An organizational tool for the New Year

 

For many years I have sought to plan my weeks more efficiently. Although I don't really use a planner as such, I have found that weekly calendar sheets are a huge help to me.   I had tried different weekly planner sheets and had the best success in making my own, as pictured at the top.  That way I could really personalize it to include healthy habits, a memory verse and other spiritual goals.  

But the older format no longer serves me well and I can't change the info because I no longer have a computer with this type of a word processing program on it.

So I've tried various weekly calendar sheets, the kind you can buy in tear-off pads.  With most of them I ended up having to adapt them in various ways, draw extra lines, etc.

But I am here to tell you I am really happy with these weekly planner sheets that I've been using for a few months now.

You can find these at Amazon here.  Maybe other places too, I'm not sure.  I got the Green Tranquility ones.  (Any added tranquility is a good thing!)

The Habit Tracker (seen in the middle of the bottom row) is just great for my categories like walking, prayer, Bible reading, exercise, water, early light, etc.  So easy to just jot these in when planning the week and simply X them off as accomplished.

I really like the way this weekly planner sheet is set up.  It's easy to look at what the priorities for the week need to be as well as details for each day.  I take a few minutes every Sunday afternoon or evening to plan the upcoming week, since the calendar starts on Monday.  This is a lot simpler than trying to customize my own; it has absolutely everything I need in a weekly planner page.  I've been so pleased with this tool and plan to get more in the coming year.  The price is right, too.  

Hopefully this might encourage someone else who's looking to get more organized in the New Year! 

Sunday Scripture

 

 

I've been posting  Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.  At this point I think I've blogged about every part of that study, so next December I'll be doing something different.  And, in January 2026 I plan to get back to the Fix Your Focus lessons.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This last week's verses are focused on Peace.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this (interestingly enough) is the one from December 27.

S= "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  (John 14:27)

O= Jesus here is speaking to His disciples (the eleven) in the upper room prior to His death.  This chapter contains many comforting and encouraging promises, and this verse is one of them -- Jesus' bequest of peace.  

This peace is, as Scofield describes it, "inward peace, the state of the soul of the Christian who, having entered into peace with God, has committed all his anxieties to God through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving."

This is true peace, peace that surpasses all understanding.  "Not as the world giveth", it is peace that can only come from God.  Because Jesus gives us this peace, our hearts need not be troubled or afraid.

G. Campbell Morgan writes, “He carefully described the peace as ‘My peace.’ His peace was a heart untroubled and unfearful in spite of all the suffering and conflict ahead of Him.”

Jesus also contrasts His peace with the various ways the world tries to offer peace.  John MacArthur wrote, "In the truest sense, no real peace is to be found in the world. Godless people in a godless world are by nature enemies of God and in a state of resultant turmoil. The world only offers an experience of a momentary, fleeting tranquility through self-indulgence, materialism, love, romance, substance abuse, false religion, psychotherapy, or a host of other placebos. But the world's pseudopeace is in reality the bliss of ignorance. If unbelievers understood the wrath of God, and the agonizing, unrelieved, eternal torment awaiting them in hell, they would never enjoy a moment's peace in this life."  Oh, how true this is!

A= Jesus gives me true peace.  As I commit the cares and concerns of my life to Him, He gives me peace that surpasses any human understanding.  I can rest in Him with a heart that's untroubled and unafraid.  

In contrast, the world can never offer true peace to anyone.  It's easy to self-medicate with food, alcohol, shopping, or any of a number of other ways to try and feel peace, but these are not viable options for anyone and especially not for believers.

Over the past couple of decades, there have been numerous situations where I could have felt worried, afraid, even threatened -- troubled, for sure -- but as I have been able to commit them to God I have often found myself flooded with an indescribable peace and contentment that could only come from God.

P= "Lord, I am so thankful for Your peace!  I praise You that it is available to Your children as they commit their concerns to You with thanksgiving.  I have so often been astounded over the years at the peace You have given in very difficult  situations.  I am so appreciative of this!  The world really has nothing to offer in terms of real and lasting peace.  I pray You will help me to continually rest in You as I face the unknowns of the future.  I pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen."

And there is our last Sunday Scripture for December!  We're headed back to Fix Your Focus in the New Year!

