Simplify. My word for 2014. It seems small. Easy. Doable. So why is it that committing to this one word seems scary to me? There is all this seemingly innocuous white noise in my life. The internet, piles of books, shelves of shoes, food that sometimes spoils before it gets eaten, mountains of stuff both in use and in storage. I want it gone. I am tired of the static noise that sometimes seems to keep me from hearing God’s whispers.

I want more unplugged time. More date nights with my sweet husband, more in real life friends, more coffee dates with mamas who, like me, just need some companionship. I want more Jesus. Every. Single. Day. More of what HE has planned for me, and so much less of what I planned for myself.

So I’m taking the contentment challenge to the next level. As we work our way out of clutter, out of debt, and out of the day to day interruptions I know I will learn, like Paul, to be content in all circumstances. My focus will be on what is pure, noble, praiseworthy. Not what is trending, in style or “expected”.

There are so many who will never have a fraction of what we have been blessed to have. These things laying around, shoes hardly worn, books never read, extra blankets we don’t need, clean water, solid floors, indoor plumbing, or plumbing at all, these things we take so much for granted. These things that should bring us so much joy, that we most often look right over. These beautiful children God has given to me for a time that have never known hunger or need, they are blessed and need to see their mama on her knees grateful for that every single day. That is where I want my heart to be, always.

Do you choose a word for the year? Not a resolution, but a commitment? Please, share yours!

I am blessed to be posting this as part of the Compassion International bloggers network. Would you sponsor a child this year? Be the hands and feet of God to an orphan in need! See other Compassion Bloggers Word for 2014 posts here.