"I hold on to You for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post..." Psalm 63

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New Year Praise...

2013

 
For the last few years I've started the New Year asking for a word to focus on...
what I hear is usually something that I have either been
working on
or
NEED to be working on.
 
2011 was the year of 
JOY
 
And throughout the year there were many times that I was reminded to choose joy,
rather than
 complain
or despair
or worry
 
Not that I always chose JOY...
but I knew it was the response GOD wanted me to make into a habit.
 
2012 was the year of
TRUST
 
and as I look back now and can see the whole year from the other side,
I realize that God was preparing me, way back in January, for many changes and unknowns.
 
There were many times that I had to reread the scripture above in Proverbs..
I especially came to like how The Message worded these verses.
 
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God!"
 
Many a day I needed to remember that, while things felt out of control to me,
God had not turned His eyes away from me or my family...
and I could TRUST Him to handle all of the unknowns.
 
 
and when
Alex announced he would wed his love during Nick's 10 day leave
 
 
or Emma sat behind the wheel of my car for the first time
 
Then...and many, many more times throughout the year
I needed to remember to TRUST God's hand and His heart for us.
 
So this year it was time to ask for a new word..
and the word that kept coming to me was
PRAISE
 
One never knows how many changes one year can bring...
I suppose if I really thought about it I'd find a lot of reasons to be
anxious or worry or question...
But since it helps nothing to borrow from what
I don't yet need to deal with, I won't.
 
Today is enough
and today I choose to PRAISE
And I'll do my best to choose it again
tomorrow
and throughout the coming year
 
Even when things don't make sense
when I am surprised by new changes
or shocked
or afraid
or concerned
or unsure
or lonely...
 
I'll choose to PRAISE the One who orchestrates all of life
and all that comes with it
I already know there will be days I won't want to Praise...
and I know that there may very well be good reason why
this year's word is PRAISE..
because, chances are, there will come a day when
something unexpected will force me
to have to trust that God sees something I can not..
and it will only be because I've made a decision to PRAISE,
that I'll be able to...
 
for all of these reasons,
and ones I've yet to know...
 
2012 had some pretty hard things to swallow for our family...
but there were great days
and moments that we will share together in our memories
We learned to be flexible
to breathe deep in the moment
and we learned a little bit more about what it means to
TRUST
 
But now...
"I hereby declare the year 2013 to be
the Hershey house's year of
PRAISE"
 
"Are you listening, dear people?
I’m getting ready to speak;
This is God, your God,
speaking to you...
Spread for me a banquet of praise,
serve High God a feast of kept promises,
And call for help when you’re in trouble—
I’ll help you, and you’ll honor me.
Time’s up for playing fast and
loose with me.
I’m ready to pass sentence,
and there’s no help in sight!
It’s the praising life that honors me.
As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you my salvation.”
Psalm 50
 
 

1 comment:

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I love this Terri!

What a year of blessing you have had!

My word I believe, is Joy.

Deanna

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
BlogWithIntegrity.com