2013 Word

For the last four years I have picked a "Word For the Year." It's been something that spoke to me, helped to keep my focus, or something that "spoke" to me in some way.

The first year I did this was the year after my mom died. She was already sick at the time, but we still had no idea what was wrong or that should would not survive 2009. The word I picked that year was "Family."

Loosing my mom was hard and 2009 was a rough year. I started 2010 with the word "Hope." I also used my favorite verse as a focus - Jeremiah 29:11.

I'm not sure I blogged about my 2011 Word of the Year, but it was "Joy." And I don't recall choosing one for last year. However, this year, I have been contemplating this yet again.

I have been looking at resolutions or rather "projects" I want to complete in 2013. One that topped my list was getting my parents slides digitized. I've been able to scan over 300 slides in the last two days and my goal is to have this project completed by the end of the month. I'd like to give these back to my Dad, along with a DVD of them all, as a birthday present.

I have more, but a lot are redundant....get healthy, exercise more, drink less soda, drink more water...the typical ones for this year. I may share my "projects" in another post. I think I'll need some accountability!

However, my word for the year found me last night while I was driving home from the city.

Redeemed.

The dictionary defines the root word, redeem, as "to buy or pay off; clear by payment." Jesus did just that with His death....redeemed our sin-filled lives. It is summed us nicely in 1 Peter 1:18-21:

For you know that it was not with perishable 

things such as silver or gold that you were 

redeemed from the empty way of life

handed down to you from your ancestors, 

but with the previous blood

of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

He was chosen before the 

creation of the world, but was revealed 

in these last times for your sake.  

Through him you believe in God, who raised

him from the dead and glorified him, and so your 

faith and hope are in God. (NIV)

I have been listening to Big Daddy Weave's song on the radio for a few months now, but last night it really hit me and I decided that this year, I will be redeemed. I will truly trust God. Many of us struggle with past choices and events that have occurred. We all have things we wish we had done differently. This is the year I will set those things aside and truly live out a redeemed life as the daughter of the King.

My Word for 2010

Last year I posted about how I was choosing one word to make the focus of 2009. I knew I wanted to do it again this year but I hadn't thought too long and hard about it yet. Yesterday I spent the day with my hubby. We drove south to do some errands and caught a 3-D IMax movie (Avatar - it was wonderful!). One thing I wanted to do if there was time was stop at Wal-Mart or Target to check out the after-Christmas sales. When I walked in the first thing I spotted was a glittery stand-alone word. It was "hope." And that seemed to really sum up what I want for 2010 - HOPE.

And considering my all time favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, it seemed to fit.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

If you'd like to join me in choosing a word to focus on in 2010, you may wish to check out this resource here. It's a worksheet/questionnaire to help you figure out your word of the year.