New Year's word

Do you have a word for the New Year? I had never even heard of the idea of having a theme word for the year until the end of 2014 was nearing. It had been the most difficult year in my life and I was glad to see it go, although not really looking forward to the new year either.

I felt the Lord placing the word “hope” on my heart. It was popping up everywhere and was just what I needed. Hope that God was in control and that things truly would get better. So that became my theme word for 2015. As I pressed into God as the only source of my hope, He came through. Hope showed up everywhere, all year long. I found it in so many verses I was reading in the Bible, in songs, and in inspirational sayings. Hope was the common thread woven throughout the entire year. I truly learned over the course of the year how to place my hope in God and not people or circumstances, both of which had been sorely disappointing. Over the course of the year, God had done amazing things in me and had truly restored my hope for the future. I was excited about 2016 and the prospect of a new “word of the year.”

As 2016 neared, I prayerfully considered a new word for the new year. However, two kept coming up and I found it too hard to choose. So I had both “future” and “grace” for the next year. Once again, I was amazed at how often they came up and how God has woven both of them so beautifully together throughout the year. I sat down the other day to write down all of the milestones of 2016 and I couldn’t believe it! I never dreamed so much could happen in just one year and sometimes in the course of one month. I love how God brought so many beautiful surprises into my life this past year. It has me truly excited for the future because I know and have seen that He will do abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine.

So for the past few weeks, I have been praying about my new word for 2017. I can’t believe it is already here!!! I have my new word and am eagerly anticipating the new year and seeing how it unfolds. If you haven’t ever had a theme word for the year, I encourage you to consider it. It has been a blessing to me! I look forward to sharing my word for 2017 with you in just twelve short months.

Faith like Mary

          This Christmas season, I have been thinking a lot about Mary. Our pastor gave a sermon about her that really got me thinking about Mary’s faith. I always think about Mary as the mother of Jesus, but don’t often think of her so much as an actual person, a young woman who was called to a bigger purpose for God’s plan. How crazy it must have sounded to be literally expecting God’s child!!!

Mary must have had an amazing connection with God to readily accept such an unconventional assignment. Her heart must have already been prepared to follow God’s will, no matter how crazy it sounded. Imagine the heartache she stood to face as she suddenly appeared pregnant in her time of engagement. It certainly was no easy task to commit to such a plan. Yet Mary was ready to proceed in faith that things would work out just as God has told her. He was bringing a Savior into the world through her. She believed that He worked in the impossible!

           Now, I don’t know about you, but when I feel God leading me to do something, I want a roadmap. I want to see exactly how it is all supposed to unfold so that I know beyond doubt that I am on the right path. I am sure God’s plan did not come with a roadmap for Mary either. Although, as a mother, it sounds quite nice to have the perfect child to parent!!! I imagine there were times that Mary wondered about the details of God’s plan as well. After all, it was 33 years later that she saw the ultimate plan. I am sure that was a difficult reality as a mother as well, her perfect son suffering for the sins of the world. Again, it makes me think Mary must have had such strong faith that God was working in all of this. 

            I don’t know what God has called you to do, but whatever it is, may you have faith like Mary. Know that He has called you for a reason and will see His plan through to completion. When you feel like He hasn’t given you the roadmap, ask Him to show you the next step. He calls us to follow Him one step at a time. It is up to us to tune in to that still, small voice to hear the next step. He also never promises it will be easy. I am sure there will be times that it feels like God wouldn’t call us to do something so difficult, just like Mary. It is my prayer that if I am willing to proceed in faith like Mary did, God will be faithful to show me all of the details as we go.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”        Ephesians 2:10

I did it again!

I just got home from my 2^nd Business Boutique in Nashville, TN. Just six short months ago, I went to the BB in Dallas with nothing but a dream of starting a new business. If I could describe my experience there in one word it would be INSPIRING.

 This time, I returned as a starter and vendor. It was my first time to get my scripture canvases out there for people to see. If I were to describe this recent weekend in one word, it would be STRETCHING.

In the weeks leading up to the BB, it was so easy to overthink everything and get overwhelmed. I got so hung up on seemingly small things like what I would wear. When I focused on me and how I would present myself, things would start to fall apart. The idea of having to “sell” my work led to so much insecurity. (That is my next thing to work on!) I had to give myself permission to be me.

I began to pray for God to help me to connect with other women at the Boutique in a meaningful way and let me be able to encourage the women I would meet there. Wow, did He come through with answers to that prayer! I made so many connections with women there and inspiration and encouragement were shared both ways.

It was a completely surreal experience being a vendor for the first time ever! My table was mingled in with other starters, builders, and “celebrities” side by side. I love how the women at the Business Boutique are all there to encourage each other. The speakers there truly have the heart to encourage new business owners. My table was right next to Crystal Paine, The Money-Saving Mom, who was a speaker at the event in May. Directly across from me was Nicole Walters, who was a speaker at this event. When I say surreal, I really mean it! I could not believe it was really happening, like someone needed to pinch me.

 I also couldn’t believe I was brave enough to do such a thing! I took a photo with the “Do it scared” sign because that was the perfect description of my experience. If I let fear stand in the way, I wouldn’t have gone at all! It is so much easier to hide behind my computer from home than to actually put myself out there in person. Not only was it super stretching for me to go and present Captivating Joy in person, but I was invited to do an interview for Christy Wright’s Business Boutique podcast! I quickly replied “Yes, I would love to!”, then started to think about the reality of what that meant. Ironically, I love to talk and I love writing, but am terrified of any type of “speaking”. I tried to convince myself it would be just like talking to the women there one on one. However, it felt so different when they put a microphone the size of my head just inches in front on my face! It was kind of hard to ignore and I felt like I turned into a bumbling fool, hopefully their editing masters will be able to do something with it! I was so honored to have had the opportunity and so relieved when it was over. Not sure when my interview will be featured, but here is the link to her podcasts if you want to see what the Business Boutique is all about. https://www.businessboutique.com/podcast/

I was definitely inspired all over again by my experience this weekend. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do as I learn to take my business to the next level. I see the whole experience as the beginning of my journey and know I will look back in awe one day at what God has done.