As soon as we get back from vacation Terry and I are going to get back to our exercise programs. He really loves the P90X by Beach body. I also like it too. He really has seen results with it. I do not have upper body strength so I don't do the chin ups, but I am going to attempt it this round. I used to joke that I didn't think I needed to do chin ups until I only have one chin. Well, I got a few half-hearted laughs over that and now it is time to get real about getting strong. I am going to lift weights and the whole nine yards. (building up little by little mind you!)
I also love the core rhythms DVD. It really does take 2 inches off the waist in 2 weeks! I have to watch and not get over enthusiastic with my hip movements because at my age, my hip goes out more than I do. (I know that's an old joke, but it is TRUE)
What does all this have to do with writing books and reading "Nan's Journey"? Well, I want to be healthy for a good long time and I want my mind to be sharp enough to write a good many books before I die. One way to do this is to get and stay in shape. Terry is my mentor in this because he has a body at 52 that many guys in their 20's would die for. The muscles he has are awesome! His health is great and I am tired of being jealous and ready to DO SOMETHING!
How about this:
Sign my guestbook and I will put your name in a drawing for a free copy of "Nan's Journey" to be given away on July 20. If you tell me you are going to exercise, I will put your name in twice!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Running Down The Path
Psalms 119:30 – 32 – “I have chosen the way of truth: I have set my heart on Your laws. I hold fast to Your statutes, O Lord: do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set me free.” NIV
When I read the phrase “running down the path” it conjured up memories of bygone summers. I can just feel the hot dust as my little bare feet trot down a windy path to the lake. The warm breeze tugs at my hair and I anticipate plunging in to the cool dark water awaiting me.
The feelings I have when I think of moments like that are of sheer pleasure and freedom. I think the last time I actually did something akin to that was in my young adulthood. Face it, as we grow older we forget how to “run down the path”. We start fretting about whether there are stickers on the way or if there are germs in the water, or a myriad of other things. We don’t have time to even think about the path much less look at the path or run down the path.
Since this Scripture is not speaking of a literal path, how does it pertain to me? The “path” is the way of truth, the laws of God and His statutes and commands. At first those words have a harsh sound to them, but they are no harsher than the statement that there is a law of gravity. “What goes up must come down.” There is absolute truth. That truth is found in God. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I like to think of the word “Way” as the path. If we walk within the laws of God and His statutes we have no more cause for concern than a law abiding citizen has about being arrested by the police.
When we run in the path of His commands, we are set free. Have you ever noticed that when you are driving your vehicle with an expired safety sticker or tag and you see a police car, you feel uneasy? You pray that they will not be looking closely enough to realize that you are not up to date on your stuff. In contrast, when you have all the updated tags and stickers on your vehicle and you are obeying all the traffic laws, you don’t even think about being pulled over for an offense. That feeling is freeing.
When I started on the path of getting “Nan’s Journey” published I was skeptical. I thought I was too old and uninteresting for God to use in this way. He has faithfully helped me with every step I have taken. Sometimes I feel that I am crawling or creeping down the path. Other times I am running. I thank God that He is still leading me and cares about me. Would you like to join me in a little run?
When I read the phrase “running down the path” it conjured up memories of bygone summers. I can just feel the hot dust as my little bare feet trot down a windy path to the lake. The warm breeze tugs at my hair and I anticipate plunging in to the cool dark water awaiting me.
The feelings I have when I think of moments like that are of sheer pleasure and freedom. I think the last time I actually did something akin to that was in my young adulthood. Face it, as we grow older we forget how to “run down the path”. We start fretting about whether there are stickers on the way or if there are germs in the water, or a myriad of other things. We don’t have time to even think about the path much less look at the path or run down the path.
Since this Scripture is not speaking of a literal path, how does it pertain to me? The “path” is the way of truth, the laws of God and His statutes and commands. At first those words have a harsh sound to them, but they are no harsher than the statement that there is a law of gravity. “What goes up must come down.” There is absolute truth. That truth is found in God. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I like to think of the word “Way” as the path. If we walk within the laws of God and His statutes we have no more cause for concern than a law abiding citizen has about being arrested by the police.
