How to Choose a Bible

I've had a number of conversations over the past few weeks that have led me to plan a few posts that I hope will create a good guide for those of you who are just beginning your journey with the Lord or those who need a fresh start after months (years?) of complacency.

I decided to begin with choosing a Bible. There are thousands of Bible choices out there. How do you know which one to choose? There are probably almost as many opinions on this topic as there are Bibles to choose from (hence the reason there are so many choices!), but here are my thoughts:

Pick a Version

Oh my goodness. This is enough to make you tired right now, isn't it? You could read entire books/take entire courses that explain why there are so many versions/paraphrases/translations of the Bible. In fact, here is an article that explains a bit about that, if you're curious and have some time to read. But if you don't have time or interest in reading that background, let me tell you the few I've used most frequently and why.


* New International Version (NIV): This is probably still my main go-to recommendation of a Bible version that balances translation accuracy with easy readability. I grew up reading in the King James Bible with all its thees and thous, and that can get kind of tedious (unless, of course, you've taken to just talking that way in general). So this is probably my favorite choice. This is also the version in which I have memorized the most verses and the one I use when I write and teach.

* English Standard Version (ESV): I hadn't used this version until I started dating Ryan. He got a new Bible around that time and chose this version, and I wanted to be able to read from the same version he did, so when we did our devotions together, we were using the same thing. This is very similar to the NIV, but some of the phrasing is a tad different. Sometimes reading a slightly different phrasing helps me see something in a fresh way, so that's why I like this one.

* New Living Translation (NLT): This is more of a paraphrase of Scripture than an actual word-for-word translation from the original language. For that reason, I am always hesitant to recommend it as a main form of study, however, if you're new to Scripture and find it confusing, this is a good, easy-to-read introduction. And if you already have a firm foundation in Scripture, this can be a good way to see it from a fresh angle.

 *New English Translation (NET): I first learned of this one from Beth Moore, and I figured if she trusted it enough to study and teach from it, I would, too. The translators for this one went back to all the original language manuscripts and started from scratch, so it's similar to the NIV, but some of the wording is a bit different, and I've read/heard from various sources that they tried to find even more accurate translations to some words. This is the one I've been using in my study this year.

Like I said, there are many more options. (And I own a few more than what I've listed here, too.) Those are just my top four favorite. 

Pick an actual BIBLE

Now that you've picked the version you want to use, you need to pick an actual BIBLE. And maybe, for you, it's as simple as picking the pretty cover you like the best. (No shame in that, my friend!) But Bibles come in SO many packages. You can get a Bible that is just Scripture with no notes of any kind. You can get devotional Bibles that have daily devotions built right into the pages. You can get study Bibles that have teaching notes, maps, and pictures throughout to help you. SO many options! :)


I actually own several Bibles, and often when I'm talking with people who own a bunch of Bibles, they say they feel guilty about it because they know some people don't have any. While I am always sad for those who have NO Bible, I don't feel guilty for owning a bunch, because I actually use them often in my research for writing and teaching! So here are some of my favorites. (And of course, you can find alternate cover options for most.)

* Life Application Study Bible: This was the first Bible I ever fully devoured. Mine is the NIV, but you can buy this particular Bible in many versions. I always always recommend this one to new or struggling Christians, because it has so many wonderful study tools in it that are easy to read and understand, and also offers (as the title would suggest) practical life applications for what you've read in Scripture. I used this Bible (mine had a "dusty rose" cover...hello, teenage Bekah!) for almost a decade and treasure it still to this day.

* The NIV Study Bible: I got this Bible in college when I took a New Testament course that required this particular Bible for its study notes. It is not quite as thick as the Life Application Bible, and the study notes are much more academic and not so application-focused. But if you're looking to study the meaning behind the Scripture, this is a good one to choose.

* The Archaeological Study Bible: I am not a big archaeology buff, but this Bible fascinates me because it gives background into that aspect of history. It explains customs of those days, architecture, maps, shows full color photos of items found in digs, etc. Very fascinating. This Bible is not as easy to read as some, not because of its word choice, but because of its physical presentation. The pages are a cream/tan color and the print is brown (aethetics) and some people find it hard to read. (I wasn't one of them, but it was a common complaint I read about when the Bible released.) It is also HUGE. Very thick and heavy, so if you're not looking to be a weight-lifter, this might not be the best fit. But the information is incredible!

* The Key Words Study Bible: This is another Bible I learned about from Beth Moore, and it is the one I used during my desert journey. It is probably the second-most written-in Bible I have and one I use most frequently when I study and write. It has a few notes throughout the Bible, though  not nearly as many as some I've already  mentioned, but it has reference numbers that you can use to cross to the back and see what the original definitions of some words meant. (Some are very different than our English-speaking minds would lead us to believe.) I love, love, love this Bible!

