It's been a while since I've posted anything here.
Wonderful Husband and I were talking and he said that he figured my blog was about my thoughts. I didn't tell him I hadn't blogged in months but it got me thinking. Does that mean I haven't had any thoughts in months? Ha!
We've been living intergenerationally since April of 2014. I thought it would be harder than it has been. But it isn't easy either. Our daughter lives here full-time. Our granddaughter lives here 1/2 time.
Holidays are more fun with a young one in the house. She is three and brings excitement and humor into our lives, as well as more toys than we've had in our family room in many years.
In December, I celebrated my four year anniversary at work.
I've been reading more and thought I'd list the books I read in 2014:
1. The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions - Jeff Manion
2. A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family and Fifteen Pounds of Bacon - Sophie Hudson
3. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples - Francis Chan
4. An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess - Jen Hatmaker
5. Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize when He Speaks - Priscilla Shirer
6. Appointments in Heaven - Dr. Reggie Anderson
7. Fearless Daughters of the Bible: What We Can Learn from 22 Women Who Challenged Tradition, Fought Injustice and Dared to Lead - J.Lee Grady, Margaret Feinberg
8. This Is Where I Leave You: A Novel - Jonathan Tropper
9. Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul - Jennie Allen
10. Miracle in the Museum of Broken Hearts - Talli Roland
11. What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms - Angie Smith
12. I Need Some Help Here: Hope for When Your Kids Don't Go According to Plan - Kathi Lipp
13. The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League - Jeff Hobbs
14. Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer - Max Lucado
15. Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World - Bob Goff
Snow and cold weather hit Pennsylvania but the good news is that we've dodged some huge storms so far! Hooray!
Wonderful Husband and I are planning another warm weather March getaway. Last year was Puerto Rico and I think it saved my sanity. This year is the Grand Cayman Island. I applied for a passport for the first time in my life. (Now you know that I am not usually a world traveler.)
I still read The One Year Chronological Bible and visit Wendy Pope's blog for her daily video vlogs. She is writing a book and I am a member of her feedback group.
My Bible Study group is currently doing Beth Moore's "Children of the Day: 1 & 2 Thessalonians" study.
My One Word is the same as last year's: Trust. I believe I have more to learn about trusting God in every aspect of my life so an encore is necessary.
And that's about it for an update for now.
Showing posts with label One Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label One Word. Show all posts
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Sunday, January 26, 2014
One Word for 2018
Updated on January 7, 2018
This is the ninth year of my choosing a word:
Hope in 2010,
Grace in 2011,
Fellowship in 2012,
Endure in 2013,
Trust in 2014 and 2015,
Peace in 2016,
Open in 2017,
and
Kind in 2018.
It is a new year and unfortunately instead of fully reading the instructions at One Word 365, I updated my word before doing a blog post and it linked to my 2014 post.
So here is the brief edit to bring you up-to-date to 2018:
I really was stumped on choosing a word this year so a couple days ago I took a simple seven question quiz at DaySpring and the result was "kind." The more I thought about it the more convinced I became that "kind" is the perfect word for my focus this year.
Thank you DaySpring!
This is the ninth year of my choosing a word:
Hope in 2010,
Grace in 2011,
Fellowship in 2012,
Endure in 2013,
Trust in 2014 and 2015,
Peace in 2016,
Open in 2017,
and
Kind in 2018.
It is a new year and unfortunately instead of fully reading the instructions at One Word 365, I updated my word before doing a blog post and it linked to my 2014 post.
So here is the brief edit to bring you up-to-date to 2018:
I really was stumped on choosing a word this year so a couple days ago I took a simple seven question quiz at DaySpring and the result was "kind." The more I thought about it the more convinced I became that "kind" is the perfect word for my focus this year.
Thank you DaySpring!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
One Word for 2013
This is the fourth year of my choosing a word.
Hope in 2010,
Grace in 2011,
and
Fellowship in 2012.
I remember as an elementary school-aged child when my mother would suggest writing out my New Year's Resolution(s). I sat down and probably wrote out 20 things because I was all about high numbers back then. A couple items I remember from the list were feed the dog and shine my father's shoes. I probably fed the dog a few times that year, yet not on a regular basis (don't worry, my mother saw that the dog was fed).... but I can guarantee I never shined my father's shoes.
In August of 2012 I began reading The One Year Chronological Bible.
Please understand that what I mean is that I didn't read it from January through July.
And I wish that I could tell you that I finally read through Revelation for the first time in my life.
But I can't tell you that either.
