Happy New Year!

"You crown the year with Your goodness." Psalm 65:11

Happy 2009! I hope you have had a wonderful week celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, gathering with family and friends, and now welcoming in a brand new year. This is always such a special time for us, as we have not only many family gatherings during this time, but also our anniversary on the 27th. This time of year always brings with it such a range of emotions... not just Christmas memories, but also nervous-bride and newlywed ones as well! It's been a great week and a wonderful holiday for us.

Of course, we were able to see it through new eyes this year with Minte here. He has loved every bit of Christmas and all that it entailed. He eagerly awaited Santa Claus, but also reverently and prayerfully reflected on the birth of Christ and loved lighting the advent candles each night. Having him with us was something I couldn't even have imagined a year ago, as we had just started the adoption process just before Christmas last year. It was such an Ephesians 3:20-21 answer to prayer that he was here with us by this Christmas... beyond what we could've asked or imagined!

Here is our tree... that poor thing. Each year we end up decorating it with party hats and streamers for New Year's. Last night the party poppers were aimed at it so the streamers would land on it. We went for real trees this year, so it's all dried out and bedecked with paper streamers. Not a fire hazard at all, I'm sure. ;) Ethiopian Christmas is next Wednesday, January 7th. Last year we left our tree up until then, but it was our artificial one. This year, I'm not sure we can make it that long! One thing I like to do, though, when we get a real tree is to save the top of it when we take it down, and use it for an Easter tree. There's something so meaningful to me about decorating an old, dead, dry piece of wood for Easter... something that was so alive at Christmas. But, that's another post, I guess.

So... today it's bowl games, chili, cheese dip, black bean dip, black eyed peas, toll house cookie pie, Wii games, naps, catching up on blogging and a bit of email, and looking forward to the year ahead. Tomorrow and the weekend will be filled with housework, lesson planning, and putting away Christmas. I pray you are having a great day and are enjoying all that comes with a fresh start and a new year!

The Common Denominator

Like others that I've read, I'm not big on "resolutions." Maybe it's because over the years, I have discovered how my New Year's Resolutions have not been very, well, resolute. But is that the fault of the resolutions, or me? Here's the definition of resolution:

-a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
-the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
-the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

Okay, if that doesn't work for me, then what do I do instead... set goals?

Goal -the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

The reason I hesitate to make resolutions, or even set certain goals for myself is because immediately my mind is inundated with past failures and I feel condemnation. As I enter a new year, I am choosing to say "no" to such condemnation, since the source is NOT my Heavenly Father. As I've been "meditating" upon my goals, and even my resolutions for 2007 I believe the Lord has lead me to the overarching goal, the key to any success I will experience in any God-given goals or even [gasp!] resolutions I may make this year: self-control.

Calvin Miller says, "To control the self it to offer Christ a soul free of any other master. To control the self is to stand beyond the soft life and to offer God the studied life. It is to say no to our appetites because we have "food to eat that [those who don't know Christ] know nothing about." (John 4:32) It is to pour out the wine of our addictions because the water of life in Christ is better nectar."

That's it for me in 2007. Self-control. There are many other goals, but they will all be the fruit of self control. But I believe God has shown me through His Word how to boil it down even more, because "self control" itself is a broad goal. As I've been praying through Scripture in the past week, no matter what my readings have been, I have ended up in one place: James 3. The key to self control, I firmly believe, lies in taking control of what I say.

James 3:2 says, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." That blew me away last week when I meditated on it. There is a direct link between keeping your mouth in check and your whole body being disciplined. Verse 3 goes on to say"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal." I have got to "turn the whole animal" this year. I've got to make some changes. I believe that it hinges on self control but begins with the tongue. By God's grace in 2007, He will transform my speech and my words into something that is glorifying to Him and edifying to others, benefitting "those who listen." (Eph. 4:29) Unless this happens, my goals and resolutions will have been made in vain.

My specific goals and yes, even resolutions, are still taking shape. So I'm sure I'll blog about them more specifically in the weeks and months to come. God has put in my heart to believe Him for some BIG things this year. My husband and I have had some exciting discussions lately about our 2007, some that have still got my mind spinning. God is up to something huge in our family, I'm sure of it! But the journey from "soft life" to "studied life" must begin with self-control and will be evident in my words.

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 the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20

For more New Year's Meditations, follow the links over at Laurel's. Thanks, Laurel!

Should Music Lyrics Be Forgot...

...or never completely learned...

Here's your "cheat sheet" for tonight. You can sing proudly while everyone else is singing, "Hm-hmmmmm-hm-hm-hmmmmmm-hmmmmmm-my dear..."







"Auld Lang Syne" Lyrics

1. Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?
And days of auld lang syne, my dear,
And days of auld lang syne,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

2. And here's a hand my trusty friend,
And give a hand of thine,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

(And if you really want to impress, memorize these!)

Happy New Year to all of you who read my ramblings this year. I have enjoyed "meeting" many of you this year on your blogs, and feel so completely blessed that you are reading mine. Have a safe and fun evening tonight, whether you go out or enjoy time at home. See you next year!