Showing posts with label My One Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My One Word. Show all posts

One Word Wednesday: Month 2 (+ Book Give-Away)


I'm working on a blog series about the strengths & struggles of being a "more-sensitive-than-most" Christian woman. I'd LOVE to hear and include your perspective, so I'll be doing some short surveys.  e-mail me if you'd like to be included. Or sign up here: http://eepurl.com/vVfE1



So, I've now spent 60 days using the word "cherished" as a very specific lens through which to see the year and, more importantly, each individual day.

As I pause to look back, I once again see a common theme running through the month.  For January, the theme was "yes."  For February, it was "receiving."

1.  I received wise counsel.

Early in the month, I told my life coach that it was time for us to come up with a solid plan for next school year. Or at least a plan for how to make the plan. I was tired of loose ends, frustrated by the plethora of possibilities, and I was ready for some certainty!

Andrea suggested trusting and waiting. You know, my two spiritual gifts. (NOT!)

2.  I received support.

In light of #1, it's ironic that I've been participating in the Online Bible Study of Karen Ehman's book Let. It. Go. How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith.

The small group I'm in, led by Beth Anderson, has been such a source of support.

3.  I received new opportunities.

Early in February, I received daily inquiries about speaking for two weeks straight.

Of course, not all have booked. Some I responded to and have heard nothing. (But one that has confirmed is in England!)

4.  I received my very first book contract.

A few weeks ago, the eagerly-anticipated contract for The Good Girls' Guide to Breaking Bad Rules arrived!

5.  I received an e-mail from an old friend.

The day before I left for southern California to visit my family, I got an e-mail from my former massage therapist, who I hadn't seen in five years. She'd written to tell me that I'd been on her mind for the previous two weeks.

Long story short, I was able to schedule a wonderful massage shortly after I landed in Ontario, before the difficult conversations with family began.

6.  I received kindness.

The day after I returned from southern California, one of my students handed me a hand-written note that said, "Mrs. G, I am so sorry your mother is not doing well. I see you are not doing the best today, and I am praying for you."

7.  I received love.

This last weekend, I received the blessing of my husband's time, attention, and laughter after missing them for two months.

We went out to dinner, hung out by the fireplace, spent time in our "prayer chairs" having quiet time...it was heavenly!


While telling my father about all my February "receivings," he commented, "I have a hard time receiving."

Which got me wondering:  What is the relationship between receiving and giving?  I know scripture says that it is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35). 

But I'll confess that all this receiving made me feel so blessed last month.  Incredibly cherished.

And I'm wondering if sometimes, I need to receive–fully receive–in order to learn how to unreservedly give.

Otherwise, I don't really give.  I just do.  I "give" out of do-ty.  I get things done.

Receiving in such abundance last month not only helped me experience being "cherished" but it also awakened a desire to give out of my abundance.

I feel like I have been gifted with so much I can't possibly keep it all to myself.

(And I suspect I'll have more to share about this next month!)


This week, I'm giving away a copy of Holley Gerth's new book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream. To enter, simply leave a comment here on the blog!
Your Turn!
  • How are you at receiving?  What do you see as the relationship between receiving and giving?
  • If you've chosen a "One Word" for 2013, how was February in light of your one word?
  • If you've not chosen one, it's not too late!  If you were to choose one, what might it be?  Why?  (My husband told me last night:  "The word 'integrity' keeps coming to my mind..."
  • Anything else on your heart!
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One Word Wednesday: Month 1


Reflecting on January, I initially wondered if my word — “cherished” — had made any real difference. It was an unusually challenging month, one I feel like I just barely survived. Did I make anyone feel cherished? I don’t know. Was I keenly aware of how much God cherishes me? Oh, how I’d love to say “Absolutely! Every moment of every day!” But that would be a serious alteration of truth.

I was ready to declare January a “cherished” failure when I remembered three seemingly unrelated events:

1) I started physical therapy in January. A year ago, I quit training for a marathon relay team because of severe pain in my left leg. As the months passed, the pain worsened, to the point that just sitting was excruciatingly painful. I chalked it up to aging.

But, as my father is fond of saying, “she who self-diagnoses has a fool for a patient and a fool for a doctor.” My highly-qualified physical therapist introduced me to my IT band, and then I introduced my IT band to an extra-firm foam roller…several times a day for a month!

I’m now pain-free and ready to run again!

My focus on “cherished” encouraged me to initiate self-care now…rather than waiting another unnecessary long, painful year!

2) Ever since I bought my laptop, I’ve noticed that the screen makes images look washed out. I heard that this is a common problem, I tried to re-calibrate the screen without success, so I just got used to it.

