Beth Jones

Shred what’s in my heart

Beth Jones — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:20:35 +0000

This weekend I’m getting my new office ready, going through plastic tubs ~ putting loose pics in a new photo album, throwing stuff out, organizing books and supplies. Getting organized can mean the difference between a thriving biz and one struggling to stay afloat.

Many of the tubs have our kids’ homeschool portfolios in them. Leafing through them has resulted in what Rhett Butler called Scarlett O’Hara’s “crying jag.” (Gone With The Wind , Margaret Mitchell, 1936.)

I loved homeschooling our kids and really miss it sometimes. Here’s a sample from one of the portfolios of Leah’s art, as a child, of an angel and a child:

Leah’s angel

Here is a picture of an elephant she drew:

Leah’s elephant

Here she was practicing her handwriting and identifying words through matching words and pictures:

Leah’s handwriting

I reminisced looking at the homeschool portfolios, then put them away for another day. Then I began taming the paper tiger.

One of my fave office tools is the shredder. Mine is little but mighty, getting the job done.

my shredder

So far I have an entire yellow trash bag full of shredded papers, and I’m not done yet. It feels so good to get this accomplished. I only wish Ray could catch on to this amazing idea.

Maybe you have a hard time getting rid of stuff. But it’s truly liberating.

Of course you should keep important documents (such as birth certificates, school records, tax returns, and other legal documents), but you don’t have to keep every single scrap of paper you’ve ever had in your whole life! Giving things away, selling items, throwing stuff out, and shredding papers will set you free!

Shredded paper

As I’ve been shredding the papers, I’ve been asking God to shred whatever is in my heart that doesn’t please Him:

anger
unforgiveness
resentment
bitterness
jealousy
envy/comparison
pride
discouragement
negative, self-limiting thinking.

At this new house, I want a clean slate, a fresh, new start ~ beginning with my heart.

What do you need to “shred” in your heart? Share in the comments below.

Celebrating Savannah: How does one bury a child?

Beth Jones — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:28:34 +0000

Savannah Nash

Today I attended the funeral of our friends’ daughter Savannah Deann Nash, 16 years old and 8 days. Our daughters grew up with her, and she spent the night several times at our house with our daughters Eden and Leah for girls’ night sleepovers.

What I remember most about her is that she was shy (as a child), had such a sweet spirit and had such a beautiful smile.

On Thursday, May 16, Savannah was tragically killed in a car wreck when she turned left to go north onto highway 7, an area that had heavy road construction with trucks and equipment (and no flagman), and she didn’t see a semi-truck on the highway coming toward her. She had just recently gotten her license and her car. She was on her way to the grocery store to get items for the family dinner.

16. Savannah was a beautiful girl, inside and out. Her smile lit up a room and she had such a strong faith in Jesus and a sincere, huge love for everyone. To help you understand what kind of impact she had on everyone around her, today the officiating pastor of her church said that over 2,000 people attended her viewing yesterday. I believe it because I was there for over three hours with our daughter Heather, and people just kept coming through the church doors. I didn’t see how her family stood there so long, talking to everyone in line giving their condolences to the family~ but by the grace of God.

As I watched with a heavy heart Savannah’s parents at the funeral today, I thought, How does one bury a child?

I can’t imagine anything worse. It would be unbearable. I don’t think I could stand it.

Yet God did it.

He allowed and watched His only son Jesus die a torturous death on a cross over 2,000 years ago, so you and I wouldn’t have to die for our sins. Then God raised Him from the dead so you and I could have a relationship with God and live with Him in heaven forever.

And so in times of intense grief like today, we could know His comfort, mercy, and love.

The kind of love Savannah knew, lived, and shared so well.

Savannah was endearing to all who knew her. She was a burning, flaming light in a dark world, with her beautiful smile, her happy little giggle, and her sweet, genuine spirit.

She loved her family and her friends – and oh, how obvious it was yesterday and today that she was well loved! Her great, God-like love convicts me. Lord, teach me to love You and others in that pure and sincere way.

Today at the funeral we laughed and we cried. We watched a power point slideshow of pictures from Savannah’s life from babyhood to her recent 16th birthday. We heard how creative and artistic Savannah was, constantly drawing art and writing poems.

We listened to the heart-breaking, daddy-little girl song, Butterfly Kisses.

We heard a salvation message at the end of the service, something Savannah would have wanted because her relationship with God was real and intense. She loved to worship God at church.

She’s now worshipping Him in heaven, forever.

I told a friend today that she wouldn’t have wanted me or anyone else to lay hands on her and command her to live in the name of Jesus. No, she wouldn’t have wanted to be raised from the dead. She’s perfectly at peace and full of joy where she’s at now, in God’s presence.

Will you be there when it’s your time? Do you know Jesus as Savior?

Today we celebrated Savannah. She’d want us to celebrate Jesus, family, friends, and life.

Thank you, Savannah, for being such a wonderful role model to so many. You were a beautiful person, inside and out. Your life will continue to impact many people, even in death.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ~ 1 Corinthians 15: 55-56, NASB

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FYI: It is being widely reported in the news that she was texting and driving, but there’s NO proof whatsoever of this, and her father Paul Nash refutes this on his Facebook page. You can read what he said at the end of this post.

Here is Savannah’s dad Paul Nash’s post about the news reports about Savannah texting and driving:

Hey everyone don’t believe the propaganda that’s is floating around in papers and on he news Savannah Nash wasn’t texting the only reason she wrecked was because of inexperience in driving and the road construction from MODOT had the left lane blocked with a asphalt chipper and large gravel trucks were in her lane of sight she couldn’t see around all the men and trucks and equipment there was al…so there was no flag man to flag people down and there was no slow Down sign of speed limit sign to reduce speeds. As soon as the crash took place The Missouri highway patrol And the cass county sheriffs office decided To remove the extra Equipment to reduce congestion for traffic while dealing with the scene if the accident . Savannah Nash would not even touch her radio dials yet because of fear of hurting someone else. She was in front of I Stephanie Nash just one minute before the wreck took place her car only went 75 ft from our drive way and she was texting in front of her step mom not in the car that’s why they are releasing this info about texting she threw her phone in the passenger seat and headed to town. Savy would never have been disobedient of the laws of driving she still lacked confidence in her driving as it was . The road crew just flat out made It difficult for her to see and that caused her a blind spot that is the simple truth to this accident she was being obedient as always . There is two things I can’t stand in life and people’s insensitivity to our situation from themedia is number one they have given out info before the family even new of our loss and the sheriffs office has spoken out of turn with no evidence in the crash scene they just found a phone and that’s the facts the phone was broken prior to the scene it was my old phone I should know. There is a lot of issues with te fact of people not caring about us as a family they are just using Savannah Nash to build a case campaign as to make examples of kids now to save lives later . If that’s what they want to do rather than be sensitive then I gues so forgive them but don’t care For it at all and they will all have to deal with theirselves. Thanks for listening to my heart . Sincerely Savannah Nash Dad

Moving Day!

Beth Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:30:52 +0000

Tomorrow, or technically today, is moving day! YAY!!!

After getting literally NO sleep last night, I cleaned this house like a mad woman with our daughter Leah today and had to run errands tonight – signing the lease, having it notarized, then taking it to the landlord at the new house, and making a Walmart run after Leah and I went to our usual payday hangout, The Flaming Lantern.

What makes you happy?

While at Walmart, I bought a Hello Kitty piggy bank (and Hello Kitty stationery set) that I’m using as a desk decoration for my new office. Hello Kitty is SO cute and my newest “phase.”

Previous phases have included teddy bears, Victorian furniture, butterflies, sunflowers, pottery, Tinker Bell and fairies, and a-never-ending-phase, black ultra-fine Sharpie pens. My phases never cease to surprise or amuse Ray. Leah also looked like she was going to laugh in the checkout line tonight when I took the Hello Kitty piggy bank out of the cart and the cashier rang it up. She was probably rolling her eyes, too, and thinking with her teenage wisdom, When is mom going to grow up?

But Hello Kitty makes me happy. God wants us to be happy. What makes you happy?

I’m SOOO happy and excited about the move into this beautiful remodeled, older home and I can’t WAIT to show you the pics here at BethJones.net.

We had our utilities, including internet, transferred to the new residence tomorrow, and hopefully Ray will be able to get us back online soon after we get settled in, but I’m not sure when I’ll blog again…but I wanted to connect with you and let you know what’s going on!

Is your house in order?

I’m taking a little break from my business in the next couple of weeks to get our house in order.

I’m organizing family photos in big photo books and other scrapbook material, and doing a major house organization and purge ~ organizing, throwing away, and giving away a lot. It feels SO good to do this – I feel so much lighter!

We all have too much stuff – physically, emotionally, spiritually. God wants us to “pack light” for the journey, not be weighed down by things.

Make room for God each day

What is that you need to let go of today to make room for more of God each day in your life?

Until I get back online, please say a prayer for our move today! I’m super excited about our move – God is so good! Pics of our beautiful new rental place coming soon!

Planning a live event? Things I learned from planning, organizing, and hosting the conference

Beth Jones — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:32 +0000

RELEASED Women’s Conference attendees during worship

A speaker/author friend of mine plans to write a book this year on event planning, and yesterday she asked if I’d be willing to contribute content to it since I just finished planning, organizing, and hosting the RELEASED! Women’s Conference in the Kansas City, MO, area, which 39 women attended.

This conference was my 3rd live event and the biggest one I’ve ever done, with hiring a worship leader, four speakers, a caterer, a florist, and doing radio and newspaper advertising.

As always, God teaches me new things when I do something for Him. He deals with my heart.

He also shows me areas where I lack knowledge or my mistakes and helps me to learn from them, to improve for next time (if there is a next time…right now, I just want to rest and relax after our move into a new rental home this week).

I learned 14 things from this conference, and wanted to share a few of them with you for helpful tips, especially if you are planning your own live (or even virtual) event:

1. Sponsorship and vendors are the key to covering event expenses.

Some of our sponsors’ door prizes

I’ve never had a sponsor before. I’d heard of popular bloggers on the web and other speakers who had sponsors, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to get one or even sure how to go about it. My Speaking business is not a 501c3 not-for-profit organization and I didn’t think I’d be able to get a sponsor.

I approached my Speaker/Author friend Tony Robinson of Well-Watered Woman Ministries who had gotten sponsors for the Women of Destiny conference where I spoke on a cruise to the Bahamas. Her answer was, “You just ask!”

I did this for my conference and we winded up with 21 door prizes and items donated for the women’s goody bags! Over half the women at the conference received a door prize.

How did I get these incredible sponsors like Eden’s Touch Bread Company and Unwind Massage? I went to family and friends who I knew and told them about the conference, asking them if they had anything they’d like to donate as sponsors – books they’d written or ebooks, a downloadable mp3 audio, a Bible study guide, jewelry, a salon service, etc.

Trish Jones-Paul, one of our conference sponsors

To my surprise and delight, everyone who I approached said YES! I even had other people ask me first if I’d like them to donate something for the conference! I felt the sponsors’ generosity was God’s way of confirming that this conference was HIS idea!

I was NOT able to get a big sponsor(s) for the conference for the major expenses, I believe primarily due to not being able to plan this conference way in advance. If you want the major expenses covered (such as the speakers’ fees) and not to come out of your personal finances you’ll need a major sponsor or several big sponsors.

Sponsors are out there, eager to help you because it promotes their businesses! You can learn more about writing a sponsor letter by clicking here at Shannon Cherry’s blog.

If you think you’ll be able to cover expenses simply by charging a registration fee and through love offerings, I encourage you to have a Plan B! You may not have as many people as you think will attend and the offering may be less than you need.

This happened to a woman I know, who was depending on the registration fees and the offerings to cover her speakers’ expenses. She was extremely embarrassed when she couldn’t pay her speakers what she had promised because the offering amount was much less than she anticipated.

Also, event expenses add up quickly, even when you’re doing your best to be frugal.

Sponsorship and vendors are THE key to paying for expenses for your live event!

2. No more than 2 (or 3 at the most) speakers for a one-day event.

RELEASED Women’s Conference team

I had 4 amazing speakers at the RELEASED! Women’s Conference and each one of them spoke an anointed, rhema word straight to my heart, personally ministering to me. I have no regret asking all of them to speak at the conference and am so HONORED they said yes!

But if I could do things differently, I would’ve spread out this event over 2 days or even over a weekend to give our worship/praise leader Naima Johnston-Bush more worship time, and for the attendees to talk with each other and get more personal prayer/ministry time.

Make sure when you choose your venue, that you will not have strict time restraints or it will add a lot of stress and pressure to your event!

Having 4 speakers for a one-day event was just too much due to our time restraints. Our schedule was packed with little breathing room. Be sure that when you plan your event, you leave plenty of time for the attendees to connect, network, and to receive prayer/ministry time.

3. Have a committed team of helpers.

Initially, after I spoke in Canada and Doreen Penner mentioned visiting me in America and us having a conference here, I resisted and didn’t want to do it!

I knew it’d be a lot of hard work, stress, and expense – and that I’d be the one doing most of the work and it’d likely come out of Ray’s and my pockets!

After God told me to do it and Ray encouraged me to, I became excited. Yet I knew this was bigger than me. I am one woman. I was going to need help. I had to have a team!

Our daughters Leah & Heather, part of my team

You want people who are committed and will show up. Life happens sometimes, so have a back-up plan for various roles. I recommend having the following teams for your live event:

First, a team of intercessors who will faithfully pray for you, your family, and this event from the moment you begin planning to after the conference. In December of 2012, God told me that I (and my business) would be going to a new level in 2013, and that I needed to have a team of intercessors covering me and my family. I now have a team of 7 intercessors praying faithfully for me, my family, and my business. They prayed the entire 6 months for this conference. The most important work of your event is PRAYER!
A team of people who will physically help you with setting up at the venue. My daughters Heather, Leah and I loaded two cars filled with items for set-up at the conference;
A team of people who will help you with the different roles – the registration table, serving drinks/food, making coffee and/or desserts for the afternoon, door prize give-aways, filling goody bags, photography/videography, an Emcee saying the welcome and introducing the worship leader/speakers, etc. I’m so thankful to all my friends who helped me and love you!
A decorating team. If you’re like me, you love decorating. It’s my favorite part when planning a party. But God has called and anointed me to speak, write, and travel for His glory. I can’t do everything myself and neither can you. Hire a decorating team to help you! You have to let Jesus take the wheel and let go of control! The decorating for this conference looked beautiful and exactly the way I wanted, and I was so thankful for Heather and Leah helping me so much. I couldn’t have done it without their hard work! But I should’ve let Heather, Leah and others do the decorating FOR me.
A final tip would be a finance team or a board of directors to make the major decisions. I didn’t have this for the conference. My husband Ray and I were the finance team, although I did seek input and suggestions from others about costs. But a finance team or a board can be a good idea for major events. One of my friends has a 501c3, not-for-profit ministry organization which offers hope for marriages and families. They only have 3 people on their board of directors, but that is sufficient. You don’t need or want 10 or 20 people on your board or you’ll never be able to move forward. This team needs to have unity. Pray and ask God for liberal wisdom about who will be on the finance team or board of directors. You want people on the team or board gifted in knowledge and wisdom to help you make sound (and quick!) decisions for the expenses, who have caught your vision. You definitely don’t want someone on this team or board who is controlling and stingy with money. Nor do you want someone who would give the farm away.

4. Study leadership, finances, the personalities, the spiritual gifts, event planning, and other self-improvement topics.

International Speaker Beth Jones

People need and want leadership. If they are being indecisive, you need to just make a decision and lead them so they will follow. I am called to be a leader of women. I need to study leadership more. It’s also a good idea to study other topics before planning your event such as finances, the different types of personalities, the spiritual gifts, event planning, etc.

In having a live event, you’re going to be working with people who have very different personalities from your own and you’ll need to walk in understanding. Two great books that I recommend on this are Personality Plus by Florence Littauer and Wired That Way by her daughter Marita Littauer. I also recommend signing up for John Maxwell’s leadership “A Minute with Maxwell” tips and to check into any resources by Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy.

5. I am the one who needs to be transformed and to be freed like the butterfly.

The logo for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference was a yellow butterfly, drawn by our daughter Leah. It represented release from any limits and freedom – the transformation from the caterpillar in the confining cocoon to the beautiful butterfly, free to fly and to be what God made it to be.

As always when God tells me to do something and I step out in faith, God teaches me new things and deals with my own heart. Sometimes my friends think I’m being too hard on myself, but I know that I have a high calling from God and “to whom much is given, much is required.” (Luke 12:48)

Some people call God’s heart dealings “taking you to the woodshed.” Whatever you call it, its purpose is to draw you nearer to God and to repentance. He is the Potter and I am the clay. (Jeremiah 18:1) There’s a difference between conviction and condemnation. God chastens those He loves ~ and He loves me A LOT! :) Certain things happened with this conference that revealed my heart. Yes, I’m the one who needs to be transformed and freed!

May we all experience transformation this year, to be formed into the image of Jesus Christ.

This was an AMAZING, POWERFUL conference – I LOVED it and we’ve had incredible, positive feedback from the attendees, one of them being, “When is your next one?!”

I’m so thankful to God, my husband Ray, our daughters Heather, Eden, and Leah, the conference team, my intercessor team and team of personal assistants, and the attendees for this wonderful time!!!

I’m also grateful that God opens my eyes, ears, and heart to teach me new things so I can improve.

Daffodil & butterfly.
Copyright 2013 Leah Jones

I hope these were helpful tips for you. May you have a beautiful, empowering, anointed event that is greatly blessed by God. I’d love for you to write me and tell me about it by emailing me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com or leaving your comments below.

Dream: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

Beth Jones — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:52:24 +0000

Bridesmaid and Bride

Last night I had vivid, colorful dreams. I love dreams and think they’re fascinating.

Sometimes dreams are just images or thoughts relating to past or present circumstances.

Sometimes they are just “pizza dreams.”

Dreams also can be a way for God to speak to us, as He did to Jacob about the angels on the ladder (Genesis 28: 12-13), Joseph about Pharoah’s dreams (Genesis 37), a man in Gideon’s army about Israel defeating the Midianites (Judges 7), and Joseph the stepfather of Jesus being warned to take Mary and the baby to safety (Matthew 2).

I believe my dream last night was from God. In the dream, I opened a door and there was a private wedding in the room, with the officiating minister, the groom and the bride, and just a few attendants. The groom and the bride were saying their vows. The bridesmaid was watching the bride sadly.

I then went over to the bridesmaid and spoke to her: “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.”

I told her this is how she had always felt, but God wanted her to know that she would be married soon, that her Groom was coming.

I believe this dream is prophetic and symbolically means that our Groom, Jesus, is returning soon and to be ready, waiting for Him.

I also believe the dream represents how many people feel. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Always watching from the sidelines.

Alone. Lonely. Not fitting in. Rejected. Hurting. Aching. Longing. Dreaming.

But God wants you to know you are not alone. He loves you so much. He has great plans for you. (Jeremiah 29:11)

You are His Beautiful Bride, the one He has chosen to be with Him forever.

All you have to do is say “Yes” to Him.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10: 9, NLT

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Want to learn more about God’s love for you? Click here for my ebook Walking With God.

Wild Delight: God’s love, purple tiger stripe duck tape, and a sunroom

Beth Jones — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:18:51 +0000

I’m purging and packing, getting ready to move into our new rental home. This morning I ran out of boxes and sent Ray out in the rain to get some more. He came home sans boxes and when I came into the bedroom, he had on his Captain America pajama pants and was about to climb back into bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked, instantly up in arms.

“Nobody had any boxes. There’s nothing to do.”

“There’s PLENTY to do, like the garage! I’m going to find some more boxes for us!”

Don’t you love my sweet, gentle spirit? But I figure like the Proverbs 31 woman, if I can set about my work vigorously, my arms being strong for the task and holding the distaff (what IS a distaff?), it’s my job, too, to make sure my family isn’t being lazy and are getting rid of things they don’t need.

You need the right tools

Instantly I raced off in the car to make one of the stores in town give me their boxes, lol. The Family Center staff was generous with their broken-down boxes. An elderly man named Bill, walking with a slight limp and reminding me of Jacob who had wrestled with God, helped me. (Then the man said, “Let me go; it’s almost dawn.” But Jacob answered, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” – Genesis 32:26)

“You got something to put these boxes together?” Bill asked, sorting through the pile on the floor to find me the best ones.

“Yes, good ol’ duck tape,” I said. He smiled approvingly. Everyone knows that duck tape is a miracle worker. You need the right tools for the job.

Duck tape

I’m moving in style

Bill loaded the boxes for me on a platform cart and told me to come back for some more boxes Friday around 11 a.m. after their delivery truck arrives. I thanked him and went back home to spur on Ray to work.

Of course, I ran out of duck tape and had to go back to the dollar store for more. I was delighted to find fashionably colored duck tape, instead of the normal, boring, silver tape – colored hearts, paint splotches, bright pink, and purple tiger stripes. Now I can move in style. If I run out of tape again, I’ll get the purple tiger stripes. Yes, I am easily amused.

Colored heart duck tape

I noticed one of the boxes had the words on it Wild Delight. Did you know this is how God feels about you? He loves you so much!

God has wild delight for you!

God even cares about the little things you love, like the colored heart duck tape I found today and the sunroom at our new rental home. I’ve been praying for years for a home with a sunroom!

This sunroom has black screen on the windows, much like the screened-in porches of southern homes, but I could envision removing the screen and replacing it with beautiful glass windows to look outside at the birds.

I can’t wait to move and have a cup of coffee with God in my sunroom, watching the birds, that first morning. :)

“He persists in loving us with unending, outrageous love.” - Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

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Want to know more about prayer and God’s love for you? Just click here for my ebook Walking With God.

We’re moving: make room for the new

Beth Jones — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:40:51 +0000

Moving boxes

A friend asked me this morning in an email if I had “recovered yet” from the RELEASED! Women’s Conference. She’s heard it was great, but knew it was a lot of hard work, stress, and expense for me. Well, I am still recovering. The conference was SO good and we had very positive feedback from attendees, but yes, it was exhausting. I don’t get to rest yet. This week I start packing!

We’ve been looking for awhile for a new rental home and while we desperately want to get out of this rural, tiny town of Butler (I call it “the hicks” or “the boonies”), we weren’t able to find a place outside Butler – but I did find one here that I really like (an older home that is newly remodeled, Spanish arch doorways in the den and dining room, a big recreation room downstairs, my own office space -pics soon after we move)! I’m very excited about moving and can’t wait! Our move-in date is May 15.

This week I’ve been purging, blessing a local church that accepts ~~our old junk~~ donations – things like gently used clothes, an imcomplete set of green plates, our fake Christmas tree, books.

It’s not always easy to let go. Things like:

Envy/jealousy;
Anger;
Unforgiveness;
Pride;
Discouragement;
Worry/anxiety/stress;
Self-doubt;
Limiting beliefs.

It’s not always easy to let go of physical things, either. This is especially true for my husband Ray, who won’t throw away anything and if it wasn’t for me, he could qualify for the show Hoarders.

But letting go of things physically, emotionally, and spiritually sets you free. I have felt so good getting rid of more stuff and donating it!

God, help me get rid of anything unnecessary that I don’t need emotionally and spiritually, which hinders my intimacy with You.

Today think about what you may need to let go of to embrace what God has ahead for you. You can’t store the new wine in old wineskins or they will burst. Make room for the new.

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” – Mark 2:22, NIV

The RELEASED Women’s Conference was amazing!

Beth Jones — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:09:30 +0000

Our daughter Heather Denney laughing at RELEASED! Women’s Conference

Has God ever told you to do something that you didn’t want to do?

In my experience, if I really don’t want to do something, it’s usually God.

That’s how I felt after I spoke at Doreen Penner’s retreat in Canada and she mentioned coming to visit me here in America and us having a retreat here.

I didn’t want to be rude. I love Doreen. She’s an awesome person. I wanted to see her again.

But as soon as she said it, I thought, “Oh, NO! God is going to make me do another women’s retreat!” I’d planned and hosted two before, and I knew they are:

a lot of hard work
a lot of stress
a lot of expense.

And guess who’d be doing the hard work? Me. And who’d probably be paying for most of it? Ray and me. I didn’t want to deal with the stress, either.

I balked. I resisted. I dug in my heels and wouldn’t even answer her the first two times she mentioned it.

The third time Doreen mentioned it, I knew I needed to answer her. I prayed to God and talked to Ray about it. I hoped they’d both say no.

To my chagrin, God told me to do it and Ray said he thought I should do it.

SIGH.

I’m glad I did now.

RELEASED! Women’s Conference Team
Karen Wells, Doreen Penner, Naima Johnston-Bush, Helen Reimer
Front Row: Rochelle Valasek, Beth Jones

The powerful worship and the freedom of dance

The worship and praise was led by Dr. Naima Johnston-Bush. What a voice! I didn’t want her to stop singing.

Many women said the worship and praise was one of the most powerful parts of the conference. Women laughed, cried, and danced.

Worship/praise leader Naima Johnston-Bush

When I saw my friend Suzy Bunton dancing out front and the young girls dancing in the back of the room, all I could do was smile. God’s presence was there. That’s all that mattered to me.

Suzy said that God told her to kick off her shoes, wave a banner, and dance. She’s been in pain in her hips lately, but as soon as she started dancing, the pain subsided. Dancing sets you free.

The anointed speakers – the rhema word

Each of the speakers shared a rhema, timely, anointed word that imparted truth and hope to the 39 women present.

Speaker Helen Reimer

Helen Reimer shared about her quadruplet sister dying in utero and one of her triplet sisters and her mother dying in a tragic car accident when Helen was only 4 years old. She was told they were “sleeping” at the funeral home and didn’t understand why they wouldn’t wake up. At the funeral service, she witnessed dirt being shoveled on top of the caskets and began screaming and crying because they were throwing dirt on top of her sister and her mother. She also shared about her numerous childhood sexual abuse incidents. Many women came up to Helen afterward to share with her that they, too, had been sexually abused in childhood. Helen shared the healing she’s experienced and the hope she has today through faith in Christ. Women cried during Helen’s presentation time. God’s presence in the room was strong as she shared her powerful story.

