The Yellow Brick Road

                           2015 is here!!

A new year and a new journey await me.  It has taken me 3 times of starting this post before I finally got where God wanted me to go with it.  For those who are new to my blog, I will recap the past year.

Instead of new year's resolutions (which never get accomplished, you feel defeated, you self loathe...it's a vicious cycle), our Pastor encourages us to focus on ONE word for the year.  Study it, read about it, live it out, let it change us.  My journey last year was through the word phroneo-to set.  Feel free to go back and read that journey...it was life changing in many ways for me.

The Holy Spirit began making me uncomfortable early this time....around about October.  2014 was a year of amazing growth and victories for many of my friends.  I absolutely treasure each milestone!  Their victory left me hungry for my own.  To see changes in MY life and MY household.  Kinda like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.  Anxious, dissatisfied, wanting to run away.

And then God dropped my house right on the yellow brick road to...

OBEDIENCE

I don't mind tellin ya...that word scares me a lot.

I have literally dreaded this day, 1/1/15, where my journey down the road to obedience begins.  What will God make me do?  or give up?  Will I be extremely uncomfortable?  Will I look anything like Beth when he's done with me?  Will I be remotely able to do what he asks?

Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

And just this morning, as I climbed out bed and sought refuge in God's presence, he gave me this analogy using a beloved old movie.  Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz??

4 Truths on the Road to Obedience:

1.  This journey will not be lonely.
     Dorothy was never alone on her journey to Oz.  She had companions that taught her wisdom, love and courage.  She had fun times, scary times, times of doubt and worry, but she had others to encourage her and help her make it to the end.

I am blessed to have amazing, inspiring friends and family to start this journey with and I expect that I will meet new ones on the way.  My rock and steadfast is Jesus...my Toto.  Always with me, even before the journey began.  The one I cling to and HAVE to have near me.  I may be alone at times on the road, but I'll never be lonely.

2.  This journey brings an enemy.
     Just as Dorothy had the wicked witch to contend with, I too have an enemy that lurks in the shadows just waiting for a time to "get you, my pretty".  He most certainly doesn't want me to make it to the end because God will be glorified.  I need to always be alert and ready for him.

3.  This journey has a destination.
     Oz was Dorothy's....mine is simple obedience.  To do what he asks, when he asks it.  I've played around with obedience my whole life, but never truly surrendered to it.  I want to be a more effective parent, loving wife and able friend and mentor.  Will I accomplish this in one year?  Probably not, but I'll get a great start!  At the end of it...I actually have a God who IS the great and powerful!  Not some guy hiding behind the curtain.

4.  This journey will change me.
      Will I still look like Beth when he's done with me?
     When Dorothy finally makes it to Oz, they bathe and beautify, primp and poke, snip and curl.  The end result isn't a new Dorothy....just the same Dorothy cleaned up.  I am positive God will change me over this year.  My hope is the end result will be a more beautiful offering to him.  I only have myself to give.  I want BADLY to please the one who bought me with his life!

I am excited and nervous, but peaceful as well.  This will be a wild ride!  I hope you'll help me on my yellow brick road.

We're off to see the Wizard!