My "Word" for the year 2012

Love is patient

I Corinthians 13
Love is kind


it does not envy

it does not boast


it is not proud 


it is not rude


it is not self-seeking


it is not easily angered


it keeps no records of wrongs


Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth


It always protects, always trusts


always hopes, always perseveres.

The question arises every January-What are your new-year resolutions?  While I understand why many are adamantly against them, I believe there is a need to pause and reflect and January brings the perfect excuse to think about things we would like to change in our lives.  So, this year I found multiple blogs that discussed finding a "word" to focus on for the year instead a list of resolutions that will be broken by Jan. 12th  (or longer depending on your endurance!)
 I decided to have a word for each month.  I knew right away that my word for Jan. would be love.  Why?  Because it is the word that I have been running from.  

I am a missionary, and to tell the truth, I am tired of "loving", which equates in my mind to "giving".  I know this is not a very "missionary" thing to admit.  But it is where I am at...

 As I started contemplating the word "Love", I immediately thought about I Corinthians 13.  Love is "patient" is all I could hear, whenever I would mediate on Love.  So, it quickly became my January word.  As I read I Corinthians I realized that it easily breaks down to 12 themes.  So, above I have my year laid out in 12 themes on Love, one for each month.

Not the word, I would of actually picked-but the one I feel the Lord leading me towards-again.  Maybe, it is because He is Love...and I need more of Him.

Lord, open my heart to learn from you and the parts of me that aren't ready, I pray that you will anoint them with your gracious, warm, fragrant and healing oil.  Amen.













Comments

  1. CynthiaJSwensonJanuary 27, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    I prayed for a couple of weeks for a word for 2012 & believe God gave me " Love " as well. I'm simply praying for more & also to understand God's love better. Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  2. R WattersJanuary 28, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Hi Cynthia,

    Love is such a small word with such infinite depth! I pray that you find new meaning and life changes with your focus on Love.

    Dios es bueno,

    Robin

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are you taking?

Image
So, we're headed to Peru for a two year mission trip and told that we need to pack everything we'll need in two suitcases.  That's two suitcases for two years.  Well, we have a 4 bedroom house.  So, I've been trying to think about what I really want in these two suitcases.  In fact, every time I go to the store now, I have to filter it thru these two suitcases.  It has really cut down on my spending, which makes me think...Is God up there trying to get our attention?  Hey, you're coming to heaven soon, do you really need all that "stuff"? 
Read more

If...

Image
Today was one of my beautiful daughter's birthday.  She turned 20.  I was so very fortunate to get to take her out to coffee.  Where else other than Starbucks?  As we sipped on our coffee, I pulled out a book I recently picked up from a used bookstore, entitled IF2.  It is full of 500plus questions.  I opened it up and this question leaped from the page and I read it out loud to my daughter, "If God were to come down and whisper in your ear, what would you like him to say?"  She gave me a wonderful answer that God had actually whispered to her during a quiet time awhile back.  She then turned the question on me.  I couldn't even answer, my eyes immediately started to tear.  It wasn't only that I couldn't answer because I would break out in a full out sob in the middle of Starbucks, but I honestly didn't even know the answer.  So,  she kindly went on to some of the lighter questions and after we finished our coffee,  I le...
Read more

February...Love is Kind

Image
Love is patient, love is Kind ...what is that?  I Corinthians 13 I read Webster's definition, searched a commentary or two, but found nothing substantial.  It's the second word used to describe love, therefore it must be important. As I thought about kindness the month of February and my Word for the Year ,  I realized how devalued this word  of kindness has become...it has been side-swiped from both ends by words like "co-dependence" and "diva." Is it "doing good"?  I think it is more than that, maybe it involves an attitude of gentleness. One of my favorite quotes is: " Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often, love adds a little chocolate. "    That is a great picture of kindness, going the extra mile without someone asking you to.... It takes extra thought, deliberation.  I know how to "do good", but being kind, means that you have slowed down to see what the other person really wants or...
Read more