It has become tradition on January 1^st to spend some time thinking and praying about life themes I want to mark the coming year (see my words for 2010 and 2011). These themes might be things I sense will inevitably be a big part of the next twelve months or areas in which I (somewhat reluctantly) feel like God is going to be challenging me.

My three words for 2012 are:

1). Holiness – I’m not 100% sure what this means or will look like in my life in 2012. But I know it has everything to do with becoming more like Jesus. And not just sounding like Him, or knowing more about Him…but actually resembling Him more from my inner being.

2). Family – this one is pretty straightforward. In the midst of the busyness of life (work, exercise, church activities, friendships, sports, other entertainment) I know that my family is to be top priority next to God Himself. During the last quarter of 2011 I sadly heard story after story of marriages falling apart and friends’ kids drifting down dark paths due in part to strained relationships with their parents. My marriage is 10 years old and my kids 11 months to 8 years. When is the best time to play cards with them, toss football, give eye contact…really be present when I’m home? This year. This month. Now.

3). Leadership – this is the word I most struggled to write down. Over the past couple of decades I have grown weary of the hype and buzz centered around “leadership”. You know, the people whose sole example of leadership is leading others to be passionate about being a leader (and usually about being a leader of other people stoked about “leadership”). But this year I feel that growing in my ability to lead others is not an option. For success and proper stewardship of what He’s entrusted, it is a must. And there’s a level of love, concern, and servanthood wrapped up in this that I need to mature in and embrace.

I can’t predict all the things that will happen around me in 2012 or I’ll be blessed enough to see happen through me. But my prayer is that by the end of December at least tremendous progress will have taken place in me!

(Also, maybe this year I will blog at least two times)