LISTEN. I wasn’t as excited about LISTEN since it just sounded like I had a hearing problem but God showed me in the last year how to be truly aware of His presence. He taught me to hear Him in the noise and in the silence, He taught me the importance of hearing others past their words and gaze and to really hear their hearts. This past year God taught me how to listen, but not like how you think, it revolutionized how I see people, how I see God and how I function in my everyday world. Listening isn’t a one time reaction in a moment or word but an active positioning of your heart towards what God is doing on the earth. So this year I didn’t ask Him for a word, to be honest, listening did a number on me and I just wanted to perhaps not have an entire year of object lessons. But I don’t run myself, Jesus does, so last week a friend randomly asked me what my word was for the year and I replied super snarky, “I don’t have one, I am still listening.” In that moment the word that came to mind was, HERE. …and then this convo happened… ME: OH GOD NO, HEAR?? I was just listening!!?? HOLY SPIRIT: NO, HERE. Like RIGHT HERE. ME: Um, Jesus, What does that mean? HOLY SPIRIT: I am going to teach you how to live in the moment, how to enjoy the here and the now. ME: Na, Im good. That’s not gonna work cause I need a plan for everything ( I then laugh out loud in a hallway, while really crying inside like a winner while friend who asked the question stared at me like I’d lost it)  HOLY SPIRIT: Get ready, this is going to be fun! ME: For who? Who’s gonna have fun!? I am not having fun? < END SCENE > So I guess I’m here, just chillin’. I’ll let you know how it goes. xo Chari]]>