How Much Sleep Do I Need?

Are 7 hours of sleep really enough? I have noticed a change in my energy level, so I started to think about what has changed. The change started during the height of the pandemic. Yes, I was not sleeping well worried about my patients (was I treating this mysterious virus correctly), worried about my family, and my family-owned businesses. But, even after I managed to get my worry under control I still felt fatigued, different from any other fatigue I have felt in the past. So, begins my research on sleep. What is enough sleep?


It is recommended that you get 7 to 9 hours of sleep because such things as alertness, productivity, and health are impacted by sleep (National Sleep Foundation). However, the difference between 7 or 9 hours is a large difference. So, what is the optimal sleep duration?

A study ( Belenk et al.) investigated cognitive (brain function) performance for different lengths of sleep: 3, 5, 7, or 9 hours time in bed. Participants completed performance tests every day.

As expected,3 hours in bed (2.87 hours of sleep) resulted in the lowest cognitive performance. This was followed by 5 hours of sleep in a bed (4.66 hours of sleep). The 9-hour s (7.93 hours of sleep) showed no decline in cognitive performance.

In the 3 hours in bed group, cognitive performance continued to decline daily. In contrast, cognitive performance appeared to stabilize in the 5 to 7-hour treatment group, but still in a reduced capacity.

Therefore, it is possible that you feel “normal” when you are actually sleep-deprived. Your brain has adapted to the lower amounts of sleep by working at a reduced rate. But since this is your new normal, you don’t feel like you are functioning sub-optimally or may need more sleep.

In conclusion, a lack of sleep results in lower cognitive performance, with even 7 hours in bed (6.3 hours of sleep) being suboptimal compared to 9 hours in bed (7.9 hours of sleep).

So, for me, I need to add 2-3 hours of sleep to my nightly routine. How about you? How much sleep are you getting?

~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.

Reference:
Belenky, G. et al. Patterns of performance degradation and restoration during sleep restriction and subsequent recovery: a sleep dose-response study: Journal of Sleep Research, (2003).

Creating a Mindset for Health

So much of health is all about habits and actions, but where do these all stem from? What if we don’t have to make as many changes as we think we do? What if there was one powerful thing that makes a lot of difference?

That thing is a mindset. I changed my mindset and incorporated a healthy diet and yoga 11 months ago, and the change has made a measurable difference in my physical and mental health. So, what is this mindset?

Mindset is sometimes called “the story we tell ourselves.” It’s our attitude toward things in our life. And we have control over our mindset.

And research is showing that it may be far more powerful than we thought.

Very interesting health mindset study

Here’s a quick story about a fascinating study.

Researchers at Stanford University looked at a bunch of people’s health and wellness lifestyle habits, as well as health markers.

What they found was that the people who thought they were a lot less active had a higher risk of death than the general public. And, they also had up to 71% higher risk of death than people who thought they were more active. Even if they actually weren’t less active!

How is this even possible that people who simply thought they were less active had higher risks, even if it wasn’t true?

There are a couple of ideas why. One is that maybe if we feel like we’re less active, it may make us feel more stressed. And stress isn’t good for our mental or physical health. Second, there may be a bit of a mind-body connection where the body embodies what the mind visualizes.

Benefits of Yoga

Researchers don’t know why, but what matters is that there is a good mindset. So, let me give you a couple of strategies to boost your mindset for health.

Health mindset strategy 1 – Aim for good enough.

Almost no one eats perfectly seven days a week. It’s inevitable that obsessing over the quality and quantity of everything we eat or drink isn’t necessarily a great mindset to have.

It can bring on binging, shame, and guilt – none of these are great ways to get healthy. We want to get healthier by making better choices and building better habits. And these are usually best done incrementally – one step at a time.

So, instead of having a black and white approach where everything is good or bad, why not try aiming for good enough to empower ourselves to make better choices, instead of perfect choices.

Health mindset strategy 2 – Stop making tradeoffs

When you try to earn a gluttonous weekend by eating clean during the week, you’re making a tradeoff. You’re telling yourself that, as long as you’re good most of the week, you can go wild on the weekend.

And that’s not awesome because the mindset is jumping from one extreme to the other. You’re controlling what you do all week, and possibly thinking about how to indulge over the weekend. Just live as though you’re trying to do well every single day. Like you care about your health and wellness. You’re doing your best, and that’s good enough.

