Our pastor at church has been encouraging us to pray about a word for 2008. He wants us to pray that God will speak to us and give us a word that will mean something to us in the coming year. As I have been praying about it, the word that keeps coming to mind is
{CHANGE}
Now if you know me, you know I love change. I always love new things, new places, new experiences. Change doesn't usually scare me like it does other people. Move overseas with a newborn? No problem! Done that three times! Move houses every summer? No big deal...done that every year we have been married. Change jobs? Ah, done that too. No, change doesn't usually scare me.
However, as my heart hears the word {CHANGE} I feel like it is a different kind of change God is speaking to me. It may not be the BIG things like I have done in the past. Of course there WILL be big change (like the baby coming!) but I think God is speaking to me about other kinds of change. Change in ways I can't imagine right now. Changes in my heart. Changes in my life. Changes that will surprise me. Changes that a year from now will make me think how little I knew about life just twelve months ago.
I'm excited. I still love change. I even love hard change. I am excited to see how God wants to work in my heart and life. I am ready for the surprises and the not-so-surprises. It's going to be an exciting and fulfilling year. I can feel it.
So, do you have a word for this coming year? Are you ready to embrace what comes your way? Are you ready to see big (and little!) things happen?
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And speaking of change, there are lots going on around here! We drove home with a van full of furniture for our bedroom yesterday. In eight years of marriage this is the first time we have OWNED our own bed. We are usually in housing that is provided for us (and so is most of our furniture). But we decided that it was time for us to make a little haven of our own. With {almost} four little ones, we need a place that is ours. We have a long way to go, but we are on the way.
We also switched bedrooms with the kids last week so we are still in the process of settling all that. Christmas needs to be put away. Carpets need to be steam cleaned. Life needs to be reorganized. Little changes that will make a BIG difference.
Today is officially a work day (as in I am am required to be working today) so I have a list of things to do for our cottage. All the boys bedding needs to be washed. Furniture needs to be rearranged. Deep cleaning needs to be done. Lots to get ready as we await their return next week.
So I am off -- fifteen minutes until "work" starts. I hope that you have a great day today.
I have to say that the first half of this post has touched me personally. I have always been a little spiritual and have faith in God, but your post has really tugged at my heart. I appreciate you being open and willing to share your views and beliefs. It has just made this day have a meaning of sorts. Thanks.
(And good luck with baby #4, I just had #2 on Dec 17th... I had thought that maybe I was finished having kids, but now I'm thinking I'm just going to leave it in God's hands. He seems to know what He's doing. :) )
Posted by: Sarah | January 09, 2008 at 06:16 AM