ONE LITTLE WORD: RUN

I've chosen my word for the year...but it's not what you think.

Here's the journaling (I actually wrote the blog post first, then transferred it to a page).

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This will be my third year running that I have chosen a word for the year.  Though popular in scrapbooking circles due to Ali Edward’s One Little Word, I actually got the idea from our pastor in Orlando back in 2007.  The thought behind it is to pray about and then choose a word that will represent the coming year.

In 2008 I chose CHANGE.  I had no idea what that would mean...but I sure found out!  Unknown to me at the time, 2008 would mean a move from the US to Indonesia, working full time to being a full time mama...discovering what makes my out of sinc child tick...and so much more!  CHANGE was definitely the word for 2008!

In 2009 I chose HOME.  I prayed for weeks before the beginning of 2009 and the word HOME just kept coming to me.  And HOME it has been...most notably our decision a few months into the year to homeschool.  HOME has also shown forth in our moving out of our nice westernized development into the city.  It meant giving us an amazing house that has turned into a beautiful HOME.  HOME has also meant many more family meals, family fun times, and welcoming others to our special place.

I’ve been praying about my word for 2010 for a few weeks.  Nothing seemed to fit so I just kept praying about and waiting.  Over the past week, I’ve had a few ideas. First I just kept thinking MOM.  It is who I am and who I want to be more of.  Then the word DEEPER kept coming to mind -- thinking of all the things I want to go DEEPER with this year.  Then I started mulling over the word MORE -- trying to encompass how much MORE of life I want (life, NOT things). I had actually chosen the word MORE in my mind and was ready to go with it.

But then this morning, January 1, 2010, as I started one of my goals for year, I first read in my Daily Light.  Here is what I read:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Hebrews 12:1-2

And then...with such deep and utter conviction...I knew my word for 2010 would be RUN.  Those verses are my hearts cry and conviction right now. I want to RUN.  I want to run the race that is set before me.  I want to take the attitude of a runner in this race of life.  I want to throw off the sin that entangles, I want to forget those things that are behind, I want to focus on the prize, and I want to run the race that is set before ME (not you, not my friends, not my family...ME).  I want to run with endurance this beautiful (though rough) race that is in front of me.

I can’t wait to start digging into this more...to look at runners and what they need to do to prepare for a race and what they need to do during a race.  I want to understand what it is I need -- and what I need to get rid of -- in order to run fully focused on the prize.

I’m excited...the last two years my word was something given to me -- a foreshadowing of sorts.  I chose the words because they are what I felt led to and then as the year progressed I began to understand.  This year, however, my word isn’t about foreshadowing...it is about a choice I am making.  A choice to live out my hearts longings and fix my eyes completely on Christ (the ultimate prize).  The race I am in encompasses many things...my role as a wife, a mother, a friend, a woman, an “older woman” (Titus 2), and as a member of the body of Christ.  I want to run well.

So here’s to 2010...I’m gonna RUN!

Comments

[knmkendall]

Wow, this was so inspiring to me, Janet! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and convictions about this. Your words echo my own desires and I pray that God will make 2010 a deeper, focused (on Him) year for you and me both. I'm excited to see how "Run" shows up through your year. Thanks again for sharing. God used you in my life today, once again!

[jennyg]

Thanks for the sharing the verse....perfect at this time in my life. Beautiful page. Looking forward to seeing how your word "run" unfolds this year!

[stephanie]

That's a great word and a different take than I would have thought on those verses. I have been thinking that my word for 2010 is "forward" for much of the same reasons - moving forward, even baby steps, but away from the past and towards Him and a fuller life.

[Rebecca (MamaBee)]

Wow, Janet... great word choice! Very unique and inspiring!

[Heather (heathergw)]

oh my goodness... I love it!

[Traci Reed]

Beautifully written Janet! I just love your word!! My old church does OLW too ;)

[Christina]

Thank you so much for sharing about your word! At first I was like, "Is she going to run a marathon?" Haha! I prayed about my little word, too, and the Lord showed me "discipline". Eeek!

[hollie]

Great word Janet! Beautiful journaling too I don't think I'm going to pick a word this year. BTW, I still want to know what border stitching you have here. I love it!!

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