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Greetings!
It's August and the warm breezy days of summer will soon be over! This month, Best Life wants to encourage women that the best way to stay above water and not feel overwhelmed is to stay organized.
Join us as we look at some organizational tips and make time to prepare for fall days and the school year starting once again.
Be energized. Be organized. Be encouraged.
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Photo By: Alexis Iskierka |
Sink, Swim, or SET SAIL
By: Executive Dir.,
Kathy A. Weckwerth
As the year has gone by and BLM has delivered 5 conferences, (with 2 more upcoming conferences this fall) we have been listening to the hearts of women everywhere.
More and more we are hearing from women that they are busy, overwhelmed, and plain exhausted. This is nothing new to us, but this year we heard it and took it to heart!
After seeking God, we decided to launch our 2014 topic: Sink, Swim, or Set Sail! We are questioning ourselves and women by asking them: will we allow the overwhelming floods of daily life and its burdens weigh us down and drown us? Will we try to do it alone and say, "I've got this," and be self sufficient, (or at least try)? Or will we lean into the arms of a loving God who says. "Climb aboard and set sail for a better life."
I don't know about you but we're committed to relying on God and all of His help and possibilities for a great future.
At Best Life Ministries we believe that the enemy is making today's life so overwhelmingly busy, that as women our nature to do it all and take care of everything and everyone, is backfiring. We don't believe that drowning is God's plan for us at all!!! Instead that same busyness makes us overwhelmed, fatigued, and rendered ineffective.
Join us in committing all of our priorities to God, and asking Him to redesign what we think is BEST, allowing Him to create a plan for us with what really is THE BEST.
Then, let's follow that plan, say 'no' when we have to, and work at taking care of our mental and spiritual health. When we do this, things will fall into place with God steering the helm of the ship!
God has created a great plan for each of us ... let's look for that map and set sail with God!
 | | Exec. Dir, Kathy Weckwerth |
For more from Kathy Weckwerth, you can read her blog at http://bestlifeministries.com/best-life-lifelines/
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Spirituality~
Organizing Your Time for God~
- Submit everything to God, including your time.
 - Make a list of priorities
- Search Scripture and evaluate your priorities
- Be Patient With yourself
- Learn to say 'no' to things when appropriate
- Evaluate your progress
- Make improvements and remain consistent
Stephen Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People says, "the essence of effective time and life management is to organize and execute around priorities." Remember that whatever we value most in life becomes our priority.
Top 5 verses on focusing and organization
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Psalm 39:4-5
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.
Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
 | | Photo By: Jenessa Grosmman |
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Ask Dr. Deb:
With all of the different kinds of expensive bottled water that is offered today, and regular water from my faucet, I want to know which water should I drink?
Dr. Deb Answers:
In the United States, many of us have come to believe bottled water is 'healthier' for us. Currently, US consumers drink 7 billion gallons of bottled water per year. The bottled water craze has created many tons of garbage and also consumes large amount of energy through the bottling process and transportation of the bottled water. Is bottled water healthier and safer?
For most of us, the answer to that question is 'NO.' Strict regulations control the safety of tap water supplies. These regulations call for strict monitoring for harmful chemicals and bacteria. This keeps municipal water supplies safe. If you have a well, you must monitor your own well to assure the water is safe through annual testing for bacteria and nitrates.
The use of a carbon filter on your water system can remove organic chemicals and pesticides from the water, but filters do not remove bacteria. Filtering your water supply can improve the taste.
There are SOME conditions where drinking bottled water may be safer. If you have a suppressed immune system for any reason, bottled water may be a safer choice. If you are traveling in any area of our country or other countries where the water supply may not be safe, bottled water is the best choice.
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind with water is the importance of drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day. Taste can be an issue with water so 'find a taste' you like, and drink up!!
Yours in health and in Him,
Dr. Deb Peterson
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Photo by: Kathy Weckwerth, Dubuque, IA |
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."
Helen Keller
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Best Life on Organizing Your Stuff: 5-Pile Rule
· Pile Number One
This is the pile for all that excess clothes you NEVER use. On January 1st, turn every single one of your hangers backwards. Every time you wear a dress, shirt, or jacket, when you hang it back up, turn that hanger around. By the middle of the year, you should have a pretty good idea what you're wearing! Anything that hasn't been worn in the past 6 months, toss into pile number one.
· Pile Number Two
This is the pile that is for the extras ... that extra toaster you bought, just because you liked the color green! Or, the four extra umbrellas you've accumulated, the many extra mix-matched coffee cups,
· Pile Number Three
This pile moves into the linen closet. Any mismatched sheets, towels that you got for Christmas and don't match the bathroom, kiddie twin size sheets and now your child is off to college, or that extra rug you thought you'd use in the laundry room, but forgot to return.
· Pile Number Four
This is for electronics. You know that cd player you've been storing, but now you only use your ipod? Toss it in the pile! Or what about that camera that you upgraded? You can sell the old one. What about that dvd set you thought you'd watch, and did ... and now can't stand to see it again!
· Pile Number Five
Head right downstairs to your basement. You know Grandpa's favorite chair that you stuffed in the closet? Well, right now everyone and their brother are looking for fabulous vintage stuff that you just won't use. They'll repurpose it and take it right off your hands.
Now it's time to get ready for a garage sale! The best time to host them is Thursdays, 8 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Make sure you have lots of one dollar bills, mark things clearly, organize your merchandise by tables, have lots of signage, and keep things neat and organized. The results: a cleaner more organzied home and a pocket full of cash. Woo-who!!!
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Making summer meals light and simple!
Our BEST Turkey Meatloaf
2 lbs. fresh ground turkey
1 c. breadcrumbs, fine
2 eggs
coarse salt & cracked pepper to taste
1 1/2 t. fresh sage
3 T. heavy cream
Topping: 1/2 c. ketchup
1/8 c. yellow mustard
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. chopped onion
In large mixing bowl, mix the ingredients for meatloaf together (don't overmix!). In seperate small bowl, mix glaze ingredients. Form meatloaf into rectangle shape and put into pan. Spread glaze over meatloaf. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake slowly at 325 degrees for 2 hours.
Tomato, Feta Salad
1 head of lettuce, washed & chopped
4 small tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 of red onion, sliced finely
1 carrot, peeled into thick slices
1 cup calamatta olives, cut in half
1/2 c. feta cheese
Dressing
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. canola oil
3 T white wine vinegar
1/2 t. coarse salt
1/4 t. black pepper
1 t. dijon mustard
1/2 t. dried oregano
Mix up all salad items in large bowl except for cheese. In small shaker, mix together oils, vinegar, salt, pepper, mustard, and oregano. Shake vigorously. Pour over salad. Crumble feta over top of salad. Mix, serve, enjoy!
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Host a Conference at Your Location!
There is still time for a fall conference and we have openings in Sept & October!
We are also beginning to book confernces for Spring 2014 with our topic:
Sink, Swim, or Set Sail !!!
For more information, log onto www.bestlifeministries.com
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Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes ... Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
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What's Happening At the Grove?
This week: Sunday, August 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Hymn Sing & Pie Social
1025 Hwy 29 SE.
Benson, MN
Call for more information (or to bring a pie!)
320-444-6082
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Remember, it's never too late to make changes. Start today. Start living your best life!
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