Yet on December 29th (while reading Revelation) I read the following scripture:
Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Revelation 13: 9-10 (NLT)
This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14: 12 (NLT)
My One Word for 2013: Endure.
At first glance you may think I'm expecting horrible things to happen this year but I have to say that I don't know what 2013 holds for me.
When I was a young adult with young children I could "bank on" certain things happening. Kids going to school, playing sports or musical instruments, vacations in Wildwood, NJ, etc. (In fact last year was the first time in I don't know how many years that we didn't go to Wildwood.)
But the older I become I see life as much shorter, and a gift to be thankful for every day.
from Dictionary.com
I looked up and (ok I admit) I highlighted the words endure and endurance in my Bible, where I read more encouraging scripture about how God's faithful love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34), the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13), and about the patient endurance that comes from Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
Yes, I will endure and have endurance in 2013.
I look forward to seeing what God will teach me this year.
As a side note, I read Debbie Macomber's book One Perfect Word: One Word Can Make All the Difference in 2012 and highly recommend it! Great ideas on how to choose a word and work with it throughout the year.
This year I'm linking to these two blogs:
Hope in 2010,
Grace in 2011,
and
Fellowship in 2012.
I remember as an elementary school-aged child when my mother would suggest writing out my New Year's Resolution(s). I sat down and probably wrote out 20 things because I was all about high numbers back then. A couple items I remember from the list were feed the dog and shine my father's shoes. I probably fed the dog a few times that year, yet not on a regular basis (don't worry, my mother saw that the dog was fed).... but I can guarantee I never shined my father's shoes.
In August of 2012 I began reading The One Year Chronological Bible.
Please understand that what I mean is that I didn't read it from January through July.
And I wish that I could tell you that I finally read through Revelation for the first time in my life.
But I can't tell you that either.
Yet on December 29th (while reading Revelation) I read the following scripture:
Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Revelation 13: 9-10 (NLT)
This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14: 12 (NLT)
My One Word for 2013: Endure.
At first glance you may think I'm expecting horrible things to happen this year but I have to say that I don't know what 2013 holds for me.
When I was a young adult with young children I could "bank on" certain things happening. Kids going to school, playing sports or musical instruments, vacations in Wildwood, NJ, etc. (In fact last year was the first time in I don't know how many years that we didn't go to Wildwood.)
But the older I become I see life as much shorter, and a gift to be thankful for every day.
en·dure
[en-doo r, -dyoo r] Show IPA verb, en·dured,en·dur·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding;undergo
3.
to admit of; allow; bear
verb (used without object)
4.
to continue to exist; last
6.
to have or gain continued or lasting acknowledgment or recognition, as of worth, merit or greatness
I looked up and (ok I admit) I highlighted the words endure and endurance in my Bible, where I read more encouraging scripture about how God's faithful love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34), the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13), and about the patient endurance that comes from Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
Yes, I will endure and have endurance in 2013.
I look forward to seeing what God will teach me this year.
As a side note, I read Debbie Macomber's book One Perfect Word: One Word Can Make All the Difference in 2012 and highly recommend it! Great ideas on how to choose a word and work with it throughout the year.
This year I'm linking to these two blogs:
Friday, April 20, 2012
Fellowship Part One
I chose the word "fellowship" to focus on during 2012.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his book Life Together wrote:
"The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them."
Listening to others. A good beginning.
This past week, Ann Voskamp had a great post at (in)courage called, "Why You Need to Find Community (even when you're really hurting)." I began reading the comments from some women who have been hurt by community and some women who are alone and desire to be a part of community.
God made us a relational people. He wants us to be in relationship with Him and with others, and one thing that captured my attention is that some women who lack community are looking for someone to focus on them and their problems.
I believe that the way to find community is to turn my focus and care toward others. To step outside of myself and my problems and readjust my vision to others, listen to them, and hear where they are in their lives. Then a relationship can begin and maybe flourish.
Not every relationship or fellowship opportunity leads to community, yet it can move me forward in my journey of being a servant of Christ. A more pro-active servant. I believe that God places every person in my life for His purpose and my benefit. I learn something from each person...mostly good things but occasionally I leave a relationship and chalk it up to "a life lesson."
When days of sadness or loneliness come (and they will) I know it's time to shift my focus from myself....toward others. My burden ends and I become spiritually lighter when I invest in relationship and fellowship with others and with God.
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 3:3-4
This year I am challenging myself to bring love and faithfulness into my relationships, into my fellowship opportunities, into my community(ies).
What do you think?
Do you long for community?
Will you share what fellowship and community look like to you?
I'd really like to listen...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his book Life Together wrote:
"The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them."