Speaker Rochelle Valasek

Shelley Valasek shared about her many medical problems and the nearly-fatal car wreck she had last year when she almost died. When she showed the power point picture of her car that was like a smashed can, the audience gasped. Shelley’s message is that God has a Divine Purpose for your life. You will not leave this earth until that purpose is established. Shelley’s presentation moved many women to tears, especially one young woman in the audience. Each time Shelley speaks, she gives away a little gift to an audience member whom God shows her during her speaking time. For this conference, she’d bought a beautiful, “bling” butterfly thumb ring and gave it away to a young woman who is recently widowed and a single mom, whom she knew nothing about – it was God! I talked with this woman during a break and she had tears of happiness in her eyes from this gift from Shelley. She had been deeply touched by Shelley’s presentation and this gift. God amazes me how He does things!

Speaker Doreen Penner

Doreen Penner shared about the transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly. When Doreen first mentioned having a conference here, she envisioned a yellow butterfly and felt the theme would be one of freedom and transformation. God gave me the word “released,” and our incredibly talented, artistic daughter Leah drew a yellow butterfly and a yellow daffodil with her graphic art tablet, that became our logo for the conference.

Daffodil-butterfly-copyright-2013-Leah-Jones

(I was so thankful that both our daughters, Heather and Leah, helped me so much to prepare for this conference and attended.)

Our daughter Leah in the pretty green blouse and black pants she wore to the RELEASED Women’s Conference

Some of the highlights from Doreen’s presentation were that

(a) God has a dream for you (you’re meant to fly!);

(b) God needs to first prepare you for your calling (the caterpillar must grow to become the beautiful butterfly it was meant to be);

(c) Transformation involves FAITH, developing your character, and timing (the caterpillar can’t leave the cocoon early. God has the perfect timing for you to fly.);

(d) God wants you to be set free – free to BE, free to SERVE, and free to LOVE. Doreen is one of the most polished, professional speakers I’ve ever seen. She is filled with wisdom and exudes peace. She gave us the spiritual “meat” for this conference. I loved what Doreen said: “Spread your wings. You never know how far you will fly.” AMEN!

Speaker Karen Wells

Karen Wells talked about the freedom of forgiveness. When we forgive, we are set free! A few of the ways we can identify that we are holding onto unforgiveness are:

You feel emotional pain.
You’re waiting for someone else to be sorry.
You feel like it’s too hard.
The person will only do it again.
You’ve tried and it didn’t work.
You don’t feel like forgiving.

Forgiveness is a decision, a choice. Jesus by choice died on the cross so you could be forgiven. He is our example. Forgiveness sets us, the prisoner, free!

One thing which Karen said which struck the women was that maybe the person we need to forgive is ourselves. Karen’s presentation and personality of joy and laughter truly blessed the women.

RELEASED! Women’s Conference, Kansas City, MO area

The Italian catered lunch

With this event, I knew I’d have way too much to do to cook or even to delegate cooking, so I had the lunch catered by Perazelli’s Italian Restaurant. I never really got a chance to sample it other than a couple of bites, because I was so busy, but I heard it was delizioso: they served salad, meat lasagna, bread with garlic butter, and cheesecake for dessert.

At 12 noon, they brought the food that had warmers underneath, set it down on the table, and the women dug in. Easy – love it! I also loved the cute purple and yellow butterfly paper plates, cups, and napkins I found online. Catering was DEFINITELY the right decision!

Catered Italian lunch

My friend Ruth Christian also made chocolate brownies for the afternoon snack, which were EXTRA delicious!

My wonderful helpers!

I’m so thankful to:

God for His wonderful, loving presence at the conference;
My hard-working, devoted husband Ray Jones for being a work horse the last 6 months to help (financially) make this conference happen;
My team of intercessors who faithfully prayed the last 6 months for me, my family, and this conference;
My amazing team of personal assistants who unselfishly said yes to God, encouraged me, and worked so hard to help make this wonderful event happen;
Our incredibly generous sponsors who donated 21 (yes, twenty-one!) door prizes and contributed to the women’s goody bags. Sponsors, YOU MADE AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE IN WOMEN’S LIVES!

Some of the sponsors’ doorprizes

Words aren’t enough to thank you all! I couldn’t have done this without all of you!

Attendees Lindsey Dawson, Heather Denney, Simmie McMillan, and Sandy Cunningham

What women said about this conference

“I just wanted to say thank you for hosting and sponsoring this special day. Each of the women who spoke had such powerful messages and I took something away from each of them. Even though I was raised in church, I am still young in my Christianity and am looking to women like these to learn from… Today was awesome and I’m truly looking forward to your next women’s faith event. In Christ, Lindsey Dawson.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed conference. Loved the theme. The worship music and prayer was powerful.The speakers were incredible. Food and snacks delicious and perfect. So well organized and could not miss that seeing/sensing the heart of God for all involved was a key ingredient in the preparation and activities. The seven hours just flew by.”- Carol Nyhan

“Beth did a super job with intro’s and pulling all this together. Naima was very awesome. Helen did so good sharing her testimony and I was very touched. Rochelle shared about “empathy,” which brought understanding. Doreen’s presentation was clear and concise. I appreciated being encouraged that caterpillars change from the inside out. Karen was phenomenal, very well done, relatable, fun, and a great blessing.”

“The music was very anointed. I got free from some weights during praise.”

“Overall, the whole experience was wonderful.”

“The speaking time, the experiences shared, the continuing growth, and the wisdom shared was invaluable.”

“Beth Jones’ Released Conference 2013 was a joy and a privilege to be a part of. With amazing attention to detail, spiritual discernment and great wisdom, Beth crafted a conference that was truly anointed. The presence of the Lord was greatly felt as she served as first a prayer warrior for all in attendance and then as a gifted hostess for the event. Beth truly hears from the Lord, adjusting as needed, serving willingly and putting together an event that truly released many women from bondage, fear and personal struggles. As the Worship Leader for this event, Beth’s planning and prayer set the atmosphere for me to minister in freedom! I would be honored to attend or serve at another event hosted by Beth Jones. She is truly equipping women to use their gifts for God!” – Dr. Naima Johnston Bush, Broken Box Ministries

The highlight for this conference was meeting my precious friend Rochelle Valasek from the Nashville, TN, area for the first time in person. “Shelley” and I have been online friends for about a year now and have talked a lot about getting together. I am so happy and excited that I finally got to HUG my dear, sweet friend. Shelley is one of the most loving, giving people I’ve ever met. She’s even more wonderful in person! I already miss her SO much!

Me and my precious friend Shelley Valasek, at the fountains by Crowne Center, Kansas City, MO

This weekend was one of joy, freedom, and transformation through the power of God.

I learned many new things which I’ll be sharing in the weeks ahead. One is which I am the one who deeply needs to be transformed.

Me in my olive green dress, little black jacket, and tall black boots, the night before the conference when our team went out to dinner

This conference was amazing. To Jesus Christ be all the praise and the honor and the glory, forever and ever, amen!

Our cross centerpiece. During the “Butterfly Exercise,” we wrote down what we needed to release to God to be free on paper butterflies and laid them down at the foot of the cross.

48 Hours until Released Women’s Conferece – what a ride!

Beth Jones — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:16:38 +0000

It’s been an insane 6 months since God spoke to Doreen Penner’s heart about visiting me in America and speaking here after I spoke at her women’s retreat in Manitoba, Canada, and God spoke to me to host, plan, and organize the RELEASED! Women’s Conference…but what a wild ride!

Only 48 hours until our big event! The 4 speakers and the worship leader, Naima Johnston-Bush, are traveling to Kansas City, Missouri, today. I can’t wait to see them!

Seats have been filling up fast the last week and the seating is limited, but there is still time to sign up if you haven’t registered yet!

You don’t want to miss this amazing time with God and His girls! You will be transformed and set free. Refilled. Refreshed. You’ll get away for a day to enjoy amazing worship and praise, God’s life-changing word, our speakers’ powerful testimonies, new friends, a delicious Italian lunch, fun door prizes, and more.

Just click here to save your seat!

No limits or labels in Christ

Beth Jones — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:43:05 +0000

Runner

I’ve been praying for the families of those killed and hurt in the Boston Marathon tragedy. It’s scary and so horrible. Our daughter Heather is a runner and runs 5k’s. She has some planned for this year. I urged her this week that we should always pray about where we are going and what we will do each day, so we will be under God’s sheltering wings of protection (Psalm 91).

Heather said she knows. She also said she will not stop running. This is true for us as believers, too. We need to press on until we finish the race and reach the high prize of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:14)

Runners inspire me. So do NIKE running commercial videos. This week I found a new one at YouTube, which inspired me for our RELEASED! Women’s Conference. We are getting closer to the date, and seats are filling up fast. Four more women registered this week. To secure your seat NOW, click here.

You can also register online at Event Brite, which gives you more payment options (Paypal, credit/debit card, invoice by email, check or cash at the door). To secure your seat using Event Brite, click here.

In the NIKE commercial, these lines at the end of the video inspired me: “Tonight I defy the ticking clock and the limits you’ve put on me.”

You can view this very unique video by clicking on the link below:

Click here to see NIKE commercial.

What limits have others have put on you?

What limits have you put on yourself?

As a child, I was sexually and physically abused. Abuse shames children, fills them with condemnation. It causes them to feel unworthy of anything good.

God has done an amazing work of healing in me. The closer I grow to Him, the more I realize that He created me for a wonderful, Divine purpose to glorify Him.

The greatest gifts God has ever given me other than my salvation are my beautiful, precious children and grandchildren, and my most precious, sacred calling is that of being a mother. I believe in my heart that there can be no higher calling than this.

God has also given me other gifts, a unique purpose from Him. I have begun to walk more deeply in that purpose the last several years, speaking, writing, and coaching.

The abuse I went through as a child was Satan’s attempt to rob me of my purpose and to cause me to think that I was unworthy of love and of God’s good things. That my life was limited.

In and of myself, I’m not worthy of receiving anything good from God, but through a relationship with Him I am deserving of all His unfathomable, eternal riches. I am a co-heir with Christ. Everything good that belongs to Jesus belongs to me! ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM GOD! (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; James 1:17)

In God there are no limits. Nothing is impossible with Him.

If someone has tried to put limits on you as a child or through adulthood, you don’t have to receive that. Or maybe you have put those limits on yourself.

You don’t have to be held back by those limits now.

You don’t have to wear that label anymore. Rip it off.

You are a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This is the year for new things. God has great things for you ahead.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19, NIV

NO LIMITS! NO LABELS!

NEW YOU. NEW DREAMS FULFILLED. NEW PURPOSE.

Believe and just see what God will do!

*******

Don’t wait! Don’t make excuses! Believe for a money miracle!

Group discounts available. If you want to come and can’t afford the $50, email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com and we can work something out. I don’t want any woman not coming because of money.

To secure your seat NOW, click here.

Register online at Event Brite, which gives you more payment options (Paypal, credit/debit card, invoice by email, check or cash at the door). To secure your seat using Event Brite, click here.

Lord, Order My Steps

Beth Jones — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:04:48 +0000

Amber Welton, me, and Sue Wilt
Archie Baptist Church ladies’ tea

Yesterday, I spoke at the ladies’ tea at the Archie Baptist Church in Archie, MO. The theme and my speaking topic were Lord, Order My Steps. God surprised me there!

Archie is a small, rural town so I thought not many women would attend. I’d only made 15 handouts (figuring only 15 to 25 at the most would show up), and to my shock and delight, the room was FILLED with women!

God spoke to me through this:

Stop thinking small
Dream big because He’s a big God
Raise your expectations!

The ladies made me feel so welcome and were so friendly, especially Amber, Tracey, and Sue Wilt who was hilarious. Sue was, I found out later, one of my friend’s aunts! Small world. I was so grateful to my daughter Heather’s friend, Amber Welton, who thought of me as a speaker and invited me to speak there!

Sue commented that she noticed Leah was “taking notes” as I spoke. What Leah was actually doing was drawing/doodling on her handout.

Leah’s drawing and doodling

Below is a pic I snapped before we began. Our daughter Leah (in blue top, center) is checking her phone, of course!

Archie Baptist Church ladies’ tea

Here were more women standing in line to register before we began.

Ladies in line, Archie Baptist Church

Linda Bogart did a beautiful job decorating the tables with cloth yellow or white tablecloths, with shoes centerpieces draped with jewelry, and with programs whose colorful shoes cover had been drawn by one of the artistic women in the church. I love seeing God’s creative gifts in His people. Each shoes centerpiece was unique, just as God made every one of us “wonderfully and fearfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

Shoes centerpieces and crystal plates & cups

The tables had crystal glass plates and cups for the yummy hors-d’oeuvres and delicious punch.

Yummy hors d’oeuvres and punch at ladies’ tea

Gwen Knibb sang the precious solo, “Via Dolorosa” (God knows I love Israel!) and the “Tea Time Singers” beautifully sang “Footsteps of Jesus.” Are you walking in all God has planned for your life?

“Tea Time Singers” Vicki Williams, Amber Welton and others singing “Footsteps of Jesus”

Christina McGinnis offered the blessing and gave us a poignant reminder, through the shoes she wore that she said weren’t her most comfortable pair: our “shoes” won’t always be so comfortable. God often calls us out of our comfort zones to obey Him. When we do, we’ll experience His blessing.

One of the beautiful, precious women who talked with me before we started was Victoria, who’s in the marketing business for speakers, writers, and other business owners. She shared with me that she’d love to start publicly speaking, teaching women what she has learned in her life about God’s unconditional love (no matter what you’ve done wrong!) and about the beautiful relationship she has with Jesus Christ.

I encouraged her that God gives us the desires of our hearts, and as she seeks Him and walks in obedience, He will open doors and give an outlet for her to speak ~ just like He has with me! God is the DREAM GIVER and the DREAM FULFILLER! Amen. Selah.

Another woman I spoke with, Donna, shared about a friend of hers, who has visited Israel numerous times and she had visited Israel herself. I’d mentioned during my presentation time that Ray and I visited Israel several years ago. This little tidbit was something that connected me with a woman in the audience. I hadn’t planned to talk about Israel, but do you know that God will put His right-on time word in your mouth?

One woman told me after I spoke that what I shared “was exactly what I needed today.”

At the tea, I shared 5 tips for God ordering your steps, using the acronym STEPS, and here they are to encourage you:

S- Spend time with God daily in prayer, reading the Bible, and worship. This is basic Christianity 101, but do we faithfully do it? The first step for God ordering your steps is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. All you have to do to be saved is call on the name of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:13) Spend time with God every day, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. As you pray, your hunger and thirst for God’s presence and His word will grow and you’ll want to spend even more time with Him.

T – Time Management. Learn to manage your time wisely. Don’t waste your time or your spiritual gifts. Are you on Facebook or Pinterest all day long? Sometimes God wants us to just relax and have fun; at other times, He wants us focused solely on Him and His purpose for your life. Are you procrastinating or holding back in fear from doing what God has called you to do? Take your calling seriously.

E – Examine Your Life and Heart. What is going well? What needs to change? Do you need transformation in your life? If so, pray about coming to the Released Women’s Conference on April 27 just outside Kansas City, MO. (Click here to find out more.) How are your relationships? Are you being all God designed you to be? Are you using your gifts for Him?

P – Priorities and Planning. Remember that Mary chose the best part which wouldn’t be taken from her – sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him. We women are like “Octo-mom” - an octopus with many arms, doing many things at once, great at multi-tasking. But even though we can do lots of things at once, that doesn’t mean it’s best. Usually there are one or two important tasks that God wants us to do each day. He may want you to spend more time with your husband, child, or a friend. He may want you to speak somewhere or to work on writing your book. What is your next step? What steps are God telling you to do right now to fulfill your life purpose?

S – Stay The Course. Don’t get distracted or let your faith be shipwrecked. Don’t doubt but trust God. Like Jesus told Peter after the resurrection, don’t worry about anyone else or compare yourself to him or her. You follow Jesus. Fulfill the God-given calling that is on your life.

Take Shape For Life program

Beth Jones — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:04:17 +0000

You know how you make New Year’s resolutions and they never seem to work? Me, too. I decided to take a different perspective this year regarding losing weight; for 2013, I’d like to become healthier and more fit (losing weight would be really nice, too!).

Our daughter Leah and I want to become fitter and began a new program this week called Take Shape for Life. You can learn more about it by clicking here. If you do decide to use this program and hire my new friend and coach, Tina Cochran, please let her know I referred you as I can get a $50 credit!

I know several people who have used it with great success. Tina decided to do something about her weight when her very honest son told her she needed to go on The Biggest Loser. She lost over 100 pounds on it and now is a health coach with the company! Better yet, she’s maintained her weight for four years!

No one has told me to go on The Biggest Loser yet, and I certainly want to avoid that happening. A full-length mirror and shopping expeditions tell me plenty: it’s past time to do something!

What I like about this program is that you don’t have to starve yourself (I LOVE to eat!) or do hours of aerobics or painful floor exercises to lose the weight (I do NOT like to exercise!)! Studies show the average weight loss for the first two weeks is 2-5 lbs and 1-2 lbs per week after with the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan. You lose weight safely and quickly, using their products in conjunction with healthy foods, exercise and health coaching – without having to get extreme!

The shipment of food that I ordered arrived today. Of course, I had to immediately test the chocolate brownies, lol. Leah’s response was a little less than enthusiastic: “They don’t taste like brownies.” I thought they were good (chocolate anything is good!).

Leah’s dry response to the program is a good reminder for us all, no matter what program or plan we use:

“If you just buy and cook healthy foods and exercise, instead of eating junk, you’ll lose weight and get in shape.”

So simple. Why don’t we do it?

Because we’re slackers. It’s a discipline issue. Healthy food? Exercise? What fun is there in that?

“We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.” Hebrews 12:11, God’s Word Translation

There’s also huge mindset issues surrounding food. We eat because:

We’re depressed.
We’re lonely.
We’re worried.
We’re angry.
We’re bored.
We’re addicted to food – often foods that aren’t healthy for us. Who do you know of who has a problem eating too many asparagus tips or too much cauliflower?

And don’t forget GUILT about food. Have you heard any of these before?

You should be thankful for those vegetables. There’s starving children in Africa (China, Haiti, America…).
Don’t waste that food. Do you know how much money we paid for that?
Food is meant to be enjoyed, like life. Eat!
What’s wrong with you? Are you sick or something? Why don’t you want any seconds?
I don’t want to eat alone. It won’t kill you just this once to have the cheesecake. Come on, join me!

We eat, we feel guilty, we diet, we lose a little weight, we slip, the guilt continues.

This is so hard to believe, but as a child I was so thin. I was the shortest, thinnest person in my class throughout school. In junior high school, I was nicknamed “Little Bit” because of it. Other than during my first pregnancy (my daughter Heather) at age 18, I remained a size 3 from 9th grade until I was in my early 30′s.

Over the last 20 years, my weight has gone up and down like a yo yo. When I married Ray over 20 years ago, I was still a size 3. THREE! (I won’t tell you my size now, but let’s just say it’s way past a 3!)

Then I became pregnant. During my pregnancy with Leah, I quickly gained 60 pounds. Yes, 60. (Pre-eclampsia. I was put on strict bed rest and gained even more.)

After I gave birth, I lost it using a doctor-prescribed weight loss pill and by walking daily. Heather and I would walk every day around town, pushing Leah in the stroller. In a couple of months, I got down to a size 7. Not a 3, but I felt so much better about myself.

After I went off the pill, I gained weight back.

This blog post is my confessional: I’m addicted to coke.

Like confessing sins to a priest, it’s now confession time to my faithful readers. Through the years, I’ve lost and gained, lost and gained. Almost always in conjunction with whether or not I’m on coke. No, not cocaine. Coke the drink. Will I be sued by the company if I put the real name on here? When I was on the prescription weight-loss pill Redux after I had Leah, I also stopped drinking coke. CLUE – it makes you gain weight!

I love coke! I’ve drank it since I was a child. I’ve stopped drinking it several times, but always go back to it, much like a drug addict on crack or an alcoholic back to alcohol.

I’m not physically addicted to it. I can stop and only have a “withdrawal” headache for a day or so. It’s more like an emotional comfort food, the way some people comfort themselves with cakes, pies, ice cream, chocolate, bread, pasta - only mine is coke. Does anyone relate to this?

I LOVE the taste of it.

I LOVE Sonic happy hour – 99 cent large cokes. What a great deal, like libraries. Leah is so humiliated because I now know some of the Sonic employees by face and by name. They know my face and my black car and they say hi with a smile. They know I want a large coke with a long straw. They know I actually do the TalktoSonic surveys online to be able to get another coke – this time a free Route 44 coke. I love driving around with the radio up and drinking a cold, iced, big coke.

My family and friends tell me to stop drinking it. Even on Facebook, right out in public, a friend posted on my wall this week to drink more water and stop drinking coke.

When I babysat my friends’ kids a couple of years ago, their son asked me every day, “Did you have a coke today? WHY? It’s bad for you! Why don’t you JUST STOP?!” Why indeed?

My last health coach couldn’t help me kick the habit. Only I can make the choice to stop.

Yes, I know how horrible and awful it is for you. Please don’t email me or leave comments telling me how the commercial trucks have to place hazardous materials on their trucks when transporting it. Just pray for me to overcome this terrible habit! Pray hard. I can’t do this without God’s help!

Coke makes you gain weight – and keep it on.

When my weight is lower, I feel good about myself. But usually hungry because I’ve been starving myself, taking prescription Redux, sucking on cokes for energy all day without eating, or forgetting to eat because I’m working hard on my laptop, busy on a project.

When my weight goes up, I feel bad about myself. Fat. Unattractive. Not enough. Less than. Envious, jealous. I look at those 5’8″, thin, sexy women gracing the covers of Cosmopolitan at the Walmart check-out line; skinny, tan teens or 20-somethings girls in tank tops, short shorts and flip flops around town; even women my age who are model-beautiful and thin, and I feel shame about my belly and thighs.

I hate being fat. I’m thankful for my relatively healthy body, and I know God and my family and friends love me anyway, but I hate being so big. I hate not feeling sexy for my husband because I’m fat.

Yes, it’s time to do something.

I’m so done with the mindset issues and the guilt and the envy.

I’m done with people in my life making me feel guilty for enjoying eating.

I’m done with beating myself up for enjoying a chocolate bar.

I’m done with worrying if I’ll get health-related illnesses from being so overweight.

I’m done with feeling physically uncomfortable because of the weight.

I’m done with going shopping and having a hard time finding something I really like because of my size.

Instead, today I’m embracing good food, good water, good health, good feeling exercise like walking and swimming, good fitting, smaller clothes soon. I’m encouraging Leah to embrace these things, too. I’m excited about health coaching with Tina! She has inspired me!

I met recently with her and was relieved to hear her say that she will not call and hound me, being my food mommy or verbally beating me up for what I ate that day. I do that to myself enough!

However, she will help me dig deeper with emotional issues surrounding food, such as why do I (or others) sabotage my fitness success? Why do I eat or drink things that I know are unhealthy, cause me to gain weight, or have no nutritional value whatsoever? Why don’t I consider myself valuable enough or worthy enough to take care of me?

Most importantly, don’t I realize that I can’t fulfill the great purpose God has for my life if I don’t take care of this holy temple that God created and belongs to Him? I can’t achieve the things God wants for me if I’m not feeling well, unhealthy, sick, or even just plain sluggish and tired. I have big dreams in my heart. I believe God put them there. But those dreams can’t come to pass if I’m too fat to do them, if I become sick and unhealthy.

God also doesn’t want me to feel bad about myself when I look in the mirror.

And what are options to fast food or ordering a pizza on the nights I’m tired and don’t feel like cooking, or don’t want to cook?

I’d appreciate your prayers as Leah and I embark on this new, exciting adventure. Taking charge of our health and our fitness. Losing weight in a healthy way.

Meanwhile, be sure to check out Take Shape For Life, too. Just click here. I will let you know how it goes. It can’t hurt!

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (The Ending)

Beth Jones — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:50:18 +0000

Are you communicating clearly?
Motivate your audience
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP!

This is part 8, and the conclusion, of my SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers blog series. You can read Part 7 by clicking here.

Part 8: SOS Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (The Ending, or Your Conclusion)

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” ~ Lao Tzu

Just like you can’t ever make a first impression again, you can’t make a last impression again. How will the audience remember you? What aha’s will they take away from you speaking? What are you trying to COMMUNICATE?

You want to WOW the audience with your conclusion. I love what Ibloom Founder/Speaker/Author Kelly Thorne Gore writes in her book Empowering Coaches: The Christian Coach’s Guide to a Successful Business on page 45:

“Conclude by summarizing and giving your audience a clear next step to take. I heard a very well trained pastor give what he called the message of his life. He unfolded his talk, gave stories, kept us interested, and had great information. But when he was finished, he simply said, “If I could only give one message before I died, this is what it would be.” Then he walked off the stage. We were all left with interesting information but we didn’t know what to do with it. You must let your audience know what their next step is as a result of listening to you speak.”

You aren’t speaking up front just to show off your cute new outfit and shoes or your sharp blue suit. You want to connect with their hearts and minds and for them to learn a new idea, to buy your product or service, or for something to happen as a result of them listening to you – to take a next step, to take action.

It is a great disservice to the audience to leave them hanging and wondering what to do now, not giving them any action step(s). They will be confused, or at the very least, they’ll walk out thinking, “That was nice. He’s lived an interesting life. But what was the point of his speech? Hey, do you want to go eat some Chinese? I’m hungry.”

