The best way to work a 12 week plan (now with 9 weeks remaining) is to continually "work" your plan by assessing your DAILY reality. Are you saving money, calories, and time on a daily basis?
The best way I've found to do this in each of the 3 categories is as follows:
Money--save on simple things, spend on special things. During the next nine weeks, rather than buying a coffee, magazine, or impulse (at the counter) purchase, just don't! Walk away. And spend on special things. As you think about gifts for family members, watch for sales or online outlets that will allow you to purchase the desired gift at a minimal cost. Additionally, consider this idea for immediate family members: 3 gifts -- one that is special to THEM (something affordable that they REALLY want), one that is spiritual (a journal, a bible, a commentary, highlighters for bibles, online bible, etc.), and one that is personal (a favorite store gift card, a favorite soap, perfume/cologne or spa certificate). For kids--something FUN, Faith-based, and FAMILY oriented (a game, etc.).
Calories--chart your daily progress with a food journal and regular weigh ins. If you need a 60 day journal, the Change Your Life Daily Journal is a helpful resource designed to keep a daily record of your eating and exercise plans. Note: Don't forget to measure inches too!
Time--plan for margin. As the holidays approach, so will waiting in line at stores and in traffic. Don't minimize this. You will lose time in automobile or mall traffic if you shop at the busiest times. Plan accordingly. If you can't help when you are available to shop, then plan for snacks/meals on the road and/or when you tell others you can meet them or be back home! Remember to bring walking shoes, an extra journal and bible, and/or book to read if you are waiting for others at appointments, lessons, or meetings.
This should get you started working your plan...
Be encouraged!
Becky
This should get you started on working your plan--daily for the next 9 weeks.
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This morning God woke me up an hour earlier than my appointed time and blessed me so much I wanted to share it with you. I use 31 days of Praise by Ruth Myers as a jump start of my praise part of my time with God. Some days I read it aloud and not much gets paraphrased into my prayer journal but on other days, such as today, I spent over an hour just praising God. He calmed my anxiety over doing all this holiday stuff. Organization is my big downfall and so writing a calendar and doing a budget feels a bit overwhelming. My husband says it pains him to watch me. He thought I should just abandon the idea of a budget (we have all our financial needs met and if we spend more than the monthly pay check we can always go to the savings was his assessment (we are both frugal and don't spend money easily). But to me, this reasoning was of Satan not of God because God calls me to be a good stewart of my money and if I have a plan I will spend $ on what God wants so I am trudging forward with my plan. So ladies here is the quote that inspired me today and I hope it will bless you as well.
ReplyDelete"Thank you Lord that I can give myself up to be led by You that I can go forth praising and at REST, letting you manage me and my day" God then says to me Did you hear me Robbie, I will manage your day I will give you a way to succeed at the task set before you. ( ie calendar and christmas address list and budget.) it goes on "that I can joyfully depend on You through out the day. expecting you to guide. to enlighten, to reprove, to teach, to use, and to do in me and with me what you desire that I can count upon Your working in me and through me as a fact, totally apart from sight or feeling that I can go forth praising and at REST believing You and obeying You and ceasing from the burden of trying to manage myself with out your wisdom and power. Thank you that I can throw the whole weight of my anxieties on You, for I am Your personal concern"quote my Ruth Myers AMEN Ladies be encouraged. Today is the Day the Lord has made: Rejoice and be glad.
Hi All: Need to send out a prayer request.
ReplyDeleteOur two small businesses are just deadly slow.
My husband and I are really needing some funds, cash flow and I need to know if God wants me out working. Since this is about time, maybe it fits well here. I've applied for some internet jobs, where I could stay home and both work on my businesses and those as well. But they havent come through yet. So I need Godly wisdom.
I havent worked outside our businesses for 25 years. I dont know what God wants me to do or where to look. If we could gain new accounts or business just picked up, we would be fine but sales are down about 50 percent right now.
So, please send up a prayer for us.
The stress is just beyond belief right now.
Thanks.
Laura.
Dear Lord Jesus, Lord we praise you for you are sovereign. You know everyone of our needs and will not let any of us fail. We are your personal concern. Thank you for your Holy Spirit which pours His blessing on us. Lord, today this day I lift my sister , Laura up to you. set her feet on the path that you have set out for her in your sovereign plan. Lord, I especially ask for peace to quiet her heart and worry. We are putting our hope in you Lord to see her through this very uncertain time. Pour your blessing on Laura and her family. Guide and direct her steps. Open doors for your wisdom to be known. Help her to hear your voice. Laura is yours Lord, protect and guide her. Please make known the work you have for her. Guide their business to know which way to go. Thank you Lord, that she has asked us to lift her up to you. Just as the the friends of the paralytic man dropped the man down to Jesus. So Lord, put it on our hearts to lift this sister up to you. We need you in our lifes to sustain us. May we be pleasing to you. Amen
ReplyDeleteThis morning, God spoke to me through the word,*Ezekiel 10:19 And the Glory of the God Israel hovered above them." Isn't that what I want God to do hover above me through the next 9 weeks reminding me to be God honoring in all I do. Work the plan, read it to be reminded of my musts and must nots. This is a God plan for the holidays and some things have to be dropped so that God can be Glorified in the new. In years past, I did Christmas cards by hand. Huge amount of hours. This year, while I was in Atlanta, at Becky's prayer event, I saw a already made card with a beautiful inscription inside Isaiah 6:3 the whole earth is full of His Glory!. The colors matched the family photo. I came home and ordered the cards. The plan gave me direction very specific. But....I was stubborn, oh I could add this element to spruce it up and make it more custom. This would add more money and time that wasn't in the plan. I was so tempted to just do the extra stuff but God brought me back to the plan and gave me this verse this morning. Ez 11:19 " And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit with in them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart." Selah!!!
ReplyDeleteI was in awe when I read these words, manna from heaven. We are doing this year different it is about bringing Glory to God. God is putting a new song in my heart a new way to honor him. Work the plan and don't be side tracked. As Becky said in her change your heart email,
Be Hope! Working the plan frees up time and money to be better used by God to Be Hope to those that God directs you to bring Hope into their lifes.
CLY MCT
ReplyDeleteI have been working on my plan. I have been using the cyl journal and it is very helpful. Money: Our family already use the 3 gift idea. I have talked to everyone about lessening the amount that I am going to spend this year.
Calories: I have written down what I am going to eat each day and for the week as I look ahead. The days i eat out I have found certain places that keep my meal at under 300 calories and then make my choice. Even last night when i had to work overtime and was starving I was able to make a better choice of where to go instead of going to a fast food that I have used for comfort in the past. I had a lunch date with a friend and knew where we were going so I looked up the calorie content on line and was able to make the best choices when we ate. I have lost 2 pounds this last week and it feels good. I even had ammunition on halloween because I planned ahead.
Time: My time is also being planned, but I haven't found a calendar I like. I have that on my list this week to get to use for both work and my life. I've started menopause and my memory is not as good, so I need a calendar. I also think I have more that I am doing than when i was younger. My quite time has been cut short some days due to my busy schedule so I need to rearrange what I am doing. I have a prayer partner who is praying for me in this area. Psalms 1 has been my guide this time of the year.
Diane