Sunday, January 4, 2015

My Word For 2015

Quite a few bloggers have a word they focus on every year.  About three years ago I began to do the same.  It was one of those times when I became aware that a certain word was capturing my attention over and over.  It seemed that God was bringing that word to my attention constantly.  My word for 2012 was ‘Joy’.   I had a similar experience a year later when the word ‘Delight’ seemed to be in everything I read and heard.  I knew I needed to ‘delight’ in life a bit more than I had.  Then a little over a year ago life took a hard turn just before the beginning of 2014.  My dear mother fell and broke her pelvic bone and there were other issues to deal with, too.  Again, the word ‘Joy’ came to my attention every day and it became my word again for 2014.  If ever I needed to focus on joy, it was over this last year.

As I approached the end of 2014 I decided I was not going to pursue – or even think about – a word for this new year.  I was just going to mind my own business and if God dropped it into my heart I would know it was from Him!  No searching, no thinking, no guessing.  Just minding my own business and doing nothing out of the ordinary to discover a word for this year.  Then it happened.  Again.  I realized God was whispering a word to my heart - over and over.  Again and again.  There was no doubt that His ‘still, small voice’ was bringing this word to my heart.  And I knew exactly what it meant for me.  The incredible thing was that I also was very aware that it was not just my word – it was for my sweetheart, too.  It was for us together.  That was a bit unusual but it made sense to me.  When I shared this word with him, he immediately embraced it with his whole heart and we both knew we would ‘walk’ this word together through this year.  It’s been very incredible to think of the possibilities but it also brings responsibility.  And work.  Hard work.  While we don’t know everything this word will bring to our lives this year, we do know one thing.  There is no doubt God has spoken.  This is what He has told us we are to do.  My Our word for this year is:Prepare We got quite excited as we read the different meanings of this word.  Even the definitions touched our hearts!  In many ways we can’t wait to see how this will affect our lives this year and for many years to come.  Here is what we found:

pre·pare (a verb – requires action)
*  to make someone or something ready beforehand for some purpose, use or activity
*  to make yourself ready for something that you will be doing, something that you expect to happen
*  to make or create something or someone so that it is ready for use
*  to put in a proper state of mind
*  to work out the details of:  plan in advance

Prepare is an action verb expressing a doable activity.  It must have a direct object - something or someone - who receives the action of the verb.  We have already begun working on our lists of ‘doable activities’ that we believe are involved in our preparation.  Preparation for what?  We don’t know exactly what we are preparing for – we just know we are supposed to prepare for something God has planned for us.  We know we will be here – in this home, in this place – while my dear, little mother is with us.  We also know the day isn’t far off before we will need to deal with two homes, two properties, two ‘sets’ of belongings.  Ours and hers.  We firmly believe God has given us this direction.  We are to prepare for that day the best we can.  We have things to do in and around our home.  We have projects that were begun but not finished.  We have business to set in order.  We have things to learn.  We have things to accomplish.  We have to get busy!

The verse God gave me for this year was one He brought to my attention in the middle of a very desperate, hopeless time many years ago.  I saw this verse on a magnet as I was walking through a big store many years ago.  It spoke to my heart – in the situation we were facing – and I scraped together what little change I had in my purse and bought it.  It was a splurge at the time!  That magnet is still on my refrigerator today.  It’s a faded reminder of His word to my heart back then.  It has been a reminder of His promise through the years –and again for this year.  Again, He drew my attention to this verse and I knew it was the verse for this new year:

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.
They are plans for good and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

So, my friends, we are busy preparing.  We’re evaluating and cleaning and sorting everything in our home, our garage, our attic, our shed – everything in our lives.  We are getting ready for something.  We don’t know what or where it will be, but we know it will be just right.  And it will happen at the right time.   Exactly the perfect time.

How do we know?  Because ‘God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.’  (Psalm 18:30)

16 comments:

  1. What an incredible word! (If I weren't so convinced that "my" word was meant for me, I would adopt yours.)

    Won't it be exciting to see God's purposes and plans unfold in 2015?!?

