My Word of the Year

I hope that January has been good for you. I can’t believe it’s already February! How? This year has gone by so fast already. This post is a bit late now that we are already into February. But I wanted to post it anyway. I’m super excited to share with you my word of the year!

Many people like to make resolutions every new year, and I love that. I used to do that, too. And then, for one year, I did a word for every month and loved that. But I’ve been choosing a word of the year for the past three years. If you’ve never tried it, you should; it’s purposeful. The word of the year is a word that I need to focus on and pray over throughout the year. This is why I don’t just pick a word; I pray and ask God to give me a word. It means so much more that way. Purpose.

November is the month when I eagerly begin to pray and ask God for a word. I’ve chosen November because it’s close to the end of the year, but it’s a time that works for me. And without fail, God always comes through. 

My word of the year for 2025 is obedience. This word holds a special place in my heart as it reflects the journey of faith and growth I’ve experienced through my Dad’s obedience to God’s calling. 

God gave me this word in the most beautiful way. 

Last December 29, 2024, we celebrated my Dad’s retirement as a pastor. He pastored the same church for 43 years, which is incredible. You don’t hear many pastors sticking around in one church that long, but he did. 

Months before his retirement, I reflected on all the Lord had done through my Dad and his ministry. When he started the church, I was six years old, so I had a front-row seat to everything. You didn’t hear much about church planters back then, so he did this with his hands and God. 

It was exciting. Everybody worked together to go out and reach people for Christ. They did it all. Soon, we had a thriving bus ministry that brought in kids from all over the city. Families came and joined. It was amazing to see God working. I didn’t understand it all then, but when I look back, I see the work of the Lord in little Union City, Tennessee, with the three men who obeyed God. 

I can’t tell you the whole story of how my Dad got started. Because it would take more than a short blog post. But if you ever meet him, you should ask him. It’s a great story. But the jist of it is this, his best friend got saved, he got saved, and from there, my mom, uncle, aunt, and my Dad’s best friend’s wife all got saved. My Dad was called to preach, and without hesitation, he obeyed the Lord to start a church. Soon after, these three families came together and helped build True Gospel Baptist Church. 

We started out having church services in a hotel conference room. I watched as my Dad, his best friend (the assistant pastor), and my uncle (the deacon) would haul in all the speakers and microphones, Bibles, songbooks, and pulpit to set up. Then, they had to set out all the chairs for the congregation to sit on. There was so much work to do besides preparing a sermon, but it got done with God’s help. 

After the church grew, they could finally build their own church building. Imagine the excitement. From there, we had rallies, revivals, and youth conferences. We did parades and cookouts. And our bus route went from one to five routes. Yes, the Lord blessed. 

As with any church, people would come and go. There were good times and bad times. Ups and downs. But you learn to grow through what you go through. We faced challenges, learned important lessons, and grew stronger in our faith through these experiences. 

I am forever grateful. Thank you, Dad, for your obedience.

Fast-forward to today. All of us kids grew up and left home. We’ve started our own families and attend our churches in the areas where we live. But that doesn’t mean that we have forgotten about the True Gospel. It will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I got my roots. 

I am who I am today, thanks to my Dad obeying the Lord. I’ve often wondered, where would I be if my Dad had not obeyed God? And I can’t forget my mom; she was with him all along the way. But if Dad had walked away from God’s calling, I would not have the good heritage I have today. I most likely would not be saved and on my way to Heaven. 

Dad’s obedience has eternal value. The blessing is that we get to pass down Dad’s legacy to our children. Lord willing, if we ever become grandparents, his legacy will be passed down to our grandchildren and, should the Lord tarry, great-grands. Wow! All of this goodness, all of these blessings, because one man decided to obey God. 

Yes, Lord, I hear you. The word of the year, for me, is obey. I need to learn to obey the Lord, like my Dad. I must remember to step out in faith and move forward in obedience. 

Abraham obeyed God. God told him to leave, and he did. God did not tell him where he was going- just go. Obedience. What if Abraham didn’t obey God?

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. – Hebrews 11:8

God told Noah to build an ark. Noah obeyed. He didn’t know what an ark was and had never seen rain. But nevertheless, he obeyed. But what if Noah hadn’t obeyed?

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. – Genesis 6:22

What I’m saying is that obedience is not just a suggestion; it’s a crucial part of God’s plan. He wants us to trust Him and be obedient to Him. As I strive to be obedient to Him, I’m reassured that I’m following the right path, filled with His grace and guidance. 

I’m guilty. I’m hardheaded. I don’t always do what I’m told. And I wonder what I’ve missed out on because I disobeyed? 

I don’t always understand God’s ways. Sometimes, I wonder, “Why are we here, or what are we doing?” But in those times, I just need to trust God and obey.

I know God wants me to grow in this area of my life, and I want to grow. But I’m human. It’s hard, and sometimes it hurts. That’s what we call growing pains. 

So pray with me and ask God to help me be more obedient and do what He asks when He asks. Because slow obedience is disobedience.

Thanks for reading, guys!

Love and hugs,

Terrie

P.S. I’m not perfect; I’m perfecting. 

Do you have a word of the year or word of the month? You may have a New Year’s resolution. If so, I’d love to know about it. Please comment below, and let’s encourage and pray for each other as we grow in the Lord.