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

When Renew Means to Wait

When I think of the word renew, I think of something I can do. I can renew a library book or marriage vows. Renew means to take action—to make like new, or to begin again.

Except when renew means to wait.

My word for this year is renew. God chose it for me and when He shared it with me, I knew it meant He would be the One to do the renewing.

It is totally in God's character to bring renewal to His children and in the details of our lives. However, it's not so much in my character to wait...but I'm learning.

When God says He will renew, I believe He means it. It also means He will decide what He makes new, when, and how. He will make it happen—His way and in His time.

It means I must wait. Patiently.

To continue reading, please join me at One Word 365 where I'm pleased to be guest posting today.

I wonder, does God have you in a place of waiting right now? 

In Christ,
Laura

Linking up with Blessing Counters, The Weekend Brew, Give Me Grace, Grace & Truth, Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, #RaRaLinkup, #SmallWonder, Everyday Jesus, Thought Provoking Thursday, #TellHisStory, Blessing Counters, Faith Filled Friday

I Am Undone - A Conversation with God

Me: God? Are You here?

God: I AM.

Me: I feel completely undone.

God: I know.

Me: I been trying so hard, but it doesn't seem to matter.

God: What you do does matter.

Me: But no one notices.

God: I notice.

Me: It feels like everything is falling apart.

God: You don't have to try so hard. You won't be able to be everything for everyone.

Me: I don't know when to keep trying and when to let go.

God: Right now, you need to let go. It's true—you are coming apart under the weight you've been carrying.

Me: What happens now? I'm always so tired.

God: Rest and lean into Me. In time, I will renew you, and your energy. You will emerge stronger...spiritually and emotionally.

Me: What about everything I've been trying to take care of?

God: I've got it. I will bring good from this...I promise.

Me: (whispering) Thank you, Lord.

God: Rest now. You are in My shelter.

Lord, thank You for bringing us into Your shelter whenever we need it. And especially when You know we need it. Thank You for picking up the pieces when we become undone under the weight and pressures of living in this world. 

Please continue to draw us to You, reminding us that we can't be everything to everyone. May our dependence on ourselves never become more important to us than our dependence on You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you feel yourself coming undone in your daily life, lean into the Lord. Let Him shelter and renew you...in His way and His time.

In Christ,

Laura  

Photo credit: K. Rath 2014

Linking up with #TellHisStory, #RaRaLinkup, Mondays @ Soul Survival, Give Me Grace, Testimony Tuesday, Playdates with God, #SmallWonder, Everyday Jesus, Thought Provoking Thursday, Blessing Counters, Grace & Truth, The Weekend Brew, Faith 'N Friends

God Renews

Renew is my One Word for 2015. I didn't choose it. God chose it for me.

I didn't even hear Him at first, even though I'd been asking Him what my word would be. Thankfully, He is patient and will keep repeating Himself.

It was during a worship service between Christmas and New Year's when I finally realized Renew wasn't just a word that kept coming to mind. It was MY word for the new year.

In that moment of realization, I felt uplifted. Renew sounded hopeful and full of possibilities.

I'm excited to be sharing with the One Word 365 community today. I hope you'll join me there to continue reading my story.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, #RaRaLinkup, Grace & Truth, #GiveMeGrace, #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Mondays @ Soul Survival, #SmallWonder, Playdates with God, Everyday Jesus, Faith 'N Friends, Sunday Stillness

Trust, Praise, Let go…Repeat

As I've started the year with Renew as my One Word, I've wavered between the feeling of comfort I first felt, and the feeling of needing something to do.

Let me explain. Three years ago, I spent the year learning to trust God. It felt like the word Trust was always in the air. When I struggled, it reminded me to trust Him. When I didn't understand why life was the way it was, trust was the action word I needed. Trust was something I could practice and improve on.

Praise was the same way. When things went well, I reminded myself to praise God. When life was far from going well, I made myself praise Him. Over the year, praise felt more natural. I learned not to wait for the big things or until the end of the day, but to praise Him in the small moments throughout the day.

Last year, I learned to let go of what I want and accept God's plan. To let go and know that He has everything under control, even when I don't—especially when I don't. When I let go, I stopped struggling against Him and rested with Him.

Renew feels different. Although it's a verb, I don't feel like it's something I'm supposed to do. At least not right now. When I knew Renew was my One Word, the comfort came in the possibilities of what God might renew in my life, not in something I was supposed to do.

So, I've been pondering how to live out Renew, and here's what I keep coming back to...

While I wait on God to see what He will renew, I'm not to sit idle, but rather, continue what I've learned.

Trust. Praise. Let go…Repeat.

Trust Him in everything. Praise Him continuously. Let go of what I'm clinging to so that I can embrace His plans for me.

And then repeat the process again.

Have you ever felt like it was time to put into practice what God had been teaching you?

In Christ,

Laura 

Linking up with Everyday Jesus, Faith Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Spiritual Sundays, Faith 'N Friends, Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Give Me Grace, Grace & Truth, #TellHisStory

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