Twenty years ago, in May of 1997 I began asking God to give me a word for the upcoming year. I remember pondering that thought while writing in my journal at the first silent retreat house I visited. It was a Rocky Mountain experience.

God didn't reveal a single word to me. Instead He revealed several. I took those words into 1998. I saw as God's hand as He brought me to each of them over and over throughout the year.

But as the years have marched forward, I have found simplicity in the small things. And one of those small things is asking God for ONE word.

This year's word has proven to be impactful in my life. (2016) And as this coming year approaches I have once again been asking God for a word for this coming year.

He has given the word. I don't share it easily and surely not without a lot of prayer. But after 20 years this very simple act of intimacy with God has proven to be revealing.

Often, it has revealed my preconcieved ideas of the meaning of the word. He has shaken the meanings up several times. He has also revealed my resistance to words that are not easy words. I have had words like: Dance, Heal, Abundance, Rest, Listen, ... the list goes on.

Once I remember thinking the word was Love, but instead He clarified it was LOVED - oh the difference in adding -d at the end of that word.

I have encouraged every person I have mentored over the years to ask God for just one word for the year. It has been a joy to watch as such adventures have unfurled year after year. To see how God has revealed Himself through the words that have been given would fill a book.

Last week I spoke to a friend of mine I have known since my teaching years in Texas. I asked her if she had her word for the year yet. I told her that I think I have heard mine. She spoke about reading something about a man that choses a word for every year. She said it brought a little giggle to her. She remembered me sharing this with her probably 20 years ago. And for a person of high influence to be doing the same thing now in 2016 gave her a giggle.

The power is not in the word. The power is in the desire to ask God to reveal Himself through a word over the year. In my life I have found that relationship with us is God's primary goal. Any way that we build intimacy with Him is supported by Him. Just be aware that Abundance doesn't necessarily mean millions of dollars and that Listen means you have to shut up. So, I would encourage you not to go into this activity with some holier than thou assumptions. Be careful. When you ask Him to come in and make Himself known to you, He will do it. And wherever He enters, change occurs.

Our changeless God produces change in us.

What a glorious reveal that is. What a glorious journey that is. What a glorious relationship that is.

You want to join me?
Simply begin asking God to reveal a word that will bring you closer to Him in this coming year.
Step back and be persued.

It would be fun if you shared your decision to ask Him for this. If you want, comment below.

May I pray for you in this New Year?

Abba, I do not know who you have brought to this page. I only know that you have called Biff and I to open this web site to serve those who are desiring a deeper walk with You. The New Year is a time for fresh starts. God please come into this time and strongly support those who love you.
Give them intimacy with you.
Remind them that you are the God of second chances.
Give them the encouragement to reach for their Bibles and open them with the purpose of finding you hidden in the words and passages. Spread before them your words of love you have written directly to us. Directly to them. Hide your words deep into their hearts and allow them to begin the beautiful journey of finding your love and grace within the covers of their bible.
Ignite us all Lord to share you with those who come across our paths. Give us authenticity in our struggles as well as our victories.
In Your Holy Name Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Happy New Year! May your year be the best one yet.

Because He IS the I AM, i am
robyn rochelle cox

We wish you blessings galore!
Robyn Rochelle & Biff Cox
RR&BC,LLC©

All writings are protected under copyright laws. Contact the author or link to this page or website if you use or reference.

Joy.
This week we celebrate the Christmas Advent (the preparations for Jesus' birth celebration) with JOY!

I would love to say that I am in the midst of giggles and laughter right now. But, I am not.
I am dealing with some pretty tough stuff. You know that whole nerve/spinal chord/don't ever want to have one of those kind of surgeries, surgery.

The Neuro Surgeon will be talking to me about options on January 13. I am sitting at my desk right now in my sublime ergonomic chair (a 60th Bday gift) contemplating the ramifications of surgery.
In my morning pages this morning, I cried out to the God most High. HELP!

Do you do that?
I do!

Yesterday, I refused to let the back get the better of me. I had given in to staying home from church probably 4 times in the last three months. I decided that Satan would not win this one.

Do you do that? Bluster and blow at Satan?
I do!

The sermon was excellent and right on point for me in my situation. Of course it was, I nearly didn't go. LOL! and that?

Do you do that?
Find out that the message on Sunday morning was just what you needed to hear when you have struggled so  hard to get there.
I do!

We are having a nice little study on Advent in between the morning service and the late service at our church. It too was right on point. A complete opportunity to ask for prayer, and a blessing from the leader in her preparations. It was a wonderful community time. And I would have missed it, had I stayed home.
But, I didn't stay home. I got up, I forged forward, I was in quite a bit of pain. And I was blessed.

Do you have that happen?
I do!

But does any of this have to do with Advent Season JOY? Well, not really. Yes, I went to church, I was blessed, and it was a wonderful blessing. But it still had nothing to do with the Advent JOY.

Advent JOY is something other than.

You might already know that joy has absolutely nothing to do with happiness. Joy has absolutely nothing to do with good times.  And this Advent JOY doesn't even depend on going to church, or meeting in community. Not that all of these are not needed and wonderful.

Advent JOY is something other than.