When we run in the path of His commands, we are set free. Have you ever noticed that when you are driving your vehicle with an expired safety sticker or tag and you see a police car, you feel uneasy? You pray that they will not be looking closely enough to realize that you are not up to date on your stuff. In contrast, when you have all the updated tags and stickers on your vehicle and you are obeying all the traffic laws, you don’t even think about being pulled over for an offense. That feeling is freeing.
When I started on the path of getting “Nan’s Journey” published I was skeptical. I thought I was too old and uninteresting for God to use in this way. He has faithfully helped me with every step I have taken. Sometimes I feel that I am crawling or creeping down the path. Other times I am running. I thank God that He is still leading me and cares about me. Would you like to join me in a little run?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Inspirational Times online Magazine Has a Write-Up About Me!
Inspirational Times has done an article on me. If you want to see it click on the link in the column on the left! Please send a comment to them if you like it. INSP-Times.com Christian Newspaper-
Can I Be "Real" With You?
In my search to study marketing for the promotion of my book, I found a post about blogs. The author of this blog post said that it was not wise to jump from topic to topic on a blog and that the writer of the blog needs to determine the purpose for writing it.
Some of the reasons stated were
*Is it about your book?
*Is it about writing?
*Is it to share experiences in your life?
*Is it for sharing interviews with authors & people connected with the business?
Well, I have to be real with you. I think I want to do most of those things. Will I do them? Who knows? One thing I do know is that I cannot teach writing! Of course I am kinda pushing "Nan's Journey" under your nose all the time on this blog. It is named Nan's Journey after all and I do want those of you who haven't heard about it to get a copy and tell me what you think of it. I love telling the crazy little stories about my life. It seems that odd things happen to me at the oddest times, so I HAVE to share.
I guess the main focus of this blog is that being an author is not what I thought it would be. The weight of the message of my book is heavy on my shoulders. Forgiveness is the overlying theme of the book and it is one of the things I struggle with in my life. Letting go of hurts does not come easy for me, but I know I need to do it.
I want people to know that it is possible to write a book, get it published, and promote it. Each step is a feat, but it can be done. Today I met a man in the post office. He heard me talking with the young woman at the counter about sending a couple of books to Australia. I get kind of animated and goofy, so I guess my conversation stuck out to him. He approached me and said that he wrote a book, sold 1000 copies of it and decided that marketing was not his thing. He doesn't pursue sales anymore. I think he still writes because he said he does reviews for books. I handed him a copy of mine and asked him to review it. He looked at it and said that he had a copy of it and was working on the review. I was awestruck so I forgot to ask him his name! (If, by any chance, he finds this post...I appreciate your kindness this morning.)
Each step is just that...a step. I learn daily about things in the writing world. I don't know many people in "the business" . I have met a couple of authors by email and now I consider them friends. We share tips and such. The thing that scares me most about the title "author" is that people who would like to talk to me will think that I don't care to talk to them. I want to help you if I can. If I can't be of help, together we can brainstorm about what steps to take next for you.(and me;)
One thing I do is to keep a notebook of the things I have tried in marketing. I note the date, cost, effort, and results. I started doing this to help my sons when they are published to not make the same mistakes and spin their wheels as much as dear old mom has. I also write down things that I think I will remember such as: Date I wrote the thank you card to the bookstore mgr, posters sent to the store, books ordered, books sold, books given away for review, date I joined a certain writer's group, etc.
I seem to always be saying that I am pretty vanilla. What I say and write is pretty much who I am as a person. I try to be very honest and hopefully very helpful. In this blog, you have a window into my simple life. I am a very happy woman with a great family and good friends. My life has it's difficulties and is not perfect, but I choose joy.
I hope you visit often. I will try to update twice a week. (We will see how that goes ;)
P.S.
I haven't forgotten that I am supposed to tell you how the bathtub painting story finishes.... we just haven't put on the last coat yet. I think it is going to look great though! The tub is already so much easier to clean.
Some of the reasons stated were
*Is it about your book?
*Is it about writing?
*Is it to share experiences in your life?
*Is it for sharing interviews with authors & people connected with the business?
Well, I have to be real with you. I think I want to do most of those things. Will I do them? Who knows? One thing I do know is that I cannot teach writing! Of course I am kinda pushing "Nan's Journey" under your nose all the time on this blog. It is named Nan's Journey after all and I do want those of you who haven't heard about it to get a copy and tell me what you think of it. I love telling the crazy little stories about my life. It seems that odd things happen to me at the oddest times, so I HAVE to share.
