God is Not Bound by One Word

It’s only a few days until the end of the year, and I don’t have my One Word for 2016 yet. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve kind of asked God about it, but I’m not quite ready to move on from this year’s word—Renew.

Renew felt hopeful…full of possibilities. All year, it’s been my focus and I’ve been looking for ways in which God has brought about renewal in my life. Renew is a positive, uplifting word. Last year, God gave me Let Go for the year, so you can see why Renew was a breath of fresh air.

I’ve been wrestling with keeping Renew for another year or moving on. But I wonder if that’s like trying to put parameters around God’s work.

For the past four years, I’ve had a one word focus, and I’ve trusted God to identify that focus for me. So, clinging to Renew might not be the best idea. Maybe He has a better word in mind for me for the upcoming year, and if I don’t move forward, I’ll miss what He has planned.

And then I realized…it doesn’t matter. God will continue to bring about renewal, just as He always has. I just need to keep looking for it.

A One Word focus is for my benefit, not God’s. He is not bound by one word, or even two. He doesn’t need something to keep Him focused, but He knows I do.

I need the reminder that God is at work, no matter what I can see and not see.

God builds on what He teaches us, and there is always more to learn.

I am still learning to trust Him (One Word 2012), praise Him (2013), to let go of my will for His (2014), and to wait while He renews.

God is always at work. Always teaching. Refining me. Bringing me closer to Him.

I must continue to learn from Him. Listen for Him. And seek Him. Every. Single. Day.

I don’t know what my focus will be for next year, but I know there will be more lessons to learn.

…and that’s a good thing.

What’s been your One Word for 2015? Are you ready to move on to a new word for 2016?

If you’re new to this One Word movement, you can find more information here: #OneWord365.

In Christ,

Laura

Photo credit: FreeImages.com

Linking up with: Weekend Whispers, Sharing His Beauty, #RaRaLinkup, Coffee for Your Heart

Let Go – A Conversation with God

Me: That's it God. I give up.

God: Good, I've been waiting.

Me: You're going to have to help me.

God: I've been trying to.

Me: What do You mean? I feel like I've been doing it all myself.

God: You have...I've been waiting for you to let go so I could help you. But you have a very strong grip on this.

Me: If I don't take control of it, no one else will.

God: I will.

Me: No, I mean other people.

God: You don't need other people for this. You need Me.

Me: I can't do it all myself.

God: You don't have to. You can give it to me.

Me: Can't You just take it?

God: Not if you won’t let go of it.

Me: It's hard.

God: I know. Trust Me.

Me: I'm scared.

God: I know. I'm here.

Me: Will You stay with me?

God: I will. Are you ready to let go?

Me: (deep breath) I'm ready.

God: (silence)

Me: God?!? Are you still here?

God: I AM.

Whatever you might be struggling with today, God is waiting to help you with it...if you're ready to let go.

In Christ,

Laura

Photo credit: Stock photo: Alone by lake

Linking up with #TellHisStory, Sharing His Beauty, Give Me Grace, Playdates with God, #SmallWonder, Coffee for Your Heart, Grace & Truth, Thought Provoking Thursday, Everyday Jesus, Faith Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, The Weekend Brew, Faith 'N Friends

My One Word 2015

This is my fourth year of choosing a One Word for the year. Or I should say, God choosing a word for me.

My first year was Trust and I readily accepted it. Next was Praise. I pushed back on praise because I didn't really get it. (Which is why I suppose God gave it to me, right?) But by the end of the year, I got it.

Last year was harder. He whispered Let Go...and it scared me. A lot. I asked Him to reconsider. Maybe I heard wrong. But no, 2014 was a year of letting go of so much of what was normal.

My One Word for this year?

Renew.

The word kept coming to mind around Christmas, and even though I had been asking God what my word would be, I didn't make the connection until He whispered it to me during worship one evening.

Renew. I was reminded that God can renew anything. And it felt comforting…especially after a year of letting go.

Maybe you could use the reminder too. God can renew anything—so much more than what we can even think to ask for.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 The Message

What do you need God to renew in your life?

Your faith? He will.

Your health? He can.

Your marriage or family? He is able.

Renew...to bring back to life...to make new again.

In His time and in His way. Nothing is impossible for Him, no matter how impossible it looks to us.

Will you join me in waiting on God and watching for all the ways He will bring about renewal?

