• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Chasing God's glory down unexpected trails

  • About Dorina
  • Speaking
    • Events
  • Books
  • Running
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Walk Run Soar

You were chosen for such a time as this, for 2021

Back when I was in junior high and high school, my P.E. coaches would often assign captains to pick teams when we were playing games like dodge ball and soccer. I discovered it was a privilege and a curse to be the team captain because the captain was forced to make the hard choices.

Everyone in the class would line up nervously. The first captain would pick a player. Then the second captain would pick a player for her team. Then back to the first captain. There was some strategy in choosing. A captain might choose the most athletic first if she really wanted to win. She might also consider choosing her friends first so she could hang out with them on the field. I’ve always had a heart of mercy, so sometimes I would intentionally just choose the kids I knew were going to get picked last.

There is a gift and a weight to being chosen.

For more than a decade now, I’ve chosen a word as a theme to follow throughout my year. In January, I gather with a group of my girlfriends and we reflect together on the things God has taught us through our words. Then we reveal and pray over our new words.

My word themes have connected year after year like bright bulbs on a string of backyard lights. One year’s lessons flow into the next year and spark another set of lessons. God has taught me so much through these words: joy, grace, mercy, glory, redeem, flourish, behold, wonder, abundance, and soar.

My new word for 2021 is chosen.

I started to see the arrows pointing to this word back in November and December. The word “chosen” shows up throughout the Old and New Testament. As I began to highlight and circle it in my Bible, I realized I wanted to dig deeper, to understand what it meant to be “chosen.”

The dictionary says someone who is chosen is “the object of divine favor.” Throughout the pages of Scripture, this word is used to mean examined, preferred, and selected.

Back in Genesis, God chose Adam and Eve as His special creation. Everything else He spoke into existence, but God chose to bend low and form Adam from the dust of the earth. Then God knew Adam could not be alone so the Master Sculptor chose to fashion Eve from the rib of Adam. Both were created in the image and likeness of God, according to Genesis 1:26.

Adam and Eve — and all of us — were chosen to be distinct, spiritual and physical beings, reflecting God’s glory to the world. We have been given the privilege and task of stewarding creation well.

Last spring, I was lamenting with a friend that our kids had to live through a pandemic. My eighth grader was missing out on special class trips and graduation celebrations. Many seniors in high school and college were experiencing the same. Weddings had to be reimagined and funerals too.

However, these last few months I have been reminded that my three daughters and all the young people of this generation were chosen for such a time as this.

They were chosen in the way Joseph was chosen to depart from his family and endure prison so he could eventually rise to a place of power that would save the nation and his brothers from famine.

They were chosen in the way Esther was chosen to be taken into the palace as the king’s young bride and eventually to save the Jewish people from annihilation.

They were chosen in the way Mary was chosen as a young woman to birth the Son of God. Jesus was chosen to come to earth to live among us, to die on a cross, and be raised again. He was chosen so we might be chosen too.

The other day I was reading the prophesy of Isaiah that talks about God choosing and redeeming Israel:

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.”
Isaiah 43:10 (ESV)

I was reminded that I am chosen by God in 2021 to know, believe, and understand who He is. He longs for me to draw close to Him as His daughter, to know Him and believe in His character, to understand His heart.

He is loving and kind. He is sovereign and holy. He is faithful and compassionate.

Friend, you and I are chosen by God not by our own merit but because of His grace. We are chosen to bear witness to who He is and how He is working. We are called to tell the story of His faithfulness to a weary world in 2021. We are chosen to be beacons of hope in times of grief and uncertainty.

Our children and grandchildren who are growing up in these strange times were chosen too. It’s not an accident or series of unfortunate events that causes them to live in 2021. They were chosen as part of this generation.

In the New Testament, Peter encouraged the early church and us today with these words:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

Peter’s words serve as a call to proclaim who God is and the redemption story He chose for each one of us. Let’s choose together to be courageous and compassionate carriers of light to a broken world.

After all, we are chosen.

I love connecting with readers more personally through my weekly Glorygram. Sign up here to get this insider letter with curated recommendations for good books, podcasts, products, and more.

