I asked the teens and adults in class last week to share one word that summarizes the past year of 2018. Upon reflection, the following words were shared:
Complicated Change Aggressive
Pressure Eventful Tiring
Privileges Magical Joyful
Adventurous Terrible Expensive
Broken Overcome
They lived it, experienced every moment of it, and this is the thing… Each one of those one word answers has a long story behind why each person shared that particular word.
What is your word for 2018 and why? Share with your family.
2019 is here, and we don’t have a choice but to move forward. Will 2019 be better? Time is going to move forward if we like it or not. How do we move forward as Kingdom People and build positively on our past experiences? I also asked them, “What is your word for 2019?” The following were their answers:
Happy, Growth, Appreciate, Better, Relationships
Our entire church family is studying together, “No Greater Love” – the gospel of Jesus through the words written by the beloved apostle, John. Story after story with similar theme words. Growth will certainly happen if we put in the study. Surround yourself with happy people focused on Jesus to achieve joy. Appreciate moments that 2019 will bring us to build better lives and better relationships.
Zane Armstrong shared the word, “Overcome” and knowing what that young man has endured, I couldn’t help but get choked up a bit. Why? Because I see so much of the qualities of Jesus living in him even when life tries to take his joy away. Family always has its ups and downs, bumps and bruises, and a focused family is able to overcome anything and everything Satan throws at us. Invest in each other.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NIVO)