2017 Word of the Year - Purpose

The New Year is one of my most favorite things in life.  It's the possibility of all things becoming new. It's getting the mind in the right place to make things happen. It's getting organized and thoughtful about where you're heading.  

I gave up making resolutions about 5 years ago. I tried a new way of looking at the new year. By participating in the One Word project, the past five years have been focused on specific things I needed to work on.  My previous year's words have been Passion, Live, Transform and Believe.  The words were specific for the season of life I was in, and each had a scripture to inspire them. If you go through my blog, you can find each one there.

This year, I believe God is leading me to the word "Purpose". I live a lot of life on auto-pilot. I get to the end of the day having not accomplished anything worth remembering or not remembering anything I've done. Yes, I have busier seasons, and I stay fairly busy most days, but most of the time I am just going through the motions checking off lists.  

Instead of getting to the end of 2017 wondering if I did anything that mattered, or with purpose, I'd like to get to the end of the year saying "Everything I've done was done with purpose, on purpose."  That is my motto for this year - Live life with purpose on purpose.

John Lennon wasn't the first to say it, but made it famous in his song "Beautiful Boy" - "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."  

Purpose is synonymous with Intention and Determination.  Living with Intention and Determination, living with Purpose.  I don't want to be planning life and then find out that it has passed me by. Instead, I'd like to look back at the end of my years and say yes, I lived with purpose.  

I want to serve God with purpose, I want to be a friend with purpose, I want to be a mother with purpose, I want to be a wife with purpose, I want to give with purpose, I want to exercise with purpose, I want to study the Word with purpose, I want to love others with purpose.  Everything I do, I want it to be done with purpose on purpose.  

Proverbs 20:5 "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." God has gifted each of us with purpose that we have opportunities to discover. We are able to have insight to these gifts and talents as we live each day with purpose. Peace comes with knowing Who has called us and to what He has called us. You are in the right place, at the right time, and so am I.

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.

The work of life is to develop it.

The meaning of life is to give your gift away.

“Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations” by David Viscott

Resolutions and Resolving to Give Them Up

New Years Day is typically a time when people write down their resolutions to better themselves.  The list of ideas runs long.  For the past three years, I've participated in One Word.  One Word is a way of working God's plan into your "resolutions".  My word for this year is Transform.  My word didn't come to me as wonderfully as it did last year.  In fact, it came totally out of the blue and without any fanfare.  

Romans 12:1 & 2 "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

So, in writing down this word to make this year a year of transformations, I am essentially resolving to give up resolutions, and instead let God do His work in me.  I am giving up on striving to please God through resolutions, but rather please Him by letting the Holy Spirit work through me.  I am giving up on trying to make myself better, and in place, becoming more like Jesus in my walk with Him.

What this looks like for me is that instead of making a list to lose weight, save money, stay debt free, pray more, read more, and all the other good things we resolve to do at the beginning of the year, I will only choose to be transformed from the inside out.  I will choose to focus solely on how God wants to transform me, like a caterpillar to a butterfly.  He's waiting for me to do my part, because He's already done His part.  I just need to participate in what He's already doing.  For me, that looks like joining a local bible study and getting into His word daily, knowing His voice through His word.  

Did you choose a word, or did a word choose you this year?  Would you share what God is putting on your heart for the year?  

Happy New Year: One Word

2013 is about to close, and a new chapter, a blank page is about to be set down before us.  What kind of story will be written this year?  I am ready to find out.  

For the second year, I am participating in One Word.  Over the past month, I mulled over a few words that were relevant and significant to me.  I believe the word God has for me this year is "Live".  I know the idea behind One Word is how do you want to "live" your life, but I felt like there was more to this for me.  

Of course, I want to live more fully, freely, joyfully, thankfully, giving, and all those other good things.  However, I believe God wants to me to just live.  To not hide under the bed sheets and in the corners of rooms with crowds, not to hide behind the mask of depression.  Rather, to bring to life the things that I've let die a little over time, frustrations and unbelief.  

The scripture that has popped up over and over to me since August has been Ezekiel 37:1-14.  God asked Ezekiel "Son of man, can these bones live?"  He told Ezekiel to prophesy to these dead, dry bones.  He told him to prophesy "live" and God would breathe new life to them, and they would know that God was the LORD.

Here is what leaps out to me.  Ezekiel obeyed God and prophesied.  Those bones came together and God re-created their bodies, down to the very veins and tissues to come to life again.  Verse 11 says "Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.  Behold, they say 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off."  

Let's substitute something there for bones.  Our dreams are dried up.  Our hope is dried up.  Our gifts are dried up.  Our love is dried up.  Our life is dried up.  Our motivation is dried up.  Our ____________ is dried up.  Our hope is lost.    

God is impressing on me that He wants to re-create areas in my life that are dried up.  Things I've set aside, either by burying them or by neglecting them.  He wants to resurrect life in me.  Hope in me.  Optimism in me.  It's not for my glory, but His alone.  

