Thursday, January 1, 2015

the BEST year ever!

As many of those close to us know, we have always affectionately and proudly referred to our family as “Team Daniel.” We are by no means against the word family but we can’t ever remember a time when we referred to ourselves as the ‘Daniel Family.’ In our minds, the words family and team are synonymous. Nathan has been coaching for eight years so the concept of team has become a huge part of our lives. Many teams, in an effort to bring everyone together for a common goal, adopt various slogans or mantras. One of Nathan’s favorites has been Tennessee football’s for years: “I will give my all for Tennessee today!” The Vikings of Fort Walton Beach adopted the slogan “ALL IN” this past off-season to reinforce commitment. So with a similar goal in mind as these teams, we decided a couple of years ago to adopt a family scripture for the year. On top of that, at the beginning of 2014 we added “one word” to guide us and provide Team D with even more focus.



As individuals and as a team (family), we firmly believe in the power of God’s word. His Word brings life and wisdom through truth. Hebrews 4:12 says this about what is available to us all within the pages of God’s word:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. – Hebrews 4:12

In 2013 we chose Ephesians 3:20 because we were praying for a big move (see earlier blog post for more details) and He definitely gave us more than we could have asked or imagined. In 2014 we chose Matthew 21:22 because we started praying bigger and bolder prayers and we have faith that HE can do that. He answered some of our prayers this past year but some we are still waiting on but we continue to have faith. As we reflected on the word FIGHT throughout the year, we were reminded to FIGHT to the finish, FIGHT for each other, for our faith, for others, for justice and much more.

2013 – Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

2014 – Matthew 21:22  “FIGHT”
            If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

2015 – Hebrews 10:23  “FULL”
            Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

The past week we have gone back and forth on choosing our theme for the year in verse and word. We have so many dreams and hopes for the upcoming year. We have been so blessed by what God has done in our lives already. So many things started running through our heads as we began brainstorming, so we decided to ask Fenley what she thought. Every word she kept saying ended in “          ful”. Faithful. Hopeful. Joyful. We continued to discuss as a team what we hoped for in the year to come and the word FULL kept coming up. We want to be full of hope. Full of big dreams. Full of JOY. Full of fun. Full of discipline. Full of LIFE. Full of the Spirit. And we desire a house FULL. No other word seemed able to encompass all that we desire until we found the word full.

When choosing our verse, it seemed easy. We knew we wanted HOPE to be the key. And no better verse describes this hope quite like Hebrews 10:23. We love the ending…. He who PROMISED is faith-FULL. God has given us beautiful visions and spoken to us about our future. We firmly believe in Him for these things. The Bible is full of promises and we need to trust Him at His word. We are excited about claiming this verse this year. We even said it all together earlier today as we did our annual TEAM D polar plunge. (yes, even though it is Destin it is cold. Our pool is FREEZING!)

We want to encourage you to consider finding a word and verse for your family. We are thankful others told us about this neat tradition. After you choose them, find a way for them to be in your home. Wall art, chalkboards, pictures, and more are ways to let them be seen. In Deuteronomy it talks about “write them on the doorframes of your homes”… do just that! Let them be a huge conversation piece in your home too. God has convicted us of a few things this year so we are ready to be challenged by Him and by others! (maybe soon we will share with you our goals this year, Nathan has embarked on a tough but really cool plan for 2015)  May it be a year of learning! If you have neat family traditions, please pass them on.


God was so good in 2014. And we know He will be in 2015. TEAM D is FULL of excitement and anticipation! And when you have that first bad day of 2015, remember and cling to the HOPE that He who promised is faithful! 

Celebration of Canaan's Life

Arrangements for Canaan's Celebration of Life service have been scheduled, and Becca and Nathan would love anyone who's been touched...