Day 46: The Importance of Being Modest

We all have different backgrounds and varying ideas of modesty.  I grew up wearing my older brothers hand-me-down jeans and that will keep any girl modest.  Unfortunately in today's society it's very common to see body parts spilling out of tops and bottoms.  Do you have any personal limits when buying clothing? Do you think you are doing well with modesty or should you maybe be a little more selective?

Day 45: Purge Personal Items

Donna really summed it up when she stated "perfection is often the enemy of peace." We are never at peace when we are striving for perfection, it is impossible.  I can say that I agree with that statement 100% because I am a recovering perfectionist.  When we think we can achieve perfection it's like running on a hamster wheel because in our mind everything we do could always be better.  You can not attain peace until you start to see the beauty in imperfection. I didn't have time to see that until after we had our fourth child and I didn't have the time to be a perfectionist.  I started to slow down, let go of certain areas of my life and realize many of the things that I would stress about didn't hold much significance in God's eyes.  Do you feel there are areas of your life keeping you from finding peace?

Day 44: Determine Your Ideal Weight

From the beginning of time food has been causing all of us a lot of trouble and frustration.  It started with Eve and her giving in to temptation but it continues with us often being unable to exercise self-control when it comes to food.  We let the enemy win when we give in to the temptation and then we allow him to beat us up because we had that extra piece of pizza or a few to many cookies.  Donna makes a great point when she states "Your ideal weight is the healthiest weight you can maintain while leading a sustainable lifestyle".  Remember age, weight and our address are all just numbers and they never define who we are or determine our value in this world, besides, our God thinks we are invaluable.

Day 43: Stick with Your Core Color

God understands our need as women to feel beautiful inside and out.  Who doesn't like a new accessory that makes you feel a little giddy on the inside when you wear it?  Ezekiel 16:14 brought me to a dead stop in my reading when the Lord says "made your beauty perfect".  So often we focus on what is wrong with us and what we would like to change in and about ourselves on the exterior.  I now realize when I look in the mirror and pick apart every single flaw, I am insulting the one who carefully designed me.  The same one who knows every hair on my head.  The definition of beauty is so skewed in today's world and what each of us sees as beautiful isn't always the same.  Let's challenge ourselves to look in the mirror and thank our Creator for the things we love about ourselves.  If you can't come up with them on your own, ask a friend I'm sure she would love to tell you sincerely how truly beautiful you are.  It might help you see yourself in a new light.  I'm sure God is anxious to hear what you love about what he gave you rather than what you would change.  Everyone loves a good compliment, even God.

Proverbs 31: 22-23

She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

 

Day 40: Begin Automatic Savings and Investment

My husband is an accountant. Needless to say with my old shopping patterns we have had many quarrels about money. I am so grateful that God spoke to me and opened my eyes to the damage my spending habits were doing to our family unit. Were you surprised to learn that Jesus talked more about money than heaven and hell combined? Obviously money is important and what a great example we have in the Proverbs 31 woman who had no fear for her household. Technology can now be used to do exactly what the Bible suggests: "He who gathers money little by little makes it grow." Donna offers some great suggestions in this chapter on how to improve the finances in your household. With these guidelines, and prayer for God's will in your money management, He will lead you where to start.

Day 39: Pay Cash

Matthew 6:19-21 encourages us to store up our treasures in heaven, not in things that can rust, be eaten by moths, or stolen by thieves. We are bombarded with advertisements and offers that encourage spending on credit. Paying cash, paying off credit cards monthly or even weekly, and using self-control to walk away from a credit purchase leaves no regret when the credit card bill arrives in the mail. Together let's seek after God's kingdom and put our treasured investments there too. Are you inspired to cut up your credit cards?

Day 38: Reduce Your Debt

I had my own message from God to clear out the rubble. I had used my credit cards too often and got caught up in thinking that getting what I wanted or thought I needed would make me happy. It didn't make me happy and certainly doesn't now looking at the debt I am working on paying off. It hasn't been easy paying only with cash and I am excited to try the Debt Snowball. The spiritual Enemy has tempted me to veer off this path. I even purchased a beautiful patio set only to return it the next day. It's not hopeless and we can fight the voices of temptation with God's help. Imagine the peace and sense of accomplishment we will feel after we stay focused and rebuild our walls for a secure financial fortress!

Day 36: Tithe

Hello Ladies! I am filling in for Sara this week as she moves into her new house. How about some prayer love for her and her family!

