Greetings everyone! I don’t know about you but, I am a planner. Mind you I use a pencil so I can erase cause in our planning we must allow for flexibility and change. Why? Because God often reveals a better plan & sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances. Either of these may lead you to erase and replace. This is not a bad thing unless, your erasing is due to your own indecisiveness. Which is why I Pray seeking wisdom and guidance before my planning.  As it says in James 1:6-8 ” But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  The short version of this is       ” Seek your purpose, create a plan, and move forward”  Constant doubting and just following the crowd, You become lost and set yourself up for a life on shaking ground.

That said, let’s talk about planning in 2019!! I am old school and I still love using a Franklin Planner. You see I work on computers all day long so by the time I get to my personal organizing and planning I do Not want to sit or look at the screen any longer.  But, of course you can utilize all the various planners online like this free one: https://dayviewer.com/#!

So let’s get started with some tips you may want to Pray about and make your Plan.

Do you workout or are you planning to?  If so, Log your workouts! It is proven a fitness regimens is more effective and enjoyable when you keep track of your progress.

Organize your bills and create a plan to pay down/off any bills with interest. As you are prepping for taxes Review your spending over the past year. Are there areas you could work on managing better?  and be honest. Like how often are you eating out? It is cheaper and healthier to eat at home. Log what you spend each day or put your receipts in an envelope for each month then review your spending habits at the end. This is a great way to improve and break some bad habits. Like smoking/alcohol–add that cost up for the year & then check out what good things that could have provided.

What are you eating? Track that for 30 days then make healthier eating plans for you and your family. Everyone will feel better, it’s less expensive, and immune systems are improved so less illness in the home. So many foods are full of benefits like Basil- check this out! : https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/12-health-benefits-basil/

Last but by no means least: Do you have a Spiritual Fitness Plan for 2019? We all need a lift or encouraging word(s) during our days. Seek God’s Word daily, talk to Yeshua (Jesus) and you will find your day flowing smoother. I can testify He is a great listener & His Word is just Full of Daily living guidance if you seek Him from the heart not from a place of religion. Like the Dalai Lama said, ” There is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our mind, is the temple. The doctrine is Compassion. ( Love )  Do not misunderstand, this is not to say going to a physical church, synagogue, etc is wrong or bad. However, those are but, gathering places to share the love of God, learn together, etc but, they are Not the point or the way. The Spirit of Love is The Way and that my friends was breathed within each and everyone of us and it is through our choices of sharing that love the attributes of it grow and create our lives.

On that note: Do you have any plans of giving? I am not referring to money (which is fine if you can) But, I am referring to giving from the heart. That can be something you made, a smile, a hug, taking a dinner plate to a neighbor in need, shoveling snow for the elderly neighbor who lives alone or just breaking bread and having tea together, and the list goes on.  With that I leave you with one of my fav verses on giving: Luke 6:38: Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. God has revealed to me: This giving is referring to the amount of Love you give determines what you get back. As it is through Love all things manifest both spiritual and material things.

Be creative & have fun with your planning. put stars on successes, hearts for endearing moments that arise from your plan, flowers when your garden grows, your favorite verses for encouragement, and include your family. My oldest and family created a big vision board and ya know most every year they have met their goals!

Take care and have a Blessed Day!  Renee’