For several years I've chosen a word for the year, a la Ali Edwards.
My previous words have been MORE (2014), PURPOSEFUL (2013), LIGHT, (2012), JOYFUL (2011), KINDNESS (2010), GENTLE (2009) and FOCUS (2008). Since 2009, I've also had a verse or some verses to go along with my word - you can read each of those with the posts if you like.
This year, as I've contemplated my word for 2015 I keep coming up blank. I started thinking about it shortly after Thanksgiving, knowing that I would need to have it chosen pretty soon. Nothing. Big. Blank. Space. Massive brain drain. I am exhausted. I am weary. I'm still in the midst of grappling with some pretty significant grief. But as I type that, the thought that I'm going to skip OLW this year is erased and I realize just what word I need to use. I go back in my mind to the morning after Daddy died. I got out of Mom's bed, after a night of very little sleep, and opened my Bible to Psalm 119 - the Psalm we'd just read as part of our Wednesday night Bible study the week prior. My eyes were drawn to v 28. "My soul weeps because of grief, strengthen me according to Your word." And I think, perhaps my word is there in that verse - a word that I need - STRENGTH - along with the best way to get it: "...according to Your word."
So, there you have it. My One Little Word for 2015 -- strength -- in a year I didn't think I was going to have one. :)
Showing posts with label one little word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label one little word. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Monday, December 30, 2013
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 -
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?
Saturday, December 29, 2012
One Little Word: 2013
I can't believe this will be the 6th year I've chosen a word for the year (Ali Edwards was the original inspiration, and though I don't follow her blog any longer I know she still does it).
In 2012, my word was LIGHT. If asked how it went, I'd say not well since I couldn't even remember what word I chose! :/ It's been an incredibly busy year - most especially with work (things exploded for me the week following Memorial Day when I took over administration of a second system...and I had to learn the system while learning to be system admin!) Some things have gone really well and other things need work.
In 2011, my word was JOYFUL.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
I was contemplating what my word for 2013 should be, I thought about how life will be changing again at the end of May 2013 when I will no longer have a preschooler. Starting in July, I will be homeschooling all four of my children. Honestly, I cannot wait! I look forward to being at home almost every day, not having to go anywhere; I look forward to being able to really concentrate on the children, on school, on work, on my home. I have made some decisions about things we are going to do differently once we're at home more. Things will change drastically around here - and hopefully for the better.
I plan on living life more purposefully in 2013 - and not beginning in the middle of the year, but beginning even NOW. And that made me choose PURPOSEFUL as my word for 2013. As you know, I like to have a passage of Scripture to go along with the word (started that in 2009, thanks to my friend, Jennifer). To really give it meaning. As I pondered "what is my purpose?" (ha, isn't that the question of the ages?!) and how I can be more purposeful with my life - it dawned on me that my purpose is to walk worthy of my calling as a child of God. And so, I have chosen Ephesians 4:1-3 as the verses to go along with my word.
Do you make resolutions? Do you choose a word? Do you set goals? See you back here next year to discus how well we did...deal? Hopefully for me it will be much, much better than it was in 2012!
In 2012, my word was LIGHT. If asked how it went, I'd say not well since I couldn't even remember what word I chose! :/ It's been an incredibly busy year - most especially with work (things exploded for me the week following Memorial Day when I took over administration of a second system...and I had to learn the system while learning to be system admin!) Some things have gone really well and other things need work.
In 2011, my word was JOYFUL.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
I was contemplating what my word for 2013 should be, I thought about how life will be changing again at the end of May 2013 when I will no longer have a preschooler. Starting in July, I will be homeschooling all four of my children. Honestly, I cannot wait! I look forward to being at home almost every day, not having to go anywhere; I look forward to being able to really concentrate on the children, on school, on work, on my home. I have made some decisions about things we are going to do differently once we're at home more. Things will change drastically around here - and hopefully for the better.
I plan on living life more purposefully in 2013 - and not beginning in the middle of the year, but beginning even NOW. And that made me choose PURPOSEFUL as my word for 2013. As you know, I like to have a passage of Scripture to go along with the word (started that in 2009, thanks to my friend, Jennifer). To really give it meaning. As I pondered "what is my purpose?" (ha, isn't that the question of the ages?!) and how I can be more purposeful with my life - it dawned on me that my purpose is to walk worthy of my calling as a child of God. And so, I have chosen Ephesians 4:1-3 as the verses to go along with my word.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ~Eph 4:1-3 (NASB)
Do you make resolutions? Do you choose a word? Do you set goals? See you back here next year to discus how well we did...deal? Hopefully for me it will be much, much better than it was in 2012!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
One Little Word: 2012
This marks the 5th year I've chosen a word for the year, a la Ali Edwards. I've tried each year to incorporate my word into my daily life. Some years it has gone great - and others, well - not so much. My hope to do a Joyful Journal last year...didn't materialize.
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2011, my word was JOYFUL.