* The NET Bible: This is the one I've been using this year, and it has TONS TONS TONS of study notes in it. On some pages, there are more notes of explanation than there are Scripture passages! I think this is a great study Bible if you want to dig in and learn all kinds of things. Almost like a built-in professor!

* The NIV Journal the Word Bible: This Bible had been the one I had next on my wish list UNTIL this week (more explanation below), but I still want to tell you about it. I love to write notes in my Bible, and I hate trying to scribble in tiny margins. When journaling Bibles became all the rage, I felt the answer to my problems had arrived. This Bible does not have study notes, but it has wide, lined margins so you can take notes OR if you're a coloring/doodling lover, you can do art in the margins. I actually saw this Bible in person last month and noticed that the pages are a bit thicker than traditional Bible pages, so you don't have to worry about ink bleeding through. Like I said...this is the one I planned to get next UNTIL I found this one just this week:

* The Jesus Bible: Like I said, I'd never heard of this one before, but I found it while browsing the internet this week. It drew me because it combines a study Bible WITH a journaling Bible. What? Yes! It's true! This Bible project (which contains NIV text) was spearheaded by Luis Giglio, Max Lucado, Randy Alcorn, Ravi Zacharias and John Piper, and these men have written study notes and articles to show how Jesus has ties to each book of the Bible - not just the four Gospels. This is a type of study I've not done before, and it sounds amazing to me, so I wanted to check it out. Big thanks to my parents for gifting it to me for my birthday this year!!


You might notice I did not list any devotional Bibles, and that is because I am not a big fan of them. I like my Bibles to be Scripture only or Scripture and study notes. I like my devo books to be separate from my Bible. That's just a matter of personal preference - certainly there is nothing wrong with having your devotions in the same book as your Bible!

You might also notice I did not list any Bible apps. I am a hold-the-Bible-in-my-hands kind of girl. I do not have any Bible apps on my phone or tablet and prefer to always use a hard copy book when I read the Bible. Also personal preference.

HERE'S THE MAIN THING:

Read the Bible.


That's the goal. Whatever version, whatever layout, whatever pretty cover will get you to open the thing up and read the words so you can start hiding them in your heart? GET THAT. And then open it every single day and read something. Study something. Memorize something.

Hope that's helpful to you, especially if you're looking for a new Bible! Holler if you have any questions! I'd be happy to talk them through with you!

** BONUS!! ** Through May 8th, Christianbook.com is having a huge Bible sale. That's actually how I was able to get (ahem, my MOM was able to get) the new Bible I wanted. There are great deals here, so I just thought I'd let you know. I do so love a good sale!

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen here.

This week marked a debut book release for my new friend, Christy Cabe. My review of the book is below, but here is a link to our conversation about Brownie Crumbs and Other Life Morsels. (How can you NOT love a book with that title?) Christy's book is a memoir, but it also offers wonderful, non-preachy life advice, and to talk with her further about her experiences of losing her mother when she was young and walking through three years of cancer treatments with her toddler son was a privilege. Christy is a great story-teller; take a listen!

Two.

 I've shared with you before (on the blog and on a podcast) about the RAD-JOY Surrender Crosses and why I love them so much. Ryan and I have one of these crosses hanging in our home, and I love nailing my burdens to it! The creators of these crosses just released a new item in their shop: a set of prayer cards with 31 little cards on a ring to give you one prayer focus per day. I always love passing along new finds that might help you increase your prayer life, so I wanted to share these with you! 

Three.

 The season of outdoor entertaining has returned, and KariAnne has some great tips for how to do it well. Her ideas remind me very much of my cousin's graduation party last summer, which was much fun. (I especially loved the dish towel tip. Genius!)

Four.

Oh my. A wood wick candle with Be Still on the jar? All my happy places colliding. Great job, Dayspring!

Five.

This blogger writes for one of the same websites I do, and she recently had quite a scary health situation. She writes about it here, and her perspective on illness and the Lord is so beautiful. 


Six.

A few weeks ago, a whole big group of my friends started chatting on social media about a soon-to-be released book written by their friend. Obviously I was interested immediately, and a couple of them connected me with the author, Christy Cabe, who sent me an advance copy of the book, so I could read it, too!


After I read the book, one of my friends, who has known Christy for years, asked if I laughed and cried like she did when she read it. Here's the great news: I did! I just met Christy, so all her stories were new to me. I wasn't there walking alongside her through the real-time ups and downs of her life, but her manner of story-telling was so inviting that I crawled right into the stories with her, and I did laugh and cry. And immediately, I felt like Christy was my new friend.

Brownie Crumbs and Other Life Morsels tells snippets of stories from Christy's life - going all the way back to her younger days, when (at age eleven) she had to say goodbye to her mother, who passed away unexpectedly in her 30's. Already wise and rooted in the Lord (much more so than most her age), Christy recognized the deep gift she had been given in even those few short years with her mom, and she opened her heart to love a second mother, who married her dad just a few months later.

