Changing my Word?

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If you have followed along here for a while, you know I choose one word to be my focus for the year, in an effort to see self-improvement within the calendar year.  When I chose "Appreciation," I could see great improvements in my attitude and thankfulness.  Last year I chose "Breathe" and I totally failed.  This year, the word I picked was "Simplify," but I'm discovering this is difficult to implement and measure.  So I'm becoming frustrated. 

Yesterday I mentioned I would discuss further this concept of THINKing before you speak. After being severely chastized through #shereadstruth while we visited through Proverbs about my words, then this THINK poster popped up somewhere... it is one of those things none of us REALLY want to work on but KNOW we need to work on.  You know what I mean?  

I think my problem is two-fold.  I've lost my focus on "simplify."  While I won't completely kick it to the curb, I'm going to add the THINK concept to my yearly word.  This is something I struggle with and hopefully can make some progress in this year.  

Along with this, I shared a friend's blog yesterday.  Today I would like to share another blog with you, because this really seemed to strike in my heart.  Funny enough, both ladies that I have shared are my Cara Box peeps! Cool, huh?  Anna at The Things I'm Learning had someone pay it forward for her, which is inspiring her to do the same for others.  

After the tragic events at Sandy Hook, I wrote a blog post about the tragedy and the triumph over this evil.  America was buzzing with people doing good deeds in honor of those who were killed on that day.  I followed along on Twitter (#26acts, #20acts) and would end up crying at some of the acts of kindness people would perform for random strangers in the name of innocent lives lost. Seeing Anna's post reminded me of the beauty that came from such sorrow... 

I'm not sure where I'm going this year. I'm not sure why I'm struggling with my word. But I believe if I can incorporate all three concepts: simplify and focus on the priorities, remove the gossip and irrelevent talking from my life and pay love forward, I know I'll be a much better person in the end. 

 

Smack me in the face, why don't you?

Imaginary Friends, let me just share this with you.  As you all know by now, I have chosen the word, "Simplify" as my one little word for the year.  I'll be honest, I haven't done much with it.  I really want to go through my house and clean out so much stuff that is caving in around me.

Ok, moving along, I once used this email devotional each morning, until I switched over to #shereadstruth.  Well, I never cancelled the email devotional but I rarely read it. (Girlfriends in God - it really is great).  I have been SO SLACK about #shereadstruth, so I decided to read my Girlfriends in God this morning and I had to share this with you:

February 6, 2013
He is Waiting for You
Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

“Now as they went on their way, He entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home” (Luke 10:38, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Balance always requires a fierce and ruthless examination of priorities. Our true priorities are not mere lists of activities completed or goals set but candid reflections of our heart desires.  What we deem important receives the most time, energy, attention and resources. The importance of right and balanced priorities is illustrated by the life of Martha.

Jesus knew that He was always welcome in the home of Martha. Scripture tells us that Jesus “had no place to lay His head,” but He often came to this home when He needed to rest or get away from the demanding crowds. At the age of thirty, the Son of God left His natural home and there is no record of His ever returning to live there. He often went to Bethany, to the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and even spent His final week on earth there. Jesus didn’t have to wonder if He was welcome in this home or if Martha was “ready” for His presence. He knew she was. Can He say the same about us? Do we have the heart of a seeker, one who lives each day aware of God’s presence, His plan and His priorities?

Seeking God begins with recognizing who He is and then inviting Him into our lives as Lord and Savior. If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. For some of us, the problem is not that we lack a personal relationship with God. Our problem is that we are not “making room” for that relationship. Balance comes when we yield to His plan in the everyday moments of life.

One summer, our family went to Pennsylvania where we visited Amish country. I have always been fascinated by the Amish people and enjoyed every minute spent in their beautiful and carefully ordered world. As our visit came to an end, I wanted to buy a souvenir to remind me of the peaceful days we had spent there, but everything I picked up was too expensive. Being a committed shopper, I was not about to let that stop me. We travelled up and down the small hidden back roads of each community, looking for the Amish products known only to a few and to those relentless shoppers who were willing to persevere. I was beginning to lose hope when I spotted the small, white sign posted on the fence of a quaint and absolutely perfect house. “Amish Crafts” it said. This was it!