You want to impact your listeners with God’s Biblical truths, your experience(s), and creative ideas that will practically help, transform, and improve their lives. You show them how your message, your products, services, or other offering can do that.

For example, event planners should hire me for their women’s conference because I am a passionate, Biblically-grounded, and humorous speaker who loves to encourage women to use their gifts for God’s glory, doing what they love. When I speak, I share how one of my books, Walking With God, teaches people how to develop a daily quiet time with God in the midst of their busy, hectic schedules and to hear His voice to fulfill their great purpose in life.

Shine and be the inspiring example for them. Your message should be shared in such a passionate, intriguing way that people are compelled to move from the unsatisfying place where they are now to a new, exciting place where they want to be! Help them to get unstuck with intentional, positive choices and to accelerate forward with their lives.

Impart encouragement, hope, and joy. Speak God’s love and truth into their souls. And when you conclude your presentation, remind them of the key points (no more than 3 to 5 points usually, or they will forget and ask their girlfriend, “What was the 13th point again?) and re-emphasize your one BIG point. (Please, you do have a point, don’t you?) What are you wanting to say?

Maybe it’s that God is a merciful, loving God who forgives sins – no matter what they’ve done in the past.
Maybe it’s that Jesus still heals today.
Maybe it’s that God has a purpose for their life. (So many people don’t understand or believe this!)
Maybe it’s that there is still life after divorce – even joy and happiness.
Maybe it’s that God wants to prosper their business and bless them beyond what they think or can imagine.
Maybe it’s that they can become a life coach, even if they’re working in a job right now that’s a totally different field…and to just take that next step of faith.

Whatever your big point is, communicate it clearly and motivate them to take the next step.

And leave them with a feeling of “WOW.”

Then your conclusion will be just the beginning….of a relationship between you and her/him.

“Stories are like fairy gold, the more you give away, the more you have.” – Polly McGuire

Come To The Edge (Christopher Logue)

Come to the edge.

We might fall.

Come to the edge.

It’s too high!

COME TO THE EDGE!

And they came, and he pushed, and they flew.

*******

Are you an event planner? I’d love to speak at your women’s conference or event! Click here to learn more about my Speaking or contact me by clicking here.

WILD CHILD: What are you wild about? Released Women’s Conference

Beth Jones — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:57:48 +0000

Daffodil-butterfly-copyright-2013-Leah-Jones

Today I bought a cute, new colorful, summery top that has the words WILD CHILD on it. What are you wild about? What is your passion? In the video below, I share what I’m wild about and about the upcoming RELEASED! Women’s Conference.

Seating is limited and the seats are filling up. You can secure your spot today by clicking here.

You can also register online through Event Brite. There’s a variety of options for payment including Paypal, credit/debit card, invoice by email, check, or cash at the door. To learn more, click here.

Enjoy the video! I’d love to hear your comments. Just leave them in the comment section below.

Please share this with your family and friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media sites. PIN it! If you are on Twitter, the hashtag is #released-womens-conference.

WILD CHILD video

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (Content)

Beth Jones — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:53:09 +0000

This is part 7 of my blog series, SOS: Starting Out Speaking For Beginner Speakers. You can read part 6 by clicking here.

In the last blog post in this series, we covered your speaking bio, that the event planner will (hopefully) share to introduce you just before you enter the presentation area. Today we’ll talk about content ideas for your speaking presentation.

As I shared before in this series, there are 2 rules for speaking:

Have something interesting to say.
Don’t be boring!

As a Christian believer, I also add a third, which is the most important:

Say what God tells you to say and glorify Jesus. You can’t go wrong here!

Here’s what the Bible says in Jeremiah 1: 4-10, CEV: “The Lord said: “Jeremiah, I am your Creator, and before you were born, I chose you to speak for me to the nations.” I replied, “I’m not a good speaker, Lord, and I’m too young.” “Don’t say you’re too young,” the Lord answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don’t leave out a word!I promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don’t be afraid.” The Lord reached out his hand, then he touched my mouth and said, “I am giving you the words to say, and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction, and of rising and rebuilding again.”

After God gives you the main message He wants you to share with the audience, how do you get inspired to write your content? Here’s 5 tips for inspired content:

1. The Bible. God’s word is alive. Exciting real-life stories filled with adventure such as the Flood and the rainbow, Job a good man who had bad things happen to him, a young Jewish girl named Hadassah who God set apart for a great purpose as queen, David the shepherd boy who God chose to fight on the front lines of war and raised up to be king, Mary Magdalene who had 7 demons cast out of her, who was the first evangelist. Examples, both serious and humorous (like gloomy, doubting Thomas who said, “Let us go to Jerusalem, too, that we may die with Jesus”), that teach us important truths such as having strong faith.

Jesus’ stories and Solomon’s romantic poetry, the lonely but faithful prophets, the apostle Paul who was mocked for his faith in Jesus, the teen girl Mary’s faithful obedience, the wisdom of the Proverbs, the disciples who constantly screwed up, yet God used to spread the gospel around the world (which gives us hope!). There is so much meat in the Bible, which makes solid content for your speaking presentation.

2. Daily life. My family knows by now that practically anything they say or do is fodder for my speaking or writing! Your life provides some of the BEST creative material for speaking. Anything goes. Have an observing eye and a listening ear, and write things down in your journal for your next speaking presentation.

Your kids’ antics and conversations are so truthful and often funny and make wonderful anecdotes to share when you speak. Your husband or a friend may speak a word of wisdom (or of irritation!) that you can quote, like Ray saying to me last week in the car when I told him to stop trying to control me about a matter, “There is no controlling you! You are like a wild horse racing off a cliff with no one able to stop you!”

A financial crisis, health issue, career or ministry change, or fitness goals (such as our daughter Heather recently losing 25 pounds by cutting out sugar and running for exercise) can be shared as insightful lessons that help and comfort others.

What experiences have you had or what is happening in your life right now? Do you have 10 kids and/or do you homeschool your kids? Have you been a flight attendant or are you a jewelry artist? Were you in a nearly fatal car accident and God miraculously healed you like He did my friend Rochelle Valasek, one of the speakers for our RELEASED Women’s Conference on April 27?

You might not think it’s so interesting, but others may. People love to hear stories – yours and other people’s. Jesus used stories to teach truth. What stories can you share?

3. Travel. I love traveling so much and other than the Bible, it provides the most inspiration for my speaking and writing. Whether it’s flying internationally or driving on a fun road trip, listening to the radio with the wind in your face like in the beautiful picture above, going to a new place inspires you and taps into your creativity.

Traveling alters your perspective by letting you see, hear and experience new things. Traveling makes me feel more alive than anything else. I want to travel all around the world, on every continent, before I die.

Where do you want to go? Where have you traveled that you can share about when you speak?

4. Nature. A gorgeous rainbow of tulips, Ireland-green grass, cherry blossom trees bursting into bloom in spring, the sun on your face, stars sparkling against a black night, the magnificence of the ocean – God’s creation is one of the greatest sources of inspiration for speaking and writing.

I’ve been thinking about having a beach retreat later this year and a dear friend wrote me an email this week which said, “I saw your thread on FB (Facebook) about a beach retreat! It does sound amazing, Beth. Really, by the ocean where the breeze blows your stress away and you see God so clearly in His awesome, powerful, beautiful creation – the ocean. It always makes me think of Goldie Hawn saying that her father told her that if she “ever starts to feel too big for her britches” to stand by the ocean and remember how small she really is. The ocean seems to put things back in perspective.”

Another friend of mine on Facebook, Jennifer, said that as she’s been walking outside recently, God has been giving her exciting, new ideas to start a Creative Coaching business. Get out in the sun, the fresh air, and nature to be inspired with fresh ideas for your next presentation.

Share about your pets and others’ pets, animals at the zoo, like the polar bear with the thick, white fur who was pacing back and forth in the enclosure and looking so hot in the summer heat at the Kansas City zoo when Leah and I visited last year, or your fish that died from a friend’s child who fed it Oreo cookies’ crumbs. (A true story that happened to our daughter Leah’s fish when she was a toddler.)

5. News, t.v. shows, and movies. I hardly ever watch the news and don’t watch t.v. I don’t have time and it’s usually so negative or crass. But once in awhile, I’m intrigued by something unusual in the news, my heart quickened by a great new movie, or am inspired by someone like Angie Miller on American Idol.

You want to at least be aware of what’s popular and share material that is relevant to your audience.

In my next blog post, we’ll talk about your presentation conclusion – it’s important to WOW! your audience with your intro and your conclusion, leaving them with a great take-away.

Ibloom in Business book

Beth Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:15:48 +0000

ibloom in Business cover

This week I found one of the best books I’ve ever read on building a successful business as a Christian woman entrepreneur, ibloom in Business: Equipping You To Build a Successful Business While Living a Life You Love by Kelly Thorne Gore.

You can buy it at the ibloom website by clicking on this link: iBloom Website. Just scroll down the page and you will see it on the right sidebar.

I love Kelly and I love everything about this book. The content is so yummy – solid, practical advice and tips to help you learn how to become a smart, savvy biz owner, and shared in Kelly’s upbeat, encouraging voice.

It’s so true that we judge a book by its cover, and the cover is so cute with the flower bloom in the word “ibloom” and the colored tabs on the right side. I love the slick cover.

I was delighted to read Kelly’s comments recommending self-publishing vs. traditional publishing on page 66. In case, you think self-published books don’t do as well as traditionally published books, it’s listed as Amazon’s Bestseller #1 for Entrepreneurs (#4 for all Business books and #25 for nonfiction).

Kelly shares her personal journey of how she started in business in the intro, and “with the heart of a girlfriend and the accountability of a drill sergeant,” she guides you through the steps she has walked to achieve her own successful business at ibloom.

She includes exercises you can do, writing in the book, such as discovering your brilliance zone, what next step you want your client to take, and your plan for success – how you’ll be celebrating one year from today with what you’ve achieved in your business.

What I love about Kelly is that she goes to God first for her business success. She writes on page 17, “The most important part of my day is my quiet time each morning. I think of it as the most important business meeting of my day. This is the time I’ve set aside to deepen my relationship with Christ. I spend time listening to worship music, praising Him, reading His word, praying, listening, and just being still. Did you know that if you ask God to speak to you, He will? This was and is still mind blogging to me. The God of the universe wants to have a conversation with me! And, with YOU!”

*This is an affiliate link. I only recommend products or services that I have used myself or that I truly believe in.

I am featured as an Aspiring Woman

Beth Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:59:57 +0000

I am so excited, honored, and humbled to be featured as an Aspiring Woman for April 2013 in She Aspires.

I appreciate so much this great opportunity from She Aspires Founder Wendy Lockhart.

What is an Aspiring Woman?

“There are many Biblical and modern women that aspire to excellence and greatness for God in their personal lives and in their business. They are devoted to God first and allow His power to transform their lives as they impact the world for Him. They are true examples of an aspiring woman.”

You can view my feature by clicking here, and then click on my name Beth Jones.

Released Women’s Conference video

Beth Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:47:18 +0000

It’s April and now less than a month away until our RELEASED! Women’s Conference. Are you signed up yet? Seating is limited and the seats are filling up. Click here to save your spot.

Below is a video I made on Animoto tonight about the conference. Enjoy! Let me know what you think of it in the comments below – and be sure to share it and about this amazing conference with your family and friends!

Released Women’s Conference Video

Make a video of your own at Animoto.

Picnic Puddles

Beth Jones — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:50:19 +0000

Family picnic

At night when I lay down to sleep, often I’m wide awake and my mind buzzes with the best ideas. Last night was one of them, when I thought of a family picnic.

Earlier in the day, our daughter Leah and I went to the park to get some fresh air and to feel the warm sun on our faces, after spring cleaning our house. It was a beautiful day.

Tomorrow probably will be too, I mused. Perfect for a picnic. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, pickles, devilled eggs, a sweet dessert.

As I drifted off to sleep, I heard the sound of distant thunder. This was the first sign.

This morning when I woke up, I looked out the front door window and saw that it’d rained last night (rain puddles on the street and in the yard) and the temp had dropped considerably. This was the second sign.

Ray went to get his haircut and to pick up a part for our car, while I got ready.

Everybody and their mother was in town; the traffic was thick. Yesterday’s deposit hadn’t cleared yet in our bank account so my debit/credit bank card was declined at the deli. Third sign. I felt my blood pressure beginning to rise.

I asked the deli employee to hold the chicken for me. I had to run back home to transfer money from another account and then drive back for our fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and mac-n-cheese. It was the last batch of their fried chicken and nobody else was getting that chicken but our family!

Ray had eaten all our pickles at home (Ray eats pickled everything: pickles, pickled okra, pickled asparagus, pickled peppers). We just would have to do without the pickles today. I didn’t want to wait to eat until the eggs had boiled to make the devilled eggs (a staple for picnics!), because the sky looked ominously like rain again.

Thunder and lightning

When I went home, Ray and Leah were still sitting on the couch in their pajamas, watching a sci-fi show. I transferred the money and then ordered, ”GET DRESSED!” as I went out the door. Do I have to give instructions to everyone for a picnic? I thought as I raced to the grocery store before the rain started. Don’t you love the picture of our perfect family get-togethers and my Godly, patient lovingkindness?

I hurried back to the store and on the way home, the cars moved at a TURTLE pace. The PMS-like thought crossed my mind that I could easily crash into anyone who got into my way like at a demolition derby, without a second thought.

Just keepin’ it real.

Dear God, please help me not to cuss at everyone, I began to pray. This is Easter weekend. Don’t let me blow it. Your son Jesus died on the cross so I could be free from my mouth and my wrong thoughts.

We finally got to the park. By this time I was happy again. The shelter picnic tables were wet from last night’s rain. I’d brought a thick, powder blue sheet to lay on the table as our tablecloth, so I wiped down the seats and the table with it, then laid it on the table. Here’s a pic I snapped of our picnic “feast.” Notice the rain spot on the concrete in the background.

Picnic at park

What is a picnic without delicious, crisp fried chicken? Ray and Leah are partial to drumsticks. They played “Rock, scissors, paper, Spock, lizard” to win the second drumstick…Leah won, but gave it to Ray anyway. (I think they made this game up because they are avid Star Trek fans and love Spock.) There was still another piece left for her and me, too.

Fried Chicken

What is fried chicken without mashed potatoes and gravy?

White Gravy and mashed potatoes

Leah likes mac-n-cheese.

Today there was no warm sunshine. Leah and Ray dislike the cold, but they’ve learned over the years to tolerate my spontaneous, crazy ideas like having a picnic in the lower 60′s.

As we ate, Ray made jokes like, “Feel that tingly feeling in your fingers? It’s called hypothermia,” or, “Leah, don’t fall into the water. There’s no life guard on duty.” (the big mud puddles) Leah giggled.

Yesterday the park was filled with laughing and running children. You’ll notice in the pic that Leah is wearing her purple sweater, Ray has on his jacket, and not anyone else is there. Leah dryly said that nobody goes to the park or has a picnic when it’s cold and rainy. From the looks on their faces, I think the title to this pic should be, Whatever keeps Beth happy.

Leah and Ray Jones on picnic

Well, I had fun anyway! The food was good and we made a family memory – even if it’s a unique one.

Beth and Ray Jones on picnic

For dessert, the three of us shared this cute Easter bunny, coconut-chocolate cupcake.

Easter bunny coconut-chocolate cupcake

Hope you have a blessed Resurrection weekend. Make some special family memories. JESUS IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUAH!!!

In Him I live and move and have my being. (Acts 17:28)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” – John 11: 25-26

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (Your Bio, Part 2)

Beth Jones — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:14:11 +0000

This is part 6 of my SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers blog series. You can read part 5 by clicking here.

In the last blog series post, I shared how important your bio is. What should your bio say -and NOT include?

This is Dr. Smith, B.A., M.D, Ph.D., BHA, MSCP

I love learning new things. I believe in higher education. I graduated from high school, and then graduated from Valdosta Area Vocational Technical School with an Executive Secretarial degree. In my 20′s, I pursued a college degree in social work, and was almost a senior at the University of Kansas when I had to drop out of my classes from severe morning sickness in my pregnancy with Leah. ( I threw up ALL the time for months!) When she was a toddler, I took distance learning seminary classes and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Counseling.

One day I hope to finish my secular college social work degree, mostly because I don’t like loose ends and like to finish what I start. I’ve never stopped studying, though. Since then, I graduated from CLASServices’ professional speakers’ and writers’ training. I’m a member of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs and for the last two years, I’ve had extensive online education and training in speaking, writing, entrepreneurship, business, marketing, social media, and much more. Last year I was part of a mastermind group of women with my coach. I LOVE learning!

Who cares?!

You don’t care, right? I’m not impressed by titles, degrees, diplomas, or other letters before or after a name and many other people aren’t, either. Sometimes these can be a turn-off; the audience can’t relate to this because they don’t have a higher education. It can actually cause them to put a wall up with you.

If I’m speaking to a group of African-American women who are poor, single mothers in the slums of Africa who just want to find clean water for their babies or to Chinese women oppressed by their government under threat of heavy fines or even prison for sharing the gospel with their neighbors, and I’m introduced by the meeting planner with her sharing about my post-secondary education, these women in the audience may respond with, “Who does this business woman think she is, with her Bible college degree and her white self in prosperous America? She doesn’t know what my hard life is like!”

(For the record, I’ve had a hard life too: childhood sexual and physical abuse, physical and/or verbal abuse in every relationship with a man I’ve ever had, my daughter and I being the victims of domestic violence in my previous one-year marriage, 3 abortions, three head-on car wrecks with whiplash, the severe financial struggles of single motherhood, both my daughters having previous severe medical problems (now healed by Jesus), financial crises one after the other, the loss of a home in the U.S. housing crisis, friends, family, and church leaders coming against and attacking me and my character, a marriage quickly unraveling on the verge of divorce, and much more. Just FYI.)

A long list of credentials may cause you a stumbling block immediately with your audience. At other times, credentials can open doors of favor and opportunity for you that someone without degrees or higher education or training wouldn’t be able to walk through. It depends on your audience. But it’s not letters before or after your name or other credentials that make you a great speaker.

Your bio is very important. It can woo your audience or turn their faces and hearts away.

You can’t make a great first impression later

You never get another chance to make a great first impression. What you want your bio to do when the event planner introduces you before you walk on stage is help the audience decide that they want to listen to you! That they have a reason to.

The bio is a mini-speech that tells the topic, why it’s important to the audience (why they should pay attention!), and who the speaker is.

Just the highlights of your life, your accomplishments and career as they relate to the audience, are all you need. If your bio is a barely scaled-down-length-version of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, they’ll be bored or turned off before you even get started. You want them hungry and eager to hear from you. You want them to anticipate you opening your mouth!

Do you own white Arabian horses or run?

If I’m in the audience, I want to know if the man or woman standing up front is married, single, divorced, or widowed, if he or she has any children, and yes, if they have 3 cats or 5 Arabian horses. I want to know where they live. Do you write children’s books or scuba dive in the Caribbeans? I want to know something personal about this person, like they paint abstract art as a hobby or they’re a runner and have done ten 5-k runs since they turned 50 years old and are training for a half-marathon now. Give me something that helps me to know you before you start speaking.

I can’t stand to have someone immediately start talking at me without me knowing a single thing about him or her and leaving me wondering, “Is she married? Never been married and she’s 55 years old? Why not? Does she hate men? Did her fiancé at 25 years old break up with her and she was too heart broken to ever marry again? What?”

My mind just goes wild. I have to know. I hate secrets. I can’t stand not being able to open Christmas presents before Christmas and always shake the box to figure out what it is, like a little kid. I try to guess what Ray or our kids got me, while they laugh.

One time I attended a women’s meeting and couldn’t concentrate on anything she said because she hadn’t even said her name when she began speaking (and the event planner hadn’t bothered to do this, either!), and if she was married or not. I wondered the entire time about these two things as she spoke; it hindered my ability to receive!

Your audience wants to know you, too. Let them know a little with your bio. Not too much. You don’t want them to feel like you are throwing up all over them. They don’t need to know your life story with your bio. Include your most important accomplishments, but just give them the highlights.

It’s like painting. You don’t want a blank, white canvas. You want to put some color on there to start. Paint broad strokes of pale white or a neutral color first. Then the background colors of blue sky and white clouds. This is your bio.

Then you begin to fill in the canvas with blue tall bellflowers and varying shades of green grass. (Your introduction) Finally, you paint the woman in a purple sundress, with her worn book under the shade of a huge oak tree, but she’s not reading it. She’s looking away in the distant, at the man walking toward her – the One she loves. (This is the rest of your content, your conclusion)

In my next SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers blog series, I’ll share about ideas for content for your speaking presentation.

Are you enjoying this blog series? Share your comments below. What do you want to know about a speaker before he or she starts speaking? What don’t you want to know?

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Join me and 4 powerful speakers for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference in Belton, MO, on April 27. You will be incredibly blessed and walk away with empowerment to fulfill your purpose in 2013. Click here to save your spot and register today.

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers – Your Bio

Beth Jones — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:07:19 +0000

This is part 5 of my SOS: Starting Out Speaking blog series. To read part 4, click here.

If someone were to ask you who you are, what would you say?

a wife and a mom
an organic farmer
a volcanologist
a French chef on a cruise ship
a science fiction writer
a life purpose coach
an artist
an Indie musician
an underwater welder
an Alaskan Crab fisherman
a professional tea taster (yes, this is a real job!)
a celebrity look-alike.

Your who, your identity, isn’t what you do. But we often identify ourselves through our work, our education or knowledge, our gifts, and our accomplishments, and these things help others to know how to relate better to us.

When an event planner introduces a speaker before he or she comes to the presentation area, it “preps” the audience. Your audience must get to know you before they trust you. Your credibility doesn’t always get established by bragging about your credentials or having them introduced. If your audience feels like you care about them, they’ll listen to you.

How does your topic relate to them?
What problem can you help them solve?
What is something new they learned?
What need can you meet?
What hurt can you help heal?
What encouragement can you give them?
How did you bring a smile to their faces or make them laugh?
What “aha’s” did they take away from listening to you; what will they remember?
How did you impact and/or change their lives?

In my next post, I’ll share more about the bio – what it should say, and what it should NOT include.

Are you enjoying this blog series? Share your comments below. What do you want to know about a speaker before he or she starts speaking? What don’t you want to know?

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (Intro Part 2)

Beth Jones — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:40:52 +0000

This is part 4 of my blog series, SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers. You can read Part 3 by clicking here.

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (Intro Part 2)

In my last blog SOS: Starting Out Speaking blog post, I shared how the first few moments of your speech is vital. You want to immediately grab your audience’s attention or you will lose them. Below is an excerpt of Joachim de Posada’s intro to his TED speech on the secret to success, which is an excellent example of a great intro to a speaking presentation:

I’m here because I have a very important message: I think we have found the most important factor for success. And it was found close to here, Stanford. Psychology professor took kids that were four years old and put them in a room all by themselves. And he would tell the child, a four-year-old kid, “Johnny, I am going to leave you here with a marshmallow for 15 minutes. If, after I come back, this marshmallow is here, you will get another one. So you will have two.” To tell a four-year-old kid to wait 15 minutes for something that they like, is equivalent to telling us, “We’ll bring you coffee in two hours.” (Laughter) Exact equivalent.

So what happened when the professor left the room? As soon as the door closed… two out of three ate the marshmallow. Five seconds, 10 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, two minutes, four minutes, eight minutes. Some lasted 14-and-a-half minutes. (Laughter) Couldn’t do it. Could not wait. What’s interesting is that one out of three would look at the marshmallow and go like this … Would look at it. Put it back. They would walk around. They would play with their skirts and pants.

That child already, at four, understood the most important principle for success, which is the ability to delay gratification. Self-discipline: the most important factor for success. 15 years later, 14 or 15 years later, follow-up study. What did they find? They went to look for these kids who were now 18 and 19. And they found that 100 percent of the children that had not eaten the marshmallow were successful. They had good grades. They were doing wonderful. They were happy. They had their plans. They had good relationships with the teachers, students. They were doing fine.

Why is this such a great intro? Joachim is using the power of story – and even better, a funny story. If you are like me, you’re not a natural-born comedian so you might hesitate to use a joke or a funny story when you first step up to the mic. (I have a great, off-the-wall sense of humor, though, and a dry wit.) The story doesn’t have to be funny. But stories, if told well, are a natural way to connect with your audience. Jesus often used stories to teach His disciples.

For example, when I spoke in Canada at Doreen Penner’s women’s retreat, I began my presentation with the fairy tale story of Cinderella. This related to my speaking topic on fulfilling your God-given purpose, Walk In The Shoes That Fit You.

What’s your favorite story? What stories can you share in your intro or even sprinkle throughout your presentation? Remember and write down your stories to tell when you speak somewhere. You can also begin to collect stories from family, friends, peers, books, and the news to share with your audience. Stories connect hearts and are a powerful truth-teaching tool.

In the next post, we’ll talk about your bio that the event planner will use to introduce you right before you go to the presentation area.

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Come hear our anointed keynote speaker Doreen Penner and our other amazing speakers at the RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27, 2013, in Belton, MO. Click here to learn more. We’d love to see you there!

American Idol Contestant Angie Miller’s Amazing Voice

Beth Jones — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:19:09 +0000

Angie Miller

I don’t usually watch t.v., but this week I watched videos on YouTube of some of the American Idol Top 10 contestants. I’m very passionate about women using their gifts from God, and Angie Miller’s voice is truly a gift from Him. I believe God is going to use her mightily for His glory.

Angie is a Christian (her parents are pastors) and is a beautiful, young, vibrant girl with a sparkle in her eyes and a gorgeous smile, who is a shining star already with 34,875 Twitter followers. She is 19 years old, says she loves to sing, and “Loves God. Loves Music. Loves Others.” She writes her own songs, plays the piano beautifully and sings amazingly.

