2015 word of the year

Ah. A new start. You know new beginnings can come at anytime, right? I've said it before, because I hear it a lot from Hubby. He's one of those people. The kind with will-power and mental and physical endurance. He'll gladly make a new start on a Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or just whenever and go with it!

I'm a New Year's kinda girl. Gotta go big and embrace that everyone else is on the same page with me! New calendars, plans, clean slates, new dreams and visions.

And a new word.

For the past 5 years, I've chosen a word of the year. I work better if I'm able to reflect, work through, work towards, etc. over an entire year. It's also broader and covers more of my heart than making a resolution. So I've had words like, illuminate, intention, focus, expectation and then my word of the year for 2014 was brave. It nearly did me in! I knew I would have opportunities to be brave, but I didn't know how brave I was going to need to be! Turns out, I had to make brave choices ( a 2 week mission trip to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, a school decision for one of our littles, saying yes to some new things, leading a small group of girls from church, saying no to some things, etc.) and we also had our youngest little boy have heart surgery. That's not everything and that was a lot for me!

So truthfully, I want to have my word of the year be peace. Kind of like if I call it, it will happen. Not entirely sure it works quite that way.

But after lots of thought and prayer and even a new word popping into the mix this past week, I've landed on my 2015 Word of the Year. . .

abide

as defined by dictionary.com

 verb

1. to remain; continue; stay:

2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside:

3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.

Abide has been on my heart since this summer. I want to abide in the Lord. I want to rest in Him. I'm tired of the world and from the world. I want to rely on Him and not what others think or want. I want to cling to the Lord. He is all that matters. I'm praying that as I faithfully continue to love my Lord, that my desires of the things, feelings, people of this world will fade. That my love for Him will grow and enable me to love His people better!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust."

--Psalm 91:1-2

Happy New Year!