Conclusion

Mindset for health can be a powerful tool for better physical health. There’s a proven mind-body connection that research can measure.

Thinking positively, and dropping the black/white and good/bad labels, can help you reach your health goals.

How is your mindset for health? Which of these tips resonate with you the most? How are you going to implement them in your life? Let me know in the comments below.

Mindfulness and Meditation…Do They Really Work?

Well…yes, they do really work. The fact is, science shows definite health benefits for people who use mindfulness and meditation.

Before we dive in, let’s just make sure we’re on the same page when we say “mindfulness” and “meditation.”

“Meditation” is the ancient practice of connecting the body and mind to become more self-aware and present. It’s often used to calm the mind, ease stress, and relax the body.

Practicing “mindfulness” is one of the most popular ways to meditate. It’s defined as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”

Mindfulness meditation is well studied in terms of its health benefits. I’m going to talk about a few of them below, and refer to it as “mindfulness” for the rest of the post.

The link between mindfulness and health = stress reduction

Have you heard the staggering statistics on how many doctors’ visits are due to stress? Seventy-five to ninety percent! (yes I know I am one of those healthcare providers).

So, if you ask me, it makes a ton of sense that anything that can reduce stress can reduce health issues too.

Mindfulness reduces inflammation, reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and improves sleep. All of these can have massive effects on your physical and mental health.

I’ll briefly go over the research in three main areas: mood, weight, and gut health. But know that the research on the health benefits of mindfulness is branching into many other exciting new areas too.

Mindfulness for mood The most immediate health benefit of mindfulness is improved mood.

In one study, people who took an 8-week mindfulness program had greater improvement in symptoms according to the “Hamilton Anxiety Scale.” They were compared with people who took a stress management program that did not include mindfulness. It seems that the mindfulness training was key to lowering symptoms.

Other studies show that mindfulness has similar effects as antidepressant medications for some people with mild to moderate symptoms of depression.

While mindfulness isn’t a full-fledged cure, it can certainly help to improve moods.

Mindfulness for weight

Studies show that people who use mind-body practices, including mindfulness, have lower BMIs (Body Mass Indices).

How can this be?

One way mindfulness is linked with lower weight is due to stress-reduction. Mindfulness can reduce stress-related and emotional overeating. It can also help reduce cravings and binge eating.

Another way it can work for weight is due to “mindful eating.” Mindful eating is a “non-judgmental awareness of physical and emotional sensations associated with eating.” It’s the practice of being more aware of food and the eating process. It’s listening more deeply to how hungry and full you actually are. It’s not allowing yourself to be distracted with other things while you’re eating, like what’s on TV or your smartphone.

People with higher mindfulness scores also reported smaller serving sizes of energy-dense foods. So it seems that more mindful eating = less junk.

Mindfulness about food and eating can have some great benefits for your weight.

Mindfulness for gut health

Recent studies show a link between stress, stress hormones, and changes in gut microbes (your friendly bacteria and other critters that help your digestion).In theory, mindfulness-based stress reduction could be a way to help prevent negative changes in the gut’s microbes.

Also, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) seems to be linked with both stress and problems with gut microbes. In one study, people with IBS who received mindfulness training showed greater reductions in IBS symptoms than the group who received standard medical care.

The research here is just starting to show us the important link between stress, gut health, and how mindfulness can help.

Conclusion

Science is confirming some amazing health benefits of the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation. For moods, weight, gut health, and more.

Do you regularly include it in your life? If so, have you seen benefits? If not, would you consider trying it?

Let me know in the comments below.

Hello 2019

Welcome, 2019 – I have been planning for 2019 over the last several months.  Before I share my vision for 2019 let me share with you what I was blessed with in 2018 that is going to make 2019 my best year yet.

Rick and Connie Mississippi County Quorum Court Swearing-In Cermony January 2019
  • I have the world’s best husband. He is always supportive even when he cannot see the logic in my plans.  He graciously allows me to continue to grow as a person. He hides his frustration well with my community involvement (animal rescue, homeless shelter, and free health clinic).
  • I have managed to maintain my health, even without exercise and after falling off the vegetarian wagon.  I was introduced to Arbonne and love the products (read farther down about Arbonne).
  • My kids continue to amaze me. The oldest is following his dreams and building his own business. My girls are super nurses and great people. My middle son (kind of sort of ours) has grown into an awesome dad.  My youngest has stepped up to the plate and helped with his grandfather and takin a role in our boarding kennel and rescue – I am one proud Momma.
  • Nothing can change my belief that God has a plan for me – he keeps opening doors so that I can continue to make a difference in my community and in other’s lives.

