Do you trust God?

Hand extended

Normally I don’t promote other people’s products – I want you on my site purchasing mine!  :D – and in fact, I have not even read the following book to even know whether to recommend it to you or not. 

BUT the video book trailer is what caught my eye tonight on my Google Reader.  I wanted to share it with you tonight.  Sheila Walsh does an excellent job with video, challenging us on whether we trust God.

Do you trust Him?

Little Italy: Each day is a new adventure

Peppers

Do you love Italian food?  I do, too!  Today our daughter Heather and I went to “Little Italy,” or Cinzetti’s in Overland Park, KS, for her church’s ladies’ brunch. This restaurant is an all-you-can-eat Italian feast, with 60 authentic dishes for a very reasonable price. It was heavenly. I felt like Julie in the movie Julie and Julia, eating the delicious bruschetta on the toast (this was the best part of the meal for me today!)

Some of the tasty foods on their menu that I tried are:

• Bruschetta and bread – yes, I went back for more and more!
• Fresh-cut fruit (melon, cantelope, grapes)
• Insalata Mediterraneo
• House Italian Salad
• Chicken Marsala Rotini
• Warm bread pudding (Did I mention that this is NOT the place to diet?!)

Other dishes you may enjoy there are:

• Eggplant Parmesan
• Lasagne Bolognese
• Italian Sausage and Peppers
• Mixed Grilled Vegetables
• Fried Calamari with Arrabiata Sauce
• Marinated Mushrooms
• Homemade Minestrone Soup
• Hawaiian Pizza
• Home-made meatballs
• Spaghetti Marinara
• Farfalle Carbonara
• Fresh Fruit Tartlets
• Hand-dipped Gelato
• Chocolate-dipped Strawberries
• Tiramisu

I can’t pronounce all these words correctly and don’t know what some of them are, but I assure you that you will not leave this place hungry! 

What I really loved about the restaurant, other than the great food and service, was the way it was decorated. Mounds of fresh fruit, green and red peppers, purple eggplants, cans and glass jars of red tomatoes, olives, and capers, and beautiful glass bottles filled with oil and peppers were stacked openly in view on counters, displayed in front of the open kitchens, where chefs in white aprons and chef hats cooked the meals.

Friendly waiters and waitresses served you glasses of water with lemon, pink lemonade, sweet tea, or cups of hot coffee or creamy cappucino.  A wall rack  contained a variety of white and red wines.  The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and vibrant with color – an artist’s dream!

What I enjoyed the most about the afternoon, though, was spending time with Heather. I am so very thankful to God that Heather is not only my cherished daughter, but also my very dear friend.  

I am also grateful that while at the brunch, I was able to spend time with my long-time friend Debbie Nagel, and her two daughters Christen and Amber, who are like daughters to Ray and me. (I can’t believe “little” Amber is getting married soon!  Ray is giving her away at the wedding, as her dad passed away several years ago. I remember when Amber used to come to our house and play with our kids!)

From the book, 7 Ways to Be a Smarter Mom by Kasey Johnson that Heather loaned me to read today (no, it wasn’t a major hint from Heather, lol – she was reading it and I wanted to borrow it!), here’s an excerpt from the preface chapter on page 8 that I wanted to encourage you with today:

“When I seek God’s voice, I discover more about what it is He wants me to be. My challenges and temptations will be different than yours, but we share one very important element: we’ve never been at this exact place in our lives before. Each day is a new adventure. Each season of life brings new discoveries…”.

Whether it is trying a new restaurant like Cinzetti’s, going to a ladies’ brunch and meeting new faces, signing up for a college course, going horseback riding or skydiving for the first time, traveling to Africa or Italy or the next town you’ve never visited, inviting your neighbor over for coffee, making a decision to lose weight this year, writing that book, trying something new for your business, or spending more time with family and friends, let each day bring something fresh, inspiring, and adventurous into your life.  LIVE, dear friend, really LIVE!  Buon appetite!  Enjoy this gift of life God has given you – and thank Him!

Here are some videos of my great time there today. (I hope to go back soon, to take Ray and Leah to try it!)  Enjoy!

Vlog of me and Heather at Cinzetti’s

Vlog of Christen, Amber, and Debbie at Cinzetti’s

Vlog of Bruschetta and Salads buffet

Vlog of chefs at salad buffet

Vlog of bruschetta and toast

Vlog of pizza, egg, and dessert buffets

Vlog of cappucino and plate

Vlog of Heather by waterfall

Step UP Webinar! Be an overcomer and fulfill your great purpose!

Woman stepping up

Are you fulfilling your great purpose right now, today?  Or are you struggling to just  get through the day?

Are you an overcomer – or are you overcome by the stress in your life?  Do you need an afternoon to relax and to be encouraged that God has a wonderful plan for your life and a great purpose? Then this webinar is just for you!