After Christy grew up and got married, she faced another life-altering storm when her two-year-old son, Karson, was diagnosed with leukemia. Christy and her husband spent the next three years fighting alongside Karson, and learning a whole new language of medical jargon as they waited to see if the years of treatments would bring health and healing to their son. (He is now a thriving young man, praise the Lord!)

Maybe you didn't lose your mom when you were a kid, and maybe you've never heard a cancer diagnosis for your child. But I'm certain you've faced trials of some kind, and that is enough to allow you to relate to Christy's journey and to learn from the morsels of wisdom she offers throughout the pages of her book. Christy doesn't water down the hard parts of her story, but the book isn't heavy all the way through. She intersperses humor with the hard, giving healthy glimpses into both sides of life.

Unlike many similar books, Christy's pages are filled with pictures, so you can get to know her and the family members she loves. There's a discussion guide at the end, making it perfect for book clubs and small groups.

Bake a pan of brownies before you start reading; you'll want a snack to munch on while you read and make a new friend in Christy Cabe.

* Christy provided a digital advance copy of this book to me, but all opinions are my own! *

The Saturday Six

One.

 I was excited to stumble upon this article of places to eat around Indiana. (Places with spectacular patio dining!) We have actually been to the very last one on the list and loved the food AND the view. And now? We have more places to try!


Two.

 Love these words from Holley Gerth. If you're struggling to forgive yourself of your past, or if you wonder if Jesus meant that He loves you, read her words.

Three.

 Did anyone try the new Unicorn Frappe from Starbucks this week? I am not even REMOTELY tempted by this, and of my social media friends, I only saw one thumbs up. I will just go ahead and stick to my caramel delights, thankyouverymuch.

Four.

Since I'm not a parent, I do try to limit my parental advice on this blog. I know I am not a reliable source. But I happened upon this post through Twitter this week, and out of curiosity, I read it. AND I TOTALLY AGREE. I actually have a couple of friends (meaning one couple married to each other) who parent this way, and it actually works. Their kids are well-behaved, innovative, creative, and in my non-parental opinion, balanced and healthy. So I think there might just be something to this madness!  

Five.

This is kind of a throw-back to an old post, but I'll tell you why I'm reminding you of it! Last year, I shared this post of how I'd started making my own marinara sauce. (It was a by-product of the 21 Day Fix lifestyle and learning to eat less processed foods.) I've used this sauce many times in lasagna and other such dishes, but I made a new batch a few days ago and pulled some out for Ryan to use as dipping sauce for some bread he had. I clearly underestimated how much he would love it and had NOT reserved enough. He told me he was done with all pre-packaged sauces. This was it for him from now on. So in honor of that, here's a link to the recipe! 

Six.

THIS. IN EVERY WAY: THIS. (Pause: it is true that there is no book review this week. I read two books but neither has been released yet, so I can't review them. Believe me. It's killing my OCD as much as it's shocking you right now. I'll be back with a book next week. PROMISE.) Okay back to this point.

I have had so many conversations lately with friends, fellow-believers, fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners and my brain spins over this entire conundrum. As Beth says so much better than I can, we are living in a world where we are taught and encouraged to promote ourselves. If we have something to offer, we have to make graphics and videos and do blog tours and podcasts and push, push, push to get our name and offering out to every soul we've ever met. We beg for retweets and reposts and stalk our social media numbers to make sure they're growing.

I don't like any of it. It's not how I was raised, it wasn't what I saw modeled, and it's not how I want to live. I share what I have to offer, because I want you to know it's there. I want you to know if you need a laugh, you can listen to Spill the Beans and chances are good we'll make you giggle. I want you to know if you want to read about the randomness of our lives, you can come here every day and find something to munch on for a minute. I want you to know if you need a devo, I've written a couple, I believe in their message, and I hope they'd be an inspiration to you. So I let you know when something's here. I want you to know that I love to share the messages God has given me with groups of people, so if you need a speaker, holler, and we'll talk. But oh my word, I never want to be the girl that shoves any of it down your throat.

I don't want to be the girl who gets hidden from every Facebook feed because my every post, even if shrouded in some fun story about my life, is somehow going to turn into a desperate plea to hire me or buy something I've written. I agree with Beth 100% and I am in her camp. I don't want to be about the Bekah Shaffer brand. I want to be about Jesus and hope you see Him through these outlets I have the chance to offer.

Stepping off soapbox.

Do the Thing

What I'm about to say is not new. In fact, it's (I'm sure) not even the first time I've blogged about it. But it's one of those things that bears repeating, because for as simple as it is, we all seem to forget it. I needed a reminder this week, so maybe you do too.

This week was heavy in Shafferland. Nothing bad happened - no need to worry - but it was just one of those weeks when adulting piled up on us and no one likes excessive adulting. Hard conversations, hard decisions, lots of questions, lots of prayer, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies to survive the thing. (You've been there. You know it!)