In 2012, I have decided that my word will be LIGHT. I chose this word because I've been feeling the need for light in many areas of my life. Light in the spiritual sense, light in the emotional sense, and even light in the physical sense as I seek to be outdoors more (I am one of those who needs sunlight). I've shared with some of you before that when I've struggled with depression (which is a constant battle in my life) I feel very much like the little head in the Zoloft commercial...running around with a dark cloud hanging over me.
For the past few years, I've also tried to tie my word to a passage of Scripture. When I was searching for a verse, I came across this passage in Philippians 2:14-15
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2011, my word was JOYFUL.
In 2012, I have decided that my word will be LIGHT. I chose this word because I've been feeling the need for light in many areas of my life. Light in the spiritual sense, light in the emotional sense, and even light in the physical sense as I seek to be outdoors more (I am one of those who needs sunlight). I've shared with some of you before that when I've struggled with depression (which is a constant battle in my life) I feel very much like the little head in the Zoloft commercial...running around with a dark cloud hanging over me.
For the past few years, I've also tried to tie my word to a passage of Scripture. When I was searching for a verse, I came across this passage in Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourself to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world...I want to be a light and I want to do all things without grumbling or disputing...and trust me, I'm good at grumbling and complaining and disputing. What a great way to bring LIGHT to my life by not being a grumbler or disputer. And really, the more I grumble - the more discontentment darkens my world!
Friday, December 31, 2010
One Little Word - 2011
I can't believe this will be the fourth year that I've joined Ali Edwards in choosing a word for the year. I love what Ali says in the blog post I just linked: "You live with it. You invite it into your life."
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2011, my word will be JOYFUL. A word you've seen multiple times in this space. Joyful as in "He makes the barren woman the joyful mother of children..." (Psalm 113:9). I want my life to be defined by JOY this year. As the old mother of four young children, I often "survive" each day, fall into bed exhausted and have totally missed the little joys of the day with my children. I don't want that to be true any more and the change starts now.
I plan on starting a Joyful Journal. Ideally, I'd like it to be some sort of altered book - but we'll see. I plan on recording whatever small, simple thing or big, amazing thing brought me joy that day. I'm going to keep it on my desk since I'm here at various points in the day, that's a perfect place for it. My phone has a great little camera in it and I'll use it to take photos of things - so there will be some photos in the book. And I'd like to blog about these joyful things, too, to be able to transfer info to the book once I have photos developed.
There you have it. I hope to be more joyful in 2011. Purposefully joyful. Praying that God will make that happen in my life.
In 2008, my word was FOCUS.
In 2009, my word was GENTLE.
In 2010, my word was KINDNESS.
In 2011, my word will be JOYFUL. A word you've seen multiple times in this space. Joyful as in "He makes the barren woman the joyful mother of children..." (Psalm 113:9). I want my life to be defined by JOY this year. As the old mother of four young children, I often "survive" each day, fall into bed exhausted and have totally missed the little joys of the day with my children. I don't want that to be true any more and the change starts now.
I plan on starting a Joyful Journal. Ideally, I'd like it to be some sort of altered book - but we'll see. I plan on recording whatever small, simple thing or big, amazing thing brought me joy that day. I'm going to keep it on my desk since I'm here at various points in the day, that's a perfect place for it. My phone has a great little camera in it and I'll use it to take photos of things - so there will be some photos in the book. And I'd like to blog about these joyful things, too, to be able to transfer info to the book once I have photos developed.
There you have it. I hope to be more joyful in 2011. Purposefully joyful. Praying that God will make that happen in my life.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
December Daily - December 31
This is the December 31 assignment from the Holidays in Hand class I took from Jessica Sprague.
I really did not like the quote on the prompt for today and so I changed it. :)
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
Write: What are your New Year's resolutions? I don't ever make resolutions. The years I have, I've not kept them and they've usually been forgotten by March 1. In at the end of 2007, I came across Ali Edwards' blog post about her word for the year 2008 (her post about her word for 2010 along with links to her 2007, 2008 and 2009 word posts can all be found here). Since much in my world was going to be in a state of upheaval in 2008, I decided to join those choosing a word and I chose FOCUS. I did pretty well focusing on being a wife, a mom, a full-time employee, and a kindergarten teacher. However, my life was lacking something significant with my family - gentleness, especially in my speech. So, I decided that my word for 2009 would be GENTLE. There were days and times that I was anything but gentle - but I never forgot day-to-day that my goal was to be more gentle. I wish I could say I was successful and saw a great increase in gentleness. I did see some improvement in my interaction with my kids when I was irritated but not enough for me. I can and should do better - and I have had some conversations with friends to help me in that pursuit. I was more quick to seek forgiveness from them and the Lord when I was not gentle. So, knowing how 2009 went, and knowing how I struggle and what qualities I need to cultivate in my life - my word for 2010 is KINDNESS. And, thanks to Jennifer I have the verses I am going to use for 2010: Colossians 2:12-14
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.And not only does it hit on kindness - but compassion, gentleness and patience -- things I need to work on as well.
