Part of living life more intentionally, as I'm seeking to do with 8 in 2008, has been inspired by the way the Lord continues to impress certain lessons on my heart. No matter where I turn or what I am doing, there seems to be a theme for that particular season in life.
As this New Year approached, I was on the lookout for a new theme verse (or verses) for 2008. I didn't want to just launch into my thing, but to be before God in His thing. After much prayer and reflection, I'm sure that the theme for 2008 is very much from Him and I am excited to see how God will surely work, stretching my heart, soul, and mind as He teaches me to:
LIVE
~ as in become a living sacrifice according to Romans 12:1~
~ as in become a living sacrifice according to Romans 12:1~
LOVE
~ as in learning to love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ~
LAUGH
~ as in just one of the quality of the Proverbs 31 woman, found in verse 28 ~
In many ways, this theme was inspired by a necklace I received back in October as a gift with purchase. I would never have picked it out, and even tossed it aside for a time. I'm not sure when I first began wearing it, but from that point forward, I found myself repeating the phrase engraved on it, "Live, Love, Laugh."
Slowly, I realized that this is exactly what the Lord has been honing in on in my life. He revealed to me this past summer that I wasn't loving my husband the way God has called me to do (1 Cor 13) and by late fall I was certain that was I caring for my body as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). In general, God has been also showing me the reality that I spend more time worrying about the future instead of trusting Him, robbing me of much laughter (Proverbs 31:28).
This year, my prayer is that I will be intentional to live, love, and laugh the way God intended for those who know Him intimately! I'm praying for a softening of my heart so that I can love deeply, to have a new understanding of what it means to be a living sacrifice, and to move to a new level of trusting the Lord fully with all the things of the future.
I'm excited about what's ahead as I seek to live out this theme. I hope to share the journey with you, so keep a look out for Live, Love, and Laugh posts. Feel free to borrow this button, if it this theme fits with what you feel God may be impressing on your heart for 2008, too! I'd love to hear about your theme verse or lesson of the season the Lord has put before you, too!
Heavenly Father, we give you this year and pray for your extravagant grace to take hold of our hearts, minds, and souls as we bow before you and learn from you! In Jesus Name, Amen!
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God truly understands my love language of gifts! I wanted to be able to share my necklace with you, in case you feel led to adopt this theme and, like me, treasure reminders of the God-lessons before us. After searching google, I found it Amazon! How cool is that!
9 grace-filled comments:
i love the theme, and that necklace is too cute. I saw people wearing them last year and was actually looking around to find them for a while!
Such a wonderful theme.
I would actually like to take the individual buttons you have with the scriptures and use them to connect people back to your site if you would be ok with that. The one on Love contains one of my favorite verses.
Deanna
That necklace is so adorable and I love the theme! Going to have to add that to my blog too!
Live, Laugh, Love are a part of the cornerstone's of my blog. I have always had a heart for those three words, in their sequence, in their meaning. This past year I also added three more words to those...Faith, Family, Friends.
Those 6 words cover everything that is important to me...
I am so excited to see that God has laid Live, Laugh, Love on your heart for 2008!!!
Oh, by the way, I'm Melissa...nice to meet ya!
I found you at Joyce's Creation In Progress site. What a beautiful saying. I've copied the link and pic on my blog. I know it's God when somebody like you shows up in my life. This has been my motto for some time now and have it on mybloglog profile, but the way you have posted it's meaning here in your post, has really touched me. God bless. (a/k/a Rhonda)
As I mentioned in my comment on your 8 in 2008 'sticky post' ... I followed the live, love, laugh link from Creation in Progress because I bought (and have been wearing) those links in New Mexico last summer. I alternate with 'dream, believe, achieve' ... but I'm happy to have found your blog and love what you're doing in this virtual world.
Hugs and blessings,
This is my first time here...found you thru Chuck at Foster Me Up.
Your blog is gorgeous! I love the colors and flowers.
I have always been drawn to 'live,laugh, love' as the way to live my life and am gonna put your graphic on my blog along with a link...so others can be blessed, too.
Hugs...
Come and get your linky love!
http://tinyurl.com/6qcyg3
Phyl
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