12 in 2012 {december}

It seems amazing to say, but another year has already come and gone. Well, just about. Is it just me, or do you feel like you say that same thing every December too?
Time goes by so quickly these days... Or perhaps it's that as I get older time seems to fly faster? Whatever the case, it is in fact December and we have in fact, hopefully, memorized 11 verses so far this year. I hope this has been a journey of learning and growing for you, as it certainly has been for me. I don't believe there is any way to better spend our time or brain power than to memorize scripture, effectively hiding the truth in our hearts. Not that I've mastered it by any means, but I am grateful for the living and active Word that is constantly moving and molding my mind and heart as I yield to the Spirit and let it do its work in me.

Before I share my verse for the month I would love to invite you to spend some time over the next 4 weeks looking back at your past verses. Read each of them out loud over the course of the month. Remind yourself why you chose them, what God spoke to you through them and where you are now because of them. Have your own little personal retrospective and get a jump on the new year. Look back...then jump forward!

As I've begun that same process of taking inventory of 2012, I've been remembering some really great trips we've taken as a family this year. Several of those trips included the opportunity to see and hear some remarkable artists in concert. Carrie Underwood, Bryan Adams, Justin Bieber and Kimbra. They were each VERY different as you can imagine. They did, however, all have one thing in common: screaming fans. Thousands of screaming fans. In one case crying, hysterical, screaming fans. It was mesmerizing to see thousands of people singing along, knowing every word, awed at every measured dance move and wonderstruck at every wave (she waved at me!!! He looked right at me!!!). And it made me think. How superfluous it all is. Not just the fame and fortune the world strives so hard for, but the amount of energy, time and money that we as a society spend on entertainment for entertainment's sake. And please understand, I am not judging those artists or trying to be negative. They are all gifted and talented and quite good at what they do. And I did, after all, purchase tickets to see and hear them. I'm simply stating the fact that ALL fame, fortune, position, power, trinkets and treasures will pass away, as will we. And in eternity...God will finally receive ALL worship, honor, glory and credit. As it should be.

As we gear up for Christmas, this verse will serve as a reminder to me to keep my worship focused on the One who came and who is coming again.
The One we will spend eternity worshipping. We may as well get a jump start on that too!

Revelation 4:9-11 (NIV)

Whenever the living creatures give glory to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "you are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. "