Word of the Year 2014

{photos by Julie Christine Photography}

I am so excited to finally announce my word of the year for 2014.  It's taken me a while...in between raising a busy (yes, she's actually busy now) toddler and simply trying to stay awake through these exhausting pregnancy days...But here it is:

NEW!

NEW! NEW! NEW!

The Bible has a TON to say about NEWness.  It's something I love most about my particular faith: it's not about trying to REform, but being TRANSformed.  When Jesus came into my life - or when I allow Him control over an area of my life - He takes the old, burns it away (painful...that's what He was busy doing last year), and makes something NEW and more beautiful, more amazing, more divine come out of it.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” 
– Ecclesiastes 3:1

New year.
New baby.
New family.
New normal.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!" 
- Isaiah 43:18

New goals.
New purpose.
New intent.
New meaning.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

New relationships.
New conversations.
New connections.

New perspectives on old things.

"I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."  
- Philippians 3:14

New thoughts.
New feelings.
New actions.
New heart.
New ME.

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you."  
- Ezekiel 36:26

That is SO what I need this year.

Last year, I did a lot of hard emotional work.  I'll continue to press forward with that work, because it's in valuable.  And, sometimes that work means simply submitting, surrendering, letting go.  There has come a season in my life (as one who is committed to self-improvement) in which I will finally get to take a deep breath and reap the benefits of all those tears.  Reap the new joy of all that sorrow.  Reap the new lightness of all that heaviness.  Reap the new respite of all that diligence.

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The

 old has gone, the new is here!” 
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

*EXHALE* 

One Little Word

Any of you hear of the One Little Word project?  You can read all about it here: http://aliedwards.com/shop/one-little-word-2014

It's an amazing idea: Choose a word for your year.  Then, do something with that word.  Make art.  Write.  Wear your word.  Share it.

I've done this project before, and found it a fun and helpful way to focus my resolutions for the year around one idea.  Here are my old posts about it:

http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/03/canvas.html
http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/01/word-of-year-enough.html
http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/03/enough-projects.html

Last year in 2013, my word chose me.  I didn't blog about it.  I just went through it.  Those of you who are close to me know about my struggles with certain relationships last year…and you can probably guess what 2013 was all about for me:

FORGIVE.  (posting pictures of my cute puppy Jolie Violet because I'm pretty sure no one forgives better than a dog!)

I'm obviously not going to go into unnecessary details on the world wide web…but what I WILL do is share about what I learned this last year.  Because, I'm a different person today as a result of these painful experiences.  God has allowed me just enough pain so that, by harnessing it's opportunity for growth, I could become a NEW person this year!

I LOVE THE PERSON I'VE BECOME, BECAUSE I FOUGHT TO BECOME HER. 

- KACI DIANE

Forgive.  The Bible is one of the most potent resources on this topic.  God actually goes so far as to say in Matthew 6:15, "If you don't forgive each other, I don't forgive you."  WOAH.  Back the truck up.  Salvation is dependent on me forgiving other people?  Sounds like that's what he's saying…After all, if we've humbly asked God's forgiveness recognizing that we're unworthy of heaven do to our imperfect nature, who are we to hold a grudge against another imperfect human?  It makes a lot of sense for me to realize that I'm no better than the people who have hurt me in my life…so I have no right to hold a grudge.

HE WHO ANGERS YOU CONTROLS YOU.

The other thing about forgiveness that the Bible has taught me loud and clear is that it's a one-sided activity.  Romans 12:18 says, "As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  I cannot make the other person like me, or talk with me, or work it out, or even forgiven me no matter how much I plead.  I cannot make RECONCILIATION happen, but I can be open to it.  I can let things go so that I am in a position of love, grace, and kindness toward people who have caused me great harm. 

LET NO MAN PULL YOU LOW ENOUGH TO HATE HIM. - MARTIN LUTHER KING

So…what exactly IS forgiveness?  I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what forgiveness is out there.  I know it's NOT unhealthy boundaries, being a punching bag, or chasing endlessly after someone who doesn't want you anymore.  I have come up with this definition: to let go of the right to hold someone accountable for perceived wrongs against me.  In other words, they don't owe me anything.  I'm going to put myself in a position where I won't get hurt anymore (to the best of my ability) and let that person be that person.  I'm not going to try to change the person, make them understand me, or give me an apology.  I've let it go…all on my own.  Why?  Because forgiveness is for ME!

ANGER IS AN ACID THAT CAN DO MORE HARM TO THE VESSEL IN WHICH IT IS STORED THAN TO ANYTHING ON WHICH IT IS POURED. - MARK TWAIN

For me, it's a continued practice of handing over thoughts to God.  Whenever my mind starts circling (over and over) about the things that have hurt me so deeply, I go to God and say, "You take this.  This isn't my project to fix - it's yours.  I trust you and I pray that I will have a heart of forgiveness.  Soften me and let no bitter root take hold."  

MAYBE ITS HARD TO FORGIVE, BUT TO TRUST AGAIN IS THE HARDEST.  

Forgiveness is a continual process…it doesn't happen like magic in one sitting (unfortunately!)  After many months of continuing to practice this…I'm excited to share with you my Word for 2014…in my next post!

IF YOU GET THE INSIDE RIGHT, THE OUTSIDE WILL FALL INTO PLACE. 

- ECKKART TOLLE

Thanks for listening…and feel free to share your thoughts about forgiveness :)