Unexpectedly, a few weeks ago I noticed that images on my screen suddenly looked normal! The harsh glare was gone, and I could see intricate shadings and details I’d not seen in the three years I’ve had this computer.

Then, last week, normalcy vanished and the old washed-out look returned. I started to resign myself to getting used to it again…but made a Genius Bar appointment instead. If my MacBook Pro screen could work correctly once, perhaps they could figure out how to make it work again!

Sure enough, my appointment lasted less than 3 minutes. One setting needed to be changed, and the seagulls in my website header became visible again, as did the ship captain’s wheel further down.
Before...and After!

Was this a life-or-death situation? Of course not! But I feel like my focus on “cherished” motivated me to take action toward improvement rather than settling for “good enough.”

3) A woman I’ve known for about a year asked if we could get together and talk about the similar season of life we’re both in. I agreed and then spent the next few days celebrating, “She wants to be my friend! She wants to be my friend!”

I know, I know — with my history of BFF disasters, I need to be careful. She didn’t volunteer to carry all my Anxiety Girl issues; she just asked if we could get together for coffee.

But even as I take note of my own red flags, I still think my focus on “cherished” is making me more open to give and receive friendship.

So, what common thread — if any! — connects these three events?

I think it’s “yes.”

As in “Yes, I’ll call and schedule the PT appointment. Yes, I’ll do my exercises three times a day (five times if necessary!) until I feel better so that I can say ‘yes‘ to running again.”

“Yes, it’s worth the time and effort to take in my laptop to see if by any chance they say ‘yes‘ they can help me.”

“Yes, I’d like to get to know you better and offer what support I can as you’re going thru stuff I understand.”

Did I spend January actively and intentionally focusing on “cherished”?

No.

But did “cherished” focus me in January?

Without a doubt: yes!
If you're a blogger, I'd love for you to link up with a One Word post!



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Cherished: 6 Reasons for My 1 Word



I bantered around almost a dozen possible "My One Word" choices during December.

Some were "I could..." but none felt quite right.

Others were "I should..." and that was more like it.

I expected God to impress upon me which task-oriented obligatory term would define my 2013.

I am a Choleric/Driver personality, after all. 

And heaven only knows my many character flaws still need a whole lotta work! 


Cherished

So I was utterly unprepared when "cherish" surfaced.

And even more baffled when I realized it needed to be in the past tense:  "cherished."

I'm only two weeks into this challenge, so what I don't yet know far outweighs what I do know. But here are the six reasons I do know for My One Word:

1.  I want to fully live in the knowledge that I am cherished by God.

2.  I want those I love to feel cherished by me. (Not just that I intend to cherish them...actually cherished.)

3.  Psalm 17:14 says "...You still the hunger of those You cherish" which is a fabulous promise for someone -- like me -- who is recovering from food addiction.

4.  I want the Holy Spirit to reveal the "cherished sin" in my heart (Psalm 66:18).

5.  The first five letters of cherished spell my name. I want to learn what it means for me to be truly and fully me, the woman God created me to be and wants to share Himself through.

6.  Last May, I dove into The PURSE-onality Challenge -- 31 days of replacing "baditude" with God's word and gratitude -- during which I strove to consciously integrate four separate disciplines. Living my daily life through the micro lens of "cherished" feels like a very natural continuation of what I started last year.


What's Your "One Word"?

My women's group watched the first video segment of My One Word this week and then brainstormed almost 100 possible "one words." It was challenging, fun, nerve-wracking, and thrilling all at once!

I felt so convicted by the reminder that it's impossible -- by definition! -- to "focus" on 8 different things at once!  

And the concept of "doing something about one thing rather than nothing about everything" feels so hope-full.

We're aiming to each choose our word by early February and then spend the whole year sharing what God is teaching us and how He is transforming our hearts through this specific focus.

If you're interested in learning more about My One Word, here are some free resources:




Your Turn
  • If you've chosen a word for 2013, what is it?  Why this word?   What are you learning through it already?
  • What changes do you feel the Lord leading you toward in 2013? 
  • Anything else on your heart!


Coming in January!



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One Reason for NO New Year's Resolutions

I'm at a loss for words today.

 Over the upcoming days, I'll share why. 

 Today is a day for quiet...listening...being still.

 I will share, with far less fan-fare than I'd planned, my "one word" for 2013. 


Over the upcoming days, I'll share how this word came to me and how it's been confirmed and re-confirmed in the last week.

 Today, I will share those I pray to better cherish this year:











Your Turn:
  • How's the start of 2013 for you thus far?
  • If you've made any resolutions or chosen a "one word" please share!
  • Anything else on your heart!



Coming in January!
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