Contentment is My Word of the Year by Steph Beth Nickel

A version of this post first appeared on Janet Sketchley's blog, Tenacity, in December 2019.

Why do you do what you do? Complacency, contentment, or conviction?

An onlooker might not be able to tell the difference. Sometimes even we can’t tell the difference.

It’s what I’ve always done. That’s complacency.

I believe this is right, and it has been confirmed over and over again. That’s conviction.

But what about contentment?

It may look like complacency, but then again, it just may be conviction.

Contentment is my word for 2020.

As you may know, I am eclectically interested and eclectically involved. Too often I’m distracted by the Oo, Shiny! Books, online courses, careers …

Do you think it’s time to stop buying books (or at least slow down) when you have over 1,000 physical and ebooks you haven’t yet read?

Most of mine are accessible on my phone. <sigh>

And what about courses and lifetime access to online conference sessions, some of which were inexpensive, others … not so much?

I’ll buy this healthy living annual subscription and access to this library of workouts, and I’ll be healthier by the end of the year … if I access them and put what I learn into practice that is. (We won’t mention the fact that I was a personal trainer and know what I need to do to get healthier.)

Of course I’ll maintain my doula certification while writing, editing, working as our church admin, and helping my hubby clean the church each week. Sleep? Who needs it? (That would be me.)

To be honest, my whole life might be a case of FOMO, fear of missing out.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

In 2020, I will seek, with God's help, to live by my conviction that I have been called to contentment.

As it says in 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

I will read 24-36 of the books I already have.

I will complete at least 12 of those online courses I’ve purchased and put into practice those things I learn from my paid subscriptions.

I will devote myself to writing—and publishing—the books I’ve begun.

I will maintain my doula certification because this is something I’m passionate about, but I will pace myself and not leave the requirements of my recertification to the last month or so.

I will stop becoming distracted by the Oo, Shiny! and look for the sparkle in the opportunities and possessions I already have. I will look for the fun. As an Enneagram 7, fun is important to me. (I don't define fun as frivolity but as those things that get my mojo flowing.)

Plus, I will regularly give thanks for my life as it is in the Here and Now.

How can you grow more content in the year ahead? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Do you have a word of the year? If so, what is it and why did you choose it?

All the very best in 2020!

A Miraculous Rescue By Vickie Stam

Have you ever imagined what the world would look like if every person chose to follow the same itinerary - the bible. A beautifully detailed plan for your journey with a guide that will never steer you wrong.

But not everyone sees the bible as a book that contains an all knowing direction for our lives. And not all of us reach for the bible even when we know that it is chalked full of instruction, forewarning, help and guidance - all the things necessary for our journey.  

I'm glad that I'm one of those people who has chosen to use God's word as a guide. But, I still have to admit there are times when life throws up a road block and I don't end up reaching for the one true guide I know.   

TIME: A word that can make me feel like I'm drowning.

  - I don't have time. 

  - I need to know what time it is. 

  - What time are we leaving?

  - What time do we need to be there? 

It seems as if time has a way of changing the course I'm on and yet God paints us a comforting picture of time.
           * There is a time for every matter under heaven.

           * So teach us to number our days so that we may get a                 heart of wisdom.

           * The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord                               establishes his steps. 

NEED: Another word that often expresses my wants rather than my real needs. 

  - I need more time

  - I need a break

  - I need a vacation

  - I need to stop

There are times when the things I think I need nullify what I actually need.

           * So do not be like them for your Father knows what                     you need before you ask Him.

           * But my God shall supply all your need according to                   his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

           * For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your                 Father knows that you need them all.

Time and need. These two ordinary words have a way of affecting my journey when I least expect it. Last year was a difficult year for me and I had to make a point of not allowing those two words to become intertwined. Composed in the same sentence almost always managed to conjure up a negative reaction. Feeling so overwhelmed I turned to God's word. I prayed. I read books about healing and facing my giants and in the middle of my search, God whispered the words I needed to hear.  

There is nothing hum-drum about God's itinerary. His plan  took me to a place I never dreamed of - Equine Assisted Therapy. This program challenged me to reach inside of myself, allow myself to bond with one of God's most amazing creatures. Big and intimidating to me in the past, I fell in love with my four-legged friend, Saemus. With his help I learned how to face my giants all the while building confidence, confronting my past, building trust, developing problem solving skills, setting healthy boundaries and so much more. 

Yes, our journey took oodles of time nevertheless it was something I needed. But isn't that just like our God - to pluck us from the fire and miraculously rescue us. 

I look forward to what God has in store for me in 2020.   
   

