Weekly Cleaning Tip: Week #1



Welcome to week #1 of our cleaning tips & checklists. Our tips, challenges or checklists won't be the "unreasonable" kind....but ones for you busy women on the go! Please enjoy this week's cleaning challenge and please be sure to check back next week for another and a checkup to see how this week's cleaning challenge was.

Week #1 Cleaning Challenge:

Time to get rid of the messy rooms, unorganized closets and those other "ignored projects" ... and it only takes 5 minutes a day!

(no, these pictures aren't from my house....but I do have a few closets and cabinets to work on myself :)

 

Spend 5 minutes (10-15 if you can make time) a day cleaning out and organzing your worst room, closet, drawers or cabinets. You know what these areas are: the places you never allow anyone to see. Just spend 5 minutes (at least....add a few addtional minutes if time allows) a day for the next 27 days working through these hidden places. You will see a huge difference and realize just how much you can accomplish if you steadily work and re-organize these places that you constantly dread just a few short minutes a day!

If you'd like, try my favorite cleaning method "THE TIMER METHOD" in different areas of your house each day ... IE: 15 minute timer on the dreaded closet one day, 10 minute timer on the awful office and stacks of papers to sort through another day, etc. I love this method! You will realize that you can accomplish so incredibly much in a just a few minutes and feel great about it.

ENJOY and happy cleaning!

Lizzy



FREEBIE FRIDAY: Week #2

Here are today's Friday Freebies  to offer you encouragement in your Christian walk ...

Scripture Card: (download PDF on "Resources" page of my website - www.vocals4god.com)

For the girls from the retreat ... "MODEST IS HOTTEST COMMITMENT CARD" - download on "resources" page of www.vocals4god.com



For the girls ... enter to WIN A MODEST IS HOTTEST BAG by emailing your name, email address and favorite Bible verse to: LIZVOCALS4GOD@yahoo.com.

Check out these great offers from ChristianFreebies.com

FREE BOOKS: http://www.christianfreebies.com/books.shtml

FREE BOOKMARKS: http://www.christianfreebies.com/bookmarks.shtml

Enjoy and have a blessed Friday!

xoxo,

Lizzy

Confident Christianity: Be confident in who you are in Jesus Christ!

Be honest....you know we are all fans of watching the "bad" and bruttle American Idol and America's Got Talent Auditions. They are hilarious and I constantly think to myself, "Are these people serious?" I feel bad because they are so incredibly confident in something they don't seem to be SO talented in! While watching some "mishap" videos my little sister showed me, the thought came to my mind... As Christians, are we willing to step out of our comfort zones like these people do to share the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ?

Watch these heart-breaking auditions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVCPATjBhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq871tWhM78

As you can hear in the videos, these people are being told to get off the stage and the audience is booing them throughout their routines. Despite how sad it may seem when they are booed and told to get off the stage, I respect them. I respect them for trying and obviously doing what they love. We can learn a few things from them...but the most important lesson I think we can learn is to be confident in who we are in Jesus Christ. Don't be afraid to get out there and show how amazing our Savior is. There will be people in the world who will "boo" us for our beliefs, but in the end, it won't matter - we were created for a purpose and that purpose wasn't to "make friends with the world" (Romans 12:2). We may stand out because we aren't conforming to the patterns of the world, we might be looked down upon at times, but, boy oh, boy will it be worth it!

Joshua 24:15, "....But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Be encouraged today, maybe you are feeling like you "don't fit in" with the people around you - we as Christians, need to encourage one another and build each other up in Christ's love. 1 Thes. 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Blessings to you today as you step out of your comfort zone into a realm of unknowns. One thing is known----you will never be alone if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Be confident in who you are in Jesus Christ!

Dance in the rain!

Are you currently handling "storms" in your life? Let's learn to rid the "lightning and thunder" moments and turn them into "rainbow moments" or just learn to dance in the rain! How, you may ask?

