One Little Word: 2014

It's that time of year, again! It dawned on me Sunday, while sitting in worship, I have not chosen a word for 2014 yet! It snuck up on me!!  I've pondered what I should choose and the same word kept coming to mind, along with the same verses to go with it.

My 2013 word: PURPOSEFUL
My 2012 word: LIGHT
My 2011 word: JOYFUL
My 2010 word: KINDNESS
My 2009 word:  GENTLE
My 2008 word: FOCUS

My word for 2014 is MORE.  Are you ready to just die?! "You chose more?!  What in the world are you thinking?!"  I know, right?  When it first popped in my head, I thought, "No way! I can't choose such a selfish word!" But I realized the things I want "more" of are not all selfish (notice "not all" - I'm pretty sure one of them is). Some of these things are listed below, in no particular order - well, except the first one is the thing I want more of because from it, I think, will flow everything else.

I want more time in the Word. I have been lax about reading and have been doing more of a "devotionalism" kind of reading. Not really studying or meditating - but just reading on a theme, checking it off my list and moving on with my day. Not what I want or need in order to become more sanctified.

I want to be more purposed in outreach - to friends, to neighbors, to family. I want more fellowship and hospitality. I want more homemade stuff - food, cards, everything. I would like more time to engage in my hobbies - both because they relax me and because they get the homemade things done.

I want to be more loving - to my husband, my children, my extended family, my church family, my friends. I want to be more gentle in my speech. I want to be more purposeful. I want to have more light. I want to be more kind. I want to have more focus. And all of those go back to that first thing I want more of - time in Bible study.

My verses for 2014 -

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.             Philippians 1:9-11 (NASB)

Do you have a word for 2014? Specific goals? Resolutions?