I love when Donna asks us to solve a math problem. Which is greater: 90 percent plus God or 100 percent minus God? I know I need God in all situations, so that math problem is an easy one. I think sometimes we can be overwhelmed when it comes to money. Will there be enough for the bills? How much is the doctor bill going to impact our budget? What if our children need braces? Giving 10 percent of your income can seem scary at first but our powerful God can and will provide. When we give with love and for the right reasons God will make sure we have enough to support our church, pay the bills, and meet the needs of our family. Heartland makes it easy to tithe with an online payment section under giving on the website and a giving kiosk located in the atrium. Commit to giving a percentage of your earnings, let God lead your heart to where you want to help His children, and you will be blessed more than you could ever imagine! Do you have a personal story on how tithing has blessed you?  

Proverbs 31:20-21

She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

 

Day 33: Transfer Problems to a Tackle List

I don't know about you but I feel amazing on those days when I wake early and start crossing things off my list right away but often for various reasons it doesn't happen.  The Proverbs 31 woman is an inspiration to us all with what we can imagine she accomplished each and every day.  There is a time for rest and a time for productivity, we each have to find our own balance.  The comparison trap can get us all at times but always remember God created you to be unique, beautiful and productive in your own ways.  Your needs, your family's needs and the things you have to get done each day are going to be vastly different than your sister, co-worker, best friend or bible study friends.  Let God's plan direct your day by overcoming any excuses.  Let Him restore and energize you.

Day 32: Stow Away as Much as You Can

A peaceful home sounds like a pretty amazing thing.  With 4 children on summer vacation, my home is anything but peaceful.  In today's world we are constantly shown and told by the world around us that being busier and having more possessions will make us happier and possibly more successful.  It's the "if I only had (fill in the blank), my life would be easier/better" mentality that gets us.  Let us prayerfully consider whose prioririties we are living by before we make those purchases and decisions that will clutter our lives and add no real value.  Focus on storing up our biggest treasures in heaven and the others in our attic.  

Day 31: Give Away a Everything You Can

Today's lesson really hits me on a personal level.  God has had my family on quite the journey this last year and today's reading hit on part of it.

Three months ago, we sold our home and moved 6 of us into a 2 bedroom apartment during our home transition.  As you can imagine we could only bring our bare essentials to fit all of us in this space and still have room to live.  For 3 months we have lived without 80% of our possessions.  We brought only essential clothes items, 1 couch, no dressers, 1 pot, 1 pan, enough dishes and silverware for everyone to have one at each meal (I haven't used a dishwasher in 3 months), I sleep on the couch, my husband sleeps on the floor next to me on a twin mattress... you get the picture.  On Sunday our belongings came out of storage and into our house.  I have to admit it was positively overwhelming to see all of the boxes.  I am normally a minimalist and I am pretty good about giving away items we don't use or won't use anymore and I admit clutter in my house stresses me out.  We quickly realized we have way much.  There are things that seemed important to us before this move, other things I know we can live happily without and other stuff I forgot we owned. Our donation pile is heaping and I have only gone through boxes in two rooms. I still have many more boxes to go through and I am already feeling more free.  I really encourage you to minimize your clutter by giving away everything you can to bless others and live blessed in return.  

Day 30: Apply the 80/20 Rule

There are often times I look back on my day and wonder what I got done or feel like I accomplished nothing despite being busy and working hard all day long. That is exhausting and not motivating.  I realize now I often spread myself too thin running in every direction.  How will you apply the 80/20 rule to your life to simplify and keep your eye on the prize?

Proverbs 31:18-19

She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindles with her fingers.

 

Day 29: Maximize Each Day

We begin this week of "Management Tools" learning how to maximize each day. It is so easy to get caught up in our own plan and agenda we often forget we are truly here for a purpose, to love and serve God.  A good way to start our days might be asking God what He has planned for us today and trusting He will help us get the things done that really matter.  What do you think you could do shift your mindset to follow Gods agenda rather than your own?

Day 26: Purify Body and Soul

What a wonderful and reflective verse Donna gave us in Psalm 51:1-4, 7.  We ask a God to cleanse our Spirit with forgiveness when we sin against Him.  He wants us to be at our best and what sounds better than being whiter than snow in the eyes of God? While our snowy white glow doesn't last long, God is always there ready and waiting to clean us up again a and again.  If you have a chance, try the wonderful hot bath Donna suggests to unwind and give your digestive system a chance to function more efficiently.  