Here is Angie’s song, that she wrote herself, You Set Me Free. Enjoy! I’ve watched it over and over!

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Do you need to be set free from something? Come to our RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27 outside Kansas City, MO. Click here to learn more and to register.

SOS: Starting Out Speaking for Beginner Speakers (Intro Tips)

Beth Jones — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:20:13 +0000

This is part 3 of my blog series on public Speaking. You can read part 2, SOS: Starting Out Speaking For Beginner Speakers , here.

You’re on stage, smiling and energized. You’re prayed up. You know your story and have gone over your notes many times, so you feel ready. Your bottle of cold water and visual aids are on the little table by the podium within easy reach. Sound has been checked. The audience is attentive, leaning in, eager to hear what you’ll have to say because they’ve heard about this event.

You open your mouth and out it comes, “Wow, it’s so much hotter here than it is in Kansas City! Well hi ya’ll, I’m Beth Jones and I’m so excited to be here today! I want to thank Sherry for inviting me here.”

NO, NO, NO!

Your opening and ending lines are critical to a successful speaking presentation! Don’t start talking about the weather, the building, or introducing yourself with your name and trivia about your family! (Ask me how I know these things?! I’m learning from my mistakes.)

You want to immediately grab them, not lose the energy in the room. That first impression and the first few seconds are vital for the rest of your speaking presentation.

Here’s a few tips for a great intro to quickly engage your audience:

Share a great story. This can be funny or not, but make it relevant to your audience and to your topic. Sounds obvious, but if you want to be a speaker, make sure you have something interesting to say! Stories interest people. Jesus told parables to teach. When I attended CLASServices professional speakers’ and writers’ training, speaking legend Florence Littauer talked about the power of story and demonstrated it well with her hilarious but poignant stories, such as how different hers and her husband Fred’s personalities were. She’s a flamboyant Sanguine who loves to talk and to have fun. Fred was a moody melancholy who only became excited when half a school wing burned down. Nothing short of tragedy moved him and he liked to focus on the negatives. ( Personality Plus, Florence Littauer, p. 108) Draw in your audience with a good story in your intro.
Ask a question. Frame it in a way that people know exactly what you want. If you are talking about fear of public speaking and ask them to raise their hand if they’ve ever experienced this fear and what bodily symptoms they get that shows they’re nervous, they’ll know what you mean and will be able to answer quickly, “Sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling faint or nausea, dry mouth, etc.” etc. Make sure your question isn’t vague. Use their answers so they’ll want to continue contributing and never humiliate them with the answer they gave. Asking a question stimulates the audience and connects you with them. Don’t make the question too obvious, too complicated, or too deep theologically/philosophically or you’ll get the blank stares and an awkward silence. You want them to be able to answer so you connect.
Use an inspirational quote. A great quote can jumpstart you into your topic immediately. Quotes from Christian leaders such as Zig Ziglar or John Maxwell or author Maya Angelou are good examples. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” - Maya Angelou. Sharing that quote might be the perfect intro for you to share your story of childhood sexual abuse and how you overcame that tragedy to become healed and empowered through your faith in Christ, and the way God is using you today to minister to women who have gone through that same pain.
Start with a current event (or popular person) or something another speaker said. When I spoke at Doreen Penner’s women’s retreat in Canada, Doreen, Karen Wells, and I referred to each other during our presentation times. It united us and connected the audience with us. Popular news items will hook your audience right away. If you speak about gun control or how the cardinals are electing a new pope, or about Beyoncé lip syncing at the Inauguration, most people will have at least a little idea of what you’re talking about and will be engaged immediately.

These are just a few tips for your speaking presentation intro. I hope you’re enjoying these SOS Speaking Tips for Beginner Speakers. I’d love to hear your comments about what you think of this topic below. What’s the best or worst intro at a speaking engagement you’ve ever heard – or have done yourself?!

SOS: Starting Out Speaking Tips For Beginner Speakers

Beth Jones — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:52:58 +0000

Beth Jones, speaking at Women of Destiny Conference, Bahamas

Have you always dreamed of speaking on stage, but the dream has never become a reality? Do you want to start speaking publicly, but don’t know how to get started? In my last post, I wrote about when I first started speaking. It wasn’t my idea; I was real shy and terrified to speak in front of even a few people! But God had other plans.

I’m so glad He did because now I LOVE speaking! It energizes me and makes me happy. My desire is to glorify Jesus and share about God’s love and the great plans He has for women everywhere, to use their gifts for Him and doing what they love.

Recently in a Facebook forum, a fellow peer thanked me for sharing encouragement with other beginner speakers. I’d like to share some here as well.

SOS: Starting Out Speaking Tips for Beginner Speakers

1. Speak whenever and wherever you can. The way you get speaking gigs is to speak, or as Speaker/Author/Success Coach Cheryl Pullins says, “Let them experience you.” Speak at churches, Bible studies, Rotary Clubs, MOPS meetings, workshops, and whatever door opens for you. Tell everyone you know that God put this desire in your heart and that you are now available for speaking and scheduling events. Email family and friends to let them know. Share about your availability at church, your kids’ schools or homeschool co-op, with neighbors, your husband’s co-workers, your best friend, and your in-laws.

Remember if you don’t take yourself seriously, they won’t either. It doesn’t matter if anyone thinks you aren’t “qualified” to speak. God is the one who has called, qualified, and anointed you! The good fruit from your life will be evidence to them after awhile. People can’t ignore the fact that doors are beginning to open for you from God!

2. Pray (being very specific) for speaking gigs. Jesus told His disciples, “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22, NLT) How can you receive if you aren’t even asking?

Be specific in prayer and ask God for whatever number of speaking opportunities you desire per month or year. If this is really your gift and what God wants for you to do, you’ll get speaking opportunities as you walk in obedience to Him. Every speaking engagement I’ve ever received, they have come to me to ask me to speak! “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”- Proverbs 18:16

3. Speak for free. Initially you may have to speak for free. Yes, nada. I know, it burns, it burns! That is what I did, and what so many speakers do. Get your pride out of the way and first get some experience and credibility! You aren’t going to be paid the big bucks when you’ve only spoken a couple of times!

In fact, if your motive for speaking is the money, you might reconsider another career or ministry! Yes, you can have a successful, profitable speaking business. But it takes TIME. And if money is your motive, it’s probably not going to work.

YES, I am a fiercely passionate advocate of Christian Speakers being paid. It makes me bristle when I hear people say that you shouldn’t “charge for your ministry.” Really? So every pastor in America needs to get another full-time job so they can earn a paycheck! Christian Speakers are one of the only professions/ministries I know of, who hear this objection to their pay. This is not just my ministry; it is my home business, my “career,” the way I am helping to bring in income to our family (you know, like the Proverbs 31 woman who bought a vineyard with her earnings!).

If you know a lawyer, doctor, CPA, nurse, preschool teacher or any other number of fields, you wouldn’t expect him or her to go to work and not get paid, would you? Then why is it any different for Christian speakers? This has always made me curious! I believe with all my heart what the Bible says, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18)

But when you’re first starting out, you may have to gain experience first before you can start charging. And sometimes, even after you’ve been doing this awhile, there may be situations where you still speak for free or for less than your normal fee, such as an honorarium or love offering.

After you’ve gained credibility and much experience, you have to make a decision about whether you are still willing to speak for free (or less than your fee, an honorarium, or a love offering). As my friend Diane says, “You can’t pick my brain for free because my brain is expensive! I’ve invested a lot of money into this brain, learning new things!” Sometimes the benefits you gain from the opportunity are better than money, such as the opportunity to travel somewhere new, the new audieence you may be reaching (which may mean even MORE speaking opportunities for you in the future), or greater exposure for your business.

4. Ask for testimonials right away after you speak from the church’s women’s ministry leader or the event planner. That way you are freshly in her mind, and she will remember how well it went. Testimonials help to establish you as a reputable speaker. Canadian Speaker/Author Sheila Wray Gregoire has excellent advice for speakers on her blog, Becoming a Christian Women’s Speaker.

5. Be easy to work with for event planners. Please, please, don’t be a difficult, high-maintenance speaker. If you want to have a successful Speaking Business, you must be professional! Don’t whine about how few attendees are in the audience, the lousy mic or sound equipment, or the food the meeting planner serves you that you just can’t stomach.

Arrive in plenty of time for your speaking presentation, so the event planner isn’t biting her nails, wondering if she’ll have a no-show for her important event. Communicate when needed with the event planner after being hired so she won’t worry (without your boundaries being violated, which is another post!).

Have your bio printed out for her when you arrive, in case she forgot hers. I learned from Speaker Felicia Slattery several years ago that you do not want to start your speech with saying your name, talking about the weather or the building, or any other inane comment or you are going to instantly LOSE your audience. Those first few seconds are crucial to your audience tuning into you. Start and end your presentation with power!

Turn OFF your cell phone at the meeting and have your notes, visual aids or power point, Kleenex, and cold bottled water ready when she introduces you. You don’t want to be totally disorganized, sweating, and fumbling around with your index cards or papers, shouting, “Just a minute! I’ll be up there in a sec! I know I put that quote somewhere!”

Don’t be unreasonable and demanding of event planners, asking her to make 100 copies of your revised handout five minutes before you speak or to asking her to display 75 copies of your book on the back table just minutes before the meeting time so you can make more money there with back-table sales. Be pleasant and polite to her and the attendees. Remember that interacting with your audience is key to success!

6. Dress for success. Please don’t show up in a short skirt or shorts and flip flops, or something more suitable for night clubbing with your cleavage generously spilling out. You also want to make sure that you don’t wear dated clothing or this can cause the audience to not be able to relate to you, and they won’t take you or your message seriously. Most importantly, be beautiful on the inside, preparing your heart with prayer!

A good rule of thumb for speakers is to dress one notch above the audience. A man wearing a black tux to a men’s retreat? A little much. A chic dress and wedge sandals at a women’s retreat when the attendees are in jeans or pantsuits? That’s great. Some women are much more comfortable in pants when speaking.

On stage, it’s a good idea to wear more makeup than you usually do because your features tend to “disappear” from a distance. Someone on the back row can’t see your sheer pink lip gloss from where she’s sitting. You’ll look like you have no lips or very thin ones. Learn some tips from a makeup artist, such as outlining your eyes with darker eyeliner or outlining your lips before putting on lipstick or lipgloss. Make sure that at least your eyes and your mouth stand out with some pretty color.

A great tip I learned at Upper Class professional speakers’ training was to make sure my hair didn’t fall into my eyes or face as I looked down at my notes and spoke. Your audience will become distracted if they are thinking, “I really wish she’d get her bangs out of her eyes!” or you are hiding under a lion’s mane of permed hair. Be sure to have good hygiene (shower, bath, brushed teeth with fresh breath, clean hair) and a good hair style and cut.

7. Talk to the attendees before and after your presentation. A mistake I made last year happened when I had to rush off after a speaking event because I was flying out of town the next day. In retrospect, I should’ve stayed for the lunch they had prepared for the meeting and connected heart to heart with the women and the men there, talking to them. I had so much on my mind about my trip that I neglected to be fully present in the moment.

Actually, I love being able to pray with women after I speak to pray for their needs and to give them words of encouragement. This is often when the greatest ministry occurs.

If you seem unfriendly or unapproachable in some way, it could damage your credibility and reputation as a professional paid speaker. Smile, take pics with attendees, ask questions, pray with them, and listen intently to what they have to say. Don’t just try to sell yourself as a speaker or sell your books, but build relationships. You aren’t there just “to be in the limelight.” You are there to serve God and them. Walk humble. You are there for God’s purpose on a Divine Mission. Make new friends!

These are just a few tips I have for you if you are starting out speaking. I’ll continue with more SOS tips in the week ahead. I’d love to hear your questions or for you to share about your own speaking experiences, both good and bad! Leave your comments below.

Are you an event planner? Learn more about my Speaking by clicking here.

Open your mouth wide; Stepping Out to Obey God

Beth Jones — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:27:46 +0000

For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things. – Psalm 81:10, NLT

I was sharing with someone the other day about how my Public Speaking business/ministry got started. It wasn’t my idea; it was God’s.

An unexpected opportunity came when I was working as a volunteer counselor at Your Life Choice Center in Harrisonville, MO. The center’s founder, Wauthena Neely, was approached by a friend, who directed her church’s women’s Hearts At Home Bible study. They needed someone to speak at an upcoming study.

Wauthena knew my testimony of having had three abortions, and she recommended me to this woman and asked me if I’d share my powerful story. I’d never publicly given my testimony and was terrified, but Ray encouraged me to do it and God spoke to my heart to do it.

Turning things around 180 degrees

When I stood before that group of women, I felt like Daniel in the lions’ den. I was so afraid of judgment and rejection. My knees were also knocking, speaking in front of people.

The board members of the Hearts At Home study had bathed this day in prayer. They expected a stampede of women to rush to the front of the room when I invited women at the end of my testimony to come forward for prayer for forgiveness or healing about their abortions.

Not a soul did. The room was silent. I thought I was going to die!

What they hadn’t anticipated was that so many post-abortive women are bound in fear, shame, and condemnation as I’d been years before.

Despite my own roller-coaster emotions, I recognized what was happening. No one asked for prayer, but I knew that statistically, it was very likely that at least one woman was in the audience, who was suffering with the painful aftermath of abortion. And she was too scared to tell anyone.

My prayer is that somehow my testimony ministered hope and comfort to her about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Abortion is not the unforgiveable sin. God will forgive you for abortion and heal you when you come to Him.

Then He can even turn that situation around 180 to use you to minister to other women who have had one, as I can testify. While I was working at the pregnancy center, my story saved at least two babies from being aborted.

I’ve also shared my testimony many times since then and often have women come up to me afterward thanking me for sharing about God’s forgiveness, telling me their stories.

Your story can make a difference in someone’s life.

God’s sense of humor

That special day marked a new beginning for me: the launch of my Speaking career.

I was so scared to speak in front of that group of women. As I spoke, I was profusely sweating, physically shaking, and my voice quivered. It was one of the most terrifying things I’d ever done.

I wasn’t alone in my fear. Fear of public speaking is the number 2 fear of Americans, under fear of snakes according to a recent Gallup poll (other surveys show fear of heights or fear of disease is the no. 1 fear, but public speaking remains consistently the no. 2 fear. Most Americans are scared of speaking in front of an audience.)

God has a big sense of humor. I was the most unlikely of people to ever speak publicly. I’ve always been a shy, reserved introvert. My whole life, I’ve struggled with various fears, and talking in front of a group was one of the biggest one.

I related to the passage in the Bible where Moses was trying to convince God to send someone else to do the job.

“But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

God then reminds Moses He made his mouth. “Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD?”

When God calls, He equips

When I worked as a secretary years ago, I couldn’t even call a client on the phone in front of my boss, because it made me so nervous for him to hear what I would say. (God has done a lot of healing in me in the last 20 years!)

In high school, one of the required courses was Communication, and during that course we had to speak in front of the class. I’d shake and sweat and literally feel like I was going to faint. The other students would snicker at me. My teacher was wonderful, though, and she greatly encouraged me that I could do this.

Years later, my pastor, Al Ridge, told me that he believed I had spiritual gifts I’d never used, and that he saw me speaking in front of a lot of people. I laughed, telling him there was no way I was going to do that. (God had the last laugh!)

I’m so thankful to God for putting uplifting, positive people like that in my path. I look back on these things now, smiling, realizing even then God was preparing me for what I do today.

Open doors

Obedience brings God’s blessing and favor. After I spoke at the Hearts At Home Bible study, God began to open other doors for me to speak. Originally, this was certainly nothing I sought out. I was so scared to speak in front of people, and I resisted and begged God not to make me do it. But God wouldn’t let me go.

My heart desired to obey Him, and Ray kept encouraging me to do it. Ray told me that I could conquer this fear and that the more I did it, the less nervous I would become. He was so right!

After awhile, I began to relax more when I was speaking and actually began to like doing it. Then I began to LOVE it!

God then spoke to my heart to begin speaking, sharing my story and His words of truth.

I attended CLASServices professional speakers/writers training in Saint Louis, MO, and Upper CLASS in Connecticut, with Tammy Bennett, Marita Littauer, and being critiqued by legend speaker Florence Littauer for my speaking. I joined Toastmasters.

And I said a big “Yes” to God.

The call

Years before that first speaking event at the Hearts At Home Bible study, I lay on my bed in Olathe, Kansas, crying in a suicidal depression, and God gave me Isaiah 61 as my life chapter and verse.

“Beth, this is what I have called you to do and to be,” He spoke quietly to my heart as I opened my Bible to desperately search for a reason to live. It landed on that page.

At the time, it seemed impossible. Me set captives free when I was the mess I was?

God began to heal me from the pain of my past, and restore me. He turned my mess into a message.

God does it!

Every single speaking engagement I’ve ever received, God has sovereignly opened the door. I’ve never had to ask for one; they’ve approached me to ask me to speak at their women’s event.

I’ve spoken twice at Women’s Aglow in Kansas City. I was one of the keynote speakers at Norma Washington’s conference in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve put on two women’s retreats to speak there and also had other women speakers joining me.

Last year God sent me on a cruise to the Bahamas to speak as one of the keynote speakers at Tony Robinson’s women’s conference. Then He sent me to Canada to speak as one of the keynote speakers at Doreen Penner’s women’s retreat.

This year I spoke as the keynote speaker at the PAUMCS Life and Leadership conference. I’ve spoken many other places the last two years. My next speaking engagement is April 13 at a ladies’ tea. I’m also hosting the RELEASED! Women’s Conference in Belton, MO, on April 27. (Are you signed up yet?!!!)

Today I love speaking in front of live audiences. It thrills and energizes me. It makes me happy. I want to go all over the world, traveling and speaking, encouraging women.

Today I’m living out my calling and purpose from God. Are you?

I am deeply aware that I don’t deserve for God to use me like this. It humbles and amazes me. That is why I always give Jesus Christ the glory, and always will. He is my everything. “In Him I live and move and have my being.” (Acts 17:28)

I do it for God’s glory and to encourage women’s hearts with God’s powerful words of truth to help set them free and to exhort them to use the great gifts God has given them for His glory. God’s word is truly coming to pass in my life.

Open your mouth wide. God will fill it with good things. Step out and obey, and just see what God will do.

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Are you an event planner? Check out my Speaking page here.

God-sized Dreams: When is it my turn, God?

Beth Jones — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:51:38 +0000

I just saw Holley Gerth’s blog post on being a God-sized dreamer. God is a big God. He wants to make your big dreams come true. He’s the one who put them there.

Just this morning, I was sharing in a Facebook forum that I love helping to lift women’s heads to look into God’s face and to see their true identity and greatest potential. God has so much more in store for you, dear friend.

I love what Holley writes here:

A God-sized dream isn’t about what you do as much as how you do it. It’s about pursuing life with passion, purpose, and going with God wherever he leads.

It’s about not settling. It’s about tenaciously believing you’re made for more.

Not as in “bigger house, fancier car, more luxurious lifestyle.”

No, my friend, I mean “more of Jesus, more of what he’s created you to be, more of what he’s called you to do.”

Less of you, actually, and more of all he is and all he has for you—which is beyond what you can even imagine.

What has God created you to be? What has He called you to do? What are His Big Dreams for you? Do you know?

Take time to spend with God so He can show you His Big Dreams for you.

Maybe you do know. Maybe you’ve had those Big Dreams burning in your heart for years.

Maybe you look around at other women and feel like you’re on the outside looking in. The pain goes right through you when you hear of another author whose new book launch is going fabulous or who has 3 (or 6 or 10!) speaking engagements lined up this year.

“When is it my turn, God?”

“God, why are you blessing other speakers, writers, coaches, entrepreneurs, _____ (you fill in the blank of who you envy or feel jealous of) and let them experience their Big Dreams, while I struggle so much?”

Don’t let go of your Big Dreams, dear friend. Keep dreaming. Keep praying.

Keep holding those dreams in your heart. Their time of ripeness will come to pass if you don’t give up.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. – James 5:7, NIV

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God wants to use you, an ordinary woman, in extraordinary ways – ways you can’t even begin to imagine! Learn more in my ebook, Bahama Mama.

Born to fly and multiply

Beth Jones — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:05:15 +0000

Daffodil-butterfly-copyright-2013-Leah-Jones

One of the most beautiful creations God made and one of my favorite is the butterfly. Butterflies are free.

Have you ever seen a butterfly who looked stressed out, worried, angry, depressed, discouraged, or unhappy? No. Butterflies are happy.

I researched caterpillars and butterflies today. It was fascinating to read about them.

Caterpillars are one big munching machine from the time they are born until the time they are transformed into the butterfly. They even eat their own skin in the chrysalis!

Butterflies are more graceful and delicate. Their favorite beverage is a flower drink (the nectar).

Butterflies are all about flight and reproduction. Even when resting, butterflies are often preparing for flight by keeping their wing muscles warm enough to move.

Butterflies also have an extremely short life span.

The small blue butterfly can live only a few days. The migrating monarch butterfly can live up to 12 months. Some species of butterflies migrate thousands of miles or hibernate in the winter.

But at the end of their journey or at the beginning of spring, all butterflies’ actions are the same. They mate, the females lay eggs, and then all the adults die.

The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which turn into similarly short-lived butterflies.

Born to freely fly. Born to multiply.

It’s the same with us as Christian believers.

We weren’t made to just munch, munch, munch our way through life – consuming everything the world offers such as material goods, entertainment, social media, food.

We were created for so much more – to fly with God. To fulfill His purpose for our lives. To be fruitful and multiply on earth, to subdue it and rule over everything. (Genesis 1:28) To leave a Godly legacy through our children.

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31, NLT

We are to be Freed by His Love, Transformed by His Power.

Are you free? Do you want a change in 2013? Be one of the 50 women who will experience transformation this spring!

A yellow butterfly is the logo for our RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27 in Belton, MO. Click here to save your seat!

You can also register online through Event Brite. This gives you more payment options to attend. Click here to get your ticket through Event Brite.

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Resource on caterpillars and butterflies, How Stuff Works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/insects-arachnids/butterfly.htm

Psalm 23 Expanded

Beth Jones — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:37:44 +0000

waterfall

A friend of mine, Liz Zacharias, gave me a copy of Psalm 23, with notes and edits taken from the NIV Study Bible. I liked how it expanded on the Psalm, which is one of my favorite Bible passages and thought I’d share it with you. I’ve also added in italics my own thoughts.

The Lord is my Shepherd/King; I shall not be in want. (I won’t lack anything and shall prosper according to His riches in glory.)

He makes me lie down in a secure and contented rest (God will give me sweet sleep at night – I won’t have insomnia- and Sabbath rest and peace in the day), in all that makes life to flourish. (thrive, be blessed, prosper)

As a Shepherd, He leads me beside waters which provide me with refreshment and well-being. (God doesn’t want me worried, fearful, discouraged, or stressed out, but filled with joy and peace.)

He revives me and refreshes my spirit. (He gives me living waters that will never run dry. On a bad day, I can come to Him and be filled back up.)

The Shepherd/King guides me in paths that offer safety and well being (in ways that cause my soul to be secure and prosperous) for His Honor. (I don’t have to feel afraid; God is always with me and will watch over me.)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. (God has always been there through my darkest, most frightening times. And He will always be there. He will never leave me!)

Your rod of authority and Your staff of support comfort and support me. (And as a believer in Christ, I have that authority and power, also.)

You prepare a banquet before me in the presence of my enemies. (In the Near East, this was evidence of a covenant agreement made between the speaker and the Shepherd/King as He brought him to the King’s table and under the King’s protection. Covenant agreements were often concluded by a meal, symbolizing the bond of friendship.)

You anoint my head with oil. (This was the customary treatment a guest received at a banquet or as they entered the home.) (God’s anointing and His Spirit is upon me to preach the good news to the poor, to set captives free, to give sight to the blind, to give joy for mourning – Isaiah 61.)

My cup overflows. (I am filled and overflowing with the Spirit, the presence, and the power of the Lord God. Everywhere my foot treads, I take possession of the land. Through Jesus’ miracle-working power through and in me, nothing is impossible. The Kingdom advances. The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead rise, the lost are saved, the crushed and broken-hearted in spirit are given hope and comfort.)

Surely goodness and love (here they indicate blessings from the covenant agreement) will pursue me all the days of my life. (Amen!)

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord as His guest forever. (I can’t wait to see Your Face, God. Revelation 22:4)

Amen.

Are you praying and believing too small?

Beth Jones — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:51:20 +0000

There’s so many things lately to pray about.

Our nation’s leaders. The economy and budget cuts. Israel and the threat of war. Terrible things happening in the news. Situations that happen in our own daily, personal lives.

And big dreams we hold in our hearts.

Recently I read two excellent books, that deeply challenged my prayer life and my faith. I wrote a guest blog about it at my sweet friend Beth Cranford’s site. You can read it by clicking here.

While you’re there, be sure to check out Beth’s fabulous blog posts, products, and sign up for her mailing list!

Are you praying and believing too small? God wants to do so much more than you can even imagine. God wants to make your big dreams come true when they line up with His will.

Pray big. Believe big. He’s a big God.

Talkshoe Women’s Battles Show with Timeko Whitaker on March 20

Beth Jones — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:54:56 +0000

Co-Pastor/Speaker Timeko L. Whitaker

Do you know who you really are? Are you pursuing a life of passion? Did you know that your passion will cause you to live an intentional and purpose-filled life? With Romans 8:28 as your foundation, nothing can stop you from knowing and living in your God-given purpose!

Join me with my special guest, Co-Pastor/Speaker Timeko L. Whitaker, on Wednesday, March 20, at 1 p.m. Central Time (2 p.m. Eastern Time). You can find out more about Timeko at www.AuthenticIdentityCoaching.com.

You can join us live in the chat room by clicking here.

Or you can call into the show with the call-in details below:

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698
PIN: Your Talkshoe PIN No. or 1 #.

