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I’ve been trying to think of a way to start this post that will kind of ease you in to what I want to share.

However, that’s not going to happen - not this time.

Instead, let’s jump right in.

Yesterday was Christmas - Merry Christmas! I had a wonderful day with my family, that started at way-too-early-o’clock. Seriously…it was not even 4am. I’d like to apologize to my parents for all my early-morning Christmas wake-ups. I was so tired! Ironically, my dad was up today before my kids. Go figure! 😉

After a day with my family, I happened to find War Room on demand last evening, so I asked my husband if he wanted to rent it. We watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Even better, though, it drove home a lot of important reminders for me.

If you’ve seen the movie, let’s just start by saying that the way that they depict prayer in the movie - doing battle against the enemy - is the way I’ve been praying for a couple of years now. Maybe not as eloquently, but in the same manner.

I realized early on in my struggle that while the choices made around me were truly sin, that my response did not have to be what others thought it should be.

Rather I turned to God, listened, waited and eventually gained some strength to start praying the enemy out of my house.

One quote really stuck out to me, though there were many good lines in the movie:

“Victories don’t come by accident.”

That seems to tie in so appropriately with the word the Lord has laid on my heart for 2016 - Overcome.

And because of that, I am stepping intentionally into the new year with a few plans that I want to share with you.

First off, let’s get the big, scary one out of the way:

Writing.
I had a few quiet moments last week, and stopped to ponder some things I’d been mulling over in my mind. Within 15 minutes, the outline for something I’ve wanted to write came to life on paper in front of me. I was amazed. I had hoped to write it last June, but that never took shape.

I plan to tackle this intentionally by carving out time specifically for this piece of writing, and by giving myself a deadline - as soon as I decide on one (because that part terrifies me). Fortunately, I have a great group of writer friends to keep me on track!

Healing.
I think we also ~overcome~ on purpose. Yes, there’s a lot to be said for waiting, trusting God’s timing - those are all necessary. But at some point, there comes that moment when we decide we’re ready to move forward. I am at that point. Though what I plan to write about (above) comes from the pain I’ve endured, I am ready to look back on that part of my life, not live in it.

Though the writing will not necessarily be easy, I expect the healing to be difficult. Why? Because the enemy doesn’t just look to knock us over or sidetrack us. No, he looks to destroy:

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” — I Peter 5:8

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

Personal Growth.
Along with a word for the year, God has laid a few very select books of the Bible and people/stories to study on my heart. I’m eager to see what’s ahead as I study through these.

After watching War Room, I want to be more intentional with my prayer life, so I picked up Fervent, by Priscilla Shirer. The description of the book talks about developing prayer strategies to strike back against the enemy.

I also purchased The Resolution for Women. From the description of the book - “A woman’s banner should be an accurate reflection of who she desires to be-someone completely Christ-centered who blesses and changes things in her world for the better.” This book is for the healing - for moving forward, for regaining my footing as a wife, a woman of God, someone with a calling on her life.

The Lord has also laid on my heart the books of Job and Hosea. While I was at the bookstore today, I picked up these two small devotionals to help in that study.

I’ve never used either of these two books as a Bible study before, but since they were available, I picked them up to begin my studies. I look forward to the time to study and be more intentional in my own personal growth at the start of the new year.

If you’ve been around here at the end of a calendar year, you know I’ve been focused on the year ahead. You might wonder why? After all, I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, so why the big push to start the new year well?

I guess it’s because I want to be better, to do better, to grow.

In my own life, if I look back, there’s a lot to see. There are many places to look back and choose regret. We all have those times, don’t we?

I’ve spent the last two years just trying to get back on my feet. Those verses above - they’re true. The enemy is vicious. When he doesn’t take you out one way, you can be sure he’ll try another. And that’s what has happened in my life.

I’ve reached the point of accepting my life. The mess has given me some beautiful gifts. Each morning when I open my eyes, I’m grateful for a new day - whether it’s at way-too-early-o’clock, or some more reasonable time. Friends who have walked out have made room for friends who have walked in and God has set a transition plan in place - an answer to a direct prayer to please make these changes in my life serve a purpose.

More than that, though, I’m ready to share what I’ve learned with the next person.

You see, we’re all going to face crises. As women, though, the emotions of trauma, of tragedy, can knock us out and keep us down for some time. And that’s okay.

The healing, the recovery, the growth - it all takes time.

2016. Overcome. Intentionally. I pray these resources here are a blessing to you.

I’d love to know your plans for the new year, and what God is doing in your heart.

If you want to join us for a fun, intentional challenge,
join us for The Footprint Challenge.