Day 25: Grow Strong by Defying Gravity

While I'm sure many of us won't find ourselves "rebounding" (aka jumping on a mini-trampoline) maybe today is the day you take the stairs or take a walk around the block.  Let us renew our minds and bodies to align with Gods will.  It won't be the same for all of us so prayerfully consider and ask God what His will is for you.  When we live our lives with Him in mind, the way God wants us to live and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us we will see amazing things happen. What are you going to try today?

Let's Get Together!

Let's get together!  Is anyone else bursting to share what's been happening to them throughout the study??  Are you craving time with other women like I am??  Let's get together at my house, next Tuesday, July 15th at 6:30 to discuss.  I'll provide the snacks!  Email me at:  angelaackley@icloud.com if you can make it!

Day 24: Give Your Body Time to Digest

Each morning we start beautifully new and fresh in our relationship with God.  Even if we fell off the only vegetables and water wagon, or skipped a few days of time with God, no matter where you are and what transpired we can jump back on.  His compassions are new and His love never ever fails even when we fail Him.  He knows we will BUT it's what we do to recover that moment that God wants to see.  Let us trust God above everything else in our lives and allow Him to guide our footsteps.  In doing this we may not go the direction we planned, but I'm sure he won't disappoint us with what He has in store for us today.  

Day 23: Purify Your Body with Enhanced Water

Drink more water.  That statement seems so simple.  For some it is and for others it is a daily struggle of knowing you should drink some or more than you already consume daily.  Donna highlights the wonderful things drinking water can do for us.  Who wouldn't want a cleansed internal system, weight loss, clearer skin, less fatigue, more energy, faster metabolism and to feel hydrated?  Sounds pretty good to me.  Now if only my tongue and my brain would align on this subject.  The sugary goodness our tastebuds are so accustomed to feels satisfying in the moment but continues to be destructive to our bodies.  Let's take some steps together in drinking more water, one day at a time.  Any rules of thumb you follow in regards to drinking water that might help those of us who fall short on their daily water consumption?

Proverbs 31:16-17

She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

 

Day 22: Walk to Boost Energy

While everything around us is about comfort and convenience, that is not the race God intended us to run.  Let's not run aimlessly but full of purpose after the greatest prize of all, our Heavenly Father.  When our race seems to difficult or that we can't possibly make it through one more moment of one more day, we need to reflect and ask ourselves if we are seeking God and the life He wants us to live or doing the bare minimum? Do you already walk daily or do a specific workout? Is it something you are motivated to do on your own or is there someone in your life you could ask to join you?

Day 18: Eat Reasonable Portions

"Gluttony proves that we value the flesh more than the Spirit."  Ouch! Portion sizes and moderation are so important no matter what we are eating whether it's carrot sticks or carrot cake.  It makes so much sense when Donna writes it out for us doesn't it? Everything we consume has an effect on our body, soul and spirit.  But sometimes we eat for the moment and live with regrets afterwards.  Let's live for our bright futures looking beyond this moment or day and know our choices, all of them, will have a rippling effect on our future.  "Don't live to eat; eat to live."

Day 17: Limit Your Sugar Intake

Good old self-control, it can ruin every and any area of our lives if we let it run free and follow our impulses.  Together let's free ourselves of the gluttony that may hanging over our heads. But we know it won't be easy.  Personally I live for the sweet treats, if it has sugar I can't say no.  Over the years I have made a conscious choice not to keep soda in my house because I would drink it all.  I probably should have the same rule regarding sweets and it would make my choices easier if I only had quality foods in my house. Our amazing God created some incredibly simple foods to help us be at our best at all times.  Is there something you need to make a conscious choice not to bring into your kitchen and pantry? 

Day 16: Resolve to Control Your Eating Habits

I will be the first to admit that my family and I often conform to the eating pattern of this world. Not that we are always going out to eat but there are snacks and foods that are just darn convenient and easy.   We all have those days we didn't plan well enough or ran late and everyone is starving or as we call it in my house "hangry" which is hunger causing irritability, it can get ugly quickly.  Everything around us is based on convenience and how easy it can and will make our lives.  I know I need to start planning food better and make some inconvenient choices to eat better and feed my family better.  Does anyone have any suggestions for snacks and meals for those of us who struggle with this?