Last week was the first official week of the new year. It was during this week that I started a brand new series in order to get us started off on the right foot. The name of the series is entitled, “Begin to Declutter”. In case you need to play catch-up, I have provided a link to the first three podcasts down below.
Over the weekend, I was blessed with an opportunity to interview writer Victoria Coberly. You can find part 1 and part 2 of her interview here.
At the beginning of every year, there are people who are eager to come up with New Year’s resolutions. When I was a young adult, I was eager to do the same. Now that I am older, I prefer to have a word of the year, or better yet, some life goals. These goals may be professional, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, etc. The main point for me is that I am purposely moving forward and growing.
Photo by Shopify
One of the most popular areas that we have resolutions/life goals in is that of having healthier, fit bodies. Achieving this goals takes work, grit, determination, motivation, and consistency. It is not a one-time thing. It’s a lifestyle. Listen in on today’s episode to see what it feels like and what’s involved when you begin to declutter your body.
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself. Now Godhad grantedDanielfavorand compassionfromthe chiefofficial, but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”…
Yesterday, I posted part 1 of my interview with Woman of God, Writer, Blogger, Teacher, Victoria Coberly. If you want to listen in to part 1, click here. Today, I am posting part 2. It is nice to be able to sit down with women of God, learn about their life, their stories, their purpose, and passions. I pray that you will find something in this interview that resonates with you.
Episode 84: Interview with Woman of God, Writer, Blogger Victoria Coberly-Part 2 Outline
The Pandemic
Career Path
Homeschooling
Foreign Languages
Writing
Brokenness
Bible Verses to Meditate on:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Do you enjoy traveling? And if so, where to? Some of my best times involve traveling. Traveling can be done physically, virtually, or even in your mind when you are reading a book. Yesterday, I was blessed to interview Writer Victoria Coberly on traveling, parenting, and everything else in between. In case you missed the last podcast episode, you can catch up here.
Interview with Woman of God, Writer, Blogger Victoria Coberly Podcast Outline
“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”
Introduction to Four Inexpensive Hobbies to Try Right Now with Online Support
Happy Monday all! Today, I am featuring a guest blog post from fellow blogger Gabriel Patel. He enjoys writing about health and wellness, and co-founded Health Well Wise with a group of friends who share the desire to help people live happy, healthy lives. Have a blessed rest of your Monday.
If you’re in a rut and struggling to fill your days with meaningful, enriching activities, then perhaps you need a new hobby. There are thousands of hobbies that keep millions of people engaged, so what should you choose? You may want to start with something fun, relatively cheap, and easily learned through online resources. Here are some of your best bets.
Pick Up Jogging/Running or Walking
You can gain tremendous health benefits from moving your legs at any pace, and whether you run, jog, or walk is completely up to your fitness level. However, as long as you get up and get moving, running or walking is a hobby that will be forever cheap and forever satisfying. From weight maintenance to the release of feel-good brain chemicals, strapping on some decent shoes, and pounding the pavement is a great idea.
Very few hobbies are cheaper and more convenient than this. All you need are those aforementioned shoes (decent ones to avoid injury) and nature is your playground — or more aptly put, your treadmill. When you’re ready to go, there are a whole host of free apps to help train you, log your progress, and keep you motivated, including Strava, Runkeeper, MapMyRun, and C25K!
Learn to Play the Ukulele
Few hobbies are more rewarding than playing a musical instrument, and few instruments are better for beginning adults than the ukulele. That’s because it only has four strings (as opposed to six on a standard guitar), works for people of all hand/finger sizes, and is light and portable. Plus, as TakeLessons.com notes, once you learn the ukulele, it becomes easier to pick up other, more intricate stringed instruments.
The other great thing about the ukulele: It’s relatively cheap when compared to other musical instruments (especially if you purchase one used). Still, the learning of any instrument is the important thing, so if the ukulele doesn’t sound like it’s up your alley, try something else. Free tutorials and music learning classes (both instrument-specific and theory) are abundant online. Beyond that, there are tons of free apps to supplement your instruction.