A couple years ago, I suffered a tragedy worse than anything I could (at that point) have ever imagined. At the time, I was completely uncertain of how to keep going - or whether to keep going, or even if I could keep on going. I shared a little about my experience and my conversation with God in the post called Do Not Move.

God’s words to me, His hand on my head was a very real experience for me. While I didn’t audibly hear His words, my whole being was at peace. That kind of peace in the midst of tragedy and trauma can only come from God.

The past two years, God has given me a word for each year, and various Scriptures to go with it. I began praying about a word for 2016, even telling God that I was satisfied if He chose to work differently this year. The more I prayed through my words from the last two years, (hope and redemption), the more God continued to impress one word on my heart.

And just like last year, I fought this word, too. In fact, God’s been impressing this word on my heart for weeks now - through Scripture, song, prayer, listening to Him, blog posts that I’ve read from friends. Sometimes I think I’m one of those people waiting for the writing in the sky that says, “Hi, If you’re waiting for a sign from God, THIS IS IT!” My faith is growing, but I still struggle with stepping out in that faith.

A week or so ago was a major turning point for me. I was lying in bed, but not yet asleep. In fact, I know I wasn’t yet asleep because my husband and I were discussing some things a few minutes later, and while he has the ability to fall asleep in about 2 seconds, I don’t. It takes me about 2 minutes. 😉

Anyway, my eyes closed. You see, we had some good news that night, and I think I was just soaking in that goodness.

As my eyes closed, I clearly saw myself on a bridge. It wasn’t a long bridge, but it was wide and it had a very real-life feel to it. I don’t know where it was, but I feel like I would know it if ever I crossed it.

I was about one-third of the way across the bridge. I had this overwhelming sense that my life was at a turning point. Not only that, I had incredible peace.

I realized that I had a few options:

1. Turn Back - this choice would signify my desire not to move forward in life.

2. Jump Off (into icy waters) - this option would symbolize almost a “spiritual suicide” - telling God that I had no more desire for Him to lead my life.

3. Move Forward - this choice would mean an intentional decision to run head first into the life God has for me.

The bridge seemed to symbolize the point where God had placed me: a spot where I needed to wait on Him, to see what He would do in my life.

I was completely alone on the bridge, and yet my decision seemed to carry a great weight - almost an urgency.

And for some reason, I had a grappling hook in my hand. Maybe it was so that once I threw it, I’d be “hooked” onto the choice I’d make.

As I stood on the bridge, I knew it was time to choose. Should I turn back? Jump off? Or move forward?

Every option had some pros and cons, yet in the moment, I knew.

I knew just what to do.

I considered where I had come from:

Surviving Brokenness
Having Hope
Understanding Redemption

I turned, and with all my might, I tossed that grappling hook,

Because my life depended on it.

Forward.

God has impressed one word on my heart, and He’s done it in so many ways, but each time, He’s used the words in Revelation 12: 11 to drive home the reason for the word:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony….
Revelation 12:11a

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know that while some terrible things happened, the devil also set to work to destroy - a marriage, a family, extended family, friendships. He’s had some success. But he can’t touch our lives - our days are numbered by God Himself.

It has taken time. It has taken a lot of time, and consistent, focused prayer.

{And can I be honest about that consistent, focused prayer for just a minute? Just as a word of testimony?
My prayers have not been extensive, they haven’t had lots of lofty words.
They have been simple, probably what some would call child-like.
Most of my prayers have been just prayers of gratitude for what God has done,
what He is doing.
And then I have asked for mercy and grace.

I write that to say - please don’t think your prayers have to be anything special
for God to listen to you.
Talk to Him like He’s your friend,
someone with whom you can have an easy,
effortless conversation - because that’s what He wants.}

As I threw that grappling hook forward, to signify my willingness to run forward into the life God has for me, it was so evident to me that God does, indeed, know what He’s doing when He impresses something on our hearts.

For 2016, my word for the year, based on Revelation 12:11a, is

OVERCOME.

I have a lot to overcome. There truly has been so much loss.

But the process of overcoming started more than 2 years ago, when I decided that I would not move, but that I would be perfectly still until God clearly made it abundantly clear that it was time to move.

That time has come.

To be perfectly honest, I’m a little hesitant.

But faith has to tie up its shoelaces and take a step at some point, right?

And, if I’m being completely honest, I’m a little excited! God has proven Himself faithful through some of the darkest days of my life. It is a little easier to trust, while moving forward, with years of God’s faithfulness stored deeply in my heart!

I know the year isn’t completely over, but my schedule is hectic, and I wanted to share these thoughts while I have some time, and while they are still vivid in my mind.

2016…Overcome!

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