December 27

 

 Still a few Christmasy things going on.  I'm working on a gift for a friend and today I washed the fabric I'm using to make a small table runner to include.  I had hoped to sew that today, but it didn't happen.

My hubby baked more cookies -- the gingerbread chocolate thumbprints that are a big favorite with many people.  So thankful I found this recipe and he tried it!

We did a little after-Christmas shopping at our favorite thrift stores and bought a few tins for kitchen gifts for next year.  We were also looking for a votive candle holder of a specific size to use as a component of a gift.  We bought several possibilities.  Most of them fit, so it's just a matter of deciding which goes best with the rest of the gift.

We were tempted by a beautiful winter jigsaw puzzle and will probably go back to get it during the 20% off senior discount hours on a weekday.

I also listed two vintage Christmas cards on Etsy, and  wrote a couple of Christmas thank-you notes.  And that has been our day!

December 26

Today has been quiet here.  Mr. T and I went out at midday and got gingerbread coffees at the cafe in our local supermarket, then picked up a few essentials that should tide us over until next week.

He has been baking, replenishing his stock of chocolate orange cookies and lemon thumbprints, and also making another batch of Heavenly Delight (chocolate peanut butter) fudge.

I've been puttering around doing this and that, putting some things back to rights after a busy week.  I started work on a new crocheted hat for my hubby using a new-to-me pattern.  If it works out well, I will probably make more for next year's Christmas gifts.  

I froze the remaining Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls, wrapping them by twos in plastic wrap and then stashing them all in a large plastic box.  We can thaw out two at a time as needed (or, more accurately, wanted).

I also had a lovely chat with my young friend Jennifer which was a blessing to both of us.  It was a delight to hear about their Christmas.

We had leftovers for supper, which simplified the day even more.

All in all, a relaxing day after Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

 

Sending out a hearty "Merry Christmas" to all of our friends!

We had a lovely day of celebrating our Savior's birth.  This morning (following our quiet times) we worked on food to take to our daughter's home in the next town.  I brought a chicken dish, maple glazed carrots, mulled cranberry orange juice, and a cookie tray.  We also had a beef roast, mashed  potatoes and herbed rolls.  A feast!

The afternoon was filled with gifts, laughter and a game played together.  

How I love this precious season!  It has been a busy December  (and it has seemed to pass far too quickly) yet I have found it relaxed in many ways.  I trust that each of you has had a wonderful Advent season and that you had a merry, merry Christmas!

December 24

 Another day of Christmasy doings!  We had maybe 4 to 5 inches of snow overnight and it certainly does make everything look like a Christmas card.

Let's see ... I wrote a few more last minute Christmas cards.  They will be late, but I tell myself that it's the staying in touch that counts.

I made a homemade ranch dressing mix that will go in my Ranch House Chicken for tomorrow.  

I had a sweet phone visit with my young friend Rebekah who has moved to Minnesota.  She is trying so earnestly to make Christmas special for her husband and very young children in a new home!

Then I spent nearly the entire rest of the day wrapping gifts.  I try to get a little bit creative so that not everything is obvious.  We will see how that works out!  The gifts are all wrapped except for a couple of last minute kitchen gifts that will be done tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile Mr. T baked some repeat batches of three kinds of cookies -- Chocolate Spritz, Lemon Spritz, and Christmas tree spritz -- and made another batch of fudge.  He also made the chocolate dipped orange slice candies.

This evening I finished some Christmas emails to missionaries and plan to spend a few minutes relaxing with Glad and Golden Hours!

December 23

 Well, a day filled with Christmasy doings!

First, a trip to town (following our quiet time) to purchase two final gifts and the last few necessary groceries.

Then home, to prepare some cookie trays and kitchen gifts.  

Next, we headed to the home of relatives to drop off cookies, fudge, apricot cakes, and Christmas granola.

Then it was out to lunch with friends from Missouri at the Bird Dog Cafe, a favorite local spot of ours.

Home again to pack a box to send to faraway loved ones -- really more of a birthday box for a late-December birthday, but also containing plenty of cookies and fudge for the entire family.

Then my hubby's sister stopped by, so she had to sample fudge and cookies and she filled a paper plate "to go".

While Mr. T went to the post office, I called our Nevada daughter for our weekly chat.  While we talked, he baked a batch of Whipped Shortbread, the cookies pictured at top.

And that has been our day.  A good day!