Renewal in 2020 by Pamela Mytroen

Renewal in 2020

My biggest desire this past year was to have a daily coffee break. Stellar, I know. I’m not sure how my engine cycled down to park, but halfway through teaching English last year I started sputtering and smoking and ended up with no desire to get into gear again. This is quite unlike me, the girl like Josephine in “Little Women” full of boundless energy, whose life goal was to “do all the things”. I haven’t finished “doing all the things” yet, but I feel like Bilbo Baggin who said, “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.” As I prayed and searched the Lord for a word from The Word, I knew it couldn’t be an action word where I actually had to “DO” something, heaven forbid, like “Love” or “Trust” or even “Seek”. Instead, in my present lethargy, it had to be something that the Lord would do for me, so I finally landed on Renew and it feels just right. Here’s what I’m asking the LORD to do for me in 2020, or more accurately, since he’s already done it all on the Cross, I’m asking Him to help me access that which is already available: I need him to renew me, spirit, mind, and body.


RENEW my spirit and heart.

  Isaiah 57:15b, NIV says, “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

 King David prayed in Psalm 51:10, NIV, “Create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.” A “right” spirit is also translated, “a steadfast spirit”. Yes, I need that Lord. I can’t quit yet. Help me to endure. With your right spirit in me, I can do all things. More importantly, I can BE the person you want me to be. I can be loving, kind, and patient. I can always trust, always protect, always hope and always believe with your spirit renewed in me.

Proverbs 4:23 Berean Translation says, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” I need those springs of life to flow again, so I’m trusting you Lord to guard my heart, to renew it and fill it with You.

Luke  6:45 NLT says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Oh Lord, fill up my heart with the treasure of YOU, so that from my heart will flow grace and goodness.

RENEW my mind.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2a NIV). Transformation is what I need right now. I need an about face in my thinking so that I can do and be what’s required of me. I need God to do this for me. As I focus on Him, I trust that I will be able to get moving again, and get unstuck from this not-wanting-to-do-anything. Isaiah 26:3 says, “People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole. Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit” The Message.


RENEW my strength

I want to soar again like I used to. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint,” King James Bible.

Oh Lord, please renew my strength. I want to rise up over the situations around me and fly, I want to get the big picture, your perspective on things, and be able to quickly dive down to where I’m needed and do what’s required of me, but I can only do that Lord if I’m soaring.

“Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendour,” Isaiah 52:1 NIV. This verse caught my interest, and maybe it’s because I am not a pyjama person. I fear being caught at the door in my pjs so I quickly get dressed every morning. I can picture myself pulling on some nice clothes while I also pull on the strength of the Lord every morning.

Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. We have a lot of deer where I live, and at times they sleep and graze in our yard. If frightened, they will leap over the six foot fence from a standing position. Oh, Lord, how I need that kind of ease, grace, and spring in my step again!

Psalm 84:7 NIV says, “They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.” This Psalm describes the pilgrims as they ascended the hills to Jerusalem. They needed strength to keep going and to finish the climb. I need the Lord to renew my strength to finish the journey so that I can worship Him.

Oh Lord, I want to love you with all my heart (spirit), all my strength, and all my mind. Please renew me so that I can love you, serve you, and worship you in 2020, Amen.

By Pamela Mytroen

SHALOM by Bob Jones

Some people choose a scripture verse or one key word as a focus for the coming year.  That’s my tribe. My word for 2020 is “shalom”.

Shalom is what I’ll be sharing over the next twelve months. I’ll write about shalom, speak about it, and embody it. I’ve written it on the first page of my 2020 journal. More significantly, I’ve embedded in the fabric of my soul.

Shalom is rich in meaning, deep in effect and broad in application. You can’t go wrong in applying “shalom” to your life.

Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. In Israel, I discovered it is used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.

Shalom experienced is multidimensional, complete well-being — physical, psychological, social, and spiritual; it flows from all of one’s relationships being put right — with God, within oneself, and with others.

I told you shalom is a rich word.

The Hebraic greeting, “Shalom alechem” means “may you be well”.

Shalom binds all of life together. Isaac Arama, a Jewish philosopher in the 15^th century, paraphrased this idea by saying:

“Peace is a positive thing, the essential means by which men of differing temperaments and opinions can work together for the common good. Pearls of individual virtue would be dim in isolation were it not for the string of peace that binds them together and so increases their lustre. That is why peace is a name of God for it is He who gives unity to the whole of creation.”

Where does shalom come from? How can I get shalom?

God creates shalom. Receive shalom as a gift from God. Jesus said, “I give you peace (shalom).” (John 14:7) The gospel of Jesus is the “gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15) Jesus is the prince of shalom. (Isaiah 9:6)  When you have Jesus, you have shalom. Live in shalom’s richness by surrendering to and obeying Jesus. When you trust and obey Jesus you have shalom.

2020 will find me ramping up efforts in reducing the stigma and raising awareness around mental health. On Wednesday January 29^th I’ll be co-hosting the Bell Let’s Talk Day in Edmonton with Vahen King of “Going Farther”.  We are going to promote shalom. The event relies heavily on community, conversation and engagement. If you’re in the Edmonton area please plan to attend. Purchase tickets here.

To have shalom is to know you’re going to be OK.

My wish for you in 2020 is Shalom alechem.

I am a recovering perfectionist who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks iced tea. The walls of our home are adorned with our sons’ framed football jerseys, and my bookshelves, with soul food. 

My writing grows hope, inspires people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover their life purpose.

Follow my writing and book reviews at REVwords.com