Beth Beutler's Blog, page 43

All Organized Ebook Bundle

Today I am introducing you to a bundle of e-books that is on a limited sale through April 7. It’s the first e-book bundle that I have been invited to be part of, and my book, An Excellent Life, Five Simple Strategies for Doing Life Well, is included.

Many of you may already have my book, because I offer it free to blog subscribers. However, there are 22 other books in this bundle that focus on organizing, scheduling, and managing life well.

My normal practice is to only recommend items that I have personal experience with or have read. Obviously, it was not realistic for me to read 23 books in the time I had between becoming part of this and sharing about the limited-time sale. So, I decided I would choose several books to read, knowing that if you based your purchase on my recommendation you’d be getting at least $20 of information and motivation, not to mention the additional 14 books (including mine) you could also read.  Here are the nine I read with a quote from each one.

10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa Woodruff – “In organizing your home paperwork, you will gain clarity and purpose.”
GTD for Homemakers by Mystie Winkler (based on the concepts in Getting Things Done by David Allen). “GTD is about managing your stuff and your actions, and once those are under control your mind is left more free and clear to focus on the present moment with your family.”
Creating a Schedule That Works by Marlene Griffith – “The key to creating a schedule is doing it in bite-sized pieces.”
Clean Enough by Jenni Mullinix – “Because life is so much more than a clean house.”
Simple Living: Thirty Days to Less Stuff and More Life by Lorilee Lippincott - “Sometimes just keeping the small areas of our life organized can make us feel like we are in control of much more.”
100 Days of a New Year by Jennifer Tankersley – “…daily navigation to set goals and establish healthy habits.”
Productivity 2.0 by Prerna Malik – ” ‘ Systems’ is just a fancy term for automated or semi-automated processes that help you do more in less time and with less effort.”
Project Organize Your Entire Life by Stephanie Morgan – “It was by no means the most visible space in our home, but it was the spot that frustrated me most.”
28 Days to Timeliness by Davonne Parks – “You are not a victim of your own lateness. You are taking charge of your time.“

Most of these books are short, easy reads, so you can get helpful information (i.e. access to printables), ideas and motivation without having to devote hours to reading the book.*

  Should you decide to purchase the bundle, I receive a portion of your purchase. I welcome your feedback on the product. It is an honor to serve you and provide information and encouragement to help you excel. 

Welcome to the eBundle that will have you organizing and spring cleaning your home, schedule and home based business! In these 23 eBooks, you’ll find tips, support and know-how about working from home, cleaning, organizing and mom support along with printables!

The All Organized – Organization eBook Bundle is available March 24th until April 7th for only $20. That’s a savings of $133! So hop over and buy it now!

Organizing your home

This 6 eBook mini eBundle will have you breathing a sigh of relief as you move through getting your pictures organized, know what paper you need to keep, help for homemaking and getting to less stuff & living more!

Paperless Home Organization by Mystie Winckler
GTD for Homemakers by Mystie Winckler
The Busy Mom’s Guide to Getting Organized by Sara Pederson
10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa Woodruff
10 Steps to Organized Photos & Memorabilia by Lisa Woodruff
Simple Living- 30 Days to Less Stuff & More Life by Lorilee Lippincott

Working from home

The ‘Working from Home’ mini eBundle will help you stay sane and productive when the kids are home and you need to work. It will also help you organize your direct sales business, and, along with an eClass, to learn about establishing office hours and a schedule that will help you run a family and a business. And, if you’re looking into starting a home business, or already run one, there’s an eBook about how to be a work at home mom.

Organizing the Business of Direct Sales by Lisa Woodruff
Organizing Direct Sales Office Hours eClass by Lisa Woodruff
Productivity 2.0 by Prerna Malik
Summer Sanity Savers for the Work at Home Mom by Prerna Malik
How to be a Work at Home Mom by Prerna Malik

Moms

This mini eBundle will help all of us with meal planning and involving the kids in cleaning so we can work and live more efficiently. There’s also support here for the mothers of special needs children and those in the military to organize their homes even more efficiently than their military service.

