Fire

In early 2017 a friend gave me the book, “One Word That Will Change Your Life”.   I found it fascinating.  I talked to friends that had read the book and said they annually claimed a word; some even got bracelets each year with their word on it.  Excited to try it out, I found a time when I was alone and diligently followed the steps in the book.  The word that kept coming to me was “fire”.  Did it mean I was going to be “on fire” this year?   Was it really “passion” and I was getting the word confused? Most of my friends were sharing words of inspiration (trust, strength, joy, balance).  I thought maybe I did it wrong as I was hoping my word would be inspiring – not just a random noun.

Fast-forward six months and it all made sense.  It was definitely a year of fire – walking through the biggest fire of my adult life.  A fire I did not start nor did I see coming.  But the tricky thing about fire is while it is hot and hurts like hell, it refines and melts away all the superficial.  Talk about a do-over.  Once everything is burned, all that is left is a blank canvas.

It’s been a few years – I have counted my losses and mourned my old dreams.  I felt it was important to take time to heal, forgive, ensure the flames had all been extinguished and the embers had died.  Today it is time to start re-planting.  If you follow me on social media, I hope you see that there is joy, adventure and hope in my every day life.

I am not in a place yet where I can honestly say that I am thankful for the fire; however, through prayer, meditation, an amazing support group and wonderful friends, I am in a place of hope that the future can be great again.  I recently read the book again and my word for 2019 is Courage.  What is your word for 2019?

Resources/Inspiration:

Online Quiz (not as in depth as the book): 

https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz#/home

Book:

One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton & Jimmy Page

Verses:

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

I Peter 4:12-13 (ESV & The Message versions)

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Songs:

“Symphony” – Switch, Dillon Chase

“If You Want Me To” – Ginny Owens

“Thy Will” – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family