Happy Mick's up New Year

3... 2... 1... Happy New Year!!

How did you bring in the New Year?

It was fun to think of where around the globe it was turning 2013 at different hours throughout the day.  Even while I write this, it's still not 2013 where I am, and when it's completed and the first readers see it, the count-down will still be going in other parts of the world.


We look ahead, and the usual thing to do, of course, is to set goals for success and self-improvement.  I don't like to make New Year's Resolutions, because of a fear of failure, I think.  However, I do admit that I consider what habits I plan to change.  We all know, though, (don't we?) that a person is more likely to accomplish the goals, when they are written down. Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution for 2013:  write down the goals!

However, not only is it good to look ahead.  It is also good to look back and see how we've grown.


This week, I have seen and heard several wonderful bits of advice for how to ring in the New Year.  As my 100th post in this Mick's up Life, what better way to celebrate than to be an encouragement for anyone wishing to make the most of the upcoming 365 days?!

Here are the tidbits I collected from some very wise sources:

• List out what God has done for you over the past year. Thank those who have been influential in your life. Forgive. ("How to End the Year" by Doug Phillips of  Vision Forum Ministries)
• Put on the right "clothing," as listed in Colossians 3:12-14: "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience... forgive... And over all these virtues put on love...." ("My New Wardrobe For 2013" by Rev. William Dillon II)
• Praise God for the history of His marvelous deeds. ("He Has Done Great Things" by Michaele Lavigne in Reflecting God: Devotions for Holy Living) 
• Keep focused on the big picture!  Don't let little stresses take your eyes off the real goal and what is truly important overall.  As Romans 15:13 says: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  ("The Big Picture" by Joni Eareckson Tada)

"Reflect upon your present blessings,

of which every man has many - 

not on your past misfortunes,

of which all men have some."

(Charles Dickens)

Take some time right now to reflect, praise, and move forward!

Happy New Year!

Enjoy this song I was just introduced to today:
Happy New Year by Steven Curtis Chapman.  

"The God who made everything is making everything new."

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone,

the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

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Mick’s up with the Pledges

My daughter surprised us last night.  We were talking about the fact that we do not use vulgar words, and were reminding the kidderz why.  (No, we did not have any  scene with bad language.  Whew!  Thankfully, that’s something we’ve never had to be concerned with in our household: kidderz shocking us by blurting out swear words.)  The discussion was simply based on using our words to lift others up, even when bad words are all around us.

In the middle of the discussion, Lakelyn started rattling off something we had not heard before.  We asked her where she learned it.  It turns out, her school has a Pledge of Learning they recite after the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.  I hope it serves as a constant reminder to all kidderz there, and maybe even beyond. 

It goes something like this:

I shall use my hands for peace, not pain.
I shall use my heart for love, not hate.
I shall use my voice for song, not slur.
I shall strive each day to grow and learn.

Wow.  Maybe we should all recite that pledge every day, like the kidderz at the school do.  Thank you, Sweetie, for teaching your mom and dad something so important!

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17:27

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Mick's Pride and Humility… and…

What do you get? 

When you swallow your pride, and then allow yourself to be humbled, what happens?  Well, I'm hoping, when I mix it all up, I get growth, including wisdom, peace, direction, and obedience to my God.  That's where I'm at these days.  Each day seems to add another twist of confusion.  You've been there.  I know I'm not the only one.

However, my God is not a God of chaos and confusion.  I'm holding on tightly to that.  Chuck Swindoll's Insight for Today on this Thursday is a real boost for me and my husband Jay.  It's just what we needed to hear this morning, in the midst of our struggles. 

God is amazing, isn't He?!  He takes such good care of us.  He knows just what we need to hear, each and every day. 

So, with that in mind, Jay and I are reminding ourselves constantly throughout the day to change the words that come out of our mouths.  No limiting beliefs.

Pride and humility are two very difficult things to swallow, and so that means growth is necessary to make it happen.  The growing pains are worth it!  Swallow hard!


Read 1 Kings 19:10-18 (NASB) to get an idea of the significance of the cave pictures.

Our theme song today:  Get Back Up (TobyMac)

View this post in My Blogworld

"And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains

and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD;

but the LORD was not in the wind.

And after the wind an earthquake,

but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake a fire,

but the LORD was not in the fire;

and after the fire a sound of

a gentle blowing."

1 Kings 19:11--12 (NASB)

The September 15, 2011 Insight for Today has an excerpt from Charles R. Swindoll's devotional book Great Days with the Great Lives

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