January 6, 2014

 

In 2012 I didn’t get my New Year’s goal put up until March 29^th and in 2013 they didn’t go up until July 24th.  At least in 2014, I’m doing them in January.  It was one of two blog post in 2012 and one of three blog post in 2013, my last one being “Confessions of a Bad Blogger”, which I am.  2013 was an interesting year.  I had three surgical procedures in 2012 but none in 2013. PTL! However, my life seems to always be changing and I don’t mean wall color or carpet cleaning, I mean changing.  And it’s usually something I don’t want to happen.  This past year has had some unbelievable changes, heart breaking and yet needed.  With these came a freedom and a peace like never before. 

  

As I thought of my blog and writing goals for 2014, I have to look at how this year began.  In the first 6 days of 2014 I have spent time with wonderful, single friends from church; spent time with friends (married and single) just because we wanted to; shared some fun moments and encouraging moments with friends at work (can someone say “giant candy bar”); spent the night and caught up with an old friend from NarroWay Productions; saw my best friend's daughter (my Emma) get married; saw friends from college (from 30 years ago); saw almost everyone I knew from when I was a resort missionary in Florida (Driggers and Wagler families included); talked to my supervisor from Florida (from over 20 years ago) and talked to one of my dear friend’s daughters who called to tell me that she had unexpectedly passed away today.  It is like my life has passed before my eyes in the first week of 2014.  It has been wonderful and painful all at the same time.  I feel like George Bailey.  I got my own look at my life.  People telling me they love me and how much the missed me and let’s not let 20 years go before we see each other again and some told me what a difference I made in their life.  The truth is; they have made much MORE difference in mine.  Even though I am a teary basket case, 2014 has already made a huge difference in my life. 

 

The last six days have so changed what my “goals” for 2014 where going to be.  I have used the same list and updated it for a few years.  Mainly because I can’t seem to complete (and sometimes) start any of my goals. 

 

So like many people, I am choosing a ONE WORD this year.  (http://www.portcitychurch.org/article/my-one-word-by-mike-ashcraft/).  It has become a “movement”, for lack of a better word.  The word that keeps coming up in my mind and in my devotions and in my devotional emails and on-line communities has been MORE.  I know that is usually not a “Christian” friendly word.  Don’t misunderstand me, I do not believe in the “name it and claim it” theology, but I do believe that God can direct us in the way we need to go. 

 

So my word for this year is MORE.  My goals for 2014 are…

• MORE of Christ
• MORE love
• MORE blessing
• MORE ministry
• MORE serving
• MORE joy
• MORE praise
• MORE of trusting God
• MORE giving
• MORE receiving
• MORE laughter
• MORE of God

 

Mathew 6:25-26-“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; for about your body, what you will wear. Is not life MORE than food, and the body MORE than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much MORE valuable than they?” 

 

I have lived so much of the last seven years in LESS.  Less of life, I have worried over food and housing and income and clothes and ministry and so many things.  Some of the less, I had no control of; some of it was all me.  So I step out on faith for MORE, mainly more of Christ and getting closer to God.  And, as the first six days of 2014, has already shown me my life has been MORE than I had realized. 

Having said that, I am still trying to finish one or MORE of those Beth Moore Bible Studies that I have started over the last 20 years, after all my word for the year is MORE.  (See what I did there MORE/ MOORE.  I know puns are a no-no in stand-up comedy but I just saw that.)  Two years ago, I had 15 to finish; now it’s just 14.  Shocked! Remember I told you I’m bad at goals.  Maybe I can handle ONE WORD. 

 

Whatever your goals or your “word” may be for 2014, remember this, you are MORE valuable to God than that anything that makes you feel “less” in your life.  Praying that 2014 will be MORE than you, or I, can even imagine.  Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us.”