I guess the main focus of this blog is that being an author is not what I thought it would be. The weight of the message of my book is heavy on my shoulders. Forgiveness is the overlying theme of the book and it is one of the things I struggle with in my life. Letting go of hurts does not come easy for me, but I know I need to do it.
I want people to know that it is possible to write a book, get it published, and promote it. Each step is a feat, but it can be done. Today I met a man in the post office. He heard me talking with the young woman at the counter about sending a couple of books to Australia. I get kind of animated and goofy, so I guess my conversation stuck out to him. He approached me and said that he wrote a book, sold 1000 copies of it and decided that marketing was not his thing. He doesn't pursue sales anymore. I think he still writes because he said he does reviews for books. I handed him a copy of mine and asked him to review it. He looked at it and said that he had a copy of it and was working on the review. I was awestruck so I forgot to ask him his name! (If, by any chance, he finds this post...I appreciate your kindness this morning.)
Each step is just that...a step. I learn daily about things in the writing world. I don't know many people in "the business" . I have met a couple of authors by email and now I consider them friends. We share tips and such. The thing that scares me most about the title "author" is that people who would like to talk to me will think that I don't care to talk to them. I want to help you if I can. If I can't be of help, together we can brainstorm about what steps to take next for you.(and me;)
One thing I do is to keep a notebook of the things I have tried in marketing. I note the date, cost, effort, and results. I started doing this to help my sons when they are published to not make the same mistakes and spin their wheels as much as dear old mom has. I also write down things that I think I will remember such as: Date I wrote the thank you card to the bookstore mgr, posters sent to the store, books ordered, books sold, books given away for review, date I joined a certain writer's group, etc.
I seem to always be saying that I am pretty vanilla. What I say and write is pretty much who I am as a person. I try to be very honest and hopefully very helpful. In this blog, you have a window into my simple life. I am a very happy woman with a great family and good friends. My life has it's difficulties and is not perfect, but I choose joy.
I hope you visit often. I will try to update twice a week. (We will see how that goes ;)
P.S.
I haven't forgotten that I am supposed to tell you how the bathtub painting story finishes.... we just haven't put on the last coat yet. I think it is going to look great though! The tub is already so much easier to clean.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Love Crosses All Boundaries
Boundary defined by Webster's New World College Dictionary is: any line or thing marking a limit; bound; border.
Bound: a boundary; limit; confine - out of bounds:1 beyond the boundaries or limits, as of a playing field 2 not to be entered or used; forbidden.
The last post I wrote told that Terry and I were going to West of 50s Camp. We did. It was a blast! There were only a few of the campers who were in their fifties. The rest were in the decades of sixties through nineties. Every one of them were people with something great to contribute to the world and me in particular. After we introduced ourselves the "age thing" ceased to be an issue. (I have to say that it was cool to be one of the "kids" of the bunch.)
As we played games, sang, ate, and worshipped together I was struck by the depth of emotion and gusto they expended. Their enthusiasm was infectious and Terry & I jumped in with both feet too. One lady's home had burned to the ground only three weeks earlier but you would never know it. Despair had not found a home in her heart. She was an inspiration to me.
The sermons were encouraging and passionate. The call to serve was given to all of us no matter our age. Some of the oldest faces glowed with the realization that God was not through with them yet and they still had great purpose in life. I suspect that a lot of well-meaning younger people have taken over jobs from them to help them but in the process made them feel that they were not needed anymore. Of course most of them could not do as much as they did when they were younger, but they still wanted to be used and needed.
The singing was straight from the heart and with great strength. Terry and I sang our tonsils out and had a great time worshipping our wonderful Savior. No, it didn't sound as refined as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but it was a joyful noise presented to our Father in heaven. I am certain that He appreciated the offering. I know I did. I will say it again, these saints were passionate in their praises. I entered in whole-heartedly and I gained strength from it.
Terry and I sang a "special" at the singspiration time that we learned in 1975 at Bible College. "Jesus Will Outshine Them All". In case you don't know that particular song, it talks about getting to heaven and experiencing all that heaven has to offer. After you get there you realize that Jesus is the greatest thing about heaven. I can hardly wait to see Him! Our friends clapped and cheered as if we were rock stars but we knew they were really cheering for Jesus. It was a neat experience. Of course we heard many other "specials" that hour and my tears flowed unchecked because of the devotion of the hearts of these people.
