Always Be Thankful!

Always be humble and kind

Heart Gifts, Can You Share One Today?

                                                          

     Have you ever heard of heart gifts? Heart gifts are gifts that would cost nothing or next to nothing. The only thing is that the gift has to be thoughtful and from your heart!       
     Think about what your talents are and how you can bless others with them. Can you sew, can you cook? Use the talents God has given you. For example, are you cooking supper right now, could you add just a little extra and make a plate for your elderly neighbor down the street? What about the young woman with 3 kids and a constant run to games etc for them? What would it mean to her to have you bring a simple crock pot dinner and dessert to her door? Maybe you have flowers in your yard-pick some and take them to the lady who just lost her husband or someone who has been sick.  Pick up a drink from Sonic for you and the friend who has been seeming down, stop by for a quick visit and give her the drink and you both will be a little happier thanks to happy hour.  Send a card to someone you have been missing at church.
                                                          

      What a wonderful little heart gift any of these would be! These are just some ideas, there are millions more. How do you know who to give a gift to? Listen with your heart. What kind of heart gift can you give today?
           I challenge you to share a heart gift with someone today!

Simple Woman's Daybook for October 12th

For Today
Looking out my window... and thinking of all the tests I have had done  for my heart and praying they come out all right

I am thinking...I am not sure if I will ever get caught up on all my housework.  Am I just dreaming and expecting something to be that can't and probably doesn't have to be?

I am thankful... for the Word of God.

One of my favorite things...

My sweet daughter in law designed and made this in her boutique for me

I am wearing... pajama pants and old church tshirt, feeling kind of bummy today

I am creating... a couple of canvases for Christmas and an order (can't share because they are for gifts)

I am watching... the 7 Little Johnstons

I am reading...

Some of these I was on launch team but am now re-reading them because they are so full of knowledge that my life needs right now

I am listening to... my new Selah CD, I was blessed to be given a ticket to see them in concert here in my town last weekend

Broken Ladders

In the garden... it has been put to bed and not really sure if we will be having one next year, we may let the soil rest and try again the next year

I am hoping...to get healthier spiritually and physically in the near future. It is hard to face heart issues of both kinds but it is worse if I don't do anything to correct them.

I am learning... every day how important caring for me is.  I matter too and I am worth it! 

In the kitchen... White bean, chicken chili in the crockpot and cornbread muffins in the oven.

Board Room
Better Health-Spiritual and Physical
I started this challenge today and will let ya'll know next time how it went
21 Day Mental Health Challenge

Shared Quote

A moment from my day... 

Post Script...
If you enjoyed reading my daybook and would like to create one of your own, HERE is the link to the format, guidelines and complete list of prompts.

Simple Womans Daybook September 2017

For Today.....

Looking out my window... enjoying this almost last day of September, it is finally my favorite time of year, I love fall!

I am thinking... about my Childrens's church class on Sunday

I am thankful... for the life that the Lord has given me

One of my favorite things...spending time on my front porch

I am wearing... jeans and a tshirt, my usual homeschool outfit of choice

I am creating... some canvases but can't share just yet as they are Christmas presents

I am watching...

I am reading...I have a stack of books I have read and am reading and will be sharing more about these in Octobers DayBook and will be possibly be having a giveaway for one of them so keep checking back

I am listening to...music about faith especially this song by Kutless

https://youtu.be/u1JBSQMkQEo

In the garden...dreams of what might be next year

I am hoping...that I can get the rest of my Christmas program for church wrapped up in the next week or two, so excited for this years programs

I am learning...

In the kitchen... Trying to come up with healthier recipes, 80 pounds gone and 80 more to go to be a healthier me

Shared Quote....

A moment from my day... praying for my boys in a world they give their life to protect in a world that would take that life from them

Post Script....
If you enjoyed reading my daybook and would like to create one of your own, HERE is the link to the format, guidelines and complete list of prompts.

See you in October for another Simple Woman's Dabook

Front Porch Friday-"Quiet Time Tips That Really Work"

     

      I have been trying so hard to have a daily quiet time with the Lord.  I am trying to do this not so I can check off another box on the to do list but because I truly crave that daily alone time with the Lord.  Lets face it we are all busy Moms, Mamaws, Wives, Ladies so how do we find this time.  I have found a few tips that help me so sharing them with you.

1. Do it in the morning unless you are truly a night owl and the thought of one more thing to do in the morning makes you physically sick.  If so have your quiet time at night, God doesn't care when we meet with Him, just that we do.
2. Use a plan.  If you fail to plan you can probably plan to fail.  I personally am using Youversion on my phone right now.  They have plans on lots of subjects and things or times you might be going through.  I read the devotion on the phone and use my bible to read the scriptures. However the world won't stop turning if you read your bible on your phone.
3. Be honest about yourself. Be honest with yourself though.  If you are not having any quiet time then don't start off trying to read too much. Pick one small plan or one short book like Jude or maybe Psalms which to me is so soothing.  You probably won't go from nothing to an hour a day.
4. Get enough rest. Get Physical rest, go to bed a few minutes earlier, push the snooze one time.  If we are exhausted physically then quiet time can truly become just one more thing eating up our time.  But also Rest in the Lord, if one day all you can do is sit and just pray and say today I am tired Lord, I love you and I am tired.  Just let the Lord hold you in peace and quiet for a few minutes.
5. Give yourself a break.   There is no perfect quiet time.   Let me repeat that.  There is no perfect quiet time.  Do what works for you, at a time that works for you and just do it. If you miss a day say Lord, I am sorry and go again.   

Stop Waiting And Live Your Life!

     Sometimes I think my life is just an over and over of all the same things that are just....well just life. Life is laundry, cooking, cleaning, over and over every day.

   

     But then there is also.....dance, soccer and tball...life as my grands enjoy it. There is children's church, homeschool and family events, birthdays, dr's appointments and more.

But then I stopped to think.....so what if this is my life....THIS is my life.  The life I love, my family, my grands, my church, the ones and things I love.  This is life, what am I waiting on? 

I am blessed beyond measure.  My husband loves me, my kids love me, my grands love me and God loves me.  What am I waiting on? What are you waiting on?

LIVE YOUR LIFE NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Faith Over Fear! I Choose Faith!

       

     I have been feeling overwhelmed and stressed for quite some time.  I have tried so many ways to make it better and even tried just giving up.  I have been doing lots of praying, talking to friends and even more talking to God.  I am now choosing faith over fear.  Faith over the fear I am not good enough; faith over the fear that God doesn't love me; faith over the fear of what other people think; faith over choosing the world and the lie of busyness to not make time for me and God.

     There have been hurricanes, tornadoes and floods over much of the country.  They are devastating and people think they can never overcome this.The storms of life are much the same.They are hard and devastating and we will like things are beyond our understanding and out of our life is out of control.This is where faith comes in.  We have to have faith in what we cannot see, what we can not understand and in God.  We have to choose faith over fear.

     Faith comes in trusting God and that He wants the best for us even in the midst of the storms of life. Even when we do not understand what is is going on or  when nothing makes sense and everything seems wrong.

     God does not promise to take away the storms. God does promise to fill each storm with His presence and power. He will never leave us alone in the storm.  He may not even calm the storm but He can calm us in it if we but let Him. It is easy to trust Him when the seas are calm and the skies are clear, but the true strength of our faith is measured in the midst of the  storms.Faith is a choice to believe God and walk through our fear, knowing we can trust Him every step of the way. I am choosing faith over fear, will you?