Timeko is the wife to Pastor Eric J. Whitaker and mother of Daelin and Eyuana. Timeko identifies with the concepts of devotion and servitude, having honorably served her country for over 20 years in the United States Army, culminating in her retirement in 2008. Timeko now brings the Army’s core character values of loyalty, duty, respect, selflessness, honor, integrity, and personal courage into her journey to fulfill her ministry purpose.

More central to her core than serving her country is her devotion and service to the Lord Jesus Christ. She is humbled at the call to serve as Co-Founder and Co-Pastor of the Mercy Seat Church, where she flows in the anointing of a true oracle and intercessor and operates in the gifts of exhortation and encouragement.

Timeko has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, as well as a Masters of Theology. She is a Certified Human Behavior Consultant and a Certified Christian Life Coach.

She is the Co-Host of the Intentional Kingdom Living radio broadcast which airs weekly on AM1310 The Light and the part-time television host of TBN’s WCL J-TV.

We’d love for you to join us live in the chat room for this show on intentional, purposeful living.

Butterflies are free

Beth Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:54:40 +0000

This morning a friend asked me for a favor, and when I did, she blessed me with a gift. I don’t know if Eren McKay knew that I’m hosting a women’s conference locally on April 27, and that it’s logo/theme is a butterfly being released, but she made this beautiful butterfly graphic for me. I love it!

The colors are beautiful and I love heart drawings. How creative for her to draw the girl holding the flowers and the butterflies like balloons! (Eren’s creativity inspires me! You can check out her site here. Be sure to also listen to her podcasts. They are so soothing and peaceful, and very practical.)

Have you ever seen a butterfly that is stressed out, worried, depressed, angry, or unhappy? No. Butterflies are free. They are happy. They are not weighed down with concerns that hinder them from flying.

What about you? Are you free? Are you happy? Are you fulfilled? Are you being all God made you to be, living out your purpose and passion for God’s glory?

I invite you to join me and other women across the U.S. and Canada for this exciting women’s conference in Belton, MO (just outside Kansas City, MO). Women of faith of all races, nations, cultures, denominations, and economic classes will connect in the heart of America to enjoy our four anointed speakers, a delicious catered Italian lunch, great door prizes, friendship and networking opportunities – and FUN! It’s time to be RELEASED from whatever has been holding you back into your great purpose and destiny! You can find out more by clicking here.

If you live in another town, city, state, or even country, it will be SO worth the flight or drive to attend. God has already been doing amazing things with this conference. You don’t want to miss the blessing.

One prayer away from a dream

Beth Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:06:30 +0000

“God is ready and waiting. So while I have no idea what circumstance you find yourself in, I’m confident that you are only one prayer away from a dream fulfilled, a promise kept, or a miracle performed. It is absolutely imperative at the outset that you come to terms with this simple yet life-changing truth: God is for you. If you don’t believe that, then you’ll pray small timid prayers. If you do believe it, then you’ll pray big audacious prayers.” – Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears ***, p. 15.

Are you praying big, bold prayers?

Recently I read a scripture that went right through me and deeply challenged my faith: Joshua commanding the sun and the moon to stand still. (Numbers 14: 12)

That same week, I received Sandi Krakowski’s email that was about this Bible verse. I’ve walked long enough with God by now to know that when something comes up two or three times the same week, God is speaking – and to sit up and pray close attention.

Sandi excitedly shared with her fans about Steven Furtick’s new book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible***.I promptly bought it and absorbed it like a sponge. Its theme is on Numbers 14:12 – praying outrageous prayers and God answering them according to His will. I love Steven’s passion for God and His people and his raw faith.

Next, I heard about and read Mark Batterson’s book,The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears***. Batterson challenges the reader that God is a big God, bigger than any of your problems, fears, or dreams, and He wants to answer your prayers in ways you can’t even imagine.

Sometimes we pray and believe too small. Sometimes we don’t pray at all.

I was challenged by these books to pray more, pray bolder, and pray outrageous, impossible prayers – because God is just waiting to answer them when they line up with His word and His will.

You are just one prayer away from a miracle performed, a promise fulfilled, or a dream coming true.

Your prayers are important. Your prayers are vital. Sometimes they can be a matter of life and death.

You can partner with God to accomplish the impossible through your prayers.

What is something that you have prayed or dreamed about that was way bigger than you? Share in the comments below.

***These are affiliate links. I only recommend products or services that I’ve bought or believe are great products or services.

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Want to learn more about prayer? Click here for my ebook on prayer, Walking With God.

Wild Woman

Beth Jones — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:03:35 +0000

Yesterday I was a wild woman. My hair looked like I’d stuck my finger in a socket. But who has time to fix her hair when life is so much fun?

My desk was an avalanche of papers: notes from my Client Coaching sessions, a bright salmon/orange-colored notebook filled with ideas and to-do lists for the RELEASED Women’s Conference in April, a recent Speaking presentation. Dishes piled all over the kitchen counter. The house and car need cleaning.

Despite what seems like chaos on the outside though, great things are being accomplished. (I’m washing the dishes and organizing my desk after this blog post!)

I’m SOOO excited about the conference; I can’t wait! Sponsors have been so generous, God is downloading just the right rhema word to the speakers, we have a powerful worship leader, and women are coming from across the U.S., Canada, and other places to worship God, to be encouraged, and to have fun!

You have only two more days to get the Early Bird Price.

Maybe you think you don’t have the money to attend, or it’s too far to drive or fly from where you live. Pray. God is able! Click here to save your spot.

The Circle Maker

I’m reading a new book this week called The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears.*** My sweet friend Jennifer Whiddon read it and thought of me, and sent it in the mail as a gift. The author, Mark Batterson, says we often pray and believe too small.

God is a big God. He wants to do so much more for us than we think. (Ephesians 3:20). The New King James Version says He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!

Here’s what Batterson writes on page 45:

“Nothing honors God more than a big dream that is way beyond our ability to accomplish. Why? Because there is no way we can take credit for it. And nothing is better for our spiritual development than a big dream because it keeps us on our knees in raw dependence on God.”

God has definitely been “spiritually developing” me. This conference was a leap of faith for me. There are a lot of costs to putting something like this on. It’s a lot of work. I can’t do it alone. I have to ~~force~~ ask my family for help and delegate tasks. There’s so much to get done to prepare for the conference. It’s just all way bigger than me and my abilities. But I’m so excited. It’s going to be amazing! And when all is said and done, God will get the glory!

What dream do you have that is way beyond your ability? Ask Him for it. Watch and see what He will do. I’m not just a wild woman. He’s a wild God!

***This is an affiliate link. I only recommend products I’ve personally used or truly believe in.

Eden’s Touch Bread

Beth Jones — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:38:10 +0000

Bread is a staple in every culture.

Challah braided bread

The Jews bake a variety of breads, depending on the occasion and especially on the holy day festival. Challah containing eggs and honey is a braided bread. Ray and I have celebrated Jewish feasts with our kids, and I’ve tried my hand at the bread recipes. But I haven’t been able to get them downpat yet like the Jewish mamas. Oy.

Matzoh is an unleavened, thin crispy bread containing white flour and water that is served only during Passover. Eaten with the charoset (apples, walnuts and honey), horseradish, and herbs, it is truly sweet to eat.

The infamous Jewish bagel is a chewy yeast roll baked in the shape of a doughnut. Traditionally bakers boil the bagel just before baking to give the bread its chewy, golden crust. One of my favorite lines in the Meryl Streep movie Heartburn was at the wedding, when Rachel (Meryl Streep) was having serious doubts about marrying her fiance’ Mark and cried to her editor, Richard, about having to move to Washington, D.C., “You can’t even get a decent bagel in Washington, D.C.!” Apparently there are bagels and then there is the real Jewish thing.

French baguette

The French are most well known for the baguette, a long, thin bread made from lean dough and distinguishable by its length and crisp crust. Serve hot, buttered French bread with home-made, warm potato soup on a chilly night and you’ll leave the table with a deep contented sigh. Baguettes are usually served with pate or cheese.

As part of a traditional continental breakfast, slices of the baguette are served with butter and jam, and dunked in bowls of coffee or hot chocolate. When Ray and I went on our 10th wedding anniversary and stopped in Paris, I discovered pain au chocolat, a favorite breakfast food and afternoon snack. Oh my gosh. Chocolate inside of that delicious bread! In many of our pictures from France, you can see me in line for more chocolate bread!

Rye bread is made of rye and wheat flour, and has a dark color and strong taste. It’s high in fiber and most common in European countries such as Russia, Scandinavia, Germany, Finland, and the Baltic States. Pastrami on rye spread with hot mustard, thinly sliced Swiss cheese, and sourkraut – you will want seconds!

Pita and hummus

Flatbreads are considered to be the oldest kinds of breads, made from water, flour, and salt. Grains used are wheat, barley, millet, corn, rye, and oats. Pita bread is a common bread used in the Middle East. Spread some hummus, olives, onions, and fresh red tomatoes on pita – with or without meat – and you have a little bit of heaven on earth.

American breads are usually medium sliced loaves and can be very unhealthy: white (with bleach), whole wheat, sourdough, and whole wheat with barley.

One study shows the whole wheat and whole wheat with barley in the morning can be worse for us than the white. Many American breads contain chemicals, preservatives, and additives.

A healthy choice

A healthy alternative to American breads is Eden’s Touch Bread.

Eden’s Touch Bread Company is one of our Sponsors for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27, 2013.

Marissa Gadsden is the owner and bakes about 14 orders a day, shipping out the next day. She’s also a mom, which means she usually doesn’t start kneading the dough until late at night. It’s not uncommon for her to go to bed at 3 a.m. and be back up at 8 a.m. to tend to her home and her daughter, Eden. The store is named after Eden. When you visit her shops, you pick up on the proud-mama aspect of the stores, and Eden’s photo is prominently displayed in the store’s logos.

“She is a toddler, so anyone with any experience with a toddler knows that they touch everything,” Gadsden explains.

Eden’s Touch Bread Company has unique choices for bread like bacon cheddar. Their banana walnut minis and cinnamon raisin minis look yummy, and they offer them gluten-free!

Eden’s Touch Bread Co. offers specialty loaves

Their menu has several Specialty Loaves that are baked fresh daily. They deliver party trays, personal loaves and gift baskets or ship boxes and packages ready to be served at any party or event and in your home. They ship nationally and internationally.

The power of social media

Eden’s Touch Bread Company has three different locations: Forest Park, GA; Collingdale, PA; and Philadelphia, PA. You can also order online. Through word-of-mouth and social media, Marissa has taken her hobby-turned-business to the next level, enabling her customers across the country an easier way to order.

She didn’t start out planning an online business or any business. Marissa is a former radio personality and originally just baked the breads for fun, as gifts for family and friends. Then one day a friend gave her some cash for some bread she dropped off, and ordered two more items. Marissa was surprised, and soon other family and friends began ordering specialty loaves, even outside Philadelphia where she lives.

She delivers over the tri-state Philadelphia area, and has opened two stores since then on Etsy and Craft Café.

You can read an article about Marissa’s recipe for success here.

Are you a retailer? If you are interested in carrying their products in your retail store, you can call them at 267-908-LOAF or send them an email at EdensTouchBread@gmail.com.

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“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35, NLT

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Daffodil-butterfly-copyright-2013-Leah-Jones

Want to be a Sponsor for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference? Contact Beth Jones at elizabethdjones@gmail.com.

Want to attend this life-changing conference? We have 4 anointed speakers and a powerful worship leader coming from across the U.S. and Canada, a catered Italian lunch, great door prizes, fun, and more! Be freed by God’s love and transformed by His power at this amazing conference.

Click here to register and save your spot. Seating limited to only 50 women!

Only 5 more days to get the Early Bird Price of $35; after Feburary 23, the price goes up to $50. Bring a friend!

Heather and girls: A Cinderella Carriage and The Cheesecake Factory

Beth Jones — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:09:03 +0000

Last night our daughter Heather crossed another fun thing off her bucket list. For a special Valentine’s Day treat, she and her girls Annabelle and Violet got all dressed up and she took them to the Kansas City Plaza to ride in the Cinderella Carriage.

The girls wore beautiful red Valentine dresses, and Heather was stunning in a long, pink, satin, backless dress with a halter top, a black wrap, purple shoes to die for, a purple bracelet, and a purple ring.

Gorgeous Heather in pink gown & purple shoes & jewelry

I’ve been wanting to take our daughter Leah on the Cinderella Carriage ride, but in her teenish way, she just rolled her eyes and said that was for kids, lol. Heather said they had a lot of fun, but it was freezing. There is a warm blanket to wrap up in as you’re riding. The carriage ride is about a 15 minute ride around the Plaza. It began lightly snowing on their drive home.

But what an incredible memory! The girls felt like the princesses they read about in story books and love. And isn’t that the way we girls all feel at heart, wanting to be a beautiful princess?

Annabelle, Heather, and Violet in Cinderella Carriage at KC Plaza

After that, they ate at The Cheesecake Factory – Annabelle’s and Violet’s first time there.

They serve delicious food and have 50 legendary kinds of cheesecake and specialty desserts. It’s nothing but an experience to have that first taste. If you ever come through Kansas City, this is a must stop! They serve the ultimate cheesecake.

What is something that you’ve always wanted to do, but you never have? Begin writing your bucket list today, then begin to do it!

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God wants to do more than you can imagine in your life. He wants to help you fulfill that bucket list! To learn more, click here for my ebook, Bahama Mama: When God Uses Ordinary Women For His Extraordinary Purposes.

Astounding Love

Beth Jones — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:45:03 +0000

Busy few weeks. Planning, organizing, & preparing in prayer for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27 in Belton, MO. Incredulous at the amazing things God is already doing with it.

Taking Leah each week to her violin lessons. What a beautiful sound to hear her practicing.

Trying to climb Mount Neverest of dishes and laundry each day (how can 3 people have so many dirty dishes and so much laundry?). Still, I’m so thankful, God, that we have enough to eat each day and clothes to wear. Some don’t.

Doing the fun stuff like speaking and coaching. So grateful God uses me…really, Lord? Me?

Scheduling new guests like Shelley on the Women’s Battles Radio Show. Oh, how she inspires me with her God-sized heart of love.

Eating too many chocolate with almond bars and not drinking enough water. Give me your Living Waters, Jesus. Let me thirst for You.

Wondering if I should try the military diet that our daughter Heather went on and lost 10 pounds. Help me, God, to shed the unnecessary weights that slow me down and hinder me back from Your Divine Purpose.

Thanking God that Ethan is free after a week of being taken hostage off a school bus, and praying fervently for my children’s and grandchildren’s safety each day. Jesus, you set captives free.

God. You. astound. me.

Do you have dormant spiritual gifts?

Beth Jones — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:42:08 +0000

Leah’s violin instructor Emily & Leah

We are into February now, usually Missouri’s coldest month with the greatest amount of snow and ice. Annuals’ seeds contain hormones that cause them to germinate in the warm spring weather that follows winter cold. Perennial plants, deciduous woody shrubs and some trees go dormant in the winter and begin growing again in the spring.

Like some flowers, plants, and trees that go dormant, you may have spiritual gifts that are dormant. Gifts you’ve never used or don’t even know about.

I believe our daughter Leah has some dormant gifts. This past Christmas, Leah suddenly told me that for her Christmas wish list, she wanted either an electric violin or a keyboard. She wanted to learn how to play them. This was nothing I suggested to her or ever talked to her about and, like Mary, I pondered these things in my heart.

It’s interesting, because there is no one musical in our family. I believe this is just something that God put into Leah’s heart because He created her with a musical gift and He’s wanting her to use it.

God has also put spiritual gifts inside of you. Do you know what they are? Are you using them – and using them to their fullest potential?

Leah is an incredible artist and a very creative person so it shouldn’t surprise me that she might have a musical gift, too.

Leah researched electric violins and keyboards, looked at positive and negative reviews on Amazon and YouTube, and then showed me which ones she would like.

Leah was inspired by Lindsey Stirling

Leah also showed me a video of the incredibly talented Lindsey Stirling, a violinist who combines classical music with a modern twist, whom she had found on YouTube. I got goose bumps watching this video Crystallize. She is flat out anointed playing the violin!

I was so excited about this and immediately began praying for God to provide the money for this gift and for God to help me find a violin instructor for her, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to teach her myself.

I even asked God that if it were possible, for me to find a Christian instructor for her – but one who was really good as an instructor.

Ask and you shall receive

For Christmas, we bought Leah an electric violin! I don’t know who was more excited, her or me! She thought from the shape of the package that she was getting a keyboard. She had the biggest smile opening her present.

Don’t you know that is what God does when you open your presents from Him – your spiritual gifts?

If Leah had never told me this is what she wanted to do, I would have never known about it and she wouldn’t have gotten the violin. God wants you to tell Him what you want. He wants to bless you with good things. Ask and you shall receive!

One day I was having Mexican lunch with my friend Diane Bishop and at the end of the conversation, I asked her, “Do you happen to know of a good violin instructor?” I explained how Leah wanted an electric violin and we bought her one for Christmas.

Leah and her electric violin

Huge Answered Prayer

Diane then referred me to Emily, who was Diane’s stepdaughter Hannah’s violin instructor several years ago. She’s an anointed violin instructor and plays violin very well herself! I got her number from Hannah and called Emily and we set up Leah’s lessons right away. She is so sweet and I just love her and so does Leah. This was HUGE ANSWERED PRAYER! God is so amazing how He does these kinds of things!

Leah has now had two violin lessons and is doing really well. She’s excited about the lessons and Emily is pumped about teaching her. Leah has never had any type of music lessons, so she is learning music theory (learning to read notes) as part of her lessons.

We also bought her a small amp and a shoulder rest for the violin. It came with the nice black case, the bow, and the rosin, which is to grip the strings and make them sound. Without rosin, a violin (or other stringed instrument) won’t play. It causes the tiny scales on bow hairs to stand up and cause friction when dragged across the violin’s strings.

It brings tears to my eyes and gives me so much joy hearing Leah practice on her violin each day. I’m sure this is how God feels about us, too, when we use the gifts He has given us-for HIS glory.

Do you have dormant spiritual gifts?

To find out more about the spiritual gifts and how to use them, I recommend two excellent resources: Step Out and Take Your Place by Krista Dunk and Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit by Lester Sumrall.

You can also take spiritual gifts tests at your church or tests online.

I also recommend the incredible movie August Rush, about an orphaned musical prodigy who uses his gift as a clue to find his birth parents.

Well Watered Woman Radio Show Replay: Women and Spiritual Warfare

Beth Jones — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:28:32 +0000

International Speaker/Author Beth Jones

Tonight I spoke on Tony Robinson’s Well Watered Woman Talk Radio Show about women and spiritual warfare. This show will equip you to rise up and take your place in the spiritual battle surrounding you so that you can become victorious.

On this show, I shared 5 primary areas where women face the most frequent and the greatest spiritual battles.

If you missed the live show, you can hear the replay by clicking here.

You can purchase my book, The Hands of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles, that I mentioned on the show for just $10 tonight (normally $20). To learn more, just click here.

Women’s Battles Radio Show with Rochelle Valasek

Beth Jones — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:54:52 +0000

Rochelle Valasek

Do you have a fear of living out your purpose? Maybe you are even afraid of finding what your purpose is. Whatever the reason, or wherever the fear comes from, we need to get to the root of it before it becomes toxic to your spiritual health and you become stagnant in living out your purpose for God.

Know that it is not God’s will for you to cower before fear, or to coddle it, but to conquer it, by faith. God has a purpose and a plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Join me and my special guest, Rochelle Valasek, on Thursday, February 7, at 2 p.m. Central Time/ 3 p.m. Eastern Time for this powerful show.

You can learn more about Rochelle at www.RochelleValasek.com.

We’d love for you to join us in the chat room by clicking here.

You can also call into the show with the Talkshoe call-in details below:

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698

Rochelle aka “Shelley” is an Inspirational/Motivational Speaker, Author, Humorist, and Spiritual Health Coach. Rochelle lives in Nashville, TN, with her husband Tony and two precious sons. She founded Reflecting Excellence Ministries in 2000. Rochelle has been seen on Christian television such as Woman to Woman with Ruby Nelson and Sunday Night Live with David Croyle. She enlightens women with Biblical truth to achieve healing and spiritual health through God’s unconditional love.

In 2012, Rochelle was involved in an almost fatal car crash, and had a miraculous recovery. She knows and shares with you that you won’t leave this earth until you have accomplished God’s purpose.

See you there February 7 at 2 p.m. central time!

The 5 areas of women’s most frequent spiritual attacks

Beth Jones — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:33:20 +0000

Tony Robinson

There’s a lot going on lately and a lot of exciting things coming up!

This Thursday, January 31, at 7 p.m. Central Time, I’m speaking on Tony Robinson’s Well Watered Woman Radio Show.

Tony and I will be talking about women and spiritual warfare. Don’t you know that you always get tested on what you speak about or preach about? Oh, yeah! It’s not always fun, but it’s just part of the territory.

We know that God is greater than Satan and Jesus defeated Satan at the cross over 2,000 years ago. We just need to continue standing against him and using the weapons of our warfare:

God’s word
Worship
Prayer
The name and the blood of Jesus, our testimony, and denying self.

The battle belongs to the Lord! (2 Chronicles 20:15)

On Tony’s show, I’m going to share about 5 primary areas where women often have the most frequent and greatest spiritual attacks. We’d love for you to join us in the chat room here.

Several of my friends have been hit with health issues this week. Remember that by Jesus’ stripes we were healed! Continue to believe the good report of the Lord, proclaim your healing by Jesus’ stripes, and stand on God’s powerful word for your complete healing until you have the victory through Christ!

RELEASED! Women’s Conference in Missouri

Speaking of victory, I’m very excited about the RELEASED! Women’s Conference on Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Belton, Missouri! Multiple anointed speakers, powerful worship and praise, a delicious catered Italian lunch, door prizes and fun, and more! Join women across the U.S., Canada, and other nations – this is a multi-cultural, multi-nation event, and I can’t wait!

Will you be one of the 50 women there who are freed, transformed, and released? Just click here to learn more.

RELEASED! Women’s Conference on April 27

Beth Jones — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:54:10 +0000

Daffodil & butterfly.
Copyright 2013 Leah Jones

Do you want a life-changing transformation in 2013?

Are you ready to move from fears, failures, and frustrations to FREEDOM?

Is it time for you to break out of your limiting cocoon and FLY, becoming the beautiful creation God made you to be?

Then join us for our RELEASED! Women’s Conference on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Belton Wellness Center in Belton, MO (outside the Kansas City area)!

Here’s what you’ll experience at this anointed all-day event:

Four separate sessions from anointed speakers across the U.S. and Canada
Powerful worship
A catered delicious Italian lunch
A chance to make great new friends and do business networking
Your opportunity to unwind and get away from it all
Door prizes and fun
Your goody bag to take home
And more!

I am so excited about this and can’t wait. We’d LOVE to see you there. Early Bird Pricing until February 23, 2013 for $35. After February 23, the price goes up to $50.

This conference is LIMITED TO JUST 50 WOMEN.

Will YOU be one of the 50 women FREED BY GOD’S LOVE, TRANSFORMED BY HIS POWER?

To learn more, just click here.

Back in the saddle again

Beth Jones — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 09:46:55 +0000

English rider and beautiful white Arabian horse

It’s 3:22 a.m. and I am blogging. I’ve been working most of the day and night on the registration pages for the RELEASED! Women’s Conference coming up April 27, 2013. More details very soon! Here’s some tasty morsels, though: Multiple anointed speakers, a powerful worship leader, a catered Italian lunch, goody bags. It’s going to be phenomenal. It’s going to be A LOT OF WORK! Am I crazy?! Haha.

This is the thing. I can’t do this alone. I need help. And you betcha’ I’m asking for it. A lesson I learned from the last women’s retreat I did here.

This vision is way bigger than me or our bank account. This is God-sized. This requires His wisdom. His Divine Order. His anointing. His miraculous provision. And His servants in the power of unity. For it’s therein He commands the blessing.

Here it is, God. I place it all in Your Loving, Good Hands. Glorify Yourself, I pray.

Website changes

This week my website was tweaked, and it looks very similar to the way it was prior to the theme update that caused the problems. Pretty green background. Coffee Brown headlines. Black text on the blog. And a newly designed header. Much better!

I’m so thankful for wonderful techy people like Linda of Ekko Web Solutions, who can do what I can’t (tech stuff, website design), so I can do what I can – speaking, writing, coaching! Linda rocks with website design and technical stuff that makes my eyes cross if I attempt it.

Linda lives in Sweden. I find it fascinating that I can work with someone across the world! I found her through a mutual online friend. It’s amazing how God orchestrates these things, bringing people into our lives to help and bless us.

At any rate, I’m back in the saddle again here at BethJones.net. I can’t wait to share about the women’s conference with you soon. You will love it! I really pray you can come! You will be so blessed! It’s going to be amazing. God has already been doing so many incredible things, and we are just getting started.

Speaking on Well Watered Woman Talk Radio Show

Beth Jones — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:39:12 +0000

International Speaker/Author Beth Jones

Have you been under spiritual attack lately? Do you wonder what in the world is going on, with all kind of crazy stuff happening? Do you feel like you are being ambushed by the enemy?

On January 31 at 7 p.m. Central Time, I’ll be speaking about women and spiritual warfare on my friend Tony Robinson’s Well Watered Woman Talk Radio show. You can tune into the show at here. We’d love to see you in the chat room!

To learn more, just click here.

You can also call into the show with the call-in details below:

Blog Talk Radio No.: (949) 266-6711

We’d love to see you there!

