2012

i have said it countless times and i will say it infinitely many more, our God is amazing.
a - maz - ing.
and   oh  how  He  loves  me.

in late October i began praying for the naming of 2012
i've jotted notes in my journal. a word here. a few more there. a phrase. a question.
all in seeking His theme for my 2012
i was pretty sure i had it
and then He confirmed it
(oh how He loves me. His grace, His amazing grace)

i was reading Weird Because Normal Isn't Working, and i turned to chapter 15, "Just One Thing"
the chapter began with Craig's telling of New Year's resolutions and how by Valentine's 75% of people who made them have broken them. no more broken resolutions for him. he now asks God, "What is the one thing you want to be different in my life next year?"
he offers four questions to ask God in prayer time to help provide clarity - and each question has the number one in it

the last word i'd written in my journal for the naming of 2012 was "one"
at the time i was unsure. "what? one? what does that look like? what exactly would that be about? how would i walk out a year named one?"
surprisingly, wonderfully the answers came quickly

focusing on the One (laying down the idols of self and of people pleasing)
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone Psalm 86:10
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus I Timothy 2:5
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all Ephesians 4:6

a year of choosing one thing at a time. a year of purposefully taking life one day at a time, one intentional minute after another
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own Matthew 6:34

cherishing that my I do & i are one flesh
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

living before an audience of One, to the glory of One
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20
...that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11b
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

knowing that He has already met my one need
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ... that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation...  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5

trusting that He'll meet me in the one place i need Him to (the place that He alONE knows i truly need to be met at), and that it will be in His timing - not one minute before, not one minute after
...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

my 2012, The Year of One.

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Happy New Year Friends! i pray for His blessings upon you & yours in this, your 2012 - one more of His many gifts to each of us

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace. Numbers 6