The Key Tov Blog: Bible Studies : My Year of Doing and Being Different

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39, NKJV)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19, NKJV)

Earlier this year, our pastor challenged us to make the year 2014 different. He encouraged us to go out and do things we had never done before. His challenge excited me, I accepted his challenge with my whole heart and I did as many different things as I could squeeze into one year! I kept a list so that I wouldn't forget anything.

My Year of Doing and Being Different:

joined a gym
started making handmade cards (Let's just say I have been craft challenged.)
started running
drove the Oregon Coast
visited Yosemite
significantly lowered my sugar intake
ran the Happiest 5k on earth
signed up for Lavaman
started training for said Lavaman
went glacier hiking (at times, that was glacier crawling)
bruised my butt bone on said glacier
ran the Gecko Gallup (5k) in Honolulu (with my youngest who spiked a fever midrace)
opened another location in Alaska (www.starterman.com)
due to geographical location, cancelled my Lavaman registration (awww shucks)
kissed a pirate
hung out with Superman
danced with Rod Stewart at 70's Night at my church
learned how to cross country ski
hiked to the top of Hunter's Pass (Eagle River Alaska)
addressed some major relationship issues
lost 12 pounds
finished a Spartan Race
sprained my ankle
taught homeschool in my bed for the next 2 weeks to keep my ankle elevated

During the Spartan Race (mentioned above), I did a list of things I had never done before.

walked in a creek for approximately 1/4 mile...neck deep (in very cold water)
climbed (some may call it crawled) a cargo net that was draped over a ditch
slid down a 6' berm into a mud pit
swallowed mud
crawled underneath barb wire draped over a mud pit
carried 25 pounds of steel shot up a hill...and back down again
pulled a huge truck tire up a hill
crawled underneath barb wire draped over a mud pit...again
swallowed mud...again
threw a spear
used a rope to climb over an a frame wall
hopped across the finish line...with assistance

All this caused me to come very close to throwing up three times and almost passing out twice. I had thrown up before...but not passed out. Both are added to the list for effect.

As I look back over the year 2014, I see:

many things I didn't think I could ever do
somethings I thought I could do but were way more difficult than I had anticipated
some things I had to do that still come as a total shock to me

As I look forward to the year 2015, I see:

I am more than a conqueror
God delivers me out of all affliction
nothing can separate me from God's love

How can I make such a bold proclamation? Because God says I can. (Romans 8:37-39, Psalm 34:19, 2 Timothy 3:16, Numbers 23:19) And if you belong to Him, (1 Corinthians 7:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) you can make the same bold proclamation. Please don't allow another day to go by without God as your deliverer! (Psalm 18:2)

If you've never accepted Jesus as your Lord, please pray this simple, life changing prayer with me.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I acknowledge Your Son Jesus. I believe You are and I believe You are a rewarder! I believe Jesus died for me and on the third day, He rose again! I believe Jesus concurred death, hell, and the grave! Jesus, I invite you to come into my heart as my Lord and my Savior! Thank You for saving me! Old things have passed away and You make all things new! Jesus, You are my good Shepherd, please guide me, teach me, and show me Your perfect plan for my life...my life starts now! Thank You for calling me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light!

If you have accepted Jesus in the past; however, have been walking with something or someone other than Him as your Lord, please pray this simple, life changing prayer with me. God always wants you back!

Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for going my own way. Thank You for always wanting me back...no matter how far I think I've gone or the bad I think I've done. Thank You that the Blood of Jesus is always enough! Thank You for always loving me! Thank You for always accepting me! Thank You for always wanting me! Thank You for choosing me! I boldly proclaim today, today is a new day for me! I will never go back to my own ways, but I will walk in Your Word all the days of my life! And I will spend the rest of my days honoring and blessing You! Thank You for calling me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light!

Now that you are empowered with God's promises, what are you going to do different this year? We would love to hear from you!

Romans 10:9
2 Corinthians 5:17
John 10:11
1 Peter 2:9
Isaiah 53:6