Do you choose a Word for the Year?

Lots of people choose a word rather than make resolutions.

Last year my Word for the Year was JOY.  You can read about it here.

 

If you’ve been following on Facebook you might have picked up that I decided to skip on choosing a Word for the Year and choose a Verse for the Year.   Okay….I changed my mind.

Instead….

I decided to do both.

Sorta.

The verse isn’t just a verse…it’s several verses…okay….a whole section of scripture.

But before we go there let’s visit my Word for the Year.

 

My Word for the Year ::  Restore  :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Restore.

It isn’t what you expected is it?

This past year hasn’t been what I expected either.

From my husband losing his position on January 2 last year, to putting our “house” in storage, to moving a few states away and in with friends, I’ve grown.  A lot.   (This is the second time I’ve been in this position.  The scenario is not exactly the same.  Then, we both lost our jobs, picking up odd jobs here and there, had health issues, and went two years and four months before moving to a new beginning.)

I’ve learned to believe more, trust harder,  pray more powerfully, dive deeper, and lean harder on God the second time around.  It’s been a good thing.

Through it all, I’ve come to a point where I’m expecting God to display his goodness and glory.

I’m sensing that we are nearing the end of our current challenge.

We lost a lot these past four years.

I believe God has plans to restore…not only the work…but our reputation and our platform…not just our income….but what was lost on so many levels.  And that’s just for starters.  I believe God has plans to restore all kinds of things.  It’s pretty exciting.

Lately, a number of scriptures have come to mind or before me in reading and have led me to this point.

I’m quite aware that these scripture verses do not directly speak to my situation, and for some of you might seem like a stretch.  But, these are examples of God doing amazing things for his people.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
it was as if we were dreaming.
2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter
and our tongues with joyful songs.
Then the nations said,
“The Lord has done spectacular things for them.”
3 The Lord has done spectacular things for us.
We are overjoyed.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
as you restore streams to dry river beds in the Negev.
5 Those who cry while they plant
will joyfully sing while they harvest.
6 The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain.

Psalm 126:1-6 God’s Word Translation

You may be struggling with what has been lost.

Why not join me in expecting God to restore what was lost or taken?

I love how the psalmist says that the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion as if they were dreaming.
Does it seem unimaginable?  It’s no problem for God.

The psalmist says their tongues were filled with joyful songs.
We can do that now.   Let’s praise and thank God NOW for what he will do.

The psalmist continues…the  Lord has done spectacular things for us.
He has.  We may not have seen it yet.  But for us to see the restoration, he has already been at work on our behalf.  He has fought for us.  He has gone before us.  He is making a way for us.  It will be spectacular when things are restored.  Let’s give God the glory now for the unseen spectacular things he has done.

You can be sure, that when things are restored…we won’t be the only ones rejoicing.
Let’s live and pray and believe in such a way that everyone around us will surely say, “Look at what the Lord has done!”

Restore.

It’s a word full of promise and expectation.

If you want to get a glimpse of where my heart has been living….you might want to read these scriptures:

Psalm 80

Job 42

Joel 2:252

Kings 4:1-7

Do you have a word for the year or a verse for the year?

I’d love to hear about it.

 

Joy Day! :: 2014 Word for the Year :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

It’s Joy Day!

 

It’s the day when we look back over the past week and count our gifts.  We type out our words of gratitude….for the blessings and good things as well as…the things we don’t feel especially grateful for or wish had not happened.  We count it ALL joy!

Join me in counting just ‘seven.’  I’ll begin.

I’m grateful for…

  1. a warm cozy bed.
  2. an interview on Tuesday. (Pray for clear roads and no snow.)
  3. power tools and the kindness offered to let me use them.
  4. a wonderful New Year’s Eve party with friends old and new.
  5. patterns in the snow from the strong winds.
  6. my sweet friend who let’s me take over the dining room table to create.
  7. knowing all HIS promises are YES! in Christ Jesus.

It’s your turn!!

Scroll down to the “Share your extraordinary thoughts” below and tap in your ‘seven.’  Seriously….your heart will fill with JOY!   If you enjoyed this exercise…you’ll want to take the Joy Dare here.

Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.

Joyfully,

Diane

P.S.  Regarding the photos.  The other evening…these were the colors at sunset.  Weren’t they stunning!!  I wish I was able to capture it as spectacularly as they were displayed in the clouds.  The camera lens cannot see as well as the human eye.

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Comments

  1. Thank you for writing this post. I like your word. It touches me what you write. Indeed: Let’s praise and thank God for what he will do. My word for this year is ‘joy.’ We struggle here with things. Still I want seek God with joy. He is my joy 🙂

  2. Janet says

    My word for the year is delight. I want to delight in things this year. I get so wrapped up in working and worry I forget to just step back and enjoy what I have or what I see, like your clouds. I have a few Bible verses in mind that support this but I don’t know them off the top of my head right now. Though I’m pretty sure one is “Delight in the Lord”

  3. Suzi says

    Restore is a very interesting word…instantly makes me think of Joel 2:25 ” and I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten”. I think of that verse for a child who made some very wrong turns during college and pray for God to (continue) restore his faith, his body and his mind in this new year. It is wonderful to KNOW that He is faithful to finish the good work He has begun. My word ( first time i have done this) is dwell or abide. They just kept surfacing the last couple of months before i even considered choosing a word. And my verses are John 15:4,5 & 7. I, too, feel God may be planning to restore to our family many things we lost the last 7 years, primarily my health, but also relationships, income, ministry, home, and work. I really like your word too. Holds such promise 🙂 this week: Grateful for our puppy’s naughty behavior that required shampooing an area rug which led to rearranging our living room furniture, long “heart” conversations with my kids this week, black-eyed peas & ham dinner my mom made for us on New Year’s Day, cooler temperatures for 2 days, the 40+ year romance my husband and I still share, blogs and bloggers who share their lives, & the new (hopefully) kinder year.

