heart” towards God or family members.

Exodus 7 Resolutions

The Hardened Heart of Pharaoh

The Hardened Heart of Pharaoh

  1. I will invite my oldest child to plan a family activity and will follow his/her direction.
  2. I will ask one of my subordinates at work to take leadership on a project.
  3. I will bring my family to volunteer with an organization that works with the homeless or disabled.
  4. I will share with my wife a life-experience that is very difficult for me to talk about.
  5. I will go to adoration and will choose to let go of the one wound from my past that I have refused to let go of.
  6. I will tithe 10% of my time to the Lord this week, dividing my time between prayer, charitable works, spiritual reading and the sacraments.
  7. I will create an outline of experiences that I would like for my children’s formation.
  8. I will create a “spiritual autobiography” detailing the “series of experiences” that the Lord has taken me through.

Exodus 11 Resolutions

The Justice of God

The Justice of God

  1. I will compose a first draft of my own “mission statement.”
  2. I will schedule time to discuss with my wife the “mission” of our family.
  3. I will schedule one hour to pray about 1-year and 5-year goals for my family.
  4. I will ask two friends to share with me how others “perceive” me.
  5. I will read James Chapter 1 in the Bible, and ask God for whatever next steps He has for me in handling anger.
  6. I will ask my wife how we as a couple might improve our handling of anger in our relationship.

Exodus 12-13 Resolutions

The Passover

The Passover

  1. I will read and reflect on the Sunday readings with my family on Saturday.
  2. I will plan a more generous meal this Sunday in honor of the Lord’s Day.
  3. I will schedule with my family to host a Party in honor of a Religious Feast Day.
  4. I will plan with my wife how to increase the domestic religious traditions of our next Christmas and Easter.
  5. I will list and learn the Church’s Holy Days of Obligation in the United States.
  6. I will schedule with my wife to celebrate the Church’s Solemnities with special meals.
  7. I will research my ancestry and share what I find with my family.
  8. I will take my family to visit and to pray at the graves of our relatives.

Exodus 14-15 Resolutions

The Crossing of the Red Sea

The Crossing of the Red Sea

  1. I will lead my family in praying vocal thanksgiving to the LORD.
  2. I will spend fifteen minutes before bed recalling God’s blessings of that day.
  3. I will share with a member of my family, a coworker, or a friend, how God has been blessing me.
  4. I will list any difficulties in my life and bring them before God in Adoration.
  5. I will “be still” in prayer and invite God to enter my heart with his will.
  6. I will read the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt to my children and then I will share with them how God is still active in the world today.
  7. I will plan a praise and worship event in my home or at my parish and invite other families to attend.

Exodus 16 Resolutions

Manna From Heaven

Manna From Heaven

  1. I will do an examination of conscience every night focusing on where I have “murmured” against the LORD or another person.
  2. I will discuss with my wife how we might train our children by giving them more responsibility.
  3. I will reflect on my past to see if there are any inordinate attachments or habitual sins that are holding me back, and I will take steps to heal from them.
  4. I will take a full Sabbath day of rest.
  5. I will spend time in adoration reflecting on God’s provision in my life and I will praise and thank him for the blessings he has given me.
  6. I will share our family history with my children.

Exodus 17 Resolutions

Israel Defeats Amalek

Israel Defeats Amalek

  1. I will read Matthew 6:25-34 and meditate on God’s provision.
  2. I will spend 30 minutes in prayer interceding for others.
  3. I will ask a friend if there is currently anything I can help him with.
  4. I will write down a list of my successes and how I recognize God’s aid in those successes.
  5. I will build a holy place to the Lord to commemorate his aid in my life.
  6. I will share with my children how the Lord has helped me overcome difficulty.
  7. I will exercise with children to help train them physically.

Exodus 18 Resolutions

Moses & Jethro

Moses & Jethro

  1. I will plan a trip to visit my parents or my in-laws.
  2. I will call my father or father-in-law and share with them the blessings God is working in the life of my family.
  3. I will ask my father or father-in-law to share with me their advice and wisdom regarding a specific dilemma.
  4. I will host a feast to celebrate God’s provision and blessing in my life and the lives of my family and friends.
  5. I will reflect on how I am fulfilling my responsibilities and I will rearrange my priorities if necessary.
  6. I will ask my wife if she thinks I have spread myself too thin and ask her where I could focus my energy better.

Exodus 19-20 Resolutions

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

  1. I will re-evaluate with my wife increasing or decreasing the boundaries that we set for our children.
  2. I will share with my children the story of a significant time that I encountered the LORD and will bring them to that place if it is appropriate or possible.
  3. I will teach my children the Ten Commandments by discussing a different commandment at dinner each night for the next ten days and applying it to a situation that they can relate to.
  4. I will memorize the Ten Commandments with my family.
  5. I will discuss with my wife how our family can better “remember the sabbath day”.
  6. I will come up with a plan to train my younger children in self-control and perseverance (i.e. music lessons, karate lessons, a household project, etc.)
  7. I will find a practical way to “win my children’s hearts” so that they find me more trustworthy when I am giving them commands. The way I will “win their hearts” will be _.

