A WORD for 2012

Okay,so when the same challenge or assignment is given from various area of your life, it's probably a good idea to think about it and probably even do it...you think?I haven't been in my regular Sunday School class for some time due to filling in for some other classes at church but yesterday I was able to make it. The assignment to the class was to find one word to focus on for this year...Interesting, just a few days ago I had read two blogs that talked about doing this SAME thing! So, I have been mulling this over and have had a word that just keeps coming back to me but I wasn't sure....

This morning, I turned on the computer to read another blog I follow, one by my lifetime mentor who posts "just a thought" each Monday morning. Guess what her blog was about today? YUP...One word for the year 2012. That settled it - I knew that God was calling me to have a word and to focus on it at least for this first part of 2012. Even more, I KNOW what the word is...I don't really like it, it's not something that comes naturally to me, yet it has already been a recurring theme in my life this year - yes the year is ONLY 16 days old and this has come up several times...Ready? Here it is...ugh...I don't want to, it will stretch and bend me, it may hurt at times, but my word.....FLEXIBILITY... There, I did it, I got it out! Well, to take it from a spiritual aspect, I thought "Here is my out, it's not in the Bible so I won't have to do it!" Just to be sure, I decided to Google Flexibility in the Bible...BLAH!!!!! There were so many passages...no, the exact term flexibility is used but the trait, the characteristic is there...being willing to lay aside what one had planned and go a different direction...To top it off, do you know the NUMBER 1 passage that was listed....Genesis 12...I blogged on that passage back in June 2011 Yes, the passage that applied to Borger...do you think that perhaps God was preparing me for this new year and this new word? Here are some areas in which I have already had to learn to be flexible this year:

1. Schooling options for Hannah: I never would have thought that any of my children would be in anything other than "public" schools. So, to even look at something different took us off guard. Then we were CERTAIN that she would go to the Christian school here in Borger - that door was shut for a couple of reasons but the biggest would be that they didn't have openings. After that, it was an on-line school. I was SO sure of this that I went ahead and withdrew Hannah from HS and we began to prepare for that. I can honestly say that God is the one who led us to withdraw her. THEN...we found out that there is an extensive waiting list for the on-line school and the odds of her getting in - slim to none. Guess what that left? To full on homeschool...not something I EVER imagined us doing and yet here we are and ALL 3 of us, Joel, Hannah and my self, are excited about it!!!

2. Areas of ministry: Just to be honest, I have struggled since we moved of exactly where I need to be in terms of "hands on ministry". If you spend any time at all around me you will learn that there are two areas that are close to my heart - Moms of young children and Special needs children and their families (even special needs adults). I am PASSIONATE about these areas, I get all excited, giddy, and hyper when I think of ways in which to minister to them! Since moving here, a lot of time and effort has been spent on getting the overall children's ministry in place...not an area that I get even remotely excited about. I do love my preschoolers...but beyond that I just am not called to the general children's ministry. I CAN do it, and I do it when needed but it's not what excites me...unless...there is a child with special needs! Then my heart melts, my arms love them and I want to think "How can we reach them?" This is ANY type of special needs....learning disabled, behavior, physical, emotional, etc. I also get REALLY excited about helping moms who have young children be better moms and wives! I get them, I was there, I resonate with the "no adult conversations". Anyway, a lot of time was spent on just getting settled and going and I just wasn't feeling like I was "fitting" in the ministry picture....Until...I asked Joel this weekend where he could use me, where did he really need me the most. He responded, "Well definitely still with moms of the younger kiddos but I have been really praying about a structured ministry to families of special needs children - do you think you would be interested?" DUH!!! He KNEW the answer...just needed the timing!! So...that is my "new" direction!

3. To work or not to work: This is ALWAYS the question with me! I have a degree in Business Management and Marketing, I love the business world and specifically Human Resources. Yet, since moving here, there really hasn't been a lot of openings for that area. On the other hand, I have been offered SEVERAL jobs in the schools as a para-professional aide...unfortunately they were mostly helping in Jr High Math...NOT my thing! One was with preschoolers with special needs - definitely an area I enjoy but the timing, pay and work environment really weren't something I was ready for. I don't have to work full-time but do need some part time work. I am still working for my Dad typing appraisals and am thankful for that even if it is not with people. I am also FINALLY able to sub here and that is okay, but again not my thing...However, every time I have looked into another job the door has shut...hard! In talking with Joel and praying over it - we are both open to me working again full-time BUT there are some very specific criteria that we feel need to be met for it to work for our family...a) In Borger or surrounding area(not commuting too far) b) reasonable and regular hours - no weekends or late nights c) flexible (Ha ha-there's that word) we often are out of town for ministry d) pay a minimum of $30,000/ year e) in the Business or HR field. We believe that if the Lord wants me to work full-time outside the home - there will be a job that meets these areas! So - have to be FLEXIBLE and wait for the right job!!!

There you have it! My word for 2012 is FLEXIBILITY! I want to be willing to bend and change directions or plans should the Lord lead!!! If you have a word for the year - I would love to hear it!!!