A new challenge

MCP Photo a Day Challenge . . . it sounds like a good challenge, yet a little overwhelming. So, I'm going to follow in the footsteps of a friend and try for a photo a week. Now, I've had my Cannon EOS Rebel T3I for over a year and I still don't really know how to use it. Maybe this challenge will help me to learn. 

The challenge options for the week were (yes, this is the challenge for last week):

• hard
• motivation
• whimsical
• bright
• today
• free theme Friday
• minimal

I chose Motivation. My motivation comes from many places. I want my main motivator to always be Christ . . I want my life to be a reflection of Him. I love how His life is an example for me. He forgave all who asked (and even those who didn't), He extended grace, He had compassion for all. My hope is to strive to do the same. I know I won't always be successful, but I hope I will always strive to do those things. How can I not forgive and extend grace when Christ does that for me every day?

Quietly waiting

I love moments like this . . . I was spending a few minutes on Pinterest and there it was, God's word for me today. Psalm 119:114 You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me.

I like what it says in Matthew Henry's Commentary "Those who depend on God's promise shall have the benefit of His power and be taken under His special protection." Sadly, I haven't depended on God for a while. I haven't stopped loving Him, but I hadnt been spending time with Him . . . time in prayer, time in His Word. I've felt like a turtle pulling myself into the safety of my own shell. Only thing is, it's really not a safe or healthy place to be. But once you're there, it's hard to get out. Thankfully it's not impossible. 

Renew. I like this word. I like this focus. I'm Looking to God for my peace, my place to be renewed. I know it won't come overnight, but I have hope. 

Renew . . . to begin or take up again

So far 2015 is off to a good start. The first two work days of the new year and I've stuck to my goal of leaving work on time (well, within 15 minutes or so . . . which means I've worked a little longer than a 9 hour day instead of 10-14 . . . progress!) and going for a relaxing and stress-relieving walk when I get home. I'm on my way to adding good habits back into my life.

And, I'm enjoying my daily Bible reading. I've decided to read through the Bible (chronologically) through the year. I did this once, several years ago, and I really want to do it again. I'm loving my time with God and reading His word . . . and seeing how He speaks to me. Job's story is amazing and inspiring to me. He remained true and faithful to God through all of his trials. That doesn't mean that he didn't question why the trials came, but he knew in his heart that God loved him unconditionally. He cried out in frustration, he questioned, he may have cried night after night, but he never walked away from God. What an example of a faithful servant.

Renew: to begin or take up again. Keeping my focus on beginning again and becoming the person I want to be, the person God created me to be.

My word for the year

2015 . . . how did it get here so quickly? I've never been one to make new year's resolutions. I know that I probably won't keep them, so why set myself up for failure? I like what a few of my friends have done—instead of making new year's resolutions, they have chosen a word for the year. I've always been a little envious of them as I could never come up with my own word for the year. The idea is to pick a word for the year to focus on. As it says on oneword365.com, "One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps."

I can't remember what I was reading, but a few days ago, the word "renew" stood out to me. Then it kept coming back to me at the oddest times. So I decided to look up the definition. The ones that struck a chord with me are: to restore or replenish, to revive/reestablish, to restore to a former state/make new or as if new again, to begin again/recommence. When I read these definitions I knew that this was my word for 2015.

Over the past few years I've felt like I've lost myself. I'm not sure how I let that happen. It's time for a positive change. I want to find me. I want to truly like myself. And more importantly, I want to re-build my relationship with God. I don't know what the year ahead holds, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I'm looking forward to the renewal. I like how myoneword.org explains choosing a word for a year: "This process provides clarity by taking all your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single focus. Just one word that centers on your character and creates a vision for your future."
If you're choosing a word for the year, I would love to know what that word is. I hope that your journey in 2015 is a good one, filled with joy and blessings.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.