Sunday Words of Encouragement December 20, 2015

We visited at our “second” local church today for the early service. The music was lovely and we are always pleasantly surprised that there are songs that are new to us…even Christmas songs.

The pastor gave a very good message on Symbols of Christmas. He noted that the season is full of symbols: lights, the Christmas Tree, ornaments, poinsettias, candles, even Christmas cards.  There are symbols in scripture too. The primary one he focused on is the manger and surroundings of the new birth. (Matthew 1: 18-25.)

The Jewish people were looking for a king but a king is not readily accessible to everyone. Instead, God sent his son to be born in a manger, a feeding trough in a stable, to serve as simple reminder of what He has done for us. The baby was wrapped, not in robes, but in swaddling clothes. This is the first image of a savior who is available to all.

Shepherds usually are considered as “nobodies”. In the nativity story, the heavenly angles bring the message of the good news to these lowly people. Christmas music, full of joy, hope and telling of the story, reminds us that the gift of the baby of salvation is available to all.

The Angels also appeared with light in the darkness just as the baby brought light to a dark world. His light is available to all.

God loves the simple, common man, and seeks to rescue, redeem and restore, any who will believe and accept the gift of salvation He offers.

These are the verses for Peace and Light from:
A hymn for the lighting of the Advent candles
The Candle of Hope
LYONS 10.10.11.11 ("O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!")
Copyright © 2015 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

The candle of peace shines bright with God's plan;
The wolf will lie down and dwell with the lamb.
Our guns and our weapons, our hatred and war,
Will give way to gardens that heal and restore.
…
The Christ candle's light that shines for us here
Tells out the good news that God has come near!
God came, a poor baby, in one time and place,
To show all creation the wealth of God's grace.

This is another song from our Christmas program last week. It fits with today's message.

This is a version I liked after watching many.
Who Would Imagine a King.

Verses for Today:
Matthew 1:21-25
"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

I am so very thankful that Jesus, our King and Savior, came as a humble baby to grow as a man so that he could die as the sacrifice to bridge the gap between heaven and earth.

Sharing Beyond Books #232 December 19, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
This turned out to be a busy week with three closings at the end of week and a couple set up for next week and the final week of the year. We have a touch of 30 degree weather last night and tonight. Hubby and I had our granddaughters to watch today so I did some organizing in between playing with them but didn't get any real work done.
Since Christmas will be over by next week's post I will take this time to wish Sharing Beyond Books participants a VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to those who celebrate other traditions. BLESSINGS TO ALL.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
I was very surprised that only six of 16 have heirloom ornaments.  Four of us mentioned the glass ornaments. Several people also mentioned their children's homemade ornaments. They are always special. I kept a box for each of my son and daughter. I gave them their boxes (and let them pick through the family ornaments) a few years ago when we stopped doing the family Christmas tree since they do theirs in their own homes now.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #231 comments is: #10 Mary P who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol. Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #232 (One Question.)

Rubynreba asks: 1) Do you spoil your children or grandchildren??

   Hmm - what a question to ask with Christmas right around the corner! I think we spoiled our children a bit when they were little. But they were disciplined and generally well-behaved when we went out visiting.
    Even in the few lean years we experienced we were blessed to always have more than enough for them. There was only one year that I remember we couldn't really afford to take them out to McDonalds for dinner as we had little cash. But we managed an abundant Christmas with small gifts from thrift stores and with the help of grandparents. It is lovely how small children are happy to have colored pencils and new coloring books. And we always (even now) have stockings stuffed with practical items (toothbrushes, deodorant, special soaps) and some candy and fruit treats.
    We do not spoil our grandchildren so much because their parents already spoil them plenty! My daughter is the first to admit this.

I had a difficult time selecting an image - there were some doozies.

Image found at Pinterest (credited Worthminer)

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:
Rubynreba asks: 1) Do you spoil your children or grandchildren??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday December 26, 2015 at 5 PM central.

MBS 2016 NetGalley Challenge

2016 Netgalley Reading Challenge

hosted by Ariel at Fictively.com;

Rules and sign up can be found HERE.

I read 37 books from NetGalley in 2014 so the Challenge Level I chose for 2015 was 31-40 books or “Difficult”.
I managed 44 books from NetGalley in 2015 so I am choosing the "Hardcore" level this year:

This will equal to about 3.5 books per month, not quite one per week.
MBS 2016 NetGalley Challenge

JANUARY 2016 – ready to go!

