My One Word for 2020 is…

(if you are wondering what ‘my one word’ is check out this article on my website here.)

My desire for 2020 is to Enjoy…

…God

…Home

…Life

…Work

and Writing.

Enjoying HOME has been a BIG part of the past 6 weeks due to COVID 19. The virus has given us an invitation to be present and enjoy our home environment and family members (in New Zealand we call them our bubble).

We are all discovering our amazing bird life. Is it me or does there seem to be more birds around since lockdown? I am appreciating autumn as a season more as I daily watch the change in the leaves and temperature.

I am discovering new ways to enjoy moments. I haven’t been very good at appreciating the present. I am usually too focused with the future to stop and smell the roses. But now, with working and staying at home, there are more moments to savour.

What are you doing with your moments? 

What an incredible invitation we have, right now, to enjoy our lives like never before.

What a fabulous calling to our souls to savour God more.

I have selected 5 verses from the Bible that mention what it means to enjoy. I invite you this week to take one a day and ponder it. Turn it over in your mind. Create an image in your mind’s eye. Turn them into a conversation with your Abba Father – the one who created everything for your enjoyment.

I suggest that you take the time to write the verse into a journal. Look up different translations. Check out the links below that will take you to blueletterbible where you can discover the Greek or Hebrew meanings.

Take time to ponder the questions and jot down your responses.

Enjoy the Word!

Enjoy God!

Enjoy the daily work (aka worship) that he has given you today!

5 DAY ENJOY GEMS

Thoughtful Questions:

1. Delight means to be pampered or make yourself glad in…How can you be pampered or make yourself glad in the Lord?
2. What desires are in your heart?

Thoughtful Questions:

1. Do you feel like you are falling from something or someone? Maybe you feel like you have fallen away from your 2020 goals or plans? Write about what that feels like.
2. Are you able to receive the invitation from Abba Father to allow Him to cause you to stand, rejoicing?  What does that look like?

Thoughtful Questions:

1. What are you currently grieving right now? What have you lost? The Hebrew word also means to be in pain. What is painful for you right now?
2. What are you looking for to bring you strength, to help you cope with your pain/sorrow/grief? Is it working?
3. Can you put aside your attempts to cope and allow yourself to accept the Spirit’s indwelling joyful presence? spend 5 min in silence with Him.

Thoughtful Questions:

1. What path of life is God currently leading you into?
2. Do you see absolute joy there?
3. Ask God to remove the scales of your eyes to see the sheer delight he is offering and to experience true soul joy.

Thoughtful Questions:

1. The ESV version says ” Let me hear joy and gladness” . What does joy and gladness sound like? Have you heard it today?
2. Are you holding onto something that God has already forgiven?

So Rachel, I would love to hear which verse spoke volumes to you- feel free to reply to this email and share your thoughts.

Keep leaning into Him…

This Week’s Resources

~~awesome music video filmed in quarantine for KING & COUNTRY – TOGETHER

~~thought provoking podcast on “Being Consistent is Not the Goal” by Emily P Freeman. Only 12 mins. I so resonated with the line “Do I pass judgement on myself for hesitating over the simplest decisions about what colour photo box should I order on Amazon?” That is so me! I am learning to embrace decisions and take the time to enjoy making them rather than treat them as another thing to tick off the list. How about you?