Teen-agers and young sponsors were there to assist all of us and I really appreciated the love they showered on us. They treated us like the people who work on cruise ships would have. They were called "The Furnace Group". I called them the little slaves!!! Boy did those kids work hard! They were learning about leadership in learning servanthood first. "The greatest among you is the servant of all."
As we sat there in the meeting room as people mostly known as Believers, I was very happy that the boundaries were down. They prayed for me and I prayed for them. We were God's children. I feel that in churches today the focus has been on reaching the younger decades. The oldest decades have been ignored and unused. It is as if when someone reaches a certain number, whether it be 35, 40, 50, 70... they are no longer relevant. That is so not true!
Some of my best friends are in their seventies, eighties, and up. They bless me with their wisdom and knowledge of life. I see that they made it through the things I am going through so I know that I will make it too. " I found it interesting that part of the definition of boundary was "forbidden, not to be used, limit" Please, for your own sake, do not discount the importance of our older people. They have the treasure of experience, time, age, wisdom, knowledge, and so much more. It was sad to me to think that some of my new friends may not be around for the next camp, but I am so glad I had the opportunity to talk with them and call them "friends".
Bound: a boundary; limit; confine - out of bounds:1 beyond the boundaries or limits, as of a playing field 2 not to be entered or used; forbidden.
The last post I wrote told that Terry and I were going to West of 50s Camp. We did. It was a blast! There were only a few of the campers who were in their fifties. The rest were in the decades of sixties through nineties. Every one of them were people with something great to contribute to the world and me in particular. After we introduced ourselves the "age thing" ceased to be an issue. (I have to say that it was cool to be one of the "kids" of the bunch.)
As we played games, sang, ate, and worshipped together I was struck by the depth of emotion and gusto they expended. Their enthusiasm was infectious and Terry & I jumped in with both feet too. One lady's home had burned to the ground only three weeks earlier but you would never know it. Despair had not found a home in her heart. She was an inspiration to me.
The sermons were encouraging and passionate. The call to serve was given to all of us no matter our age. Some of the oldest faces glowed with the realization that God was not through with them yet and they still had great purpose in life. I suspect that a lot of well-meaning younger people have taken over jobs from them to help them but in the process made them feel that they were not needed anymore. Of course most of them could not do as much as they did when they were younger, but they still wanted to be used and needed.
The singing was straight from the heart and with great strength. Terry and I sang our tonsils out and had a great time worshipping our wonderful Savior. No, it didn't sound as refined as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but it was a joyful noise presented to our Father in heaven. I am certain that He appreciated the offering. I know I did. I will say it again, these saints were passionate in their praises. I entered in whole-heartedly and I gained strength from it.
Terry and I sang a "special" at the singspiration time that we learned in 1975 at Bible College. "Jesus Will Outshine Them All". In case you don't know that particular song, it talks about getting to heaven and experiencing all that heaven has to offer. After you get there you realize that Jesus is the greatest thing about heaven. I can hardly wait to see Him! Our friends clapped and cheered as if we were rock stars but we knew they were really cheering for Jesus. It was a neat experience. Of course we heard many other "specials" that hour and my tears flowed unchecked because of the devotion of the hearts of these people.
Teen-agers and young sponsors were there to assist all of us and I really appreciated the love they showered on us. They treated us like the people who work on cruise ships would have. They were called "The Furnace Group". I called them the little slaves!!! Boy did those kids work hard! They were learning about leadership in learning servanthood first. "The greatest among you is the servant of all."
As we sat there in the meeting room as people mostly known as Believers, I was very happy that the boundaries were down. They prayed for me and I prayed for them. We were God's children. I feel that in churches today the focus has been on reaching the younger decades. The oldest decades have been ignored and unused. It is as if when someone reaches a certain number, whether it be 35, 40, 50, 70... they are no longer relevant. That is so not true!
Some of my best friends are in their seventies, eighties, and up. They bless me with their wisdom and knowledge of life. I see that they made it through the things I am going through so I know that I will make it too. " I found it interesting that part of the definition of boundary was "forbidden, not to be used, limit" Please, for your own sake, do not discount the importance of our older people. They have the treasure of experience, time, age, wisdom, knowledge, and so much more. It was sad to me to think that some of my new friends may not be around for the next camp, but I am so glad I had the opportunity to talk with them and call them "friends".