When you’re under spiritual attack

Beth Jones — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:31:40 +0000

Today one of my closest friends posted a status on Facebook that she was under attack today by the enemy, left and right. She was chewed out by one woman after she gave her some advice, someone had posted a very negative review of her book online, and another woman criticized my friend’s pic proudly showing her new tiny size after an amazing weight loss journey. She also got hit with a migraine which was making her throw up. (This list doesn’t include the other traumatic things which have happened throughout her life!)

What do you do when you’re under spiritual attack like this?

As created human beings, we have no power ourselves to fight Satan and his legion of demons. We can’t use earthly weapons to fight spirits. But as believers in Christ, we have powerful weapons of spiritual warfare that we can use against him to defeat him.

The Bible tells us in Cor. 10:3-5, “It is true, we live in a body of flesh. But we do not fight like people of the world. We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil. We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.”

The most powerful weapons we have are:

faith in Christ

The Word of God

Prayer

Worship of God

The blood of Jesus, our testimony, and denying self.

Satan can’t stand against your faith in Jesus when you are covered in the blood of Jesus. He may try to attack you, but no weapon formed against you will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the weapon Jesus chose was the Word of God. (Mark 9:1-13)

In the Garden of Gethsamane, Jesus prayed so he would be able to face his final hour of distress on earth at the Cross to fulfill God’s Divine purpose. (Mark 14:32-42)

The army of Israel was led by the worshippers marching around Jericho before the walls fell down. (Joshua 5:13-6:27)

You have all these weapons and more to defeat the enemy, no matter what battle you are facing. The battle belongs to the Lord! (2 Chronciles 20:15)

You can learn more about women and spiritual warfare in my ebook, The Hands of a Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles.

Skinny jeans solution for life

Beth Jones — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:59:07 +0000

If I wear skinny jeans, will they really make me look skinny? This is the question I posted on Facebook this week.

Recently I bought some skinny jeans. While sometimes I feel more like the fat-bottomed girls that Queen sang about in the 80′s and I can’t say that I feel “skinny” in them, I do feel slimmer. Combined with my new grey Marilyn Monroe shirt and short black boots with fur, I even feel sexy for Ray.

Skinny jeans are the cure to a fast skinny. The key is finding some that you can actually fit into! :O Listen, if I can, you can!

Do you ever wish you could find the skinny jeans solution for life? You know, things like:

Marriage conflicts
Problems with your kids
Financial struggles
Stress
Health issues
Friends being too “busy”
Working with unprofessional people
_________ (you name it).

There is a skinny jean solution. His name is Jesus.

Try Him on for size. He fits just right.

Whatever you’re struggling with today, He’s there and can help.

Glass Slippers: Will your dream carry you to success in 2013?

Beth Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:41:09 +0000

Every girl has a dream. Not every girl fulfills it. Will yours carry you to success in 2013?

Join me this Thursday at 2 p.m. Central Time/3 p.m. Eastern Time for my webinar, Glass Slippers: Lessons From Cinderella For Your Biz Success.

To find out more and to save your spot today (seating is limited!), click here.

Canada Trip, Part 12: Chicago

Beth Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 02:32:03 +0000

I don’t like loose ends and want to complete my Canada Blog Series from the end of 2012. In November 2012, I was invited to be one of the keynote speakers to Doreen Penner’s women’s conference in Mitchell, Canada. I flew into Winnepeg, Canada, to get there, but took the Canadian Via Train and the U.S. Amtrak Train on the way home to Kansas City, MO – a five day, exciting adventure and a great blessing from God. This is part 12 and the final blog post (for now!) for my Canada Blog Series. You can read Part 11 here.

Canada Blog Series, Part 12: Chicago

After Doreen invited me to be one of the keynote speakers at her conference, I had talked to Ray, and God spoke to my heart to do this, I began praying in the provision for the trip. I share about the money miracles in several of my Canada blog posts, such as Part 4 and Part 9.

When I left Kansas City, MO, to fly into Winnepeg, Canada, it was a leap of faith because my hotels weren’t booked yet for my overnight stays in Vancouver, Canada ,and Chicago, IL, for my return home. I didn’t know if I’d wind up on the streets, but I had to just trust and believe that God was going to somehow provide a place to me to stay when I arrived in both cities.

Chicago, IL

I confess that not having my hotel rooms booked was one of the hardest parts of the trip, and Ray – who isn’t prone to fear normally – was worried about my safety, too. I didn’t know what was going to happen when I arrived and I was battling fear. I didn’t want to walk around these two cities, notorious for thugs, rape, and murder, late at night. As I shared on my Facebook page today, prayer means learning to let go and let God take over.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” – Hebrews 11: 1-3, NLT

The night before I left Canada, my hotel rooms were both paid for and booked. The one in Chicago was a beautiful Renaissance hotel. God had provided; He had done money miracles! God is Jehovah Jireh the Provider, just as He was for Abraham, providing a ram in the thicket.

Beautiful Renaissance hotel lobby

Do you need a “ram in the thicket”? God is able!

God had told Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and offer up his only son, the promise child Isaac, as an offering to God. God did this to test Abraham’s faith. Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took two of his young men and Isaac with him, saying he was going up the mountain to worship God. He laid on Isaac the wood to carry up the mountain, going to the place where God had told him to go.

Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice, his own sacrifice, just as Jesus carried the cross for our sacrifice. When Isaac asked his father where the ram was for the sacrifice, Abraham replied, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22: 1-5; Genesis 22: 6-8)

Just as Abraham was about to slay his son with the knife, an angel of the Lord called out to him and the Lord told Abraham not to lay his hand on him or do anything to him, because He now knew Abraham feared God and loved Him. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering to the Lord instead of his son. So Abraham named that place, “The Lord will provide,” as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22: 9-14)

God provided me a hotel room through some generous people, when I didn’t have the money myself. I was so thankful for a place to sleep. The Bible says that Jesus, the son of God, had nowhere to lay his head. No soft pillow or blanket to cover him. (Luke 9:58) I was so grateful that God supernaturally provided for me.

God will do the same for you when you have faith and trust in Him.

Since I hadn’t exchanged my money yet and the bank in Seattle wouldn’t exchange my money, The “angel” exchanged his $20 U.S. dollars for my $20 Canadian dollars, so that I would have money for the subway and food in Chicago. He did this even though he said he had no more money. This was another money miracle for me from God.

Canadian money

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder

The Ambrak train had made a lot of stops on the way, so we arrived in Chicago almost three hours late – at night! At the Chicago train station, I immediately found out the info to take the subway, which was a couple of blocks away. You have to purchase a ticket to ride the subway, although nobody checked mine. Make sure you are on the RIGHT train! Arriving in Chicago was the part I had feared most. I’m not afraid to die because I know where I’m going (do you?), but being stabbed or shot and suffering is another matter.

Ray and Heather hadn’t heard from me for several days while I was on the train and were worried I’d already arrived in Chicago and that something bad had happened to me. Finally, my cell phone started working again on the train just before I arrived in Chicago (phone service was very sporadic throughout Canada and the U.S.), and I texted Ray and Heather to pray for me to quickly find the subway station and to get to my hotel safely. As I walked to the subway, I heard footsteps behind me. A man passed me by and I breathed a little easier.

There were definitely some interesting characters waiting around for the subway. Two men resembling what I imagined to be gang members, with pants hanging off their butts, wearing oversized trench coats, and one glaring at me menacingly for me simply breathing air, walked by closely. I decided to play it cool and look at him evenly as if he touched me, I’d take him down to the ground, lol. But inside I was praying fervently, knowing God was bigger than these men and His angels surrounded me! The Chicago Crime Commission Gang Report in 2012 states that there are about 68,000 gang members in Chicago, with more gang members than New York, Miami, Houston, or any other major city besides Los Angeles.

The subway hauls butt and fun; it is fast!

Below is a pic when I was riding the subway. I enjoyed people-watching: the Asian family with a cute toddler boy who was all smiles and chattering constantly, the man standing by the hand rail with the French beret cap, the red-haired woman who was reading a thick book. I wondered if she was a writer.

Subway in Chicago

The blessing

I couldn’t believe it when I arrived at my hotel. My room was like a suite, with a separate living room/office, a large bedroom, and a big bathroom with beautiful black countertops and a glass shower. I nosily looked at the hotel cost on the door on the hotel instructions for fire escape, valuables box, laundry, etc.: Over $400 a night! That probably isn’t what my “givers” paid for it…but this was no shanty shack!

I felt a twinge of guilt inside my heart. The “angel” was probably staying in a shelter somewhere. Who was I to deserve this blessing from God? I thought about the “fairness” of life. The angel had told me on the train that one time he slept on the floor of a gas station, locking the door, because he had nowhere else to go. I couldn’t imagine living like this. My analytical mind started whirring again. If he was really an angel, why would he be sleeping on a dirty gas station floor? Ray said that maybe God had sent him here to earth to experience human suffering, like Jesus did…that God’s ways are not our ways.

I thought of suffering in the world. Why was life good to some and not to others? The Bible says God rains on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5: 45).

I decided to just be thankful and enjoy the luxury hotel room. I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth! Why waste the blessing by feeling guilty because God had been good to me and had answered my prayers for a hotel room – even above what I had prayed or expected!

I wrote in my journal:

“The walls of the room are a soft yellow. One picture hangs above the teal blue couch that looks like a scene from an Italian village. If I had a new home, I’d decorate it in an Italian theme like Helen’s home. A chair with a fabric of striped, many colors, like Joseph’s coat, is beside the couch…The bed has soft white sheets, a white soft comforter and soft white pillows, my favorite bedding. I felt like Queen Latifah in The Last Holiday movie…I just wanted to squeeze the pillows and I did.” Hahaha! I was almost purring like a cat.

“The shower is stone and transparent glass. The tile is an earth tone, like stone. The counters are black with a sterling silver faucet and silver decorations like the soap dish. I feel totally spoiled. There is a mini-fridge and a coffee maker for my coffee in the morning. The large, beige desk I’m writing on is smooth and has “waves” on top like ocean waves. It has cute little shelves and an ice bucket on the top shelf, with a bottle of Evian water.”

By now you are concluding I don’t get out much, LOL. I really felt spoiled by God. He is so good!

You can get an idea of the luxury of this hotel room below.

I loved the bathroom’s modern, black counter with the sterling silver faucet and towel ring and silver decorations; also the “stone” tile floor.

Loved the black counter & glass shower at the hotel

I especially loved the glass shower. That hot shower felt HEAVENLY after the 3 day train trip with no shower or bath!

Glass shower at hotel in Chicago

This is the hotel desk with the “waves” where I wrote in my journal. One reason I love hotel rooms is that they have desks to write on – and often, hotel stationery.

Hotel desk

Blessings in Chicago

The hotel was an INCREDIBLE blessing! And there was more. Because I was waiting on money to transfer to my checking account back home, the $20 which the “angel” had exchanged on the train for my $20 Canadian dollars was enough for my subway ride and for me to buy supper at the hotel. Once again, God provided for my needs!

I asked a hotel custodian on the elevator if there was a restaurant open at the hotel and he told me what floor it was on, then suggested ordering delivery at the hotel. I noticed he had a stutter, and it reminded me of Moses. He had a servant’s heart and found brochures at the front desk for me, suggesting a particular restaurant, which had just the right price! I felt God put him in my path as well to help me. I would love to stay at this wonderful Renaissance hotel again when Ray and I go back to Chicago!

The next morning, I waited at the subway station. Below is the station by my hotel. I hope to go back to Chicago with Ray one day to enjoy a longer Chicago experience. For one, I didn’t get to try Chicago pizza, which Ray says is GREAT! I’d also like to see a play there.

You can see the Renaissance hotel and the glass walkway in the distance. You have to walk through a glass walkway to get to the subway station, where you then buy your ticket for the subway. I was thankful the subway employees helped me so I would get on the right train. I met a pilot walking on the walkway, who said he travels a lot. I told him that I used to be a flight attendant, but resigned because I didn’t see my family enough and missed them too much. He looked thoughtful and said he should spend more time with his family, too. Scatter seeds of truth wherever you go!

Chicago is known as the “Windy city.” It was exhilarating, but can be cold and cutting. Like Vancouver, the city is alive with energy. As I waited at the station above, I prayed for the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow all over Chicago.

While waiting, I saw a girl with hoodie on that had a logo about faith. I started talking to her and found out she was a Christian. I felt this was just a little sign from God that I was in the right place at the right time.

I wasn’t able to go shopping or anywhere due to time, but was able to see a little of Chicago riding the subway. Chicago has a lot of skyscrapers. It also has a lot of graffiti on some of the buildings in other sections.

View of Chicago from subway

Chicago is a melting pot and has a diverse ethnic population with the main ones being Irish, German, Italian, Mexican, Arab, English, Bulgarian, Czech, Greek, Black, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Ukranian, Dutch, Belgian, and Puerto Rican. (Resource: Wikipedia) It offers a variety of ethnic restaurants. I saw many different types on the same block, as I walked around, going back to the subway station. Below is a pic of an Indian restaurant. Right beside it was an authentic Italian restaurant.

Restaurants in Chicago

Reflections

On the subway ride, I thought about some of the things the “angel” had shared with me on the train to Chicago. He said that people treat you the way you view yourself. If you view yourself as successful, they treat you that way. I found that ironic with the way he was dressed in shabby clothes, but he was clothed in the anointing and humility of Christ. He didn’t feel inferior in any way. He had God-confidence and God-authority. What about you?

I loved Chicago. By the time I arrived there, I was ready to go home. My total trip took 9 days. It was a time I needed for reflection, rest and relaxation. I was given the wonderful opportunity to see much of Canada throughout the gorgeous Rockies and the Rockies in the U.S. My trip to Canada was an incredible blessing from God. I went there to impart and bless others, but received MUCH more than I gave. God is so good to me. I can’t thank Him enough.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Canada blog series. I’d love to hear comments from you about any aspect of my trip. Just remember that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, even when all the pieces to the puzzle aren’t in place. If God has told you to do something, He will bring the provision you need. He will reward and bless you for your obedience.

I now have precious memories of this trip and am so glad and grateful to God, Ray, Rick and Doreen, Dan and Helen that I got to go. Thank you to all of you and thanks to all of you who prayed for my trip. Please leave your comments below; I’d love to hear your thoughts.

When things go wonky: website changes this week!

Beth Jones — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 08:31:46 +0000

Earlier this week I discovered that my website theme’s update wasn’t compatible with WordPress. Compare it to Ray and me wanting to see two different kinds of movies ~ him wanting to see massive explosions, machine guns, and bloody marines in an enemy war zone and me wanting to see a tear-jerking-drama-love story, oozing with romance. The. Two. Just. Do. Not. Mix.

My wonky website

After I updated the theme, my website looked wonky. It wasn’t anything I did. These things just happen sometimes with website themes and WordPress updates. The theme creators then have to go back to the drawing board to make sure their themes’ updates stay compatible with WordPress, which also has frequent updates.

I contacted everyone “technical” I personally knew for help. This was out of the area of expertise for one person, and two had been sick all week. I felt so bad they were sick (because I’ve been sick recently, too), but I am often like a racehorse chompin’ at the bit, raring to get out of the starting gate….i.e., I don’t have any patience!

Nor am I tech-savvy. Actually, technology and I have a love-hate relationship. I love its benefits, but hate how it tears up sometimes and gives me hissy fits…especially when I am working on a major project. If you don’t know what a hissy fit is, that is a southern term for a major meltdown.

When I could take it no more…

Toward the end of this week, I decided to go ahead and activate another theme on my site, like one of the tech people I’d talked to had advised me to do, to see if that would resolve the problem with the “wonkiness.” Yes, that was the issue! My theme’s update was NOT compatible with WordPress. Mystery solved!

Naturally, the new theme changed the look of my website, so I spent all day Thursday working on the sidebar (look on the right side of my website). I know, it shouldn’t take me all day. But this is me and technology, remember?

Then the header – what is at the top of the website. This is still under construction, but I have a temporary header with a pic of me when I spoke in Canada at Doreen Penner’s women’s conference. The header shows the new tagline, Speaker, Author, Coach. I am planning to keep the pic of me speaking on my header, but use my cartoon graphic header for my blog.

The point of this blog post

I wish I could say that I handle stresses in life like this maturely. But then I’d be lying out of my teeth. You know the expression. When mama ain’t happy ain’t NOBODY happy. When I’m not happy, Ray, Leah and the rest of my family run for cover! Haha. Just joking – sort of!

White Men Can’t Jump – The Glass of Water Illustration

Actually, Ray TRIES to run for cover. But I TRAP him in the bedroom and force him to listen to hours of me ranting, whining, and contemplating the messes in my life. Ray still doesn’t understand that when I do this, I don’t necessarily want him to fix the messes...like Gloria explains to Billy in the movie White Men Can’t Jump. I just want Ray to listen to me.

Gloria: ”Yes. I read it in a magazine. See, if I’m thirsty, I don’t want a glass of water. I want you to sympathize. I want you to say, ‘Gloria, I too know what it feels like to be thirsty. I too have had a dry mouth.’ I want you to connect with me through sharing and understanding the concept of dry mouthedness.”

Anyway, I digress. The point of this blog post is that the website has changed. The header is changing. I will be tweaking pages, posts,and pics in the weeks ahead because the new theme has affected the way things look on my site. My plan is to finish my Canada blog series this weekend and to share other exciting things with you coming up soon, so stay tuned!

I appreciate your patience during the “reconstruction.” I love and appreciate you!

Thanks for being understanding. I know you too, like Gloria, sometimes “have a dry mouth” – or at least techy issues.

Share in the comments below how you handle stresses like “techy stuff.” What’s your number one tip for overcoming?

Canada Trip, Part 11: Manitoba and Mitchell

Beth Jones — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:34:10 +0000

Manitoba, Canada

Part of ending a year well and entering a new one strong is to finish what you started. The next couple of blogs will be the end (for now!) of my 2012 Canada Blog Series on my trip to Canada where I was one of the keynote speakers at Doreen Penner’s women’s conference. I’m looking forward to traveling new exciting places in 2013! This is part 11 of my Canada Blog Series. You can read part 10 by clicking here.

Canada Trip, Part 11: Manitoba and Mitchell

When Doreen Penner asked me to be one of the keynote speakers for her women’s conference, Walk Into Your Blessing, I was so excited!

I had been to Canada only once, when Ray, Leah and I visited Niagara Falls on both the American and Canadian sides. Not to sound like a traitor to my own country, but I thought the Canadian side of Niagara Falls was far more beautiful. The beauty and the power of the falls was INCREDIBLE! It reminded me so much of the verse, Revelation 1:5: “His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”

Since we were in Canada just one day, I only saw the waterfalls. For my speaking trip, I’d be taking the Canadian Via Railway train back home to Kansas City and was looking forward to seeing the breathtakingly beautiful Rockies, traveling from Winnepeg to Vancouver, B.C., where I’d then board the Amtrak train for the U.S. This was going to be an adventure!

Doreen and her sweet sister Edna would pick me up at the Winnepeg airport (about an hour from Doreen’s home in Manitoba). Doreen, Edna, Doreen’s family and team, and the Canadian women at the conference were some of the most loving, friendliest people I’ve ever met. Yet Canada itself is cold spiritually. It is an atheist nation; Doreen’s husband Rick said that ten years ago, it was 16% Christian, but today only 2-3% of Canadians are Christian believers.

Sign at Canadian airport

One of the first things I noticed about Canada as soon as I stepped out of the airport into the parking lot with Doreen and Edna was the distinct sense of an absence of God’s presence. It was cold and eerie. You could sense in the spirit that this was a godless nation. I’d felt this before in other countries like Germany and France when Ray went on our 10th year anniversary “honeymoon” to Europe. Rick and Doreen said that you don’t say, “We’re praying for you” in Canada due to the atheism.

It felt foreign to my soul and spirit. It almost took my breath away with its cold barrenness. It was as if I was visiting this foreign land of perpetual ice and snow, an Age of Winter, like C.S. Lewis’ Narnia, which Jadis the White Witch conquered and reigned over, making it “always winter and never Christmas.” I was truly in a foreign land, physically and spiritually. Yet God sent me there for HIS Divine purposes.

Tim Hutton coffee to warm us up

It was so funny meeting a Facebook friend face to face! Doreen said she was glad to see that I actually looked like my Facebook profile pic, because some people don’t. She looked like her pic too, only she was even prettier!

I am a jeans girl and like to be comfortable when I travel, so I arrived at the airport in a casual butterfly shirt, blue jeans and a blue jean jacket. Word of warning: Canada is cold. If you go, take a heavy coat. Due to packing room, I only brought my light jean jacket and I did get cold! Doreen tickled and blessed me after I flew back home by recording a video in a blue jean jacket just for me.

Me & Doreen Penner

I was surprised to see so many American businesses in Canada: Starbucks, TJ Maxx, McDonald’s, and many more. Doreen and her friend Helen said they often cross the border to go shopping at retail clothes stores in Fargo, North Dakota, because of good sales. But the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar are about the same rate. Many businesses in Canada take the U.S. dollar, but some don’t so you will need to exchange some money at the airport if you travel to Canada.

Doreen and Edna needed to stop by the chiropractor on the way back to Doreen’s house, then as we drove back, Doreen introduced me to Tim Huttons coffee. I’d never heard of it before, but it’s popular and Doreen’s favorite coffee place. It was warm and yummy. When I was in Vancouver, I took a pic of a Tim Huttons shop just for Doreen.

Manitoba was first settled by fur traders in the 17th century. It’s flat with a lot of land in the country that Ray would have loved, mostly used for farming. Manitoba looked like any American city, although the houses in residential areas seemed closer together (little space and privacy in between residences). It has about 14,000 people, Rick said.

There was so much open farmland; I was amazed. Rick said the hog industry was hurting due to a drought last year. There is rich farmland by the “sleeping giant” Red River, which gives good returns on crops. In 1997 there was a big flood – the flood of the century. A dike now protects the area from flooding.

This area was first inhabited by Mennonite Germans, so some of the Canadian expressions have German origin. One such expression was “schlucks.” I didn’t know what that was, and Rick and Doreen laughed because they weren’t really sure how to translate it into English, as it is used for different things. Doreen finally said the closest translation she could think of was “push it down” – like, “I’m going to drink one more schlucks of Coke.”

Doreen said a big yearly tradition they have in Canada is a “people hunt.” Everyone dresses up in unusual types of clothing for a disguise and the youth look for for their parents. Afterward, groups of youth go out for a burger and fries. She said it’s lots of fun.

Doreen and her family live in Steinbach, a quaint area with charming, pretty houses in well-manicured neighborhoods. I loved Doreen’s pretty, very clean, modern house and felt immediately comfortable there with her beautiful, loving family. They made me feel so welcome! Doreen’s sweet daughter Kiersten won my heart right away and I had a lot of fun shopping with Doreen and her at the Winnepeg mall the day before I left.

Kiersten Penner

Doreen’s son Reagan, like most teens, is a techy whiz and helped me to connect right away to the internet on my smart phone at Doreen’s house so I could text my family to let them know I safely arrived. Thank God for teens!

I was so impressed with Doreen’s husband Rick, who worked so hard and was the man behind the curtain for this women’s event, handling everything from setting up tables and chairs at the conference to making sure the video and the sound with lapel mics for the speakers worked properly to record their sessions. He and Doreen truly have humble, servant hearts.

Rick Penner, Doreen’s husband

Doreen apologized for not cooking a big meal for me and Karen because she had been busy organizing and getting things ready for the conference, but she had no idea how good that meal of fried chicken, French fries, cole slaw, and biscuits tasted. I have lived in Missouri for over 20 years, but I was born and raised in Valdosta, in deep south Georgia, where fried chicken is a staple of life. I was thankful to sit down and eat a delicious, warm meal in the comfort of someone’s home after my flights. I was surprised how quickly I arrived in Canada, in the early afternoon – only a few hours to get there from Missouri!

You can’t go wrong with fried chicken!

Doreen’s other keynote speaker for the conference, Karen Wells, drove alone over 30 hours from her home in British Columbia, north Canada. That is dedication! She said she had to hold onto the steering wheel almost the whole time to keep safely on the road, not even able to sip her hot coffee. But she did manage to stop different places and to sell at least 10 of her new book, Unhooked!

This easy marketing fascinated me and I asked her how she did it. She said she just told people she was a speaker and author and she was on her way to speak at Doreen’s conference, and asked them if they wanted to buy her book! If you missed my show with Karen sharing about her book Unhooked: 7 Steps to Emotional Freedom, you can listen to the replay by clicking here. It was a great show.

I wished I could have spent much more time with Karen to learn more about marketing and to hear more fascinating stories. She told Doreen, me, and Helen about her travels to different nations and how she has led people to Jesus – even when she couldn’t fluently speak the language, like in China! Karen is definitely a soul winner. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” – Proverbs 11:30

Below is a pic of Karen, me, and Doreen at Doreen’s house, shortly after Karen arrived. We were so pumped about the conference and couldn’t wait until the next day to speak and minister to the ladies. We are all speakers, authors, coaches, and leaders, yet we all have different personalities and speaking styles.

Doreen is a Choleric personality, very much a leader, extremely polished and professional in her speaking style (she’s active in Toastmasters’ professional speakers’ organization), and shares God’s truth and wise insights in her presentations. Doreen had a great handout for her presentation time. Handouts are important leadership tools. Handouts help you connect with the audience and help them to follow you.

Karen is a bubbly, happy Sanguine, who makes you feel instantly right at home, and at the same time her words reach straight into your heart and bring tears to your eyes and laughter to your soul. Her challenging questions cause you to dig past the surface and make you really think. Karen used a power point with her presentation.

I am a Choleric-Melancholy personality; Doreen said I am “very intense” when I speak. She said she often wondered what in the world I was thinking because I was so intense. :O Helen said I was “real” and described my presentation as “one from the heart,” where I shared my personal painful life experiences (and triumphs), others’ powerful stories, and what God’s word has to say on the matter. Because I am such a visual learner myself, I use a lot of visual aids (props) when I speak. The audience’s feedback was that they enjoyed hearing the sessions from different speakers, spread throughout the day.

