It's a New Year; What's Your Word?

The time has come, to raise our glass, and say ciao to another year over and bonjour to a new one dawning. It is always amusing how much nostalgia and longing is wrapped up into one simple day, New Years Eve; we sit and reminisce with friends and family about all the things we accomplished in the past year: people met, trips taken, goals obtained, promises kept...and all the things we didn't quite get to: losing that last 10lbs, paying off our debt, becoming a yoga master, balancing our checkbooks. Yet, every year we sit on New Years Eve and make a pact to ourselves and our friends that next year will be different. I don't know about you, but I find myself making the same exact resolutions every year; and obviously the goals are never quite met...hence why I'm sitting her on the cusp of another year still contemplating the same exact goals.

So instead of making another resolution to accomplish something tangible: losing weight, making more money, becoming more dedicated to the gym, I've decided to partake in something that the lead pastor at Port City Community Church (Mike Ashcraft) implemented last year: MY ONE WORD. The premise behind this philosophy is to pick one word or phrase that you are going to work on and focus on for that entire year, a word you will pray about, focus on, read devotionals about. I actually did this last year. Want to know my word: happiness. Such a simple philosophy, yet I had never been truly happy in life. I dealt with a lot of issues, insecurities, doubts, fears, loneliness. It was hard, and it took God's hand in my life to really show me how to be happy. Tonight, I look back on 2012 and realize I found happiness. So tonight, I close the chapter on 2012 and look fondly on what 2013 will bring and have to offer; I haven't decided on my one word yet but I am interested to see what God lays on my heart.

Ciao 2012 and Bonjour 2013. I hope all you out there have a wonderful and beautiful 1st day of 2013.

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" Psalm 37:4,7