I was actually in the middle of baking said batch of cookies - for Ryan, of course - when I went out to check the mail. Have I mentioned that the mail is my most favorite moment of the entire day? I think our mail carrier thinks I'm certifiably nuts because she knows I'm watching for her and sometimes even rush out to greet her as soon as she arrives. I'm such a toddler about mail!

Anyway. So I went to get the mail, and much to my surprise, I found this in the box:

What? Where did this come from? Is it really mine?

But it was right there with my name on a label. No mis-delivery.

Someone gifted me a subscription to the Magnolia Journal!

I had no idea who had done it, but I was one grateful girl, and after lunch, I curled up on the couch with a blanket, my coffee, and the magazine for a relaxing, heart-soothing hour.

Since I didn't know who to thank for this lovely gift, I took to Facebook and said how grateful I was, and I was so happy that my gift-giver spoke up! She wanted to thank me for helping her with something and so thoughtfully surprised me.

A couple of hours later, when I went to see Ryan at work, he handed me a card he'd been asked to pass along my way. I opened it and found the nicest note inside. Just kind, affirming words from a friend who wanted to brighten my day.

Suddenly the hard, adulting-filled week felt lighter.

Nothing huge, right? But isn't it astounding how small things like notes and thank-you gifts can lift the spirit?

I am trying to be better at paying attention to the little nudges in my soul when people come to mind. A quick text or a card in the mail or a batch of really good cookies to share - it doesn't have to be major. It's just good to reach out with an "I see you," or "I appreciate you." It goes a long way.

I'm reminding you and I'm reminding myself: when someone comes to mind, reach out. Do the thing. Show some love. We all need it!

Trip Planning in Shafferland

The sun has been out for two days now, which means I'm ready for vacation. Never mind that it hasn't been remotely warm...but did you hear the part about the sun?

Shari asked me yesterday how Ryan and I picked our county tours, and her question sparked a little blog post in my mind! Trip planning!! There is, of course, no right or wrong way to plan a trip, but I thought it would be fun to write a post on it. Maybe you can glean a tip or two, and if nothing else, in thirty years, I can look back and laugh at how I did things. (Because you know, if I'd been writing this thirty years ago, we'd be talking about stocking up on Traveler's Checks and buying a new atlas!)

So here's how trip planning goes in Shafferland:

Choosing a Date and Location:
* We start early around here, because Ryan does not have the kind of job that allows him to just decide on a Wednesday that he wants to take a long weekend. We typically choose our vacation dates and locations 3-5 months in advance so he can be sure to get the time off work.

* We choose our locations based on the amount of time we'll be gone. If it's a long weekend kind of thing, we won't go far, because we don't want to spend all our time traveling. We also choose where we land based on the cost for the time of year. We try really hard to avoid peak seasons everywhere because stuff is so much more expensive. I have a road trip board on Pinterest where I try to pin ideas as I see them throughout the year, so when planning time actually arrives, I have some options already waiting.

Research:
* As soon as we have the date and the location, we launch into research mode. Ryan normally takes over research for lodging. He has unending patience for reading pages and pages of reviews, so he usually hunts out the best deal he can find. We have also created standards about the difference between saving a buck and risking a communicable disease. You remember this hotel, right?

* I normally do all the rest of the trip research, because I'm the one with the unending patience for hunting through Pinterest and other forms of social media for fun things to do and see while we're gone. I'm such a nerd that I'll create a Word document with a full itinerary of each day, including all the names and addresses of not just where we'll stay, but also plans for restaurants, excursions, and other fun. (And as needed, ticket prices and websites.)

* I always ask the locals, if I know any locals. Internet research is great, but the best recommendations come from those who live there or have been there. So I'll post to Facebook while I'm in the research phase to see if anyone has ideas on what to definitely miss or not miss. I compile all that research into my nerdy Word document, too. And in the event that our vacation includes staying with locals, I just let the locals do all the planning. Such was the case when we went to visit Mark and Lynnette a couple of years ago. They took us all kinds of great places, and it was extra fun for me, since I didn't have to plan any of it!

* I try to find as many free things to do as possible. Gas/lodging/food take up most of our trip budget, so we try to find fun, free things to do, and we usually unearth some treasures! On the vacation pictured above, we spent one whole day exploring a state park that was completely free because it was not peak season!

Prep Time!
* I work really hard in the days leading up to the trip so I can fully enjoy the time away. I make sure the house is clean (no one wants to come home to a disaster), the laundry is caught up (so we have all available clothing options when packing time comes), the dishwasher and trash are emptied (so stink doesn't fester), someone is lined up to watch the house and Braeya, and the car is fully serviced. Ryan is actually in charge of the car, but I'm usually the one who takes it in.

* I also make snacks for the road so we don't end up eating a bunch of junk while we drive. Fruit, protein snacks, bottled water - I make sure we're stocked up! I also pack things like paper towel and disposable plates/cups/silverware in case we need them along the way.

