2015 - The Seasons of Life

Another year has begun and I find myself reading many posts of other bloggers who have chosen different ways to prepare their hearts for the new year. Some used the same old plan..choose a word...set goals...plan to make certain changes. Others have been quite unique and different. I personally have found it a challenge to do any specific planning or goal-setting. I think that may have to do with how things went for me in 2014. Nothing seemed to go as hoped or planned. Even the word I chose for the year, "fervent" seemed to fade from my focus about halfway through the year. If I learned anything last year, it was that God is in control and He will take us where He wants to take us. I learned that prayer is vital, but not to just get what I want or ask for, but more to help me grow in my relationship with Him. I learned that life is really a journey and as long as we let the Lord be our Navigator, we will be o.k., even along the bumpy, curved, chuck-hole paths. I learned that there is  joy in the journey, but we have to be aware of and not miss those "joy" moments....being grateful for the small things, instead of just waiting for the big things to happen. Each season of our lives takes us down different roads...some are much more difficult than others, and sometimes we make unwise choices, because of our own selfish desires. But God is faithful and true! We can always trust in His promises to us. 

 This year, I'm not choosing just "one word" for the whole year! I'm choosing many words (and verses) that will help navigate me where I am able to focus during different seasons of my life (not literal seasons of the year.)

 Winter - A time to rest and wait and listen
Contemplate; ponder; treasure up
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43)

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matt. 11:28)

Spring - A time to start fresh and anew
Renewed; 
in attitude of mind (Eph. 4:23; Ro 12:1-3); 
as a new creation, in knowledge (Galatians 6:15); 
renewed like an eagle (Psa. 103:5); 
in strength (Is. 40:31);  
day by day...
 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.(2 Corinthians 4:16)

Summer - A time of hardship, loss, lonliness, and drought
Thirst; 
In soul/spirit (to thirst after God.) 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.(Matthew 5:6)

 Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 73:25 Psalm 63:1, Psalm 107:9,  Revelation 22:17

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)

Autumn - A time to seek after Him 
A time to seek;
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.(Deuteronomy 4:29)

 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 14:2, Psalm 34:14, Psalm 63:1. Lamentations 3:25, Matthew 6:33


May the Lord also guide you and be your purpose in each and every season of this year and all of your life!!


Comments

  1. Joan Davis (Jo)January 3, 2015 at 9:17 AM

    What a great idea, Ann! Different seasons...different focus/word! My word for 2014 was "courage" and as you know, I sure learned a thing or two about that! This year, my word is "expectancy". (You're the first person besides Roy that I've told so far!!) I am going to focus on expecting great things from God! Our God is bigger than we can imagine and He always does the best thing possible! So, rather than focusing on my disappointments, I'm having a joyful expectancy as I look toward 2015!

    Blessings Friend! Joan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cairncottageJanuary 3, 2015 at 10:03 AM

      Love your word for 2015, Joan! I learned some things about that word last year, when I wrote a post describing the difference between "expectancy" and "expectation". (Here - http://christintheclouds.blogspot.com/2014/08/straight-from-my-heart-expectations.html
      - Expectation is premeditated disappointment, often characterized by unfulfilled desires.
      - Expectancy involves faith. "To embrace expectancy is to engage your faith that God will move on your prayers AND that He may come through in a way that’s different than you expect.”
      I look forward to how God will use our words to grow us in Him in the coming months!!

      Delete
    2. Joan Davis (Jo)January 10, 2015 at 8:37 AM

      I like that definition, Ann! Expectancy does involve faith rather than expecting the worst! Thanks!

      Delete
  2. BARBIEJanuary 4, 2015 at 10:50 PM

    What a great idea, choosing a different word/words for each season. My word is content and I know that God has a few things to teach me in that area. Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Brew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cairncottageJanuary 5, 2015 at 6:03 PM

      Oooh, 'Content' should be quite a challenge, but such a rewarding theme word!! Can't wait to see how God guides you through a year of contentness....Thanks for stopping by, Barbie.

