my word for 2011

I think I knew this would be the word for this year about 10 months ago.  Which is an indicator I need this to be my word even more than I think.  This word kept popping up last year at different times and each time I would read it I would be reminded that that would be my word for this new year.

 

So a quick recap of 2010 and what worked and what did not…..

 

Last year was a year of many things, one was trying to say YES more.  Yes to the many requests I get throughout the day – and I did okay for a while, then life took some unexpected turns, things got busy, and I fell back into my pattern of NO – No , and no.  Much too often.  So I will still work on YES this year.  So, if you plan to stop by, or visit know that the floors may not be spotless, because I may be playing Qbitz instead of mopping that day.  I hope you will not mind the toothbrushes piled up on the counter or the kids’ closets not perfect (which they never have been) because I may have said YES to another walk down the road, or to another book on the couch, or to another craft.  I hope that will be the case.  I hope I can let go of the other stuff and say no to the junk and YES to the things that matter – to the people who matter, to the little hearts I have been entrusted with!

Last year one goal was to be frugal, well this year we are going to live FRUGALITY out!  No more eating out for 2011 – we are excited to see how much we can save by choosing to not eat out.   This is not a drastic change for us – we rarely eat out anyway (compared to normal people that is) so stopping all together should not be too bad.  We are stopping all “extra” spending too – so no new fabric for fun, no “oh that is cute, I need one”, no more – just necessities. 

I started the year following 10 in 10 – 10 minutes of prayer and Bible reading in 2010.  I hope to do this again next year but with some help.  We spent more time as a family in the Word, but this year I am challenging J and P to read through the Bible with Robert and me!  We are going to follow Manna’s Around the World in 360 – plan.  I am so excited to do this together and cannot wait to see the discussions!  I plan to print off 4 copies – one for each of us – and let the boys read it each morning – but it will be up to them to check it off and keep up!  Then we will discuss as a family while we eat.

Another goal was to encourage someone each day.  I really want to make this a higher priority this year.  I hope to be able to send a note, make a call, or something to let those people in my life know that I love them.  I hope to be even more encouraging than ever before.

So now, for 2011 : This year full of promise, full of new adventures, full of life!  A year where we hope to stay in one house all year, one address, one place. 

My word for this year is

ABIDE

abide verb \ə-ˈbīd\

Definition of ABIDE

transitive verb 1 : to wait for : await

2 a : to endure without yielding : withstand b : to bear patiently : tolerate <cannot abide such bigots>

3 : to accept without objection <will abide your decision>

intransitive verb

1 : to remain stable or fixed in a state

2 : to continue in a place : sojourn

1 : to conform to <abide by the rules>

2 : to acquiesce in <will abide by your decision>

 

This is my plan for 2011.  I want to remain in HIM, I want to spend so much time reading the Word, praying, fellowshipping with HIM that He is in me all day, that I can feel it.  That my words are filtered without my thinking, that my heart is HIS heart, that it softens for those who are hurting, who need to be pointed to Him.  I want my thoughts to be thoughts of goodness, or truth, of encouragement. 

I want to patiently wait for him to show me the way, with my children, with my choices, with hard people.  I want my actions to reflect the heart of HIM.  I want to continue to be in his presence al the time, even when I am just walking with the kids, making dinner.  I want to remember how these moments with these little hearts matter and the mess, the time, everything else does not matter as much.

So in the next few days I hope to spell this out for myself in a little more detail of how this will look every day in my life.  For the most part I want to stop letting little insignificant things fester in my mind.  I want to live each day to the best I can live, I want to ignore the toxic/unhealthy stuff and focus on the good and pure and the real stuff that matters.   

I have one shot with these 4 little hearts – one chance to pour truth and love into them, and I do not want to take any of it for granted. 

So that is my 2011 word ~ Abide.  Abide in him.  Stop straining – stop trying to measure up to other people’s expectations, stop trying to please temporary and focus on living to please him and forever.