* I stalk the weather app and figure out what clothes I need to take, and I'm such a nerd, I usually lay out each complete outfit and take a picture of it on my phone, so I know what I want to do each day. I know. It's ridiculous. I also throw in a couple of extra options in case I'm not feeling what I planned or in case the weather turns or I drop ketchup on my shirt. (That has literally never happened, but the first time I don't have a backup, I imagine it will.)

* Ryan picks out his own stuff, but I actually pack all the suitcases and pack the car, too. (Because I'm the one with the time to do it.) I also keep a nerdy Word document for this, and I start working on it days in advance, so I can add to it as I think of the things I'm afraid I'll forget. (Sunscreen, medicine bag, phone chargers, our chalkboards etc.)

* If the road trip is long, I'll also scour Pinterest for road trip ideas (games, scavenger hunts, quizzes, etc.) so we can stay entertained on the road. (Ideas here, here, and here if you need some!) We don't play games constantly on the road, but it's nice to have options when we get tired.

HAVE FUN! AND DOCUMENT IT!
* When it's time to actually go on vacation, our favorite part is just being together. We always have a great time, no matter where we go, and we take a billion pictures so we can come home and put it all in a scrapbook to enjoy forever!

* Things don't always go as planned on our vacations, but we just laugh at the mishaps and have fun anyway. Some of our favorite disasters include:

The tulip-less Tulip Time Festival

The beach visits in hats and gloves. In May.

Getting caught in a rainstorm on a bike ride - right before family pictures.

* But mostly, we have a blast. Grateful for these memories! Every bit of prep work that goes into these trips is totally worth it!

Sunset dinner cruise in Sarasota. (Suggestion from a local!)

Stumbling upon an empty beach in Nassau.

Christmas lights in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Hiking to Abrams Falls.

So many more great memories  - in all seasons!

And now...can we take a vacation, please?

Linking up with Tamar!

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here!

Last week on the Saturday Six, I told you about Courtney Westlake's book, A Different Beautiful, which I'd just read and learned so much from! This week I had a chance to learn even more from talking to Courtney! If you missed last week's post, Courtney's daughter Brenna was born with a rare skin condition that has changed so much about Courtney's perception of beauty and the things that matter in interacting with others. If you have a half hour, take a listen and learn some important life truths!

Two.

It is with great sadness that I remind you tomorrow is the beginning of evil DST. If you've been around this blog very long, you know that I absolutely abhor time changes with all my being. Make us central, make us eastern...I don't care. JUST PICK ONE AND LEAVE IT THERE!!!! So tomorrow is the day you lose an hour of sleep, get up an hour earlier, however you want to look at it. My annual PSA is now complete.

Three.

Ran across this post this week. Really great perspective on marriage and how our choices so deeply impact those around us. Important stuff, right here. Though I don't struggle with addictions like the gentleman who wrote the article, I'm reminded that I always need to work hard at loving Ryan even better than I do. Always room for growth. Always room for improvement.

Four.

 Hey cruise lovers! Did you see this article? A four month cruise hitting 32 countries and six continents? Ryan is SO READY to sign up. But you have to be able to take 119 days of vacation (which he does  not even remotely have), so we're out. My favorite part of the article was where it recommended this cruise for those who were retired or taking a "traditional gap year." Ummmmm the gap year is a traditional thing? HOW DID I MISS THIS?????? I AM BEHIND ON TRADITION!

Five.

 I know not all of you work from home, but I always like to find posts written by people who do, so I can get fresh ideas for how things might work. (When I quit my full time job, I actually scoured Pinterest and Google looking for articles about how to craft productive work-from-home days and found nothing aside from posts by homeschooling moms.) Emily Freeman and I don't do things exactly the same way, but her post offers great tips, so I'm passing it on to you! (And I am thrilled that I have finally found a good rhythm that works for me, too!)

Six.

Source

Back when I worked at the station, I received a copy of LuAnn Gerig Fulton's book Image Seeker. Fun bonus info: I'm friends with LuAnn's daughter, Erica! She's the one who taught me all about essential oils, and she had I have often had good, long conversations together over email.

It seemed I was always rushing to catch up in devo books that I needed to read for studies I was part of, so I hadn't read LuAnn's book until this year, when Ryan and I read it together for our morning devos! I wanted to tell you about it, because if you like the writing style here on the old blogaroo, I think you'd really enjoy hers too! She and I have similar approaches to devotional writing.

LuAnn is an ordained minister (a fact that if I knew...I hadn't remembered!), so she brings that level of knowledge into her writing, but she doesn't hold that over your head and get so theological in her delivery that you have no hope of understanding what she's saying. On the contrary, her writing is quite conversational. She tells you stories about her family, her life, and her struggles. It feels very much like you're just sitting down at a coffee shop with her, hearing about the things you can relate to so easily, but at the end, she offers a spiritual lesson she's learned from that part of her life.