As we climbed out of the car, a sense of peace settled around us like an old familiar blanket. Our voices immediately dropped to a whisper as we tiptoed up the narrow stone path and gently opened the screen door. When we stepped onto the porch filled with beautiful Amish crafts, a woman came out of the house, welcomed us with a beautiful smile and introduced herself as Mary. She invited us to browse and to let her know if we needed any help. I have to admit that I was almost rude in my pathetic attempts to catch a glimpse of her home through the porch windows. Reading my mind, she graciously offered, “Would you like to come in and look around?” I thought she’d never ask!     

     

Mary’s home revealed a world very different from mine and an uncommonly simplistic lifestyle I desperately longed to experience. The house was sparsely furnished with only the necessities, but Mary described her life and daily routine with words like “calm, uncomplicated, peaceful and serene.” When I asked why she had chosen such a lifestyle she sweetly responded with words of wisdom I will never forget, “I have discovered that when my life and my heart get too crowded there is not enough room for God.” Exactly! (sorry, I'm highlighting this because this is the key!)

An unbalanced life is too crowded for God. It is so easy to relegate our spirituality to religious activity when all He really wants is to spend time with us. When the tears fall, He wants to wipe them away, collecting each one so that He can pour them back into our lives as a refreshing rain of restoration. God longs for us to forever run into His arms, sharing every hurt and rejoicing in every victory. The Father yearns to wrap His strong arms around us, bringing the peace and balance we so desperately need.

Instead, we often relinquish control of our life to unworthy demands dictated by a world that operates in “urgent” gear. We forget what is really important. The important rarely barges in while the urgent is always an offensive intruder. The important waits patiently while the urgent demands its own way, creating bedlam and imbalance. Certainly, there are times when the important is also urgent – but we must learn to discern between the two. We wrongly conclude that a busy life is automatically a productive life and think that a full schedule will surely produce a full heart.

I have great news! He loves who you are more than He loves what you do. Seek Him today. Make room for Him. He is waiting.

Let’s Pray

Father, I am too busy and sometimes I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I’m tired of the imbalance I see in the way I live. Help me learn how to establish priorities that please You and reflect Your plan for me. I commit to spending time with You each day, seeking Your wisdom and direction. I love You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Are you ready to evaluate your life according to God’s priorities? Set aside time today to spend with Him. Grab your journal and record the truths He gives you about how to balance your life.

Ask God to let you see your life through His eyes. Be willing to change what needs to be changed in order to invest your time wisely.    
 
Determine the top five life priorities of your life - right now. Take a deep breath and brutally examine your calendar and checkbook to see where you spend most of your time and resources. We can give lip service to what we think our priorities should be but until our daily schedule reflects those priorities, we are only "playing at life."  
  
More from the Girlfriends

Choose to keep the commitments you have made today for one month. So much of the Christian walk is wrapped up in the word "choice." A choice is a deliberate action and purposeful decision. We can choose where and how we spend our time. A daily time alone with God in prayer and Bible study will strengthen you to face whatever life throws at you this year. Check out Mary’s weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God’s Word. The first study of 2013 is Power Up With Proverbs, and it’s not too late to join!

I'm very much wanting to simplify and so far I haven't done anything to reflect this passion in my life.  Sounds like I need to take a weekend out of the craft room and spend it cleaning up and cleaning out my life. :)  

Cara Box Reveal!

It's time for CARA BOX REVEAL!!! This is the first month I have done Cara Box and I LOVED it. Basically, you submit your name to be part of this program.  You will receive a person to give a gift to and someone will send you a gift.  You spend some time getting to know them, you make two new friends, you assemble a box of goodies under $15 for your partner that fits the theme of the month and you have a box arrive on your porch with goodies for you! Is this awesome or what?!  I know, totally love it.

The person I created a box for was Amy.  This story is a bit crazy as she is a Carolina gal living in Kansas. Come to find out, I know her people here in my community! CRAZY?! I think so!  Amy's blog is here and she can tell you more about what I sent her. :)

Andrea (her blog is here!) received my name and she is awesome! :) She sent a list of questions to learn more about me, followed me on instagram and facebook and I just wish we lived closer! I love her inspirational posts that are so uplifting!  This month, Cara Box was about resolutions, but I don't really do resolutions, so I know I made it hard on her. But she did REALLY GREAT!

Yesterday my present was waiting for me on my porch, too adorable.  I was ready to do flips to see what was inside. :)  It was STUFFED full of fun, just for me!

