HAPPY 2022 ~ #ONEWORD for the NEW YEAR!

 

...and it's that time of year again, where instead of resolutions, we have chosen to be resolute and intentional about changes and things in our lives for the New Year. The time where a lot of churches and individuals, and even businesses and worldly business and secular minds take time to choose their #oneword or #onelittleword for the YEAR ahead.

My #ONEWORD for 2021 was PURSUE... to pursue and seek after more of God, in these 6 areas specifically. (spelling out the word pursue)

Prayerful -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Understanding/Wisdom -- Exodus 35:31

Righteousness -- 1 Timothy 6:11

Spiritual Truth -- Psalm 86:2 & Psalm 78:2

Unwavering Faith -- Matthew 21:21

Excellence -- Proverbs 31:10; Ruth 3:11; Matthew 5:16; & Philippians 4:8

As I am still in pursuit of more of God, and these areas above, I still will cling to the word PURSUE but also include MINDFUL or RENEWAL... We completed a ZOOM study this year (technically 6 weeks in November and December) on choosing a changed mind, using a booklet by the same title, "Choose a Changed Mind" by our friend and Evangelist Anita Pearce. In this book (which I highly recommend to you - see below to order) she digs deeper into the words/principles found in Philippians 4:8 (which was one of my verses above). The eight principles or thought patterns in the Scripture include true; noble; right; pure; lovely; admirable; excellent & praiseworthy (depending on the translation you read, but basically the same meanings). She ends the chapter with "By renewing our thought patterns according to these principles, our characters will be transformed. We will become reflections of the holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ." So one of my goals for 2022 is to continually RENEW my MIND... which includes being more MINDFUL of what I choose to think on.

We can CHOOSE our thought patterns, and this is a tool that is useful to know and remember. It is OUR choice alone to hold onto the good and get rid of the bad... better yet, don't even let the negative and bad ones in! Stop them at the door and deny them entrance. One sentence that came to me (through Holy Spirit) while reading the book was "BE A BOUNCER of YOUR MIND!!" Those bouncers outside clubs, etc don't just let anyone in. They use their muscle to keep out the ones who don't belong -- even those with a fake ID. Don't even let those words of false prophets in! There is a lot of deceit in the world today that is masquerading around as truth. Keep the lies out and bring in the truth!!

How do we go about living out our #ONEWORD??

For me, it's starting with DAY 1... gaining wisdom again through reading the BOOK of PROVERBS! There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in January. I am going to be more intentional with reading and writing about wisdom gleaned! Writing this BLOG POST today on DAY 1 will also hopefully help keep me accountable, and I hope to share some revelations and fun from my Bible Reading adventures this year (not just Proverbs this month, but as the year continues) -- so that next year, my blog post for 2023 won't be right after this one. (OOPS!)

For YOU... first, choose your word... through prayer, through much thought and deliberation... and however else you want to choose it. Maybe through reading the Word, or through reading this post a word pops into your mind... If you don't have a relationship with God and are just choosing a word that your business is following, or if your church is choosing a word... you can definitely use that word too... but there is a personal word out there for YOU for 2022, find it!! Then make a call to action... DO IT! Choose to do something that will help you get to where you want to be... where God is calling you to be!! If you need some help, contact me and I will creatively share some ideas.

BUT... most of all, FOCUS on the LORD and make 2022 a great one!! "Set your minds on things above, and not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:2

** IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THE BOOK "CHOOSE A CHANGED MIND" by ANITA PEARCE - visit her website INSPIRATION MINISTRIES here, and order from her shop, or I think they are on Amazon.ca too. **

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Be Blessed to be a BLESSING!!

What's your #ONEWORD for 2021?

     So we all know it has been a year... as we sit back on NEW YEAR'S EVE 2020, we can reflect on the year that has passed and wonder about the year ahead. Most NEW YEAR'S EVE nights are spent with friends or family, enjoying food and festivities... but again 2020 threw a wrench into those plans, and the government and their Covid-19 regulations have put an end to getting together. Again they want to throw us into isolation and try and put fear into our lives as we enter the new year. But we are not isolated alone, we always have GOD with us. He is our wisdom, strength, peace and more!

     Usually during the end of the year, and the beginning of the next year, people make resolutions. They decide on things that they want to change or need in their lives. Some people choose to make more time for family; make more time for God; read the Bible more; lose weight or have a more proper diet or choose to eat more healthy foods; etc. However, most people don't stay with some of the resolutions they make, and so for the last several years people have chosen #oneword or #onelittleword for the year ahead.

