Friday, April 15, 2016

Demolishing the Time-Suckers pt 3


Urgent Update from Jeanie's Foundation of Fictitious Reporting

What is the #1 Time Sucker in our Completely Non-scientific Facebook Survey?

Answer: Social media.

BUT . . .

What is the #1 Time Sucker in our "Completely Non-scientific Survey for People Who DON'T use Social Media" Survey?

The overwhelming majority answered Television.

New Survey Question: Is web surfing while watching TV considered multi-tasking or double time wasting?



(Triple points for responding during a commercial break while simultaneously texting, tweeting, and posting across the virtual world.)

In March 2014 I publicly admitted my weakness, a late night TV and junk food comfort zone.

We cut the cable, and
I thought I'd broken free.


But here I am, two years later, once again following a popcorn trail to the flat screen. 
 
Does anyone else succumb to the lure of mindless TV viewing?
Raise your remote if you identify with any of the following:


"I sit down to watch one show, but wind up viewing for hours."
"I use TV to avoid disagreeable tasks like . . . pretty much anything."
"I eat mindlessly in front of the TV."
"I make late-night food runs based on the commercials."  (Dang you, Snickers bars!)
"I fall asleep in front of the TV."


Try these tips to demolish the dastardly TV Time-Sucker: 


  • Strap an electric eel to the remote.
  • Replace TV with fun physical activities, like bike riding, dancing, or chasing stray panda bears through your neighborhood.
  • Meet a friend and enjoy real live human interaction. Sitting silently side by side while texting doesn't count. Use face to face, not Facebook interaction.
  • Have a family fun night. In good weather, go outside. Kids are incredibly imaginative when given a chance. Inside or out, fort building with old sheets is a classic.
  • Seek creative outlets. Draw, write, act out a play, build a birdhouse. Build an outhouse.  Make mud pies with the kids.

Wordsowers Christmas party 2015

  • Get to know your loved ones better with question games like "Never Have I Ever." (For those who played it as a drinking game, leave out the booze!)

Warning: some people, like my husband, enjoy these games as much as walking barefoot on hot BBQ coals. After two rounds Jake reacts like he's in a Nazi interrogation chamber. 
Jake: "Stop questioning me!"
Me: "You vill tell me if never haff you ever schkinny dipped, ya? Mach schnell!"
  • Most important, pray first. Ask the Lord for guidance, ideas, and strength.

"As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:3 
 
Make TV time meaningful, not mindless.


Last night Jake and I watched War Room, a great movie with a encouraging message. 

The night would have been even better if I'd gone to bed after the movie instead of falling asleep on the sofa watching Twilight Zone reruns. 

Back to praying Psalm 138. 


Turkey cartoon courtesy of vectorolie@freedititalphotos.net

Monday, March 28, 2016

Demolishing the Time Suckers De-railed.

We interrupt part three of our series, "Demolishing the Time Suckers," to join author Angela D. Meyer's blog, currently in progress.


(OK, I'm horribly embarrassed to admit it, but after I wrote the guest post for Angela's blog, I succumbed to this massive time sucker. I PROMISE to reveal it next time. Stay tuned.)

Meanwhile, CLICK HERE to visit Angela's blog, and learn how to destroy "spiritual clutter."
Sometimes navigating our homes resembles a journey through the Mountains of Messiness. We detour around the Laundry Foothills, dodge paper-pile avalanches, and sidestep mountain-goat-sized jumble heaps.

Traversing these trails can reveal a spiritual truth: External clutter often reflects internal clutter. Parents of small children, please don’t launch those Cheerios catapults at me. A quiver full of tots is a blessing that entitles you to a “Don’t Judge My Mess” card. But for many of us, a chaotic home reflects an overstuffed life. 
- See more at: http://www.angeladmeyer.com/2016/03/author-spotlight-jeanie-jacobson.html#sthash.3X0JaDAI.dpuf

Sometimes navigating our homes resembles a journey through the Mountains of Messiness. We detour around the Laundry Foothills, dodge paper-pile avalanches, and sidestep mountain-goat-sized jumble heaps.

