It is nearly 2019, and so much has happened for all of us in just one year! If you are like me at all, this past year yielded things you hoped for and brought the unexpected. Things were let go of, and losses were suffered. I moved on, remained stuck, struggled and thrived. A lot can happen in a year! Thankfully, my word for 2018 was FAITH. Faith, I uttered to myself, as I faced something new or uncertain. It served me well, and like so many other words I’ve chosen, it is a word for a lifetime.

Now, a hopeful story. Every year I hear about someone who particularly excelled with their word. This past year, one of our participants chose the word RESOLVE. She said she chose this word because she wanted to “tie up loose ends” in her life. She wanted her home, financial, work and personal life to become more organized and secure and to take the steps that would accomplish this. Little did she know that big changes were about to occur in her work and home life. Two of those changes included a new boss and evolving work role. These changes caused her to “dive in”, as she said, and assume new leadership roles. During a recent FaceTime conversation she said to me, “It’s official! I have become my Word!” I said, “Do tell?” She was smiling.

It turns out that her boss sent her a bottle of wine for Christmas and the label read “Resolute”.

Fantastic!

In a note, her boss said he chose the wine for her because it aptly described who she had become. She said to me, “I am my Word! It’s so nice when momentum is recognized!”

Amen and Amen. Embodying our word to the point that others recognize it in us (without even knowing that was essentially our Word of the Year) is noteworthy.

Listen, for 2019, I hope your chosen word is one that will comfort, guide, aid, inspire and direct you toward the highest good that you are seeking. I hope that the mere utterance of your word will bring reassurance that you are moving forward with all of your God-given desires and talents. I wish you all of that and more, and maybe, just maybe, someone will recognize your word in you!

My word for 2019 is TRUST. Yes, I want to trust the people, places and things that are worthy of trusting. Most of all, I want to continue to trust God.

NOW...we are all excited to hear about your words! Before midnight tonight if you can (or tomorrow), please list your word and a bit about why you chose it in the comments section below. This way we can all share and enjoy our words together!

May God richly bless and comfort you in the year ahead.
Much love,
Blessed
(Written by Jane Hart, Copyright 2018)

There is an energy in the universe that listens. I wish I could tell you that after hearing our intimate pleas, cries, hopes and dreams that this energy responds just the way that we would like. However, it doesn't always feel that way.

But then there are these wonderful moments in life when God -- what I call the listening energy -- responds in real time and you just have to smile. Here's a little story...

I love to swim. I have always loved to swim. Growing up on the beach and then finding beaches and pools along the way in my life, I learned to both love and respect the water. 

Now, today, in the summer I swim about two or three times a week. In the winter...not so much. Usually once a week.

A couple of mornings ago I woke up and felt so calm. It felt strange. I wondered why I was feeling so relaxed since there is quite a bit to be stressed about. 

I thought about the quality of my day before, and the only difference from any recent day was that I had gone for a long swim in the pool. Perhaps that was the reason for my state of relaxation.

I had the thought, "Wow, maybe I should swim 365 days a year!" Think about how great it would feel and how my life would totally change. I'd lose weight, gain muscle, and feel better and more relaxed.

Then I went about my day.

And now this is the whole point of the blog...

I got in my car, and moments after thinking I should swim every day of the the year...this is what I saw.

Smile, sigh.

Ahhh God, it's you.

You are out there.

You are here.

The truth is...

God is always listening. God is always responding to us. Sometimes we are in sync and listening, and sometimes we are distant from God.

But this is what I want you to remember, no matter what you are going through now or in the future...

God -- this listening energy -- is always:
Ever present
Ever available
Ever loving
Ever patient
Ever supportive
Ever faithful
Everlasting
All knowing

God is everywhere and also right here. 

We don't need a sign to know this, but sometimes, in small moments, in glorious glimpses, and in a million ways -- God smiles at us. Like this license plate I saw.

I don't know about you, but I'm going to keep swimming with God. Swimming through this life in the pool and out, knowing that we are not alone even when we think we are, and that is good. I find that the more I am aware of God's presence, the more I listen and the more I see God's responses. That is a gift. 

So keep asking and wondering and listening my friends and keep looking for God's responses. I know you have had some God spots of your own, and I look forward to hearing about them! 

Have something you would like to say? Please share in the comments section below. We would love to hear from YOU!

Much love during this holiday season,
Blessed

(Jane Hart, Copyright 2018)