Top Ten Tuesday: My Word of the Year
I know, I know. Tuesday's almost over (at least here in CST). However, I just finished reading my friend Erin's post about her word of the year: simplify. I wanted to share with you MY word of the year because it's a tough one and I need some support with it!
Ten Things I Will Be INTENTIONAL With This Year:
1. My words. I have a big, quick-talking, foolish mouth. There is proverb after proverb in Scripture that talks about foolish speech. James 3:6-12 talks about the tongue being a fire, an evil fire. One of my biggest struggles is cursing. Not in every day speech but when I'm upset or stub my toe. I'm much better than I have been, but I'm nowhere near the standard to which I hold myself.
2. My time. I am lazy. Most people don't know that about me. They assume that because I'm dedicated to running that I am a get-up-and-go type of person. I'm not. I am fairly certain I'm a good portion sloth. I love to hang out and sit around. I love not rushing (which is not always a bad thing), but I waste my time. Online, with tv, or sometimes just doing nothing. Piddling around. That needs to stop because my time is but a water vapor, so short, so gone-before-you-know-it!
3. The Internet. I want to have a goal each time I go online. Check Facebook? Fine. Check it, get off. I don't need to know what's going on in my old hairdresser's sister's life (although she is a very nice girl and I like to look at pictures of her kids) and don't check it 80 times a day! Check my email? Fine. I don't need to do it 4 times a day; I'm not that popular. I want to pin new things? Do it during nap time when it's my own time I'm wasting, not my kids'.
4. My time with my sons. I have my kids home with me 21-24/7 (when Moose is in school, I lose 3 hours a day with him!). That is precious time that I need not be wasting. I will be wishing that time back when they are teenagers and too cool for me. And I don't need to always be doing SOMETHING with them but just be with them. Do what they do. Read to them, play cars, sit with them while they play, talk to them. They are the most important people I will ever have as my disciples. Ever.
5. My quiet time. I have always struggled with this (and I can't think of anyone who hasn't); spending time with the Lord. But what kind of relationship do I have if I don't even spend time with the One I love? Not a good one and I want a GREAT one. I want to love Him with all I have. I want to know everything about Him. And how do I do that? Read His Word. Talk to Him (more on that in a second). Not hard but it does take a sacrifice of my time (but wasn't His sacrifice much greater and worth my piddly little sacrifice of selfishness?).
6. My prayers. I need to call out, people! I need to call out to my God every day, every moment. I can't do this alone; I'm not stupid, I know that! But then I forget...just like those Israelites that I roll my eyes at when I read Scripture "how could they forget?" But I do. I forget where He brought me from, what He saved me from. I forget how wonderful He is; I forget how much He loves me. I want to have a never ceasing conversation with the Ultimate, the Alpha, the Omega, my Savior, my Messiah, my Friend.
7. My husband. When he's home, I want to be with him. Not to say I want to ignore my kids, but we need to have time together: us as a couple and us as a family. My boys need their daddy so much; how else will they learn to be godly men? And I need my husband, my partner, my best friend so much. I need to look him in the eyes when I talk to him; open my ears (and respectively shut my mouth) when I listen to him. And really listen. I remind myself of our eldest sometimes in my lack of eye contact and concentration when people are talking, especially my husband. Some day (God willing) our boys will be mature adults, out on their own. And who will I be left with? My wonderful husband. It will be too late to forge a relationship then, so it needs to start (or continue as we really do have a great relationship, but they can all improve) now.
8. My ministry. Not only do I reside over our women's ministry at church but I have a personal ministry. I have a desire to be someone who wakes in the morning and the demons say 'oh dear, she's up.' I have a testimony that needs to be heard. I have a desire to disciple. This one is difficult because I don't have a clear goal (yet). It needs prayer (and probably mentorship). But even if I don't have a clear "goal," I do have a goal (a command) to share the gospel. I've been timid in the past about this (as too many Christians are) but no more. I love the Lord; I need to share it. Tim Tebow is a great example of this goal.
9. My reading. I've been a subscriber to Redbook for a few years now. I love the articles (mostly). I love the interviews with celebrities. But there is so much smut in the articles and advertising. This magazine has changed with the times and my heart sinks when I see some of the smut in there. So I've decided to cancel my subscription. I'm looking to fill that void, if anyone has suggestions. I also will be keeping track of what I read this year. Right now I'm reading Going Deep by MacDonald (great book so far) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I've seen the movie now I'm listening to the book - intriguing).
10. My friendships. I have quite a few friendships now, which I am more than thankful for having been so isolated previously. I've shed my shy skin (no one believes I was shy anymore...). But I'm ready for deeper relationships. I know those aren't just forged but I think it will be wonderful for me to listen to my friends more (and shut up more...do we see a trend here?). To pray for my friends (starting a prayer pail soon), to learn about my friends, to share with, to love on and encourage my friends. :) And sometimes outside of playdates!
There you have it. An year of intention. God has spoke that word to my heart and I desire to follow Him and His whispers. Please pray for me.
What's your word of the year?