If you’ve chosen a One Word for 2015, consider sharing it with us in the comments. If you’re looking for more information on the One Word movement, go to #OneWord365.

In Christ,
Laura

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Blessing Counters, Sunday Stillness, Spiritual Sundays, Give Me Grace, Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Playdates with God, Soli Deo Gloria, #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, Everyday Jesus

When You Can’t See What Change Will Look Like

Change has been going on around me lately, and it’s been hard to see what it will look like when the dust settles. It’s not change of my making, so there is uncertainty of how it will affect me, as well as others.

Maybe you’re there too…waiting to see what the upcoming days will look like…standing by until everything settles down and a new normal begins…fighting the feeling of not being able to control anything.

…a new boss.

…a job transfer away from family and friends.

…layoffs and unemployment.

…the diagnosis and future check-ups.

…separation and divorce.

Change, whether personal or work-related, is unsettling. It creates questions that can’t be answered right away. It puts us in wait-and-see mode.

I don’t particularly like wait-and-see because it gives me time to imagine different scenarios, which cause me to worry and grow negative. It gives me time to get stressed out before anything has actually happened.

That’s how I started waiting. It was easy to grumble because others were grumbling with me. And when I was alone, I stewed. I complained under my breath, and to God.

And then I realized a couple of things. One, I didn’t like what it was doing to me. Frankly, I have enough to deal with this year without adding something else that hasn’t even happened yet.

Second, and more importantly, I realized that if this change is something which God has brought about, who am I to question it?  

I knew I needed a change of heart and attitude—and it wasn’t something I could just convince myself of. 

I needed God to change my heart and my attitude.

I laid it before Him and I prayed. Then, because I tend to take things back, I gave it to Him again and kept praying.

And I felt something start to change. I started to relax.

Nothing in the situation had changed yet. The unsettled dust was still thick and impossible to see through, and I was still in wait-and-see mode with others.

But God was there. I had invited Him in and He was at work—starting with me.

I stopped worrying and started wondering if the what-ifs would be positive instead negative.

I kept Romans 8:28 in front of me…

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

And I reminded myself of the times I’ve seen God bring something good from a situation that seemed bad—especially things that have happened this year and how they worked together. I couldn’t see it at the time, but in hindsight, the pieces fit together perfectly…as only God’s plans can.

I felt God changing my attitude. I was seeing things from a positive perspective…both in the situation, and in my growth with Him.

And I felt God changing my heart. I know that not all change is what I would like to see happen, but I know I can trust Him. If the change that comes about is not in my favor, then God has something different planned for me. Something He hasn’t shown me yet.

And where that normally brings fear, I felt peace and comfort.

Have you gone through a time when you knew change was coming, but you couldn’t see what it would look like? How did you walk through it, and did you feel God walking along side of you?

In Christ,

Laura 

Photo credit: K. Rath, Oct. 2014

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Give Me Grace, #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, Everyday Jesus, Winsome Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, WholeHearted Wednesday, Blessing Counters, Faith Filled Friday

Letting Go of Normal

I haven’t written much about my One Word for this year. It’s Let Go. I know, that’s two words. But that’s what God gave me before 2014 started. Believe me, I double and triple checked with Him. I didn’t like what Let Go might mean, so I wanted to give Him a chance to change His mind. Obviously, He didn’t.

In a way, I think now I’m glad for the warning because it has been a year of letting go…and adjusting to change.

It’s been letting go of schedules—well, mine anyway, for God’s. Have you noticed that God’s schedule rarely coincides with yours? Yep, it’s an adjustment.

It’s been a year of not knowing for sure if we’ll be at school or work, how many doctors we’ll see, or when healing will come.

His schedule, not mine.

It’s been letting go of normal. I didn’t quite realize how much I appreciated a normal day until they were gone. Normal seems boring until you miss it.

Normal was grocery shopping and not having to read every single label. Every. Single. One.

Normal was not having a clue what maltodextrin is and wondering if it’s safe or not.

Normal was not knowing that wheat-free is not the same thing as gluten-free.

Normal was not understanding that gluten intolerance is different than celiac disease.

But now I know…and we have a new normal—a celiac, gluten free normal.

I’d always thought it would be the worst thing ever, but it’s really not. There are so many more gluten free options than I thought there would be, and I’ve had friends help who are already on this gluten free road.