Become Multilingual
What could be more rewarding than learning to speak another language? Well, speaking it fluently or at least conversationally may be. If the definition of a good hobby is one that occupies a good amount of time, doesn’t cost a lot, is fun, and is a wellspring of possibilities, then learning a new language is a very good hobby.
Although you may remember expensive language learning software being all the rage years ago, things have shifted to a free (or at least freemium) model as of late. Duolingo is the most well-known language learning software out there (free), but many more exist; Babbel, Tandem, and Memrise are just a few. The best thing about making multilingualism a hobby is that there will always be more languages to tackle. Get good at French? Move on to Japanese! Most of these free apps and software support dozens of languages. You can also search out discounts and coupons for language lessons through sites like Groupon.
Convert your Creative Outlet into Cash Flow
Enjoying a hobby has the potential to become a career. People frequently realize that their job can be a source of enjoyment, and reward them well for their work, regardless of whether it’s a side hustle or full-time operation. In both of these cases, an important consideration is to consider the type of business you plan to establish. LLC Illinois formation is a popular option due to its flexibility, tax benefits, and smaller amount of paperwork.
While there are several steps involved such as submitting forms for an EIN, this varies by state. If you’re eager to get started, there are some options that will help you with the process, such as hiring an attorney – or utilizing a formation company, which for simpler entity types is a much more cost-effective option.
It’s much easier to stick with a hobby if that hobby doesn’t deplete your wallet. It’s also easier to make progress if that hobby is well-represented online and through free apps. Any of these hobbies fit that bill, and they all have the bonus perk of enriching you — body, mind, or spirit.
Earlier this week, we began our journey of decluttering. Decluttering takes work. It is not for the faint at heart. And trying to do everything all at once will leave us in a state of discouragement. We have to work on decluttering one area at a time, with one issue/area of brokenness at a time so that we don’t end up on overload or overly discouraged. Decluttering isn’t a one person job.
photo by Brodie Vissers at Shopify
Introduction Part 2 Begin to Declutter Your Soul
We have to allow God to be in the driver’s seat, and enlist close friends and community to help us navigate the journey to the end of the tunnel in each of these categories that we have been discussing. For some, the process could take two years. For others, we might be looking at ten. Putting one foot forward is the starting point. Today, we are going to begin the journey of decluttering our souls. Yes, that’s right. We are going on an adventure that involves cleaning out the bad chemicals in our souls.
In case you missed yesterday’s podcast on beginning to declutter your heart, click here.
Podcast Outline
Soul Work
Hidden Ugliness
Cleaned out Souls
Begin to Declutter your Soul Bible Verses to Meditate On:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Yesterday, we dove into the issues that cause our minds to be cluttered. Today, we will discuss the issues that causes our hearts to be cluttered. Cluttered hearts lead to cluttered souls. Have you cleaned out your heart today? If you missed yesterday’s podcast episode on decluttering, click here.
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Part 2
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Have a blessed rest of your Tuesday!
Katina
***This page contains affiliate links, meaning that I would receive something back for you purchasing something through this link. Click here for your 2021 Prayer Calendar
When I think of clutter, I think of paper. And when I think of paper, I can’t help but think of the paper that took over the tiny closet in my first apartment when I was married. There were tons of paper built up from all the different classes that I was taking in college. And I mean tons of it. When you think about it, every piece of information that goes into our brains is just like those tons of paper that were stored in backpacks and every other kind of bag it could be stuffed into.
We have tons of papers in our brains, and we all have our own filing system for those papers. But, have you ever stopped to think about the paper that you are storing, whether it is good or bad, toxic or not, informative, etc. Today we will begin to dissect and declutter the paper in our brains and find out whether it is necessary, or if we are just on overload. Are we doing what I did at the time, stuffing and stuffing more into our brains, not paying attention to whether or not you really need to hold on to it? Or perhaps you need a better system.