The book contains 31 devotions, so you'll have enough for one month, and each one is designed to help you find ways to bear the image of Christ. (Hence the name of the book!) She studies the fruit of the Spirit, but she covers other passages as well, and each is unique and gives you something to think about as you go throughout the day. Each devo is paired up with a verse or two and concludes with a prayer. Most of the readings are 2-3 pages long, so you read enough to dive in, but it won't take hours of your day to read through.

I love it when a writer offers thoughts gently, so you don't feel condemned, but honestly, so you don't miss the challenge within the words. LuAnn hits the balance very well.
 
We really enjoyed reading these together as a couple, but the study would work well for an individual, too. I don't know if she ever intends to write a second devotional, but if she does, I would absolutely read it! I enjoyed studying alongside her!  

Keeping the Goals Visible

Last year, in January, before I knew we were going to pack up our house and move to a new town, I became the queen of the webinar. I cannot tell you how many webinars I had to be part of during my years in Financial Aid and radio, but I can tell you they were one of my least favorite things. I hated sitting still and quiet for an hour or two, usually right after lunch, with my mind juggling all the things that really needed to be done back at my desk. But self-employment will lead you to view things a bit differently, and suddenly webinars were my training ground.

I found all kinds of free ones and not only printed out the presentations, but took pages upon pages of handwritten notes. Some were helpful. Some were not. But one piece of advice I remember from one webinar early on was that people who keep their goals documented in a visible location are more likely to actually accomplish those goals.

Hmm.

I intended to do a magnificent job of that very thing, post-webinar-watching. But then we bought a house and I had to pack us up and move us and unpack us, and by that point, the main goal was to be done with house projects. DONE. And let me just tell you: a mountain of boxes is a visible goal. :)

I've slacked off on webinar-watching this year, but I circled around to employ that bit of advice, and I have to say, there just might be something to it! {And perhaps that is why the gentleman who said it is as wildly successful in the business world as he is!}

So I thought I'd pass along some of the things that have been working for me so far this year, just in case you need new ideas to motivate your own goals into reality.

First of all, I finally found the perfect day planner for me. {Yes. I still use a paper planner. And I love it.} And of course, I had to make it myself. I pieced together fragments of printables from around the web of Pinterest, and it's working out really well!

Scattered Squirrel is one of my favorite sites for printables, and I found this set of monthly planner printables that I just loved. I'm grabbing a picture of the March sheet since I've not yet written on it.

In the last few days of each month, I sit down with the next month's paper and pray about what I should focus on that month. For example, in January, it was establish a new routine. We had just come away from the holidays and I am not even sure I can claim I had a routine. So for the entire month of January, that was my main focus. In every area {time with God, eating, working out, working, our home, etc.}, I wanted to create a sense of routine.

Then in the other sections of this sheet, I write down any special dates I need to remember throughout month {big birthdays, holidays etc.} And then I make goals in three specific areas of my life. So again, in January, my three areas of focus were work, health, and me. In my work life, in January, I wanted to record 3 Conversation Cafe podcasts, tweak my book proposal, and work on launching my website. And because I wrote those things down and looked at them every day, I was able to check them off by the end of the month!

I picked three things from the three lists and made those my top three goals for the month. (In January I completed 2 of the 3 and only missed the 3rd one because of all the time that ended up devoted to Ryan's surgery instead.)

I also make a list of things I want to do around the house that month, which in January, involved decorating for winter.

Because I'm highly motivated by checking things off a list, this works really well for me!

Similarly, I found a printable here that gives me a two-page-spread weekly plan that helps me keep track of my everyday tasks.

Cards to mail. My workout. Home chores. Writing work. Appointments. You name it. I can't tell you how many times I've finished my tasks only because they were written down and I wanted the joy of crossing them off!

And my newest thing is this really cool gift my sister gave me for Christmas.

It's a board that says at the top, "Things that Inspire." There are six clips beneath it, and I use it to keep track of my six next pressing items. So for example, right now the first clip holds notes for what I need to do for my next Conversation Cafe interview, the second clip holds tasks for my book proposal, the third holds notes for a luncheon where I'm speaking next month, and the fourth holds notes for a bridal shower where I'll be speaking in a few weeks. {Currently these are the most pressing things.} This is a good way for me to remember that just because something may be a few weeks down the road doesn't mean I can overlook it right now! This sits right beside my chair in the office, so I'm very aware of the work ahead of me and it keeps me on task when I'd rather nap or Pinterest or something along those lines.

I have to say, I'm doing a much better job about staying organized and pursuing goals when I can see them right in front of me every single day. It brings accountability and encouragement in equal doses!

Maybe you're not driven by the visual as much as I am, but if your current system isn't working for you, perhaps one of these ideas can inspire you!! :)

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here

This week, I had the chance to talk with Sarah Beckman, whose very first book, Alongside, comes out on Valentine's Day! My review of that book is actually the next item in the Six, so please check it out. Bottom line? I loved it and think it's a great resource for everyone. Sarah has a lot of wisdom to share, and even though this podcast is a little longer than others I've done, I think you'll learn so much helpful, practical information, so take a listen!

