My #oneword for 2024

Somewhere at the beginning of December, while journaling, I got the feeling that my #oneword for 2024 was going to be EXPAND.

Yeah, expand as in the prayer of Jabez. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And then the Bible says: and God granted him his request. (You can read that in 1 Chronicles 4:10). Expand it will be.

But also expand as in Psalm 119:32, I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. I love the fact that verse 32 is the last verse of the fourth stanza of that psalm. It is the section of Psalm 119 that represents the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. That letter is (dalet) ד which means 'door'.

Whether I will be praying for God to expand my territory or my understanding or both, the main thing is that He is the One who opens doors. Doors for my mind, my work, my ministry, and my dreams.

I like the idea of expansion, as long as it is not my waist or weight 😁. I like the idea of God and I working on something. Maybe He will show me more, maybe He will show me where we are going!

Do you have a #oneword for 2024? I would love to hear it.

My #oneword for 2023

Why pick a word for a whole year? I have no idea how it started or who started it, but as far as I know, many bloggers pick, choose, or receive a word for the upcoming year. Yep, just one word.

A specific word can be really beneficial throughout the year, especially if the Holy Spirit has whispered it in our hearts, for He knows what the year will bring.

A specific word certainly helps to stay focussed, it provides for blog topics, and it can be very encouraging, as was the case with my #oneword in 2022 (which was 'renewal'). I kept getting back to it in my prayers and journaling. It was God's promise to me.

Somewhere towards the end of 2022, I got the feeling that my #oneword for this new year would be TRUST. Psalm 28:7 says:

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

I trust Him with all my heart. So easy to say, so hard to do from day to day... or maybe that is just me 😇

Do you have a word for 2023? I would love to hear your story!

Year in review

I don't know about you, but I still have some trouble getting back to a healthy rhythm in writing and posting... well, in everything really.

After almost three years of great disturbances worldwide (which affected everyone and everything, no matter where you are in the discussion) I still haven't found my flow.

👉However, I always like to reflect and look back at each year, just to make sure I am still moving forward. As you can see I made an infographic of my writing and speaking efforts in 2022.

Hm, I think I am satisfied, although I have postponed and procrastinated on some of my writing goals. Well, 2023 will bring new opportunities and chances.

Writers/bloggers... Do you review your year? Are you satisfied? Any new goals or plans? Are you working on something new? I would love to hear it.

As far as my work is concerned:

WEBSITE: www.marjameijers.com

YOUTUBE: @MarjaVerschoorMeijers

PODCAST: Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths

TWITTER: @marjameijers

INSTAGRAM: Marja Verschoor-Meijers

FACEBOOK: marja.meijers

My #oneword for 2022

For some reason or another, I received my #oneword for this year back in October 2021, on October 4th to be precise, which happens to be my birthday.

I wrote it down in my journal while Psalm 51:10 came to my mind: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I had been struggling with some health issues and that evening, when we went to bed, I told my husband he had to call an ambulance... I had so much pain, I thought I was going to die.

He prayed Psalm 91 over me, again and again, until I finally fell asleep. As always, the Word sustained me and the #oneword God gave me, turned out to be a huge encouragement to me. My #oneword for 2022 (that I needed that day back in October) is RENEWAL.

When that word popped up in my mind that autumn day, I thought 'Oh my goodness, what a refreshing thought!' Yes, I need renewal of strength (Isaiah 57:10), renewal of a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10), and renewal of my mind (Romans 12:2).

I am curious to find out in what other areas renewal will come. I'll keep you posted!

Do you have a #oneword for 2022?

Looking beyond restrictions

Sometimes I get the feeling that 2021 was a year of restrictions, in many ways. That may be true, if I look through a negative lens.

If I look through a positive lens instead and make my 2021 work summary, I come to the conclusion that I have done many things... when it comes to writing and speaking.

I realize that there is an enemy who always tries to make us think that we didn't do enough, that it wasn't good, that it could be better, that what we did had no impact etc. etc.

That enemy is a liar and a thief. He is harassing us, trying to steal our joy, and belittle our talents. For that reason alone I like to take inventory for myself, as proof that he has no right to speak!

• I have recorded more than two hundred videos about the Psalms and Proverbs 3 and distributed them on YouTube and Instagram TV
• I have written monthly blogs for www.ikzoekgod.nl and
• monthly columns for Opwekking Magazine
• In addition, I also wrote posts almost weekly on my English and Dutch blogs
• 
  I also wrote two feature articles for Opwekking Magazine
• Recently I also started making podcasts that you can find on Spotify under the name Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths
• I also wrote 23,000 words in my new book and
• I preached a number of times in churches and at gatherings.

All different ways to stay connected with readers and listeners and to keep spreading His Word. After all, my #oneword for 2021 was connect.

👉I don't know about you, but if you have the feeling that the year has slipped through your hands without significant highlights...

Please, take inventory and you will be amazed at what you have been able to accomplish and it will inspire you to continue, also in 2022!

My #oneword for 2020

In general, I do not participate in online games and hypes, but I do like the #oneword challenge. In the past, I posted about my words, thoughts, and experiences and it was always a good experience. However, in recent years I did not give myself the time to think about a word or to wait for a word (recognize this?).

At the beginning of this new year, however, I did get a very clear word for 2020 on my heart (from the Holy Spirit): expectation. The questions I asked myself were: do I still pray with expectation, expectation that God will do something, that circumstances will change and people will be touched? Do I still expect new things in my work, my family and my calling?

