2020 Word of the Year

It took me some time to come up with a Word for 2020. Usually, a word comes easily to me. Many times I know in December what my word will be. This year, I just couldn't figure it out. I had a couple different words, but I just wasn't sure. I really didn't feel like God was leading me to a specific theme for the year.

The words I had written down just didn't seem possible. Words like rest and peace and still and live, all sounded good and all sounded like things I wanted...I just wasn't sure how I would live them out.

When I looked towards 2020, all I could see was busy, full, committed...

In 2020, we have many commitments including politics, campaigning, helping with the local homeschool co-op (I am also teaching this semester), hosting a reader's retreat, VBS, graduations of close friends and family, a major election, work, family, to name just a few.

So how was I going to choose a word like peace or still? It really didn't seem possible or practical. It seemed like I would just be setting myself up for failure.

But I then felt God pointing me to the word "peace."

Could this really be the word for 2020? I didn't really want it to be. It seems too hard. (And besides "vision" would be a much cooler word for 2020!)

But yes, "peace" is my word for 2020. God made it quite clear to me. And in kind of a round about way.

I recently read this article from DaySpring called A Prayer for Peace. I would recommend you read it for yourself, but I really enjoyed this line from it, “God’s peace comes when we accept His amazing love and respect His mighty power, when we allow Him to direct our steps and soothe our broken hearts, when we acknowledge Him and sit with Him and turn to Him when the winds start to blow.”

Another part of the journey to peace was this challenge I was feeling to seek gratitude, to make an effort every day to be thankful. I heard a couple sermons and even a workshop that mentioned these verses from Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV):
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (highlighting is my own.)

Somehow I had never connected the "do not be anxious" with "prayer...and thanksgiving" and ultimately, with "the peace of God."

It was like all of a sudden I saw the big picture!

I had recently been reading about the Enneagram and I think I fall in the "6" category. It was bothering me because the downside of a "6" is worry or fear. (Probably the fact that it was "worrying" me confirms that I am a "6.") Anyway, I don't want to live in that place of worry, but in a place of peace. So this year, I am choosing "peace" because I don't want worry to be a part of my life. I want the worries of this world to fade away. I want my focus to be on Jesus. I want to always remember that He cares for me.

1 Peter 5:7
...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Jesus is our Prince of peace and He offers us peace. He has overcome the world!

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

There are so many scriptures that talk about peace. So many reminders from God's Word about the peace He offers and the peace we can have as Christians. I pray that as you go into 2020, you, too, will find peace, true peace that comes from Jesus. 

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Over the next year, I hope to share some more scripture on peace. Stay tuned!

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I will also be posting about my New Year's Resolutions.

Goals - Looking ahead

It is usually around this time of year, around Thanksgiving and Christmas, that I start considering what some of my goals will be for next year. I take some time to look back over the year and see what I have accomplished of the goals I set in January and I look to the new year and what I would like to accomplish in the next year.

However, I haven't spent very much time thinking about my goals for next year. I really like picking a "word of the year," even better than making New Year's resolutions. I like the "word" because it becomes a theme. I see God using it in my life. It makes me more intentional and it sticks with me all year long!

In 2019, I chose the word "embrace." God has used this over and over in my life this year. I have chosen to embrace life. Embrace things I wouldn't normally do. Embrace experiences and opportunities. Embrace people (literally and figuratively).

One of our sayings at our house this year became "people over things." People are more important, so putting our focus on them. Even when we were busy. Even when the house wasn't perfect. Even when we didn't feel up to it. Making an impact on someone, not something. 


So as I look to the new year, as I look to 2020...I am not sure of what my goals will be or of what my word of the year will be. I will spend the next month and a half pondering and praying over what God has for me for 2020.

One thing I do know is that I want to live by His plan, His agenda. I want my plans to be shaped by His will and plans for me. I don't want my ideas to just be my ideas. I want them to be what God wants for me.

So as you look to 2020, are you planning on making some new goals/resolutions for the year or not? Are you picking a "word of the year?"

As always, I will be sharing some of mine in the coming months!

Take Back Your Time by Morgan Tyree - Book Review

Take Back Your Time is a helpful resource. When I heard the name of the book, I was instantly interested. In Morgan Tyree’s book, she talks about how to figure out what your goals/purposes are and then how to achieve them. She also provides helpful information about how to schedule your time. I like that she offers practical tips on how to apply all her suggestions, but specifically on picking a calendar that will work for you. Looking back at the book, Tyree is very good about giving you lots of suggestions, but then making sure that you do what works for you. If you are looking for a book that will help you get on top of your busy life, this might be it! 

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She Walks in Love by MaryLu Tyndall – Book Review

She Walks in Love by MaryLu Tyndall – Book Review

She Walks in Love is the second book in MaryLu Tyndall’s Protectors of the Spear series. Tyndall’s books have always held my attention until the very end and this story is no different. I love the setting and time of this book. It is a medieval story filled with adventure, romance, danger, and excitement. There are ladies and knights and all the things you would expect from a story set in that time period! At the core of the story, you see how the characters must depend not on their own strength, but on the strength of God. You see how they must trust each other and trust God in each and every situation. I look forward to the next story in this series! Be sure to check out the whole series!

 Find the book on Amazon!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg - Book Review

Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg - Book Review 

I couldn’t hardly wait to read another story by Melissa Tagg. I have completely loved her other books and was really looking forward to this one! Now and Then and Always did not disappoint. In fact, it may be one of her best stories yet! This story was funny, full of laughter, yet dealt with deep issues and hard feelings. Tagg did an excellent job of intertwining all of the elements. This story provided all the elements you have become accustomed to with Tagg’s writing (romance, humor, etc..), but this one also includes some mystery which kept me going right to the end! 

It was great returning to Melissa Tagg’s fictional town of Maple Valley. I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story and all it had to offer! Be sure to check it out as well as all of Tagg’s other books! 

Check out Melissa Tagg’s website here: www.melissatagg.com

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano - Book Review

 

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is the second book in the Saturday Night Supper Club series by Carla Laureano. The story continues the series about three friends. These three women have a shared love of food! This particular story focuses in on the one who is a pastry chef. I can definitely say that after reading this book, it left me craving some culinary delights! The characters' love of food and making it special is conveyed well throughout the story.

I felt like I could relate to both of the main characters in this book. They both were struggling with knowing their place in life. Were they living their dreams or living the lives someone else had created for them or the life that they thought they might have wanted? Sometimes, we can get so caught up in life, we don't follow our dreams. Sometimes, we get caught up in what we thought we wanted, only to realize that is not what we really wanted. The story reminded me that it is good to reevaluate where we are in life and what our dreams are. As C.S. Lewis says, "You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream." I love the journey that the characters go on and how they are faced with real life situations. I enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading the next one in the series!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The Secret of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel - Book Review

The Secret of Paper and Ink

The Secret of Paper and Ink is such a beautifully crafted story. I have loved each of Lindsay Harrel’s books, but I truly believe each one she has written has gotten better and better. She writes with such depth and weaves hope into her stories. 

This book definitely ranks in my top five books. There is so much wisdom in this book and it touched me in such a deep way. 

The mystery in the book pulls you in and you don’t find out anything until the very end! It is captivating. The characters show real life struggles that relate to relevant issues of today’s culture. 

One of my favorite parts of the book is how it describes the impact a story can have on your life and why it is so important to tell your story. I found myself highlighting several parts of this story to go back and read again.

As with each of Lindsay Harrel’s books, I was drawn in, held captive, and left waiting to see what she will come up with for her next story! Check out this book for yourself and make sure you check out her other books, too! 

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)