So what does 2019 hold?

  • Focusing on new energy.  Setting intentions, for how I want to feel, be, and experience my experiences.
    • I want to feel happiness, love, contentment, and peace
    • I want to align with positive energy
  • Setting Affirmations – I want to fully embrace my experiences.  I want others to feel hope, kindness, and joy.   I choose happiness in all I do. 
  • I choose to nourish and energize my body.  I will nurture my mind with positive thought and I will connect to my soul through stillness and a loving perception.

Steps to making 2019 everything I want it to be:

  • Continue to nurture my relationship with God
  • Spend meaningful time with the Big Man (my husband)
  • Complete yoga instructor training (focusing on my mental and physical health)
  • Build my family practice (caring for others)
  • Build my Arbonne business (Living healthy and sharing that experience with others)
  • Continue to speak for those without voices (Build Mended Paws Sanctuary)
  • Spend time with family making memories and saving them for the future (Close to My Heart)

So – what will you do in 2019?  I would love to hear your intentions.
~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.

My Arbonne 30 Day Adventure

I have had some questions about what is that Arbonne stuff on my facebook page ~ well it is a healthy way of life. My friend Apryl hooked me when she changed her diet and managed to eliminate her gallbladder pain. At first I was a little skeptical, and the cost seemed a little pricey, but…after trying the products and feeling healthier I am hooked.

So, I’ll break down what Arbonne’s nutritional program is, in my own language (with some of Arbonne jargon mixed in):

  • It is not supposed to be just a diet, it’s really about a lifestyle change
  • The “rules” are to eliminate a lot of foods from your current diet, specifically:
    • Gluten
    • Sugar and artificial sweeteners
    • Dairy
    • Soy
    • Peanuts and peanut butter
    • Non-lean meats (some resources say to avoid all beef except grass-fed)
    • Alcohol
    • Coffee (I guess it’s really not the caffeine that is “bad” but the acidity of coffee, so no de-caf either) -(this I struggle with)
    • White potatoes (sweet potatoes are OK)
arbonne-food-list

So, I mentioned it is a bit pricey, naturally, you may be wondering what do you actually have to buy? You can buy products individually, or you can buy a kit that offers the best deal (if you use and like all the products of course). Since I was new to everything, I wanted to try it all to really get the best experience. Here is what comes in the kit:

  • Meal replacement vegan protein shakes (one for breakfast per day and one for lunch),
  • Fiber powder to add to your shakes,
  • “Digestion Plus”, also to add to your shakes,
  • Detox tea,
  • 7 Day Cleanse (separate drink packets), and
  • Fizz sticks (mild energy drinks to help those, like me, going cold turkey from drinking coffee daily to none at all).

And since I’m trying to keep it real here folks, here are my overall thoughts on the challenge and the products. Of course, please note, these are just my opinions!

  • It is definitely hard, but not impossible. I know this is cliché, but if I can do it, anyone can. Words cannot describe how much I love cheese, coffee, bread, and ice cream, but I’ve been able to give them up (with minimal whining, except for coffee without coffee no one would be safe).
  • The cranberry tea is amazing. The detox tea is, ok. I don’t drink a ton of tea, normally, but I drink Arbonne tea daily.
  • The cleanse drink is also amazing, I make a container and drink on it all day.
  • I LOVE the fizz sticks! They are delicious (a mild fruity, fizzy drink) and they give me just a slight energy kick. I actually continued to drink these even after my first 30-day challenge was done.
  • The shakes good and there a ton of recipes out there to flavor them differently (you get two flavors in the kit – Vanilla, which tastes like birthday cake to me, and Chocolate). People are very creative with adding fruits and other things to make them even better (I like both plain, as well).

