OPEN

Verse for 2013:

So the Lord alone did lead her and there were no strange gods with her. Deuteronomy 32:12

My word for the year is OPEN.
I would venture to say what that means for me but inevitably it always becomes bigger than what I thought.

I only know that I want my life and heart to be more open to the work of Holy Spirit this year, less walls of self protection. I want to be open to His leading in my life.

What an interesting progression from 2010's disencumber and 2012's shift to OPEN.

Happy Mapping!

My girls spent New Year's Eve with me, while hubby visited his mom. We dug out the magazines and created life maps for 2013. I used to do this every year but last year I made a mini map to hang in my office. Two previous maps line the walls of my closet.

I love this exercise! All you do is gather a piece of poster board,  stack of magazines, scissors, glue stick and your intuition. Now you're ready to begin. Sit down and begin to thumb through the magazines, cutting out pictures and words that draw you. One hindrance is your head. Move from there to your spirit and start gluing. Oila'!

One hint: Dont rush. Oh, and my girls kept telling me "stop planning."

Hang it up where you can see it everyday and watch what happens. I used to go sit in front of mine when I had a decision to make and let Holy Spirit guide me.

I was going to share my new word for the year and my verse today but I will save that for tomorrow.

Happy Mapping and Happy New Year!

Looking Back Over 2012

At the onset of this year, I shared what I thought to be my One Word for 2012.
Authentic.
Yet when I wrote my blog profile for the year, the word shift imprinted itself on my mind and followed me throughout the year. I had written in my journal on December 1, 2011,
"This will be a shifting year. Perhaps this is my word for 2012."
 Yet I went with my head when choosing my one word.

Shift
transitive verb
1. to exchange for or replace by another
2. a. to change the place, position or direction of
    b. to make a change in (place)
3. to change phonetically

A few others are: to change gears, to depress the shift key, to go through a change

Several shifts took place in my life in twelve months.

Spiritually, I knew Jesus was calling me to turn to Him, instead of always asking Him to turn to me. To follow Him, regardless of what it looked like. I responded with my whole heart in readiness. Little did I know how life would change. By October, I was living withmy daughter, caring for a toddler, having left my life and all that entailed. I chose to follow Jesus and this was His plan.

My scripture verse for the year: "She who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no foes can withstand."
Psalm 91:1 Amplified.
I thought I knew what it was to dwell in the secret place but I have much to learn.

I spent much time in Psalm 23, sitting at the table in the presence of mine enemies, letting Jesus set the table. Familiar scriptures becoming unfamilar and new.

As 2012 comes to a close, I thought I would breathe a big sigh of relief to have it behind me, but instead this morning I sit with the knowledge that God has created a deep work inside of me. I hadn't known pruning of my heart was needed. I hadn't realized how I had kept Holy Spirit at a distance, all the while begging him to come. I hadn't seen the idols vying for my attention. My eyes were closed to the acres of fallow ground in my garden which needed plowing.

But Jesus  knew when he stood before me one Saturday morning and said to me, " Follow Me upon the high places," where He was taking me.

Did I make this journey without fear, doubt, pain and despair?
I wish I could say yes, but that would not be the truth.
It has been hard.
There were times I wondered where He was.
Again and again I turned to His Word for reassurance. After months of that, the Word grew dim in the light of circumstance.
 I could only rely on His faithfulness, even when I was faithless.

2012 I bid you farewell.
Eucharisteo.
Thank you for the gifts you have imparted to me. I am forever changed.

Top Ten Reads of 2012

I can hardly believe the year is nearly over. Nor can I comprehend how life can change so drastically within a short period of time. Over the next few days I want to share about my word for 2012 and a few other things. But for today, lets do something fun!

At the close of each year I like to share my favorite book list. I know I am leaving some out, but I am going by what I remembered to post on my Shelfari. So here goes.

 

My Top Ten Books of 2012

 

10. Crafted Prayer by Graham Cooke I have read this over and over.

 

9.Blackberry Winter and The Bungalow both by Sarah Jio  the romantic in me loves all her books

 

8.Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland underlined, circled and read aloud



 

7. Sea Change by Karen White a library find, haunting

 

6. No Other Gods by Kelly Minter God really spoke to me through this book

 

5. 7 by Jen Hatmaker prepared me for lifestyle changes

 

4. The BookLover by Maryann McFadden Great read for booklovers

 

3. Slow Dancing on Price's Pier by Lisa Dale a great find at a book sale, I cried

 

2. Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury Hard to say goodbye to this family. excellent end and i dont read all her books

 

 

Number 1:

 

The Hunger Games Trilogy

 

 



This is a departure for me but my granddaughter said I just had to read it. She was right I was hooked and read all three. I couldnt put them down.

What was your favorite read of 2012?

Beauty From Ashes

I apologize for not knowing where this photo came from. I think I saved it from Facebook, just for me, not to share. But today I feel like someone else may need it too.



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Christmas Eucharisteo

After two months away (with the exception of an overnite trip), I drove home last Thursday. I wasn't feeling great but wanted to prepare for Christmas. I had shopping to finish, gifts to wrap and maybe even do a little baking if time allowed.
When I arrived home, I stripped the bed, cleaned, unpacked and settled down by 3:00 with tea and toast. Unfortunately, the pain I had been experiencing grew worse. By 6:00 pm I was in the ER.

To make a long story short, I never got to sleep in my own bed. I  spent  three nights in the hospital with an attack of pancreatitis. I have long had problems with my pancreas caused by a birth defect, but no acute attacks for twenty years.

It is Christmas night now and what a strange Christmas! No tree, no big dinner, no pile of gifts, and especially no family gathering.

It is time to practice Eucharisteo once again.

What I am grateful for tonight:

~FaceTime on iPad and iPhone- we got to see all the family. Our grandson lined up all his gifts and gave us a tour.
~My girls had a good day, despite their first Christmas alone
~I was able to eat a bit of potato, albeit plain, and a few grean beans (much better than chicken broth)
~Hubby with me all day
~sisters and bro-in-law popped by
~a few gifts from a friend
~cozy warm home
~more facetime with our girls
~and I am shortly going to climb into my own bed

Merry Christmas Bloggers!

Count your blessings before you lay your head on the pillow tonight.
It helps.

Christmas Worship

"A flawless performance is not what mattered, but the complete obedience of filling jars to the brim, holding nothing back." Kelly Minter

Curling up in the recliner while Lily sleeps, I turn to "No Other Gods" to read a bit more. Kelly Minter's words resonate with something deep in my spirit.

Complete obedience. Not partial.

I think of my prayer a few months ago.
"Lower my resistance to the Holy Spirit."

Today, much is pruned away. I find myself in a new world and a familiar one. The familiar is the world of toddlers, diapers, and Dora the Explorer. Learning about autism and appointments and case managers is a new and unfamiliar world.

Complete obedience. Following God's plan, one day at a time. Sometimes moment by moment. Trusting without understanding.

Paradigm shifts.

I remember when Jesus told them to fill up the water pots at the wedding in John 2, he was preparing the way for his first miracle. The servants didn't know this, they simply obeyed...completely.

Slowly I loosen my grasp on understanding and bow my knee in surrender to the One who knows what he's doing. Holding nothing back as much as I am able.

This is my worship this Christmas.

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