Easy Peasy Chore Chart by Alina Joy Dubois
Empowering Special Moms by Marla Murasko
Meal Planning Made Simple by Merissa Alink
Organizing Military Matters by Kaui Eiklor

Cleaning

This mini eBundle of 2 cleaning books is mighty! They’ll help you schedule your cleaning and know what’s clean enough so you’re not embarrassed when clients, friends or your mother-in-law stops by unexpectedly.

Clean Enough by Jenni Mullinix
Perfect Cleaning Schedule by Christine Satterfield

Schedule

This ‘Scheduling’ mini eBundle of 6 will help you create a schedule, arrive on time and provide simple strategies that work for your entire life. With the planner printables included, you will be able to make a plan that works for YOU!

Project Organize Your Entire Life by Stephanie Morgan
Creating a Schedule that Works by Marlene Griffith
28 Days to Timeliness by Davonne Parks
An Excellent Life: 5 Simple Strategies for Doing Life Well by Beth Beutler
100 Days of a New Year by Jennifer Tankersley
HOME List Plan It ePlanner by Jennifer Tankersley

This eBundle will be available March 24th until April 7th for only $20. That’s a savings of $133! So hop over and buy it now!

The Fine Print: We have all the nitty gritty details over on the Frequently Asked Questions Page, but here are a few highlights:

Download and back up your eBundle right away! We all know how busy life can be, so don’t wait! We can renew download links until May 9, 2014.
Can’t find your eBundle? Check the spam folder in your PAYPAL email.
All sales are final. There are no refunds and the deadline for purchasing will not be extended.
If you have any questions or issues with any of the e-Books included in this bundle, please contact that author directly.
YES! This eBundle CAN be read on Kindles, iPads and more!
Have questions about the eBundle? Check out the FAQ page for support!

*Disclaimer:  my recommendation of this product does not mean I endorse the entire approach/wording any given author has used in sharing her ideas.

But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV

Coffee Break Bible Study: Luke 12-16

These studies are provided to help you stay in God’s Word during your busy week.  We are travelling through the entire New Testament in 2014. To view the other Coffee Break Bible studies, visit the elevate page.

 

Read Luke 12.

In what areas of your life do you struggle with hypocrisy?

Why should we not worry?

Read Luke 13.

How does the word picture of the kingdom of God being like a “mustard seed” speak to you?

Why is following Christ like walking through a narrow gate?

Read Luke 14.

How did Jesus respond to the rule not to heal on the Sabbath?

Think through verse 27 in relation to your life.

Read Luke 15.

Think about verse 10 and how God rejoiced over you!

What stands out to you regarding the parable of the lost son?

Read Luke 16.

Why is it important for us to be faithful in our work for others?

What can you apply from verse 15 to your outlook on life?
Please use and share these studies! 

How to Write a Thank-You Note They Will Thank YOU For

When is the last time you received a sincere thank-you note (electronic or written)?

I’m not talking about the quick “thank you” many of us add to the bottom of our emails, or the one sentence text (meaningful though it might have been.) I’m talking about a warm, inspiring note that caused you to pause and almost want to thank the writer for making your day.

Quality thank you notes are a lost art. We are living in a day of quick communication when people are juggling so many details in their heads that they may simply forget to write a thank you note for a gift, experience or favor. But it’s not as hard as you think. Here is an effective three-part formula to help you write the type of thank you message that will have the recipient thanking YOU.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:18

The “You-Me-You” method goes like this:

YOU – point out the actual gift or thoughtful gesture you experienced because of someone else. It could be a tangible item, a service provided, or their presence at an event.

ME – write a brief acknowledgement of how you were affected by the gesture, how it made you feel, and the difference it made in your life (i.e. what memory it will bring up.)

YOU- compliment something specific about the person that is not necessarily related to the gift they gave you.

Now let’s practice. Let’s say Sally took Brianna to lunch for her birthday, and also gave her a cute necklace in acknowledgement of the special day.

Brianna could use the You-Me-You method in this way:

Sally,

Thank you for taking time to take me to lunch for my birthday. I really enjoyed spending time with you at a favorite restaurant, and the cute necklace was a nice surprise. When I wear it, I will fondly think of you and our friendship, and how much we laughed!

