Oh how many New Year celebrations I have no recollection of. Yet I’d have argued each and every one was “the best time of my life”. Today marks twelve months from the first New Year celebration in a very long time in which I chose (not by the orders of Tom Green County) to experience without drunkenness. It’s no coincidence that it was also my favorite New Year’s Eve to date. I had no clue what to expect out of 2022, I just knew I wanted it to be God’s and not “mine”. 

I believed the word “intentionality" was spoken over the year to come, so I pressed in and ran with it. The result was nothing short of breathtaking. I pursued intentionality in the way I loved people, the way I listened to people, the way I saw people, the way I pursued people, the way I pursued the Lord, the way I took care of myself, the way I pursued integrity, the way I pursued generosity, and the way I remained open-handed with all my plans and desires. How many times I laughed and said to myself, “I must be outside of my dadgum mind!” 

2022 involved sacrificing a lot and dying to myself A LOT. It involved stepping into a humbling yet comical pay cut. It involved resting in a “year of singleness” at 29 years old, not knowing yet another “year of singleness” was headed my way fast at 30 years old, by default, in saying yes to the Lord and the World Race. It involved so many wrecked plans coupled with gobs of humility. It involved learning from many people much younger than me. It involved a lot of walking by faith and not by sight. It involved conversations with people about love and growth and God I NEVER thought I’d have. It involved much “wrassling” with the Lord. It led to a lot of surrender. It led to abounding freedom and redemption littered throughout my life and relationships. It led to love received and love shared on a level I never dreamed would be possible. It led to the longest, toughest, funniest, most adventurous, tear-filled year to date. It led me to the greatest year of my life. It led me to this tiny coffee shop in Brasov, Romania after spending the first 73.5 hours of 2023 reading the Bible aloud from cover to cover with my amazing team (and company). It led me to the most fulfilling ringing in of a New Year to date, by a mile. It led me to believe, with all my heart, following Jesus is the greatest journey one can ever embark on; location and situation are completely irrelevant. 

Home really is where you make it, because home is a person, Jesus. He is the adventure. Who you are and where you are is insignificant once you are His. There is no pinnacle because He who is in me is without borders, without limits. Therefore, there is no peak. Who He is making me and who He has already made me is continuously limitless. I can say boldly, “2022 was the greatest year of my life,” because I know the same statement will be true regarding 2023. Wow. “Glory days” are obsolete because His story will shine throughout all my days. The proof is already in the pudding. I believe “patience” is being spoken over 2023, and it will naturally build off “intentionality”. I know I will be stretched beyond myself, in every direction, as usual. This is a good thing, because beyond myself lies perfect strength. 2022: it’s been a pleasure. 2023: my hopes are high, because they remain in He who is forever high and lifted up. 

I pray my capacity to love and to be loved continues to grow. I pray I continue to be transformed into the light you have called me to be. Not a light under a table, or a shade, but a light on a mountain. I pray for YOUR eyes to see all of us, myself included. I pray everything I say, do, “my” entire life and death, glorify You and Your kingdom. Above all I pray your will be done. I pray this all in the mighty name of your precious son, Jesus Christ. AYYYEEEMEEEAAAHHNNN!

P.S. To the creator of it all, the God of ZERO chill: turn it up to 10 and rip the knob off! To 2023: let’s go on and GEEAHHTTT!

“In that day– ‘Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. 

- God

[Update: We are getting settled in with completely new teams and leaders in Albania! Up next is Turkey! Pray that God paves a way for us everywhere we go and prepares our hearts for all that’s to come. He is on the move.]