Truly Rich and Blessed

One Word for 2013: {In} Courage

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I’m linking up with {the awesome and inspiring} Melanie of Only a Breath
and the One Word 365 Community.
(Thank you, Melanie, for your awesome artwork!)

Remember how I said in my New Year’s eve post that 2013 is a year for bigger, better and brighter things? Well, it’s only the tenth day of the New Year, and already, God has been amazing me with His blessings and grace, especially for our family (more on that in another post — soon!).

Needless to say, choosing my one word for this year was really tough. At first, I was deciding between “abundant giving” (OK, I know, that’s TWO words! Bear with me, ok?) and “courage.”

But after some more prayer, reflection, getting to know a little bit more about my companion saint for 2013 (thanks again to Allison for her help and inspiration!), and writing my 2014 reflections for one of our daily devotional guides, Didache, I felt God impress this word in my heart:

{IN} COURAGE
The term is not originally mine to claim. There’s actually a women’s daily devotional site by the same name: (in)courage: home for the hearts of women. (Do check it out — it’s very inspiring!)
So anyway… back to my one word. Why {IN} COURAGE?
Looking back at 2012, I realize that the reason why there were so many times when I failed and faltered, stumbled and fell, and showed my broken, imperfect, “ugly” side is that I did not take the time to regularly dwell in God’s presence. I was not that intentional about spending time with Him, so even if I meant to be more intentional in loving my family, I failed miserably a lot of times.
So… this year, I want to dwell more deeply in God’s embrace.
A play on the word “encourage,” {IN} COURAGE draws its roots from Romans 8:37-39. 
Source: New American Bible on the USCCB website
{IN} reminds me that I have to remain in Jesus at all times, so that I will have the COURAGE to do what He wants me to do. This includes being brave and claiming in faith that our baby‘s future and health is in God’s hands. It also includes having the courage to achieve all my life dreams for this year (material for another post!), and the courage to dream and claim in faith that God will use me powerfully this year, even through this little blog.
 
{IN} COURAGE as a whole reminds me that God also calls me to be a source of inspiration and courage to others — to encourage others to live their best lives, according to God’s plan. I also believe that God is calling me to encourage more people to explore the homeschooling lifestyle and to choose a specific advocacy where He can use me to the fullest. 
{IN} COURAGE also reminds me that as long as I have Christ in me, I need not be afraid of what happens “outside.” No matter what happens, as long as I have Jesus, I will stand strong. (The same goes for you, dear friend.) 

 
By the end of 2013, I want to be able to say that I have grown deeper in love with Jesus, and that the fruits of abiding in Him can be seen in my relationships with others, especially my husband and children. I want to be able to say that I have let Him use me this year to inspire and encourage others, in every little thing I do, say and, yes, write. I want to be able to say that I have grown braver, and have really witnessed and experienced the bigger, better and brighter things God has in store for me this year.
 
How about you, dear friend? What’s your one word for 2013?

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