Happy New Year!

Hey, awesome MIP-stalkers! How are you? I’m a little frightened about 2015, honestly.

In 8 days counseling begins at Compassion Counseling Center and I have many concerns about the “unknown.” But, one thing that I hope you gain from stopping by here is that fear is not a big deal. It’s just a signal that we should plan carefully and pray consistently so that our future steps are thoughtfully carried out and guided by God.

Let’s get this series finished up, okay? My 2nd most favorite post of 2014 is not my favorite because I like how I wrote it, but because it marked a milestone for me. It was my first product review. Some bloggers actually make a living doing this, believe it or not. I doubt that I will ever do so many that I can retire on such posts, but it indicates to me that some of the steps I’m taking to get my blog “out there” are finally taking off. And I want my blog to be helpful and an inspiration to whomever God puts in my path (and I consider you “in my path” if you read this blog!). If you missed this post and care to read it, click here.

Like my product review, I also know, all too well, that many of you only read this blog on Mondays! You have always loved the WOW posts (Word of the Week) and thus, it seems only fitting, that my most favorite 2014 post be a WOW post. Click here to see if you know this WOW!

Friday’s Post: YOUR favorites of 2014…

You Might Also Like: The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 4 and 3; The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 6 and 5; and The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 8 and 7

Book Club: If you’re a Christian and want some validation for your faith, you might want to read a book about a modern-day Jewish rabbi. Go here to take this wild ride with me.

Compassion Counseling Center Update: We have half of our funding for 2015! God is so good! And please attend our Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 at 4:30 pm at Oakdale United Methodist Church! Go here if you want to attend, so we can properly plan for your visit! And invite your family and friends–the more, the merrier!

Are you wondering where your WOW post is for this week? Me, too. Actually, it was due to a good cause. I help with a program that helps food insecure children in our community get adequate nutrition when they aren’t in school and can’t get meals via free and reduced lunch programs and today, that program needed an 8 hour intervention from yours truly and my family. (We also moved some more furniture to the DD and DSL’s house at the same time.). So, it just didn’t work to get this to you in a timely manner today. So I hope you will forgive my tardiness for a couple of good causes.

Last week’s WOW was parvenu. Merriam-Webster Online says that parvenu is: a person from usually a low social position who has recently or suddenly become wealthy, powerful, or successful but who is not accepted by other wealthy, powerful, and successful people. I think this is the nice way to say filthy rich redneck. What do you think?

This week’s WOW is regnant. I have no clue for this one, but here are my feeble guesses:

regnant (ˈreg-nənt) 1. regulated repugnance 2. reminiscent of Reggie White 3. characteristic of a regular neon plant (I said they were going to be feeble.)

What’s your guess for regnant? Go here to submit your guess.

Wednesday’s Post: The final 12 Days of MIP 2014 post!

You Might Also Like: Word of the Week: parvenu; Word of the Week: meed; Word of the Week: soigne; and Word of the Week: refulgence

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2015 is a year in which you find personal success mastering challenges that have proven difficult in the past. Today’s choices for my favorite posts are about taking on the challenge to improve your walk with the Lord and to improve your physical health. Self-improvement, in whatever “realm” is at the heart of why I write this blog. I hope MIP inspires you to take charge of your life, punch fear in the face (in the words of Jon Acuff), and not only improve you, but the world around you. Here’s for a sampling of what I mean.

My 4th most favorite post is about changing one simple thing to improve your health. I asked all of you to wear a pedometer each day. It’s amazing how knowing how many steps you have taken each day causes you to be more active. If I were to issue this challenge today, I’d ask you to purchase an activity tracker that not only counts your steps, but tells you how many calories you have burned and evaluates your sleep patterns. Knowledge is power, folks, and merely knowing how well you’re meeting your fitness goals can spur you on to take control of your health in a relatively easy. But, if you can’t afford an activity tracker, a pedometer is a good alternative. Go here to see what I wrote in 2014.

If you had told me that I would blog about Beth Moore’s latest study when I started MIP, I would have seriously taken your temperature. I am still a little stunned that her organization gave me permission to do this. And many of you enjoyed these posts, particularly some of you who weren’t able to participate in her study because of distance or time constraints. Expect more of this in 2015! And for those of you who didn’t like these posts, I’m praying for you. 🙂 Go here for a sample of what I wrote this past fall and my choice for my 3rd most favorite post this year.

What simple things can you do this year to improve your life and the life of people around you? You are more powerful than you know. 🙂

Monday’s Post: What was your favorite WOW of 2014?

You Might Also Like: The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 6 & 5; The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 8 & 7; and The 12 Days of MIP 2014: 10 & 9