A Word for 2014

A couple of years ago I adopted the idea of throwing out the cliche "New Year's Resolutions" and simply choosing one word to focus on for the year and I have really enjoyed this new concept!

Before I jump into this year I want to take some time to look back at 2013.

Last year I chose to focus on the word "Create". This word came to me after a conversation I had with a friend about Ephesians 4:1 which states, "...Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." God has blessed me with creativity in a couple of different areas and I didn't want to hide that anymore but to share it with others. Last year, a friend of mine decided he was going to commit to completing a different project every month for the entire year. I thought that sounded like a fun idea and wanted to do my own spin on it. So I thought I could do one creative project each month for the whole year. Now, I think by the time April rolled around I lost track of my month to month projects, but overall I feel like 2013 was definitely a year of creativity for me and I was happy that I used my talents to "Create" last year. Here is just a glimpse of some of the things I was able to create through painting and photography in 2013.

One of the most exciting things for me was that I even had a logo made for "KasKas Designs" so that I can advertise my art & photography!

... I know I'm a late bloomer and we're already almost 9 days into 2014. But, I've finally decided that my word for 2014 is going to be Embrace.

em·brace

1  [em-breys] 

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

1.

to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.

2.

to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

3.

to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.

4.

to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

5.

to take in with the eye or the mind.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Isaiah 43:18-19:

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

This year I want to embrace all that God is doing in my life. Frankly, right now I have no idea all that God wants to do or is going to do this year. But, I do know that I want to be a part of it. I want to embrace it.

It may mean bringing new people into my life. It may mean letting go of some "former" things and embracing some new opportunities. I know that it also means embracing challenges, struggles, and disappointments. It means embracing not only the victories but the defeats. I know that God is ultimately refining my heart and my character and making me more like him. Its hard and not always pretty but I know that he loves me and he wants me to embrace moments like that too.


A few other scriptures the Lord has revealed to me for this Journey are:

Philippians 3:13
"But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."

Ezekiel 36:26
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven"

Haggai 2:19
"Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you." (Count on it!)

2 Timothy 1:12
"That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return."

I'm going to embrace this season of my life believing that God is able and holding onto God's truth knowing that he will bring about good in everything--nothing is wasted.