2013 word

waiting...

my one word for 2013

this word has been percolating for some time now.  i wasn't sure it would be my word, or i wanted it to be my word. waiting, ugh...not a word that seems exciting - seems passive, less somehow than i want my life to be. i want a life full of passion, a life moving forward...waiting, are you sure Lord?

but the more it percolated, the more i thought and questioned, the more it appeared before me in many ways, both visually and in experience, i yielded to it.  

as i continued to look at this word, waiting, i journaled my thoughts and ideas and was surprised at how it fits. these are some of my thoughts...in part, not even completed thoughts at this point...just thoughts:

waiting for dreams to be realized

waiting for heart change, in me, in loved ones

no more instant gratification...wait

delay in what i want or think i want and don't need...wait

contentment in the waiting 

active living in the waiting

not in waiting for my life to be perfect...all my ducks in a row so to speak. not waiting for some obstacle in the way to move, or something to be gotten through first...and then i will live...live in the waiting, moving forward in the waiting...

but waiting, living in hope for what is to become...eternally and in the hear and now.

expectant 

hopeful

anticipating

active

open waiting

i read this: "waiting is not a test of patience as much as it is a test of my will. waiting is an active practice. so is surrender. waiting allows me to get my eyes off of where i want to go or where i believe God wants me to go and fix them on him. waiting prepares me for his lead. surrender prepares me to follow." ( My One Word, pg 159)  

In his book "My One Word", Mike Ashcraft says to watch your word morf. to watch for God to use it in ways you do not expect, and to watch how the meaning takes on new depth and grows, changes...

please get this book, it's so good!!

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I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,

the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.

I remember it all - oh, how well I remember - 

the feeling of hitting the bottom.

But there's one other thing I remember,

and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

GOD'S loyal love couldn't have dried up.

They're created new every morning.

How great your faithfulness!

I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over).

He's all I've got left.

GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waited,

to the woman who diligently seeks.

It's a good thing to quietly hope,

quietly hope for help from GOD.

Lamentations 3:19-26, The Message

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Wait for the Lord,

be strong and let your heart take courage:

yes, wait for the Lord...

Psalm 27:14