Two.

Source

This week's book is one that I wish no one would ever need, but I can guarantee everyone will. My guess is that probably - even right this very minute - you have someone in your life who is facing some sort of crisis. An illness, the death of a loved one, a divorce, an injury - crises are everywhere, and they're hard.

If by some miracle, you don't have a friend or family member in a crisis time right now, it probably won't be long until you will (unfortunately) and when that time comes, you'll want to be equipped to be the best helper you can, through your actions, words, and prayers.


That is exactly where Sarah Beckman's debut book, Alongside, comes in. Sarah has been, as she puts it, "on both sides of the bed." Having been through bed rest with one of her pregnancies and four subsequent back surgeries while parenting her littles, she knows firsthand what it's like to depend on others for everyday tasks. And having walked with her best friend, her neighbor, and her brother-in-law while they lived their final days with cancer, she knows firsthand what it's like to be the person looking in, wanting to help in ways that are actually helpful.

From those experiences, and drawing from the rich wisdom of others in similar situations, Sarah wrote Alongside. It's a magnificent and practical guide with lists of ideas for how you might help those in a time of crisis. She teaches her readers how to discover what relationship tier they have with the person in need and tailor their help accordingly. She offers wisdom on what to say and what not to say, tangible needs to meet, and how to pray effectively, rather than throwing out the cliche-sounding "I'll pray for you," that's so often followed by forgetting to actually pray.

Though the lists are thorough, this is much more than just a book of lists. The stories are vulnerable, from Sarah's own experiences and those of trusted friends who have bravely shared their experiences. You'll see specific examples of good intentions gone bad along with out-of-the-box ideas that made a great impact!

I absolutely recommend this book for every home library, but also every church library and office bookshelf. It is a timeless resource, and I'm grateful Sarah worked so hard to offer a thorough guidebook!

* The Blythe Daniel Agency provided a copy of this book to me at no charge. All opinions are my own. *

Three.

If you're struggling through a part of life right now where nothing seems to be going right and you're wondering if maybe God is just taking a break from intervening, read this by Dr. Michelle Bengston. I just learned of her in recent days; we both write for the same organization, and I've been learning bits of her story since I learned of her. I thought this was well written, and while this is not my current place, I have been here for sure, wondering when or if God would ever come through!

Four.

When I first got out on my own, I was in major accumulating mode. I was eager to put together a home and make the very most of adulthood. Unfortunately I mistook MAKE THE MOST of it with HAVE THE MOST OF IT. I accumulated so much clutter! Since Ryan and I got married and combined our households, it's been very freeing to get rid of stuff and keep what we truly use and love! If this is tough for you (which I totally understand! Was for me at first, too!) check out this post with ideas on what to ask yourself to help determine what can go.

Five.

Last week, Ryan and I finished up the round of Hammer and Chisel exercises we'd been doing for a few weeks. Until we decide what we want to do next, we're back to the original 21 Day Fix workouts. I can tell I'm in better shape than I was when I started them the last time we did them between exercises, but they're still a shock to the old muscle system! Using muscles in new ways can get you! My friend Sarah Forgrave offered these ideas this week for crunchless ab exercises. Who can't use a good ab workout? If you need one and hate crunches, check out her post!


Six.

 Source

{What? Two books in one week? It's true. But this one was only 30 pages long. So I thought I could squeeze it in alongside my grownup book!}

I'm branching out into new territory this week: taking a gander at a children's book! {WHAT?!} I've never reviewed a children's book before, because obviously I have no children, but the last time our niece and nephews were over, I was urged (by the oldest)  to perhaps look into beginning a collection of children's books. It's not a bad idea, really. I want our home to welcome ALL our friends, and many of them have kids! So here are my thoughts on a brand new release from Tyndale House.


Clearly, since I'm not well-versed in children's books, I'm also not well-versed in their authors. Gary Bower lives in Michigan with his wife, Jan, and they have 12 children and 22 grandchildren. I'd say that makes him an expert on writing books that will appeal to kids!! You should check out their website and read about the creative endeavors of the whole family!

The book I read is called The Beautiful Garden of Eden and is part of "A Faith That God Built" series. It's written in the rhyme scheme of "The House that Jack Built," with each new part of the story building on the previous part and repeating all the way back to the beginning.

Here's what I love about the book:

* Illustrations, done by Barbara Chotiner, are whimsical and fun.  It's the first time I've ever seen the forbidden fruit depicted as a pomegranate rather than an apple, and the Adam and Eve illustrations are tastefully done. Illustrations are as important as words in children's books, I think, so I was impressed.

* While I worried that the repetitive rhyme would get annoying, it didn't feel that way to me as I read it out loud. In fact, I felt the repetition was great for solidifying the Scriptural truths into little hearing hearts.