I thought I would end with a quick rundown at what I eat each day:

  • Breakfast: Vanilla shake (2 scoops of powder) and fiber (1 scoop) I also add turmeric.
  • Fizz stick after I finish the shake
  • Mid-morning snack : A small handful of raw nuts (almonds or cashews) or cucumber slices.
  • Lunch: Chocolate shake (2 scoops of powder) and one packet of Digestion Plus and strawberries
  • Mid-afternoon snack: 2 hard boiled eggs and/or a green apple.
  • Fizz stick sometime in the afternoon (generally guidance is you can have 2-3 fizz sticks per day; I usually have 3-4, depending on how crazy my day is!)
  • Dinner: Sensible, clean dinner, following the “rules” I outlined above. This has been a big change for me, I ususally eat fast food sitting at my desk.

So January 7, 2019, I am starting a new 30-day challenge. If you would like to start 2019 off with a healthy plan, text me or call me. You can order products from my website
http://ConnieAsh.arbonne.com

~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed lif
e.



How to Improve Gut Health

As I  continue on my journey to health I keep finding new ways of looking at the body and how to keep it healthy.  This week I found some interesting thoughts on how to improve your gut health.  Did you know Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut”?

And while this may not be 100% true for every disease in every person, more and more research shows that our gut (digestive system) has a bigger role in many diseases than we used to think. And we’re not just talking about heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, IBD, etc. We’re talking about all kinds of issues like allergies, pain, mood disorders, and nutrient deficiencies.

There are a lot of reasons for this. Our gut is the portal to the outside world. It’s here where we take in disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. We also take in nutrients (and toxins) through our gut. The nutrients we ingest and absorb are the building blocks of every single part of our body. We’re just learning the connections between our gut and other areas of our body, like our brain (have you heard of “the gut-brain axis”). Not just our gut per se; but, its friendly resident microbes too. These guys also have newly discovered roles in our gut health and overall health.

So, let’s talk about the roles that our gut and our gut microbes play in our overall health. Then I’ll give you tips to improve your gut health naturally.

Our gut’s role in our overall health

Our gut’s main role is as a barrier. To let things in that should get in, and to keep things out that should stay out. Think of “absorption” of nutrients as things we want to let in; and “elimination” of waste as things we want to pass right through and out.

This seemingly simple role is super-complex! And it can break down in so many places.

For one thing, our guts can “leak.” Yes, like a long tube with holes in it, it can allow things to get into our bloodstream/bodies that can wreak havoc (bacteria, undigested food, and toxins). You name it, whatever you put into your mouth can be absorbed by your gut and get into your bloodstream, even if it’s not supposed to. And when your gut wall gets irritated, it can “leak.” When this happens, you get inflammation, which is a starting point for many diseases that don’t seem linked to the gut but have a sneaky connection there.

FUN FACT: About 70% of our immune system lives in and around our gut.

A healthy gut is not a leaky gut. It maintains its barrier and shuttles things through to be eliminated. Maintaining a healthy gut barrier is the first pillar of gut health.

The second main part of your gut are the billions of friendly health-
promoting microbes. Gut microbes help us digest and absorb nutrients. They fight off disease-causing microbes,

make some vitamins for us, and have all kinds of other health benefits, like mental health benefits, reducing

inflammation, and stabilizing blood sugar.  So, keeping your gut microbes happy is the second pillar of gut health!

How to improve gut health

There are a lot of natural ways to improve gut health. Let’s start with what to stop. It’s always best to eliminate the cause, so let’s stop giving our guts junk to deal with. How about eliminating added sugars, processed foods, and alcohol? Try that for a few weeks, and you may be amazed at how much better your body (and gut) feels.

You may also want to eliminate other gut irritants. Dairy and grains contain common compounds known to irritate some people’s guts. Sometimes you only need to eliminate them for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference for your health.

By eating nutrient-dense foods, we allow ample macro- and micro-nutrients into our gut to maximize the chance for absorption. These nutrients help our bodies build and repair our gut, and every other body part as well. Some of the most nutrient-dense foods include dark leafy greens, colorful fruits and veggies, liver, and fish.

The second pillar of gut health is our microbes. By ingesting probiotic -rich foods and drinks, we can help to replenish our gut microbes. These are found in fermented foods like kombucha, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, and kimchi. Make these a part of your daily diet.

Whole foods are full of gut-friendly fiber. Not eating enough fiber increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Fiber plays lots of roles in our gut, including whisking away some of those pesky bad bacteria and toxins so they can be eliminated. Fiber also helps to feed the friendly resident microbes that help us absorb and digest our food better. What foods have a lot of fiber? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and even cacao.