  4. My word for 2014 is “ORDER”.

    Joy Day:
    1. plastic to cover our windows for the impending cold snap.
    2. plenty of wood.
    3. a warm snuggly house coat that I got for Christmas.
    4. “finding” an ancestor that I have been looking for … for 2 years now?
    5. a fun day out with the family before we get iced into the house for a week. :O)
    6. my FIL’s amazing generous spirit (to everyone,not just us)
    7. getting a little blog mojo back.

  5. Jo says

    I enjoyed reading from you today. First, you are in my prayers that indeed you have a better year. That you are at the end of your trials and about to begin anew. After much thought, my word is RENEW….a few scriptures I turned to are Job 29:20: Psalm 23:3, 51:10, 94:19, Isaiah 57:10. I really like the word idea rather that resolutions..
    God Bless you Diane,
    Jo

  6. Jean says

    I love your word of the year. I have a post planned on my word later this week but I will share my word with you. It is action. I started with blessing and then after reading something rather unconventional that bothered me a bit I changed it although really action is the shortened version of my goal/thought for the year: blessing in action. On that thought, I’ll take action and type my 7 for the week 🙂
    1. A wonderfully mild New Year’s Eve day that allowed for a refreshing walk with friends
    2. The many chances for both boys to spend time with friends this week
    3. The chance to see family from out of state and our extended Christmas
    4.An unexpected gift from my 12 year old son (he used some of his own X-box credits to buy a Doctor Who episode AND watched it with me)
    5. My husband’s gift of doing MUCH laundry today without complaint (not my asking for it)
    6. Finding a book I’ve been wanting to read in the used book store
    7. And of course, a WARM house on a very cold day!

  7. Rhondi says

    Hi Diane
    Thank you for the wonderful words of encouragement today. My word for the year is GRATITUDE and my verse is “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18
    I took the JOY dare 2 years ago and am at 3800 now, but still feel the need to have gratitude as my word for the year.
    I just recently started following you. You sure have been through a lot! So thankful we have a savior who promised to never leave us or forsake us and has good plans for us!
    Rhondi xo

  8. Restore. Love the powerful beauty of that and all that will spring forth from it.

    I wasn’t going to do the whole one word thing this year. But then God sent a video my way, and I knew I didn’t have a choice.
    http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-year-of-beautiful.html

  9. Mel says

    Uhoh…no word or verse for the year. Apparently it’s a focal point for folks shared in community….which is really cool. I’m all about the power of “we”. How nice for the company of kindred spirits along the way.

    Maybe mine has secretly been “kindness”. Seems I’m always trying to hone up on that one *sigh* I’ll keep at it!

    In the mean time….late, but counting 7 just the same:

    * frigid temps that forced staying secluded at home
    * the quest for a replacement camera
    * long hours at the worksite…that I GET to be there is a source of joy
    * being asked to sponsor someone I thought would never ask
    * that cup of French pressed coffee himself makes me everyday after work
    * the”downgrade” to a walking cane
    * a CEO who really listened to me

  10. Hi! Just popping over from Imparting Grace. I pray that indeed this is the year that all things are restored for you and your husband! I started subscribing to your blog and hope to be a part of your Monday night parties in the future. (Gotta get working on some projects!) I’m a lot like you in that I enjoy sitting cross-legged on the couch with my cup of java just yakking with a friend or watching a movie with my hubby. God is good and I’m looking forward to making more blog friends this year.
    Blessings, Diane

    • Diane says

      Welcome Diane!!
      What a delight to me another namesake. 🙂 Isn’t it wonderful how we can meet and make so many wonderful new friends through the screens on our computers?

      Wishing you an Extraordinary New Year!!

  11. Love your verse! Praying restoration for your family! So glad God allowed us to meet.

    Happy that you linked up today with Recommendation Saturday!

    Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  12. Love your word! God is in the restoring business! Here are my seven:
    1. Family all gathered together over Sunday dinner.
    2. The smell of fresh sheets.
    3. So many books to choose from to read this year!
    4. A beautiful Sunday worship service.
    5. Watching God’s hand of provision for our new church building.
    6. Warm chocolate chip cookies.
    7. His loving patience.

  13. I love your Word, Diane, and pray it over you and your hubby – Restore!

    I have been reading in Isaiah and I thought of you when I read vs17 in chapter 48; I pray this for you too:
    “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.”

    What an extraordinary story of blessings we will hear along your way in this New Year!

  14. I want to get the pattern for girly leg warmers but cannot find on website

    • Sandy… can you please refer me to the post where the leg warmers were shared? I take it from there and get you the info… but I’m swamped and don’t remember the post where they were featured. Thanks so much!

Trackbacks

  1. […] to a close, I decided I needed to do something for the New Year that did not include the typical Word for the Year or resolutions.  I ruminated on this for some time, feeling resistant to set anything down in pen […]

  2. […] As the hands of the clock turned synchronously with the calendar’s pages to the new year, I believed this was going to be the year where we would see God’s hand of restoration.  So much so, my word for 2014 was Restore.  […]

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