My One Word 2016

Well, it's that time again.  Each year for the past five years I have chosen a word to focus on for the whole year.  My past words have been- disciplined, balance, focus, purpose and intentional. This year I've chosen (or rather I believe God has chosen for me) the word ENCOURAGE.

My goal is to do all I can to encourage others. How?  I'm not 100% sure yet but I do have one idea that I'm set on doing.  Send a hand written note to someone each week of the year.  Yep, that's right-52 hand written notes in 2016.  I'm praying that God will show me who I need to send those notes to- I trust He will. Just as I trust He will show me what else I can do in 2016 to be an encouragement to others.

I'm Just a Wanna Be!!

I am not going to lie. I am a wanna be!  I've been a wanna be all my life. Sometimes it's good to be a wanna be and sometimes it's not so good. You know, like when you are in junior high school (yes, I'm showing my age because now it's called Middle School) and all the other girls are wearing make up or the latest fashion "styles" and you just need want to wear the exact same things because you wanna be just like them. Yeah, not such a good thing right.  A girl needs to be careful about who she chooses to be like and why. Sometimes I think the why is more important that the who.

But sometimes being a wanna be can be a good thing.

I am participating in a study where we are reading through the ENTIRE Bible in one year.  Not only are we reading through it, but we are reading through it in chronological order and we are posting about what we are learning.  I absolutely love it.  The study is lead by Wendy Pope and it is amazing. She provides a video for each day and then she shares what she has learned from that days readings. And guess what, she has done this for many years and STILL gets so much out of each reading.  You can still join Read Through the Word and enjoy this adventure with so many people!

So, what the heck does this have to do with my being a wanna be you ask. Well, I'll tell ya! One morning while I was getting ready for work I was watching one of Wendy's videos.  I usually listen to them on my way to work (they are usually about 15 min at the most so the timing is perfect) but that morning I was actually watching.  Lewis walked by and saw the video and said, "who's that, a Beth Wright wanna be?".  I laughed out loud at that statement. Yes, we may, sort of, slightly resemble each other- we have short brown hair, wear glasses sometimes (only when we really want to see something- like words on a page) and we both wear scarves sometimes (want to see something funny? Watch this video of Wendy and Melissa Taylor doing the Wendy wRap). But a Beth Wright wanna be, nah- more like I'm a Wendy Pope wanna be. Not that I want to look like her but I want to be like Wendy in my heart and in my life.  I want to be someone who loves to share the Word of God with others. I want to be a disciple for Christ in my words and my actions. There are so many different ways that I'm a Wendy Pope wanna be.

Guess what, she's not the only one I wanna be like.  Did you see where I mentioned Melissa Taylor earlier, now that girl is another woman I wanna be like.  Have you heard of Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies ministry- yep, that girl right there started the whole thing- why? Because she wanted to have a Bible study with other women of God and just didn't have the time to GO to Bible Study so what did she do? She started OBS! (BTW- we are studying an amazing book right now, Keep It Shut- we just started on Monday it's not too late to sign up). And her co-hort  Nicki Koziarz, well she's another that I'd love to be more like. She has a heart for Jesus that just won't stop.  And then there is Kristy Aiken-now that girl, she just oozes Jesus!  I've only met Kristy in person twice- but man on man is God doing some work through her!

So yes, I'm just a wanna be and proud of it!!!!


 

My Word, Verse and Song for 2015

I had a really hard time deciding on my One Word for this year. I prayed about it and asked God to show me what He wanted me to focus on this year. I kept thinking I knew what my word was going to be but it just didn't seem right. I even pulled up the old thesaurus and tried to find a word that was close to the one I thought I was meant to use- but still it just wasn't right. Then all of a sudden there is was- Intentional!  I realized that God wanted me to be intentional in 2015!

Intentional? Be intentional about what?  About my relationship with Christ, about my relationship with Lewis, about my family, about my responsibilities in my home, about my responsibilities as a leader in P31 OBS, about my responsibilities in my job.

Yes, it's a LOT to be intentional but I've done my best to prioritize.  I tend to forget things, Lewis or the boys will ask me to do something and I'll say I'll do it but 9 times out of 10 I'll forget until they remind me and then way too often I STILL forget to do whatever it is they asked.  And usually it's something important.  Yes, I need to learn to be more intentional.

What will that mean for me in 2015?  Honestly, I'm not really sure but I'm guessing I'll be using my reminder app, my calendar, and sticky notes WAY more often. Or maybe, it will consist of doing things right away when asked instead of putting things off.  I am SO bad about procrastinating that its really quite sad. And distractions- well, let's just say there are lots of them that well, distract me.  I KNOW this is an issue that I need to work on and I know that it's not something I can do on my own.

I found a really cool website that has some video lessons on living an intentional life and I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to them over and over. I've already listened once and they were great.  

