GO

Competition can be a good thing and a bad thing.  For me, it tends to spur me on when I become a bit lazy. After all, I don't want to be left in the dust.  My flesh rears its head.  Give me a good old fashioned arm wrestle with my sister-in-law Amy and ...I'm in!

But when I consider spiritual gifts I realize there's no competition.  As Christians, we have each been given gifts.  I may not have the gift of singing beautifully but I can offer the gift of a listening ear.  Instead of envying another for their gift, I want to embrace the gifts I've been given and use them for God's glory.

We are in a fight; a battle.  Let us not fight one another but use our gifts to love one another and spread that love.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.  Ephesians 6:12

STOP

Blessings and love,

The last day of 2013.  I'm learning that time passes by so quickly.  I spent this week reflecting on the past year.  I find that I learn from looking back so I can adjust for the new year.  What do I want to do differently?  Are there things I will continue the same?

My one word for 2013 was ...surrender.
For the most part, I focused on surrendering my wants, desires and goals to the Lord.  After all, He is the One who created me and certainly knows what I need. He knows what will fulfill me better than I do.

I have to admit I struggled at times.  My human flesh can get in the way. But I do believe I've made progress.

I reviewed my blog posts on Heart Choices for 2013.  I wrote many posts about being thankful as I reached #1,000 on my list of every day blessings.  Many of those blessings included people I love, the children I get to spend my days with at school, my co-workers, and the lessons I'm learning in the hard places of life.

But I also focused much writing on losing weight ...

Miss Debbie doing planks

I did not reach my goal. 

I've lost weight and then gained weight.  The variance isn't very wide as the fluctuation involves less than five pounds.  But I hoped to get back to my normal weight pre-stressful period in my life (the last four years). And I didn't!

I also focused on finishing my book ...


I did not reach my goal.

Yes, I can rationalize that my computer crashed this past year.  For several months I was without all the work I'd written. Eventually, my friend Sue's husband was able to restore my document for me.  But I continued to write only now and then. It's easy for me to write a blog post but harder to focus for long periods of uninterrupted time writing.

So what do I do now?

• I recognize my weaknesses and give them to the Lord.
• I remember: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
• I can pray about where the Lord wants to lead me in 2014
• I remember: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
• I can appreciate the people the Lord has brought into my life and love them
• I can establish healthy habits that I can live with ...for life 
• I can break my book down into shorter chapters like blog posts so it's not so overwhelming

No I haven't lived my life perfectly. But I focus on the One who is perfect and His name is Jesus. I will continue to trust Him and surrender to Him as I journey with Him.

• I've prayed about my one word for 2014. 
• I've talked with my husband about my one word for 2014.  
• I will share more about my one word for 2014 in another post.

How about you? How did you do in 2013?  Do you have a one word for 2014 yet? I'd love to read your comments.

Blessings and love,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Blessings and love,