We’re one week into the new year.
So far, 2018 has been one big adventure. An adventure where I’ve spent most of my time on the couch fighting/hacking/sneezing my way through a miserable respiratory bug.
The year hasn’t started the way I expected it to.
I mean, I said goodbye to 2017 on a high note. Goodness, it was a great year. It really was. I saw God move in so many ways, and His blessings upon my life were evident. My word for 2017, LIVE, truly was the perfect word. Absolutely. You can read more about that here.
But, two days after the new year began, the little tickle in my throat turned into a mammoth cold. I’m still working to get completely over it. As a result, my exercise plans went out the window. My intentions of eating clean soon followed. I’ve accomplished little of nothing this first week of 2018.
That’s just like life, though, isn’t it? Most often it doesn’t go as we plan. We find bumps in the road and even detours on our journey. Sometimes the path is blocked and we have no option but to turn around and go back in the direction we came. At times our grandest plans and our best intentions fall short because of things beyond our control.
Good thing I long ago settled on this truth about this life…
Life is one grand adventure.
adventure :: participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises; an exciting or very unusual experience
For years I’ve said how my life is one grand adventure with God. The good. The bad. And, everything in between. The day I stopped trying to control every minuscule aspect of my life and began leaning into trusting God daily, this adventure commenced. You know? There’s such freedom in not having to be or feel in control all the time.
I can simply live in God’s leading and care. No, I haven’t always followed His lead flawlessly or faithfully, but I’ve learned it’s best when I do.
You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)
Adventure is my word for 2018.
Psalm 16:11 (above) is my verse for this year.
(God created the above view, and I put it in an image. It’ll be on the wall in my office soon!)
My desire is to walk closer to God. To listen to His voice. To experience life in exciting ways with Him. I look forward to Him leading me on the path that leads to a beautiful life, both on earth and in eternity. And, I can’t wait to experience the pleasure of knowing true joy and contentment walking with Him through this year.
I imagine Bill and I will experience more adventures on our tandem bicycle as we cross more states off our #50statestandembiketour list. I expect we’ll finish another RAGBRAI in July. Our daughter’s wedding will take place in the fall. We have plans for celebrations, concerts, events, and we look forward our exciting huge family reunion this summer.
The adventure awaits!
Oh, I know it won’t be a perfect year. I fully understand there will be hard days, days that don’t go as planned, days that challenge me and stretch me. Days of colds and sneezes. Just as there are mountain-top moments in life, the valleys will be present as well. No matter what, however, I fully know I won’t be walking through them alone. Emmanuel–God with us–Who came to us at Christmas is just as His name declares. Jesus is with us. He’s the best traveling partner!
Friend, how about you? Have you chosen one word for your year? If so, would you care to share? I’d love to read about it and why you chose it below. Or have you chosen some specific resolutions or goals? I’d love to cheer you through it this year!
Thanks for continuing this journey with me. Thank you for sharing in my adventure. I’m praying for us all as we travel together in this new year!
Blessings!
Julie
What a great word for the year! I love finding out what everyone’s word is. God knows what word will bless us. God is so smart like that.
My word this year is “Uplift”. I hope to use this year to become less critical of others and myself and use my energy instead, to encourage and uplift. It’s going to take a lot of prayer!
Ooo…. I like it! I can’t wait to hear all about the grand adventures God takes you on this year! Blessings!
Hi Julie! What an exciting word for 2018. Adventure sounds so promising. I can’t wait to read all about it!
My 2017 word was Hope and boy was it a year of reaching out and clinging to the Hope of Christ, again and again.
I’ve felt led to keep Hope for 2018, but with a different perspective. I am to live Hope, be Hope, offer Hope to others. I’m excited, even though I am not sure how that is going to play out over the coming months.
I’m thankful for your writing presence in my life!
My one word for 2018 is AWE – I want to be in awe of the Lord all year long, to be awed by Him over and over again. Then I will know how truly awesome is the God we serve, how powerful, magnificent… and then in whom shall I be afraid when I have lived a year of being in awe of the One greater than all my fears and doubts and situations? And He began awing me as soon as I chose the word in December so I know I will have an awesome testimony of His faithfulness at the end of the year!
Seriously, my shower’s hot water stopped working. A plumber friend came over, did nothing to it but shake it around a little (because the entire thing needs replaced and he knows I can’t afford to get it fixed right now) and it started working. He told me he doesn’t know how my shower is working because IT SHOULDN’T BE. I told him it was the Lord.
Wow! Adventure is so BOLD! God truly has an amazing, crazy future ahead for you this year. May He bless you every step along the way!