Join Lois Graham and Kimberly Ehlers at my third webinar, Step UP! You will LOVE these precious friends of mine. They are anointed women of God!

 There is no charge for this webinar, and you will receive bonus goodies just for coming.

To learn more, click here!

Interview with Heather on Nashville mission

Heather Denney

Do you have a heart for missions work?  Our daughter Heather is back fom her mission to Nashville, TN, and it’s life-on-the-go as usual with Kyle’s and her two little girls getting ready for school next week, her part-time zumba class, time with friends, and church activities. 

Tomorrow I will be interviewing Heather here on TalkShoe about her recent mission trip to Nashville to help the flood victims.

You don’t want to miss this exciting call!  You can choose to talk, text chat, or just listen into the call with a land line, your cell phone, or via Skype. On TalkShoe, you can make new friends, network, and connect with people with common interests. It’s a lot of fun!

I hope to “see” you there!     Again, the link to the Talkshoe interview with Heather is here.

Do you have the tools you need?

Pampered Chef dessert

Last night I went to my friend Genevieve’s Pampered Chef party. (No, I do not sell it!)  But I enjoyed watching the consultant Susan prepare the Cherry Cheesecake Trifle** dessert, and show us the cool gadgets to make life in the kitchen easier (some of us need all the help we can get!) 

The PC meat tenderizer, bamboo spoon, garlic press, and other tools  made me think about the different aspects of our lives:  marriage, parenting, at-home business, homeschooling, speaking, writing, etc.  Do you have the essential tools you need to succeed?

The right tool can make all the difference in the world.  When you are chopping vegetables for your fresh greens, salads or soups, you want a sharp knife, not a dull one. 

Another example is that the tool of effective, loving communication in marriage can result in closer intimacy with your husband.  On the other hand, blaming, interrupting someone, not listening, and being self-absorbed, are all destructive to good communication.

In homeschooling, choosing the right method of learning for your child, such as Charlotte Mason’s gentle ways, may mean much more joy in your children’s learning.  But insisting on using dry, dull textbooks and a rigid schedule only as the tools for your child’s education may result in frustration for both parent and child.

In your business, the powerful tool of God’s word, sincerely caring about your clients or customers and generously giving to them, and investing in knowledgeable coaches and mentors are incredible tools to achieve success.  On the other hand, being constantly disorganized or procrastinating, not backing up your computer data, and getting sucked into the Facebook black hole all day long are going to hinder your business growth and achievement.

What tools do you need to buy, invest in, or learn to be all that God created you to be and to see your dreams come true?  What essential tools do you need today to have what you truly desire in your marriage? Parenting?  Homeschooling? Your business, career, or ministry? Ask God to help you find and use the right tools for your fulfilling, successful, productive life.

**Cherry Cheesecake Trifle dessert recipe

Bottom layer…cubed angel food cake (1/2 large, round cake)

2nd layer, “light” cherry, strawberry, blueberry or other fruit filling (1 can)

3rd layer,  1/2 filling mixutre

Filling Mixture:

8 oz. Light Cool Whip

2 boxes sugar-free White Chocolate OR Cheesecake instant pudding

3 cups 1% milk

Mix milk & pudding. Fold in Cool Whip.

Directions:  Put cubed cake on bottom of glass dish, cover with pudding mixture. Scoop out fruit filling from can and pour on top of pudding mixture. 

Repeat layers, using large scoop. It looks like snowballs.

Second option:  Put pudding mixture in glass using scoop. Spoon cherry pie filling over the top, using no cake. Called “Cherries in the Snow.”  (You can also substitute strawberries or other fruit…delish!)

God’s Favor for the Ladies’ Retreat here

Wash Over Me ladies’ retreat – Woman under waterfall

Yesterday my friend Diane and I went around the town square to talk to local business owners about our September One Day Intensive ladies’ retreat, here in Butler. God gave us incredible favor from the businesses already, giving us some GREAT gifts for door prizes, and we are not even done yet!

Patty Bartlett (our other ANOINTED speaker!), Diane, and I are SO excited about this retreat. If you are not already signed up for this retreat, sign up today HERE as seating is limited. 

We will have praise and worship, Biblically-rich teaching, a “beautifying” preparation session on Friday, a tasty brunch on Saturday morning, and fellowship with other ladies. 

I can’t wait!  How about you?  Ready for some rest, relaxation, and fun?

Hope to see you there! 

“Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.” (Psalm 30: 7, NLT)

Get ready! Ladies’ “Wash Over Me” retreat

Wash Over Me retreat – woman in waterfall

One of the most loved stories in the Bible by women is that of Queen Esther. Hadassah was a young Jewish girl who was taken with other virgins to the palace of the King Ahasuerus in Shushan to replace his wife, the Queen Vashti.  Vashti had refused to come to to the king to display her beauty to the people and the officials, during his 7-day feast when he commanded it.

