Last January I wrote that my word for 2010 was CONNECT. I think that in general I have reflected that well. We did make the move and that transition has required many, many connections. We have connected with a new church and a new house group that is a total blessing. We have connected with friends coming to stay with us and with other friends around the Thanksgiving table. We have connected with Chinese students by sharing our home and our Christmas with them. We have definitely taken more blessing than we could ever give as God gives us people with whom to share. I have helped Jewel and Flower connect to new friends and a new piano teacher. We will soon be connecting with a new home education group. I have not found a ladies bible study, but my goal is to find or start one soon.
As I wrote of the hope of connections in 2010, I had little contemplation for the disconnections that would have to come as well. We had to disconnect from beloved friends and a house group that was integral to our ministry. We found the courage and ability to disconnect from some hurtful relationships and from the hold of memory and tradition. We disconnected from a home we loved, to connect with another home only to be forced to disconnect again. It has been a difficult year of disconnecting, and I'm not sorry to see that part end.
Of course, when I wrote those plans in January I had no way of knowing that I would say good-bye to my mother in February. Disconnecting and reconnecting and finding new connections in the saying good-bye, seeing family at the funeral and adjusting in the months that have followed have re-defined the goal of connection this year. Yet I am finding the connection. Mom had boxes of family genealogy that she had done nothing with for years. Entering that research and finding the family roots have given a new connection in the time of loss.
So a year of connection comes to an end, but the connecting will continue. We look forward to 2011 of opening our home to ministry and seeing where God leads. But what else in 2011? Throughout Advent, I was drawn again and again to Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
I believe that the words that God is giving me this year are PONDER and TREASURE. I see the new year of treasuring the blessing that bestowed, of rejoicing that He truly does bring beauty from ashes and that beauty must be treasured. I find more and more a need to ponder the glory of God and his amazing word. I want 2011 to be another year of Bible Memorization and study. I have missed being a part of a small group of ladies to study, and hope to seek that out this year. Our house group is centered on solid Bible Study, and the foundation of the new church is the Preaching and Teaching from the pulpit, so there is much to ponder. But one of my goals is to not have the pondering be limited to a cerebral exercise. I want it to be active and to be changing my actions as well as my thoughts.
So there are my dreams for 2011 in a nutshell--to treasure all God brings into my life and to ponder all he teaches me to move me to action. Thank you for being a part of my year of Connection in 2010. I pray that you have found a connection to the Saviour in these mere words I type each week. You are such a blessing to me!
Happy New Year 2011!
2 comments:
I've always loved that verse too, about the pondering. I tell myself to speak less and ponder more!
Happy New Year, friend. May 2011 bring many treasures your way.
Miriam,
Ponder, contemplate, envision, ruminate, evaluate... yes, indeed, much to think about. We are pondering a move in 2011, and I can only hope and pray that we will make the successful transition and connections that you write about. God bless you - and thank you for stopping by Spots and Wrinkles. ..Marsha Y.
Post a Comment