And don’t forget the uber-important lifestyle factors like getting enough sleep, stressing less, and getting the right amount (and intensity) of exercise for you. It’s easy to forget some of the simple, but key links there are between what we do with our bodies and how well they function.

Conclusion

The function of your gut is key to your overall health. There are two pillars of gut health: maintaining a good barrier and maintaining healthy gut microbes.

The main ways to improve both of these naturally is by eating nutrient-dense whole foods. Foods filled with nutrition, probiotics, and fiber. And eliminating common gut irritants like added sugar, processed foods, and alcohol.

Everything You Think You Know About Healthy Eating is Wrong and it’s Making You Fat and Tired

Oh my gosh – nutrition and diet info is everywhere!

And each expert and association tries to lead you in their direction because they know best and their advice is going to help you.  Right?

Well, maybe…  Everyone has heard (and maybe lived through) the intense focus on how much you eat.  This has gotten way too much attention because while this does affect your weight and energy level, it’s certainly not the “holy grail” of health.

Let’s focus a bit more on the often overlooked (and proven) benefits of what you eat and drink and how you eat and drink it.

What you eat and drink
The “calories in, calories out” philosophy (i.e. how much you eat) is being drowned out with research on other factors that may be just as important.  Don’t get me wrong limiting calories, carbs or fat can certainly help you lose weight but that’s simply not the only factor for long-term weight loss and maximum energy for everyone.

When the intense focus on how much we ate didn’t work in the long-run it wasn’t really a surprise. We kinda knew that already, didn’t we?

You can certainly still continue to count your calories, carbs, and fat but don’t forget to also pay attention to what you eat.

Ideally, you need a varied diet full of minimally-processed foods (i.e. fewer “packaged” “ready-to-eat” foods).  This simple concept is paramount for weight loss, energy, and overall health and wellness.

Every day this is what you should aim for:

  • A colorful array of fruits and veggies at almost every meal and snack. You need the fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Enough protein. Making sure you get all of those essential amino acids (bonus: eating protein can increase your metabolism).
  • Healthy fats and oils (never “hydrogenated” ones). There is a reason some fatty acids are called “essential” – you need them as building blocks for your hormones and brain as well as to be able to absorb essential fat-soluble vitamins from your uber-healthy salads.  Use extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil, eat your organic egg yolks, and get grass-fed meats when possible.  You don’t need to overdo it here.  Just make sure you’re getting some high-quality fats.How you eat and drink
    Also, pay attention to how you eat and drink.

Studies are definitely showing that this has more of an impact than we previously thought.

Are you rushed, not properly chewing your food, and possibly suffering from gastrointestinal issues? Do you drink your food?

When it comes to how you eat let’s first look at “mindful eating”.

Mindful eating means to take smaller bites, eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and savour every bite.  Notice and appreciate the smell, taste, and texture.  Breathe.

This gives your digestive system the hint to prepare for digestion and to secrete necessary enzymes.

This can also help with weight loss because eating slower often means eating less.  Did you know that it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to know that your stomach is full?

Thought so!

We also know that more thoroughly chewed food is easier to digest and it makes it easier to absorb all of those essential nutrients.

And don’t forget about drinking your food.

Yes, smoothies can be healthy and a fabulously easy and tasty way to get in some fruits and veggies (hello leafy greens!) but drinking too much food can contribute to a weight problem and feelings of sluggishness.

Don’t get me wrong a green smoothie can make an amazingly nutrient-dense meal and is way better than stopping for convenient junk food – just consider a large smoothie to be a full meal, not a snack.  And don’t gulp it down too fast.

If your smoothies don’t fill you up like a full meal does try adding a spoon of fiber like ground flax or chia seeds.

Summary:
Consider not only how much you eat but also what and how you eat it.

Chia Peach Green Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 hand full Spinach
  • 1 medium Banana
  • 1 medium Chopped Peach
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Instructions

  1. Add ingredients to blender in order listed (you want your greens on the bottom by the blade so they blend better and have the chia on the bottom to absorb some liquid before you blend). Wait a couple of minutes for the chia seeds to start soaking up the almond milk. 

    Blend, Serve and Enjoy!

