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?

The precious women of God in our lives

Patty Bartlett, Beth Jones, Diane Bishop

Today was a long but good day.  This morning, my friends Patty Bartlett and Diane Bishop, the speakers for our Wash Over Me ladies’ retreat here in Butler, stopped by so we could pray about the retreat.

I laid out Ray’s grandmother’s antique china teacups on the dining table, lit a scented candle, put on some water to boil, and set out the honey and a variety of herbal teas for us to enjoy sipping as we chatted and prayed.  Here is a pic of the three of us, sitting in my dining room today.  Don’t ya just love the bathroom toilet as the right elegant touch for the photo’s background, LOL! 

After tea and prayer,  I met sweet friends Lois Graham and Kimberly Ehlers in my Prayer, Purpose, Passion webinar room at CWA to give them a “tour” of the room before our exciting Step Up! webinar on August 31. 

Oh, you should have joined us girls today – we had so much fun and laughs!  But the webinar will be even better.  If you have not already signed up for this event, be sure to sign up today as room is limited! It is going to be a blast!

This afternoon as I reflected on the day, I felt so thankful to Jesus for the wonderful women of God He has brought into my life. I had a poor relationship with my mother growing up as a child, and God has seen to it to bring many spiritual mothers and sisters across my path through the years to pray for me, encourage me, and impart His truth and wisdom into my life. I don’t know what I would do without these beautiful women of God who are such precious gifts to me.

What about you?  Who are the women in your life who are important and who help you to walk along in this journey of life?  Be sure to let them know how thankful you are for their presence in your life and how much you love and appreciate them!

PS:  Want to connect with women of God and make new friends?  Sign up for our Step Up! webinar here.

Holding on to those we love: Making our husbands and families priority

Family picnic

I haven’t been ignoring you lately with not blogging as much!  I’ve just been busy getting ready for three major events coming up:

• My Step Up! webinar on August 31 with Lois Graham and Kim Ehlers
• My Wash Over Me retreat on September 17-18
• My speaking engagement in Phoenix at She Shall Be Called Woman conference in October.

To help me stay on track, I use a task management system that I love, Manymoon. It will help you to  keep focused on your priority to-do’s, breaking down your tasks each day. You receive an emailed copy of your daily tasks as a reminder after you have entered them on the site.  This helps if you’re really busy the night before, and when you open your email in the morning and see the list, it’s an “Oh, yeah!” moment – and then you don’t forget your important to-do’s!    

I also use a Franklin Covey Dayplanner to stay organized, and am the queen of sticky notes.   (I LOVE sticky notes!)  What tools do you use to help you with your busy schedule? Many people use their palm pilot, laptop, cell phone, or Ipad.

No matter how much I have to do each day, though, I don’t ever want to be so busy that my family comes last place. One of the reasons wahm’s have an at-home business is to be able to spend more time with our families. Yet how often does the business take over our lives and things get out of balance – and we’re putting our husbands, kids, and friends on hold so we can get just one more thing done for the day? 

It’s important for us as wives to connect with our husbands each day to build that relationship. This is especially true if you are a woman who is struggling in her marriage and feels very alone – and needs to draw closer to her man.

This morning at work, Ray had to respond to a call  that was a house fire. His patient was a man in his 70′s, whose arms had been burned. The reason they were burned is that he was trying to pull his wife out of the fire. She was allegedly stuck in a window, and he would not let her go. Unfortunately, the wife did not live.

I thought this was an incredibly sad, but potent story.  A man who loved his wife so much, he would not let her go to save her, at the risk of his own life.  It is what Christ did for us the Church. He died so that we could have an intimate relationship and live forever with God.

I encourage you, take some time today to spend with those important people in your life, making your husband, children, family, and friends a top priority.  Hold onto those you love, making each moment count.

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!

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.

Evaluating your life

Today I won an award at the Toastmasters’ meeting for “Best Evaluator”  (of a speech someone else gave).   This award got me to thinking about evaluating our lives – achieving our goals – experiencing success. 

Here is a video to encourage you to evaluate where you’re at right now in your life so that you can get to where you want to be.

Vlog about award

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

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