My One Word

First blog of the year, and it kind of seems like everyone's saying how they're not making any resolutions this year because of the inevitability of failure.

I was reading an article on Relevant magazine.com about making more interesting new year's resolutions, and found that in reference to one, several people had left comments recommending a website called myoneword.org/.

The article suggested this:

2. Turn a complicated resolution into a single word or phrase. This idea was posed by author Gretchen Rubin in a recent article for The Huffington Post. Rubin suggests identifying one overarching theme for the entire year, squeezing that theme into a single word or phrase, and then using that word or phrase to guide you through the next 365 days. Rubin chose the word “bigger.” Her sister chose the phrase “free time.” I’m considering “simple” or “grace” or maybe “pococurante,” just to sound smart.

And the myoneword website helps people to do that by asking hard questions to reflect on and being able to talk to other people about their triumphs and struggles with it too.

So I've chosen, and my one word is:

" GENEROUS "

I figure blogging it might help to keep me a little more accountable. It's something I felt quite challenged about recently and it covers loads of areas of life, not just money, but being generous with my time, energy, car, food, posessions.... etc. too.

A couple of verses to encourage that this is something God wants us to be :

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." (1 Chronicles 29:14)

"The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;" (Psalm 37:21)



"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to thosse who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend ot them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:32-36)

"It is more blessed to give that to receive." (Acts 20:35)