Stress Busters, Spirt Lifters, Budget Savers, Energy Boosters, Time Savers - My Top 12 List

Here's a few practical tips to help, not just "endure & survive" the holidays, but to live more free of the excess stress & help to really celebrate these moments of the Christmas season!

Would love to hear any ideas you have too, or what you've found that works for your family & lives!

Top 12 List of Stress Busters, Spirt Lifters, Budget Savers, Energy Boosters, and Time Savers:

1. Keep your commitments realistic - a simple "no" can save us so much extra stress, headache, and weariness during this time of year! Make it a plan to be careful with extra family commitments, the truth is, not many of us can make EVERY holiday party and event, but maybe we can be at those few that are most important to our family. We'll probably enjoy those "few" alot more than trying to do everything anyway!

2. "Less is more" in every way! Keep it simple, just do less...let something go...maybe it's the extreme home makeover Christmas decorating, maybe it's the extra baking, the extra shopping, the extra parties, whatever it is, choose to let some things go. Freely admit, we can't do it ALL!
And, the truth is, whoever tries, is probably not a very "pleasant" person to be around anyway.

3. Shop online if you still have time for free shipping! Or, make it a point to start the season off next year, by cyber shopping! It has saved me more time, money, & headaches this year than ever before. My friend Sharon told me about 2 websites I've used many times now to find the best prices & products out there, http://www.shopping.com/ & http://www.shopzilla.com/.
Now I have to be honest, I am actually one of those strange people who does enjoy the crowded malls & shopping locations, but if you like that, you can still do that too, you just won't have the added stress of having to wait in long lines at the register! Your shopping will be done!

4. Buy stamps online. I just can't stand long post office lines, ugh! And I'm usually there with 2 toddlers to top it off, need I say more? I just ordered a bunch of stamps that will be delivered to my door, yea, http://www.usps.com/.

5. Set your Christmas budget & go ALL CASH! Using credit makes it so tempting to go "overboard" & spend too much for items that we nor others really "need" anyway. I recently read something that Mary Hunt wrote, "No gift feels as good as debt feels bad. Stuff quickly fades and gifts are forgotten, but debt goes on and on." So true! And even if you're shopping online, you don't have to use credit, debit cards work just as well.

6. Get outside, take a walk, run, or bike ride to re-energize yourself. Being cooped up in the colder weather just makes us feel more sluggish. Bundle up & get some winter sunshine!

7. Give the types of gifts that keep on giving. Money is tighter this year for many of us! So why put excess stress & drain on our finances? Be creative.
-Give the gift of words, the gift of encouragement through a personal written card or note to someone you love.
-Give the gift of pictures, you just need a frame!
-Give a gift in someone's name to a favorite ministry or charity you believe in.
-Plant a tree in honor of someone you love.
-Make something, even those of us who feel totally "uncrafty" can find something to bake or cook up! This year I'm making some winter soups & stews, & passing them out in big mason jars with a Christmas bow. And who doesn't love Christmas cookies & candy?! I know we do!
-Give coupons to friends & family, for a home made meal, for free hours of babysitting, wow, those are sometimes the VERY best gifts for those of us with young children!
-Volunteer your time at your church or with a ministry that is giving to those in need this season. That is a gift that WILL give straight back to you! We are the ones always blessed more beyond belief when we give to others who have needs or when we give our time to share the love of Christ with someone who is seeking.

-Give "anonymously." Do something special for someone without recognition. Make it your family's "adventure" to leave something at their door, or have a mutual friend deliver your "anonymous gift," just do something that others don't know you did. Wow, now THAT is something to teach our children. Giving without any thought of receiving in return.
-Let your kids in on the giving! Send their "works of art," stories, or notes to relatives. I LOVE children's artwork! Mandy, I still have Daniel's framed picture of Minnie that he drew for me years ago, it's going up on the playroom wall! (:

8. Spend moments of alone time with God, don't let the quiet times go by the wayside in the busyness of the season, that's when we need His refreshment the MOST! If you're really battling depression & anxiety this time of year, don't be afraid to get help, talk to a pastor, counselor, or someone you trust.

