Do you have a word for the year?  Some people do this to help them have a certain focus for a year.  I haven’t always done this but last year my word was: CHANGE!  Boy did things change, we got accepted to JAARS and Wycliffe, started training, building a partnership team and not to mentions our growing kids, and deepening relationships!!

Some of the CHANGE was obvious like the things above.  Some were ways of thinking, heart attitudes and hopefully the ways I relate to my family and friends is changing for the better as well.

Well this year my word is PEACE.  I really hear God saying, you can have PEACE in any circumstance.  That’s what my Word says and I am faithful and trustworthy, so in all of the craziness that will be the next year (things I can see and all that I can’t but He does) I can have PEACE.  Doesn’t mean I won’t be sad, overwhelmed, anxious…but that I can have God’s PEACE in all circumstances.  How? I’m learning a big part of that is taking all those feelings (and the things that have cause them) straight to God.  Over and over if necessary!

“The Lord himself goes before you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discourage.”

Deuteronomy  31:8

This verse brings me so much PEACE.  I have a God who goes before me, nothing that happens to me or my family takes Him by surprise.   I don’t have to fear or be discourage, and when I am, I can take it directly to Him.  I  am so thankful!

Do you have a word of the year? If so share your word below…I always enjoy hearing what other people’s words are.  It’s also fun to look back at the end of the year and see how that word has fit into your year.

*It’s ironic that as I look at what I wrote about a week ago I’m struggling with peace and resting in His promises.  Isn’t God good, He knew when I wrote this how much I would need to be reminded of His promised peace.   He is trustworthy, faithful and goes before me.  His intentions toward me are GOOD.

It doesn’t mean that I won’t struggle, that I won’t have setbacks and that things will be easy.  It does mean that He is with me through it all for better or for worse, and that I can put my full trust in Him and His plan.  His will done HIS way, not mine.

For those of you who have been following us you know we are raising partners to make it possible for us to go to PNG and make His Word available to those who haven’t had a chance to hear it in their language, yet. This means right now we are raising partners, packing up our house, saying see you later to loved ones (friends and family), last day’s of work, and last day in our home are creeping up quickly and not all of the future is in place for us yet.  Luckily we serve a God who sees the future and knows what is best for us, even if it means struggling and not being in an easy or comfortable place.

“There’s no shame

in looking like a fool,

when I give You what I can’t keep

and take ahold of You…”