Bring Peace Home...part 2

Going to continue on my series of Bring Peace Home, hope you are enjoying it as much I enjoy sharing. Keep the comments coming love hearing from you all. Here we go..

One of my favorites..No-Phone Zone...when things get a little busy around here I sometimes just turn off the phone. I think we forget the the phone was made for our convenience.

Avoid Envy...that stuff can mess you up..."A heart at peace give life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30

Set email times...Learn to respond to emails at certain time. Email can be a time robber, causing hours to pass by without warning. Set a time to address, read or respond to emails, facebook, blogs or whatever it is that steals your time...I'm still learning this one too.

Read Scripture Daily...oh it is so good for the soul. Peace comes  by surrounding all of life around Jesus, the giver of life. Reading the Bible everyday helps us all our activities reflect the priorities of Christ.

Buy a good joke book...No really one year a friend of ours gave us a Christmas joke book and I would read the book and crack up and of course hound my husband and children to listen to this joke I just read.

Spend within your means...Debt can rob peace from you and strife in your relationships. My husband creates a Christmas cash budget every year for each family member we purchase for. I'll tell you it's so nice to not worry about on how are we going to buy this and that for him/her.

Count your blessings...such a simple action, and yet so overlooked. Look at all the wonderful things you do have and not what you don't have.

Volunteer...Reaching out to someone in need can be a source of happiness. Select a way to serve that plays to your skills and abilities.

To end today's list...one of my very favorites...SMILE! Studies show that a simple and beautiful smile reduces stress, boosts your immune system, lowers you blood pressure and releases endorphins. It also makes you look younger, imagine that.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when I wrap up my Bring Peace Home...don't forget to join in and tell me what you do to "Bring Peace Home".

Bring Peace Home...part 1

People seem to get frantic and uneasy around Christmas time. I understand everyone wants to please everyone, and get the best things. I'll be honest I don't. The older I get and more mature I get in Christ I see life in such a different light. So I thought I would share some ways to bring peace into your season and hopefully restore joy where it belongs. It will be a series since I have a lot to share. Please feel free to contribute how you keep peace this time of year.

Listen, listen, and listen some more... James 1:19 encourages us to be "quick to listen slow to speak, and slow to anger." Listening carefully creates peace and harmony. So many people are thinking about what they want to say they forget to listen.

Learn to adapt...this was one of my hardest to learn..I wasn't good with change, but God is helping me through this one. Learn to have the mind set that you can handle unexpected situations when they arise and life will go more smoothly.

Work off stress...Having a stressful day work it off, go for a walk or go work out. Medical experts tell us that the release of endorphins that provide a boost to our outlook on life.

Review you expectations...Improper expectations often cause disappointment and strife. Add peace to your life by setting realistic expectation regarding situations and relationships.

Get lost in music...Turn up the Christmas (the positive lyric kind) music and just let loose whether it be with your kids or alone and have fun, dance and sing at the top of your lungs (forget about how silly you look). You'll be glad you did.

Pray...Well there's a shocker..or not. Lift your concerns up to God. He will help you realize never have to carry your burdens alone. (hint read Philippians 4:6-7)

Watch your tongue...That little muscle can bring peace and in an instant can bring chaos. Learn to guard it, not allow just anything out but control it. Speaking of only love, peace, joy, and hope. In Psalm 34:12-14 "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Eliminate clutter and disorder... Peace comes when things are in order. I know when I clean up a pile of papers or toys, it feels so nice and I feel accomplished.

Plan...Keeping to a schedule helps create order in your life but make sure that if unexpected events do occur you resort back to "Learning to Adapt"


That's all for today, will continue tomorrow, come join in the conversation tell me your ideas of how you Bring Peace Home.

In a pinch to make something yummy.

Ingredients you need:

A bag of Hershey's Kisses (any kind you like)

A bag of square pretzels

A bag of plain M&M's (or any flavor you really like)

Place pretzels on cookie sheet, unwrap kisses and place in preheated oven 350 degrees for 2-3 mins

When you pull them out of the oven dot each one with m&m and place in fridge to harden again. 5 minutes.

There you go a yummy treat in a pinch..great for office parties, school, or just a fun treat to do with the kids.

Ecouragement to chew on:

We should never fall in to jealousy nor be tempted to. We are to encourage each other, strengthen each other. Nothing is ever won when we have evil intent, but so much is gained when we have a pure heart.

Hebrews 10:24
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.