Ten Things I Will Be INTENTIONAL With This Year:
1. My words. I have a big, quick-talking, foolish mouth. There is proverb after proverb in Scripture that talks about foolish speech. James 3:6-12 talks about the tongue being a fire, an evil fire. One of my biggest struggles is cursing. Not in every day speech but when I'm upset or stub my toe. I'm much better than I have been, but I'm nowhere near the standard to which I hold myself.
2. My time. I am lazy. Most people don't know that about me. They assume that because I'm dedicated to running that I am a get-up-and-go type of person. I'm not. I am fairly certain I'm a good portion sloth. I love to hang out and sit around. I love not rushing (which is not always a bad thing), but I waste my time. Online, with tv, or sometimes just doing nothing. Piddling around. That needs to stop because my time is but a water vapor, so short, so gone-before-you-know-it!
3. The Internet. I want to have a goal each time I go online. Check Facebook? Fine. Check it, get off. I don't need to know what's going on in my old hairdresser's sister's life (although she is a very nice girl and I like to look at pictures of her kids) and don't check it 80 times a day! Check my email? Fine. I don't need to do it 4 times a day; I'm not that popular. I want to pin new things? Do it during nap time when it's my own time I'm wasting, not my kids'.
4. My time with my sons. I have my kids home with me 21-24/7 (when Moose is in school, I lose 3 hours a day with him!). That is precious time that I need not be wasting. I will be wishing that time back when they are teenagers and too cool for me. And I don't need to always be doing SOMETHING with them but just be with them. Do what they do. Read to them, play cars, sit with them while they play, talk to them. They are the most important people I will ever have as my disciples. Ever.
5. My quiet time. I have always struggled with this (and I can't think of anyone who hasn't); spending time with the Lord. But what kind of relationship do I have if I don't even spend time with the One I love? Not a good one and I want a GREAT one. I want to love Him with all I have. I want to know everything about Him. And how do I do that? Read His Word. Talk to Him (more on that in a second). Not hard but it does take a sacrifice of my time (but wasn't His sacrifice much greater and worth my piddly little sacrifice of selfishness?).
6. My prayers. I need to call out, people! I need to call out to my God every day, every moment. I can't do this alone; I'm not stupid, I know that! But then I forget...just like those Israelites that I roll my eyes at when I read Scripture "how could they forget?" But I do. I forget where He brought me from, what He saved me from. I forget how wonderful He is; I forget how much He loves me. I want to have a never ceasing conversation with the Ultimate, the Alpha, the Omega, my Savior, my Messiah, my Friend.
7. My husband. When he's home, I want to be with him. Not to say I want to ignore my kids, but we need to have time together: us as a couple and us as a family. My boys need their daddy so much; how else will they learn to be godly men? And I need my husband, my partner, my best friend so much. I need to look him in the eyes when I talk to him; open my ears (and respectively shut my mouth) when I listen to him. And really listen. I remind myself of our eldest sometimes in my lack of eye contact and concentration when people are talking, especially my husband. Some day (God willing) our boys will be mature adults, out on their own. And who will I be left with? My wonderful husband. It will be too late to forge a relationship then, so it needs to start (or continue as we really do have a great relationship, but they can all improve) now.
8. My ministry. Not only do I reside over our women's ministry at church but I have a personal ministry. I have a desire to be someone who wakes in the morning and the demons say 'oh dear, she's up.' I have a testimony that needs to be heard. I have a desire to disciple. This one is difficult because I don't have a clear goal (yet). It needs prayer (and probably mentorship). But even if I don't have a clear "goal," I do have a goal (a command) to share the gospel. I've been timid in the past about this (as too many Christians are) but no more. I love the Lord; I need to share it. Tim Tebow is a great example of this goal.
9. My reading. I've been a subscriber to Redbook for a few years now. I love the articles (mostly). I love the interviews with celebrities. But there is so much smut in the articles and advertising. This magazine has changed with the times and my heart sinks when I see some of the smut in there. So I've decided to cancel my subscription. I'm looking to fill that void, if anyone has suggestions. I also will be keeping track of what I read this year. Right now I'm reading Going Deep by MacDonald (great book so far) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I've seen the movie now I'm listening to the book - intriguing).
10. My friendships. I have quite a few friendships now, which I am more than thankful for having been so isolated previously. I've shed my shy skin (no one believes I was shy anymore...). But I'm ready for deeper relationships. I know those aren't just forged but I think it will be wonderful for me to listen to my friends more (and shut up more...do we see a trend here?). To pray for my friends (starting a prayer pail soon), to learn about my friends, to share with, to love on and encourage my friends. :) And sometimes outside of playdates!
There you have it. An year of intention. God has spoke that word to my heart and I desire to follow Him and His whispers. Please pray for me.
What's your word of the year?
Comments
Reading suggestions - Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick, anything by Clayton King and Francis Chan!
Happy 2012!
Lil Momma is that Crazy Homeschooling mom of 3 who is happy mowing grass, vacuuming, and even do windows...just don't ask me to be my kids' creative writing tutor check out our family adventures at Five in Training for HIM