It seems like everyone has this new “theme” or “one word” for 2014. So, like any good wannabe blogger out there, I picked one too…I know, it is already closing in on February….but like I said…just, whatever.
My word for 2014?
PRAISE
I want to learn how to praise better.
To praise my God, my man, my miniature men, my family, my friends, complete strangers…you get the drift. I want the characteristics of God to roll off my lips. I want to speak of His enduring love, His great faithfulness, His new mercies. I want to “enter his courts with PRAISE” everyday, all the time. I want those I love to never wonder what I feel about them. I want them to know how precious they are.
Anyone who has ever done the quiz in the back of Gary Chapman’s “The Five Love Languages” will know what I’m talking about when I say that I don’t speak “words of affirmation”. This may as well be Latin, or Greek, or more accurately some language with pops and clicks from a tribe in some far off land – it is that foreign to me. (Wanna guess what my husbands love language is?? Yep.) Me? I just want us to curl up on the couch, give each other foot massages and talk into the wee hours of the night about our feelings (Also known as “quality time”). Him? He just wants to make/do/build something and wants me to tell him how awesome he is (which he IS super awesome, and talented, and gorgeous, and patient, and loving, and smart, and…a million other things…but why are they all so impossible for me to say out loud!?) Alas, “NOTHING is impossible”…even me giving a compliment…ugh.
I’m going to add a few examples of his awesomeness below…he is going to be so mad at me for sharing these – because for as much as he thrives off words of affirmation and acts of service, he’s not huge into attention….(I’m not sure how we ever thought we had anything in common?)
Building the most awesome bunk beds EVER.
He has such a servant’s heart, for almost a week, he went to work everyday then was at the church into the wee hours designing and building this with a couple other guys.
My old kitchen. He designed and installed the whole thing (with a little help from Ikea, his dad and his brother).
I always think he looks like a stud when he’s skiing.
I find myself humming…”we can go to town, or baby if you’d rather, I’ll take you for a ride on my big…eh…little green tractor.”
In front of a house he and a team helped build on a mission trip to Honduras.
Teaching our boy how to be a man…and also how to shoot a bow. 🙂
“May my lips overflow with praise…” Psalm 119:171
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.” Psalms 48:1
“In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” Psalms 44:8
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today…” Hebrews 3:13
So….my one word for 2014 is PRAISE. Lord teach me.
