Wardrobe Changes
January 10, 2011
Being a father of two young daughters, my house is the definition of pinkalicious. Everywhere I turn I am confronted with something girlie. My life is consumed with tea parties, fairies and Barbies. This exposure has affected me to the point where I randomly blurt out Disney Princess tunes and, sadly, know more about American Girl dolls than any man should.
Ive come to accept this as my plight in life and the reality is I wouldnt trade it for all the money in the world. Yet, I have friends who are becoming fathers of little girls for the first time. On occasion, I like to give them a few tokens of wisdom from my years of experience nurturing those who are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Of course, this insight includes: show her affection, be her biggest cheerleader, watch your tone of voice because they are delicate and make time for her at all costs.
Then there is the piece of advice I tack on at the end: oh yeah, be prepared for a lot of wardrobe changes. When my oldest entered kindergarten, she switched her outfit at least fives time daily before heading off to school. However, this past Halloween the fickleness about outfits reached a level never seen before. I lost track of how many costumes were in the running.
At one time or another our girls were going to be Ariel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy, Minnie Mouse, or Wendy Darling (Peter Pan). The outfits werent just of the cartoon variety because a ballerina, ice skater, fish, pirate and veterinarian were also considered.
But, their struggle to figure out who they wanted to be is far from a unique phenomenon solely reserved for little girls contemplating outfits. The reality is very few of us pause and consider the type of person we want to become. Even within our resolutions, our focus tends to reside on escaping the individual of the past as well as the person we fear we will remain. We are well aware of the negative qualities that person possesses.
So, why you might ask, did we encourage you a few days ago to take inventory on where youve been and the person you currently are? Quite simply, it begins the process towards change by identifying your starting point. Taking the time to reflect on the past year in hopes of carving out a better future has the ability to halt you in your tracks. Coming face to face with the unpleasant gaps in your character and personality is not always a pretty picture.
Today we turn our attention to a different picture. This is a picture that propels you forward. Rather than attempting to avoid the person you were or stopping a negative behavior, we want you to begin painting a picture of the person you want to become at the end of 2011. This image must go deeper than outward appearances by focusing on the changes that need to take place deep inside your soul.
- Take a few moments and journal about the type of person you want to be at the end of 2011. How would you want this person to be described? What are some characteristics that would define this person? For those who have already chosen your One Word, what effect do you hope this word will have on your character? How will you have to posture yourself to make that change a reality?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!
I would like to be a more Godly person by the end of 2011. I’m trying to lose weight using a book called “Made to Crave” and it focuses on craving God more than food. I’m hoping that by doing this not only will I be thinner(hopefully) but closer to God and more like Him. Hopefully this will help me with my one word also.
I’ve struggled over the years with my personality. I would like to stay focused on the characteristics of God and emulate them. Staying in front of God’s words and being in front of spiritually mature and Godly people would benefit me greatly.
I would like to be a person who believes the best in others and believes what they communicate me. I would like to be free of all of the energy that I waste trying to second guess everyone. I want to be trusting and discerning without being naive and gullible. I am hoping that by being more trusting, I will be able to enjoy relationships more.
I want to be known as someone who is steadfast and disciplined, who is unwavering in living her values. I want to be an example of an empty vessel, filled only by God. These past years of being unhappy and resisting God have changed me physically — and I have not been happy about it. Yet, instead of moving forward, I keep wanting to go back … back to weighing less, back to being more active, back to my old Christian friends and family, back to a place I was happy. I have been looking in the rear-view mirror, trying to navigate my future, and I have run off the road. Not a good role model for someone who leads change management for a living. LOL. To create change I have to surround myself with it, I see it, I feel it, I touch it and I become the change. The TV is off, the wine is at the Teeter, my Bible is out and myoneword.org/old is up. GBWU (God be with us). M
I would like to be living life on purpose, for God’s purpose. instead of being propelled by my current set of circumstances, i hope to rise above the limitations i have set upon myself and be open to all that God has planned for me. My word is listen, my goal is to pause my high speed mind so i can hear what God is saying to me.
Another year has begun, 2011! I am sort of a baby Christian but all though I want to learn how to become INTENTIONAL, How to be intentional with my GOD, with my bible, with my daily walk with God, with my husband and children!
My one word for 2011 is “LOVE”. I know I don’t love enough. I get upset with someone or something and then I just avoid rather than dealing with the situation. This has been a very hard year for me and the situation that has been ever present in 2010 is still here. By loving…the way God loves, I hope to be someone who not only looks like a child of God, but acts like one. I too have sent for the book ‘Made to Crave’. Oh to crave God rather than food……..ya…that is the type of person I want to become in 2011!
My one word for 2011 is “Freedom.” I want to experience the freedon that God offers us. I don’t want to be a slave to my circumstances, no longer allowing them to determine how I feel. I want to be free from the weights of this world. I want to be free of my failures and anything else that stands in my way of being the person God wants me to be. I want to be free from allowing others to project their “mess” on me. I think there is a way to love people and be respectful to others, without allowing them to pull you down or belittle you. I just want to be free, I feel like I living in this prison. I don’t want to be there anymore.
My word for 2011 is “determination”. I used to be someone that set goals and made sure I finished. I was determined. But over the last 21 years I have lost some of my determination. God has given me support and guidance to be determined enough to help my family members through their problems but there was a lot of struggles and I just gave up on myself. Now I need to use some determination to get my physical, as well as spiritual, health back on track. I need to use determination to get career goals back on track. Showing that determination will also be a wonderful guide for my son who is just stepping into his adult years and college. It will also be a guide to my teenage daughter who is in high school. AND my determination just might be an inspiration to my husband to get his physical and spiritual health back on track.