Traversing these trails can reveal a spiritual truth: External clutter often reflects internal clutter. Parents of small children, please don’t launch those Cheerios catapults at me. A quiver full of tots is a blessing that entitles you to a “Don’t Judge My Mess” card. But for many of us, a chaotic home reflects an overstuffed life. 
- See more at: http://www.angeladmeyer.com/2016/03/author-spotlight-jeanie-jacobson.html#sthash.3X0JaDAI.dpuf

Sometimes navigating our homes resembles a journey through the Mountains of Messiness. We detour around the Laundry Foothills, dodge paper-pile avalanches, and sidestep mountain-goat-sized jumble heaps.

Traversing these trails can reveal a spiritual truth: External clutter often reflects internal clutter. Parents of small children, please don’t launch those Cheerios catapults at me. A quiver full of tots is a blessing that entitles you to a “Don’t Judge My Mess” card. But for many of us, a chaotic home reflects an overstuffed life. 
- See more at: http://www.angeladmeyer.com/2016/03/author-spotlight-jeanie-jacobson.html#sthash.3X0JaDAI.dpuf
Meme courtesy of Angela D. Meyer

And on a related note, I'm pretty pumped that my new book, Fast Fixes for the Christian Packrat, made its first international sale. Thank you Great Britain!

To celebrate I'm offering a one week .99 special on the book
From March 30th-April 6th get humor, scripture, and methods that actually work, all for under a buck.

But grab it fast. On April 6th the offer disappears faster than Snickers at a Choco-holics convention.



Click here to grab this bargain.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Give people what they need



Author Lee Warren and I chatted at last week's Author Fair.


He shared an obvious, but overlooked truth, saying,

"Give people what they need." 
 Money immediately came to mind. But without a printing press, that one was out. Lee continued.  

"Focus on helping people. Share your knowledge." 

Um, how? I pictured myself in the back of a pickup truck, bullhorn in hand.
Courtesy of stockphotos @freedigitalimages.com

Lee said, "You just published a home-organization book. Revamp your newsletter to give people free tips."
He's been an author and editor for years, and his advice lined up with:

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.” (Luke 6:38 TLB)

So I'm taking his advice. From now on each monthly newsletter will offer three simple tips to:

Get organized
Simplify life 
Save money

Sign up on this blog or my website if you'd like to get in on the freebies. 

I just read Lee Warren's awesome new devotional, Finishing Well. 

The daily reading are short, and packed with insight.
Click here to get a copy.






Blatant self-promotion warning:
My book, 
Fast Fixes for the Christian Pack-Rat, is now available on Amazon.

Fast, funny, and oh so helpful
End of blatant self-promotion.


Tune in next time for "Demolishing the Time Suckers, Pt. 3"

What's the biggest time-drain for most people?
Hint: We love it, we're addicted to it, and it sucks our time faster than The Flash.
Can you guess the answer?

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Demolishing the Time-Suckers pt 2

Social media sites are time-sucking vampires that addict us to adorable baby animal videos.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, Google+, Instagram, and a few hundred others exert a mystical allure over the human mind.

According to Jeanie's Foundation of Fictitious Reporting*, humans average 23 hours per day on social media. 

That amount increases to 23.5 hours for cats, who live to post selfies on Facebook, and upload videos of their buddies on YouTube.

*Jeanie Jacobson, Founder of Jeanie's Foundation of Fictitious Reporting. This agency exists to fabricate data with no basis in truth.

Social media has its plus points.

My daughter Patty joined Twitter to support me. Her bio actually reads, "Set this account up solely to follow mi madre and her writing endeavors."

Twitter isn't a problem for me. My Twitter account resembles an abandoned building inhabited by a lone chirping cricket.

My standard response to my new followers is, "Thanks for the follow. Please don't write anything else to me ever again because I don't know how to carry out a conversation with you in 140 characters or less."

Facebook is my time enemy. I plunge into the Facebook wormhole and emerge hours later with numb legs and a swirling brain.

I have a personal page. There I post goofy and irrelevant items.

Like most writers I have a professional page. On it I post (slightly) less goofy and irrelevant items.

Staying on track is a problem.

For instance, I attempted to post a quick blurb about my upcoming book, Fast Fixes for the Christian Pack-rat.

https://www.amazon.com/author/jeaniejacobson


Instead I spent 47 minutes "Liking" and sharing my friends' posts, commenting on prancing piglets, and watching video clips.