When others can see the life of God in me, then I'm fulfilling my call in this life.  If I walk around without life, or without living fully, how am I drawing others to the goodness of God.  For too long, I've allowed life to suck the good life out of me.  The "joy unspeakable and full of glory" kind of life.  The "God is good all the time" kind of life.  

So, instead of making a New Year's resolution, I am choosing One Word to shape my year.  This year, I am going to LIVE.  That may mean fewer posts from me.  It will likely mean less time on Twitter or Facebook or any other social media site because, really, what good is living when it's through other people's pictures.  I still enjoy those things, but not so many hours a week.

My hope is that this year, we will all find our life hidden in Christ.  That our relationship with Him will be more intentional and will grow more intimate.  I pray that we will be led by the Holy Spirit in all things, even the small decisions.  I hope that we will live life to the fullest.  

"Wherever you are, be all there."  I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive."  - Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

   

Random Thoughts

My plan was to not write for the rest of the year.  I was taking a December break to focus attention on my loved ones and not on writing, tweeting, facebooking, etc.  But, this has also been a very unusual month for my family.  Honestly, I just have too much on my mind to not write.  I wrote in my journal next to my bed last night, and it felt so good to write.  I just need to pour out the stuff in my head.

This month.  This month has been hard.  My father-in-law passed away and it was heart breaking.  It was heartbreaking for me because I really loved him.  He was a good guy, and loved his family, even if he didn't say it enough as he alluded the day before he passed.  It was heartbreaking because my husband was hurting.  He felt robbed of having as much time as his siblings had with his dad.  His closest sibling (in age) is 8 years older than he is.  It was heartbreaking because my kids had so many questions about life after death, and we just really didn't know how to answer them with regard to my father-in-law.  My father-in-law never made a confession of faith in front of us, though there are signs that he might have done so just a couple days before he passed away.

My mom was in and out of town, and sick as a dog each trip.  The second trip, just before our family Christmas, she was diagnosed with the flu.  I felt bad that she couldn't enjoy Christmas as much as I know she wanted to.  On top of that, I just wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit, but trying so hard to make it special for my boys.  They are growing so fast, and I never know how much longer they will enjoy the "magic" of it all.

My dad's birthday is the day after Christmas.  This year, it also happened to be the day that his sister passed away.  My dad is 24 years younger than his sister, so it wasn't completely unexpected, though it happened on his birthday.  She was a lovely lady, even to the end.  As a child, she would always have cake, cookies, chips and soda ready for us whenever we'd stop by, even if it was unannounced, an ever-ready hostess.  The pastor at her service today said "She found her calling and was committed to it to the end.  She served her family well."  I would say, as her niece, this is one of the most true statements I've ever heard.  She had a servants heart, and would most definitely give her last penny to help another if she needed to.  

And, this is a totally different subject, but it's been burning in me since I saw it.  We saw "Frozen" a couple of weeks ago with the kids.  My boys had no idea it was a princess movie, and quite frankly neither did I.  The previews made it look like it was about the snowman, though I read somewhere it was based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Snow Queen".  Needless to say, I was delighted, and surprised to find my boys delighted, too.

The thing about the story is that it reminded me so much of Christ's love for us.  He pursues us, even in our frozen heart stages.  There was so much redemption in this story, but I especially loved how Princess Anna sacrificed her life for her sister.  It was true love that saved her sister, and true love that, in return, saved her.  It reminded me of how Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for us, to save us, to redeem us.  And, how He can take our hardened heart and melt away the ice to give us a heart of love.  Ah, there was just so much about this movie that I loved.

Finally, I have narrowed down my One Word.  These three words have been on my heart, but I can really only choose one for the year.  Actually, I think they can all be related.  These are the 3 that were most present in my prayer time over this word:

Intentional - because I believe God wants me to be more intentional in my life, in every area.  I believe He wants me to be intentional about my friendships, my family, my relationship with Him, my church activities, my health and well-being, my writing, everything.

Believe - because I just finished Beth Moore's "Believing God" study, and I believe God wants me to trust Him more, believe His word more.  I need to be so rooted in Him that nothing shakes my faith.  Firm foundation believing.

Live - because the Lord keeps bringing up Ezekiel 37:1-14 to my remembrance.  Prophesy to those dry bones, the breath of God wants to come in you and breathe you to life!  So many dreams and life I've let pass by and die by the wayside because of insecurities or unbelief, and God is saying to me now - LIVE!  

I believe LIVE is the word for me this year.  There is so much to that, and I know God is working in me to live life fully, to be intentional and believe in my living.  I don't think it is any accident that believing and intentional were also on my mind.  I truly believe they were intended to help me "live" with purpose, on purpose.  

If you're still reading, thank you.  I know your time is precious, and this post was long and random.  I appreciate you listening, and letting me clear my head of all these thoughts.  Looking forward to sharing 2014 with you all!  

Turning passivity into passion

Passivity - the trait of being inactive, lack of initiative.

