one word: one thing
I’ve had so many conversations in the past month about our One Words. On Twitter. Via email. In person. One on one. As a group. It’s been incredible. Really. Absolutely incredible.
I’m amazed that people are even still thinking about it, never mind talking about it. Not in the pat-myself-on-the-back sorta way, because I assure you I am well aware that I have very little to do with it. I’m just astounded at the ways — big and small — that God continues to use this in people’s lives. Including my own.
I think maybe every 3 months I’ll put up one of those linky things again so we can easily read “official” updates from each other. But I really hope you’ll blog pretty often about how your word is shaping you.
We all know that “two are better than one” and that there is great power in community. Team up with one other One Worder to journey together this whole year. That will look different for each pair, but you could regularly check in with each other, ask specific questions, pray faithfully for one another, send verses and encouragement, etc. It could be someone you know online or someone in your local area. If you want to find someone to team up with, a good start would be to read through the posts linked up on our community page.
Someone asked me the other day if it was too late to choose a word. Of course not! If you haven’t yet, quiet your heart and listen for the word God is whispering to you. If you already have your word, encourage someone to join you. Pick one person you know and specifically invite them to join you in this challenge for the rest of the year.
28 days in, I still find myself actively looking. One specific thing I’m doing is to end each day by thinking through how I saw and experienced God that day. Some nights it’s easier to recall than others. As for tonight?
I looked for God today. I saw Him in a friendship that is so beautifully comfortable. There in that exhale for my heart, He was unmistakably present.
What is one specific thing you are doing to stay focused on your word?
I think about MY one word almost every single day! It’s nice to have it in the front of my mind where I can ruminate on it, and let it grow inside of me.
I’m doing scripture memorization with the verses connecting to my word of Beloved. And I’m asking God alot of questions about where and when I tend to reject His love.
@Melissa_Rae says:
What a fantastic idea! I think I will do the same. :)
I think of my word all throughout my day all the time :-) Since my word is “warrior” I put a picture of a blond warrior princess riding a unicorn in her armor (it’s some old comic character) on my phone so I am reminding everyday of who I am :-)
I have been making choices to step out in those situations or environments that I am afraid of becuase a warrior doesn’t allow their fear to hold them back.
I have speaking truth, gently, in relationships, because warrior walks in truth.
And I have been trying to present myself as honestly and humbly to people that I interact with because a warrior should be trusted.
I’m absolutely loving this focus for my year!
There are several things, but one thing that I am doing is posting a poem every Friday. Definitely a “risk” for me.
@bajanpoet says:
As Sharkbait said “Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!” I’m actively trying to do new things and have new experiences … all with the goal of moving forward and keeping my MOMENTUM up :)
Closer
I’m reading through the bible this year in chronological order. I skip some days but make up for it the next day. I have never read through it this way before and I haven’t even read in the old testimant in a really long time so I’m finding it very rich. I’m also keeping a journal of my reading time and what things stick out to me. The heart of God is full of mercy and love for his people.
As far as closer with dan and con, dan has been working crazy hours but We still try to spend some time together every night and weekend. Me and con have been best buds and I’m treasuring these times while he is my only baby ;-)
I love this one word thing and I even heard someone on the christian radio talking about how she heard about a one word for the year through a friend and she was joining late but was excited. I wondered if she heard from someone over here. I’m going to share with my sister and some friends about this.
@jeffgoins says:
I love how this has taken off and turned into a little movement! Great seeing you this week.
@Han_kyoul says:
doing the photo365 is helping me stay focused on my one word of photography.
I’ve done one event and the I have other ideas starting to percolate to get more events to photograph and build my photography into a profitable business.
i’m trying to write about it often. my last post, as a matter of fact….and i asked for a hope necklace for my b-day. i love this!!!
@PrudyChick says:
I think this is a great idea.
To continuously think on my One Word I’m memorizing scripture and reading about my word. Right now I’m reading “Grace Abounding in The Believer’s Life” by Charles Spurgeon and it’s knocking my heart and mind around.
i can’t get away from my word. i think most of it is because the Lord is wanting me to experience this “personal” jubilee – a restoration. before russ & i can even consider the implications to the word as it applies to our adoption, He is faithful to restore us. hard – but good. and very, very loving. i’m beginning to learn that truth.
I love the OneWord community and how far it’s reaching.
I keep meaning to do a follow up post of what living uncomfortably is looking like but the short version is, it’s been good and I’m excited, if a little hesitant, for the year ahead. I write ‘uncomfortable’ at the top of my prayer journal every night to remind me what I should be focusing on – hoping it will stop being a reminder of what I haven’t done and start being a reminder of the reason for things pretty soon!
Suzanne, I just wanted you to know that I love your word for the year… love it very, very much. Will be praying for you to find comfort in the uncomfortable… He’ll meet you there! :)
Thanks JD – I appreciate that :)
I seek in scripture, I pray about it, I write about it. I love this one word idea, and it is definitely shaping my year.
My word is “Outrun”, and so far, it has permeated my day to day walk with Him. The more I pray about it to Him and with Him, the more He helps me fulfill it.
Still thinking and praying about mine. :) Thanks for continuing to encourage me to do so. :)
@maryjohess says:
My word was “anticipate” so what I’m trying to do is “manually” stop myself in the moment when I tend to ‘anticipate’ negatively. Making myself aniticpiate in the joyful way has been difficult, but I’m determined to do it. :)
Wow! Everything starts with one word… and I am waiting on the Lord to guide me to this word.Twenty-Eleven is already shaping up to a very dynamic year. Thanks for sharing your vision. I will be checking back here often. God Bless!