Enraged, he took her crown and was going to give her royal position to another woman more worthy of the crown.  God raised up beautiful Hadassah, also called Esther, “for such a time as this” – and ultimately she was used by God to save herself and her people the Jews from destruction at the hands of their enemy Haman, promoted above all princes in the palace.

It is an incredible love story of a King and the bride Esther, and is symbollic of Christ and the Church.  One of the things which Esther did in preparation to meet the King was to prepare for six months bathing in myrrh, and to prepare for six months in beauty treatments and perfumes. She was made ready before coming into the presence of the Royal King. 

Are you preparing your heart to meet with the King of Kings, Jesus?  Is your heart, your life, beautiful before God?  That is the theme of this One Day Intensive retreat, Wash Over Me. You will enjoy a day to just pull away and spend time with God and His Royal Daughters.

This teaching and much more are going to be shared at the Ladies’ One Day Intensive in Butler, MO, this fall. Here are some of the topics that will be covered:

Queen Esther: God’s Treasure Chest Of Love, Divine Purpose, and High Calling by the King

Essential Oil and Receiving Your Inheritance

Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun: The Power of Our Friendships With Women

Forgiveness: Breaking Free of Bitterness and Finding Freedom in Christ

At His Feet: Wash Over Me

 

You will just love it!  Join Patty Bartlett, Diane Bishop, me, and other anointed women of God for this fun, refreshing ladies’ conference. 

 The preparation “Beautifying” session will be Friday, September 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CT. The One Day Intensive, including a ladies’ brunch, will be Saturday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. 

The price includes both the Friday night and all-day Saturday worship, teaching sessions, and brunch! 

The Early Bird special is $25 by August 30, 2010, and after August 30, 2010, the price is $30.  You pay by check, money order, or Paypal.

Ladies, mark your calendars today!

Why this conference?

1. You will have lots of fun, with fellowship, food, and door prizes!

2.  You will receive inspiring, Biblical teaching that is relevant for you today, to encourage you to walk in  your God-ordained, great purpose and destiny!

3. You will be able to just relax, de-stress, and soak in God’s presence, worshipping Him.

4. You will enjoy a preparation “beautifying” session on Friday at 7 p.m., and a tasty brunch on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Want to learn more? Click here to sign up today! And bring a friend!

3 P’s In a Pod webinar: Not in the mood for spaghetti? Try duck l’orange!

Have you ever gone into a nice Italian restaurant and just NOT been in the mood for spaghetti and meat balls? Instead you wanted spinach lasagne or chicken alfredo. Or maybe you didn’t want Italian at all, and opted to go to a different restaurant to eat. What you really wanted was duck l’orange, steak, or lobster!

God created all of us differently – men are different from women, we all have different personalities, we have different learning styles, we love different things. It is the same way with our interests.

Some of us are interested in traveling, seeing new places, meeting new people, trying different ethnic foods. Others love sports, internet marketing, gardening, crocheting, running, getting more education, painting, writing, or just staying at home, loving on our families. Whatever it is that you enjoy, God created you that way.

Maybe my ebook Walking With God or my 7-audio devotional series is not for you. You don’t have time to listen to seven different audios, or even want to!   But a webinar that is as short as a lunch break may be just the thing for you!  It will encourage, refresh, and inspire you to draw closer to God, to discover and fulfill your purpose, and to leave a godly legacy to your children.  In other words, you’re not in the mood for spaghetti, but you might just love the duck l’orange!

This week check out Tara’s website. You will just LOVE her. (While you’re there, fill out her survey as  a favor to her.) This lady is classy, anointed, and will encourage you about Biblical parenting.  If you’re not already registered for our webinar on Tuesday, July 27 at 11 a.m. CT, sign up today as space is limited.  With this webinar, you will be sure to dine with your destiny! 

To register for our webinar, just click here.

Video tour of website

Did you miss yesterday’s post – an article (pdf) giving a tour of my website, using screen shots? Well, today I went a step further and created a video tour of my website for you if you need more help navigating on my website.  

Let me know what you think. If you have any comments or questions, email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com.  Just click on the link and enjoy!

Video tour

Tour of this website

Stairs

Whether you are a first time visitor or a faithful reader and/or subscriber, I want to welcome you to my website Tablet Of My Heart. I am so glad you are here!  There are so many websites online, and they all navigate differently.

I LOVE WordPress and believe it is simply the BEST, but I wanted to give you a tour of my home on the web which includes screenshots (my newest learning curve!). This article can help you understand how to more easily navigate my website – a more personal tour guide.   

Just click on the link below for your pdf article, and enjoy!  If you have any questions, email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com.

Tour of my website

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