12 in 2012

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R !

another year. another chance. another try.

new goals. new dreams. new seasons.

as i contemplate and call to mind all this past year has held, i'm giving weight to my thoughts about where i failed....and how i can learn from my mistakes. a somber sentiment perhaps...but only at first glance. 

truly, i believe there is joy in getting up, pressing on, pressing in and pursuing (my word for the year!). and aren't lessons learned in the trenches, valleys, struggles and skirmishes of life?  often our eyes are opened only when we hit our head hard enough on the ground after we've been knocked down.  too much?  i don't know, i love a good action film/story and most of the time victory only comes after a couple of losses. the win seems sweeter when failure is familiar.  

one of the goals i set for myself in 2011 was REMEMBER.  that was the word that, for me, meant memorizing scripture each month along with Beth Moore...and thousands of other women across the country.  she encouraged us to choose and memorize 2 verses each month, posting them on her blog on the 1st and the 15th.  i can't say that i actually posted mine every time, but i did keep both a written record, as well as a digital one, of all of my verses. i share this with you for 3 reasons.

one: because i began this post talking about failures and mistakes, and i wanted to also mention the importance of learning from our victories and accomplishments... the fact that finishing well, achieving a goal, actually doing something you weren't sure you could do... is a HUGE motivation toward future efforts.  

two: because there is no better safeguard against sin (failing/falling) than committing scripture to memory, hiding the WORD in our hearts, letting the TRUTH be the light onto our path.  it will be a salve to our wounded souls, a healing oil for our broken hearts, the stone in our slingshot, an arsenal of ammo for our weary flesh... we cannot survive, let alone win, without it.  and next time we come face to face with failure, well, we'll have protection.

three: i want to do it again. with you!  do you want to join me?? 

so here is what we'll do, together.  

on the 1st of every month, i'll post my verse for the month here.  

you'll comment right here on the blog (not on facebook, or twitter) with your first name, city, verse (and where it's found) and what version of the Bible you used.   there really aren't any rules (other than 

please, lets not use this as a commentary or comment space)  

don't feel like you have to memorize the same verse as me...although, of course, you're welcome to!  let God speak to you where you're at, and i know he'll inspire others through you 

as you allow him to inspire you.

and by the end of 2012 we will have memorized 12 verses!!

so....as TODAY is the first day of not only a new month, but a new year, here is my verse for the month of January...

Crystal, Whitefish, '...PURSUE righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.' 1 Timothy 6:11 {NLT}

with anticipation of great things this year...

crystal