Looking Back at 2018 and My Word for 2019

Can you believe it’s that time again? Time to say farewell to an old year and to welcome a new one. I am not big on New Year’s Resolutions, but I do love reflecting on the year just passed and then to look forward with my new word for the year.

My word for the past year:

My word for 2018 was Grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8

Time and again throughout this year, I was reminded of the grace I needed to extend to others, especially in light of the grace that God has shown me throughout my life.

Bible Reading and Study:

In May 2018, I completed the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) study of the book of Romans. I loved the study so much. So very rich. How could I not feel this way? It is such an important book for all believers to help us through this life.

In September, I started the BSF Old Testament study called the People of the Promised Land (Part 1). The study takes us through Joshua, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, some of the Psalms, some of Proverbs, and 1 Kings. And this year, I am participating in one of the new online groups. Otherwise, I probably would have had to miss out.

If you have always wanted to do BSF but haven’t had one of the classes available in your area or available when you are, there is nothing to stop you now. You can do it all online, including a weekly group discussion via Zoom.

My general Bible reading plan for 2018 was in the New Testament.

My 2018 Releases and WIPS:

This year I finished writing and editing my 79th and 80th books, the first two books in the Legacy of Faith series. The first is Who I Am with You which released in December. The second is Cross My Heart which will release in June 2019. And I am currently writing what will be the third and final book in the series, releasing in early 2020.

Favorite Movies Seen in 2018:

Jerry and I usually see a number of films in the theater during the year. It is our favorite kind of date. But this year we only made it to the theater one time. (I couldn’t believe it when I went to verify in my planner.) Anyway, we saw Mary Poppins Returns on Christmas Day, and we enjoyed it immensely. It honors the original movie but stands alone quite well. I did notice that the majority of the people in the theater were older folks, people who probably saw the original when they were kids, like us.

While not seen in the theater, I did see some excellent movies, either streamed or purchased. A few of my favorites:

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
• The Same Kind of Different as Me
• I Can Only Imagine
• Goodbye Christopher Robin
• The Greatest Showman
• The Man Who Invented Christmas

Five Star Reads of 2018:

I had another great year in books.  I completed reading 48 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and most were really good. Here is the list of the books that I gave 5 stars:

• Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year (2nd time through)
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (about my 5th read, I think)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (yes, it took me a long time to read this one, but I’m so glad I finally did!)
• A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 (wonderful)
• Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life (this book has great insights and you will definitely come away with other books you want to read)
• Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (I first read this in 2008, and after seeing the Netflix movie, I needed to read it again)
• God’s Story, Your Story: When His Becomes Yours
• Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See (oh how I loved this book)
• The Addictive Brain
• 100 Days of Bible Promises: A Devotional Journal
• Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God
• The Passion Translation New Testament
• A Note Yet Unsung
• The Masterpiece
• Before We Were Yours
• The Devotion of Suspect X (this was a college assignment, translated from Japanese; oh my! It is so good)

Here’s the top part of my Goodreads “Year in Books” graphic:

Life in General:

• I fell victim to a kidney stone at the end of January, which required surgery and a longer recovery than I hoped for
• I celebrated 8 years cancer free in December
• I completed another 7 credits toward my college degree. Yes, I may set a record for taking the longest time to complete a degree while being continuously enrolled as a student. But I am loving the experience and delighted that I managed to keep my 4.0 after my first science class and lab (science is not my jam).
• Boo moved from puppy to dog status (1 year in April 2018), and she is our delight. Noisy. Weird. Demanding. And we love her to pieces.
• Pinky turned 8 years old in November. She continues to be above us all. LOL! And we love her too.

My Word for 2019:

My word for 2019 is “Run to Win.”

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24, NASB95)

I look forward to what the Lord wants to show me through that word in 2019.

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May 2019 be a year of revelations from the Lord for each one of you.

~robin