Concept of the Year

I read a post at Conversion Diary about her word of the year: "fortitude." Jen also mentioned a few other people doing "Joy." I don't know that I have a word of the year, exactly, but I do have a concept.

When we were visiting Emmett's family in Hawaii, we attended a church service at New Hope Diamondhead. The pastor gave a message about "Harvest," their church's vision for 2010.

The anchoring verses were Galations 6:7-9:

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I've been committing these verses to memory.

2009 was a long, hard, wonderful year. The first half of the year was marked by Emmett's final push to finish his doctorate. The second half of the year began with lots of goodbyes to our friends and our life in Chicago. We moved across the country and began to establish ourselves in a new place.

I feel like we kept seeing God finish things. We experienced a harvest of sorts: graduation, a wonderful job for Emmett, renters for our old house, then a new place to live. There was a great sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.

Now, however, we're at the beginning again. We need to put down roots! A church, friends, ministry to our community, at the university, schooling for the kids ... the list goes on. And I question, "Who are we in this place? What does God have for us here?"

So my concept for the year is ... sowing. Reminding myself to live for the Lord and not for myself. This is a new place, a new field. What kind of seed will I sow?