2015 Netgalley Reading Challenge - COMPLETED Successfully

2015 Netgalley Reading Challenge

hosted by Ariel at Fictively.com  

Rules and sign up can be found HERE.

Goal: You can continue to request galleys, or you can read the ones you already have. The point is to get your feedback ratio closer to the recommended 80%.
I actually stay close to 79-80% most of the time but this will help me stay on track and keep me reading some good review books.
UPDATE: December 2015 - I got my ratio up to 88% at one point but as of this post it is at 86% as I requested quite a few titles (a dozen) to prepare for 2016!
I read 37 books from NetGalley in 2014 so the Challenge Level I chose for 2015 is 31-40 books or “Difficult”:
UPDATE: December 2015 - I completed my goal by reading 44 NetGalley titles.
I didn't do quarterly updates this year so I will try to do better at that in 2016.

MBS 2015 NetGalley Challenge- Completed

JANUARY
1. Book Review: Only Enchanting, A Survivors' Club Novel by Mary Balogh; Historical Romance; my rating 4.75.
2. Book Review: Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett; Sci Fi Thriller;  my rating 4.25.
3. Book Review: 'Tis The Season: Under the Christmas Tree\Midnight Confessions\Backward Glance by Robyn Carr; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5. 
4. Book Review: Just in Time for a Highlander (Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands) by Gwyn Cready; Time Travel, Highlander; my rating 4.0. 
5. Book Review: Hawk (The Quiet Professionals, Book 2) by Ronie Kendig; Military Romance, Christian; my rating 4.25.
FEBRUARY
6. Book Review and Giveaways: What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling; Historic Romance; my rating 3.75. 
7. Book Review: Snow Angel Cove by RaeAnne Thayne; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5.
MARCH
8. Book Review: The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5.
9. Book Review: Monday’s Lie by Jamie Mason; Mystery; my rating 4.5.
10. Book Review: Echoes (A Harp Security Novel) by Laura K. Curtis; Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.5.
11. Book Review and Giveaways: A Kiss to Build a Dream On (A White Pine Novel) by Kim Amos; Contemporary Romance, Small town; my rating 3.5. 
12. Book Review and Giveaways: Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5. 
APRIL
13. Book Review: A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie; Historical Romance, WWI; my rating 4.25
14. Book Review: Shadow Study (Soulfinders) by Maria V. Snyder; Fantasy; my rating 4.5.
15. Book Review: The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig; Fantasy, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic; my rating 4.0.
16. Book Review and Giveaways: Fringe Benefits (The Ladies Who Lunch) by Sandy James; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 3.75.
17. Book Review and Giveaways: Sinfully Yours (The Hellions of High Street) by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.25. 
MAY
18. Book Review: The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series) by Layton Green; Mystery Suspense, Thriller, my rating 4.25.
19. Book Review: Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey; Historic Romance, Romance; my rating 4.5.
20. Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Once Upon a SEAL (Lucky Thirteen Book 5) by S.M. Butler; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.
21. Book Review: Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1) by Christi J. Whitney; Paranormal, YA; my rating 4.25.
22. Book Review and Giveaways: Passionately Yours (The Hellions of High Street) by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.0.
JUNE
23. Book Review: Judas the Apostle by Van Mayhall Jr.; Biblical thriller; my rating 4.0.
24. Book Review and Giveaway: A New Hope (Thunder Point series) by Robyn Carr; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5.
JULY
25. Book Review and Blitz Giveaway: A Promise of Forever (A Tallgrass Novel Book 1) by Marilyn Pappano; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5. US and Canada; Ends 7/11/2015.
26. Book Review: SEAL Team Six: Hunt the Fox by Don Mann, Ralph Pezzullo; Military Thriller; my rating 4.25.
27. Book Review: A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris; Fantasy, Steampunk, Fairy Tale; my rating 4.5.
28. Book Review: Footsteps in the Sky by Greg Keyes; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.
AUGUST
29. Book Review: Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery (A Cajun Country Mystery) by Ellen Byron; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25.
30. Book Review: Dark Horse by Michelle Diener; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.
31. Book Review: A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2 by Justin Woolley; Science Fiction, Action Adventure; my rating 4.25.
32. Book Review: To Honor You Call Us (Man of War Book 1) by H. Paul Honsinger; Sci Fi Military, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.
33. Book Review: Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm (Once in a Lifetime) by Rebecca Raisin; Small Town, Contemporary Romance; my rating 3.75.
SEPTEMBER
34. Book Review: The Banished of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 1) by Jeff Wheeler; Fantasy; my rating 4.25.
35. Book Review: Death of the Blue Flower by Roxann Hill; Mystery, Crime Thriller; my rating 4.5.
36. Book Review (Plus Giveaway Link): The Last Chance Christmas Ball - Collection of Eight Wonderful Authors; Historical Romance, Holiday; my rating 4.5.
37. Book Review: Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders: A Novel by Julianna Baggott Women's Fiction; my rating 4.5.
38. Book Review: Children of the Comet by Donald Moffitt; Sci Fi, Fantasy; my rating 4.25.
OCTOBER
39. Book Review: Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Becky Wade; Contemporary Romance, Novella; my rating 4.5.
40. Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room (The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series Book 3) by Shelley Gray; Historical Romance, Inspirational, Mystery; my rating 5.0.
NOVEMBER
41. Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Steal Me (NYPD's Finest) by Lauren Layne ; Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.5.
42. Book Review: Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart; Sci Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian; my rating 4.0.
43. Book Review: Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays by Four Authors; Speculative Fiction; my rating 4.25.
DECEMBER
44. Book Review: The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection by 12 authors; Christian & Historical Romance; my rating 4.25+.