Exodus 32 Resolutions

The Golden Calf

The Golden Calf

  1. I will compose an act of contrition focusing on “other gods” I have worshipped in my life. My act of contrition will conclude with a resolution to “destroy these gods”.
  2. I will ask my children to share their advice on how to wait patiently for something that seems like it will never happen. I will connect this conversation to “waiting on the Lord”
  3. I will make atonement for the wrongs committed by my family members by fasting from _ or by doing __ as a penance.
  4. I will apologize to my children for a specific time that I failed to come to their defense and ask for their forgiveness.
  5. I will discuss with my wife any changes that should be made in how we punish our children when they do something wrong.
  6. I will take my whole family to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
  7. I will contact a sibling that I have been distant from.
  8. I will share a story with my family about a time when I was hurt by my choice to abandon God and how the Lord brought me back to Him.
  9. I will create an activity for my children to do with their siblings.
  10. I will create a punishment for my children the next time they do something wrong and will serve that punishment alongside them.

Exodus 33 Resolutions

The Command to Leave Sinai

The Command to Leave Sinai

  1. I will go to the chapel for 15 minutes and I will prayerfully examine frequent parenting situations where I should have removed myself. I will share these reflections with my spouse to encourage accountability.
  2. I will compose of prayer of intercession to the Lord for one of my children who was rejected
  3. I will share with my children the lessons I learned from one of the first journeys I undertook without my parents.
  4. I will plan an age-appropriate journey for each of my children to be sent on without a parent.
  5. I will read an account of the life of St. Dymphna (patroness of those afflicted with anxiety) and will commit to regularly praying for her intercession for one or more of my children.
  6. I will schedule lunch with an older Patriarch and ask his advice about when I should allow my wife/children to talk me out of a parenting decision I have made.
  7. I will create a plan to teach a new skill to each of my children. It will be a skill that is new to them and will challenge them to grow.

Numbers 20 Resolutions

The Waters of Meribah

The Waters of Meribah

  1. I will perform an examination of conscience paying specific attention to areas where I have been disobedient to legitimate authority.
  2. I will ask my wife to join me in creating a clear list of punishments for common misbehavior from my children. I will clearly explain these consequences to my children and will follow through with enacting them.
  3. I will ask God for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
  4. I will attend Eucharistic Adoration for 30 minutes and will ask the Lord to communicate any specific commands he wishes for my life. I will record what I hear and will discuss it with another patriarch or spiritual director.
  5. I will thank someone who has sacrificed for me without personal reward to themselves through a written letter or personal conversation.
  6. I will ask my father how he overcame detours in his personal and professional life and I will ask for advice on how to overcome detours in my own life.
  7. I will schedule a personal retreat for myself.
  8. I will reach out and offer help to someone I know who has recently mourned a tragedy in their life.

Numbers 27 Resolutions

The Daughters of Zelophehad

The Daughters of Zelophehad

  1. I will write a letter to my daughter(s), for them to open at a later time, that expresses my love for them and my desires for their formation.
  2. I will give a book to my daughter(s) that reflects qualities I hope for them to acquire.
  3. I will praise my wife in front of our children, especially extolling her intelligence, wisdom and courage.
  4. I will pick one day to offer up a fast for each of my daughters’ to grow in holiness.
  5. I will plan an optimal time and location to petition a superior for something that I desire.
  6. I will compose a list of common rules in our family and evaluate them with my wife. I will bring any proposed changes to these rules to God in prayer.
  7. I will invest my authority into my children by giving them authority over an exciting and creative project around the house.
  8. I will discuss with my wife how we can provide a ceremonial commissioning for our oldest child.
  9. I will invite my children to regularly lead a family rosary or divine mercy chaplet.

Numbers 32, 33 & Deuteronomy 31 Resolutions

Moses Prepares Israel For battle

Moses Prepares Israel For battle

  1. I will call or write to a family member who I have a damaged relationship with because of a departure.
  2. I will tell my children a story of a time that one of my siblings fought for me.
  3. I will ask my children at dinner to describe a time where they were proud of one of their siblings.
  4. I will undertake a penance (cold showers, fasting, no internet apart from work, etc.) for the grace to find freedom from a specific sin.
  5. I will undertake the Exodus 90 challenge - www.exodus90.com - and will pray about inviting one or more of my children to join me.
  6. I will plan a special activity with one of my children who has recently been overlooked because other children have needed more of my attention.
  7. I will write a letter to one of my children who will soon be leaving my home explaining the “great works” of the Lord in my own life.
  8. I will give greater authority and responsibility to one or more of my children and I will hold a family meeting to announce and explain what this means.
  9. I will read a different miracle story from the life of Christ with my family each night this week.

Deuteronomy 32 & 34 Resolutions

The Death of Moses

The Death of Moses

  1. I will record my own “mountain top” experiences with God in a family Bible that will be passed on to my children.
  2. I will research and share opportunities for my teenage children to encounter God this summer at a Catholic youth conference or Catholic summer camp.
  3. I will review any areas where I fail to hold myself to a higher standard than those I supervise at work and will take steps to correct faults that I discover.
  4. I will share a story with my children of a time that a parent, coach or teacher held me to a high standard and how it benefited me.
  5. I will pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary on Tuesday or Friday this week, focusing my meditation on Christ’s obedience.
  6. I will invite my children to share at dinner this week the positive ways they have seen their siblings change over the past several years.
  7. I will read the section “I Believe in Everlasting Life” from the Catechism (Par. 1020 – 1065).
  8. I will sign up to help with an outreach ministry at church and will invite my family to join me.
  9. I will make a plan with my wife to ritually mourn the passing of family members or loved ones in the future.