Click here to catch up with the last podcast episode.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Have a blessed week!
Katina
***This page contains affiliate links, meaning that I would receive something back for you purchasing something through this link. Click here for your 2021 Prayer Calendar
Happy Monday all! Today, I am featuring a guest blog post from a fellow blogger. His name is Gabriel Patel. He enjoys writing about health and wellness, and co-founded Health Well Wise with a group of friends who share the desire to help people live happy, healthy lives. Have a blessed rest of your Monday.
Use These 4 Tips — That Aren’t Diet or Fitness Related — to Feel Healthier in 2021
As the tumultuous year that was 2020 draws to a close, people around the globe are looking to 2021 as a much-needed fresh start. Like the beginning of any year, people will undoubtedly set goals to reach their full potential at work, in relationships, and especially with their health.
In fact, according to YouGov, 50% of individuals who set New Year’s resolutions at the end of 2019 said that they wanted to exercise more, 43% wanted to eat healthier, and 37% wanted to lose weight. Most of the time, a heavy emphasis is placed on physical health resolutions rather than overall well-being.
If your goal for 2021 is to improve every facet of your health, explore the following four research-backed wellness tips from Valley of Grace to help you feel healthier in the New Year.
Meditate
Over the last few years, meditation and mindfulness have earned serious accolades in the scientific community. According to The Harvard Gazette, meditation has been shown to improve a wide array of physical and mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. It has also been proven effective in reducing stress, enhancing body image, and improving cognition.
To take full advantage of the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, it is best to start with guided meditations. Beginner meditations can be found on various apps and on YouTube. It also doesn’t take long to feel the full range of benefits. By practicing for only 10-20 minutes per day, you’ll be on your way to feeling peaceful and healthier.
Turn your home into a stress-free zone
Research has revealed that your home and work environment can play a significant role in your overall mood and wellbeing. Although you likely won’t be able to change much about your work environment, you can make positive changes within your home.
To turn your living space into a stress-free zone, start adding elements that make each room feel fresh and vibrant. You can do this by regularly opening windows, eliminating messes and clutter, and by displaying items that bring you joy. This simple goal can help both you and your family argue less, interact more, and feel at ease while at home.
Set a weekly self-care routine
While it may just sound like a fun way to pamper yourself, self-care is now being backed more than ever before by psychologists and other medical professionals. When practiced routinely, those who have a self-care ritual can expect to experience decreased anxiety, improved self-confidence, lower stress levels, and higher productivity.
A self-care activity is anything that promotes your physical and spiritual well-being. This could include journaling, quality time with your partner, getting plenty of sleep, and praying.
Take more deep breaths
If you are like most people, you probably take breathing for granted. It isn’t often that a person stops in the middle of their workday to appreciate their body’s ability to inhale and exhale. In addition to keeping you alive, each breath has the power to positively affect your health.
Proper breathing techniques have been shown to calm insomnia and anxiety and to lower cortisol levels. To begin deep breathing as a practice, schedule times in your day to sit in a quiet spot and use your favorite guided breathing techniques.
What’s even better about using the tips listed above is that they don’t require a significant time commitment. Simply finding 10 minutes for daily meditation, or 5 minutes for deep breathing, can have a surprising effect on your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. In conjunction with a healthy diet and a solid fitness routine, these habits can put you on the fast track to feeling your best in 2021.
The year 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And to be honest, there seems to have been more downs than ups. In this podcast episode, I will go over some of the things that we have dealt with collectively, as well as individually. I will also dissect what we have as an anchor for the new year. In case you missed the last episode, you can click here to catch up.
Have you ever said something and then you wish that you could take it back? Or perhaps you said something mean, and you have no regrets at all. Whatever may be the case, our words have power. And not only do our words have power, they tell a lot about what is really going on inside of our hearts, own unhealed areas of pain and brokenness. Take a listen to find out how our words manifest our pain.
In case you missed last week’s podcast episode, you can find it here.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
7The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”
8Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
Saul Turns against David
10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.
