I was thinking about the idea of choosing a word for the new year instead of making resolutions. My friend Willow at Willow’s Cottage chose Simple. Jerrelea at Jerrelea’s Journey chose Rest. I decided on the word Prepare.
: to make (someone or something) ready for some activity, purpose, use, etc.
: to make yourself ready for something that you will be doing, something that you expect to happen, etc.
: to make or create (something) so that it is ready for use
One challenge we heard at the first worship service of this year was not to focus on ourselves but to ask the question, How can I make the world a better place? Now I wonder what will help to prepare my heart for this challenge? Time will tell.
This year there are new things that I need to prepare for, too.
Medicare, banking online, a home office space for Dear, to name a few.
Some other things I’d like to continue to prepare for through the year are hospitality, good meals, organized spaces.
Way back in elementary school I memorized the following verses that have been favorites and a comfort through the years.
John 14: 1-3 (ESV)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
I memorized these verses in the King James Version below.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
It’s amazing to think that the God of the universe is preparing a place for me!
Do you make New Year Resolutions or do you pick a word or verse for the year? Let me know if you do/did.
The photos that I included in this post are from a week ago when we got a little dusting of snow that came and went during the course of one day.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 