     I somehow don't have a record of words I have chosen, but I remember in 2017, I (along with Holy Spirit) chose "resolute" and "#finishwell" in 2018. I don't remember what word was chosen for last year... I know "vision" was a big theme as it was 2020. Our vision sure was cleared this year, physically and spiritually. We saw that although the world was in chaos around us, our GOD was still in control and on His throne and gave most of us PEACE. Our vision was altered as we shifted our vision on things of the world to things of the Kingdom. During the first quarantine, we grew closer to God and His Word. He allowed our vision to be focused on Him. This year, I believe Holy Spirit is leading me to the #oneword #onelittleword PURSUE. Pursue after Him... Pursue after Truth... Pursue after what is Right...  I was led to a Bible Verse found in 1 Timothy 6:11 which says, "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness."

       I enjoy learning more about WORDS and ETYMOLOGY (the study of words).  The word etymology derives from the Greek word ἐτυμολογία (etumología), itself from ἔτυμον (étumon), meaning "true sense or sense of a truth", and the suffix -logia, denoting "the study of". The word pursue in the Greek means; "to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after; to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal; to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire". I also like to take words apart and choose other words to go along with them... so taking the letters in the word PURSUE, I can pull out different things that I will PURSUE this year. 

PURSUE

        Prayerful - 1 Thess. 5:17

        Understanding/Wisdom - Exodus 35:31

        Righteousness - 1Timothy 6:11

        Spiritual Truth  - Psalm 86:2 & Psalm 78:2

        Unwavering Faith - Matt 21:21

        Excellence - Proverbs 31:10; Ruth 3:11; Matthew 5:16; Philippians 4:8

    I love to learn and am a #lifelonglearner and have always loved God and His Word. But it means a lot more when you walk in relationship with Him and gain understanding and revelation when reading or being taught His Word. This year will prove to be a time of greater growth in the Lord spiritually and I have #greatexpectations to what is going to happen.

What's your #ONEWORD?? Let me know in the comments and I can keep you in my prayers when I am reminded of you. THANKS!

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

What's Your #oneword For 2017?

So little known knowledge to me, is this #oneword thing that goes around each New Year... I guess this year is the first time I paid attention to it. Obviously I have seen the word 'Resolutions' many times, and settle with myself to not make 'resolutions' but to be 'resolute' (since one of my amazing husband's messages at church years ago). Resolute is to be 'admirably purposeful, determined; unwavering; marked by firm determination; bold; steady; faithful, persevering, unshakable, unwavering, etc...' (Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com)

One of my friends posted a word, 'intentional', and that struck a chord... but obviously not wanting to choose the same word, I went to Pinterest for some inspiration. One of the words that I found while searching Pinterest was 'mindfulness' and that sounded really good until I searched the meaning and came up with more things about Buddha and Buddhism, so I chose to stay away from that word, but still keep the thought of being mindful of things around me. Not so much the meditation part of the Buddhist way, but to focus my thoughts on being 'intentional' or 'purposeful'.  Now that was a good word too, as I try to do things for a 'purpose'. I had other words come to mind, and eventually they all lead back to that word, 'resolute'. So I believe in 2017, God is wanting me to be serious about being 'resolute'. While on Pinterest I found these amazing verses found in Scripture. I have read them many times, but have mostly stopped in the verses before it, regarding youth, and not looking down on the youth, etc because I teach and train the younger generations in my church. But the verses found in 1 Timothy 4:15-16 rang true with me. I have read and re-read the verses regarding teaching being important as we will be judged more strictly

"Give your complete attention to these matters Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:15-16 NLT

"Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation." 1 Timothy 4:15-16 The Message

Some words I went through...

Mindfulness -- NOPE... we don't want to associate with Buddha/Meditation in that way.
Diligence --Perseverance
Steadfast -- Stand your ground, resolute
Purposeful -- intentional
Watchfulness -- alert and vigilent
Discernment - the act of discerning. acuteness of judgement and understanding. 'Discerning' - to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; recognize or apprehend; to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate
Resolute -- firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion; characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc. Synonyms: firm, steadfast, fixed, earnest, unwavering, undaunted, intentional, purposeful, bold, persistent, relentless, uncompromising, unshakable...  'admirably purposeful, determined; unwavering; marked by firm determination; bold; steady; faithful, persevering, unshakable, unwavering, etc...'

So we had a prayer night at the church to start off the New Year, and I had my 9 year old niece and nephew with me. They were getting a little bored just sitting in church praying, so they pulled out the Bible from the pew in front of them, and I told them that God could show them a verse that they could understand, or that would speak to them. Our Pastor had shared a verse about being unwavering, and my niece found a verse in Hebrews 2:1-4

A Warning against Drifting Away

2 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

So this went with my #oneword that I had chosen earlier, yet also with the New Year message. We must listen to the truth we have heard, and as a teacher I must teach the truth. We must stay true to the truth... and the Truth is Jesus. We must not waver in our thoughts, nor waver in the truth. We have taught our Junior Youth group about Absolute Truth, and that it's opposite to the world's view of truth. They think just because they make it legal, it's now right or truth. But according to 1 Timothy, we need to stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.Jesus is the Truth, and the Jesus is the only way to the Father, and our salvation rests in Him alone.I look forward to 2017 being 'resolute' and standing firm.