That word, passivity, has described my life for a long time.  I have gone through a time of passivity in my marriage, family, health, finances, you name it, I've been there... in that rut of passivity.  Choosing the couch over exercise.  Choosing the tv over conversation with my husband.  Choosing my email over time with my kids.  Choosing anything over precious time with my Lord and savior.  

That's why I know the word passionate came from the Lord directly for me for 2013.  This is the year to set aside passivity and be passionate about life, family, Jesus and everything else!  So, this is how I started my year, with much excitement about what God was going to do in me.

My husband I will both turn 40 this year.  He will celebrate in February, and I will in August.  We have totally different views about this turning point number.  He is not happy about it, in fact, he is dreading it.  It's the "end of being a kid".  I, on the other hand, am over the moon about it, and can't wait to celebrate what I feel in my heart will be one of the greatest years of my life.  Extreme opposites, no?

I loved the blog post over on One Word about the umbrella effect.  It really solidified for me why I was doing this, and how it would trickle down into my life.  For me, my word is Passionate.  There are four specific areas that I felt like I needed to be more passionate about in my life:  my relationship with the Lord, my marriage, my kids and my health.  These are all specific areas that I know God is leading me to grow in, and to be more passionate about.  I'm excited to see the growth and the change that will take place over the next year.  But, I can already see heart change in myself in these four specific areas.  That is the part that has to happen before any tangible change can happen, so I'm thrilled that I'm already seeing that happen in my life.

Passionate - having or expressing great depth of feeling.

Father God, first I come to you in awe of you.  In awe of how you conduct the symphony of my life.  I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  I thank you for changing me and molding me into the person you designed me to be.  I thank you for inspiring me with the word passionate for 2013.  I pray that you would show me each day how to be more passionate in the four areas that you have laid on my heart.  I pray that you would enlighten my eyes when you've placed opportunity before me to grow in those areas.  I thank you for your goodness toward me.  I love you, Jesus!  In Jesus name, amen!

Tell it like it is

I have never been a "tell it like it is" kind of person.  In fact, I've been pretty passive all of my life.  I grew up in a church that frequently had well known evangelists and ministers from all over.  If you've ever met an evangelist, you know they tell it like it is.  You need Jesus, period.  This often intimidated me.  They seemed to be so bold and powerful, like they could lead anyone to the Lord, even the fly on the wall.  When our church would go out to hand out tracts, I would try to team up with some of the boldest people I knew.  These people were not shy with words,and knew how to lead people to the Lord.  I didn't know what to say or how to act around people who look at you and seem to see exactly what you are thinking.

Well, last night I had a dream.  It woke me up at 2:30 and I couldn't get back to sleep.  There was a scared, lost little girl, and a lost dog who was shaking.  People were passing all around and not even noticing the fear and anxiety in their faces.  As I passed, I heard the Lord say "stop, NOTICE her."  So, I looked more closely and she had a collar on her neck, similar to the dog collar, but it was pretty.  Her tags read "if lost, call..."  

Instantly, I woke up.  I felt God leading me to write about this immediately, so I turned on my phone and jotted down the details so I would be able to write more when my eyes cleared up from the middle of the night blur.  I believe God was showing me that we are all called to be ambassadors for Him.  I know this is a common point preached over and over, but it was a dream that made it stand out to me.  

How many times do we pass people in life, never noticing their anxious faces.  Never noticing that they are lost and need to be found.  They need Jesus.  This pierced my heart last night.  What simple things could I do to share God's great love for people?  I know many lost and hurting people, but I have been too timid to share Christ's redeeming love.  There are so many simple, yet profound things I can do to share God's love, and perhaps lead them to Christ.  

The Great Commission came from Jesus in Matthew 28.  In verse 19 he clearly commands his disciples (which would be us today) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  This is our purpose, no matter what our gifts or talents are, no matter what our personality traits are.  It may not always come out like an evangelist, pastor, teacher, apostle, or other minister.  For most of us, it will just come out in the way of inviting someone for coffee and to share a bit of your testimony.  It may look like you bringing dinner to someone going through a hard time.  I personally have a few people in my life that need a savior, and no one has reached out to them in any way, practically or spiritually.  I believe those are open doors for us to bring them a meal and just say "God cares about what you are going through".  

I believe this is why God gave me my One Word, Passionate, for 2013.  I can say without a doubt that this one area of my life is one that I am least passionate about, but it is the one area that God has called all of us to be most passionate about.  Pray with me, that we will be a more passionate people about showing others the way to Him.  

If you happened upon this blog, and don't know Jesus, let me invite you to find out more about him.  Jesus is the son of God.  He was God in flesh, come to earth as a man to seek and save the lost.  He was the ultimate sacrifice, taking our sin upon him so we might find grace and salvation.  God's grace has been given to us.  Jesus has covered our sins and failures with his blood.  All we have to do is believe on Him, and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior.  

The bible says everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned.  Romans 3:10 "there is no one righteous, not even one."  Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  God has provided a way for us:  Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  And how we receive salvation:  Romans 10:9-10 "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Invite him to come into your life today.  He's ready and waiting for you.