Turning the pages

Words

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:63

Some of todays Graphic Credit from: Megan & Mike @Fresh Exchange! A site where I need to devote a little time for inspiration as an artist!  


What ARE words? 
What IS a word? 
Words are a spoken and unspoken language. They are nouns and verbs. They are written. They are signed. They express emotion.  They express intent. 

This will be the 3rd year that I've chosen a word for the New Year. I believe I do it to stay focused. To stay centered. To stay the course. In the past I've had Strength and Dream. I live by the word JOY....it's just a given! 

Heaven knows life is hard. It gets messy. It has it's ups and downs. It's joys and sorrows.

A few months ago, I would of told you that JOY was going to be my Word....but as of the latest happenings in life, I've been given the word...INTENTION. Listen to your heart....something most of us have difficulty doing. Listen to The Spirit.

I think INTENTION is a grand word. It truly is all encompassing. It holds much to ponder. Much to do.

What is intention?

Without pulling out the dictionary, when I hear the word, Intention I think, purpose. I think foundational , grounding, faith. 

I think of a life that is lived...REALLY lived. 
I think art that has passion & purpose...not just color or composition.
I think relationships that have reason...not just gossip.
I think of a marriage that is lived with meaning and design...not just cohabitation.

I don't know about you, but it seems as if my life ALWAYS has a pivoting point near the end of every year. Whether it's self evaluation or relationships or desires. EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. for the past.....oh I don't know...at least 15 have ended this way.

I take it as a gift from The Lord. A gift to shake off the old and put on the new. A gift to press on toward the mark...especially if I've really missed the mark in previous years. 

Photo Credit to Megan & Mike @The Fresh Exchange!

The Hired Hand and I are in a very different chapter of our lives. We've not been empty nesters before. We've not been this old before. We've not walked this way or danced this dance. Our journey is not yours. Yours is not ours. 

I feel that one area of my life that needs the word INTENTION is my marriage! After 33 years with one man....all kidding aside.....it's easy to slide into a place of complacency. A place of "normalcy".  A place of boredom. A place where I know how he eats, sleeps and brushes his teeth. A place where I can finish his sentence....even start them!!! A place where I could allow these simple things in life to become pebbles in my shoe.

Another area that I'm focusing the word INTENTION on is my art/creative life. Not doing for doings sake, but doing art with purpose. Whether it be merely the purpose of exposing my heart or learning under one of The Masters. Doing art because it's my heart's cry to express itself. It's like a bird in a cage that wants only to fly!

Another area of my life that needs INTENTION is my spiritual life. I want to love more INTENTIONALLY. To pray more INTENTIONALLY. To serve more INTENTIONALLY. 

I believe in doing so my heart and life are going to find that greater place of peace. That place of grounding. That place of shelter in the storm. 

It's not enough to just have a yearly WORD....I personally need to break it down. Spend some quiet time to reflect on my heart, daily. 

• Daily Intentions
• Weekly Intentions
• Monthly Intentions
• Yearly Intentions

“When you set an intention, when you commit, the entire universe conspires to make it happen.” (the law of attraction!)
Sandy Forster

How about you? Have you chosen a WORD for 2015? 

It's never too late to start.