It is, however, quite an adjustment. It’s not just buying different food. It’s making sure there is no contact with anything containing gluten, because with celiac any exposure can cause illness. Exposure only takes moments, but healing can take days.

I’ve let go of not thinking about this at all, because now I’m thinking about it all the time. It’s our new normal.

Let Go has really been the word for this year so far. Only 6 more months to go…

In Christ,

Laura 

Photo credit: Stock photo: dandelion in the wind

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Sharing His Beauty, Give Me Grace, Trusting Tuesdays, Unforced Rhythms. #TellHisStory, Winsome Wednesday, Thought-Provoking Thursday

Choosing For This Season

I have the pleasure today of being a guest writer at my friend Barbie's place - My Freshly Brewed Life, where I'm talking about the choices we sometimes have to make in life. They may only be for a season...but sometimes saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else, and we have to decide where our time is best spent.

It started as I drove to meet a friend for lunch one day last fall. I can’t tell you the exact words, but I sensed God telling me to spend more time focused at home and on my daughter. Honestly, I didn’t really get it. My life pretty much revolves around my family, home, and work, so I didn’t know what He was referring to, but it was clearly from Him.

I didn’t feel as if there was something specific I was supposed to do… that would have been easier—something I could check it off a list. No, instead, it was more of a feeling or reminder to let other things go and focus on the moment.

Oddly enough, I found that tension between television and the online world.

I’m not one to sit and watch television for hours. I have to be doing something else while I watch—reading, working on a jigsaw puzzle, working on a post or my blog, or surfing the Web.

I thought they were all the same, so what’s the difference if I’m online or flipping through a magazine?

The difference is…the online world takes you away from the world you’re currently sitting in.

Have you ever been in a meeting where someone starts checking his e-mail and you watch his attention shift? No longer is he in the conversation at the table. He’s now in his e-mail world and you’re wondering if he’s coming back, or if you somehow missed the end of the meeting.

I realized that’s what I was doing at home...   

To read the rest of my post, please join me at Barbie's place - My Freshly Brewed Life. And tell me, what's been your experience...when have you found yourself at a time of having to choose what was right for the season you were in?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with WholeHearted Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, Everyday Jesus, Thought Provoking Thursday, Coffee for Your Heart, Faith Filled Friday, Recommendation Saturday

Let go – My One Word 2014

Let go.

This is my One Word for 2014. I guess it’s more of a phrase, but whatever. This is what God gave me.

I prayed. I asked Him what He wanted me to focus on this year. And one morning, as I stared out the window, it was a clear thought—let go. I wasn’t sure if it was His answer, or something I was thinking, and I wanted to be sure. So, I kept praying and asking.

Over the next couple of days, it was always on my mind, and I knew this is what God was leading me to.

Let go.

It scared me. It wasn’t the word (or phrase) I wanted. I think I mentioned that to Him, but instead of giving me a different word, He gave me time to get used to it.

Fear turned to acceptance. If this was His answer, I knew there was a reason. He has a purpose for it.

I considered using the word Release so it really would be one word. It seems like the same meaning, but Let go is different, and now I like it. It’s personal. Like a gift chosen just for me.

I imagine Him whispering, “Let go” when I’m clinging too tightly to something.

Or softly saying, “Let me have it” when I’m struggling to remember God has it all under control.

Let go.

His tender encouragement and guidance.

His gentle instruction, and sometimes, a reprimand.

Let go…my One Word for 2014.

Do you have a One Word for this year? Maybe it’s two words or a phrase. Will you share it in the comments—what’s your one focus for 2014?

In Christ,

Laura  

Linking up with OneWord365.com, Circles of Faith, Sharing His Beauty, Faith Barista Jam Thursdays, #TellHisStory, Everyday Jesus

What’s Your One Focus?

It’s that time of year when we tend to take stock of our lives. We look back at the year, and we look forward with changes in mind.

Changes we write as resolutions.

Changes that often don’t make it past January 31.

What if we skip the list of things we want to start or stop doing, and instead have a focus for the year?

One focus. Something to think and pray about throughout the year.

It might be one area God wants you to pay attention to, or one word that will shape your year. Maybe it’s one Scripture verse you want your life to reflect…

To continue reading, please join me here at Gloria Dei...

In Christ,

Laura