If you are a public speaker, what is your speaking style? What are some speaking tips you’d like to share with others? Leave your comments below.

Karen Wells, Beth Jones, Doreen Penner

Kiersten and I sorted the speakers’ handouts and inserted them in teal folders that Doreen bought (Kiersten, Doreen and Rick debated over if this was really a “teal” color, which I found amusing.) Then Karen and I followed in her SUV behind Rick and Doreen in their car to Dan and Helen Reimer’s house, where Karen and I stayed several days. The actual conference was in Mitchell, Manitoba.

I’d love to visit Canada again. I found the people there charming and friendly. I’m so honored God gave me this opportunity to minister to God’s daughters in Canada!

Stay tuned for my next blog post in my Canada blog series. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series and would love to know what you think. Please leave your comments below.

Do you have sun-stand-still faith?

Beth Jones — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:47:21 +0000

This week I was reading the Bible in Joshua 10:1-43 and was stopped by a passage I’d seen before ~ but it was one of those rhema revelation moments, when God’s word explodes in your mind and spirit and soul and makes you see how tiny your faith has been up to now and how big God really is.

To give you some background, Joshua and the people of Israel had just taken Ai and destroyed it, just as they had done to Jericho and its king.

The king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, heard that the army of Israel had demolished Ai and the people of Gibeon had made a peace treaty with Israel and had become their allies. He was alarmed, so he appealed to the five kings of the Amorites to join forces with him to attack Gibeon.

The Gibeonites came to Joshua at the camp of Gilgal to ask for help against their fierce enemies. Joshua marched with his best fighting men because God had given him the word of the Lord: “The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” (Joshua 10:8)

After an all night march, Joshua took them by surprise and defeated them at Gibeon. They pursued them going on the road to Beth Horon all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled. God sent a hail storm, and more of them died by hail than by the swords of the Israelites.

Now it gets really good and exciting! This was my WHOA word.

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua said to the Lord:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on[b] its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

I stopped. Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still. And they obeyed!

Do I have the kind of faith it takes to command the sun and the moon to stand still?

I don’t think so.

I thought back over my life. There had been many situations which required faith. Through the years of my life, God has been building my faith, testing and trying it. Delivering me of many fears. Showing me He was trustworthy and I didn’t need to be afraid.

There were certain things I knew I had faith for:

Faith that God is real and good.
Faith that God loves me and would never leave me.
Faith that God protects me and my family and His angels surround us.
Faith that God provides all we need.
Faith that God heals.
Faith that God still does miracles today, as I share about our daughters’ miracles of healing in my books Walking With God and The Hands of a Woman.
Faith that God wants to use me for His glory, despite myself – in ways I can’t even imagine.

But command the sun and the moon to stand still? I’m not there yet. I want to be. I want to have mountain-moving, sun-and-moon-stand-still faith.

Sometimes it’d be really nice to command the sun and the moon to stand still. I could get more laundry and dishes done, and certainly would have more time to work on my business. Sometimes I feel like night and sleeping are a big waste of time and feel impatient for the morning to come. But that would be selfish to throw off the entire rest of the world just so I could work on another speaking presentation or my blog!

Yet if I needed that kind of faith, do I have it? Will I need it this year? Dare I command the sun to stand still -or some other just as wild, huge faith statement?

The kind of faith that pastor Steve Furtick says is audacious faith. Faith to ask God for the impossible. (I just ordered the book last night and can’t wait to read it!)

Joshua was a human, a created being just like you and me. He had no creative power in and of himself to make the sun and the moon stand still. But he had the faith to speak to God and because of his great faith, God honored his word.

Faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6)

After I read the passage this week, I received Sandi Krakowsi’s ezine in my email box with a video about Steve Furtick and a link to his website about his Sun Stand Still book. I’ve walked with God long enough by now to know that when I hear a word twice within a short time frame, to sit up and pay attention because God is speaking and confirming His word.

I am now incredibly excited about how God is about to show up.

Do you have sun-stand-still faith? What do you want to ask God for today?

Go ahead. And see God answer, just as He did Joshua.

New Year’s Resolutions: Thinking in bigger terms

Beth Jones — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 06:26:59 +0000

How are you doing onNew Year’s Resolutions? I shared with our daughters that while God has given me one word for 2013 (prosperity) and two Scriptures (Isaiah 43:19 and 3 John 1:2), and I am dreaming BIG and making GOALS for 2013, I’m focusing more on CONTINUING with fulfilling my dreams and achieving my goals from the last several years vs. resolutions.

I really like what Canadian Speaker and Author Sheila Wray Gregoire has to say about resolutions in her post What Causes Success in Life?

Here is an excerpt:

It’s funny how our New Year’s Resolutions are often dominated by things that probably aren’t at the top of the priority list overall. They relate to our weight, don’t they? We’ll lose weight. We’ll exercise. We’ll quit chocolate.

But in the end, the most important thing we can do is to stress character, and grow closer to Jesus. That’s what’s key. And maybe your resolutions reflect that, too: I will do my devotions everyday. I will pray more. Good for you!

But rather than just focusing on these simple, obvious goals, I think we need a plan to make sure that our families are moving in the right direction.

For instance, why is it that with our kids we focus so much on academics, and make them spend so much time in homework, but we don’t teach them to cook a meal? Don’t you think the latter is important, too? Why do we berate them about grades, but we don’t make them do chores, which ultimately will do more to help them hold and keep a job than getting good grades will?

We focus on the easy to measure things. We often fail to focus on character issues. So this year, as you’re making your New Year’s Resolutions, try to think in bigger terms. What do you want to stress this year? Talk about it with your husband and kids, too! Who do you want to be as a family? Who do you want to be ten years from now? And how are you going to get there?

For most of us, losing weight is probably a healthy idea. Doing devotions certainly is, too! But what about other things that ultimately will impact your family just as much, if not more?

What about teaching responsibility and character? What about starting a real chore system and sticking to it this year?

I shared with Leah this week that I’d like us to continue working on her learning how to cook and in growing in her relationship with God (among other things).

Focus on character in 2013 – for you and your family. Think in bigger terms this year.

Blog Hop The Next Big Thing

Beth Jones — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:01:42 +0000

A Scarlett Cord of Hope

Today my blog is part of something bigger than usual. Last week, Sheryl Griffin, invited me to be part of a blog hop called The Next Big Thing.

I wasn’t familiar with doing a blog hop, but I decided to try it as this seems like an opportunity for me to bless other authors.

The purpose is to help readers discover the next great book or author; i.e., the one they will be compelled to read or the author whose work they simply can’t put down.

Check out Sheryl’s latest book A Scarlet Cord of Hope and her blog: www.SherylGriffin.com

As part of this blog hop, we were asked to answer the following questions. I hope you take a moment to read my answers about my book: That You Would Prosper As Your Soul Prospers: Affirmations of God’s Blessings For Christian Women Entrepreneurs

Ten Questions With An Author: Beth Jones

What is the title of your book?

That You Would Prosper As Your Soul Prospers: Affirmations of God’s Blessings For Christian Women Entrepreneurs

Where did the idea come from for the book?

God has been speaking the word prosperity to me over the last several months and as my “word” for 2013. I’ve watched the 6- and 7-figure-a-year “gurus” online and wondered why it was that they are succeeding, while so many Christian women online entrepreneurs doing what they love struggle financially and to succeed. I read books on the subject and interviewed different Christian women entrepreneurs who are successful to address the topic of why Christian women who have their own online business aren’t prospering financially.

What genre does your book fall under?

Spiritual/Christian Life/Personal Growth/Finance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

My first picks would be my favorite actresses Meryl Streep (no need for an intro!), Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line), or Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice). But Hillary Swank (P.S. I love you) would be far more suitable for the movie rendition given her own story. She was a high school dropout, who grew up in a trailer park in Washington and has said she was shunned by classmates for being poor. Swank’s father abandoned the family early on, leaving her mother to fend for the family. When she was 15 years old, her mother lost her job, and the two moved to California, sleeping in their car or at the homes of friends. Swank supposedly earned just $75 a day for her role in Boys Don’t Cry, but she’s now worth $40 million.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

God wants you as a Christian woman entrepreneur to PROSPER – to be so blessed financially that you become a blessing to others.

Is your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It is self-published December 2012 through Refreshing Waters.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six months, but the project took a year to complete due to my travels to the Bahamas and Canada, two laptop failures, life’s “interruptions” in general, and waiting on quotes (Christian women entrepreneurs stay productively busy!).

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Inspired Women Succeed by Diane Cunningham and Jo Ann Fore and The Woman’s Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Businesss by Mary Cantando.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Sandy Krakowski, Diane Cunningham, Cheryl Pullins, Zig Ziglar, Dani Johnson, Mary Kay Ash, Donald Trump, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerman, Abraham and Sarah, King David, Solomon, Queen of Sheba, Queen Esther, the women disciples of Jesus who gave of their wealth, and many other wealthy people and Christian women entrereneurs who inspire me daily.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If you are a Christian woman entrepreneur and would like to learn the secrets to success for your online business, That You Would Prosper As Your Soul Prospers: Affirmations of God’s Blessings For Christian Women Entrepreneurs is the perfect book for you. God doesn’t want His people miserable, unhealthy, and flat broke, but to prosper in all areas of their lives and to be so blessed that they become a blessing to others. Jesus came to give you the abundant life and that includes financial prosperity.

Next week take the opportunity to hop on over to the blogs of the following authors. These authors have been a blessing to me and I am sure you will enjoy them as well.

Author Sheryl Griffin

Sheryl Griffin, www.SherylGriffin.com
Sheryl’s book: A Scarlet Cord of Hope

Author Dana Arcuri, www.writing4theheart-n-soul.blogspot.com
Dana’s book: Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously Through Adversity

God wants you to prosper

Beth Jones — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 03:21:51 +0000

That You Would Prosper ebook

The word prosperity sometimes makes Christians cringe, because there is often a negative association with it from out of balance, false prosperity teachings. But it’s a word that God has been speaking to my heart for several months now and it’s the word He’s given me for the new year 2013.

God wants us to prosper in all areas of our lives, including finances. In fact, He wants you to be so blessed that you will become a blessing to others.

This is the topic of my newest ebook, That You Would Prosper as Your Soul Prospers: Affirmations of God’s Blessinsg for Christian Women Entrepreneurs.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2, AKJV

Find out what God’s word and successful Christian women entrepreneurs have to say on this important and exciting topic.

Get your copy today, and receive the bonuses – the Prosperity Prayer for Christian Women Entrepreneurs, a 2013 Financial Planner, and a webinar replay of 5 Steps To Abundance.

You will also be added to a private Facebook community with other Christian women entrepreneurs for prayer, encouragement, and motivation to make 2013 your best year yet!

Re-Solutions: Preparing for the new year in all areas of your life

Beth Jones — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:04:37 +0000

I was talking with our daughter Leah this morning about setting goals for 2013 and she said, “New Year’s resolutions don’t usually work.” Some people, like Steve Errey at LifeHack, would say she is right. Franklin Covey did a survey which showed that 33% of people break their resolutions by the end of January, primarily because of having too many other things to do and not having enough commitment.

So why bother making resolutions, right?

But I love the idea of a fresh start, don’t you? New year, new dreams, new possibilities. Bob Kiser, life coach, motivational speaker and mediator, says resolutions and/or goals can work if they are based out of kind, honest, self-reflection.

The word resolution has the prefix re, which in the original Latin means “again.” A solution to your problem(s) – again. What didn’t work in 2012? You can find a new solution for it in 2013!

This weekend I am spending time preparing for 2013, continuing to dream big and continuing with goals that I had already made. I accomplished some things in 2012 that I set my mind to and believe I will accomplish even more in 2013 with God’s help, persistence, and (smart) work! Here’s some tips to get you ready in all areas of your life for the new year:

1. Declutter. I spent time last night cleaning off my desk. Chaos on the outside makes me feel chaotic inside. I typed up 19 pages in a Word document from all the notes on my desk from training telecalls and webinars I attended in 2012. Now instead of having piles of paper all over my desk, the notes are contained within one document in a file folder (“Business – Misc. Notes”) on my laptop. I threw the papers away. This is one way to tame your paper tiger.

Today I also cleaned out and organized my closet and drawers. As you’re organizing, evaluate everything. Determine its practicality and usefulness. More importantly, do you even like it? If not, why do you own and keep it? People often have way too much stuff. If you are not careful, you will wind up on Hoarders.

I tend to be the other extreme, throwing out everything, including -when we were first married- Ray’s Tony Lama , ostrich-skin western boots that I thought were just a pair of dirty, old, tore up cowboy boots, but were valued at about $800 (Ray said the heels just need re-soling).

Evaluate if you actually want or need the item. Did you ever wear that shirt this year? If not, toss it into one of three piles: give away/sell, throw away, or store. Summer tank tops and shorts can be stored in plastic bins that you can find at the dollar store or Walmart, or relegated to one of your bottom dresser drawers. Photos and scrapbooking materials can be organized and stored in the plastic bins, too.

Today I pulled out a plastic bin in my closet of some of our children’s books and other memorabilia and put it into our utility room to give me more breathing room in my closet. What feels crowded in your home? Make room for the new in 2013!

You can also declutter your digital photos. Create new folders in your “Pictures” section on your laptop and/or upload them to Facebook or an online storage site like Google Drive or on Photo Bucket . Keep only the high quality pics.

The end of the year is a good time to organize and/or delete old files on your laptop or computer – yes, all those telecall replays you’ve been meaning to listen to and PLR articles you didn’t use!

I wasn’t planning to get a fresh start this way, but after I came back from Canada, my laptop tore up. It would’ve cost more to repair it than to buy a brand new one, so for Christmas Ray’s gift to me was a new Toshiba laptop.

This actually helped me to get rid of a LOT of files that I didn’t need anymore. I now have a “clean slate” and much more room on my laptop!

Today I also sorted through bills: current utility bills and debt. This is probably one of my least fun activities in life. Do you dread looking at bills as much as I do?

But to my delight today, when I opened one “bill,” there was a $10 check inside from an organization (yes, it was legit!). Ten dollars doesn’t sound like much, but it was money so I was happy about that – and so glad I opened it instead of just tossing it!

Go through all the cabinets, closets, drawers, nooks and crannies in your house. Be ruthless. Throw all that crap away! (unless it’s Tony Lama ostrich skin boots!)

If you didn’t use it all year in 2012, why would you need it in 2013? If you can’t bare throwing stuff out like my husband (who almost classifies as a hoarder), then give it to someone, Good Will, or a thrift store. Or have a garage sale and make money from it. But don’t keep it another whole year!

2. Clean. Tomorrow my goal is to clean the house: dust, sweep, mop, do bathrooms. Why not start out the new year with a nice, clean house? A messy house is a major cause of stress that can potentially damage your health even more than losing your job.

~~Force~~ Get your kids to pitch in and help. You are not a maid. This is growing them into responsible adults and helping them to overcome laziness. My brothers, sister, and I used to hate when daddy would wake us up early on Saturday mornings and make us vacuum or wash the wrap-around front porch of the house, but now I appreciate it because it taught me a strong work ethic. I’m not sure our kids appreciate it yet, but one day hopefully they will!

Maybe you work full-time outside the home and don’t have time to really clean your house for the new year. Or maybe you are a new mom nursing her baby in the middle of the night and you don’t have the energy. Hire someone to help you!

Get your home spic and span clean for 2013. You will feel better and so will your family. If finances are an issue, you might be able to barter with someone or with friends: you’ll trade child care while your friend goes out for a date night with her hubby if she’ll come over and clean your house for a few hours.

3. Business. Take some time to pray to God about your business. God is the CEO of my business at www.BethJones.net. I always pray before the beginning of a new year for God to give me wisdom and direction for the coming year. I don’t want to do this without Him and without His favor and blessing!

Me speaking at Canada women’s conference

Look at what worked and what didn’t work in 2012. Are you in over your head and overwhelmed? Maybe you’re trying to do too much. Maybe there are some things you need to delegate-or get rid of completely because it is not what God has called and anointed you to do!

I am a STRONG proponent of outsourcing. This weekend I just took a big leap of faith and hired my first VA – marketing assistant and consultant. If you feel you can’t afford to hire someone because you’re not bringing in a lot of or a consistent income, then think about bartering with a VA or tech help —or pay what you can to get at least some tasks done during the month to free up your time.

Also, consider asking family and friends to be your prayer partners for your business. Because I have big dreams and big goals for my business for 2013 and I realize I can’t get there without God and others’ help, I asked some people recently to consider being part of my official intercessory team.

I now have six women on my intercessory prayer team for my business for 2013. God wants to bless you and your business so much that you become a blessing to others, but the enemy Satan doesn’t want this to happen and he will attack and distract you to keep that from happening.

You need to surround yourself with prayer warriors who will cover you, your family, and your business in 2013!

Another area of business is Joint Ventures. Who were you connected with in 2012? This year I had the privilege of meeting my new friends Tony Robinson, Doreen Penner, and Karen Wells! What a blessing they are to me. I also partnered with Jennifer Whiddon in a Joint Venture, selling her beautiful, hand-stamped, sterling silver necklaces at my site – this custom-designed necklace is available nowhere else!

Did your connections in 2012 bear good fruit – or cause a lot of chaos and drama in your life? Sometimes God removes people from your life because He doesn’t want you joined at the hip with them. He never wanted you to be connected with them in the first place, or it’s a new season for you (or them). Don’t let anyone try to control or dominate you, making you feel guilty for moving ahead. That comes out of their own insecurities.

Ask God to bring the people into your life who He wants you to be connected with for His glory. God has incredible new connections for you in 2013! Be open and alert to the new thing God is doing in your life. Step out and step UP!

Try new things. Find out what Pinterest is all about. Consider buying a smart phone if you don’t already have one (I use my Evo smart phone for my business almost every day and Sandi Krakowski says 2013 is the year of mobile and video, so stay alert to new trends in biz!). If you don’t have a coach, hire one! (I offer coaching services!)

Do what it takes to succeed in business in 2013! Determine that you will make money in your biz and prosper and will make an impact in this world!

4. Relationships. Look over 2012. What wasn’t working, including your relationships?

Couple arguing

Was your marriage or your relationship with one of your children filled with strife, resentment, or marked by drama? What needs to change to improve your relationship – is it you? Are you walking in love, forgiveness, and humility – or anger, bitterness, and pride?

The Bible tells us to be at peace with all people, if possible. Sometimes it isn’t possible. Some people will choose to wallow in their own pit of unforgiveness, bitterness. They will blame others, refuse to take responsibility for their lives and problems, have a victim mentality, or be a drama king or queen. You can only do your part and leave the rest to God.

Sometimes you have to just let go and let God do His work in their hearts in His timing. Continue to pray for that person. Walk in love because love is the most powerful weapon there is. But if there’s something you need to do that can impact that difficult relationship, do it.

Ask God to help you love that person by His grace. It’s not easy to love the unloveable, but that is what God does with you and me!

At other times, you may have to actually walk away from the relationship. You may have to set firm boundaries or, in extreme circumstances, cut off the relationship, such as in cases of abuse, abandonment, or other toxic situations.

If you were created to be an eagle, you are meant to soar. A toxic relationship can hinder or stop you from flying. Work on yourself inside first; then the work on the relationship will be easier.

5. Finances. All Americans are concerned over the economy and finances are tight for many people. The global price of food has risen by 37 percent. Gas and other items are higher priced as well.

If 2012 was a financial struggle for you or you didn’t achieve your financial goals yet, one way to begin preparing for 2013 is to begin a savings account. Even if you can only put $100 (or$10!) a month into the account, then that can still help you reach three to six months of expenses saved up, which works great as a “Murphy Repellant” according to financial guru Dave Ramsey. You also want to save so you can fulfill your dreams; for me, that would be traveling all over the world!

Another tip is cutting costs. In 2012, I evaluated my business expenses and decided to go from the popular and well-known “Cadillac” newsletter/autoresponder system to one that was free, which does the very same job – delivering my bi-monthly ezine to my list of subscribers at www.BethJones.net. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it saves me $240 a year.

There are some areas where you don’t need to cut costs. You might even need to invest MORE money, such as with coaching, training classes, or more education. Remember you are worth it! You need to invest for there to be a payoff! Identify wise investing vs. foolish and extravagant spending.

Look at where you’ve been spending money in business and in personal finances. Create a 2013 budget based on your family’s desires and needs, being sure to include some “blow money” -or else, as Dave Ramsey says, you will blow your budget! Make it a workable budget. But find places where you can cut costs and begin to work toward wealth.

God wants to bless and prosper His people – not so they can buy more toys, but to advance the gospel and His kingdom. (I share more about this in my upcoming ebook for women entrepreneurs, so stay tuned!)

Just as you organize and declutter your house, you can do the same thing with your finances. Find a system that works for you to manage your finances and to keep on top of them every single day. One system is managing your finances online through your bank and your utility companies.

I pay some of our bills online; paperless personal finances also helps you to tame the paper tiger and is faster and more efficient. Paperless finances will help you to get rid of clutter, relieving some of your stress.

6. Good health/Fitness. This is probably the area where most people make new year’s resolutions. “Lose weight.” “Lose 20 pounds.” (or 50) We get sick of making the resolutions – and then failing at them, don’t we? Probably a better alternative is to think in terms of health/fitness.

When you think of the word “diet,” it immediately makes you feel resistant. We don’t like being told NO about anything. No, you can’t have that coke, ice cream, fast food, delicious cheesecake dessert.

But when you focus on personal health and fitness instead of “dieting” or “trying to lose weight/inches,” it takes the pressure off. One tip I received last year from family health coach Bess Blanco is simply drinking more water.

Water helps you to lose weight, makes your skin look younger, gives you more energy, makes you more alert at work, helps you to fight against flu and other ailments, and has other benefits.

I also learned to start cooking simple, healthier meals for my family. I don’t like to cook, but Bess gave me recipes that didn’t have me in the kitchen for hours, which were also healthier alternatives for my family and me than Sonic or other fast food places. One of my favorites is a Mexican enchilada recipe.

You can begin to add salads, brown rice, and fresh veggies and fruit to your grocery list and add 15 to 20 minutes of aerobic activity, three times a week, to help you and your family with fitness and good health for 2013.

7. Personal Growth and Development. This includes becoming closer to God each day, using your spiritual gifts, being part of a community of believers in Christ, overcoming your sins and weaknesses, strengthening your character by making choices of integrity, growing in knowledge, continuing your education and training (leadership, business, marketing, social media, etc.).

Did you grow and improve in 2012 – or stagnate? In my 2012 signature Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process coaching group, I shared in the “T: Train and Teach Others” module that I believe we should be life-long learners.

I love learning new things, love reading books, love attending telecalls and webinars, love gleaning from others. I always have a stack of books on the nightstand beside our bed to read, and am continually signing up for new training calls and webinars. What about you?

What area of your life needs improvement? Ask God and others to help you identify that area. Did you grow closer to God in 2012? If not, what is interfering with it- working too hard, fatigue, spending too much time on Facebook or Pinterest? Or is it your weight or a shopping addiction?

We usually know what we need to work on! Dedicate time in 2013 to work on that weak area, but also to strengthen the areas we are strong, such as leadership, speaking, coaching, writing, parenting, homeschooling, etc.

These are a few ways we can prepare for the new year 2013. I believe it’s going to be a GREAT, exciting, prosperous, fruitful year.

Spend some time today and tomorrow preparing as best as you can – then watch God at work in and with you for the adventure!

Me in front of mountain in Jasper
Canadian Rockies

The Intention to Make Money

Beth Jones — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:01:26 +0000

My New Planner 2013

“I believe the power to make money is a gift from God.” – John D. Rockefeller

Over the last several months, God has been speaking one word to my heart, prosperity, a word that inspires some women and makes others cringe, because they’ve heard out-of-balance, Biblically-erroneous teachings on it. But God wants His children to prosper in every area of their lives – spiritually, emotionally, health-wise, in their families, in relationships, in personal finances, in business, and in career or ministry.

Money is not bad or wrong. Jesus taught more about money and wealth than any other topic in the Bible, so it’s obviously important to Him. Many of God’s faithful servants were very wealthy. They would be comparable to today’s successful 7-figure-a-year online gurus such as Zig Ziglar (recently passed away), Carrie Wilkerson, and Sandi Krakowski.

God wants you to be so prosperous and successful that you can become a blessing to others. It’s not about buying more toys, but about advancing the gospel and God’s Kingdom! I share about this in my newest book, That You Would Prosper As Your Soul Prospers: Affirmations of God’s Blessings for Christian Women Entrepreneurs. (Details coming soon!)

Success starts with intention. The beginning of a new year is a great time to make not just new year resolutions, but to dream, to plan, to make intentional decisions and choices. From Secrets of 6-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny (pp. 87-88), we read:

“”Was it your goal to make a lot of money?” I asked Ruth, a highly paid computer expert. This was always one of my first questions to interviewees, and I was beginning to notice a pattern in the responses I was getting.

“No, I have to admit, it wasn’t,” she replied. “It was the recognition that motivated me. But somewhere in there was the intention to make good money.”

“You had the intention to make more money?” I asked, belaboring the word that had jumped out at me.

“That’s true,” she replied. “I was thirty years old, a poverty-stricken professional dancer. I was tired of being poor. So I made a decision. I said, “OK Ruth, it’s time to actually make money.”

There it was. The declaration of intention. I’d heard it in virtually every interview I’d done, although cloaked in different words. Each woman would describe that point in her life when she said to herself, “It’s time to make money.” And, in an almost uncanny way, the instant she made that explicit declaration to make money her life took a definite turn.”

What about you? Is it your time? Your turn? Start dreaming, start planning, start making an intention today.

Join me and special guest Cheryl Pullins in the chat room here at 2 pm Central Time on Dec. 28 as Cheryl shares about women entrepreneurs and success God’s way.

