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The Lord laid this on my heart to sit down and think about what I would like to see in the New Year. I despise New Year resolutions, but God is teaching me how to dream. I am not good at journaling, this is where my blogging comes in, this will be a post I am hoping to come back to throughout the year and see how God changed things, how some prayers were answered, and to see how God blew my mind on other things. And, God willing, I would love to come back and post December 2007 what God taught me through everything.
Lordy, I do not expect you to do that, this is just my wish for me. I don’t even know what my plans are for tomorrow, let alone for December 2007 that is why this is called Meditations.
This next year is going to be a big year for me; we are hoping to move houses. Now some people move houses like they change shoes. We do not. This will be a big adventure of fun, faith, and me not freaking out this year. To make it easier for me to refer to later, and to organize my thoughts I am breaking down my meditations into categories: (which looking at them I can see how one category can overlap with another, anyways here we go)
Moving
I don’t know when it started but I am scared to dream. Mainly because I want God’s will no matter what, and it seems whatever I dream He changes. I feel things deeply so when I dream and things change I tend to get my feelings hurt. The Lord has been teaching me how to turn over my dreams and desires to him, but still dream big. He has been saying, “Come on girl, give me all you got, DREAM BIG”. I am by NO MEANS referring to size of house but the size of dreams (these are different).
Moving into a new house is where I am going to be laying all this on the line (my big hopes and dreams and God’s will). (if you are so inclined you can read some background here of why this is a big step for us). I have in mind what I would like, but I have been specifically praying the Lord will lead us only to a house He can bless.
I get scared there might be a difference between the two, so I try not to get my heart involved. I just respond “Do your will, that is what I want”. But the Lord has been working on me saying, “yes, I want you to seek my will, but Laurel, I want you to dream big! Give me your hopes and dreams, tell me your hearts desires, lay them all out.” And during that time, I feel like a little girl holding those dreams to my chest tightly, saying “just give me your will”. Not sure if this makes sense to anyone but me, but I am excited and fearful where God is leading all this. We will see.
Faith
I am stepping down helping the middle school group. I want to get back into a bible study at church; unfortunately I can not do both. This was a very difficult decision for me. I will still help out in big events and chaperoning. But I think I am going to need the extra support this year, and the face to face accountability.
I have several devotionals and books that I will be reading to help me grow spiritually. One is Beth Moore’s Voices of the Faithful, and Living Life On Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst is being sent to me by a sweet friend. I look forward to diving into these books along with any additional bible reading and bible study. I will also be continuing my Daniel Bible Study. I HAVE to stay in the word or Satan really plays with my mind, my fears, and my doubts.
Blogging
I can not begin to tell everyone how much blogging has blessed me. The fact I am writing devotionals for Laced With Grace, is already something that blows my mind to where the Lord is leading me. The women I have met, and how they have helped me grow spiritually, amaze me. This post describes how I feel about my blogging friends.
My desire for this year is to not care who comes across my blog (as far as numbers go) but to care for each person and make each one of you feel special. My passion if you read in my “About” page above is to remind you God loves you. No matter what you have done. I recently told my friend, “I just turn this blogging stuff over to the Lord and I am excited to see where He will take it.” Just like the rest of my life, Christ is the center of my blog, and if I lose focus on that, become prideful, or even think that some of these words are my doing and NOT His then I walk away.
But right now he has blessed me with friends that teach me, friends that encourage me, friends who keep me accountable in my Christian walk, and friends that are just down right funny and help me get through days when nothing seems funny. And maybe, God willing, I will be able to meet some of you face to face this year.
Family
I will officially have a teenager this year. This is hitting me. But I have to say I am enjoying my oldest son more and more. I am able to bounce ideas off his brain, and I love his take on things. I pray the Lord gives me the ability to see “the big picture” instead of the daily hormone roller coaster from day to day (mine and teenage son’s).
I have one son who has difficulty in reading. I pray the Lord will let me know if I need to take things further involving a private tutor or not.
My middle son has difficulty seeing other people besides himself. I pray he learns tenderness towards others. I did see glimpses of it when he was with his baby cousin this Christmas, so I know it is there.
For Hubby I am praying for his job and his health.
Thank you for reading my meditations, I look forward to reading your goals, dreams, and desires for this up coming year. I am excited to see how God is going to blow our minds.
Thank you Lord for the friends that come my way, may they see You in me. Amen
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
Thanks for hosting this! I’m looking forward to reading others thoughts and hopes for the new year!
Laurel,
Thanks for hosting this. It took me a while to process what I wanted to say. And, I ended up being more personal than I have ever been in my blog. I think it has been my desire for a while. I too sometimes fear dreaming big. I will be checking back to see how your house hunt manifests. I hope you find the home your heart desires. Happy New Year’s
LW,
You just blew me away. You have no idea how incredibly blessed I feel that you are in my life. I read your testimony and I’m just a puddle. Your meditations spoke to me heart and soul. And just strengthened my resolve to press forward this year. Not letting my relationship with the Lord slide, as I had done this last year. God bless you and your family. As always, I will be praying for you. I do so hope to meet you “in real life” some time this year.