      Delete
  3. sarahJanuary 5, 2015 at 5:17 PM

    It is good to know you've used your own way to make your New Year's resolution! It is true that God is in control of our lives. I sometimes still struggle to remember that but I'm trying really hard to. There are things we can't change, things we shouldn't be afraid of because our God is here. I hope you have a great year and spend a lot of time with God! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cairncottageJanuary 5, 2015 at 6:05 PM

      Yes, last year was a hard lesson year for me. I'm praying God keeps growing me. Though, I'm praying this year won't be as difficult for me in the learning process. May your year be full of many blessings, too!

      Delete
  4. UnknownJanuary 6, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    That is a really great idea, Ann! It really keeps things fresh, I bet. I look forward to see how God reveals Himself seasonally to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cairncottageJanuary 6, 2015 at 9:14 PM

      Me too, Jen! May you also find the coming year full of new and exciting lessons and experiences! May we all see just how much of an amazing God He is!!

      Delete
  5. a joyful noiseJanuary 7, 2015 at 10:28 PM

    I love your photo of the seasons and your many words that will bless you through the varied seasons of the year and seasons in live. Thank you for sharing your inspiring post with us here at “Tell Me a Story."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Becky @ beckykeife.comJanuary 8, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    It can be disheartening when things doing go as you had hoped and the trials seem to outweigh the blessings. But I love what you said here: "I learned that prayer is vital, but not to just get what I want or ask for, but more to help me grow in my relationship with Him." Amen! That is a lesson that could surely carry you well through the year ahead. Blessings, from your Coffee for Your Heart neighbor.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dolly @SoulstopsJanuary 13, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    Ann,

    Thanks so much for sharing your journey and the verses that you'll be focusing on during the year...sounds like a great idea. Blessings and thanks for introducing yourself over at my blog :-)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave me a comment.

Popular posts from this blog

My word for 2016: Happiness

Image
Hello and welcome to my first post of 2016! I'm a bit shocked at writing this post, as I I haven't picked a word for the year for myself for a few years. I hadn't planned on choosing a word this year till recently.  But because last year had SO many challenges for me and I gave so much of myself and felt so drained of energy by the end of the year. it just seemed appropriate to decide on a specific word for 2016. Definition from Dictionary.com "The state of being happy." synonyms: pleasure ,  contentment ,  satisfaction , cheerfulness,  merriment ,  gaiety ,  joy , joyfulness, joviality,  jollity ,  glee ,  delight , good spirits, lightheartedness,well-being,  enjoyment ;   exuberance ,  exhilaration ,  elation ,  ecstasy , jubilation ,  rapture , bliss,  blissfulness I've been reading and praying about the word - happiness - in Scripture, in Christian theological writings and blogs. I'm learning that happiness is not something God
Read more

Burn The Ships

Image
The beginning of a New Year often has us looking back and seeing how God has walked with us in the past and contemplating the year ahead .  We tend to want to hold on to the familiar, the easier path, the old ways....but these often become unhealthy, and even dangerous for us to continue down some paths/have relationships with some people in our lives. When we become aware of these different paths/people in our lives that can hinder/harm us, we may need to "rise from the dust and walk away".  "Burning the Ships" can be SO difficult(maybe even excruciating.)  I don't know about you, but FEAR often has kept me from burning the ships and moving ahead. Fear of rejection, fear of what others will think, fear of being alone, fear of not knowing the future. But, God reminds us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He is our source of strength. And He holds the future and will take care of us!! “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageou
Read more

Spiritual Fervor

Image
  We go through our daily routines,  but something is missing. Maybe d uring a crisis or a major life change....            or simply spending less and less time on spiritual pursuits. ...these c an cause us to enter a time in life                          when there's just no enthusiasm or spark. Ha ve you ever been the re before? I have!! There are days when it is difficult to find the drive and zest, even when I know I have the greatest reason to be zealous . Lacking zeal or losing spiritual fervor is som ething that the believer needs to be aware of as he /she progresses in one's spiritual life.  As we grow in our knowledge of Biblical truths and the things of God it becomes quite familiar and the wonder of first discovery can diminish over the years. It is here that spiritual boredom can set in.  Zeal is a fruit of deeply abiding in the One Who is Life! It is different than mere excitement, which happens mostly outwardly and at the surfa
Read more