The scripture that came to my mind was Psalm 5: 4: Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. How about that? Bringing our requests before Him in the morning and then what? Wait with expectation!

I sense, I have to learn again to pray like this, with the expectation that something will actually happen. I'm happy with that word for a new year, it triggers something, it stirs up something...

Do you have a word for 2020?

Give me an H

In my Bible alphabet blog series H stands for Hope.

And I am not talking about the kind of hope for a sunny day or a winning ticket, although there is nothing wrong with that. No, I am talking about the hope that sustains our very being.

The hope that keeps us going when all else stops. The hope that says YES when all other voices say NO. The hope that goes beyond this life... into eternity.

I am talking about Jesus Christ, Hope of the nations... may He fill your heart with peace and joy, so there will be no room left for fear and worry.

While the secular media pumps one hopeless message after another into society, the silent whisper of hope takes root in hearts all over the globe. Each day more. My New Year's wish is that you will experience this hope in 2016.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)

Good news blog

Wishing you all a blessed and inspirational 2015 full of pleasant surprises from our heavenly Father!

In a world that seems to continually scream bad news at us, I have yet again made a commitment to write short (I know how busy you all are) encouraging, uplifting and positive blog posts in 2015 and to share good news  items whenever possible. After all, we are called to share the good news, not to spread and repeat the bad stuff (which we will leave up to the secular media).

It is my wish that a visit to my blog will make your day brighter, so you can pass the light on to others... Let's do it!

If you can think of a topic that needs a fresh (biblical) perspective, please do not hesitate and send an email to meijers.marja@gmail.com. Who knows it will turn into an interesting blog series.

Elsie Amata, you have won the December give-away. Please, send me an email with your address and I will make sure the two books will come your way. Congratulations and have fun reading!

Fresh insights, also in 2014

At the beginning of yet another new year I have taken a critical look at my blog title: fresh insights on ancient truths. Is that name still accurate and in line with the posts I publish?

I have noticed that over the years this blog has received a fair share of active readers, thankful readers, critical readers and, no doubt, some secret readers. Among them are evangelical, orthodox, catholic and charismatic believers, Muslims, agnostics and atheists. Yes, I do have the most beautiful and diverse group of readers a writer/blogger could wish for.

In 2014 it is still my desire to offer a fresh look on themes and subjects that have gathered some dust throughout the years. Things that might be religious, but not biblical. Or things that are biblical, but that we have always looked at through religious glasses. I hope you want to open the Bible with me, read it AND do it. I would like to keep it that simple and, since most of you are busy, I promise to keep the posts short!

I am very grateful for all your comments, whether on this blog, by email, Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook. It is the comments of readers that give true value to a blog.

Wishing all my blogging friends

Blogging buzz...

The beginning of a fresh new year, what a great time for a blogging buzz... I have gathered some news items about books and blogs and writing :) I hope you enjoy it.

New release

Today, January 8th 2013, is the release date of my latest book My Neighbor's House. It is the fifth book in my series about the Ten Commandments in the 21st century. If you have read some of the previous books in this series, you will certainly enjoy this one. If you have never read one of my books, well... this might be the right time to start :) In My Neighbor's House I offer an in depth look at the 10th commandment. As in the other books the emphasis is not on keeping the commands, but on living them. It is one thing to say, “Oh, I don’t envy my neighbor, his house, car, or wife. I don’t desire what someone else has.” But come to think of it, what do you desire? What are the desires of your heart? Are you passionate for the right things?

Blogging goal

I didn't really come up with a motto for 2013, but I have picked (again) two words: Share & Connect. Those two words are part of my blogging goal for this year. I want to continue to share fresh insights on ancient truths with you. I can only hope and pray that my fresh approach towards God's Word will encourage and inspire you and most of all: make you grow. It is also my goal to connect more bloggers, writers and readers with each other, simply because it is not good for (wo)men to be alone! It is my plan to host some interviews, highlight interesting blogs, and promote new writers. I promise to keep my blog posts short.

Guest post

This week I am a guest over at Lynn Mosher's site: Devotionals that encourage. Lynn is a doll, as most of you know :) and she offered me some writing space on her website to introduce my new book, My Neighbor's House. I am very grateful for her generosity and hospitality. This is exactly what I want to do in 2013: share & connect! Helping each other to get the word out, inspiring each other to keep going forward and encouraging each other to keep the faith. So, for more news about my latest release, please visit Lynn and once you're there, don't forget to give her a thumbs up for her wonderful writing work!

Meet&greet

Fellow blogger Diane Estrella is still doing a giant meet & greet over at her site. She has made room for bloggers and authors to introduce themselves. You will probably recognize many names from the Christian blogging world on her list. It is a great way to find fellow bloggers and to get links to other blogs. Diane is also forever hosting give away's and promoting good stuff. She calls her blog PR friendly. Don't miss it!

HAPPY BLOGGING YEAR TO YOU ALL!

New beginning

Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah,

he is a new creation - the old has passed;

look, what has come is fresh and new!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Guest at Heading Home

Today I am honored to be a guest at Lynn Mosher's blog Heading Home.

She posted my article The Essentials. Have you ever packed your suitcase too full? Have you ever been on a trip where you discovered your luggage was way too heavy to carry? That is often how we plan a new day, week or even year too, way too much stuff. Hop on over to Lynn's and be blessed with some great tips to plan your time wisely. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Happy New Year!

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.