My One Word this year is look. And I've gotta be honest, I haven't done a very good job of looking lately... I stumbled back upon these amazing words, emailed to me by a friend months ago. It was written in 1865 and still speaks so clearly to my heart in 2011.
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"Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!" -Luke 21:28
In whatever state, in whatever place, into whatever condition we may be brought this year---let us seek grace to follow our Lord's loving advice, and "look up!"
Look up---for this will keep...
the head from swimming,
the heart from sinking,
the knees from trembling,
the feet from slipping, and
the hands from hanging down!
Look up...
for all that you need;
from all that you fear;
through all that would obstruct your way.
Do not look at your sin---it will discourage you!
Do not look at your self---it will distress you!
Do not look at Satan---he will bewilder you!
Do not look to men---they will deceive or disappoint you!
Do not look at your trials---they will deject you!
Look only, look always, look intently---to Jesus!
Run looking, work looking, fight looking, suffer looking, live looking, and die looking---to Jesus, who is at God's right hand in glory.
Oh, look, look, look to Jesus!