Christmas Reflections: Reflection 4 {Looking Ahead}
This week, I’m reflecting on my Christmas season, and all the wonderful things I learned by being intentionally present in the moment, whatever that moment might be. I’m also linking this post up at Faith Barista, for the first faith jam of the new year. The faith jam topic is “Share one word God is putting on your heart for the new year.”
Read Reflection 1 {Showing My Children Jesus} here.
Read Reflection 2 {Stress} here.
Read Reflection 3 {Words} here.
Reflection 4 {Looking Ahead}
Note: you really should read Reflection 3 {Words} before reading this post. The whole series linked above was written to lead into this post. The one most relative to this post, though, was the third reflection. Go on, read. I’ll wait. 
Blogging is an egotistical undertaking. I sit here writing about my thoughts, my life, my family, my faith, my church, my God. What God has done for me. What others have done for me. Everything is through my lens, from my point of view. Then, to assume that people want to read all about me? Yup. Egotistical. In Reflection 2, I used the words “I”, “me”, and “my” 46 times in 53 sentences. Yowza.
I know that relating personal stories is part of blogging. It’s part of encouraging others and helping to put a smile on their face. Doesn’t it make you feel better when you’re having a bad day to read a really embarrassing story about someone else? Isn’t it encouraging when you’re facing pain and read a story of how someone else triumphed over a similar situation? Other’s stories have encouraged me on many a day. I hope to have helped you out some along the way – to put a smile in your heart and a spring in your step.
As I went through last month, though, there was one thought that kept coming back to me: More of HIM and less of me. One more time: More of HIM and less of me. As I prayed over whether to continue writing, this phrase permeated my thoughts. As I went through the day, celebrating the Christ child with my own children, this phrase pierced my soul. Even as I’ve written these reflections, I’ve had this phrase at the tip of my fingertips. This week has been all about me, and for good reason. I’ve been leading up to this moment – the moment when I turn it all over to the One who gave me words to begin with.
As we enter a new year, I want to make my writing more about Him and less about me. Yes, I will still use personal stories, but I want them to reflect HIM and not me. It’s not about how I triumphed over whatever situation because of God’s goodness. It’s how God’s goodness triumphed over my situation. There’s a subtle difference there, but an important one which makes all the difference. Do you see it? The first one shows how God glorified me. The second, how God is glorified through me. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be a part of the second group.
So…where am I going from here? I have a second blog that I started when I started making baby blankets for displaced children. I haven’t written much about the blankets, mainly because I haven’t done as much with the blankets as I would have liked. I have posted over there periodically – always about faith! – and want to keep it alive. One Stitch, Much Love is where I will be doing most of my writing from now on. I will still keep this blog going for family updates and pictures of the kiddos, but not much else.
Add http://onestitchmuchlove.wordpress.com to your bookmarks. I have a subscribe button on the site, so you can easily add it to your rss reader. Thanks for following me on this fantastic journey! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me in 2011! I know it’s something special. I was reminded of Jeremiah while writing Reflection 3 {Words} and took some time to read about him. This promise leapt off the page and into my heart:
“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. “ – Jeremiah 1: 6-9
I know that God has given me words. Will you pray with me that I can share His words in a way that brings glory to Him? That is my prayer for the new year. My one word phrase. More of HIM and less of me.
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