* Speaking of Scriptural truths, I found the book to be sound in doctrine. I think that's another thing you have to be careful with in children's books; there's a difference between changing the meaning and making it kid-appropriate. I felt like this one made it kid-appropriate without compromising truth.

* I heard Gloria Gaither say once that kids love big words, because it makes them feel smart to say fun, big words. This book incorporates that. While it's not written over the heads of kids in general, it throws in a few fun big words like upheaval, comely, calamitous, and woefully.

* The final page of the book directs readers to the full account in Scripture, which I think is  important.

I'm glad to put this book on my shelf, alongside the handful of treasures I've picked up at the Goodwill. Next time the kids come over, I hope they'll have fun reading it!

* Tyndale sent me a copy of this book at no charge. All opinions are my own.  *

Keeping Marriage Strong

Earlier this week, I read this post on Sarah's blog and liked it so much, I thought I'd borrow it and use it as my inspiration for today! :)

Valentine's Day is coming up, you know. Maybe you knew and wish you didn't. I had those years for sure. Oh how I used to loathe the day of love. I wore head-to-toe black and drowned my sorrows in a Blizzard on the way home from work. So if you're there this year, for whatever reason, I get it. I'm sending hugs and if we were close enough, I'd accompany you for your Blizzard. I know there aren't words to soothe the pain of longing for a love that isn't there {for whatever reason}.

For a fun throwback, here was the first Valentine's picture I ever posted on the blog. My Valentine's Day in 2009.

And one year later, here was Valentine's Day 2010. I invited college students over for lunch.

In 2011, I invited one of my single friends over, and we had a fondue-palooza on Valentine's Day.

And there are no photos of the 2012 Valentine's Day. It was my last as a single girl.

Getting married meant I finally got to look forward to Valentine's Day. February 14, 2013 was my first time ever in my whole life to have a Valentine. It wasn't just my first married Valentine's Day. It was the first time ever I had someone in my life on Valentine's Day. And I did not take that privilege lightly. I still don't.

{A peek at our Valentine's Days together so far.}

{I think all these photos are really just a trip down hairstyle lane, aren't they?}

Anyway. Back to Sarah's original post. She and her husband offered their thoughts on what keep their marriage strong, and I thought it would be fun if we did the same! So I asked myself the same questions she answered, and then Ryan answered them, too! Here are our thoughts. {Fun fact: I wrote all my answers before I asked Ryan the questions, and I didn't read him my answers before he gave me his. You might see some repeats!}

How do we work on our marriage?

Bekah says: We are very intentional about our marriage. We make a point to invest in our forever by going on dates, spending as much time together as we can, building each other up with our words and actions, encouraging each other, communicating openly, and serving each other. We have both hurt in relationships before and are careful to not take each other for granted.

Ryan says: We are intentional about spending time together, which is easier for us, because we don't have kids. Even so, we're busy, but we make sure we carve out the time. I believe we communicate well about everything, we do devotions and pray together daily, and we also make it a priority to kiss/hug/hold hands/cuddle all the time.

What has been the easiest thing about marriage?

Bekah says: Surprisingly, almost everything. Since we were in our mid-thirties before we got married, I worried we would be too set in our ways and the whole thing would be a really hard adjustment. But it hasn't been. Living with Ryan and learning to share life with him came completely naturally. I am pretty sure this was a grace from the Lord, because I know some couples really struggle to find that stride. I don't know why it has seemed to come so naturally for us, but I'm grateful for it!

Ryan says: It's been very easy for us to love each other well, because we have many similar interests {even though we're also very different!} and we're striving to pursue the same things. 

What has been the hardest thing about marriage?

Bekah says: Giving myself grace. I expected a lot of perfection out of myself, and even though marriage has been pretty easy for us, we have both made mistakes along the way, hurt and disappointed each other, and when those times have come, I've given myself no grace. I've sent myself to marital time-out way too many times, and that has been hard. Totally self-inflicted, but that's been the hardest part.

Ryan says: There have been hard parts about marriage, but a lot of those things have changed. Marriage was harder when we both worked full time and commuted and had to maintain two different houses. Being out from under those things has been freeing. In this season of our marriage, I don't feel like anything is hard, and that's scary, because that probably means something's coming! I feel like our marriage has been strengthened during the hard times and that will benefit us in hard times to come. 

What advice would you give to engaged couples about marriage?

Bekah says: Laugh a lot and have adventures at every turn. Life is really hard. It's hard when you're single, and that's not going to change just because you get married. But don't confuse life being hard with marriage being hard. Team up and face the hard parts of life side-by-side, laughing and loving your way through the hard. I've just been reading about our second year of marriage, and it was one painful season for us as individuals. So much confusion, so many tears, such a desert of the soul. But through all that hard stuff, we made sure we had fun, we laughed, and we supported each other. And because of that, we survived a crazy hard year. 

Ryan says: Don't ever stop getting to know one another. Remember how much the little things count. Always strive to put your spouse above yourself.