Listening to others. A good beginning.
This past week, Ann Voskamp had a great post at (in)courage called, "Why You Need to Find Community (even when you're really hurting)." I began reading the comments from some women who have been hurt by community and some women who are alone and desire to be a part of community.
God made us a relational people. He wants us to be in relationship with Him and with others, and one thing that captured my attention is that some women who lack community are looking for someone to focus on them and their problems.
I believe that the way to find community is to turn my focus and care toward others. To step outside of myself and my problems and readjust my vision to others, listen to them, and hear where they are in their lives. Then a relationship can begin and maybe flourish.
Not every relationship or fellowship opportunity leads to community, yet it can move me forward in my journey of being a servant of Christ. A more pro-active servant. I believe that God places every person in my life for His purpose and my benefit. I learn something from each person...mostly good things but occasionally I leave a relationship and chalk it up to "a life lesson."
When days of sadness or loneliness come (and they will) I know it's time to shift my focus from myself....toward others. My burden ends and I become spiritually lighter when I invest in relationship and fellowship with others and with God.
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 3:3-4
This year I am challenging myself to bring love and faithfulness into my relationships, into my fellowship opportunities, into my community(ies).
What do you think?
Do you long for community?
Will you share what fellowship and community look like to you?
I'd really like to listen...
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
One Word for 2012
(This is the third year of my choosing a word to focus on. I chose Hope in 2010 and Grace in 2011.)
This year I wrote a list of nine words and prayed about them.
Three words drew my attention: fellowship, community, and assembly.
I finally decided, with God's nudging, that my One Word for 2012 is:
Fellowship
fel·low·ship /ˈfɛloʊˌʃɪp/ Show Spelled [fel-oh-ship] Show IPA noun, verb, -shipped or -shiped, -ship·ping or -ship·ing.
noun
1. the condition or relation of being a fellow: the fellowship of humankind.
2. friendly relationship; companionship: the fellowship of father and son.
3. community of interest, feeling, etc.
4. communion, as between members of the same church.
5. friendliness.
from Dictionary.com
Social situations exhaust me. In my empty-nester season of life, I am happiest at home where it is quiet and soothing and I can recharge myself for the next day or event.
Yet through the years I have come to realize that life is about relationships.
Deepening relationships with God and with people.
Relationships with people take face-to-face time and energy.
I make the commitment to God.
I need to invest myself in being in fellowship with people too.
I believe God places every person in my life for a reason.
Some fit like a glove, others not so much. Yet I become a better woman from each type of person. Spending time and listening to them teaches me things I hadn't thought or experienced personally. Sometimes the lesson is in my personal reaction or thoughts and how God can shift them (my reactions/thoughts) to appreciating who I usually refer to as my "Christian challenges." :)
In 2012, I will focus on fellowship.
Opening my heart and home to people.
Dedicating time to God through worship and studying scripture.
Sharing my time with people,
and with a generosity of spirit, socializing with others.
2012 is my year of fellowship.
Do you choose a word to focus on each year? Would you share it here?
This year I wrote a list of nine words and prayed about them.
I finally decided, with God's nudging, that my One Word for 2012 is:
Fellowship
fel·low·ship /ˈfɛloʊˌʃɪp/ Show Spelled [fel-oh-ship] Show IPA noun, verb, -shipped or -shiped, -ship·ping or -ship·ing.
noun
1. the condition or relation of being a fellow: the fellowship of humankind.
2. friendly relationship; companionship: the fellowship of father and son.
3. community of interest, feeling, etc.
4. communion, as between members of the same church.
5. friendliness.
from Dictionary.com
Social situations exhaust me. In my empty-nester season of life, I am happiest at home where it is quiet and soothing and I can recharge myself for the next day or event.
Yet through the years I have come to realize that life is about relationships.
Deepening relationships with God and with people.
Relationships with people take face-to-face time and energy.
I make the commitment to God.
I need to invest myself in being in fellowship with people too.
I believe God places every person in my life for a reason.
Some fit like a glove, others not so much. Yet I become a better woman from each type of person. Spending time and listening to them teaches me things I hadn't thought or experienced personally. Sometimes the lesson is in my personal reaction or thoughts and how God can shift them (my reactions/thoughts) to appreciating who I usually refer to as my "Christian challenges." :)
In 2012, I will focus on fellowship.
Opening my heart and home to people.
Dedicating time to God through worship and studying scripture.
Sharing my time with people,
and with a generosity of spirit, socializing with others.
2012 is my year of fellowship.
Do you choose a word to focus on each year? Would you share it here?
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