Look Who Turns One!

The Blog Turns One

Today is a special day. I was so surprised at how quickly this year has flown. One year ago today I heard God say write a blog, and so I came home from church and sat down and began.

I wrote about praise and worship, about prayer, about parenting, and about life in general. It wasn't until about half way through the year I began to understand what direction I wanted to head and since I have become focused on helping others find purpose, I have found mine.

I never would have dreamed that in less than a year, over 60,000 people would have seen my blog. I never dreamed that I would have written a book, let alone two. This last year has been amazing!

God is good. He has a plan for me and He has a plan for you. I have avoided writing the typical "New Year's Resolution" piece because I know that everyday we must resolve ourselves to lay down our lives and pick up the life that God has designed for us.

2013 Challenge 

I want to challenge  you today to find three scriptures that define for you your life. They may be the same ones you have clung to for years or they may be completely new, but these scriptures will help shape you and your next year. For me, I will endeavor in 2013 to keep living my life by my favorite three scriptures.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV) 

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV) 

and Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV) 

God has a plan, and since I do not always know the details, with these three scriptures I can trust, I can endure His reshaping of me, and I can rely on His redemption and His grace. With these three scriptures I can live life as an adventure and not worry about the small stuff. 

Thank you for being along for the ride. 

Prize Announcement: 

This blog was holding a giveaway, and no one entered. If you want to win this cross, then subscribe now to enter. I will extend the giveaway until the end of the month. The prize is a hand-carved, reclaimed wooden cross. This cross is made by recovering drug addicts in a local ministry that I have recently learned about. I will be telling you more about them soon. 

If you already subscribe to our Newsletter you can enter too by sharing either on Facebook (the "F" icon is below) and tagging me (Dayna Renee Hackett Bickham) or by Tweeting #TheAnnivesaryGift. Best of Luck all! 

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join the Conversation: 

What was your favorite part of the past year? 

The Anniversary Gift

Happy New Year All! 

I hope your holidays were amazing and you find yourself well rested and spiritually refreshed as you head back to your work week.

I have feverishly worked to raise funds for my mission's trip to Guatemala. It is less than a month away now! I have five-hundred (maybe a little more) to raise ASAP so that I can buy my round-trip ticket to Miami. The airport there is where we will be flying out of. If you want to give to support that then just click on that Go Fund Me widget to the right or here.

I also enjoyed a great Christmas and New Years with family and friends.

I don't know about you, but for me the best part was the cozy sleep-in days and the movie marathons enjoyed by me and the kids. I would not trade a minute of the giggles, the hugs or the wrestling matches.

Happy Anniversary A Year in the Spiritual Life! 

It dawned on me just how crazy this last year has been. In just a few days this blog will turn 1 year old!

When it started I was hard, cynical, and a little mean. I was a Christian, but basically in name only. God has changed so much. Today, I am so much softer, more open to the Spirit and so much more kind.

This year I have written posts about my marriage, about praise and worship, about service, books, other bloggers, purpose, and more. I have struggled and I have triumphed and you have been there reading along, sharing with me your time and your heart. I have to say "thank you" for that.

I would like to show my appreciation to one lucky reader in a very tangible way. I am going to do a drawing.

This cross is made of reclaimed wood and is a little over 11 inched tall. To enter the drawing all you have to do is  comment to this blog and answer this question: What is your favorite post of 2012 from this blog?

What impacted you the most? Did something making you laugh, or cry? Tell me about it.

It does not have to be long. It just has to be left in the next three days. The drawing will be random and it will be open to anyone who comments and answers the question.

On January 5, 2013 (This blogs 1 year anniversary!)  I will pick a name out of a hat (from those who replied and entered) and this lovely cross, which features the natural contours and flaws found in the wood. I fell in love with it when I saw it and knew that it would be for this exact thing: a gift to one of my blessed readers.

So, dig into those archives, and find your favorite post. Need help looking? Then use the "search This Blog" feature over on the right side of this page. Or stroll through the archives. Can't find it? That's okay. Just tell me about it.

If you share it on Facebook and tag me in it (Dayna Renee Hackett Bickham) then you can get entered a second time. Tweet it with the hashtag #TheAnniversaryGift and get another entry. That means you could have your name entered up to three times!

In Colossians 3:16 it says "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

I hope I have done that a bit for you this year and I hope as we move into 2013 I can be a difference maker and a world changer one heart at the time.

Be blessed, be a blessing and know that you are loved.

~Dayna

Join the Conversation

What was your favorite post from this blog in 2012? What did you like about it?