Yes, keeping up with my OneWord this year much better than last. My word is EVERYWHERE, all around me, in everything I hear, see or read. Each time it pops up (or most of the time) I’ll forward it to my 2 besties as they are helping keep me accountable. And since my word is “DO” I’ve been actively listening to the whispers of God – things are small and seemingly insignificant, but we know that looks can be deceiving, right? :-)
My one little word for this year is LIGHT. Choosing one word to focus on for the year is something my friends and I have been doing for a while now. It is such a great tradition, glad so many others are doing it too.
My one little word for this year is – LIGHT. I think it is a great idea to pick one word to focus on for the year. My friends and I have been doing it for a while now. It is a great tradition.
My one little word for the year is LIGHT. I think having one word to focus on for the whole year is a great idea. My friends and I have been doing it for a while now. It’s a great tradition.
@20BOLD11 says:
Wow it seems like everybody’s word is at the forefront of their daily routine. I feel as though I’m not doing enough for mine in light of everyone’s else’s comments.
But then again my year started off in a rather profound way concerning my one word when I BOLDly gave my testimony of coming to saving faith in Christ after being a Muslim for 24 years in front of 3000+ people. Maybe the effects of that are still lingering.
My desire to be BOLDer is definitely on my mind constantly, however, in my case I believe I have to take it slow. God is still working internally on me to be more confident when it comes to things like de-protecting my tweets on Twitter and openly sharing my name/location on blogs, online forums etc. And especially when it comes to being BOLDer with my faith with my family–my heart is not entirely ready.
I do try to look for opportunities to share my faith and testimony with people I do not know very well or have just met; however, again it is not necessarily daily.
Prayer is something that is daily though.
Thank you again for spearheading this. It has already changed my life in an amazing way.
God bless you!
@winsomsouls says:
I had to laugh out loud when I saw the title of your post. I got my word today and blogged about it too. Now I have found your community and am looking forward to looking around. I had never heard this before this year.
I love how people are getting on board with OneWord! I’ve heard promo spots about it on one of the local Christian radio stations for the last few weeks, and I thought to myself, “Yep, I know who started that!” And it made me smile.
My word is gentleness. I have to admit it has been a challenge and has exposed some things in my heart that aren’t very pretty to look at. Loads of fun there. Oh, well.
Love and hugs from VA
@bahava says:
my lovely word is just so central in all that i do that it’s not really one that i can run away from…and to make it happier I made a bright pink and green painting with it on there to put in my office at church =) so yay for trust.
Well, my One Word has been more than fitting for me so far this year…..more than I ever thought it would be. I’ll be writing more on “leaning,” but I’m going to have to take a break to do it.
@marniarnold says:
Alece,
My one word has become the theme for this year – and my life in general.
The challenge you set forth to the rest of us out there in the blogsphere is absolutely amazing, and God is working an amazing work right up inside of my own heart over it.
Tonight, I went out and connected with people from our community in worship and prayer for our city, the leaders and Church within it. It was an amazing two hours of my life that I absolutely loved, and want a repeat of more and more!
Also, I set out a challenge to my ladies in my ministry group this past week – to connect more with people. To intentionally meet one person they don’t know every Sunday at Church and come back the next meeting with their name and one fact about that person they met – looking to promote intentional relationships going.
So yes…your One Word ministry has been set ablaze in my soul, and it is continuing through the fuel I get from God.
Thank you for just being obedient and setting this all forth!
I love the One Word challenge. I am not really a very routine or disciplined person. I usually set New Years resolutions and forget about them the week I set them:)….but with ONE WORD I have been actively thinking it about it daily. I put 3×5 cards in several places with my ONE word on it.. “NOURISH”..and I have a “theme” verse I’ve memorized to help me. THanks for inspiring me to do this Alece! God is using you to transform me:)
I’m continuing my one word weekly challenge
Week 5 is here
http://jillconyers.typepad.com/life_as_i_see_it/2011/01/o.html
My weekly blog challenge is just a glimpse of how I have been capturing this journey. A glimpse of my deliberate approach. I use photography the way other people use words. How I share my story. Maybe I should start sharing more of my EMBRACE captures?
I’m really enjoying this group. I love reading the when, what and where of this journey.
@Melissa_Rae says:
Great idea about having accountability, Alece. :) Right now it’s been pretty easy for me to remain focused on my word(s): sacrifice & abide. However, as the year progresses I know I’m going to need to become more creative about how it fits into my life, so that I continue to grow in my relationship with God.
I loved how you found God through your friendship. Thank God for those tangible expressions of His love for us. Bless you today! :)
Alece –
Still journeying…still persevering…still looking expectantly for Him to ‘be’ in and around me.
Thanks for this awesome idea…such an active way for us to ‘be’ in Him as He resides in us.
Here’s my update….
http://faithandseasons.blogspot.com/2011/01/onelittleword.html
I so love this… every time I turn around someone else is adding a word :) so much fun!
Realized I am not being super intentional about pursuing my word, so to force myself to do it, I’ve created a “Wednesday Wonder” page (complete with badge) so every wednesday I’ll be blogging about my one word (and inviting others to join in on).
http://tinyurl.com/4gajx7g
Well, mine will probably be more photographical in nature :) is that a word? photographical?