Monday, June 2, 2008
We're Goin' Ta Camp!
Terry and I are going to "West of 50s" Camp with a group from our church. We love hangin' out with people our age and older! The older crowd has so much wisdom to share and we enjoy hearing their stories.
Terry will be 52 on Monday, June 9. I turned 52 in January. He likes to say that he "always went for older women!" I try to ignore his cute little remark as much as I can. I remember that I was 20 when the series "Charlie's Angels" came to television. Before the series ended the "angels" were turning 30. I remember thinking, "They don't look toooooo bad for being 30!" It helped me when I had my 30th birthday to remember that. Each decade there were people I watched and was able to be okay with the "age thing."
Since I have become an adult I have never lied about my age. I figured that I had better admit the number or people would think, "Boy, she sure looks older than that!" My two oldest sisters were twenty something years older than me when I was born. When they were approaching 70 I thought, "I wish I could be that pretty when I am 70!" My oldest sister passed away just shy of her 70th birthday and she was a beauty all of her life. (inside and out)
I'm excited about the adventure of spending time with the "West of 50" group. It will be interesting to see which decade over 50 has the most get up and go...I might be surprised!
Terry will be 52 on Monday, June 9. I turned 52 in January. He likes to say that he "always went for older women!" I try to ignore his cute little remark as much as I can. I remember that I was 20 when the series "Charlie's Angels" came to television. Before the series ended the "angels" were turning 30. I remember thinking, "They don't look toooooo bad for being 30!" It helped me when I had my 30th birthday to remember that. Each decade there were people I watched and was able to be okay with the "age thing."
Since I have become an adult I have never lied about my age. I figured that I had better admit the number or people would think, "Boy, she sure looks older than that!" My two oldest sisters were twenty something years older than me when I was born. When they were approaching 70 I thought, "I wish I could be that pretty when I am 70!" My oldest sister passed away just shy of her 70th birthday and she was a beauty all of her life. (inside and out)
I'm excited about the adventure of spending time with the "West of 50" group. It will be interesting to see which decade over 50 has the most get up and go...I might be surprised!
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Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, Look Great, Feel Great, and the entire Battlefield of the Mindfamily of books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $16.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446509396
ISBN-13: 978-0446509398
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Introduction
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything elseówe are the busiest people in the world.
ÓERIC HOFFER
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
—Hebrews 12:2
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
The Blog Tour for "Nan's Journey" Begins July 23
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Littau is a life-long resident of Perryton, TX. She met husband, Terry at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1974. They married March 1, 1975 and reside on a small acreage near Perryton where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They raised three sons and now have three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren added to their family. They also enjoy visiting with their extended family located in Perryton, Clear Lake, Laverne, and Amarillo.
Author Elaine Littau is a busy woman who by profession is the church secretary for Harvest Time First Assembly of God Church in Perryton. Among other things she has led women’s groups and taught preschool, and was a mentor for the M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in her community. She has been active in Toastmasters and enjoys painting, crafts, and playing piano and organ. She was recently appointed to the Campus Education Improvement Committee for Wright Elementary in Perryton. She belongs to Christian Storytellers and Faith Writers writing groups.
“Nan’s Journey” was written over the course of several years. “A salvation message is at the core of the book.” Littau says. “If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I truly enjoy meeting new people.”
Littau is currently working on two other books that are continuations of “Nan’s Journey.” Book signings and speaking engagements are currently set up for venues in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Oregon.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602478325
ISBN-13: 978-1602478329
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
It was late. The moon had risen and the night symphony was in full force. Crickets chirped at their rivals, the frogs, and dominated the night chorus. Only one sound in the forest was foreign—a whimper from under the ferns. At the base of the largest pine in the woods was a small form crying, moaning, and whimpering. Black hair, matted and dirty, hung in long ropes down the front of the tiny girl. She had been in this spot for hours. At least that is what it felt like to her. Stretching, she cried out in pain. The blood-covered welts burst open to bleed again. Her back was wet with blood, and her dress was torn and useless.
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Westminster CO
Great book signing in Colorado!
Mardel Bookstore in Littleton, CO
Booksigning - Elaine