with this homemade sign…

maybe I will attempt my own. We’ll see.

I love her words on that blog, too. This is the gift, that is sharing your word. Immediate accountability.

Check out Brad’s facebook page for some awesome furniture, too. Like this dresser he painted, love that blue!

don’t let it.

i almost did, just this morning. how ridiculous.

truth invade my heart.

via elembee.

So, after a conversation, or two, and influence from my pastor (it’s not about a fancy word, it’s about life-change and what God wants to do in you) that I needed to rethink things…

I knew that Eucharisteo is the exact idea of what I wanted to go for, and what God wants to do in me but, it just wasn’t the right fit.

Then a word chose me, for the first time. I’ll attempt to explain.

Have you ever had those moments where God chases after you with a truth? And it’s everywhere you look? That’s pretty much what happened here.

I know this because for a few months I’ve been thinking about the person I was becoming. I thought about my critical nature (ugh!), my propensity to compare myself to others, my playing over a bad scenario in my head.

I thought, “what if this isn’t how I’m meant to live?” What if my friendships could be deeper & more meaningful. What if I was able to capture my thoughts, and find thankfulness in the small things, the transforming power of a heart enlarged to the simple, gratitude, thankfulness, yes, all those things. But how is it captured in just ONE word.

I started praying it over. The type of person I want to become is thankful, is joyful, pays attention, doesn’t get swept away with negative emotion, is quick to listen and slow to speak. Who is that person? How do I become her?

That’s when God started chasing after me with one three letter word….

• I started reading One Thousand Gifts. Which, is amazing. I truly love the book. I love Ann’s writing style. I love her candidness and her struggle at finding joy. Her quest is so real that it invaded me. I marveled at how her thankfulness found it’s way to more. She found joy in the smallness, the mundane, the difficult.

• Then, I went to church, and Jeff Winchester, Leland campus pastor of Port City Community Church said his one word is Enjoy! I loved that and it reminded me of a similarity of what my word might be..

• Then, I went to my mom’s group and we exchanged our thoughts about our words, several of the words that stand out a few days later are adore, joy, fullness. Yes, all of these things.

• Then, we started a study on James in my couples small group. Week 2, day 1 is all about JOY and verse 2 of James 1. Which, clearly, I’ve been mulling over anyway. And as Beth Moore says in this study,

The word consider calls us to a mental exercise. Not an emotion. James isn’t telling us to have a knee-slapper over all we’re going through. He’s telling us to think, to reflect, and to esteem the unalloyed joys available to us, “whenever [we] experience various trials.”

And wow, oh wow, JOY as James talked about it. To consider it joy, not just feel joy. That if not, trials will steal our joy.

• Then, I went over to one of my favorite blogs, and no lie, this was the current post: Comparison is the thief of Joy.

Talk about repetition. I think I get it.

How much I need JOY in my life.

JOY chose me. I’m so glad. One sweet three letter word.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

Oh, 2012, you are my ode to

Have you picked your one word yet? What is it? I would love to know! If you’re not familiar with it, check out this page on how to choose your word!

This year has been a year of lists. So far. And we’re 6 days in.

These lists consist of what to read, what to make, goals to strive for, personal, financial, and beyond.

But the most compelling of lists is this one that was inspired by a book I just got for Christmas. The book, One Thousand Gifts, has captured my heart in every possible way. It was exactly what I needed to read at exactly this point in time. Isn’t it funny that the One who knows us so intimately, who created our every fiber, knows the exact number of hairs on my head, cares what I read, cares what I let my mind rest on during the day and in the night. 

Before I’ve shut my eyes into slumber in these first few days of twenty twelve, my mind has pondered eucharistio, a greek word that Ann Voskamp, the author, locks into early into the book’s pages. And, I, too have wondered, have pondered, what does it take to live a full life as Christ intended? Scripture makes it clear that it’s possible and attainable… but what must we do to seize this life? To take it all in and not get caught into the things that matter least, but rather be captivated by things that matter most.

I’ve decided, based on my own experiences, that it does take intentionality, that it takes DOING something. Not saying you are going to do it, and certainly not making a list declaring you will do it, you must actually DO it.

