I’ve been picking my one word for the year ever since my friend, Tabitha, introduced me to the concept. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s just picking a word as a theme for the year. My word for 2017 was “Brave”. At the time I picked the word, it was a wish/goal/lifeline more than anything. I felt anything BUT brave. I felt defeated, fearful and without direction, but after completing the action steps of my powersheets , it seemed like the best word that described of where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be.

Along with a word of the year, I also pick a verse of the year. My verse last year was 1 Corinthians 10:31b :: “…’So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ‘. This has become my life motto. I want the do ALL THE THINGS for the glory of God. I want to do things that bring Him glory, and not me. Even when I don’t understand it all, even when it requires sacrifice, even when it’s uncomfortable or vulnerable or new. If He calls me to it, I want to do it. I want to be so wrapped up in Jesus, that people look at me and see Him. That’s my ultimate life goal. Now with saying all that, I will also say that I fail to do this DAILY… Like for real! But grace is SO real and He is SO good through it all!

Little did I know at the time what the theme of “Brave” would entail. 2017 wasn’t the easiest year, by far. It was a year filled with lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of prayers, lots of change, lots of growth, discouragement, multiple changes of direction, cultivating relationships, closing a business, starting a new (VERY unexpected) adventure, new friendships, travel, medical issues, celebrations and adventures. It’s made Joe and I become closer, pray harder, say no to good things so that we can say yes to the God-things, reprioritizing and making intentional time for each other.

Ninety percent of the things that happened over the past year were unplanned, but we could see God’s hand of favor and His direction in ALL of it; maybe not at the time, but looking back over it, God was IN IT ALL!!

I don’t welcome hard times. In fact, I usually try to pray them all away, but hard times have a way of taking away all the “fluff” and the ‘have to’s” and showing us what’s really important. They’re the biggest opportunities for growth. Over the last year our faith grew, our understanding of God grew and our dependence on Him grew. Or rather, our realization of how much we need Him, grew. We also realized that if He’s not in it and He didn’t call us to it, then we have no reason to pursue those things. In the end, we want to do those things that will bring Him glory. We want to build His kingdom, not ours.

How about you? Are you a goal-setter? Do you pick a word for the year? If you want more info about ‘my one word’, check out this post by my sweet friend, Tabitha :). Check back soon for my 2018 word. I already have it picked out! Happy New Year friends ❤