Listen to this song by Matthew West: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCrmGiQjBfg&feature=related

The story of your life----don't get caught up in the tough times, but let God use your weakest moments to make you stronger!

We all know this famous quote ...

If you think about it --- this quote is so true! Sometimes life is tough....things happen....although we can't stop a series of unfortunate events, we can let our hearts mirror that of Jesus Christ when tough times do happen and you know they do. It was once said that, "What sets us apart from the rest of the world isn't whether we suffer, but how we handle the difficulties life throws our way."

I want to ask you something - have you ever danced in the rain - literally? While I'm not a fan of it on a regular basis (because I don't like what it does to my hair! Can you relate?) but I have just let go of that and just danced in the rain and believe me, it felt good - just to let go of my worries and anxiety and just dance!

Challenge:
Take those shoes off, put the umbrella down, pull your hair up in a pony-tale and dance in the rain. Let go, and let God. We as women like to control things (cough*or is it just me?) but we have to surrender the desire to control our lives and what happens and give it to the Lord.

1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
That helps me want to let go and let God take over. No matter what storms we may encounter in our lifetime or even on a weekly basis, He will never leave us. He will help us get through those not-so-glamorous moments in life. Let's learn to dance in the rain and see the good during the tough times! God can use those moments to draw us closer to Him or reach out to others who may be going through the same situation. Trust Him. Lean on Him. Call to Him.

Monday Blues: Turning Blues into Bliss

Are you experiencing Monday Blues? Turn those BLUES into BLISS!

I know, I know....we are all preparing for Monday morning...packing lunches, catching up on laundry, making our "to-do" list for the week, or simply just dreading the "Monday Blues." I just wanted to offer you some encouragement as you enter into your frantic Monday morning. Instead of seeing it as just getting back to that stack of work awaiting you at your desk bright and early in the morning, see it as a new week - a fresh start; a new opportunity to see things from a positive point of view. Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  This week, I challenge you (and myself) to look for our God-given opportunities; brighten someone's day, be positive, stay active in God's word and thank Him for another "manic Monday" - we have so much to be thankful for - another day, a job, the gift of productivity and another day to serve Him! Look to Him this week in whatever trials you may endure....He will provide and He will never leave your side.

Be blessed!

Check in on Friday to see what's available for our "FREEBIE FRIDAY" ...

Happy Freebie Friday: Free Scripture Card!

Happy Friday!
This Friday's FREEBIE is a FREE download of our new Scripture Card at: http://www.vocals4god.com/ for Phil. 4:19. You can download and print off your Scripture Card today! Our goal for our Scripture Cards is to offer you encouragement and Scripture reminders that you can keep with you when you need a little "pick-me-up." You can also request your favorite Scripture for us to create a card by emailing: LIZVOCALS4GOD@yahoo.com.

Check back next Friday to see what our new "Friday Freebie" will be.

Barbie: FALSE definition of beauty for young girls?

What do you first think of when you think of Barbie? Perhaps you remember the hours you spent playing with Barbie, combing her hair, playing with her stylish clothes and shoes or perhaps, you remember the beloved sweethearts, Barbie and Ken? I loved Barbies as a young girl and am just curious as to if Barbie has created a false definition of what "true" beauty is? I have nothing against Barbie---I'm sure my daughter will play with them someday; I'm merely digging deeper on what our society has taught the young girls about the way they SHOULD look and the clothes and makeup they SHOULD wear? Barbie has a "perfect" body in a merely imperfect world. None of us will have "perfect" bodies - for we are all sinful and have imperfections of different kinds (Romans 3:10).

1 Peter 3:3-4:

Watch this video on girl's self-esteem nowadays, it's definitely something we should explore and continue to encourage and work with the young girls that surround us ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jZK3Nih63s&feature=related

As you can see, self-esteem (or lack thereof) is an issue that dwells within most women in today's society. Maybe you are on who is struggling with it (I know I do) - 1 Peter 3:3-4 all the way!