*Photo by Mohammad Shahhosseini on Undplash

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares

February 16, 2021 Categories: Featured, GeneralTagged: Chosen, One Word

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jane F Thompson says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:14 am

    Oh, how much I needed this today. Thank you, Dorina. You are God’s instrument of grace.

    Reply
    • Dorina says

      February 21, 2021 at 9:40 am

      Thank you for reading, Mama Jane. I’m preaching to myself with this one too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

Find me on Social Media

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Featured
  • General
  • Guest Blogger
  • Navigating Grief
  • Podcast
  • Recipes
  • Running

Recent Posts

  • You were chosen for such a time as this, for 2021 February 16, 2021
  • Traveling the World From The Comfort of Home: Exploring Armenia January 14, 2021
  • 12 inspiring books I read in 2020 January 12, 2021
  • How to navigate through the fog of uncertainty January 11, 2021
  • Traveling the world from the comfort of home: Can you sushi roll? January 8, 2021

Popular Posts

  • Celebrating a Heaveniversary: 10 ways to honor a loved one’s death
  • 10 meaningful sympathy gift ideas for widows and families
  • Instant Pot Filipino Garlic Fried Rice: A creative way to celebrate friendship
  • 10 creative ways to honor a loved one’s memory (and clean out the garage)

Tags

abundance behold brave christian blog christianity christmas community compassion cooking courage creativity culture death dorina lazo gilmore family life fear finishing well flourishing food stories friendship gifts Grief haiti hope identity Incourage essays inspirational kids laughter Main dish margin marriage parenting passion relationships rest self-care serve sharing faith social justice struggle transitions wonder world travel writing

Before Footer

🥳 It’s podcast day!!! 🎧 Walk Run Soar is a podcast about the intersection of faith and running. We help runners and walkers who lack purpose ...

View

Mar 3

Open
🥳 It’s podcast day!!! 🎧 Walk Run Soar is a podcast about the intersection of faith and running. We help runners and walkers who lack purpose with their exercise routine (or lack of routine) and long to experience God in a more meaningful way while they walk or run.  👉🏽In this episode, we interviewed Latasha Ferguson, who is a speaker, writer, podcaster (Overcome to Become Podcast), and ministry leader. We love her challenge to partner with God on our health and wholeness journeys.  We chatted about: 
👉🏽 how running helped her overcome adversity
👉🏽modeling a healthy lifestyle for her four daughters
👉🏽 how to get started if you’re a newbie
.
🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 8 anywhere you listen to podcasts or on my YouTube channel. 📺 Links in profile.
.
#podcast #faithpodcaster #runningmotivation #runningpodcast #running #runnersofinstagram #christianrunnersofinstagram #walkrunsoar #overcomer @latashamferguson #podcastingparty #entrustedwomen #5krun #medalmonday #motherrunner #runlikeagirl #womenrunning
31 6

🏃🏽‍♀️In the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, Olympian Eric Liddell is quoted: “When I run, I feel His pleasure.”
.
🥇 ...

View

Mar 1

Open
🏃🏽‍♀️In the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, Olympian Eric Liddell is quoted: “When I run, I feel His pleasure.”
.
🥇 Eric won the gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics in the 400 meters. Eric understood that running was not for his personal glory and to win medals. He felt God’s pleasure when he ran because he was doing what God designed him to do. He also was designed to become a missionary to China. {Read more of his story in my new book, Walk Run Soar and Episode 7 of the Walk Run Soar podcast!}
.
🏞 This weekend I felt God’s pleasure running with my people.  My friends and family completed The Diamond 10K! My girls ran the Kids Race, and I completed the Double Diamond Challenge. That was one 10k on our neighborhood Clovis Trail and one 10k on the stunning Winchell Cove Trail at Millerton Lake. We created our own finish line and my parents met us with our medals and water. Oh, and a homemade waffle and bacon breakfast to boot! 
.
💎 So many races have been canceled in the last year. It was truly a joy to run! A huge shout out to Endure Jewelry & Sunny Arada for planning an awesome virtual race with the best swag! 
.
#walkrunsoar #gilmoreyoungadventures @RunEndure @EndureJewelry #walkrunsoar #christianrunners #runningmotivation #TheDiamond10K #DoubleDiamond #runnersofinstagram #sanjoaquinrunning @fleetfeetfresno #runningismytherapy #runninglife #diversewerun #runlikeamother
162 13

“Being brave, for me, means not giving up on the things that make me feel alive.” - Gabe Grubewald, 2014, USA indoor track-and-field champion in ...