I am grateful for you. You may not be aware of this, but your cheerful spirit uplifts me and I frequently gain wisdom from our discussions. I am blessed to have you as part of my life.

Warmly, Brianna

Another tip: be careful in using superlative or trite words in a note. This can come across as over-flattering, insincere or cliche. Sally could have added words such as “always uplifts me” or “phenomenol necklace” but it might have sounded forced. Just be warm and honest without embellishing.

Now, how does that compare with:

Sally,

Thanks for taking me to lunch and giving me a necklace for my birthday. I really appreciate it.

Brianna

While any thank you is nicer than none, do you see how enriching the first note is compared to the second, without being much longer or time intensive? Which would you rather receive?

Tip: Don’t get caught up in the medium for the message…these days an email, text or phone message can also be a means of saying thank you, although a handwritten note is an unusual and special gesture. Whatever you choose, use the You-Me-You method and you are sure to bless the recipient almost as much as they blessed you!

Question: What’s the best thank-you note you ever received?

This book will remind you to watch daily for things for which to be thankful.  

 

Coffee Break Bible Study: Luke 7-11

For earlier Coffee Break Bible Studies, visit the elevate page.

 

Read Luke 7.

How did the Centurion demonstrate faith?

Why do you think the woman anointed Jesus?

Read Luke 8.

What do you think Jesus was teaching through the story of the seeds?

What do you make of Jesus’ relation to family in verses 19-21?

Read Luke 9.

Jesus sends out the 12 here. What were some of His guidelines?

Referring to verse 23…what does it mean to “take up your cross”?

Read Luke 10.

Try to read the story of the Good Samaritan as if for the first time. What new thing stands out to you?

Now do the same with the story of Mary and Martha.

Read Luke 11.

Write out the Lord’s prayer, considering its meaning more deeply as you write.

How are you encouraged by verses 9-13?

If you like having questions to help you think about the chapters you are reading, you might be interested in my book, A Light for Your Path: Helping You Reflect on Each Chapter of the Bible. This book contains one question or thought prompter for every chapter of God’s Word.

 

10 Tips for Less Stressful Plane Travel

My favorite plane trip was when I was the only one on the plane. I had a speaking engagement in a small town in the midwest, and my flights to and from Minneapolis were on one of those small turbo prop planes. On the trip there, the only other passenger was an extra pilot. On the trip back, I was literally the only passenger being flown by my two “private pilots.” I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the back of the plane looking out onto the gorgeous clouds and enjoying some private time with God.

But not all my plane travels have been as pleasant. I’ve also had other experiences such as unsettling turbulence. Crowded planes. A nine-hour delay.

Plane travel can be fun and exciting–and I’m blessed that most of my experiences have been–but it can also be frustrating and tiresome. Here are a few tips to make your next trip a little simpler.

1. Pack a change of clothes in your personal carry on bag. A crowded flight may demand that your suitcase-style carry on be checked at the gate. Be prepared for at least 24 hours in case of unexpected delays. Pack these extra clothes in a sealable plastic bag.

2. If your carry on bag has outer pockets, pack flat items in those pockets. If these pockets protrude out they can cause your bag to not fit into overhead compartments. (On one flight I was on, this problem caused a passenger to have to check his baggage to Bermuda, when he had preferred to keep it within reach.)

3. Ladies, carry a bit larger purse than you normally would. Include your quart-sized toiletry bag in it. This will make it easier to take out for scanning and you’ll be able to keep personal items with you in the event they ask you to check your bag at the gate.

4. Bring simple things to do that you can easily dig out, i.e. crossword puzzles or a tangible book. In regular seating there isn’t always enough room to pull out a laptop or large tablet.

5. Choose food wisely. If you know a certain type of food may not agree with you, or um, cause you to need more frequent restroom breaks–stay away from it for a few days prior to your trip and certainly on the day of travel. Drink water throughout the day but time your restroom breaks so you aren’t stuck having to maneuver through a crowded plane to a tiny restroom.

6. Select practical jewelry or ties/scarves. You’ll often be moving fast, may have to take off outer coats or sweaters, etc. Long necklaces can easily snag and break, and elaborate jewelry may hold you up in security. The necklace I have on in this picture is not one I would wear again while flying.

