This week, I filled the final page of a journal I started in January 2014. As I cracked open the crisp white front page of a new journal, my heart beckoned me to begin again. An unwritten journal is like a fresh start. A new season full of blank-page potential. I shiver with anticipation thinking, “how will God move in my life to fill these pages?”
My last journal documented my pregnancy, my fears and prayers regarding motherhood, and cries for help during the twin’s birth and first few months. Song lyrics, Bible verses and amateur doodles reflect each moment of that special season of change.
Before I put my pen to the fresh page, I asked God about the kind of season God has planned for me this time. The word INTENTIONALITY, was unmistakably the label He gave for this season.
Recently, I’ve been reading a lot about being brave (thanks to Hello Darling Magazine). I am challenged by the concept, and I hope I am living each day with more bravery to be who God created me to be.
As I prayed, I realized that courage is 2 parts faith and 1 part intentionality. I must have faith that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in me, to keep refining the woman of His design. However, I also must have intentionality; to pursue the hard things, scary things, and things that require extra energy. With faith and intentional-living, I will become more like the “me” I am destined to be. And in doing so, I will look less like “me” and more like Christ. All the selfish, prideful, lazy, and boring parts that frustrate me about myself will fade as God keeps transforming me to be holy, as He is holy.
So here’s to a brave new season!
It’s a season of intentionality…
- to welcome the Holy Spirit into each day with praise
- to eat fresh foods
- to do less Facebook and more phone calls
- to make eye contact
- to invite order into my home, schedule, and budget
- to try difficult things like tandem nursing the twins
- to greet each morning with joy instead of dread
- to be teachable
- to cherish the oft overlooked, like reading the book of Leviticus, brushing my hair, or making time to snuggle my golden-doodle.
- to brave the cold weather and seek out community
- to hold my tongue
- to say “no” with confidence and keep my calendar open for rest
- to pursue more publishing options for my book (oh, so much courage needed here.)
- to preserve family memories through monthly picture-sorting/book making
- to pray with purpose and for things that matter, like Salvation for the lost, adoption, relational redemption, freedom from slavery to sin and slavery of mankind, and for holiness to saturate my own life and the church body
- to live confidently in the body I have, enjoy it, and challenge it
Ink bleeds onto blank page, and so the season begins.
Dear friend, how does intentionality weave it’s way through your life? I’d love to sit down over a cup of actual coffee and hear about it. Since that might not be an option, feel free to share with me by commenting below.
And so, through pixellated words and the ambiance of screen light, would you make a toast with me? Raise your cup of coffee (or tea, or Jamba juice smoothie, or post-workout water bottle), and with a sign of anticipation, proclaim:
Here’s to a Brave New Season.
I also love the feeling of starting a new journal! And what a word for this new season of life! With little kids I find I have to be intentional in the time I spend with them. I am always “with” them but they need me to be with them, on their level, not making dinner, or writing Christmas cards, or getting anything else done… just being with them. Happy Thanksgiving!