Hello lovely ladies,

It's here! Yesterday was the first day of fall! What treats do you like to make during autumn? I did make some sugar-free pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting this last weekend. And for our ladies meeting this week, I made these "caramel apple grapes"... except that i couldn't find any caramel bits...so I melted some caramel chocolates instead. (*Pic: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFacHJ_pJge/ )  

Well, I wrote down the simple little tips from a devotional that I recently enjoyed and wanted to share it with you today...

RUN to WIN

*Understand that as a born-again believer you are in a race. Run to win!

*Win souls -- witness daily.

*Be faithful in every aspect of life.

*Honestly put your heart into God's service.

(*Resource: Refreshing Daily in God's Word, September 2020)

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This week I needed a kick in the backside. You see, I believed Satan's lies that I'm worthless... that I'm a loser. Yes, I've lost focus lately. It's been really hard not being able to do any of the ministries locally here that I've done in the past. Some of those may be re-opened soon, but for now they are closed.

The fact is, just being FAITHFUL to do what God's given us to do each day is our purpose. We can ask Him to open up new doors of opportunities, and He will when the timing is right and when it's a perfect fit for us.  

Don't you believe it was hard for Joseph sitting in that prison cell for a few years? I know I'd go stir-crazy...and I'd be so frustrated. But, as you see, Joseph was watchful for the opportunity to be faithful wherever God placed him. 

"And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it." - Genesis 39:22 kjv

Because of Joseph's good attitude and willingness to let God be in charge and to be faithful, we see the doors being opened wide for God to use Joseph in a mighty way.

My friend... just be faithful! Whatever you have in your charge to do today, just be faithful. Don't try to get ahead of God. His timing is always perfect.  

You don't have to be some fancy piano player or some great speaker or accomplish some huge feat. Just be willing and be faithful.

My Friend, Keep Walking in FAITH,

Rhonda White (rhondawhite@outlook.com)

~ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I Corinthians 16:23 KJV 

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7 Tidbits from my journal: (Use these ideas for your journal or ministry)

When you step out in faith, stay out in faith. - Pastor Jim McCullough

God cannot do any more than you let Him do in your life.

"When you are defeated, keep going because at this point you have nothing else to lose." - Refreshing Daily in God's Word, August 2020

"Your TESTIMONY is not what you think or say about yourself, but what others say and think about you." - RDIGW, Aug. 2020

Be a good STARTER -- but be a good FINISHER as well.

Learn to love who you are because GOD needs to use you. (We all have different personalities, talents and gifts that God is able to use in different ways to reach different people.)

QUESTION: What frustration are you dealing with right now? We get stressed when we struggle with fixing things that are beyond our reach to fix. You're better off letting God take care of it. Can you let go and let God take over? 

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Today's devotional topic: The Best Talent You Should Strive to Obtain

https://herchristianhome.com/the-best-talent-you-should-strive-to-obtain/

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Bible Verse of the Week:

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” - Psalm 150:6 kjv

Did you praise God today? I encourage you to take time now, and to do it in your morning routine... what a different perspective you will have on your day ahead.

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Reminder Links:

Bible reading schedule link for September:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHContent/2020-Bible-Reading-Planner-September.pdf

Christian Planner Printable Pages:

https://herchristianhome.com/christian-planner-printable-pages/

My Greeting Card Shop: (Looking for a unique card? Shoot me an email with your ideas.)

https://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/loveencouragementcards

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Today's Tidy Up Your Life Tips: 15 Tips to Overcome Laziness

Everyone experiences laziness from time to time; however, the most productive people are able to push laziness aside and take action.

Here's a few tips for overcoming laziness and finding motivation:

1. Alternate between periods of high focus and relaxation. Use a timer and focus for all you're worth for 25 minutes. Then, take a five minute break and do whatever you like. Just knowing that you only have to last for 25 minutes can be enough to motivate yourself to get busy.

2. Focus on the positive aspects of getting your work done. Think about the positive feelings you'll experience when you've completed your work. Make a list of all the advantages of doing your work right now.

3. Be tough. Maybe it shouldn't matter whether or not you feel like doing what needs to be done. Just do it! Easier said than done, but simple nevertheless.

4. Declutter. Excess chaos in your working space can sap the motivation and energy right out of you. Take a few minutes to clear off your desk (or kitchen, etc.) and tidy things up a bit. Avoid using this as an excuse to procrastinate.

5. Focus on the long-term. Where will your life be in a year or five years from now if you stop being lazy? Where will you be if you continue on the path you're traveling right now? Those with motivation issues often look at the short-term. The most effective actions require patience before the benefits appear.

6. Use your lazy time wisely. Just lying around isn't that relaxing unless you make the most of it. Use your down time to read a book, enjoy a hobby, or spend time with friends. Avoid wasting this precious time in ways that fail to add value to your life in some way.

7. Get some help. Ask for help from a trusted friend or family member. (Accountability partner.) You'll feel badly about being lazy when someone is by your side and lending a helping hand.

8. Accept the fact that some tasks just aren't always enjoyable. Productive living requires doing a few things each day that you'd rather not do. Just get it done as painlessly as possible.

9. Create a to-do list each night. Focus especially on making a list of the four most important things to do tomorrow. When your feet hit the floor in the morning, you'll already know what needs to be done. Give yourself a running start.

10. Become more aware of time. (Use a timer if necessary.) Time can easily slip by while watching TV or surfing the internet. Keep an eye on the time, regardless of your current task. At the end of each hour, ask yourself what you've accomplished.

11. Plan an enjoyable weekend. (Think of it as a reward for accomplishing your to-dos.) Knowing that you have a fun weekend to look forward to can make it easier to stay busy during the week.

12. Get some exercise. A good workout will wake you up and get the juices flowing. Daily exercise can make a significant difference in your ability to work hard and stay focused.

13. Keep your list as short as possible. Putting too much on your to-do list can overwhelm you before you even get started.

14. Break down larger projects into smaller tasks. Spread those out among a few days. This will motivate you to get started and not be overwhelmed.

15. Need help or advice? Sometimes we fail to get started because of fear. If you need help because the project really needs more than one person to do it well, don't shy away from asking for help. If it's just a matter of not knowing how to accomplish what needs to be done, take time to research online (videos or articles.) Gaining extra knowledge helps whittle away some of those fears.

*Bonus tip: Make planning fun. Use a fun planner or printable. Use a habit tracker to check off days you've accomplished your to-dos. Find some cute stickers to brighten up your to-do lists.

Use these tips to lessen the amount of laziness you experience in your life. Stay busy during the week and make the most of your weekends. Don't forget to give yourself plenty of rewards for accomplishments and grace for those failures along the way.

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