Looking Back, Looking Forward
As an old year comes to an end, I always like to reflect on it on my personal blog, and I decided that post was worth sharing with my Inspired by Life and Fiction family on this first post of mine in the new year. So here is my slightly modified version of that post:
I don’t know about you, but I find it shocking that we just hit the one-quarter mark in the 21st century. And think of this: my grandmother—who was so much a part of my formative years—was born in the last quarter of the 19th century (1881). How amazing!
My Word for 2024: Shelter
As I’ve shared before, I begin praying every fall for a word for the new year. God’s answer to me for 2024 was the word “Shelter,” and the verses He led me to were these:
- “One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
- “For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; He will hide me in the secret place of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.” Psalm 27:5
- “You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” Psalm 31:20
God knew that there were moments coming in 2024 when I would need to take shelter in Him, when I would need to hide in His secret place. I’m so thankful His shelter is available to me, that I can take my troubles to Him and He hears me. And His shelter is available to you, too.
2024 Bible Reading and Studies
Last summer I discovered The Bible Recap, and I used it for reading the New Testament this past fall. I follow the reading plan for the day, then I answer the Study Guide questions, and finally I read/listen to the daily recap from The Bible Recap: One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible.
If you go to the linked Bible Recap website, you will find information for many free tools. You do not need to buy the book of questions or the Guide to Reading. You can find the plan in the Bible app so it is with you on your devise.
Note: I am using these same tools for reading through the Bible in 2025. For those who don’t know, I read through the entire Bible every odd-numbered year and have been doing so since 1997.
My Bible studies this year included:
- The Book of John (BSF)
- He’s Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble
- Luke in the Land by Kristi McLelland
- James by Matt Chandler
- The Apostles’ Creed by Matt Chandler
2024 Releases and WIPS
I had two book releases in 2024, To Marry an English Lord (Feb) and Wishing for Mistletoe (Nov).
My works in progress in 2024 included To Capture a Mountain Man (releasing in February) and a new novella set in Kings Meadow (which will release in early spring). Watch my website for more information about both of those books.
Favorite Movies and Shows
I only went to the theater once this year, to see The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. Oh, how I loved it. So good.
Without a doubt, Season 4 of The Chosen was a favorite. I’ve watched the episodes of the latest season numerous times, just as I’ve rewatched the earlier seasons again and again. And I am anxiously awaiting Season 5 in the spring.
I ended the year by beginning to binge watch all 14 seasons of Blue Bloods. I didn’t start watching that show until about season six, and I want to make sure to see it from start to finish. I was sorry to see it end as it was one of the best network shows on television.
Five Star Reads of This Year
I read 92 books in 2024. Most of them were winners. That’s because I read a lot of favorite authors so rarely am I disappointed. The books that earned 5 stars from me were:
Fiction:
- Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
- The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
- The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Non–Fiction:
- How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig
- It is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross by Charles Martin
- The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance by Randy Alcorn
Life in General
- In my reflection post of 2021, I shared that I hadn’t been sick all that year, perhaps because of social distancing. Well, I can’t say that of 2024. I had three major upper respiratory viruses that each lasted a full month with coughs that lingered long after I felt okay, plus a “regular” cold virus that made me miserable for a weekend. I guess I lost all my herd immunity during the social distancing and this year I paid for it. Ugh! I hope I’m over that nonsense.
- This summer I found a renewed joy in writing, in part because of participating in writing sprints with other authors, participation that I have continued throughout the fall and into winter. I have a hard time describing my feelings other than to say I am once again finding fun in the creative process of storytelling.
- I took a great college course in the spring on the study of history. While I enjoyed the class, it also taught me that I much prefer writing about history through my fiction. I was not born to be an academic historian with all the rules that go with it (i.e. no two or three sentence paragraphs).
My Word for 2025
When God laid the word Redeemed on my heart for the new year, I felt a spark of excitement for what He has in store for me to learn throughout 2025. The verse He gave me was this:
And they will call them, “The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD”; And you will be called, “Sought Out, A City Not Abandoned.” (Isaiah 62:12)
And so begins another year of being changed to be more like Jesus.
May 2025 bring you and I another step closer to the Redeemer.
~robin
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“And so begins another year of being changed to be more like Jesus.” Yes! I love that no matter what each year has brought or will bring, this is always true!
Amen, D’Ann.
Dear Robin,
Thank you for sharing this post with us today.
When I read that you are in the Word on a daily basis, seeking and enjoying Jesus, and asking Him to give you a “Word for the Year” – it revealed to me your adoration, dependence and desire to grow in the Lord. And I believe, as a result of this, your love for Jesus is very evident through all of your writings.
Your personal relationship with Jesus also gives me confidence that as I read your books (and I read as many of them as I can!) you write from what the Lord has poured into you as you’ve spent time with Him in the Word, prayer and listening. You work out what He has worked in. Thank you!
As for a “Word for a Year,” I started this practice just about 45 years ago. I have never regretted doing this – it has been transformational for me. As you know, it’s easy to measure our physical growth like our height (and our bit of extra weight after the holidays 🙂 but it’s a little more difficult to measure our spiritual growth. I think that’s one of the reasons why I like the practice of asking the Lord for a “Word for the Year” – a word He wants to intentionally work into our very being. And, I also believe you can then look back over the past year and see where God stretched and helped you to grow in that one specific area He put on your heart.
My word for 2025 is “Quieting.” Psalm 131:2 (NLT) “…I have calmed and quieted myself like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul.”
I’m so glad you shared your word for 2025 with your readers. I hope those who haven’t tried it will pray about it and then join you on this adventurous journey. I’m looking forward to hearing how God uses “Redeemed” in your life throughout this year.
Again, thanks for loving Jesus and for sharing that love with your readers,
Marilyn
Thanks so much, Marilyn. And wow on the 45 years of asking God for a word for the year. That’s amazing. I’ve been doing it just two decades, but oh how precious those years have been.
Thanks so much for your “Reflections” on 2024.
I try to keep a record of the books I read each year. In previous years I’ve read a hundred plus books, but this past year–my reading was interrupted. An accident in Feb. totaled my car, bruised my body, but broke only one bone–left fibula. Then in July I had a right knee replacement, followed by weeks of physical therapy. And then in Nov. I had a left cataract removed. Now my walking is better, my vision is excellent.
By my count, I’ve only read 74 books this year. Not included in that count is the Bible. For several years now I’ve read the Bible through each year using different translations and sometimes by reading a Chronological Bible. I’ve heard of the Bible Recap, but have not tried that yet.
Thanks again for your inspiring words.
Wonderful that you read through the Bible each year. I’ve done the Chronological Bible in the past. And I did “the Bible in 90 days” with my church. That was something.
Thanks for sharing your reflections, Robin. There is so much to glean from them. I did a chronological daily reading in 2023 that took me through the Bible in an interesting way. It was called The Daily Bible. Can’t remembered who recommended it, but I might have seen it on this blog.
I’m getting ready to begin a study called Devotional Classics with a reading group I belong to. In my morning prayers I always end with Philippians 4:13 to set me on my daily course.
May this new year bring you many blessings!