Family Love

When I wrote this post and declared that January would be the month of Increased Love, I had no idea how that would end up revealing itself in the coming days. I also had no idea how God would bring this about. And yet, here I am, on January 6th, already baffled at how God is teaching me about Love and how He is increasing it in my life.

On January 2nd or 3rd, we turned on our TV to find out that we had lost over half our channels. We've never paid for television, we were just able to pick up about 80 channels simply by plugging our cable in to the wall. Well, due to new upgrades, we've lost all but about 20 channels. And the 20 channels that are left, aren't really chock full of entertaining stuff, to be honest.

As I sat down with my kids the other evening, I realized that losing our channels was a way in which God was increasing the love in my home. Without the temptation of TV, we are left with much more time to spend with one another in the evenings. It's amazing how TV can consume so much time without our even realizing it. So as disappointed as I was when I first realized that I won't be able to watch many of my favorite shows, I'm also overjoyed. Because God is teaching me about increasing the love in my home. And I can do that by spending more focused time with my family without the distraction of the TV.

God is teaching me about setting aside my priorities, and placing my kids priorities at the top of the list. I am learning to let the housework wait a few minutes so I can have that tickle war on the living room floor with my girls. I am learning to rock my baby to sleep for a few extra lullabies. I am taking time for extra early morning snuggles, afternoon giggles, and bedtime stories.

This first week of January, God is increasing my love for my family. He is increasing the way I give love, and the way I receive it. He is increasing my desire to be a loving wife and mother and decreasing my desire to be selfish. Oh, I still am selfish. I'm all kinds of selfish. But... as He increases my love, He is increasing my understanding of His love. He is patient with me. Patient, kind and gracious. To know the increase of love in my life, is to know the increase of God in my life. And there is nothing but good in that.

12 Blessings for 2012

This morning at church our pastor presented everyone with a hand out of Patricia King's "12 Blessings for 2012" proclamation. He had us all come to the front of the sanctuary together and speak each of these blessings out for our year. As I was reading them aloud with my church family, I felt impressed to claim these 12 blessings over my life month by month this year. Since there are 12 blessings, and 12 months, I want to focus on one blessing per month... having each blessing as a "theme" of sorts for it's corresponding month! I'm really excited about doing this and I'm excited to see how God reveals Himself to me through each of these different areas.

I thought I'd share these 12 blessings with all of you in case any of you would like to join me!

Get your "One Word 2012 Button" by clicking this link!

2012: A Year of Increase

1. JANUARY: "Increased Love"
• I decree that I will increase in my love for God, myself and others! (Matthew 22:37-40)
2. FEBRUARY: "Increased Peace"
• I decree that I will increase in perfect peace, wholeness and soundness in my heart and mind, in all my ways and in every situation. (Numbers 6:26, 2 Peter 1:2)
3. MARCH: "Increased Wisdom"
• I decree that I will increase in wisdom from above because I love wisdom and ask for wisdom. (James 1:5)
4. APRIL: "Increased Grace"
• I decree that I will increase in the grace of God that enables me both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (John 1:16, Philippians 2:13) 
5. MAY: "Increased Strength"
• I decree that I will increase int he strength of the Lord as I wait on Him. (Isaiah 40:31)
6. JUNE: "Increased Health"
• I decree that I will increase in divine health and healing. (3 John 2)
7. JULY: "Increased Prosperity"
• I decree that I will increase in abundance and prosperity. All my needs will be met according to the riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Deuteronomy 1:11, Philippians 4:19)
8. AUGUST: "Increased Revelation"
• I decree that I will receive increased revelation  in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, His kingdom and His righteousness. (Ephesians 1:17) 
9. SEPTEMBER: "Increased Power"
• I decree that I will receive increased manifestation of miracle working power. (Acts 1:8) 
10. OCTOBER: "Increased Answers to Prayer"
• I decree that I will receive increased answers to prayer as I pray according to God's will. (1 John 5:14-15)
11. NOVEMBER: "Increased Purity of Heart"
• I decree that I will increase in the purity of my heart, its motives, and its passions. As a result, I will perceive God in new realms and dimensions. (Matthew 5:8)
12. DECEMBER: "Increased Boldness"
• I decree that I will increase in boldness to proclaim the Gospel and as a result many will turn to the Lord! (Acts 4:31)

Aren't those powerful?! I'm so excited to walk through each of these blessings and truths throughout the coming year! To believe God for His promised blessings, but also to humbly seek His truth and wisdom regarding each of these areas. I am looking forward to hearing from Him in NEW ways and old ways.

That means that January (THIS MONTH!) is the month for Increased Love! I am looking forward to trusting God to teach me more about LOVE this month! My pastor preached a really inspiring sermon about love this morning and the Golden rule, and it put so much passion in my heart about being a loving Christian. I think that's another post, but I really do want to share about it because it was chock full of powerful messages about how to truly love like Christ. 

I am so looking forward to this coming year and the ways in which God will cause me to grow! I am so thankful for His GRACE and PATIENCE with me and His passion for watching me grow up in Him. 

I hope your first day of 2012 was full of vision, hope and invigoration! 

Love to you all!