9. Enjoy people! This is usually about the time of year that people, well, can just start getting on each other's nerves, know what I mean? If we're feeling over-stressed already, any small thing someone else does can just really irritate us, right? Maybe someone "stole" the parking spot that YOU were obviously sitting there waiting for, maybe someone cut you off in traffic, didn't help you to find what you needed in the store, maybe the guy behind you & your kids in the Santa line was rude, or even worse, Santa himself was rude!
In spite of all of that, look beyond yourself & those small "irritations" & seek to spend time with those you love. Get together with family, with a friend, invite someone over -don't worry so much about what your house looks like, odds are, those you're having over will actually feel more "comfortable" in a "not so perfect" home anyway.
Being with others often helps us look beyond ourselves & our own problems, it often helps to re-energize us, it can boost our spirits. Just laugh, have fun, hang out with old friends & seek to get to know some new friends too. Especially seek out those who seem lonely, who might be going through a difficult time this year, seek to BE a friend - reach out.

10. SOAK in the sights, smells, & sounds of the season.
Pop some popcorn, get some drinks, & drive around to look at Christmas lights together.
Find the Christmas music you most enjoy & keep it on! I have to admit, I'm more an old time music lover, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, maybe a little Carpenters & Kenny G. thrown in the mix, love it! It's been on in our house for about 3 weeks now.
Did you know studies have shown that the smell of peppermint is an energy booster? I read somewhere that "the scent of peppermint has been found to decrease fatigue by up to 25%." Feeling tired? Take a whiff!

11. Protect your own family time. Find those moments & don't let anything else interfere. Value your time together. O.K., let's be honest, you may not have family devo's EVERY night, but try to have it, maybe a few times a week. Be realistic with what you're able to do & then TREASURE those moments with your spouse & children & extended family. Use those times to start your own traditions, tell the Christmas story over & over, use puppets or stuffed animals, act it out (we LOVE to act out stories in our family, kids love that), read a book together, get out the advent toy or the little plastic nativity set that your kids can "get their hands on." Enjoy one another.

12. Need some extra cash for the next few weeks? Here's something we've done a number of times in life when the budget was "low." We stopped shopping. Sounds simple enough, right? I mean, we stopped unnecessary shopping for groceries and clothes.
CLEAN OUT the pantry & fridge. Do your best NOT to go to the grocery store, except for really needed items, you know, like milk, bread, diapers, etc..., things you just can't get by without! But then, try to eat whatever you have already for the next week or so, you might be amazed at all the food lurking at the back of the pantry or still in the freezer, eat what you have. Save on groceries!
Mix & match what's already in your closet for the season's wardrobe. Wear what you already have, be creative. Do we really NEED another Christmas outfit for that party? Maybe just buy one accessory to make an outfit look different. Odds are, noone will even remember that you wore that same dress or sweater last year anyway. (:

Love you friends! Praying that God will boost your spirits and pour His life & refreshing into you & through you this season!

No Fear

We've all seen these words "No Fear" written across millions of t-shirts, sports equipment, etc...in the past years, but as I read the following words this morning, I'm reminded that THIS is how we are able to live when we are in the center of God's care & design, WITH NO FEAR - no matter what!

From Psalm 112: 1-9
"Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land, the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken, a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have NO FEAR of bad news, his heart is STEADFAST, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is SECURE, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteouness endures forever, his horn will be lifted high in honor."

Even in the midst of financial turmoil in our nation, even with the uncertainty of the upcoming elections, even when we hear "bad news," we can live with no fear, our hearts secure, trusting in our God who never wavers.
I realize that for many of us, when we feel the pressure of bad economic conditions, it makes us want to tighten down, keep our wallets a little "closer" to us, we probably don't naturally think, "hmmm, how can I give to God and to others today?" But in this scripture, it seems to go hand in hand, when we have a reverence for God, even in dark times, generosity is part of our character, because really, it's part of HIS! God knows how important MONEY is to us today, it always has been, throughout time. Maybe that's why Jesus taught more about money than any other subject, it's all through the Bible! There's a verse that talks about fear being a "snare" or a trap for us, even the fear of losing money can be a snare. What's the cure? Be generous, share, give, be honest & fair in every business dealing you have, honor God above everything else.
I'm challenging myself today to continue to be a GIVER, to choose not to live in fear, but to continue to trust God for everything. Here are 10 blessings we can see from this wonderful passage of those who choose to fear the Lord & honor Him with life itself, you can probably find even more if you dig deep:

