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Tuesday, January 08, 2013

A Word to Live By

graphic by Melanie at www.onlyabreath.com
One word to live by for a year.
"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."
This is an idea I came across only last week, and it intrigued me enough to pick a word instead of even thinking about attempting to make any New Year Resolutions.

But what word?

I have spent the last year with more time to write than ever before, and this has been fantastic.  It has been due to a move, one son being in school part-time, and staying home with the boys.  Even though I loved what I was doing before this move, I have loved having this time to read and to write.  More than any other time in my life, I have sensed God's hand in that move and in the direction I am going with writing.

I learned in the past year that insecurity is extremely common among writers and that I needed to just flat-out say that I am a writer and believe it.  I do believe I am a good writer, and I believe that God is calling me to write.  I am excited about the current project I am working on, and I am excited about future projects that I can't even imagine right now.

Writing has helped a part of me to come alive again, a part I didn't even realize had been dormant.  It is helping me to know myself better and to want to be fully me.  I want to embrace all of this as living out my calling in a confident and secure way, and not letting fear or insecurity hold me back.  I want to fully follow God's call, and live so that I pursue it wholeheartedly.  I want my life to overflow with God's love and encourage others to follow God's call too.

To have life, and have it to the full.
To have life, and have it abundantly.

Abundantly.

Jesus says, in the gospel of John, that he has come so that people can have an abundant life.  I want that to be mine, and yours as well.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. --John 10:10

The word abundantly will be my word this year, and it will draw me back to this verse again and again, to remind me why he came, to remind me what he offers, to remind me what I can have.

Have you chosen a word to live by?  What is it, and why?


8 comments:

Catherine Doucette said...

Congrats on being a writer and proud enough to shout it out! My word this year is courage :)

Janet Brent said...

My word is transformation this year but I definitely keep abundance in my mind too for every year! :P

Kelly J Youngblood said...

Good word!

Kelly J Youngblood said...

Thanks! That word actually crossed my mind too but I knew it wasn't "the one" for me.

Jon Stolpe said...

Epiphany is my word for 2013. I am excited to see God revealed in new ways as the year unfolds.

Darla Dumler said...

Great word Kelly. I have picked a word for several years and this year my word is steadfast. My words keeps me focused in the hard times.

Kelly J Youngblood said...

Good one!

Kelly J Youngblood said...

It's fun to see all the different words people come up with.