Adverbs for the New Year

I am writing this note from Dallas, TX where we are spending the weekend with Josh and Leah and Mark and Vanessa. On my morning walk I started thinking about how we should live in 2009. And I started thinking about adverbs.

Adverbs. 

Haven’t intentionally thought about adverbs since I took English from Mrs. Graves in the ninth grade. Don’t know that I thought very much about them back then. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs (I know that because I just looked it up). When applied to verbs, adverbs (as the name implies) add something to the mix. They “Bam!” the verb the way Emeril Lagasse bams a recipe with extra spice.

So I started thinking about adverbs for the new year.

Pray boldly.
Pray creatively.
Pray outrageously.

Love deeply.
Love widely.
Love unreasonably.

Speaking of adverbs, one of the most famous was Luther’s “sin boldly.” Yes, he really said that in a letter to his friend Melancthon. That shows you how a well-chosen adverb can really grab your attention.

Here are a few verbs that could use some adverbial spice: give, grow, obey, submit, believe, think, read, follow, trust, confess, preach, share, wait, watch, sing, grow, teach, dream, rebuke, restore, serve. 

If you had a pick a few adverbs to describe what you hope for in 2009, what would they be? Click here to made your suggestions. 

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.