Book Review: Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams

This book provides great tools to help get uncluttered and stay uncluttered.

Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load

by Jen Williams

File Size: 689 KB

Print Length: 39 pages

Publication Date: July 19, 2012

ASIN: B008ND0OE8

Genre: NonFiction

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Escape the evil grip of clutter!

Unclutter Your Life: How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, and Lighten Your Load reveals exactly how to gain control of your stuff and your life. It’s 40 pages of no-nonsense, simple, straightforward and meaningful information.

Come along on a journey of life assessment, self-discovery and goal setting that brings you closer to living a clutter-free life than ever before. Along the way you’ll learn the health, emotional and time-wasting impacts of clutter in your life and your surroundings. You’ll understand the behavioral and psychological reasons why you clutter. And you’ll know exactly what it takes to break free of clutter’s grip – once and for all!

So scroll up, click "buy" and start to unclutter your life today!

Review:
This is a wonderful, quick book of detailed plans for uncluttering. It is only 40 pages long but it is packed with great tips. By sheer coincidence I was doing some uncluttering while I listened to this (my Kindle reads to me). But I am very guilty of a) collecting clutter and b) sorting only to set the boxes in another place instead of removing them to either trash or donation facility.

As an older couple I am aware that my husband and I have collected lots of things we don’t use. Bit by bit I have become aware that weI need to give away things so others can use what is sitting on our shelves and in our closets and drawers. I can see a big benefit in uncluttering just by traveling in a Motorhome. It is a small space and everything needs to have its own place and there is no room for unnecessary baggage. (I also spent a lot of time on boats which are small spaces too.) Also, I have slowly been implementing strategies in my office to help keep my desk less cluttered and it is a nice feeling to walk in and not have files on every surface.

These sort of facts are mentioned in the book and a nice thing is the author gives you a choice of plans and strategies since there is no one plan that fits every personality. There are fast plans and slower methods and even a choice of how and where to start. Granted, a lot of the information may seem basic common sense. But the plans and strategies help provide specifics to get the job done.

The suggestions even include hiring a professional if you can't do it yourself. I had a friend who was cleaning house for me for a while and she always was good at throwing away and organizing. I think I would prefer to do it myself because I could sort through things to discard, keep and giveaway. On the other hand, that may be a sign of not letting go enough. In any event I need to find time to sit down and pick a plan so that I can seriously begin to unclutter.

I thought it would help to see the table of Contents (which is available to see on the Look Inside at Kindle.)
Chapter 1: The Benefits of Uncluttering
Chapter 2: What Should I Do With My…? Clutter Defined
Chapter 3: What Makes It So Difficult?
Chapter 4: Action Plans for Success
Chapter 5: Seven Strategies to Unclutter
Chapter 6: Escaping the Clutter Trap: Creating New Habits
Chapter 7: When Clutter Is A Mental Illness: How to Help Those You Love
Conclusion and First Steps

I found the book useful and plan to re-read it as I set up my plan to tackle clutter. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs to unclutter and create new habits to stay uncluttered! $5.00 might seem a lot for 40 pages but I think the content makes it worth the price.

This book qualifies for "U" in my Alphabet Soup Challenge. It is a free Kindle book I downloaded in 2013 so it is a TBR book too.