In fact, Ann cites a fantastic quote on the matter by Pierre de Caussade,

When one is thirsty one quenches one’s thirst by drinking, not be reading books which treat of this condition.

Ann goes on,

If we are dying of thirst, passively reading books about water quenches little; the only way to quench the parched mouth is to close the book and dip the hand into water and bring it to the lips. If we thirst, we’ll have to drink. I would have to do something.

Ann started this wonderful journey of writing down gifts, not to buy, not for someone else, but the gifts of God, a love list of sorts. She begins this list, of gifts, of one thousand of them, and realizes that she is changing. That she starts to see things differently.

I’m not so great at writing, no, not like Ann, but in reading this book, it was somehow my words, my thoughts, said 20 times more eloquently than I could ever dare.

So because of this, my one word this year, is also my list of one thousand. Eucharestio. Thanksgiving. Gratitude. Grace. Joy. Yes, in one profound greek word, that Ann explains, always precedes the miracle. Jesus gave thanks (even in not -enough), Daniel gave thanks, Paul gave thanks, yes… thanksgiving. So, for non-greek scholars, my word is Thank-full (yes with two l’s, to be FULL of thanks). For greek scholars, and readers of One Thousand Gifts, my one word is Eucharisteo.

It is also my challenge, to list 1000 things over the course of this year that I am thankful for. I believe that it will be a stretching experience, a lesson on gratitude, that I intend to fully inhale. I am up to twenty nine in my list currently. It is an exercise in gratitude.

I am only on chapter 5, of 1000 gifts and already feel my heart expanding. I am so thank-full! 

Reflecting on 2011 has just happened naturally as this week has flown by. We’ve cleaned, and going through our things, reminded me of being here for a year, of this past year, finding out I was pregnant, the entire pregnancy (with it’s ups and downs) and that sweet baby that arrived August 24th.

This year has been full of joy. I am so thankful for so much. And am so excited about this coming year! I’ve got some good goals on paper that I’ve been working on for this next year including things to make, books to read, business goals, blog goals, personal goals and overall goals. I will be sharing those soon (I’m currently working on my pinterest boards to go along with each goal category!)

Heres to twenty twelve, deeper friendships, sweet moments with my family, lots of photos, lots of creativity, success and inspiration.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old days long gone ?

For old days long gone, my dear,
for old days long gone,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for old days long gone.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for old days long gone.

Also, currently working on my one word, too. If you haven’t heard of it, go here to find out more.

And just for fun… some of my favorite recent photos…

happy new year!

This past Sunday at Port City Church we were challenged to renew our commitment to our word since it’s the mid-year check up.

At first, I chose the word balance, because it seemed to strike that my life needed to be in balance, priorities in order, my yeses yes, and my no’s no’s. (not nose nose, though, that’s confusing).

But balance? It didn’t seem right, it made me think of a clumsy- gymnast walking a tight rope, and I don’t see my walk with God as a tight-rope at all, I see it more like a path, sometimes rocky, sometimes lush and green and sometimes hidden. But a tightrope? No.

A few months ago I landed on another word, which strikes at the same part of balance that I liked but wasn’t that word at all. It’s the word- center. I love this word, because it seemed more fitting, it seemed very focused and aligned with where my heart is and was. To be in the center of His heart. To center my life on Him (God). And a verse to match up too…

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 1:20

There is a song, too… it may be a few years old, but songs stick with you when they mean something…

So beautiful and true. At the center of his love, arms opened and outstretched, ready to receive His love, ready to give His love.

Center, that’s my one word.

I’ve realized that I’ve been “trapped” in by the way I see myself and the way others see me. That I live out what others think of me more than I become who I really am. That I don’t always feel the freedom to express who I am, that I’m more concerned with what everyone else thinks. This is no way to live, no, not as a child of God – who has been set free! Who no longer has to conform to the pattern of this world! I’ve been set free, to freely be me! And so as I embrace this freedom, it’s a scary thing, the real deal. To not hold myself back, to be open, to freely delight myself in God, and to yell freedom! at the top of my lungs when Satan tempts me to despair!

Thank you Jesus, for freedom! You have changed my life.

