The mind of a man plans his way,
but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Two years ago the word I claimed for the year was JOY. If you followed long enough on this journey you know the story behind it and why it was so significant and actually started in December of 2009 after I felt joy-less when walking through the pain of choosing to let Little Guy go. All of 2010 was about JOY. Living in a true joyous spirit that can only come from God and not through circumstances.
Then for 2011 I claimed the word ENTRUSTED. I had a revelation of how much God had entrusted to us with our daughter and the one that we thought was soon to follow. PandaPop and I have a huge responsibility with the children's ministry & those little hearts at our church. What were His plans? We have been entrusted with the Holy Spirit, too. What were we to do with all the lavish gifts with which He'd entrusted us? Many times I failed miserably in the stewardship that was entrusted to me in all areas. Many times I was victorious. If there is anything....anything good in me that people see from this past year.....it was all God and nothing else. He carried me through 2011.
The word for 2012 came to me yesterday sitting in church listening to my beloved pastor speak Truth from the living Word. He spoke on taking one step. One step. It spurred me to think of Bob Wiley in What About Bob? which is my all-time favorite dark comedy and how he was going to make baby-steps to reach his goal of losing all his phobias. We have journeyed far along this adoption road for PandaJOY. I did not expect to be still stuck in the foster system this long. But we are. We have learned so much patience in the wait. Everything being out of our control forced us to be patient, but we mostly chose to be joyful and not lamenting through the whole thing. We have taken each small step as it's come.
This year in 2012 we are continuing our baby steps for getting financially balanced. We made huge strides and might actually see some payoffs for keeping in our budget this year. Last year's money spent on repairing things just about did me in!!
We started last week on teeny-tiny baby-steps to get our health and physical bodies in check. I've got so much weight to lose and even more so the emotional addiction to food that the task is just overwhelming. Baby steps to the goal. Each and every step counts. Even the ones that go backwards. Hopefully, I can learn from the backward steps and then move on. Keep moving forward. Yes. Keep moving forward!! I as type those words I am reminded that keep moving forward was part of our healing back in 2009! It's from Meet the Robinson's and is very much a part of our lives! I am giddy just remembering it now! Oh how it fits in perfectly with my word for the year: step.
Keep every single one of my
steps
moving forward!!!
Do you have a word for the year? Have you ever had a word for the year? If not, try it and just see how many times it creeps up in your daily life and how God will use to make you better. I'd love to know your word!!!
Oh I just love your word - very practical and focused. Learning to take one step at a time is something I constantly have to learn. I choose a word and verse every year - my word is surrender and my verse is 1 Timothy 6 v 11. I posted about it a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteI regret not having been by here for a visit in a very long while. Love what you have done to this place! =) Gotta catch up! As soon as I can get past the Wow, of the red bird house, I will concentrate and what a great post this is.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a word for the year. However, my parents took the kids and I to see "We Bought a Zoo" on Friday. Since then, the phrase, "20 seconds of courage," has popped up multiple times. It looks like a tough year for us is in the works. Maybe "courage" should be my word. Suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI like it alot!! and how has it been TWO years since Joy was your word. I remember that like yesterday. Praying for your STEPS to lead you on a fullfilling journey this year.
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