D2
I’m up doing this at dark thirty because I’m putting the baby through boot camp. It’s dark, so I can’t quite find my punctuation marks……..
No better way to usher in the New Year than in prayer before His throne. My humble gratitude, LW, for the place and encouragement to do so. Thank you.
All is gift,
Ann V.
Thank you so much for doing this! I wish that I had been doing this every year.
LW,
Thank you for hosting this. Thank you for helping me to really think about the coming year. I pray that you find all your dreams this year.
I’ll pray for your new home. I remember the first time we moved (several moves ago), I committed that we would take the house that God shone in. We walked into a house with an obviously well-used Bible laying on the table–kind of oops forgot to put it away laying on the table. I told my husband that this was a house where God had been honored. He had, and He was while we were there. Probably the best house we ever had–so I’ll pray that you find the home where God is honored.
Thank you Laurel for hosting this. I have shared my thoughts this morning and tried to post the picture, but Blogger won’t let me. ARG!
Many rich blessings to you in this New Year my sweet friend!!!!
You won, you won! You won the “Most Joyful” award from CWO! WOOOOHOOOO. Excellent way to start the new year, my friend!
I’m so glad you hosted this.
What an awesome opportunity to glorify the Lord in the blogosphere.
New Year’s blessings to you!
Happy new year, Laurel! I loved reading your thoughts and hearing your heart. I am working on mine right now.
I see that Fiddledeedee beat me to the punch, but I was going to tell you that you needed to change your “nominee” banner. Congrats!
LW,
Thank you so much for hosting this. I am so glad to have found you over this past year and I look forward to reading more of your very inspirational posts in 2007. I hope that your house hunt goes well and that all of your dreams come true (no matter how big or small they are). Blessings in 2007!
Go check out the CWO Blog Awards my friend!!!!!!
Thanks for such thought provoking questions. I wasn’t originally going to participate but your questions would not leave my mind so I had to write down my thoughts. There’s so much more in my heart than my post shares but the key things are there. :0) I’ll be back to read our post and everyone else’s when I have quiet time this evening. Sorry for not reading before linking but I will be back. :0) Thanks again!
Wonderful list! I am working on mine but thought it would be best to pray it out first-you know how I am.
Congratulations on the CWO blog award-what joy your blog has brought to me and so many others.
I am with you on the changing of the blog-not focusing on the amount of people but that one person who may need to hear words that lift their spirits. I will try to post in the next hour-for now I am going to go sip my coffee and sit at my Lord’s feet.
Happy New Year
Thank you for hosting this. It is always good to write your thoughts, what God is speaking to your heart. It is exciting to see what the Lord is doing in the lives of so many!
Wow reading all of these has just blessed my heart this morning. Thank you for hosting this!
Thank you for hosting this! It has weight and requires thought! I like the idea of focusing our thoughts on something deeper than the superficial…we will see God’s blessings when we do this.
Your post was really good. I loved reading about how God is working in your life! It is inspring to me!
Happy New Year!
Kim
Thank you for your encouragement to all of us Laurel! Writing resolutions to God is just a whole different ball game!! I have been blessed! Thank you for being apart of that!
Warmly….Mrs. Martin
Laurel,
You and I are soul sisters. Your post has encouraged me to put together my thoughts. I will link up to you when I have written it all down.
Congradulations on the CWO award, my sister. Blessings this New Year!
Wow, Laurel – what wonderful dreams and goals you have for this year…
You know, like I told you before – God is huge – we can’t put Him in a box. I pray and hope that all your dreams will come true. That God will guide you for find the new home you dream off. That you will have patients with your sons (not an easy task, but with His guidance you can do it
).
Regarding your blog — you already do what you dream of. You have a mighty ministry here, my sweet friend. I know that God will expand that.
I am thankful that God has crossed our paths last year and I am excited to see where He will take us in 2007.
This is such a wonderful idea Laurel. I need some time to just be quiet and reflect on this. I appreciate so much what you’ve written. I do understand about the dreams. I have had the Lord say no to my big dreams this year, and, like you, I have learned to just ask for His will. I have been afraid to dream again. I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed again, and I don’t want to go through another season of distancing myself from the Lord.
Thank you for your open heart and thoughtful words.
This is wonderful Laurel! I’m looking forward to reading each one!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my dreams and participate with other women who want to dream too.
I’ve never been much of a dreamer – more of a feet firmly planted on the ground kind of gal. Thank you for encouraging me to voice my hopes for the new year!
Blessings!