    Tip: Smoothies are the ultimate recipe for substitutions. Try swapping different greens, fruit or seeds to match your preference.

    Bonus: Chia seeds not only have fiber and essential omega-3 fatty acids but they contain all of the essential amino acids from protein

References:

http://summertomato.com/wisdom-wednesday-salad-dressing-is-your-friend

https://authoritynutrition.com/20-reasons-you-are-not-losing-weight/

http://summertomato.com/the-science-behind-mindful-eating-what-happens-to-your-body-during-a-mindful-meal

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3061/2

Tools I Use to Organize My Busy Life

Crazy busy describes my life for the last 17 days.  I have been on call for 17 days, covering extra patient office visits, hospital and nursery rounds, learning new teaching software, and trying to do the normal everyday stuff that is involved with owning a boarding kennel and a athletic training facility – this is one tired girl.

But I wanted to take a minute to share with your some of the tools I use to keep myself organized.

Cozi app – the Cozi app allows me to manage a menu, grocery list, and schedules with my family.  I put together a menu on Sunday and a grocery list for the week.

Kennel Booker – this is the most amazing software for managing our boarding facility.  I am able to set up reservations for family pets and the kennel staff then has real time access.

I also use aNote (Awesome Note). This is an app on my iphone that allows me to keep notes, to-do-list, and create check off list.  This is where I keep notes about topics to write about or research,  thoughts about business plans and even list of my hospital rounds.

I go off call officially at 7 AM tomorrow – this is one tired but happy girl, there is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully sleep.

I would love to hear what tools you use to mange your life.
Have a great week
~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life

 

Eight tips to achieve your current goals.

As I was reading facebook this morning,  Taylor Bardford of Boss Girl Creative  asked what are we working on this week for our biz.  As I looked at a long list of to-do’s I realized I need to find a way to be more focused and goal oriented.  Below is a list of tips to achieve your current goal.

Eight tips to achieve your current goals or develop new healthy habits.

  • Write down your goals or the habit you want to create.
  • Make a long-term plan for achieving your goal and divide it out into small steps or a flow chart.
  • Have a daily plan. Set reminders in your phone or write appointments on your daily planner. Schedule tasks just like you would any other appointment.
  • Find an accountability partner or group that understands your goals.
  • Post your goal publicly.
  • Remove all distractions. Get rid of all obstructions and distractions that will help prevent you from achieving your goals.
  • Visualize yourself achieving your goal and how you will feel achieving it. Allow yourself thirty seconds each day to breathe and visualize.
  • Educate yourself. Do research on what it will take to reach your goal and use available resources and tools make your journey a little easier.

I would love to hear you about how you achieve your goals.
~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.

Spiritual Health Is Important.

Lately the Big Man and I have not been attending church.  At first our  my excuse was work, family and just being “too busy” but over time I have found myself questioning organized religion.

My view of church has changed, I once believed that the body of the church would be faithful with work in the community, but over the last couple of years, I see the body of the church as being content to sit in their pew and write a check.

I have watched our church dwindle in numbers, never moving outside of the walls. Yet, thousands of dollars have been poured into maintaining a big old brick structure for a few.  For me that is selfish – I want people to get out, offer a hand (without a check).  There is so much of God’s work to be done in our little community.

So, I haven’t been to Sunday services and I feel bad about not going to church.  I love our pastor, she is one of the most honest, kindest, hard working souls I know.  Her mission in life is to spread the word and focus on God’s work.   But, I have learned in organized religion, you have to follow rules and you should not upset those with the checkbook.

So back to me, what do I do?? How do I give God what he deserves, after all he gave us his son.

God deserves His due place in our lives. Psalm 29:2 calls us to “give unto the Lord the glory due to his name…” He deserves a life of worship, and a small start of that is to spend time in His word, learning more about Him.

So..I have decided that online bible study and quite time with God are how I will give God the time he deserves.

I have started with 30 Days of Gratitude: A Journey Through Exodus

Exodus is not a book I have read. My plan is to read the passage for the day.  I then plan to spend time using the Quieting Your Heart Gratitude Journal 

30-days-of-gratitudegratitude-journal

Will this process work?  I am not sure what I will gain from the process.  I do know that it is right to give God the time he deserves, so for now it will be me and God doing quite time together.

~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.