Time is the most precious commodity we possess.

Women of excellence recognize it’s value so they use it wisely!

“Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals complying with a due date. This set encompasses a wide scope of activities, and these include planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, analysis of time spent, monitoring, organizing, scheduling, and prioritizing. Initially, time management referred to just business or work activities, but eventually the term broadened to include personal activities as well. A time management system is a designed combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. Usually time management is a necessity in any project development as it determines the project completion time and scope.” Wikipedia

Scripture Memorization:

“There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

A morally excellent woman is disciplined, organized, and orderly. A woman of excellence has a prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior that is productive and above reproach. Time management is the key to achieving a life of excellence, and being disciplined is the key to time management. Lets get started in putting a time management system in place. Choose one of these methods given below.

1.  Get Organized

2.  Protect Your time–insulate, isolate, delegate

3.  Achieve through being Goal focused

4.  Recover from Bad Time Habits–e.g. procrastination, ADHD, ADD

• Setting of priorities and goals

     Carrying out activity around those priorities: ABC analysis

            A – Tasks that are perceived as being urgent and important,

            B – Tasks that are important but not urgent,

             C – Tasks that are neither urgent nor important.

• POSEC process :      A process of reducing the time spent on non-priorities…

1. Prioritize – Your time and define your life by goals.
2. Organizing – Things you have to accomplish regularly to be successful. (Family and Finances)
3. Streamlining – Things you may not like to do, but must do. (Work and Chores)
4. Economizing – Things you should do or may even like to do, but they’re not pressingly urgent. (Pastimes and Socializing)
5. Contributing – By paying attention to the few remaining things that make a difference. (Social Obligations).

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THE CALENDAR and FAMILY’S WEEKLY SCHEDULE                

Complete page 100 and 111 in Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. Both books can be purchased easily at http://www.bonnieliabenow.com by clicking widget Bonnie’s books.

Your monthly calendar should include categories:

The Menu, Appointments/Events, Exercise/Recreation, Quiet Time, Spa/Salon, Decorating Home, Date Night with Spouse, Family Time and Family Vacations.

Promise

“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

Blessing

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

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.”

Shouldn’t God’s goodness overflow and shine outwardly from us? Absolutely! God has called us to reflect His image.

It is so important that we women bring the elegance, tenderness, and simplicity of womanhood to our world. This world needs us to be a reflection of the image of God. In His strength we can radiate His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.

Scripture Memorization

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139: 14

As women we have the unique ability to possess elegance–refined grace. Elegance reflects excellence. It is simple, neat, and appealing to the eye. Elegance shows the true beauty of a woman, and celebrates the femininity of a woman. As a young girl in the 60s, there was a woman who I believed possessed ultimate elegance. She was not overdone. Her hair, her wardrobe and how she carried herself were a textbook example of simple elegance. Her name was Jacqueline Kennedy. Because of her cultivated taste and choice of classy, timeless pieces, she could rightly be called one of the most influential women in fashion.

We women need to believe that God has created beauty in us.  We need to take the steps to let our beauty shine outwardly not only physically but also in the way we conduct our self daily.

1 Peter 3: 3-4 says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God”.

May your face and heart shine with His beauty.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for creating me. I am wonderfully made. I am the daughter of the King of kings. And I am thankful. Let it be my desire  to reflect and to mirror Your image, Lord. Give me strength and discipline to keep a healthy beautiful body so that I may reflect Your goodness. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Matthew 19:26   with God all things are possible

Philippians 4:13   I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.

The Study: Write your simple elegance action plan p 102-104  Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. Both books can be purchased easily at http://www.bonnieliabenow.com

When we are our best physical self, we free up our minds and hearts to be more dedicated to God. We can physically do what God has called us to do when we have done our part to be physically healthy. Use the online resources given below to assist you to physical excellence.

Read Song of Solomon, chapters 4 and 5.

Create a routine of exercise.   http://www.faithfulworkouts.com

Plan menus of healthy food.   http://http://www.lettucelivewell.com

Start a skin care routine.  http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/face/get-gorgeous-skin-all-day-long

Schedule a spa day monthly.       http://www.slideshare.net/simplymedia/top-10-health-benefits-of-a-spa

Focus on acquiring a wardrobe that reflects elegance choosing timeless pieces and simple black.