View

Feb 28

Open
“Being brave, for me, means not giving up on the things that make me feel alive.” - Gabe Grubewald, 2014, USA indoor track-and-field champion in the 3,000 meters
.
💎💎This week I ran the Double Diamond Challenge, which was two 10ks! This is my favorite time of the year to run in Central California. The air is fresh and cool. The hills are verdant. The wildflowers are just beginning to twirl their skirts along the trails. The sky and water come together in a kind of blue slow dance. All glimpses of God’s glory! 🌸
.
My friend Amber and I ran on the Winchell Cove Trail at Millerton Lake. Donning our sparkly silver Endure hats, we got in the miles and the soul care today. And this is what makes me feel most alive! 🏃🏽‍♀️
.
@RunEndure @EndureJewelry #walkrunsoar #trailrunning #thehillsarealive #runningmotivation #TheDiamond10K #DoubleDiamond #runnersofinstagram #christianrunners #christianrunnersofinstagram #runningtherapy #soulcare #sanjoaquinrunning #fresno #runlikeagirl #diversewerun #womenrunning @blodge.girl_goes_outdoors @kymruns @spunkysole #sharetherun @fleetfeetsports @saucony @fleetfeetfresno #contest
175 33

📖 Do you struggle with studying God’s Word? It’s a challenge for most women, and all the crazy of 2020-2021 hasn’t made it any easier! ...

View

Feb 26

Open
📖 Do you struggle with studying God’s Word? It’s a challenge for most women, and all the crazy of 2020-2021 hasn’t made it any easier! 🤷🏽‍♀️
.
First, my friend, know this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 😘 So many women are struggling to find space for focused time in Bible study and prayer during this crazy time. But, DON’T LET THAT BE AN EXCUSE!
.
Second, I have a way to help! I would LOVE for you to join us for Online Women’s Bible Study. It’s a cool site designed just for you! Every week new teaching sessions from some of my very favorite teachers will be released to you. 
.
🌸This spring the theme is “More Than Ordinary” and how God calls ordinary people to live More Than Ordinary lives! I will be teaching a session on Ruth, and I can’t wait to share it with you! 🌸 Plus, OWBS has many opportunities that will help grow your faith, and connect you with others in the process! 💖
.
Does this sound like the reset that you need?
.
👉🏽Head over here to grow and connect:
https://www.onlinewomensbiblestudy.com/a/30364/z2aSX6sm or head to the link in my profile! 
.
#biblestudy #ruth #onlinewomensbiblestudy #womensgroup #womenoftheword #bible #scripture @onlinewomensbiblestudy @beckykiser #biblereading #biblestudytime #godsword #communityovercompetition #christianwomen #smallgroup @vivmabuni @kianstephens @karakae.james @insideoutwithcourtnaye
69 15

All winter
she waited,
wondered,
rested
until one day
in the deep soil of anticipation
and grief
she felt the ground
...

View

Feb 25

Open
All winter
she waited, 
wondered,
rested
until one day
in the deep soil of anticipation
and grief
she felt the ground
around her warming.
She felt her strength rising,
pushing through the
transition.
The pain was acute there,
but the shadow lifted.
And now, fully-rooted,
well-nourished
she extended her arms
in abandon toward the light.
She burst through hardened earth
– a flash of color –
her petals singing Spring! 🌸 
.
👉🏽Friend, are you in a winter of waiting? Let your waiting be purposeful. Take time to reflect. Give yourself permission to feel deeply and grieve the past. Live expectant of the resurrection to come.
.
🌸Read my full article on “How To Wait Through The Winter Of Grief” on my blog at www.DorinaGilmore.com.🌸
.
#womenoftheword #spring #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #flowers #waiting #christianrunners #flourishingtogether
149 37
FOLLOW @DorinaGilmore

After Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 • Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young • Privacy Policy