Thanks for hosting this. It was great for me to blog about it, because it made it more real to me. I will keep checking back on you to see if you are still dreaming big! Happy New Year!
Hi Laurel,
I’m back and reading your post. I will pray that you find the house that the Lord desires for you. When I think of you, I will pray that the Lord will only open the doors He desires for you. I remember when my parents were looking for a house, a year or so after we bought ours, I frequently prayed it would be the house that the Lord built for them. God blessed them and us in the move. They got their first home and we were just down the street from them (until we moved several years ago). May He bless you abundantly in your move and all other aspects of your life. God bless you!
I had to come back and tell you that this has been an amazing day today reading through these posts!
Thank you again Laurel for hosting this – I’ve been through such a full range of emotions today as I’ve read these posts I’m tempted to blame it on early menopause!!
What an incredible group of women – each has touched me in some significant way today.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED!!!
Thank you so much for hosting this!
I think I could have also said what jane replied here, nearly word for word…and I probably have never been so personal on my blog before.
I pray God uses each of us in this…and I know He will!
God bless you in the New Year!
I had just posted my goals when I found your post. Neat! God bless you in 2007. I love your blog.
thank you
you know? i just read that verse last night or the night before and journaled on it in my private journal
thank you for your encouragement – i know in my head God is crazy about me, but it’s often very, very difficult to imagine or believe.
I should do more of this. My first visit to your blog…Happy New Year and God’s blessings
I got to hear Lysa Terkerst speak at our church a couple of years ago; she was such an encouragement, and oh so real, so I’d expect big things from anything she’s written. I’m not sure if my post qualifies, but maybe so I’ll go back and link it to you. It’ll be a treat to come back here and read what everyone had to say to start out their year. Blessings to you and your family. xoxox
Ack. Finally. I finally had a moment to actually sit down and write! Sorry. Better now.
I love how this is turning out Laurel. Looking forward to finding time to reading everyone elses. In fact, will actually comment on yours later. Must check on sick hubby now.
Happy new year.
I look forward to reading the meditations. Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for hosting this and challenging us to do deeper than “losing 10 pounds.”
Reading these entries has been amazing to see what God is doing in our lives. Thank you for hosting!
Congratulations too for winning that award.
Thanks for the heads up Laurel. I changed the link.
BLESSINGS TO YOU MY FRIEND!!!
You have been such an encouragment to me since we found each other in this blogosphere. I appreciate your honesty in your testimony and your heart in this post. Thanks for reminding us all of what our focus for the new year should be. What a joy you are to me!
I so could have written the first paragraph of your “moving” section. I second all that you are saying there.
I too really struggle with dreaming. God has been teaching me how to have hope. I now keep an “impossible with Amanda” list.
thanks for hosting this.
I am glad that I found this site. My blog has been “newsy” for our family and friends, but I want it to go deeper during 2007 and I believe that this site will be inspiring. Thank you!
So you are moving? What a project in itself! We are concentrating on building our bigger house and hopefully it will be finished sometime this year!
It’s GREAT that you turned things that you are doing (such as your blog) over to
God…we should let Him guide us in all things!
I hope you stop by my blog soon…I’ve noticed you haven’t been by in awhile…stop by and say hello there anytime!
Hi Laurel…I’m relatively new to the blog world and to your site…but I appreciate the opportunity to see in this post our common desire to follow Jesus and see Him glorified in 2007! Thanks for hosting the “Mr. Linky” (whoever he may be!
)
By the way, I too have a son soon to be 13 and I am also feeling overwhelmed and inadequate to the task! The attitude, the eye rolling, the emotion–keeps me either on my knees or out of control myself, that’s for sure. I’m learning to hit my knees FIRST…
Blessings,
Lisa
A 2007 challenge with substance- I love it! Thank you for being real, candid, and focused on “His” resolutions. What a blessing to read the heart’s desire of so many women who love the Lord.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Laurel, thank you for spearheading this adventure! I have already been blessed by the Lord for the time I’ve invested in seeking His plans for the New Year, which I know I wouldn’t have done without your prompting. As I read your post, I am reminded again to trust God with our hearts and to seek Him first in every area. Thank you for your honesty and sharing your heart with us. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will work in you and through you this year.
Thank you so much for doing this, Laurel Wreath. I had to think about how I wanted to approach this (and I had to wait for Cameron to go down for a nap) but my meditations are up now.
My prayer for you, of course, is that you accomplish your goals. A new house is such a blessing. I’d love to see this happen for you.
I wrote my meditations and then I read yours. Argh! Yours are so good. Mine is so general. I pray that God blesses you in these areas this year.
Happy New Year!
Wow, i got through six so far, i am going to be reading these into next month!
Thank you for hosting this Laurel. Our family tradition is to look back on the past year and give thanks to the Lord for all He has done and brought us through. I spoke a little about that in my post.
God’s Blessings in all your endeavors!
Betty