It is mid to late March. The first quarter of 2025 is almost over! Can you believe it?
I’m not one for new year’s resolutions. It’s just not me. I think we all make decisions throughout the year which impact us. For me, it is often a time of reflection and evaluation. I don’t always do this in January. I’m the type of person who “mozies”. Yes, I am a mozier. I move slowly, stop along the way, take in the view, consider the flowers, the birds, the trees, the sky up above. I take pictures or grab my notebook to ruminate on the matter. Mama always said I had my head in the clouds. Maybe she was right. I like clouds. I think they’re pretty. And I’d rather have my head in the clouds than in the sand.
But, I digress. If you ask me what my goals are for 2025 I might say, find a job, lose weight, learn more, write, increase my walking distance. But I don’t have anything nailed down or written in stone. This is new for me. In the past I’ve had planners with stickers and tabs and goals with steps to achieve those goals written in permanent ink. These steps were considered each week and progress evaluated each month. 2024 changed all that for me. Plans can fall apart in an instant. I guess sort of like the Potter slamming his palm into the clay while its on the wheel and tossing it against the floor to remove any debris. I’m not a potter, but when I knead bread I’ve been known to pick it up and slam in onto the kitchen counter to knock the air out. I guess that’s what I’m doing. I’m just doing what Paul Hollywood told me to do. And it feels good!
This year is raw dough rising, not yet ready for the oven. Okay. I’m leaving the dough metaphor. But this season certainly feels like wet clay. And I’m right there with it. The Potter keeps looking at the clay and knows what He wants. He has plans. He has a purpose. It’s gonna be good. He said so.
I’m not really a football fan, but I know in the first quarter, the coach and players alike use the first quarter to take stock and make every effort to set the tone for the game. It is often here they determine what adjustments or shifts they need to make. However, the game is merely beginning.
So, I’ve been using this first quarter of 2025 to take stock and consider the tone I believe the Potter has for me.
TAKING STOCK:
- Grace and Mercy
- 2023 and 2024 were years of learning to embrace grace and mercy while coming to a deeper understanding of the depths of His love for me. From mid 2023 and through most of 2024 I worked through the devotional by Hannah Hurnard based on the allegory “Hinds Feet On High Places”. In this time I began to grasp Ephesians 3:18-19. His love is vast and deep. We do not have the ability to scrape the bottom of the well of salvation. It is full of love, grace, and mercy for those of us who come ready to draw from this never-ending source of life with all joy. And in this grace and mercy given, it is for me and for you to lavish upon others as it has been lavished upon us.
- Be Still: Embracing Stillness and Rest
- 2024 brought a considerable change in my life. It was one I saw coming and thought I had prepared for; however, I was not prepared for the newness of stillness. It took time for me to quiet my mind and learn my identity is not tied to what I do but whose I am. I am reminded that the Israelites who left Egypt after 400 years in slavery continued to consider their self-worth tied to that role. So much so, many wanted to return. However, God, in His great love and mercy gave them the command of rest and worship. It is here, in this position of IN HIM where we find our true identity and find peace for our souls.
- Walk Humbly Before God and Man
- This is a phrase which resonated in my spirit in the latter parts of 2023, 2024 and into 2025. I have a deep desire to be humble-before Him and others. Growing up, I was considered the “good girl”. I deeply want to be “good” and considered myself in this light, even in moments of rebellion, for I was typically quick to repent and return. Yet I was judgmental and self-righteous- though I didn’t understand or recognize this. Scripture tells us none are good. This is certainly true of me. However, God gives us the opportunity IN HIM to be what He desires. He tells us what is required in His consideration of “good”: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” As Solomon prayed for Wisdom, I pray the Lord grant me a humble heart. As I walk this journey of humility, I pray wisdom and understanding come as well.
- Love Without Expectation
- There is no scripture with this exact wording. However, these are words I heard in my heart in 2024. Jim Turner says it this way: “Love-regardless of the response.”. Offering this kind of love is powerful. Others may not note it, but it produces something deep within you which is lifechanging. It isn’t easy, and my mind often attempts to take over the heart with negative thoughts and emotions. But the Holy Spirit, forever the teacher, gently reminds me to love like Him. Pursue without overwhelming. Even when we don’t feel loved in return I am reminded God loves me when I have failed to show Him love, or act like I loved Him. He is all the things I Corinthians tells us love is: patient, kind, humble, not jealous, envious or boastful. He does not dishonor others and is not self-seeking or selfish. He’s not quick tempered or prickly. Love forgives and doesn’t hold onto wrongs nor repay evil for evil. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness or injustice but rejoices WITH the truth. Love endures, bears, believes, and hopes. It sacrifices and provokes us to lay down our lives. It never fails. It may appear to have failed. But appearances are not always truth. Somewhere, somehow love wins. Jesus knew this kind of love when he laid down his life for us-even before there was a response. He did it for the joy set before him. He didn’t beg and issued no demands to us from the cross of, “Hey, look what I did for you. You should love me.”
- Doing the Will of God
- I Thessalonians 5:15-18 I heard someone (I can’t recall who) teach this scripture and it struck me. I am sure I’ve read it before. I know I have. I’ve worked my way through the entire Bible several times. I’ve heard people ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” I’ve asked the same question. But this scripture clearly defines the will of God for each of us.
- Do not repay evil for evil
- Seek what is good for one another
- Rejoice Always
- Pray without ceasing
- In everything give thanks
- Doing the will of God has little to do with your role or title. It has much to do with your position-again: not what you do, but your position IN HIM.
- I Thessalonians 5:15-18 I heard someone (I can’t recall who) teach this scripture and it struck me. I am sure I’ve read it before. I know I have. I’ve worked my way through the entire Bible several times. I’ve heard people ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” I’ve asked the same question. But this scripture clearly defines the will of God for each of us.
FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE
Yes, I know this is quite a bit to digest. I have quite a bit to learn. As I enter into the remainder of 2025 I take these lessons with me; along with a new lesson set before me: Practicing Joy. I am excited at all the possibilities. There lies in the year 2025 promise of hope and future.
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