Advent JOY is the joy that we have every moment of every day after entering relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

It is the depths of the ocean joy. Not the emotional ups and downs of the ocean waves happiness.

Advent JOY takes us to a place that is deeper and more powerful than any other place. It links right in there with Resurrection JOY.  This Christmas birth celebration is the first step on earth of the promise given to the broken world after Sin entered and removed us from relationship with God. Removed us from entering His presence.

Yes, we can exist apart from this Advent JOY. But it is existence. We can have fun, enjoy the holiday spirit, and even get a lot of happiness from our family, our friends, our community. But the waves we ride are up and down. Those are the happiness waves that can send us plummeting after the friends go home, the relatives leave for other places near and far, and the 'crummy of life' starts ebbing in. A time of depending on circumstances or people is a life of existing, not fulfillment living.

You, like me, probably have experienced or known a loved one to experience the broken of life. The broken marriages, broken dreams, broken promises, broken lives.

When the 'crummy of life' ebbs in, I know it is possible to go deep down on my emotional see saw. Do you?

But I learned a long time ago about Advent JOY. And it is not only celebrated in the advent season. I can and do celebrate it every time I place my mind where it needs to be. On Jesus.

Advent JOY is the JOY that comes from knowing that Jesus Christ left heaven, was sent by His Father to enter this earthly domain. Was sent and carried on wings of LOVE. He is God Incarnate.

This LOVE came down to a tiny manger, in a humble stable with a father and a mother (like me, like you) that really didn't know what they were doing. They simply trusted the mystifying angels that came to them and spoke words of things that were to come from their lives.

Mary was a teenager, Joseph a very young man. They were struggling with shame from Mary's pregnancy. They were struggling with riding a donkey into a town filled to the brim and with no space to house them. They were trying to figure out how to have a baby in the midst of this chaos. But their JOY, their ADVENT JOY  bolstered them into the glory they were a part of.

Their Advent JOY prepared them to meet the baby, the son of Mary, the adopted son of Joseph and the son of God. An intimate gift to us for opportunity to re-enter relationship through this baby, born innocent, without sin because His father was God, not Joseph.

And that Advent JOY is the JOY that I pray for you to enter. The JOY that is completely void of ups and downs. The JOY that resembles the ocean depths in its calmness. The JOY that is available to us all the time.

May this season of Advent JOY find you basking in His Glory, in His Gift and in His Peace, Joy, Love and forgiveness. I know that the fear that comes with a nerve/spine surgery problem is great, but not greater than this ADVENT JOY! So today I will enjoy working, walking, and talking, and loving my man. But I will CELEBRATE that Jesus came as a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

Because He IS the I AM, i am
robyn rochelle cox

Blessings on your day from
Robyn Rochelle & Biff Cox
RR&BC, LLC©

All writings are protected under copyright laws. Contact the author or link to this page or website if you use or reference.

Peace. Have you ever felt peace in the midst of fear? Is that even possible?

I remember reading stories of Corrie Ten Boom, a protestant whose family helped Jews escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust. As a survivor she wrote and talked of the  fears of capture, imprisonment, death. And yet often she spoke of peace.

At age 20, I gave birth to my first child. He was three months premature. In 1977, neo-natal units (NICU) were not prevalent then. In fact, if I had been born another 16 miles outside of the 100 mile radius of Houston, Texas, he would have died. The doctors and nurses wisked him away in a helicopter after stabilizing him. I was left alone getting blood transfusions as he flew to another hospital 80 miles away. Yet many visitors, nurses and even doctors commented on how peacefully I was handling the situation. In fact, one in-law was appalled at how calm I was, mistaking my peace for non-caring. Unbenownst to them, I had given this child up to God before this turn of events had arisen. (a story for another time) This particular couple came back years later and told me they had later accepted Christ as their saviour and finally understood how I could be in such peace in the midst of the hurricane.

I had it at that moment. But, this peace is not something that arrives and stays. It is a peace that comes only when we plant our minds on the Peacegiver and not the surrounding storm.

This advent week is about peace. Setting our minds on peace.

Seeking of peace, true peace often alludes us because we seek peace instead of the Peacegiver. We indulge in the things that cannot fill.

Once again, a LIFE situation is creating frustration within me. I am called to focus my mind on the Peacegiver and not rush after trying to fix everything. I need Him and Him alone. He is sufficient. So this morning I stop and get quiet, read John 14:27 and meditate on it. How is this verse speaking to me this day?

"I am leaving you with a gift —peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

When I place my mind on Jesus' gift of the cross I rest in His completion of all. Nothing is greater than that sacrifice, that accomplishment. He accomplished. He completed. He satisfied. He paid the final cost. I am able to enter into the moment of peace and walk. There is really nothing bigger, nor better, nor fancier, nor richer.



May your week be filled with peace.
May you Find the Peacegiver in the moments of panic/busyness/financial deficiencies/and holiday cheer/exhaustion.
Till next week,
Robyn Rochelle & Biff Cox
RR&BC, LLC ©

May God Be Glorified in our Endeavors

PS read more about Corrie Ten Boom on the internet or better yet buy her book The Hiding Place
All writings are protected under copyright laws. Contact the author or link to this page or website if you use or reference.