Social Media tip: 
"At the movies with my peeps."
translates to:
"#Hey burglars, great time to plunder my house. RT"  

Ecclesiastes 3:6 tells us there's

"...A time to keep and a time to throw away."

What's worth keeping, and what should be thrown out of our schedules?

Consider these three questions:

  1. Is social media cutting into family time?

  2. Is it interfering with work

    And most important,

  3. Is it crowding out time with the Lord?

To cut down on social media distractions:
  • Turn off notifications. 
  • Check your sites at a set time rather than throughout the day.
  • Give yourself time limits, and set an alert to insure you follow through.
  • Refuse new invites.
  • Disconnect from some sites. Spend time in the real world instead.


In my next posting I'll reveal my nemesis.
The Goliath I thought I had conquered-
Television.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Demolishing the Time-Suckers


We live in a fast-paced world. Demands tug at our time like an octopus on steroids. 


I looked at my to-do list recently and whined, "Lord, I don't have enough time. How am I supposed to get everything done?"
I'd entered Full Sniveling Complaint Mode, and didn't want an answer.

But God answered anyway.

He brought to mind all the Time-Suckers devouring my schedule. I took an honest look at my computer time and cringed.



Time-Sucker #1: The E-mail Flood.


Between 65-90 new emails attack my inbox daily, mainly because I'd signed up for a free webinar or make-up sample.

Tantalizing offers beckoned, and my mouse went on auto-click.
        

After all, Publisher's Clearing House assured me I was a MILLION DOLLAR WINNER!

I just needed to peek inside to confirm. I spent 6 minutes clicking through the links.

 All You magazine displayed 25 ways to clean my house with vinegar. I knew I wouldn't use any of the tips, but wasted 7 minutes scrolling through them anyway.

The Mayo Clinic's email showed delicious recipes I'd never make. That would involve cooking.


Yet I drooled over the pictures for 8 minutes.



Ecclesiastes chapter three speaks of a time for everything,

          




                            Weeping
                                          Laughing
                                                        Mourning 
                                                                       Dancing


I didn't see a specific verse about superfluous emails, but time is a precious gift from the Lord.
I'm going to use mine better.  
 
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
 
Today I unsubscribed from a dozen sites.
I'd love to hear your top ways to control the inbox beast. Just don't add any recipes or cleaning tips, I beg you.

The next Time-Sucker on my list: social media. Raise your hand if you're addicted to videos of pajama-wearing goats.

All pictures courtesy of stockphotos @ freedigitalphotos.net

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Ready for Christmas, without shopping

Christmas checklist

Is the gift shopping done?
Nope.

Have I finished decorating the house?
Nope.

Have I baked the Christmas goodies?
Nope.

Am I ready for Christmas?
Absolutely.





This year our family faced a series of challenges.
  • Massive fire
  • Multiple hospitalizations 
  • Job loss 
  • Divorce
  • Death. 

But through every devastating event,
the Lord strengthened us.
                                               Encouraged us.
                                                                    Comforted us.
                                                                                           Loved us.

So in spite of the negative experiences and drawbacks, my husband Jake and I are more focused than ever on the gift of Jesus.



While gifts under the tree are sparse,
the greatest gift ever given resides in our hearts.


Jesus wants to share that gift with you too.
The gift of eternal life, purchased at the cost of his own.

He loves you that much. 
You're that precious to him.





Pray this out loud, believe it from your heart, and you will become saved (born again.)


"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, amen."



If you prayed that with a sincere heart, you belong to God, His own child, living with Him for all eternity.
All heaven is celebrating the gift you just accepted from Jesus.

Now you're ready for Christmas!

All photos courtesy of photo courtesy of digidreamgrafix @freedigitalphoto.net



 









Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Author Extravaganza






Picture Combine seven authors, live music, give-aways, stories, and refreshments and what do you have?

The
free Author Extravaganza hosted by Angela D. Meyer at the Ralson Public Library.
 

This event is to support National Family Literacy Month, and to kick off the holiday season.

If you live in the Omaha/ Council Bluffs area please join Angela D. Meyer, Kim Stokely, Brooke Williams, Shawn Brink, Norma Donovan, Lee Warren, and myself on
Saturday Nov.7th 12:30-2:30pm. 


I'm excited to be a part of this event. It's even more special to me because my grandson, Asher, will be there as my official. photographer.