Pray for the desire to possess the gentle and quiet spirit that is most precious to God. (1 Peter 3: 3-4)

Promise“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else”

Blessing

“Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God.”

  There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and  another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain.

 A right time to embrace and another to part,  

 A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,  

 A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

  A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.”

Scripture Memorization

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37: 4

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 

The Study

Understand the season: like the seasons of nature–winter, spring, summer, and fall–so are the seasons of life. The opportunities for personal growth are specific to the season. The opportunities of one season are not always available in another. Each season prepares you for the next.

Prepare for the season: It is our human nature to hang on to some season, even when God is ready to move us to another season. New seasons takes us to the unfamiliar and uncomfortable which create many emotions. So how do we prepare for the season that is to come?

Here are excerpts from my presentation, Prepare your heart for the season: Christmas in Excellence. I believe the principles here apply to any season or holdiay that we embrace. Women, we truly need to take time to prepare our hearts to bless.

As Galatians 5:22 says so well, we need more of His spirit that bears “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” It is only in His strength that we are able to generously give and to bless our family this Christmas season.

There are three principles we need to remember as we prepare for this season:

Keep it simple

The first Christmas was simple. Luke 2: 4-7 (NKJV) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  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, let this, too, be your approach. Make a simple plan, write down and run with it EARLY. Keep in mind the first Christmas by applying a theme of simplicity and referencing the number one.

Consider this.

Buy only One new Decorative piece each year to make it easy on the budget.

Buy One gift for each one you love.

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

Light one scented candle that brings the holiday fragrance to your home, the light that will bring remembrance of the star that shone so bright that 1^st Christmas.

Bring elegance to your home

Elegance reflects the excellence that so much enjoyed by your family. An element of elegance over the holidays is choosing decorations that are simple, neat and appealing to the eye.

Maybe it was because I had a houseful of men that I saw the importance of elegance. Because I desired to be the one to bring it into their lives. I wanted them to treasure and value this attribute in me because Elegance shows and celebrates the true beauty and femininity of a woman.

Proverbs 31:28 says “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also.”

When we present and prepare our home, our food, and our gifts elegantly, we are making our children aware that all good things come from God. They will ultimately be good stewards of what they have, because they will become increasingly aware that everything is on loan to them from God. Your children will know this season is special.

Prepare your heart

Spend time with God. Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

I used to think I had to be at home, at church, in a quiet place at least, to pray. But opportunities are all around us. This season while you wait in those long lines to purchase your favorite coffee drink or a loved one’s gift, pray.

Read God’s Word daily. Knowing God’s word and putting it in your heart is another way we can prepare our hearts for the Season. The Bible will allow you to know God’s character, God’s promises for you and your family, and God’s instructions on how to live and to pursue a life of excellence – one that is holy.

Have A willing Heart to let God use you. All God asks of us is to be thankful and to be obedient to His call on our Lives. When you choose to live God’s way and walk in obedience to Him, Your life will have purpose and you will experience fulfillment. Lets look at scripture to see how Mary, the mother of Jesus, prepared for that first Christmas.

“ The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.”

  And Mary said, (Listen to this ladies) Mary says….

“ Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.”              (scripture: Luke 1)

We women need to be A willing vessel to bring about His purpose in Your world. All God asks of us is to be thankful and to be obedient to His call on our lives. When you choose to live God’s way and walk in obedience to Him, it is here that your heart will be prepared to bless your family this Christmas season.

No matter if you are preparing for a  delightful holiday season or just a random season that comes dancing into your life. You can apply these principles: keep it simple, bring elegance to your home by possessing the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) and prepare your heart.

Purpose for the Seasons: As women, we often have an innate need to be able to do and be many things. But recognize that there is an order to maintain and a specific season in your life to do it. Each season offers great knowledge, wisdom, and opportunity for us to be educated for what lies ahead . Don’t miss any season in your life, as that will also be an opportunity missed. There will be many opportunities knocking on your life’s door. Draw from your foundation of faith, family, and community to assist you in making a decision on what opportunity to embark upon.

Complete page 95-100 Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. Both books can be purchased easily by clicking widget Bonnie’s Books http://www.bonnieliabenow.com

Promise

“The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

Blessing

“Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God.”