My household responsibilities- well there are so many areas I need to work on there.  But I think I'll start small because I believe if I start on the small things there will be way fewer big things to take care of. So, that means cleaning off my desk and cleaning out our files. 

My relationship with Lewis- I just finished reading What's it Like to be Married to Me (thanks for the recommendation Nicki) and boy do my toes hurt from being stepped on.  You would think that it after almost 25 years I'd have this marriage thing figured out.  I see so much of myself in this book and on one hand it makes me very sad but on the other it encourages me to know that it is not to late to make changes. I also read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts  , another great book that was very eye opening. I want to be intentional about focusing on Lewis' love language. It doesn't do him any good if I'm trying to "fill his tank" with what makes me feel loved!  

So, there are LOTS of things that I need to be intentional about and as I think about them I'm directed to my new verse for 2015-

And there is just something about the song Thrive by Casting Crowns that makes me think about being intentional and living an intentional life. So, that's my song for 2015.

Do you have a word, verse and or song for 2015?  If so, I'd love for you to share about it!

I'm Baaaaack!

Good gracious, what in the world is wrong with me? I look back on this blog and see how faithful I was about posting when I first started the blog and then little by little I posted less and less.  The last few years have been 1 or 2 posts. How sad!  So, I really want to do better- honest I do. And I'm really going to try to post more- honest I am!

So, let's see how I do. I'm hoping you'll help hold me accountable!!

Made to Crave- what? God that's what!!

Whew, let me tell you- I'm participating and leading a small group in the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study Made to Crave.  This study is ahhh mazzz iiing!  I was made to crave- yep, but what was I made to crave- Little Debbie snack cakes- NOPE!!  Six Cheese Pizza- NOPE!! I was made to crave GOD!  Yes, God- and I need to get myself so full of God and his awesomeness that I don't need to crave those other things.

Our verse for this week is : 1 Peter 5:7-8a, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.   NIV1984

Let's break this down:

Cast ALL your anxiety - Christ does not tell me to cast some of my cares (anxieties) on him.  He does not tell me to hold on the them and bring them up over and over and over again!  No he tells me to cast (give, throw, drop) ALL of my anxiety on him.

And why should I do this?  Because he CARES for me- God loves me enough to take all my mess- everything I've done in the past and everything I'm gonna do in the future! He cares about me enough that he doesn't want me carrying my burdens around- dragging me down deeper and deeper!  He WANTS to carry them because he loves me.

This last part REALLY stood out to me- I don't think I've ever really looked at these next words in light of the words before them!

Be self-controlled and alert!  Good gracious- WHY haven't I noticed those words before?  They are especially relevant in this study as some 41,000 plus women (and a few men) seek to crave God more than food- or whatever it is that they crave.  Why is it so important to be self- controlled and alert?  Because Satan is just sitting there waiting for a chance to get in the way and mess things up. He wants me to cave in and grab those Little Debbie snacks or those Oreos. What he doesn't want is for me to fill my heart and soul up with the one thing that can fill a God sized hole- GOD!!  Well guess what Satan- I don't care what you want!!!!  

I'm DETERMINED!  That I will  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.

My Word, Verses and Song for 2014

Have you heard about My One Word- Change Your Life With Just One Word?  It is such a great book. The author challenges you to choose one word to focus on for an entire year.  I had a difficult time deciding what my word should be for 2014.  In the past I've chosen a word but I haven't really focused on it. In fact, I've pretty much forgotten about it within a month or so. I have a history of starting out with a bang and then falling behind or dropping out all together. I'm really not sure why I do this. Perhaps it's because I just don't feel like I have a real purpose for what I'm doing. Wait, what was that word?  PURPOSE!  Yes, that will be my word for the year.  No, I really didn't just have an epiphany and decide on that word. But man, it's a great word for me.  The dictionary defines the word this way:

pur·pose

ˈpərpəs/

noun

1. 1.

   the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

   "the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee"

   synonyms:

   motive, motivation, grounds, cause, occasion, reason, point, basis,justification

I want to have a purpose for what I'm doing. I believe that if I focus on that purpose I will be more likely to continue and follow through.  

What's my purpose you ask?  Well, I'll let my verses for 2014 answer that question.

I want this to be my purpose in ALL that I do. When I don't want to complete a task- I will remind myself I'm doing this for the Lord. What I'm tempted to do the task halfheartedly- I will remind myself to do it as if I'm doing it for the Lord. Would I only do half the job if I was doing it for Him?  I sure hope not!!

The song Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman is just another reminder that Everything I do should be done for HIM!

Do you have a Word, Verse or Song for 2014? If so, I'd love for you to share it below!!

New Giveaway Winner

I've chosen a new winner for the giveaway since I never heard back from the first one. The new winner is TEllison from http://www.thevirtuoushome.com/.  I've e-mailed you.  Please get back to me so I can get your materials to you ASAP!!!

Can't wait to get this study started!!!!