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  2. How intriguing! I have no doubt that God has some amazing plans for you both for 2015!

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  3. What a great choice, it offers so many definitions. I have never thought of picking a word, it's such a good idea.

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  4. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.
    They are plans for good and not for evil,
    to give you a future and a hope.
    Jeremiah 29:11
    . . . . .
    when you search for Me with your whole heart. (the rest of the story)
    ..and i know you and your hub are searching for Him with your whole hearts. such an example! :)

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  5. Isn't it amazing how God moves in our lives?! I do love your word and I especially love that God gave it to both you and your husband -- that's so phenomenal!! I'll be watching with interest to see where this takes y'all!! :)

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  6. Adrienne I think that God is telling all of us to prepare. My sister is a fairly hard core "prepper." I'm not that dedicated but I do make sure I have enough food here for at least 3 months .My freezers are full and because I have a gas stove I could can most of it if we lost power for an extended period of time. I dehydrate whenever vegetables and fruits are in season. Today I have 3 big bags of carrots I found on sale that I plan to slice and dehydrate. I love, love using them in soups. I do celery often too. And I buy the frozen chopped onions and dehydrate those. They are tiny when dried but put into soups or casseroles they add flavor. I keep a lot of different kinds of dry beans and canned goods like green beans and chicken broth that I know I will use. I don't seem to keep enough bottled water but that's probably because I live on a lake and have a powerful water filter that, in a real emergency, would allow us drinking water. Biblically I believe we are taught to be prepared - not scared. And since I'm now 68 I know that at some point Jerry or I will be alone so we prepare for that as best we can...making sure the proper paperwork is in place. Oh and by the way today I not only cleaned out the old makeup, I tackled a big picnic basket where I stored old photos. I threw away a ton of old frames, cardboard inserts, envelopes, etc. Thank goodness this past summer my children sorted most of my old pictures and took them home with them! blessings, marlene

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  7. I love your word. It's amazing how when we listen we receive and it is so perfect for us. God be with you in your year of 'prepare'.

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  8. What a lovely post I think God chose the perfect word for you and your husband.

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  9. The whole time I was reading this post I had the "Holy Bumps". Oh my! God does indeed have a plan and I cannot wait to hear testimonies through this year on the word choice he had for you and your sweetheart! God is so good! Happy New Year! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  10. It's so interesting to me how the Lord leads us through the year sprinkling lessons along the way with that one word. Prepare, an action word is exciting. Mine is grace.

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  11. That is a wonderful word to help guide you. Too many people are unprepared for life's unexpected occurrences. But time marches on, whether we are ready or not.

    I wish I had an administrative assistant right now to help me in the weeks and months ahead. There is so much for me to whittle down and clear out. It is so overwhelming. Just clearing out Jim's computer is going to be a monumental task. And then there is the camera equipment that needs to get inventoried and sold. And local friends continue with their avoidance strategy, keeping their distance during our entire cancer nightmare and now keeping their distance as I begin the widowhood chapter of my life. I guess they think my circumstances are contagious or something. I don't know. It is troubling and baffling. I guess they are not truly friends...

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  12. Your word is so interesting...I am excited to see what the year brings. Have you ever thought that perhaps you are to prepare as in storing food, things such as that? I started feeling that a few years ago and we now have food stored for our entire family. I just felt it from the spirit like something big was coming. Maybe not, maybe for us, I don't know. My word this year was much the same, I wasn't going to have one. My word was loveliness. Looking for the lovely every day. Have a blessed Sunday!

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  13. Hi Adrienne! Oh, I love your word and this is such a great idea to pick a word. I'll have to think about one for me. Thank you, sweet friend, for popping in to see me. I hope all is well with ou and your family.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  14. A lovely post...
    my 2015 word...ACCEPTANCE
    XOXO

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  15. Prepare - this is a good word and should be for everyone right now. so many things to prepare for - the return of Jesus - the difficult times in which we live - the prophesies being lived out before our eyes - to mention just a few.

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  16. I love this word and how it came about. Yes, that is how it happens. God just reaches out and touches us.

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