1. We are blessed! verse 1
2. Our children will be "mighty" in our land, even they will be blessed, and who do you know that doesn't want their precious kiddos to live "blessed"?! verse 2
3. "Wealth & riches" are in our house. Now you may not "feel" very rich, but please remember, compared to how many live in countries around this world, we are a RICH nation! v.3
4. Even in "dark" times, there's light for us - there's hope, thank you Lord. v.4
5. "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." There you have it, it's right there, God says that good WILL come our way if we choose to walk in geneosity & honesty. v.5
6. We will not be "shaken." Our country is feeling shaky right now, we don't have to join them in that panicky mentality. v.6
7. We will be remembered forever, actually we will LIVE forever with Him, we have much more to look forward to after life on earth! And up there, the "economy" is just fine. v. 6
8. We do not have to fear bad news. We can be "steadfast," we serve a God who never changes! v. 7
9. Our hearts are "secure," and we all love security, I just even love the word, "security," it just makes me feel, well, secure. v. 8
10. We will be a BLESSING as we give to others, "he has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor," doesn't that just sound like God wants us to give big? To give broad? To keep giving? v. 9

Have a blessed day as you go, as you give, as you walk with NO FEAR!

The Dow Takes a Dive, It's O.K., We're Still Alive!

Breathe....come on, really, just take a deep breath & breathe...

Right now at this moment, today, September 29, 2008, we're experiencing HISTORY in every sense of the word. This day will be talked about for years to come, the DOW has taken a literal dive.
The bail out plan has been rejected by the House, Wall Street is freaking out, we're all maybe a little less "wealthy" today than we were a few weeks ago, times are feeling kind of shaky, I know, I'm with you in that.
But, let's get perspective again.
What are the good things?
1. We're ALIVE, that's always good.
2. There WILL be another plan, something will eventually be passed to help our economic situation, and to be quite honest, I don't know if many of us in middle class America really even "agreed" with that $700 billion plan of debt anyway! Maybe, just maybe, those in key political positions are choosing to LISTEN to the American people.
3. God will take care of His children...we may suffer in some ways, along with others who don't even acknowledge God at all, because we live in the same world & are affected by the same things that affect anyone else. The difference is this, we have a Father who will provide for & take care of His children. We don't have to be anxious, we don't have to fear, this has not taken God by surprise & since we belong to Him, we're in good hands! God will KEEP His people through the crisis, even if we face the most difficult days ahead, He is still with us, He is still for us, He will still cover us, and possibly even reveal Himself to us more than ever before!
4. We are reminded that our treasures on earth are very temporary, they fade, they're here today & gone tomorrow, we've all experienced that just moments ago...but maybe that's why God encourages us to store up for ourselves "treasures in heaven," those are the treasures, the accounts, that are ETERNAL, everlasting, they do not fade away. Maybe, just maybe, this will shift our focus a bit.
5. God will keep our minds in PERFECT PEACE. I know, sounds crazy, right? But He will, He can do that. We may "start" to feel the same panic that is sweeping across our country right now, but even as I write this, amazingly, I feel a sense of peace. I know it's not my own. His Spirit WILL fill our lives as we are yielded to Him & open to what He is saying right now, in our world, in these very uncertain times.

Here's some verses from the Word I'm CHOOSING to meditate on through the remainder of the day...I've already realized that sometimes I need to TURN OFF the panic of the media & TUNE IN to the Word of God.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

"But, I trust in you, O Lord, I say, You are my God, My times are in your hands...how great is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you." Psalm 31:14-15,19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

"And He will be the STABILITY OF YOUR TIMES, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, the fear of the Lord is his treasure." Isaiah 33:6 NAS