7. Wear non-bulky layers that won’t wrinkle easily. You may experience extremes of temperatures and it helps to have a sweater you can stuff into your bag or pull out to wear as an extra layer and it’s even better if it is wrinkle resistant.  The black sweater I am wearing somewhat fits the bill for this, but I would get one with longer sleeves to use in the future.

8. Wear comfortable shoes that you can easily remove at security scanning. If possible, avoid shoes that have to be tied. If you don’t like the idea of going barefoot through security, be sure to wear socks. Notice I am wearing sneakers that slip on and off quickly.

9. Be nice. While boarding a crowded flight, I expressed willingness to check my bag and the attendant said she wished she could reward people with miles for doing that. Instead, she probably has to deal with complaints. Most of the time, attendants are just implementing safety rules or trying their best to get you where you need to go. They are not the ones to complain to about delays they can’t control and negatively only makes the situation worse for everyone.

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

10. Try to plan for time to get from gate to gate. On one trip, I had a relatively lengthy layover and was able to plan lunch at an airport restaurant with friends from the area. However, to meet them, I had to leave the secure area and then go back through security check afterward. I didn’t bank on the time it would take and, of course, that was the time the TSA agents stopped me for a more detailed bag check, even opening it to search by hand! Once I was cleared, I had to hurry to a gate that was some distance away. I made it, but if I’d planned better or more realistically, I wouldn’t have experienced quite the stress I felt during that layover. I learned not to bring unusual items. The item causing the search was a neck wrap filled with rice that can be heated in a microwave.

So, now it’s your turn. Comment below or visit the blog to answer:   What is one of your top tips for plane travel?

Recommendation: This is a fun and unique style of crossword puzzle that could be enjoyed on a plane.

 

Coffee Break Bible Study: Luke 2-6

Catch up on our past Coffee Break Bible Studies at the Elevate page.
Read Luke 2.
What is your favorite part of the Christmas story?


Referencing verse 49, what part of the “Father’s business” should you be concentrating on this week?



Read Luke 3.
How did John point people to Christ?


How old was Jesus when He started His public ministry? Do you think there is an ideal age to start?



Read Luke 4.
How did Jesus handle Satan in verse 8?


Why was Jesus sent to earth? (vs. 18-19) How does this comfort you today?



Read Luke 5.
In what practical way did Jesus minister to the crowd?


What do verse 31-32 point out? How do they apply to you?



Read Luke 6.
We see early in the chapter that Jesus “broke the law.” What thoughts do you have about this?


Which beatitude touches you most and why?


Be part of a discussion by visiting the blog and commenting!

Five Cautions about Facebook

Although I’ve been cutting back, I’m still quite involved in social media, especially Facebook. My husband, Keith, is not. He and I were discussing Facebook one day and he made some wise observations that prompted me to write a blog post. Here’s are some of the thoughts we’ve had about what Facebook allows and encourages its users to do–which may or may or may not be wise.

Facebook makes it “okay” to: share an opinion about anything with just about anyone, even if it isn’t the wisest thing to do.

Is it wrong to share opinions? It depends. The environment of Facebook makes it easy to share, but also easily overlook applying a filter of, “Is this necessary to share?” “Am I becoming too defensive?” “Am I always right?”

Challenge: When tempted to give an opinion, stop and ask, “Is it necessary for me to share this? How can I share graciously?” “Will my opinion help others?”

Facebook makes it “okay” to: advertise details of your life, sometimes to the extreme.

We’re amazed by how many people provide a blow-by-blow of their trip out of town while their home probably sits empty. Young moms mention that their husbands are out of town. I’ve seen more selfies than I’ll ever need to (and taken a few myself.) While it’s fun to know what’s going on with my acquaintances, I’m not sure how much wisdom there is in knowing so many details.

Challenge: The next time you are tempted to take a “selfie,” stop for a moment to reconsider how often you do this. If the majority of wall photos are “selfies,” there could be a lack of balance. Sometimes it’s more fun to let someone else share a photo of you instead.