Photograph - take a photo of yourself in the mirror or pose for a photo. We'll see about that... :) We are going out for a while, so I may take one while I have hair fixed, make-up on and am in something other than yoga pants and a sweatshirt!
Our do today is to go to the store for sparkling cider for the kids. I'm making the Saltine Toffee candy for tonight, too.
Remember - recall a significant New Year celebration -- of course, that would be New Year's Eve 1999...awaiting the "doomsday" that would bring the Y2K bug and the collapse of modern civilization when computers rolled to using 00 as the year in MM/DD/YY. {wink} My beeper didn't go off (I worked in hospital IT at the time). I called in to see if I would have to go to the hospital - we were scheduled in shifts, just in case we were needed to keep things functioning through the night. I called in, things were fine. Perfect, even. No need to come in - at all! The clinic system I supported had seven very small, very fixable Y2K issues that weren't covered by their Y2K update. They installed a patch and everything went smoothly from that point forward. How do I remember something crazy like "seven small issues"? Because we had to predict - written and signed - how many issues our supported system would have with Y2K. The winner got a large (very large) AmEx gift cheque (this was in the days before gift cards, you know). I guessed 5. I was closest. I won. :) W00ts! That ushered in what turned out to be a very good year for me - despite turning 35 and still not being pregnant, it was a good year.
Our do today is to go to the store for sparkling cider for the kids. I'm making the Saltine Toffee candy for tonight, too.
Remember - recall a significant New Year celebration -- of course, that would be New Year's Eve 1999...awaiting the "doomsday" that would bring the Y2K bug and the collapse of modern civilization when computers rolled to using 00 as the year in MM/DD/YY. {wink} My beeper didn't go off (I worked in hospital IT at the time). I called in to see if I would have to go to the hospital - we were scheduled in shifts, just in case we were needed to keep things functioning through the night. I called in, things were fine. Perfect, even. No need to come in - at all! The clinic system I supported had seven very small, very fixable Y2K issues that weren't covered by their Y2K update. They installed a patch and everything went smoothly from that point forward. How do I remember something crazy like "seven small issues"? Because we had to predict - written and signed - how many issues our supported system would have with Y2K. The winner got a large (very large) AmEx gift cheque (this was in the days before gift cards, you know). I guessed 5. I was closest. I won. :) W00ts! That ushered in what turned out to be a very good year for me - despite turning 35 and still not being pregnant, it was a good year.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
My Word for 2009
At the beginning of 2008, I decided to join in with those who were choosing a word for the year. I chose the word "focus" for 2008 and things went really well until about the last six weeks of the year when I seemed to lose focus on everything! I'm not sure if it was having sick kids or what - but I felt like the bottom was dropping out on a daily basis and I lost focus of everything. Hopefully the end of 2009 won't prove to be anything like 2008 has been.
So, for 2009 I have chosen the word gentle and specifically, I'm wanting my gentleness to be reflected in my speech. I'm sure if you've read my recent posts about wanting to be more kind, gentle, tender and merciful toward my children then this doesn't surprise you. I've highlighted the Merriam-Webster definition of "gentle" that I'll be using...
gen·tle
Pronunciation:\ˈjen-təl\
Function: adjective
2 a: tractable , docile b: free from harshness, sternness, or violence
And the passage of Scripture that I plan on posting all through my house is Proverbs 15:1 (NASB)
I wish you all a happy, healthy 2009. And if you choose a word for the year, please share it with me!
So, for 2009 I have chosen the word gentle and specifically, I'm wanting my gentleness to be reflected in my speech. I'm sure if you've read my recent posts about wanting to be more kind, gentle, tender and merciful toward my children then this doesn't surprise you. I've highlighted the Merriam-Webster definition of "gentle" that I'll be using...
gen·tle
Pronunciation:\ˈjen-təl\
Function: adjective
2 a: tractable , docile b: free from harshness, sternness, or violence
And the passage of Scripture that I plan on posting all through my house is Proverbs 15:1 (NASB)
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."I also want to make certain that my speech gives grace to those who hear it (Ephesians 4:29) so, I'm sure I'll be seeing that around the house as well.
I wish you all a happy, healthy 2009. And if you choose a word for the year, please share it with me!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
My word for 2008
Ali Edwards has been an encouragement for people to choose their "word" for the year. Not a resolution - but choose a word that you would like to "drive" your year this year. I know several people who've done this and the more I've thought about it, the more I've thought, "I need to do that, too." Not a resolution...I'm not a resolution maker, at all. I think they're kind of hokey and how many people actually keep their New Year's resolutions beyond March?
I chose focus as my word for 2008 based on this definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding;
I'm adding a new person to my family, I'm going to start homeschooling my oldest child in the fall - I'm definitely going to need clear perception and understanding as well as direction for my life this year!
I chose focus as my word for 2008 based on this definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding;
I'm adding a new person to my family, I'm going to start homeschooling my oldest child in the fall - I'm definitely going to need clear perception and understanding as well as direction for my life this year!
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