Journey 2022

A new year, a new beginning, a fresh start. What does this new year hold for each of us?   For you? For me?  For our family of wounded hearts?  For this blog?  

Oh this blog!! A history of fresh starts and new beginnings, but where are the completions?  Where are the victories!! 

I titled this blog Chasing Wounded Hearts for a reason, maybe more than one 😉 I am wounded, my husband is wounded, our children are wounded, and I serve a God who promises to heal the broken hearted, binding up our wounds.  Sometimes,  often, most of the time, the journey from wounded heart to healing is messy.  I've been told messy doesn't inspire good blog reading. Then I realized there's a blurry line between where my story ends and my child or husband's story begins. That makes the story telling a little difficult.

I've been pondering that word, "chasing."  It sounds a lot like that children's game of tag, full of chasing after someone, never knowing when they might swerve one way or the other, when they might pour on the steam and quickly pull away from you, always afraid of slipping and falling, or that you won't be able to tag someone.  That is a pretty good description of living with those wounded by trauma, loss, and life, but it doesn't tell the whole story of our lives together. 

"Chasing" is always running after, desperate to catch up, slightly out of breath, never in control, always... well.... chasing!  I have no intentions of changing the name of this blog, however I am looking at 2022 differently.  I no longer want to chase after anything but, God and His will for my life. For 2022 I am looking at the word "Journey." A journey is so different from chasing, there's a destination, a plan to get there, a reason for going, and expectancy.  

2022 will find me on a journey for JOY, a journey to physical health, a journey to simplify our home, a journey of homeschooling, a journey of raising children, a journey of loving my husband, a journey to serve and equip women, a journey to becoming a blogger.  Unlike a physical trip, I can journey towards more than one destination at a time. What fun! Instead of one place to visit I can follow a map to a world full of adventures.  

So this year, 2022 I plan to share my journeys. You can follow along. You can cheer me on. You can be my accountability partner. You can comment. You can join me, if you are on the same journey. Along the way I will share any tools, tips, and strategies I am using. I plan to post a new blog every Friday, 52 blogs for 2022. I hope you will join me. 

.And so a new year begins, and I begin again with the hope of being a blogger...

 My Place in This World? 

A friend wrote about this on Facebook, "I just want to find my place in this world." I get it friend -- I ask God, "What is my calling?" Who am I?" I have questioned God myself lately, "What am I supposed to be doing?" "How should I be living my daily life?" I know He wants all of me.  I know I am created with a purpose.  What parts of me are part of Your purpose for my life, and what parts are my selfish-still-holding-on sin nature that needs to die? 

I went to bed thinking about my friend's question and mine.  What is my place in this world? What should I be doing with my life? I concluded we do have a purpose to fulfill, but we are not all called to do "BIG" things.  The daily mundane things done with great love become great things. 

I fell asleep with a sense of great peace and purpose. What is my purpose? To love God and to love others. But how did knowing that bring me peace?  I asked God some more questions.

"Where do I start Lord?"  with those right in front of you.  Everyone you meet, whoever God brings to our path is your great ministry. 

"How do I do it Lord?"  what is that in your hand?  This question came with a flood of visions of "Bible people."  

• Moses had a staff - God anointed and used it
• David had a sling shot - God anointed and used it
• The poor widow had two coins -  Jesus used it to share a great truth
• The boy had a lunch - Jesus blessed it and it fed a multitude.

We, you and I, sweet friend are called to get up every day and give all we have to God and ask him to bless it.  We are called, commanded, to love others.  

What is my place in this world?  where I am right now. 

What is my purpose? to love God and to love others.

What do I use?  whatever God has put in my hands.

David didn't need a staff, he needed a sling shot.  While God could use whatever David offered to slay Goliath, David would have found it awkward and look silly trying to fight Goliath with a staff.  Can you imagine if David heard that was how Moses defeated Pharaoh, and decided he needed to defeat Goliath the same way?  Each one had to offer what they had, what they knew, what they were comfortable using.  

We have to let God do a new thing, a unique thing, because we are in a new time, new battle, and uniquely equipped. 

What is in your hand?  Who is in front of you? Where has God placed you, today? 

Go love God and others in word and deed.  Use what God has put in your hands, serve them well, that is our place in this world.  No magic formula, no special career choice, no great life change.  Start where you are and who knows what God might put in your hands next?  Maybe a crown?