An interesting thing happened to me some time ago in regard to selfies. I had the fun opportunity of of having a photo taken with a well-known figure. I would be inclined to share that type of thing on social media, and have done so since. However, for this particular occasion, I felt God did not want me to put it on my wall. I admit that it was a challenge to obey that prompting!

Later that day, my photo with the individual got on my wall anyway when someone else who had also been at the event, shared it and tagged me. I had to smile. God was teaching me through this. I had obeyed in this one small thing, and He still allowed me to share the experience anyway…just in that someone else blessed me with it, not me.

Facebook Makes it “okay” to: eavesdrop

Eavesdropping used to be frowned upon. In person, it is still considered rude to listen in on conversations that don’t directly involve you. But on Facebook, all bets are off. We can lurk and watch conversations, never participating. We can see what mutual friends put on each other’s walls. (Has it ever felt strange to watch a conversation between two friends?) Would I go up to listen in on their conversation in a coffee shop even if I knew each of them personally?

Challenge:  Think twice about entering conversations that are obviously between two of your friends. Does it really involve you? If you would not walk up and insert yourself into their private conversation at a restaurant, don’t do it on Facebook either. (Note: I’m talking about commenting on posts where one person directly puts something on another person’s wall, or is having an obvious semi-private conversation. Commenting on a person’s status update is different. They are inviting you to the conversation in that case. I also don’t mean that you shouldn’t greet others in public. I’m referring to interrupting the course of their conversation.)

Facebook makes it “okay” (well, maybe a better word is “easy”) to: be a jerk behind a screen.

We’ve all seen this in action. You wonder if that person would have said that mean, rude, or crude thing to your face. There is less accountability for words when the face can’t be seen.

Challenge: I hope most of my readers aren’t the “jerk behind the screen” but if you’ve ever written a comment more harshly than you would have said it to someone’s face, maybe an apology is in order.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, that fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 1:29 ESV

Facebook makes it “okay” to: rub it in.

Facebook allows us to share the highlights of our lives, often skipping the frustrations or low points (unless someone uses Facebook to air complaints and dirty laundry—we’ve seen that, too.) Have you ever scrolled through the news feed and sighed because so many of your friends were going to the beach or leaving on a cruise or having dinner with their clique of friends or got to meet someone “important?” It can get discouraging and open the door for a lot of comparison.

The thing is, as much as Facebook opens some doors, it only allows for a one-dimensional portrait. We share only what we want others to see or know. We want to feel inclusion, sympathy or admiration, so that can affect what we share.

Challenge: Consider how often you share details of trips, purchases, or opportunities. It’s reasonable to share something you are proud of or happy about, but do it with discretion and balance it with a genuine interest in others. For example, how many of your posts are directly about you and how you are feeling or about yet another accomplishment of your child? Balance your “here’s what’s going on with me” updates with posts that provide info and encouragement that serves others or that starts a meaningful conversation.

Recommendation: If you, like I, find yourself tempted too much by social media, there are tools you can use to restrict your time. I’ve been experimenting with a Chrome extension called “Stayfocused.” Using it, I set up the amount of time I wanted to allot myself to be on Facebook during the day. For example, since I often work from home, I set up a time limit to adhere to between 9 and 5. Whenever I log in, OR whenever I click a link to another page from Facebook, it docks my time. The extension is a tough taskmaster. You have to log completely out AND leave the entry page as well as close out any pages you linked to from Facebook in order for the clock to stop. Also, you cannot change the settings the same day you run out of time. This extension has helped me budget my time on Facebook and keeps me from leaving Facebook open in the background during the day.

At this time, I only use this extension for my daytime hours on my home desktop. I still have to be personally disciplined because I CAN skirt the system by using other devices or browsers. However, it still helps me be more mindful of the time I spend on Facebook during the day.

Question: How about you? What have you learned about Facebook? Visit the blog to comment or press the comment button if you are already there!

 

 

Coffee Break Bible Study: Mark 13-16; Luke 1

If you’d like to catch up on earlier Coffee Break Bible studies, the Elevate page has them all.

Read Mark 13.

What type of events should we expect during the end times? Can we predict Christ’s return?

