Pointing them to Jesus

I used to get upset when my kids made poor choices, or fought, or used foul language, or... I used to tell them how wrong they are and maybe even shout at them, or shame them, or otherwise express my disappointment.  But this was a long time ago...like last year, or last month or ahem...yesterday. Each new day, though brings such wonderful opportunities for a new approach for them and for me.  Lately, we've had some really ugly situations filled with cursing and name calling, but what an awesome opportunity to point them towards their ABSOLUTE NEED for a Savior!

 

 

Sometimes, It's just a matter of remembering that we are all still a work in progress.

 



Rafael - My Word, My Focus for 2014

See that man up there? That handsome man in the white cowboy hat? Look at him for a bit. Now focus in. That man, right there will be my focus for the year of 2014...



 

 

RAFAEL

 

 

 

Last year, I read several blogs and snippets about a verse of the year or a word of the year. People chose a verse or a word to focus on throughout the year.  There were some amazingly inspiring words as focus for 2013... intentional, love, inspire, courage...

 

I told you they were great!  I thought about it long and hard, so long and hard that I never really landed on a word, then I promptly forgot about it. 

 

So, this year, when I again started seeing #wordoftheyear all over the blogosphere, I got to thinking again.  I asked God for a word. I tried a couple of them on... intentional? focus? marriage?  They seemed like a good enough place the start, but then, I read Sarah Mae's blog. She decided to use her husband's name as her word of the year.  I liked it, but was it right for me for 2014?

 

I thought about it, a lot. I prayed about it, a little (just trying to keep things honest, here). Then, I went about my day. I kept rolling all of the words over my tongue and through my mind as I set about my daily tasks. And things kept happening. Little things...I listened to a webcast from Focus on the Family about our behavior in marriage. I looked at my cart on Christianbook.com and noticed that it was full of marriage books, and then I added one more book to the cart which made my balance a perfect balance to get free shipping, and I knew that it was the word that God was placing on my heart for 2014.  I know it seems like a stretch, but it was the confirmation that I was looking for (as if the fact that he works tirelessly each and every day to support our family wasn't enough).

 

 

It would be lying if I said that it's going to be easy.  It won't be.  I'm honestly a little afraid to be putting this out there. I know that focusing on my husband, my man, my love will be one of the hardest things I do this year.  I will have to contend with Satan on this, but mostly I will have to deal with my own selfish desires. But, I love this man, and he is worth it!

 

So, here it goes.  2014 - The year of Rafael...

I am linked up with Sarah Mae's blog.  So, go check it out and see other women with a similar word of the year!