And how much different is it now as you live in God’s freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? (Romans 6:19)

For those interested in picking a word, just follow these simple steps (taken from myoneword.org)

So how do you go about picking a word? We’ve listed out a few steps to help you get started!

step 1: DETERMINE THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BECOME

The first step is to simply take some time and decide what kind of person you want to be at the end of this year. This goes beyond simply being healthier and wealthier, but it must drive deep into your soul. What about the condition of your heart? What about the person that God Himself has created you to be?

step 2: IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT PERSON

Get a picture of that person and then simply identify their major characteristics. Is that person gentle? Is that person generous? What are the qualities of the person you want to become?

step 3: simply pick a word

Once you have a list of the characteristics, simply pick a word. There might be fifteen things that you want to change, but you must resist the temptation to promise you will do them all. Instead, simply commit to ONE WORD.

This will provide you with a lens to see the changes you need to make as well as a way to determine whether or not change is actually happening. Understand that this process is hard, but staying focused on your word will help you to struggle in the right direction so that you can actually see God working in your life.

HELP ALONG THE WAY

Before you embark on this journey, a little word of warning: don’t be surprised if living out your “one word” feels unnatural and awkward at first. Remember, the reason you want to change is due to the fact that this godly characteristic is not currently present in your day-to-day life.

This is why we’ve developed MYONEWORD.ORG, to give you the resources and surround you with a community that will help keep your word in front of you all year long. Here are some ways our website can help you with your word in 2010.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG

Visit our blog to access weekly exercises you can use to work on your word throughout year. You can also comment about the posts to interact with the online community about how you are using your word. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, SUBSCRIBE to the blog to get an email every time a new post hits the site!

SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT

Creating an account on myoneword.org is designed to help keep you thinking about your word all year long. When you sign up for an account on our website you will be able to:

• Update your profile with your word and the inspiration behind it
• Share your word with our online community
• Receive emails monthly that remind you about your word and challenge you to keep your word in front of you
• Sign up for our newsletter, updating you about changes and added features on myoneword.org
• Review monthly questions for reflection that are posted in our blog on your profile page (COMING Q1 2010)
• Write about your reflections in a personalized online journal (COMING Q1 2010)
• Connect your MYONEWORD.ORG account with Facebook for added features (COMING Q1 2010)

Visit our Registration Page to setup an account today at MYONEWORD.ORG and become part of a community intent on encouraging and supporting you towards the change you want this year!

It’s such a pretty day – it’s so bright out, green. I am contemplating going to the beach, knowing that time to read and journal is almost the most therapeutic thing for me.
I’m in the midst of cutting back in my life. Praying about what things to stay involved in and what things I should just let go. These are not easy decisions.

In the midst of a lot of life changes, I think I need to anchor myself so solidly on the One who doesn’t change. His ways are pefect and everlasting. His ways at last even the hardest of my seasons.

This morning I got the opportunity to read about God’s jealousy for our hearts, for Isreal (His chosen). I am so amazed at how God continues to fulfill His covenants even when we’re adulterers to His namesake.

But, Isreal, why didn’t you pay attention? Why did you turn aside to other Gods? Why do I do the same thing? Awaken my heart, Lord. Let me not turn aside to false idols. I long to worship you with my life. To take a fresh approach.

reminds me of how good it is to be alive. of how good it is to be able to take that next breath. i think we forget, how great it is to live and breathe and walk, and make friendships, to be able to read and think and enjoy the taste of caramel, milk, espresso, over ice.

so often i only find the things to complain about, things i wish were different and i don’t really look on my life with contentment.

this. reminds me. of myoneword, which has not yet debuted publicly, but has come up in several conversations with friends. my one word this time around is “fresh.” why? well, so often life to me appears stale, it’s the monotony, the same thing repeated, the non-excitement, the lack of new, on any level. and so, i’ve committed to view things anew, from a fresh point of view. i want to come at my daily, my job, my life, my friendships, my family, the way i worship, with a freshness, that can only be supplied from the Creator – who made all things new.

i’m excited to enter into 2009 through the lense of freshness. it seems appropriate and life-giving.

i’m off now, for a walk around the block, to breathe in the air, to experience life away from the computer.