How should we prepare in the meantime?

Read Mark 14.

Consider what it was like during the Last Supper. What stands out to you?

What did Jesus know Peter was going to do? Did Peter do so?

Read Mark 15.

How did Jesus respond to Pilate?

Consider the crucifixion and death of Jesus. How does Mark report it?

Read Mark 16.

What is the wonderful focus of this chapter?

What command did Jesus leave His disciples (including us) with?

Read Luke 1:

How would you describe Luke, based on this first chapter?

Refer to verse 37. What situation in your life feels impossible? Commit the circumstances to the Lord today.

Visit the blog to comment! Share what you are learning as we go through the New Testament.

Three Ways to Reduce Your Time Management Stress

Sharon collapsed onto the couch wondering, “Where did the time go?” She looked over her to-do list from the day, and saw only half of the items completed.

The list seemed reasonable when she wrote it out this morning, but she went to bed feeling like a failure.

Has that ever happened to you?

A stuffed calendar and an overflowing to-do list can lead to stress, meltdowns, and discouragement, but there are ways to refine how you manage your time, so that there’s more time for an unrushed walk with God and for building healthy relationships. Let’s look at three.

Develop an Evening Routine

What we do toward the end of the day is the most important foundation for the next day and week. Flylady.net calls it the “before bed routine.” I call it “FINISH” and am working on getting more disciplined with an evening checklist that will set me up for a better tomorrow.

You can do the same. Make a list of a few tasks that would positively impact the next morning if you could do them consistently. These may include:

packing lunches
getting clothes out (including accessories)
having a bit of quiet time
reviewing tomorrow’s calendar
packing up extra items like gym bags, computer items or coupons for shopping

For me, I use the word FINISH as an acronym to represent certain steps:

F–fill humidifier/diffuser
I – inspirational reading
N – next day prep of clothes, bags, etc.
I –  in-box zero (email and snail mail gone through)
S – self care (grooming, vitamins, etc.)
H – house tidying

Do whatever works for you to consistently finish your day well.

Develop a Morning Routine

An effective evening routine is enhanced by a smart morning routine. Again, write down what would make for an ideal morning, with items such as:

having a quiet time with God
exercising
eating a good breakfast
tidying the house
checking mail

I use “BEGIN” to note these items. For me they include reminders of components of my morning such as “neaten the house” and “grooming.”

B – breakfast
E – exercise and email
G – grooming
I –  inspirational reading, praying
N – neatening up

Again, make a list that’s realistic and that works for you, and be willing to adjust it. Try to get into a daily routine, using your list as a guide.

Plan for Transitions

One of my weaknesses is a tendency to not allow enough time to transition between appointments. In this season of my life, I spend a lot of time at home. Because I live in a somewhat rural area, it’s more efficient to stack appointments when I do go out. That means it often takes planning. I need to have gather what I want to bring along, take a few moments to leave the house in decent condition, and touch up my personal appearance.  Therefore, I am teaching myself to allow at least 15 minutes of transition/pack up time. If I need to be somewhere that is 40 minutes away at 11:00, I need to stop working on the computer at 10 and take 15 minutes for the transition, not push my computer work to 10:15.

Overcoming our time management struggles takes intentionality. They won’t fix themselves. Getting a handle on these first three will be a tremendous help toward significant improvement!

Question: Which of these three suggestions would be the best one for you to start using?

This post originally appeared as a guest post at Take Heart Ministries. I will be doing a breakout session on this topic (and adding seven more tips) at their conference on March 29. There is still time to register.

Effective Time Management (Business Soft Skills) [Event]

Time is a form of currency, and the ways that we talk about it illustrate its value: we say “Time is money,” and “My time was well spent,” or “It’s a waste of time.” Like most professionals, you’ve probably struggled with managing this resource effectively. In this course, you will practice techniques that will help you achieve more effective use of your time so that you can direct your energy towards the activities that will further your professional and personal goals.









Date:
March 13, 2014—March 14, 2014


Time:
8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.


Event:
Effective Time Management (Business Soft Skills)


Topic:
Effective Time Management


Sponsor:
CCT Business Training


Location:
Greenville, SC