Tag Archives: Happy New Year

My ONE WORD ’09

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ONE WORD for 2009

The clue in the post concerning my watchword or theme for 2009 is found in the picture of the bells. Notice there are two bells in the photograph. Or, one might say, “double.” The ONE WORD I felt God impressed upon me for the coming year is double.
I have begun to research the biblical passages concerning the idea or principle of “double.” In the Old Testament, especially, God often provided a double portion or double honor to His people. I don’t know why or how the word “double” will pertain to my personal story this year, but I look forward to soaring high with Him in 2009.
And I have more to share about the 5th day…

I Got My DO~OVER!

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I got my do~over! However my self-appointed Happy New Year did not turn out exactly as I had imagined. (What does?) From February 1 – 3, I was determined to look for God in unusual places. I chose something I could offer as a sacrifice of worship to God during these three days. (No details here.)
Nevertheless, the Mom/Wife life continued and, for the most part, my special three days to seek and hear from God looked much the same as the previous three weeks!
I rose early to take TechSon to his school, taught my morning high school Spanish classes at another school, drove One Fine Man to treatment and homeschooled Skate~Boy in the van while we waited. We picked TechSon up from school and then finally home again to prepare dinner!

In between I did what so many of you also do daily: put chicken/beef/pork in the crockpot, fed/walked/watered the pup, swept/washed/assisted with a 9th grade Middle Ages history project and talked with Guitar Girl about a possible change in her college major.

Amid the “dailies,” I grabbed snatches of time to pray, ponder and prepare my heart to hear from God. My three days passed and I was beginning to think I would have to declare yet another Happy New Year and a second do~over!
But Day Four…
On the afternoon of the fourth day, I sat at my desk and thought how even though I had made a small sacrifice and tried to make myself more available to God’s voice, I felt I had not hit the mark for the purpose of my appointed days.

And then God interrupted my thoughts. He brought to mind two separate occasions…both occurring on the fourth day. On the first occasion I felt God leading me to do something but since it involved anther person I felt a bit hesitant but jumped in anyway.

On the second occasion, I felt God leading me to NOT do a thing. It was regarding something that is very opposite to what I would normally do in the given situation. But I obeyed and refrained. God reminded me of these two acts of obedience and brought this scripture to mind, “[Obedience] is greater than sacrifice” I Samuel 15:22.
I thanked God for His word and His reassurance that I had not spent my do-over in vain.
That in and of itself was a blessing to me.
But then there was the desire I have for my yearly theme. What about that I wondered? This is one time that I didn’t have to wait on the answer to that question.

No sooner did my thought wing its way upward than God gave me my theme. And what He gave me was One Word. Was I disappointed that all I got was one word?
No! All it takes is ONE WORD. One word from God can give you renewed hope, a new piece to your dream puzzle, and a punch of color for your purpose! God has ignited a new fire in my belly for 2009. There is stirring a hunger and a thirst for MORE, MORE, MORE…OF HIM.

I would love to share my ONE WORD with you but that will have to wait for the appointed time and another word from HIM on that one. That next word? GO!
(There is a hint here somewhere as to the ONE WORD if you can find it.)

Now I must share with you what happened on Day Five…

Happy New Year to Me! ~ A Do~Over

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Happy New Year!
If you’ve been following my posts since this year began, then you know about our ski trip, my husband’s accident, his skin graft and pain, my terror driving through high winds in snowy mountain passes…and all of the other stuff that has come our way!
You may also remember that weeks before the ski trip God spoke to me in a way that prepared my heart for what would come. The thing that resonates over and again with me is this thought: Sometimes God prepares your heart in ways you cannot fathom for events you would never choose. The theme of His preparation of my heart was love.
For several years now around the first week of January, I have prayed about the theme of my life for the coming year. Last year my theme was “My Times are in His Hands” based on the passage in Psalms 31:15.

Recently I told a friend that I would never have chosen for this accident to happen but I am so grateful that God has spoken to me through it. In all of my impatience, He has been patient with me. Patiently listening. Patiently speaking. Patiently guiding.



Last week while at a doctor’s appointment, the nurse asked us when the accident occurred. “January 1st,” I responded.
She said, “What a way to start the New Year!”
“Yeah,” I answered. “I want a do-over.”
That is when I began thinking, “Why not a do-over?” The more I thought about it, the more it felt right. So February 1 is the official beginning of my New Year.
Inspired by my dear friend, I am starting my new year with 3 days of intentionality toward God. I will intentionally look for God in unusual places. I will intentionally choose more time with Him. I will intentionally listen to His voice. I will intentionally choose love over any other option. I will intentionally deny myself and offer it as a sacrifice of worship to Him.
Bonus~Since an intention is a resolve, I have my New Year’s resolutions, too!

