My Word and Theme for 2015
Happy 2015 sweet friends! It has been a while since posted for a couple of reasons including the holidays just being an extra busy time, dealing with some personal things that needed to just be kept private, spending extra time on work projects, and just needing some time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to hopes and dreams for this year.
I don’t know how you’re feeling about the new year but personally I’m feeling simultaneously excited and freaking out. Here’s why. . . so in the past I have participated in selecting a word for the year instead of doing resolutions and have found it to be very effective. I’ve had rest and grace as words but this year my word is one that I’ve been pondering for some time now and it scares the heck out of me. Plus, I’m also adding sort of a “theme” for the year in addition to my word.
The word I believe chose me is testimony. I know. . . kind of intense right?
Well here’s the thing, last year I noticed the word come up quite a bit and it made me take pause on several occasions. Then I started doing a brief study on the book of Revelation (I know, I know, it can be kind of intense but seriously people, read it sometime) and I spent some time sitting with this:
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11
Basically God wins! Yay! And we kick the enemy’s behind through 1) Jesus (the blood of the Lamb) and 2) the word of their/our testimony (through both The Word /God’s testimony and our own.)
There is so much there. I won’t get too deep right now (though expect that I will definitely revisit this) except to say that sitting with this verse hit me right in the gut. Our testimony, our story of God’s faithfulness, it has power.
And while I came reluctantly to blogging because I was hesitant to share my own testimony I feel called out now and am planning on sharing more of my whole story both in this space and offline in other areas of my life.
Another thing that really made this hit home is that someone very close to me was really hurt by the testimony of others. The words they uttered against my loved one had severe consequences. Words have power and can be used to speak truth, to encourage and give life or to deceive, manipulate, hurt & destroy when spoken against someone. What are we testifying to?
I want to bear witness to God’s goodness and love. His faithfulness and mercy. All of which are evident in my life, but I have not been intentional about sharing at a deeper level. I’ve played it safe in many ways. This year expect to hear more about my story.
Also, I have a theme this year. After the 31 Day Life Reset challenge last October I spent some time thinking about my desire to live with better alignment between my values & priorities and my actions. The missing link I realized is discipline. I think this a problem with our immediate gratification culture in general but definitely is in my life. I can be very much about what’s convenient for me. If I’m hungry, I eat something fast (usually not super healthy), if I’m bored I can go on the internet or watch movies, if I “need” something I order it on amazon (Prime), if I’m not careful I only have time for prayer and The Word “when I have time” because “I’m so busy”. . .
Not how I want to be living. So my theme this year is “discipline”.
Some of the areas I need to focus on being more disciplined in are: My time, food choices, exercise & health, homeschooling, work, writing & creativity, bible study & prayer. These are all areas of my life that are important to me so I want to put in the time and work needed to develop habits that will lead to more consistency on my part and ultimately benefit myself & my loved ones. I will be sharing about my journey towards a more disciplined life here in the hopes that you might find encouragement as well.
OK I’m a little nervous but mostly excited about this year! How about you friends? Are you picking a word, resolution, theme? Feeling excited about 2015? Would love to hear from you.
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I was so so excited to get your post, and hear your intention for the year. My word is stretch!
Aw, thanks! It was time to get back to writing 🙂 And stretch is a GREAT word, can’t wait to hear more about it. love ya lady!
I love your word of the year! I am still hashing out my goals, but they will most likely align with my word, which I am pretty sure needs to be “intentional.” And the theme is a great thing as well! I have one that I wrote about here: http://www.townsend-house.com/2015/01/happy-new-year.html – Getting Back to Basics. Cheers to a wonderful 2015!
Hi Heather, thanks so much for your sweet comment. Intentional is a great word as well and I love your getting back to basics post. Thanks for stopping by!
I have never picked a word for the year… I think my word this year is worship which also seems a little intense- I would like to set aside everything I think I know about worship and allow God to redefine it for me this year.
I stumbled upon your blog via the compel training forum- was looking for some bloggers on the west coast (there are not many)and stumbled across yours. Nice work, friend.
Astrid, thanks for stopping by. So glad you found me through Compel. Where in the West Coast?
Worship is a GREAT word to be thinking about. Last year a close friend and I co-led a workshop on creative worship and it was such a great experience to really dig in and see that almost anything we do could “count” as worship. Would love to hear about how that plays out for you this year.
Stay in touch friend!
We live in Portland. Workshop on creative worship sounds interesting.
Hi,
This is my first visit to your blog, and I love your word for 2015. Sharing my testimony is not one of my strong points, but I have recently been learning that sharing our personal stories of how God has worked in our lives are so powerful – like our own “stones of remembrance” (which the children of Israel would set up to thank God, and their children would ask them to share what the monuments meant).
I, too, have felt called to share my story recently. I launched a blog in Nov 2014 to share my story of healing from abuse. It’s a little scary to be so vulnerable, but I see God’s hand in it already. I would love if you’d stop by and share your thoughts!
Blessings,
Kamea
incrementalhealing.wordpress.com
Kamea, thank you for stopping by! There is definitely power in sharing our stories. And I believe God will honor the courage you are showing in sharing your story of healing. I am confident it will be a blessing to many!
Wow! What an amazing and exciting word for 2015. It is so faith filled, not only looking at the testimony of your past, but how God is going to use this year as a testimony to Him and His abundant grace and love! Blessing friend! Visiting from Tell His Story today!
Becky, thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment!