Just One Word

Looking back on this past year, I'm really happy about a lot of things.

I visited family and friends in the U.S. I had what I hope will be my last leg/knee surgery. I gained a new godson. I tossed aside the tools that helped me walk and got my gait down to practically limp-free. I made new friends. I deepened friendships that were before only acquaintances. I lived to see another birthday. I moved into an apartment in an urban area. I got a job that wouldn't qualify as a volunteer position. I rode a bicycle again. I was involved in ministry in new neighborhoods. I celebrated 21 years of marriage.

Of course, there are some things I'm not so thrilled about.

I took the car to the shop way more times than I'd have liked to. I still can't run and I have to climb stairs like an 18-month-old. I was mugged. I lost my patience more than once. I didn't stick to my gym routine like I should have. I slacked off on my Guarani studies. I didn't see the goal met of opening the youth center by the end of this year. I didn't finish reading through the Bible.

I look over both of those lists and realize that some things were out of my control. As much as we wanted to open The Bridge, we didn't meet the fundraising goals in time to find a place before the vacation season, and now there just aren't any rentals available. And the Mission Mobile, well, just seemed to enjoy hanging out in the mechanic's shop no matter how I felt about that. That godson came along without any help on my part, as did my 2013 birthday.

But there were enough things on this list that I could do something about, to expose a few weak spots in my armor.  Enough of those things in the I-don't-like-this list reflect lack of organization or lack of self-will or lack of discipline. I don't want to be the person who reacts to things that happen, but rather the person that prays it out ahead of time, makes a plan, and leans on the Lord to complete it. I want to be sensitive to His voice in such a way that just a whisper from His lips snaps me into action. I suspect He's totally ready for that, waiting for me to get on board.

Instead of making a list of resolutions that I think will whip myself into shape, I decided to join up with the ministry team at oneword365 and choose--yep, you guessed it--one word:

One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.

I know just repeating the word all day isn't going to magically transform me into SuperChristie, but I am collecting resources to spend my Bible study time focusing on this theme.  I want to connect with those in God's Word who lived it out. I want to read the advice of those before me who found how to be the person I'm not. I want to hear what my Father says about letting Him affect change in me, from the inside out.

Drum roll...

My word?  Intentional.



My inspiration? Colossians 3:23-24.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

If you could sum up your goals for 2014 in one word, what would it be?