Trust me ... I failed.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions?

If you did I must ask the question no one wants to answer.  Have you broken any yet?

You can shy away from the computer now, or click the now glaringly large X in the top corner of your screen ... or you can hear me say I have failed my only resolution ALREADY.

It is only the 8th day into the New Year.  That is only 192 hours I have lived in 2013.  How could I have failed it already?  Well for starters, I knew I would.  But I decided not to let that stop me from making it my new mission.

Last year at the beginning of 2012 I told you about adopting a word  instead of a bunch of resolution statements.  I did that last year. I chose ETERNAL. (You can read about it here.)  That's a good word, a well chosen word to challenge me and stretch me. However I discovered something along the way that is very telling about my own life and spiritual journey.

It is almost impossible to let the eternal mindset rule in your mind and heart when you don't trust what that eternity is.

There I said it.  Big sigh.  I have been a Christian for over twenty years, a Pastor's wife since 2001 and I had no idea that I never believed "it" in the areas that counted.  There are a lot of things I know and believe, such as:

Live Second Devotional Review #2

Words carry such incredible power.

They can lift up or tear down.  They can save or they can kill.  It is amazing that God would allow us to yield so much power.  Yet He is truly the One who holds the power.  He asks us to use our words to bring hope and healing to those around us who are still lost in their sin.

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."              —1 Corinthians 2:4–5

Does God have  power over your words and your speech?  Does He control your tongue?  I would have to admit this is an area I struggle with.  Not only do my words hurt others too many times but I also don't use my words to bring others closer to God.

Live Second: 365 ways to put Jesus First talks about "words" in week 13, day 2.  The devotional questions your words and puts them to the test.  Are you using them to share God's Good News? There are no acceptable excuses if we aren't.  God tells us He is made perfect in our weaknesses; so we can't say we are not good at it.  God tells us He will give us the words through His Holy Spirit; so we can't say we don't know what to say.  God tells us He uses weak and broken vessels, just everyday people; so we can't say that it is not our gifting.

There are no excuses.

Doug Bender says in his devotional, our part in God's plan of spreading the Gospel "is more about obedience, humbleness, and diligence than wisdom and persuasion."  So no more excuses for me!  Or you.  God says "go and make disciples...", so let's go and do that today.  Tell one person about Jesus today.  Tell them God loves them and He is waiting for them.  Speak the WORDS and let God do the rest.

Join the conversation at #IASwords and share your thoughts.

Get your devotional book this week (Dec 9-15) to help the efforts of I Am Second to make the NYT Bestsellers list and change your life while you do it.

In the meantime, check out this new song from Hawk Nelson and Bart Millard (from Mercy Me).  It is called Words.

Hawk Nelson - Words (Feat. Bart Millard of MercyMe) Official Lyric Video from hawk-nelson on GodTube.

Tell me:  who will you use your words on today?

My word ... it's 2012!

Did you make a New Year's resolution?  I don't like them.  I have never been very successful at them.  I wrote a similar blog at the same time last year.  (Peek at it here.)

So what is different this year?

I found a really cool way to look at the New Year.  A writer friend, Beth Vogt shared her perspective on New Years back in December on her blog.  Instead of a resolution, she picks a word.  Something that will inspire her to grow through the year, that is measurable but bigger than a simple pass or fail statement.  She inspired me to think about her idea.  A few weeks ago during a sermon I found my word.  Then - just because God is so awesome - He has confirmed it to me over and over that He gave me that word on purpose.

My word for 2012 ... eternal.

Why eternal?  I am by nature, the type of person who worries a lot.  I am afraid to make a decision in many cases because what if it affects this or that?  I play it safe too often.  Whether I am deciding something for me, my children, my future I always worry about what will the decision affect.  Or I focus on some things to point of driving my family crazy - like all the bad movies the school shows our kids and the damage that is causes.  (Don't get me started on that one!)

Our visiting missionary Lane Elliott spoke in church about the Father, Eternal.

The Power of Words

I am 'borrowing' this video off another blog I have been reading. It is powerful.  Enjoy and take it to heart.



As an author, words are very important. I am researching about editing and there is a lot of advice out there on sloppy words and ineffective phrases. (Which I am certain I use too many of them.) Just remember the term ... learning curve, as you read my story.

So as I edit my six manuscripts over the next while I will be using the great advice of the video.

By the way, if you haven't wished your mom a happy Mother's Day yet, make your words count!

To my Mom: I love you for everything you have shown me. Your ability to love others has increased my definition of friend and family so much. Your kindness to everyone I have ever seen you with has allowed me the eyes to see the unlovable and the hearts that are searching to be loved. You have shown me that today is a beautiful day and I MUST see it while I can. Love you MOM!


I made two posts today, so don't forget to scroll down.