One Word 2013

Hey all! I've spent the last two weeks off with the kiddos and enjoying the Holidays. Now all the decorations are down, we're a week into the new year, and today we start homeschooling back up. I can avoid it no longer...the real world has returned.

And I had a post all planned for today, but then was nudged to go with what I hadn't planned instead. I swear, I think God does that just to keep me off kilter and hanging on to Him. See, I hadn't planned on doing the One Word for this year. Oh, I had fun last year participating. My word was Time and God used it greatly in my life. But this year I was thinking I'd forgo it. I've been in a funk and tired lately, and simply didn't feel like seeking a word.

Yeah. Great place to be, right? Not wanting to seek a word from the Lord. Well that's going to end well.

Which is why I found it so interesting when He started laying the word 'abundantly' on my heart. At first I pretended to ignore it, because again, I wasn't planning on doing a word. Not to mention the word 'abundantly' scared me...did that mean I would have to live big for Him? Did He not hear how tired and blah I'd been feeling lately? Living abundantly would require much too much work.

But God was persistent (I love that He loves us enough to pursue us even when we're sprinting in the other direction).

He grabbed a hold of me early last week as I sat down to go through the motions of doing my devotions. I began to flip through my little notebook that I keep next to my Bible, and the pages opened to a spot where I'd written--late last year--in big letters, (no lie)

ABUNDANT - WORD FOR 2013?? 

Okay. He had my attention. I'd apparently forgotten all about our earlier conversations, but He hadn't. (He is so, so good)

So me and my funk decided to take a leap of faith. I emailed Melanie Moore over at Only a Breath (she's super-sweet and you've got to check out her blog, here) and asked her to make me a One Word 2013 button. She's making them for free and aren't they pretty? (She customizes them to the colors of your site!)

But I gotta be honest. I still wasn't sold on the idea that my word was Abundantly. Nor did I have any clue why it was said word. I just had this overwhelming sense that God had chosen it for me, and I've long since learned it's better to walk in obedience, especially when He's practically shouting at you. So, even though I wasn't fully on board, I got the button made and asked Him politely to reaffirm it again.

Yesterday morning in church, what does my pastor begin with?

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I come that they may have life and have it abundantly."

But he didn't just stop there. He took a brief moment to talk about one specific word from that verse...you guessed it; abundantly. 

As if that wasn't enough, God then brought me to these verses in Second Corinthians:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reapsparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Eachof you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, notreluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. AndGod is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times,having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:6-15)

And right there I began to understand why He chose this word for me.

I'll be taking that verse apart next week, but I know it's the verse He's given me for this year to go with the One Word He's laid on my heart. Throughout the year I'll share at times how things are going. One thing's for sure...this year I'm seeking abundant life!

I'd love to hear what your focus is for the upcoming year! And how the Holiday season went for you. I missed everyone!