So Happy New Year to me! I may even light a firecracker tonight…after all it is New Year’s Eve!
How about you? Anyone else need a do-over? I’d love to hear about it. Do Tell!

From The Top of the Mountain

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Did you start ’09 with big plans, projects or platitudes? Or did you avoid thoughts and conversations about resolutions, change and challenges?

January will soon be over. Have you already faced failure, fallen short, fought back tears or let them flow? I can answer yes to all of these.

A few days leading up to January 1st, we were, as I have previously posted, on our annual ski trip in CO. We were skiing, the boys were snowboarding and I had lots of fun taping my Ski Tips for Living.

It was all great – until my husband, One Fine Man, had a traumatic accident on New Year’s Day.
The day before the accident, I had called my mother on my cell phone from the top of the mountain. Enjoying its significance, I remember telling her, “I just wanted to call you from the top of the mountain.” I related to her how beautiful the day was…blue skies…sunshine…fresh powder…and what fun we were having!
I also told her it was my last day to ski but One Fine Man and the boys had one more day to go. She asked me what I would do and if would I be bored. Me? Bored? Hardly ever! With a couple of books to finish reading, some research to do for the literature class I teach and my plans to set some goals, challenges and scheduling for 2009, I had plenty to do. In fact, with the alone time to pray, think and plan I would be in heaven with this time of preparation.
What a difference a day makes! I won’t repeat what I have already posted about concerning the accident. (It is in the first five posts of January if you care to read about it).
Platitudes? Now pleading prayers.
Planning? Flight changes, calls to make, rental car return, school starting…
Resolutions? Do what has to be done now; then do the next thing.
Change? YES!
Challenges? Continue.
Tears? Some held back. Some hidden. Some flowed silently until a stranger pressed tissues into my hand.

And I’ve been disappointed but mainly in my own shortcomings – impatience heading the list.
Yet, with all of my thoughts of planning and preparation for the New Year, it was God who had done the planning. He had prepared my heart weeks before our trip.

A day after the accident, I was standing in the hospital room and a memory flooded my mind. I was back in my bedroom, a few weeks before our trip, putting away clothes and God spoke to my heart. I remember the deep emotion that came with such a personal and humbling word that God spoke to me. What He spoke is so personal that I…

Part Two to follow…

Ski Tips for Living, A Video & A Challenge

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Ski Tips for Living!

As I was skiing this week, it occurred to me how much the basics of skiing correlate to life principles. So I asked One Fine Man to be my official videographer so I could share with you my Ski Tips For Living! You’ll notice that about half-way through, a skier passes behind me laughing uproariously. I’m not sure if he was laughing at me or with me or neither! But I figure, if you don’t have a “heckler” you’re playing it too safe!

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

As we go into the New Year, I’ve decided “no more playing it safe.” I’m going to challenge myself to break out even further from my circle of ease. I’ve come to realize that God has given each of us gifts ~ well, that part I’ve known for a while! But it is my responsibility to develop the gifts He has entrusted to me. It is up to me to be a good steward of all that He has placed in my hands. It is not left up to anyone but ME!

I’ve had seasons in which I felt there was no opportunity to use certain gifts. When you’re in a time like that, it’s easy to get lazy and frustrated. But I’ve found that even in what I percieve to be the dry seasons, God expects me to continue to develop my gifts, talents and abilities. Why? Because when you can glorify Him with your good stewardship in what seems to be a desert, then He can trust you to keep the focus on Him in the abundant, overflowing seasons.

Here’s where I am breaking out of my circle of ease and saying, “no more playing it safe.” Recently a very creative friend of mine who works for a Christian TV station, taped me doing some 90 second teaching spots. This is a project we are working on together! I’ll keep you posted on just how this new ministry project progesses.

What about you? Do you have an area in your life in which you’ve played it safe for far too long? Or perhaps you sense your entering a season in which it’s time to get seriously creative in the gifts God has placed in YOUR hands! Are you excited yet? I am!

So, if you’re up for the challenge of “no more playing it safe,” I’d love to hear about it! I’m all for offering insight, encouragment or just a cyber “thumbs up” as you break out of your own circle of ease! If you choose to share how you want to break out in 2009, I’ll take note and check back with you periodically. Do Tell!

Ski Tips For Living

Ski Tip #1 Where you point your skis, is where you’ll go.

Life principle ~ Direction determines destination.

Ski Tip #2 Keep your focus to avoid falls.

Life principle ~ Too many distractions results in a loss of passion for your purpose.

Ski Tip #3 Stay on the course that suits your abilities but keep learning.

Life principle ~ When you are faithful to develop your gifts, opportunities will arise.

* And sometimes you need to show your “hat hair” just to keep it real!

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