Thirty Four...and Free

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (John 8:36 NLT)

My word for 2013 was "refine." I didn't exactly choose it; it was more like God chose it for me. And refine, He did. It was as if I was gold refined in a fire; it was a painful process, but ended up so incredibly beautiful. It was a year that will always be a defining moment in my life. I am deeply grateful.

Follow that with the first holiday season that I actually enjoyed in 4 years (more thoughts on that HERE) and a birthday that may just be the fun-est on record. Here's a few of my "Melissa Face" challenge pictures for my birthday.

It's time to embrace something lighter this year. I'm ready for a lighter word for 2014. And there's no better word for that than "free." My word for 2014 is free.

Free.

I've taken the month of January to really consider what it would look like for me to embrace this word as a central theme in my life this year.

Here's what living free means to me:

• I will be kind to myself. I will be silly. I will make a lot of Melissa faces.
• I will dwell more on what God thinks about me than what people think. 
• I will laugh at my faults instead of succumbing to the lie that I don't measure up.
• I will be present with people, enjoying sweet moments, no matter their simplicity or complexity.
• I will refuse to let my social calendar determine my self worth.
• I will not be held in place by my emotions, my past, or my comfort zone.
• I will go confidently after my dreams.
• I will lean into my passions, talents, and wirings, without letting lesser things distract me.
• I will dance, I will write, I will travel. I will prioritize time for things that make me fully alive.
• I will give and give generously. I will be a better steward of my time and influence. 
• I will love widows. I will lend my voice to those in the margins.
• I will choose to trust God with my desire to marry again. I will run with complete abandon toward my Savior and believe Him for a new running partner to come alongside me at just the right time.
• I will draw inspiration from this one phrase: "I don't want to waste my life."
• I will live dearly loved, fully alive, and wholly free.

Here's to 34 and free.
Dearly loved,
Melissa