My word for 2011 is “hopeful”. No matter what happens there is always hope. We are God’s children and He has a purpose for me. So it does not matter my house has been on the market for 2 years, I am hopeful and trust in God’s perfect plan.
I want/need to be the person I once was, but, better. I have to stop letting others put me down so my self asteem is at it’s lowest. I am made in the image God, and God does not make JUNK? I am starting to get the kind of people back into my life so my life is turning for the better. They are Spiritual. I have so much Love to give, that others know what button to push to get any thing from me and then disapear. I want to be seen as a person whom can love, but not be used in the process of sharing that love. My word is “Obey”. The Lord said th Obey him, and we were all his people. That is my goal, to be a child of God. To put my priorities where they belong, and in order. This is my first blog, so I hope any one reading this will understand if I did not do my homework correctly.
I have been primarily a victum afraid to move forward for fear that I will be hurt where ever I go. I live in fear of failure, or being alone for the rest of my life. My one word tells me that I can over come the fear and live life to the fullest, with the HOPE GOD has given me in Jesus Christ. I HOPE you all find your word, and live life to the fullest.
All my life I’ve allowed abuse to influence my life. From being molested at the age of 9, sexually abused and raped, I took the affects of this right up until Dec 2010. I told God I didn’t want resolutions but I wanted change. He began working on me. Because of not knowing who I am in God, I started a devotion “Carvings in His Palm” by Brenda Craig. My husband shared with me your radio station online and I listen to that daily. I have taken the “Crave” fast and decided to stop eating sweets for January and will decide if I continue or not. Also this “Word” has caused me to ask God what is it that He desires for me. Wanna know what the word is….well, put it this way, my year will be filled with knowing who God is, knowing who I am, and knowing who Christ is in me. Did you guess it??? It’s IDENTITY.
I
Desire
Eternal
Newness
In
Trusting
You
God is AWESOME!!!
I want to be the person even people who don’t know me can feel a peacefulness about me. I want/need peace in my life, mind, heart, soul, that I might be able to relax and handle anything that life throws at me, through Christ, of course, not of myself. No more letting circumstances upset me, no more losing my cool, Peace be still!
I want to be more alive this year, not just going through the motions of life, looking forward to the weekends, but to live in the moment and make my time here count. I want to move away from “me” and focus on others. I need to draw closer to Christ.
My word is “deeper” … while I always strive to go deeper with Christ, this year I want to go deeper with my grandchildren – to be more to them than a provider of treats & gifts, to KNOW them, and have them know me and the depth of my faith. I want to be one of their “heroes of the faith.”
My word is COUNSEL. Making sure I take God’s counsel first, before my own or anyone elses. At the end of the year, I want to be wise and steady like a Godly Little Red Hen; not running around worried that the ‘sky is falling’ like Chicken Little.
I want to be a better me. And to do this I must FORGIVE. This past year has been brutal and I want to end 2011 with a lighter heart, and happier soul. I don’t want to carry this burden any longer.
I chose the word DEDICATED. I am dedicated to pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus this year. For me it has been hard to give up control in certain areas of my life which is funny because no one has control, it is an illusion. So coming to grips with that was my first step in deciding to dedicate my life to prayer and pursuing Jesus. HE is in control and it is much better that way.
I choose love. I want to learn to love the way Jesus did. I want to become less selfish less absorbed with myself and more compassionate of others. I want to love God with all I am and for Him to be my focus. I want to learn to love myself and see myself the way God does. I have so many insecurities that hinder me from doing all of the above, so for this year I want to work on overcoming them.
My word is ‘grace.’ I need grace for my self because it seems like a mess up so much, but I want to be the person that models grace for myself and for others. I want people that have contact with to know they are loved and appreciated, because I love and appreciate myself as God’s child. I want them to laugh and walk away knowing there is something special they want to say to or do for someone else.
I want to learn to surrender my will and desire to control my life and all situations. I pray for the strength to place my trust in God and surrender my present and my future into His hands. I want to surrender the burden of doubt and learn to accept God’s gift of pure love for me no matter what I have or have not done. I want to surrender the consuming fear of failure and welcome all that God has in store for me with the faith that He will do what is best. My word is surrender.
Humility is the word I have been led to…Do all things with a servants heart – no excuses…That’s the theme to go along with my word. Within my heart I will hide God’s word from Philippians 2:3-5 & 13-14 and recite it daily, often throughout the day. My biggest obstacle is going to be myself but by the end of 2011 I want my character to include the overwhelming desire and trait of being a servant always willing to help where ever God leads me. Doing all things with a joyful heart, a spirit of service and making my attitude that of Christ Jesus.
I chose pure for my word. I hope it reminds me to focus on His word, His revelations to me & His pure love He is continually showing me. Keeping it loving, trusting & pure is what I want my relationship to be with God. To strive for pure love and trust & not clutter it up with negative feelings like shame, guilt & unworthiness.
I would like to be a more accepting person. I read a comment by Nancy where she stated she would like to “be a person who believes the best in others and believes what they communicate to me” I want to be this type of person too. I want to learn how to accept the things I can’t change, but I want to have the courage and wisdom to change the things I can and should.
I want to be someone God will be proud of. I want to be living a life totally glorifying to God. I want my relationship with God to be my very top priority. I want to know and practice fully the meaning of “deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Me”. I would like for people to see me as a joyful person and for it to be obvious that my joy comes from having Christ as the center of my life. Rejoicing in all situations is what I am working on, which has been more difficult than originally expected. I want/hope/desire that rejoicing in all situations would become more natural to me. I want to be seen as a person who is totally sold out for the Lord, who doesn’t worry what others think or believe about me. I want my identity to be in Christ.