Scripture Memorization:

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also.”

The scene was set:  food, live entertainment, candles, flowers, white linens, and 250 guests meandering in and around our home. In the midst of the party I fielded the question
that prompted the writing of my book, Excellence with Simple Elegance. “How do you do it?” The answer is keep life simple.

Simple and routine are the keys words to maintaining your home. A routine that is well-rehearsed is crucial to keeping the stress level low each day and maintaining a clean, tidy home. Simplicity is the key to unlocking joy into your physical living space. There is no need for extravagant living. Just keep it simply elegant.

Excellence needs to be applied to the way you keep your home and the things you own. Good stewardship is an important part of being a woman of faith. A good steward is one who deals wisely with what God has entrusted to them and takes good care to protect it. The idea of stewardship should be applied to everything we have–all of our possessions.

The Study: Keep Life Simple; grab your calendar and make a plan. Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. Both books can be purchased easily at http://www.bonnieliabenow.com by clicking the widget Bonnie’s Books

 

 

 

 

 Simple Living Challenge – Pick 5!

Life is so busy, there are so many things to do, and so many things we want to do. Decluttering and simplifying gives us the space to do this.

When we can get rid of the extra it allows us to be more efficient, minimize the excess and maximize our time. Decluttering our life sharpens our ability to be creative and to be inspired and even find the time to do it!

Please join me in this simple living challenge that will assuredly make our life and home more efficient, more peaceful, more attractive, less stressful, saving time, saving money, saving energy and maximize our time. Please consider joining me in this challenge of clearing the clutter.  You will be amazed at the results.

Every day for one month you are challenging yourself to Pick 5 things to donate and 5 things to trash.

Grab a donation box. Daily run around your house picking 5 things up and put them in the box. Don’t even think – just do! It’s only 5 things, that’s nothing! Grab anything you haven’t used in the last 12 months and place it in the box! Old clothes, shoes, craft supplies, sheets, towels, books, dishes, cookware, nick- knacks and more! Declutter!

Next, grab your trash/recycling bin – Run around the house and pick 5 things to throw away/recycle.

Keep going each day and donate 5, toss 5. Before you know it, you’ll be 280 items lighter by the end of the month and you won’t even miss them!

Really challenge yourself this month to give away all the excess – only keep the things you love and use and get rid of the rest. Remember – we only use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time – be ruthless, get rid of that 80% to get to the 20% that really matters to you!

You might be asking – Why give it all away? I spent good money on that!

The little secret is the more I give away, the less I spend. Begin today being excellent stewards of what God has given you and start storing up treasures in heaven instead of here on earth. The blessings are huge!

Keep It Simple

There are seasons in our lives that are not easy, especially around the holidays. But if you can simplify the basic chores of the holiday, you can free up time to spend in prayer, in worship, and in praise, which in source of our strength and the routine that prepares our hearts to bless. Go into His gates giving thanks and into His holy place with praise. Give thanks to Him. Honor His name. Psalm 100

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

It was a humble, simple, first Christmas. This simple Christmas has had an incredible impact on the world. This simple Christmas brought a simple gift of faith, but provided an extravagant love. An unconditional love that only God could provide to a lost world; a Savior, the Messiah, was given to us that first Christmas.

God sent us one gift, His only Son, in a humble stable in one little town called Bethlehem, and One Star guided the shepherds and wise men to the holy presence of the Messiah, Jesus.

As you prepare for the holidays follow the theme of One.

Buy one new decorative piece for your home.

Buy one gift for each one you love.

Decorate one Christmas tree, that will be the centerpiece of your celebration.

Buy one scented candle that will usher the holiday fragrance into your home.

Light this one candle as a remembrance of the One Star shone so bright that first Christmas night.

Keep it simple remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

Promise

“Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father who created all the lights in heavens.”

Blessing

“I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”