My last post was about my 2013 word of the year, abundance, and how it played out. It seems fitting as we’re still in the new year that I share my words for 2014.

Yes, you read right. Words.

Because if you have abundance as a theme for 2013, it would be appropriate that God would download two words for 2014.

Chosen and Preposterous.

Those seem to work at first glance like peanut butter and sauerkraut, but I get it. At least for me. I’m not better than anyone else, but there are opportunities and placements in my life where I need to realize I’m chosen. I also need to realize who I am in Christ. When all the world seems to be chanting the “Julie Arduini is this…” my heart needs to know and embrace that what the world thinks isn’t important. I’m the daughter of the King. Already I see this is just one aspect of how that word is going to play throughout 2014.

Preposterous came from a sermon I heard during a missions convention. When God taps you as chosen, He’s going to ask you to do preposterous things to further His Kingdom. Remember Joshua? Kind of crazy to circle a wall a few times and blow a horn, right? But it had purpose. Same with Gideon. But he obeyed, and we still remember his story. Because they were chosen and asked to do the preposterous, and they obeyed.

So far the words have come alive through the desire in our hearts to move to a “forever home.” This is something God placed on us last year and we feel 2014 is the year to put our faith in action. We feel chosen for a neighborhood where we believe we will minister and encourage. It’s preposterous because the market has taken a nosedive since we bought our current home. God will be the only One who can give us the desires of our hearts. It’s going to be close to impossible to sell, and just as hard to buy.

As we’ve prayed and pressed in, we felt we were meant to visit the neighborhood and pray. That’s pretty crazy. Driving somewhere you don’t live, praying as a family in broad daylight. But we did it. And as preposterous as it probably looked, we had peace. Even if none of this comes to pass, God’s still God. He’s been good to us. And we will continue to praise Him.

I’m excited and a little nervous how these words will embed into the year, and I plan to journal them through Facebook updates.

Do you have a word or theme for 2014? I’d love for you to share it here in the comments.