Everything was wrapped really pretty but I took care of that in no time. :)  I love PINK and loved the pink poofs tied to everything. Muffin is going to have a grand time chasing them around the house!

I have chosen "one little word" to apply to my life this year, which is Simplify.  Andrea included the planner to help me get organized and simplify my daily life. 

 I LOVE these notecards!  The first says, "Be encouraged, I will never leave you nor forsake you." - a Bible verse, and how totally encouraging is that? And the second is just beautiful, with rhinestones on the upper right side of the cross.  The envelopes are awesome, too, which is one of those little things I LOVE about stationary. Cool envelopes. :)  The pen is now part of my Thankful Journal and it also mentions living simply.  I am so thankful I chose this word! 

This is just for me! Body mist and lotion to pamper myself - and the card which was full of encouragement. Andrea didn't know it, but I had dropped my bottle of perfume and shattered the bottle, leaving me "scentless." So this is awesome! :) 

Cara Box has been such a blessing, I am so thankful for the two ladies I met through the program. It always amazes me the online network of Christian women out there, and I was matched up with two of them! :) YAY!  

I'm off to link up with everyone else - thanks again, Andrea!! You did an awesome job!

Motivation... oh where have you gone?

Sunrise this morning, looking across the road from my house

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge."  -- Og Mandino

I haven't been motivated to do much in the past few weeks. I haven't started cleaning up and cleaning out and simplifying this way. I haven't even packed up Christmas yet. What am I saying - I'm still listening to Christmas music!! I think the drama is beginning to weigh on me again - the worries we have happening with health issues in the family. :(  Please say a prayer for my family and God will know exactly where all to apply it. Thank you.

This little girl is the light of our lives. Granted she refuses to sleep at night and isn't the light of her mama and daddy's lives at the moment, but she is so joyous. Do you see her little toothie in the pic on the left? One little toothie has poked out. My oh my, she's not a happy teether.  But thankfully we've found a gel that works and Sister Beth gave us some teething tablets by that same company that works, too. I'll find the name and share with you later - all natural! So that made us all a bit happier.

Any suggestions on getting a 6-month-old to sleep through the night? Please share. She hates her crib at home and refuses to sleep in it. Play in it - yes. Sleep - no.

In other news, I'm working on my first ever Cara Box! I have a few ideas I have to work on this weekend so it's ready to mail soon! I need to read those directions again... but anyway, I'm so excited! I have been given Amy to send a Cara Box to with New Year's Resolutions in it... and she's a Carolina Gal living in Kansas! So I plan to help her remember all about the Greatness that is South Carolina!! :) :)  Lovin' it already.

*sigh* Ok, I'm off to do something ... not sure what but something. Motivate me, ya'll... help me out here! :)

Simplify. My One Little Word for 2013.

Love this bracelet... check it out here!

As I mentioned in my Friday's Letter post earlier today, I'm choosing one word to apply to my life for 2013.  This is the third year I've done it and I LOVE this concept.

A bit of history,  I chose "Appreciation" in 2011 and this really impacted my life. I began a Thankful Journal, that I still keep up-to-date today. I showed friends and strangers alike that I valued them and appreciated them through small acts - a smile, a positive comment, a note. I really loved this word and what it did for me.

In 2012, I wanted to choose "Create" but felt I wouldn't have time to apply this in a very busy year. So I chose "Breathe," which I didn't do at all.  2012 was a rough one. And yet, I should have stuck with "Create" because I started my online Etsy store in the midst of the craziness!

This year, I feel really good about my word.  Simplify.  This has been lying heavily on me - the excess and waste, the drama and out-of-whack priorities. I'm disappointed in where my life is and where we are as a society. I can't change but one of those - so it starts with me.  :)  I'm already wanting to clean out my house, have a huge yard sale and find something positive to do with the money raised. I'm tired of buying buying buying all this crap that is so disposable. I want quality, necessary, long-lasting things that are what I NEED, not just what I want.

Simplify, my friends. Focus on the people I love and the time I have with them today. Focus on my needs, my health, my talents and hobbies.  Pray. Lots of praying and asking God to show me what this one little word can do for my life.  I'm ready to push back from materialism and open my heart to things money can't buy.

So this is my one little word for 2013.  If you get into this, I hope you'll share yours and the reason behind it. I love hearing things like that. :)  And hopefully you'll keep me accountable on how my word is going!