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2015 defined: wholehearted

February 27, 2015 · In: inspiration, uncategorized

Still slowly chugging through these words of 2015. But it’s helping remind me of what I wanted to go after this year, and to keep focusing on these things! Hopefully it’s inspiring to others too.

My next goal word of the year is “wholehearted”. I am such a quitter. I stop halfway through books (non-fiction ones anyway), I quit a whole bunch of clubs and activities when I was younger, I never keep up with new hobbies or regimens. This year I want to give my whole heart to things and see them through.

Have you ever seen the movie Limitless? It’s about a deadbeat author who is given a drug that lets him access all of his brain. Suddenly, he can remember his high school science class, facts from the news, etc. I kind of see becoming wholehearted about things like being limitless. Imagine what would happen if I put all my effort into something and finished what I started? I’m excited about the possibilities, even though the work can seem daunting.

***

The Bible speaks a lot on the heart.
This one is a classic: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” – Colossians 3:23, NIV
And this: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

And: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21, NIV

Being wholehearted (aka “making every effort”) is a common theme in the Bible.
“He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.'” – Luke 13:24, NIV – Notice how it says to make every effort, as compared to all the people who will “try”. What’s the difference for you between trying and making every effort? It’s a big one for me.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV
The Bible speaks on giving your heart to God:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV
“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” – 1 Samuel 12:24, NIV
It also talks about making every effort in our relationships. Prioritizing (God, then relationships), helps with wholeheartedness, I believe. It helps me to pick what’s important, since “you can do anything, but not everything” (not scripture, just a quote).
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19, NIV
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3, NIV
***

 

 

***
Practical Goals:
1. FINISH WHAT I START. It shouldn’t be that hard.
2. Prioritize. Figure out what’s important, and then give my heart accordingly.
Scriptures are quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Comments

  1. Karen M. Peterson says

    March 3, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    I love this! Such a great word. And I love that you relate it to passages from the Bible.

    Reply
  2. Kelly Obrien says

    March 11, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    I have already commented but I think it errored so I will try it again!
    I love this post. It is so informative and I wish it were around when I was a newly nursing mama! Breast feeding brought many tears in those first days. It was so hard! But it was so worth it! Some of my most precious memories with my babies are while we were nursing. Now, I always tell new mamas, it is hard, but stick with it! It is amazing how something that seems so natural is so difficult. So glad that you can be a resource for new moms!

    Reply

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Serious eldest daughter millennial church kid ener Serious eldest daughter millennial church kid energy ✨ we lived for those gold stars.

But over time things changed. And what a relief it was to not have to forfeit peace to keep up the status quo, to learn how to have boundaries and cultivate integrity. To see the Bible as God’s story of reconciling with us. 

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With a nod to the lovely, late Dolly Parton 💕 With a nod to the lovely, late Dolly Parton 💕

Truly, re-examining, unraveling, and renovating my faith helped me get to livin’. 

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And I really want you to hear this part: God is n And I really want you to hear this part:

God is not punitive like people can be.
And to take one verse out of context instead of lining it up with God’s character and heart for you is to miss the whole thing.

I just want you to know if that if the scriptures have felt (or been used) like weapons and your system has processed them that way—God isn’t demanding and disappointed like that. Not every verse is aimed at you or meant to be taken literally. 

Read in the context of who God is: compassionate, gracious, abounding in love and faithfulness. Read in the context of the whole Bible: God’s story of reconciliation and redemption and restoration of Creation. 

Maybe relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, and know you are loved and covered in grace.

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This trend, but about what happens when you ditch This trend, but about what happens when you ditch performance and perfectionism for grace-filled growth.

This is not a to-do list, by the way. Not a resume or test or a title. (Not, “you are now proclaimed holy”.)

These are, I’ve found, holy experiences that get revealed as you take steps along this faith journey. This is what it looks like when you’re settling in to the transformation that happens when you lean in to the Spirit, follow Jesus, and get to know God better. A settling of the soul. 

What kinda holy experiences have you encountered on your own unique journey with God?

#faithjourney #godwithus #deconstruction #spiritualformation #spiritled
Not to be dramatic, but… Everything changed when Not to be dramatic, but…
Everything changed when I started:

viewing stories of women in the scriptures with care and respect instead of making assumptions.

reading the Bible as God’s story, not morality tales about people. 

recognizing that God cares about our wholeness and wellbeing, not perfect performance or self-improvement.

seeking depth and God’s withness over easy answers. 

Does this feel like I’m reading your mail? (I’m not.) Stick around. Here we talk about rebuilding your faith and theology and Bible study without shame and shrinking ❤️

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