Tuesday, January 7, 2014

New Year, New Direction and a Giveaway

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.  THE WINNER IS MIKAYLA MAGER.  WATCH FOR MY NEXT GIVEAWAY IN FEBRUARY.

It's been a while.  I guess I have been busy elsewhere.  It's 2014!  What does this new year hold.  New years are great because it's a time to clear the slate and start anew.  We look back at our year, make adjustments for the future and then we should forget about our mistakes and failings and look ahead with great hope and resolve for the year ahead.  This year I plan to put my Etsy shop on the back burner and focus on my walk with the Lord and how I can be a blessing to others.

Psalm 19:14
The scripture art above is from Google Graphics on Etsy

This is a new thing for me --not that the Lord hasn't been in my life but as for the past 4 years my shop has absorbed much of my spare time and energy.  I feel the Lord is now requiring more of me.  Should I resent that?  I think not.  I might if I continue with my shop and don't have the time for it.   I don't want my shop to be competing for the limited time that I have for what the Lord would have me doing.

Printable Scripture
The above printable scripture is from Amen Printables on Etsy

  Let's face it -- my time is limited.   I work a part time job outside the home, attend church 2 nights a week along with Sunday morning and night.    Something has to go.   Looking back over 2013, I feel that my time has been compromised and at times, I have been called to other things when I wanted to be working on my items for my shop.  It has been a tug of war for my time.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Bible verse art above by Branch and Vine Prints on Etsy

Here is my 3 point focus for 2014:

1. Spend quality time with the Lord each day.

2. Focus on helping others -- by expanding and leading our church food and clothing ministry.
I have been involved with this ministry but I am realizing that it needs much more time. 

3. Diversify my blog -- making my posts not so single-minded.  Post about other things that are important to me like my family, and what the Lord is doing in my life.

Will I return at some point to focus on my Angels-n-Everlastings Etsy shop?  Who knows.
For now I am tired and unmotivated and I am bored with everything in my shop.

So, I think I will give it away - at least some of it.  Here is a good listing to start with:
Beach Seashell Wreath
So lets see, I won't make you jump through hoops to enter.  If you are interested you can find my links at top of page.  OPEN TO US/CANADA ONLY To enter just do 2 things-everyone will get one entry.

1.  Follow this blog if you haven't already.

2. Leave a comment.  Tell me what you plan on focusing on in 2014.

Entries close at midnight on 1/17.   A winner will be chosen some time that weekend. 




50 comments:

  1. Judy,Icancompletely relate. One of my resolutions is to work on my relationship with Jesus, and draw closer with Him. May God bless you as you work with your church, and use you to show His love :)

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  2. I love when God leads us. For me, He's leading me to work more on my shop & my home. My physical mobility capabilities have diminished & He's showing my how to still get things done. He also reminds me every morning, not to just pray for others, but for myself also...for His wisdom, strength & energy to get done what HE wants me to get done. ALL of this IS strengthening my relationship with Him. Blessings to you.

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    1. At our prayer meeting - the Pastor asked us for one request for ourselves -- and sometimes it's easier to pray for someone else's needs and we neglect our own.

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  3. Psalm 37:4 - "delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (oftentimes, we don't even know what those are) The Lord does things in the polar opposite way that we think of as "normal". When he is #1, everything falls into place.

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    1. That is so true Rita -- Thanks for sharing that scripture.

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  4. I definitely need to spend more time in God's word and less time working on my shop. It takes so much of my time. Thanks for the challenge and encouragement.

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  5. My focus for 2014 is on my spiritual growth and my heavenly Father and expressing my relationship with Him to everyone!

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  6. My focus for 2014 is to be a healthier Mom - spiritually and physically.

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  7. My focus for 2014 is to surrender.

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  8. Great goals, I to spend more time reading God's word to myself and my children.

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  9. The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past and ask God to show us what needs to change or stay the same for the year to come.

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  10. I hope to focus a bit more on myself- healthwise

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  11. I follow on google friend connect as sally0630
    I am focusing on losing the weight I gained when I quit smoking

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  12. Following with gfc. Love your goals for the new year. I am moving into a new house in a couple weeks - so I am just looking to start fresh. Be better :) sunew2002 at gmail dot com

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  13. I am trying to focus on spending more quality time at home instead of every extra minute at work.

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  14. This year I am focusing on understanding what makes me happy, and making a conscious effort to do those things.

    marija.majerle at gmail dot com

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  15. there are many things i want to focus on in 2014, but the main one is to spend more quality time with my husband and son outside in nature, and to get our house cleaned & organized so we have a peaceful haven to spend our indoor time! :) thanks for the wonderful giveaway! the wreath is beautiful!
    gfc name- be.th
    beth c

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  16. I plan to focus on my self and my journey of self discovery and continue to live purposefully :-)

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  17. Email Subscription Request
    Your request has been accepted!

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  18. i am starting alanon and focusing on my recovery

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  19. to be a better mom and a better friend

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  20. I plan focusing on me and not what others think about me.

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  21. I am working on improving relationships with family

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  22. try to stress-less and focus on gods word!

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  23. Great giveaway! For 2014, I plan on exploring more: exploring different cities, museums, new social media sites, etc. There's just so much out there and I want to try and see it all.

    May from La Vie En May

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  24. I am trying to get outdoors more and engage in exercise activities, for example, walking to the mailbox rather than driving to it. I am eating fresh veggies and fruits every day and am losing a few pounds, which is something I must do to maintain my health.

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  25. I plan on focusing more on quality family time. We've given up the tv, internet, and phones for one night a week just to have family time.

    hollystrother@live.com

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  26. Following via GFC as: Lauren Roch
    In 2014 I plan on focusing on surrendering my career to God. Thank you for your sweet blog post!

    angusmacgyver18@hotmail.com

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  27. I'm an email subscriber.
    blackpeach@ymail.com
    I plan on putting more focus on my education this year.

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  28. Following GFC as Nora Driskel
    I'm going to focus on patience with my family.

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  29. These are all such great goals for 2014. Thank you everyone for your comments. Let's not get too discouraged if we miss the mark on some of our goals. Sometimes we just need to persevere or sometime restart when we fail.

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  30. I want to focus on finding and keepin g a job and making the relationship with my gf stronger

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  31. I want to focus on being in the present. I want to be active in my church and with my family life.

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  32. following by email babeofbryan@aol.com

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  33. I plan on being more optimistic.

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  34. I plan of spending more quality time with my extended family and my college youth group.

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    Replies
    1. Mikayla Mager -- You are the chosen winner -- please contact me here or at judyrussi@yahoo.com to arrange for delivery.

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  35. i follow you on gfc as kathy dalton. This year in 2014 I plan on focusing on the good things in life rather than the bad things happening. Everything happens for a reason.

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  36. I'm you're newest gfc follower. I want to let go and let God this year.

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  37. I am a new email subscriber. I am focusing on eating whole foods and drinking lots of water.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  38. I follow via Google +, Networked Blogs, Google Friends and subscribe.

    I want to exercise more, walk my dog more often and really concentrate on eatting healthier. (I'm struggling on how to get started but I'll work it out)

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  39. succeeding in my last semester of c0ollege and graduating in may!

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  40. I am a GFC follower (katja9_10). I plan on focusing on finishing my house renovations and getting in better shape in 2014.

    Les Johnson
    katja9_10 at hotmail dot com

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  41. Im putting my focus on patience.

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  42. Thank you everyone for entering and comments. I will be using random.org to choose a winner soon.

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