What's in a Word for 2011

Every year about this time I start peering into the future and pondering what God sees in me that needs some adjusting. Often, as I pray, a word or group of words rises to the top and becomes the focus of my thoughts.

Then I look back over the past year and what God has already done.

2010, by all accounts, was a difficult year. We were sick a lot and so was our checkbook. But the word God kept bringing to mind helped me focus on what really matters. Every time God reminded me of our 2009 Christmas reminiscing, peace seeped in and He empowered me to live this word and make better choices than in years past. The word was LOVE.

When God first whispered that word, I thought He was going to teach me more about His love and how to love others better. What happened instead were many opportunities to see how frail and fallible human love is: both in giving and receiving.

What also unfolded last year was learning to appreciate evidences of God’s perfect love in the small imperfect expressions that are often overlooked: a silly card handwritten backwards by a beginning writer, a series of  “just one more” hugs as I’m running out the door, a quiet hour of dreaming about the future with my husband.

This year God whispered a word for 2011 early: CONTENTMENT. And He has already begun opening my eyes to how vital this word is.

We’ve been sick since October with one thing after another. We've been injured more this year than any other. And we've tightened the belt on spending, even during the holiday season. No vacations. No big expenses unless we had earned extra dollars.

It wasn't fun at all.

During one very sleepless, sick, and frustrating week, I was unleashing my inner two year old on God and begging Him for health and other various, self-centered requests. God simply said, "Contentment."

I can’t say I was thrilled. In fact, I got even more two year oldish for a while.

But then I started looking at the circumstances through His eyes…

Every bump and bruise in life is an opportunity to depend on God more...

To listen deeper...

To grow wiser...

To trust more...

To be thankful, even when life hurts.

Every time God and I did the two year old versus contentment dance, I came out with a bruised ego and a bigger heart.

I caught a glimpse of how much better life can be with my hand in God's instead of my foot stomping.

I have no doubt God is just getting started teaching me about contentment. But for the first time, I'm beginning a new year excited about what God is up to because I've already seen Him at work.

Contentment.

Two thousand eleven is already looking better and better.

What about you? What has God taught you in 2010? What might He be teaching you in 2011? There's so much focus and strength... even excitement summed up in a word that God whispers to your heart.

So what is God saying to you? What's your word for 2011?

More Festive Fun

For your yuletide pleasure, here's another Christmas game my whole family enjoys.

This time your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become a holiday wordsmith and figure out the names of popular carols. I'll post the answers in the comments section, so check back and let me know how you did!

1. Bleached Yule

2. Castaneous-colored Seed Vesicated in a conflagration

3. Singular Yearning for the Twin Anterior Incisors

4. Righteous Darkness

5. Arrival Time was 2400 hrs~ Weather was Cloudless

6. Loyal Followers Advance

7. Far off in a Feeder

8. Array the Corridor

9. Bantam Male Percussionist

10. Monarchial Triad

11. Nocturnal Noiselessness

12. Jehovah Deactivate Blithe Chevaliers

13. Man in Red En Route to Borough

14. Frozen Precipitation Commence

15. Proceed and Enlighten on the Pinnacle

16. The Quadruped with the Vermilion Proboscis

17. Query Regarding Identity of Descendant

18. Delight for this Planet

19. Give Attention to the Melodious Celestial Beings

20. The Dozen Festive 24 Hour Intervals

Merry Christmas!!!

Festive Fun

The decorations are up, the baking is done, the Christmas cards are in the mail. Now it's time to relax and have some holiday fun.

I thought you all might join me.

First up is a short list of scrambled carols. I'll post the answers tomorrow. Don your holiday Santa hat and see how well you do...

1. Glijen Slebl

2. Linste Githn

3. Het Strif Leno

4. Leshig Erid

5. Racol fo eth eblsl

6. Tiwern Nowlardend

7. Ew Erhet Gksin

8. Yosfrt het Wosmnan

Along with the chuckles, I wanted to share a Christmas thought that has me contemplating this season in a new light...

1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtimes but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas!!!