A big Christmas surprise gift

Beth Jones — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 16:17:35 +0000

Christmas surprise!

It really is better to give than to receive – it’s FUN! Yesterday Ray, our daughter Leah and I were able to participate in a Christmas surprise gift for our friend Sandy Cunningham, a young widow and a single mom. This made our whole Christmas!

Several weeks ago, Sandy’s mom Midge called Ray and told him she and her husband Russ wanted to buy Sandy a newer and better car for Christmas. Sandy’s parents live in Arizona and Midge asked Ray if he would mind looking for a good car for Sandy that they could buy for her and surprise her with for Christmas.

Through a co-worker who has a close Christian friend at a local dealership, Ray was able to find a beautiful red Pontiac Grand Am for a good price for Sandy’s parents to purchase for Sandy. They paid for it in full over the phone, putting the car in Sandy’s name and making sure it was insured first, and Ray, our daughter and I left yesterday afternoon to “deliver the package.”

How we did it

Yesterday Ray tried to text Sandy to ask her to meet us, but she was at work and couldn’t return the text or his call.

Midge and Ray already had made arrangements with the car dealership owners ahead of time for us to pick it up for Sandy.

They were excited about this, too, and even bought a big red bow for us to put on top of the car when we showed it to her. But everything hinged on Sandy cooperating and meeting us after she got off work!

We didn’t want to risk Sandy getting off work early and not getting her present. Ray and I finally decided to drive to the dealership, and Ray drove the car with me following in our car to Sandy’s work at McDonald’s a couple blocks away. Sandy’s parents wanted Sandy’s reaction on video, so Leah would video the whole thing.

How do you give a car to someone in a box?

First, Ray parked Sandy’s car toward the back of the parking lot and put the big red bow on the windshield. We had a beautiful bling bracelet for a gift for Sandy ourselves, and I had put it in a small silver box with the car keys underneath the bracelet and its white cushion. Leah and I stood outside waiting for Ray’s signal to bring her the “present.”

Then Ray went inside her workplace to make sure that she was still at work. After he asked the manager for Sandy, he went to the entrance door and waved for me and Leah to come inside. The video, which I will post later, starts with us walking toward the entrance at her work.

Sandy’s reaction to the surprise

When Sandy came to the counter, Ray told her that we were passing through town (which was true – we were on our way to a church service that night) and had a little gift for her. She apologized for not being able to text or call Ray back because she was at work.

At this point, I walked in with Leah following me and discreetly holding my phone, videoing Sandy’s face. I gave Sandy the silver box and told her it was just a little something for her. She opened it and really liked the bracelet. In fact, later Sandy said she would’ve just been happy with the bling!

At this point, I could hardly contain myself and said, “There’s also another little gift under it!” I was about to BUST with excitement, haha!

She looked at Ray and me curiously and picked up the white cushion and asked, “What is this?” Ray said, “The keys to your new Pontiac Grand Am car.” We both told her it was from her parents. Then she started bawling! (with tears of JOY!) :)

All she could do was stand there at the counter, staring at the keys with tears falling down her face, saying, “My parents did this for me? Oh my God!” She kept saying, “Oh my God!” over and over, crying and laughing, lol.

Her manager hugged her and said they had just been talking that week about Sandy needing a new car. Her manager finally pushed her to go out the door to look at it!

Red looks good on a girl

As we walked outside, Sandy glanced toward the back of the parking lot and asked, “Is it the red one?” and when we said yes, she started crying and laughing again.

As we walked toward it, she playfully hit Ray on the arm and hugged me, and stared at the car in disbelief. Then Sandy said she was scared of it, lol – she said she had never had a car this nice before. She stared at it and then turned to us and asked, “Are you kidding me?”

Midge saw her picture on Facebook and said she did look kind of dazed. Here she is below, sitting in the car for the first time. She was very surprised and very happy. This picture of her shocked face cracks me up. Ray, Leah and I were all laughing, so excited for her.

Sandy’s Christmas Surprise

When we offered to help her drive her old car back to her house, she looked over at it, scrunched up her face, and said, ‘No! I’m just leaving it there for right now!”

Sandy looks great in the red car!

I’m not sure who was happier with this surprise Christmas gift – God from whom all good gifts come, Sandy, her parents, or us!

What a fun surprise.

What an awesome opportunity for our family.

What favor from God with the car dealership, giving Russ and Midge such a good price on the car, and working everything out for Sandy to have her new car on Christmas Eve!

Love gives.

Love blesses.

Love rejoices with others!

I loved the big red bow on the front of it. That was so cool of the car dealership owners to help participate in this.

Sandy said this was like a commercial.

In the picture below, Ray is looking at her in amusement. Leah (in the right corner) is freezing in her coat; it was about 20 degrees F outside yesterday. McDonald’s gets some free advertising in the background in this post.

Big Red Bow that the car dealership owners gave us to put on car

This was one of the funnest things I’ve ever done in my life.

It gave Ray, me and Leah so much joy and we were so blessed to be a part of it. Thank you so much, Russ and Midge.

What great parents Sandy has!

Sandy, have fun in your new red Christmas present!

Yes, it is truly better to give than to receive – like God did.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16, NLT

Women’s Battles Radio Show Dec. 28 with Cheryl Pullins

Beth Jones — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:59:35 +0000

Empowerment Speaker & Success Coach Cheryl Pullins

Successful women entrepreneurs think, act and speak differently. Even more so, Christian women entrepreneurs should be the greatest example of support, encouragement and love in the marketplace. Ready to learn more about this? Join me and my special guest, Cheryl Pullins, on the Women’s Battles Radio Show on Friday, December 28 at 2 p.m. Central Time (3 p.m. Eastern Time).

Cheryl will be speaking about the importance of recognizing your creativity, talents and abilities as God’s gifts to you to be shared with the world. With the heart of a girlfriend, but the skill of a strategist, it’s Cheryl’s compassionate edge that makes her “the girlfriend you’ve always wanted and the coach you need to have.”

Using a combination of knowledge, skill, experiences and wisdom, Cheryl serves as an Empowerment Speaker and Success Coach to women, where she helps amazing women accelerate their success by authentically building a business they enjoy and creating a life they love.

We’d love for you to join us in the chat room here.

Or you can call into the show with the Talkshoe call-in details below:

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698

Cheryl is the founder of Victorious Lifestyle Solutions, a thriving brand which empowers women who are ready to live the life of their dreams. Through coaching, speaking and publishing, Victorious Lifestyle Solutions is positioned as a global partner in accelerating personal and business success for women.

Cheryl’s new book Success is an Inside Job: Empowering Strategies to Define, Create and Live the Life You Love is scheduled to be released June 4, 2013.

To learn more about Cheryl and her Accelerate Your Success Programs, connect with her at www.iMentorWomen.com.

I am SO pumped about this show and can’t WAIT to learn much from Cheryl. I hope you will join me there!

7 Steps to Emotional Freedom on today’s show with Karen Wells

Beth Jones — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:57:56 +0000

Counselor, Speaker, & Author Karen Wells

Today I hope you can join me and my special guest, Canadian Speaker/Author/Counselor Karen Wells, on my Women’s Battles Radio Show at 4 p.m. Central Time (2 p.m. Pacific, 5 p.m. Eastern).

Karen will be sharing 7 life-changing steps to emotional freedom from her new book Unhooked!

You can join us in the chat room by clicking here.

Or you can call into the show with these call-in details below:

Talkshoe Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698

12 Things God Says About You on 12/12/12

Beth Jones — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:43:54 +0000

Here are 12 Things God Says About You on 12/12/12.

He loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you. (John 3:16)
He never stops thinking about you; you are precious to Him. (Psalm 139:17)
He has good plans for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
He made you unique; there’s no one else like you. (Psalm 139:14)
He made you with gifts that He wants to use for His glory. (1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31)
He has blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)
He wants to prosper you in all areas of your life – finances, emotions, relationships, health, business, ministry. (3 John 1:2)
He will take away your sickness, and bless your food and water as you worship Him. (Exodus 23:25)
He will give you sweet sleep. (Proverbs 3:24)
He will never leave you or abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
He will forgive you of whatever you’ve done wrong and won’t remind you of your sins or remember them. (Isaiah 1:8, Isaiah 43:25-56)
He’s prepared a place for you and is coming back for you to live with Him forever. (John 14:3)

Do you need new “glasses” for 2013?

Beth Jones — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:59:59 +0000

Me with dilated eyes

This week our daughter Leah and I had our check-up at the eye doctor. At the end of the check-up, the doctor dilated our eyes to look inside them and to make sure they were healthy.

Even though later at the store the grocery store clerk told me, “You look like one of the vampires in the Twilight series” (eeek!), and one of my Facebook friends said, “It looks kind of creepy!” (gee, thanks!), I actually liked my pupils being bigger. Maybe it’s because I know that Ray as a man might be more physically attracted to me and view me as prettier with a doe-eyed gaze (see the 2nd paragraph of this article).

We had a good report at the eye doctor. Our vision hadn’t become worse.

Like me, Leah does have a slight astigmatism in one eye. In January, she will be due for some new glasses frames paid for by our insurance, so we are waiting until then to get her new frames and lenses.

What is an astigmatism? If the cornea (the clear tissue covering the front of the eye, which transmits light and protects the eye from infection and damage) doesn’t curve properly -if one half is flatter or steeper than the other – the light that hits it won’t refract properly and the retina at the back of the eye receives an imperfect image. The person will have blurred vision from that eye – astigmatism. People with astigmatism usually have an oblong instead of an oval-shaped cornea. (Resource: Wikipedia)

Is your vision blurred? Do you have spiritual or emotional astigmatism? Do you need new “glasses” for 2013?

This is a good time to look back over 2012 and reflect on the year.

Was it a fruitful year? Did you obey God and do what He told you to do?

Was it successful and prosperous – in your online business, personal finances, relationship with your husband, your children, and others, health, personal ambitions?

If you didn’t achieve your goals, what were the obstacles? What hindered or stopped you?

Do you need new glasses for the new year – a new “success” mindset?

Are there spiritual strongholds you need deliverance from? Limiting beliefs such as fear, intimidation, unworthiness that you need to overcome?

Do you need to get set free from the pain of the past?

Do you need to move from a poverty mentality to a prosperity and abundance mentality?

Are you seeing yourself the way God or others view you? Do you know your true identity through Christ?

Today or this week take some time to reflect on 2012, pray, read your Bible, and write down in your journal the areas in your life and business where you would like to see change.

Ask God to help you in these areas.

Learn new things. Ask for help, such as getting a mentor or hiring a coach.

Then take action steps to achieve your big dreams and your goals.

2013 can be your best year yet when your vision becomes clearer.

Canada Trip, Part 10: Pics of Breathtaking Canadian Rockies

Beth Jones — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:55:50 +0000

I was honored to be one of the keynote speakers recently at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, and was doubly blessed coming back on the way home, traveling by train through the Canadian and the U.S. Rockies. This is part 10 of my Canada Trip Blog Series, Pics of Breathtaking Canadian Rockies. You can read part 9 of the Canada Trip Blog Series here.

Canada Trip, Part 10: Pics of Breathtaking Canadian Rockies

When I booked my flight for Canada, God told me to take the train coming back home to Kansas City. I am so glad and thankful to God that I did this! What an adventure! I will never forget this trip.

The Via train would take me all the way across Canada, going through the breathtakingly beautiful Rockies. The Rockies extend from Alberta to British Columbia, Canada. The Canadian Rockies have numerous high peaks and ranges, like Mount Robson (12,972 feet) and Mount Columbia (12,293 ft). According to the Alpine Club of Canada, more people have died on one of the highest peaks, Mount Temple, than any other mountain in Canada, so novices shouldn’t attempt to climb it. The Canadian Rockies are composed of shale and limestone.(Resource: Wikipedia)

Through the Rockies, I saw some of the most incredible scenery I’ve ever seen in my life. Pictures and words can’t really convey the beauty of the land.

The morning of my departure from Canada, my hostess Helen Reimer made me a breakfast feast: waffles with creamy butter and syrup, yogurt with granola and fresh blueberries, and a large milk chocolate bar with almonds. It was delicious!

Breakfast feast that Helen made me:
Banana, waffle with creamy butter,
yogurt with granola & blueberries, chocolate

Helen said, “My eyes are bigger than my stomach!” I said, “Me, too!” and took the container of yogurt, granola, and blueberries and the chocolate bar with me on the train for a snack later.

Yogurt with granola and fresh blueberries & strawberries

Chocolate is good any time!

Chocolate with almonds

Helen also packed me some fresh fruit to take on the train. Meals on the train are expensive, costing from $15 to $28 each. I did enjoy one meal on the train. For the rest of my meals, I bought groceries. To eat in the dining car, you have to tell the staff person and they give you a blue meal reservation ticket like the one below.

Meal Reservation ticket
Train Dining Car

When your time is called for dinner, you go to the dining car. The dining car is like a nice restaurant with a formal table setting.

Dining car
Canadian Via Train

There are four to a table in the dining car, so you will wind up eating with strangers. You are served warm bread with a choice of salad or soup before your main course.

Salad, dining car
Canadian Via Train

For my main course, I ordered lasagne, which was amazing with its spices. Do I talk about food a lot on my blog? We WILL get to the Rockies in a minute!

Lasagne, dining car
Canadian Via Train

For dessert, there was cheesecake or other sweet cakes. YUM!

Strawberry cheesecake
Dining car on train

Here I am after my dinner in the dining car, deeply satisfied after the delicious meal. Eating on a train was one of the things on my bucket list – now checked off! One of the passengers at the table, a friendly Asian man, gladly took the picture of proof for me.

Me after dinner on train
One of the things on my bucket list checked off!

He ordered the rack of lamb. That looked good, too. Maybe next time!

Rack of lamb
Dining car

That was my one nice meal on the train. Next time, I hope to eat more in the dining car!

The ride itself was amazing. Canada has so much open land, used a lot for farmland. Missouri has been in a terrible drought through the summer of 2012 and all the grass died and turned yellow, so the emerald green grass in parts of Canada looked beautiful.

Ray would love all the open land in Canada – fields and fields of it. Men crave owning a lot of land. It’s in their blood. “We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” – Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

Farmland in Canada
View from Via Train

We also passed some yellow fields, like Missouri has a lot of right now.

Yellow fields in Canada

It was chilly when I left Winnepeg, Canada. As the train rolled on, it began softly raining. I thought the rain looked pretty outside the window.

Rain outside train window

We began encountering snow and ice.

Snow and ice in Canada
View from train

Below is one of the frozen lakes. These were everywhere throughout the Rockies.

Frozen lake, Canadian Rockies

Dusk came. For some reason, the picture I took has a pretty blue hue, and I liked it so I didn’t photoshop it.

Dusk on train

At night it’s really dark outside the windows. You can’t see anything. You can dine in the dining car or get a snack in the shop, read, walk up and down the aisles in the train, talk to the other passengers, pray, write, sleep, do whatever you want.

For the most part, it is very relaxing to ride on the train. It’s quiet and it takes longer to get to your destination than in a car or on a plane. As “the angel” said, it gives you time to think about what is right and wrong about your life and to hear God’s voice.

Night on train

Surprisingly, I slept well that night on the train. I have a lot of problems with insomnia, but the sound of the train whistle and the movement of the wheels comforted me and lulled me to sleep.

We were going into the gateway into the Rockies, Hinton. Our next stop was Jasper. Jasper was one of the longest stops we had on the train. Jasper is the commercial center of Jasper National Park. It lies between the Victoria Cross Ranges (northwest), Pyramid Mountain (north), Maligne Range (southeaster), and Indian Ridge (southwest). Jasper is connected to the west via the Yellowhead Highway and the Yellowhead Pass to Prince George and to the east to Edmonton.

In the Jasper National Park, you can see elk, sheep, mountain goats, bears, and many other wildlife. I saw a beautiful, big, black wolf standing in the middle of the road and a herd of big horned sheep with curled horns. This was the first time I’d ever seen a wolf or big horned sheep in person. Unfortunately, the train was going too fast for me to get a good pic!

Below is a pic of the mountains where I saw the big horned sheep.

Canadian Rockies – location of big horned sheep

When we arrived in Jasper, everyone deboarded for lunch. I hadn’t had much to eat at all since my meal in the dining car, and was so thankful for this stop. In Jasper, I ate at an A & W and oh, it was good! Below is a mountain in Jasper.

Jasper, Canadian Rockies

Before eating my lunch, I asked a random man walking by on the sidewalk to please take my pic in front of the mountain in Jasper.

Me in front of mountain in Jasper
Canadian Rockies

Jasper also had souvenir shops and restaurants. I wanted to stay here longer to explore. We were only there 1 1/2 hours.

Souvenir shops in Jasper
Canadian Rockies

A couple left this big white, poodle dog outside a store. Ray and I do NOT like poodles, but this pic is for all you dog lovers.

Poodle dog, Jasper
Canadian Rockies

Jasper, Canadian Rockies

Jasper, Canadian Rockies

Via Train in Jasper. I didn’t want to get too far away from the train, so I stayed pretty close by. The train WILL leave you if you don’t board on time.

The “angel” told me one funny story about this. A man got off at a stop that wasn’t very long. He was hungry and went to get a hamburger at a place nearby. But it took longer than he expected, and the train left him. He paid a cabdriver $100 to catch up with the train to get back on it. Then he winded up leaving the hamburger in the cab! What an expensive hamburger, and he didn’t even get to enjoy it!

Via Train, Jasper stop
Canadian Rockies

After we left Jasper, I listened to a self-taught musician/singer named Angela Saini play her guitar and sing in one of the cabs for entertainment. I loved her song Little Black Dress, which was about there being so much more to life than you’re living now and breaking the chains which hold you back from all you’re meant to be. This song filled my eyes with tears.

Angela singing on the train

Below are some of the cliffs you see when you begin getting close to the Rockies in Canada.

Cliff, Rockies, Canada

Below are the Rockies in the distance.

Canadian Rockies in the distance

Getting closer to the mountains.

Getting closer to the mountains

Beautiful blue and white peaks of the Canadian Rockies.

Beautiful blue & white peaks of Rockies mountains

I don’t see how anyone can look at majestic mountains like these and not believe there is a God. “The mountains saw you, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered its voice, and lifted up its hands on high.” – Habakkuk 3:10

Majestic Mountains – Canadian Rockies

I can’t really convey to you the awe I felt looking at these mountains. You are just left speechless. This pic below is postcard beautiful.

Rockies – Postcard Beautiful

In this pic below, you can see clouds around the top of the mountains. “He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.” – Job 26:9

Clouds around mountains
Canadian Rockies

You can see the reflection of the mountains in the water. I wanted to show Leah this picture so she could study it and maybe draw or paint it.

Canadian Rockies- Reflections

Here are some trees reflected in the water, too. God is such an incredible painter!

Trees reflected in water

One of the most beautiful areas I saw on the train was British Columbia, where there was aqua, green-blue lakes and the beautiful Pyramid waterfalls. The “angel” had told me about the three Pyramid waterfalls right before we drove by them. They are 300 feet high. It was getting dark and I didn’t want to miss seeing them with my own eyes, so I didn’t get a picture. But here is a picture I found online of the falls.

Pyramid Waterfalls

They were incredible! I love waterfalls, and felt this was one of God’s special kisses for me.

Below is a pic of one of the beautiful aqua lakes in the national park.

Aqua water, British Columbia
Canadian Rockies

You can see the exquisite aqua water better here.

Aqua water, Jasper National Park

There are a lot of pine trees in the Rockies. They stand tall, regal.

Pine trees
Canadian Rockies

In the higher mountains, the pine trees are covered with a coat of snow.

Snow-covered pines
Canadian Rockies

Below is one of the high hills in the Rockies, covered with pines, surrounded by clouds

High hill, Canadian Rockies

Here’s another awesome view.

High hills in Canadian Rockies

I loved this pic below of a mountain with a snowy river coming down it. How great is our God!

Mountain in Canadian Rockies

Last, here’s one of my fave pics, the Rockies at dusk.

Mountains at dusk
Canadian Rockies

Stay tuned for more pics of Canada in part 11 of my Canada Trip Blog Series. Are you enjoying the blogs and pictures? Please leave your comments below.

Canada Trip, Part 9: Reimer’s Beautiful Italian-Decor Home

Beth Jones — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 20:26:51 +0000

I had so much fun going to Canada, where I spoke at Doreen Penner‘s Walk Into Your Blessing women’s conference. Doreen’s friend Helen Reimer generously offered for me and Doreen’s other keynote speaker, Karen Wells, to stay in her home while we were in Mitchell, Manitoba, for the conference. This is part 9 of my Canada Trip Blog Series – pictures of Dan and Helen Reimer’s home, where I stayed. You can read part 8 of the Canada Trip Blog Series here.

Canada Trip, Part 9: Reimer’s Beautiful Italian-Decor Home

One of God’s names in the Bible is Jehovah Jireh, which means the Lord who provides. (Genesis 22:12-14)

From the article The Compound Names of Jehovah: Jireh, Rapha, Nissi (http://bible.org/seriespage/compound-names-jehovah-jireh-rapha-nissi-session-60), we read:

“The name is literally, The Lord Who Sees, or The Lord Who Will See To It. This is what we long for when we have a need that is personal and special; One who will see to our needs and provide for us… the Lord Who will see to it that my every need is met. One Who knows my need because He sees. One Who is able to meet my need in just the right time as He did for Abraham, and One Who can meet it fully. For Abraham, it was the ram caught in the thicket that was offered in Isaac’s place. For us it is whatever we need.”

For me, my needs for this Canada trip were:

provision for transportation there and back
a safe place to stay in Canada and coming back to the U.S.
food while there and coming back.

One of the ways God provided was the place I stayed in Manitoba. Doreen’s friend Helen Reimer generously offered for me and Doreen’s other keynote speaker, Karen Wells, to stay in her home while we were in Mitchell, Manitoba, for the conference. She also fed us and attended to all our needs. She jokingly called it “The Reimer Hotel.” It was amazing.

Helen Reimer, my wonderful hostess in Canada

Helen’s husband Dan built the house, and Helen designed it in a beautiful Italian decor. Dan took Helen on a surprise trip to Italy for their wedding anniversary, which they both loved, and this was the inspiration for their home.

They open up their home to others, using their gifts of hospitality for large dinner parties and for guests staying overnight. Helen’s dream is to use it as a Bed and Breakfast, only in a much classier, upscale way than your usual B & B’s!

I LOVED it and felt like a queen staying there! Here are some pics of their house. The pictures can’t do the beauty of the house justice.

The room where I stayed had red walls and dark wood furniture, a beautiful contrast. Dan’s and Helen’s bedroom is on the other end of the house for more privacy, so you really do feel like you are staying in a hotel or a B & B instead of someone’s house.

My bedroom at Reimer’s house

Helen had decorated for Christmas, and it looked lovely. My room had red Gerber daisy decorations in them, some of my favorite flowers. .

My room – Christmas decos and Gerber daisies

Helen also had some little welcome gifts on the tables in mine and Karen’s room – Celestial sugar plum spice tea, fragrant pure oat extract hand lotion, a new bar of delicious-smelling lavendar soap, candy, gum, a fresh orange, chapstick, and bottled water.

My welcome gifts at Reimer’s house

I am a detail person and noticed how much effort Helen put into the little touches, like these flowers on the floor.

Flowers in my room

And this petite, colorful ceramic vase and flowers on the bathroom counter:

Colorful ceramic vase and flowers

I noticed the hand soap said, “Royale Bouquet.” Fitting for this place!

Royale Bouquet hand soap

I was delighted to see some water fountains with small stones on a bathroom shelf. Fountains are a small respite in a busy life. Water fountains and stones calm the mind, help the body to unwind, and relax the spirit.

Water fountains and stones at Reimer’s

As soon as you entered their home, you were struck with the ornate chandelier with soft lighting in the entry way.

Ornate chandelier light in entry

I grew up in the south, where there are many Victorian homes built with tall, white Greek-style and Italian-style pillars. The living room near the entry way had these beautiful white columns.

White pillars near entry way at Reimer’s home

The living room also had comfortable, soft, leather sofas which reclined. After the women’s conference, Doreen, her team, Karen, and I sat here, talking about the conference, eating pizza, and sharing our hearts. This is one of my favorite memories of the trip.

Leather sofas in living room near entry way

Ray would have loved this room below, which Helen plans to turn into a library with a circular bookcase from top to bottom of the room. I loved its tall, glass doors.

Library in Reimer’s home

The door to Dan’s and Helen’s bedroom was heavy, a dark wood and beautiful. I LOVE the arch doorway. These arches were throughout their house.

Arch and dark wood door to bedroom at Reimer’s house

This arch doorway leads to the kitchen, formal dining room, and one of my favorite rooms, a family den with stone walls. The walls were painted an olive green. The tiled floor is beautiful. I loved the palm trees, too.

Arch leading to kitchen, dining room, and family den

The kitchen is wide open and every woman’s dream with lots of glass cabinet space, two separate sinks, a bar and bar stools with heart-shaped backs. Below is a pic of Helen in the kitchen, in her element. She loves cooking, hostessing, decorating, designing – a very creative, giving person. She and her husband were wonderful hosts.

Kitchen at Reimer’s house

You can see the kitchen bar chairs with the ornate backs here below.

Kitchen bar chair backs

Helen chose beautiful, Italian pics for her home, like this wine one below.

Wine and glasses Italian art at Reimer’s home

Below is the formal dining room where we ate dinner. Helen made a delicious salad that was almost too beautiful to eat with its bright colors. Our plates were set on large decorative chargers, which is a classic plate for formal dining parties. She showed me how she uniquely folds napkins, with a sprig of holiday berries or decorative fruit tucked into it. Everything she does is with excellence. Her creativity amazed me. It’s all in the presentation!

Formal dining room at Reimer’s home

Below is a pic of my favorite room in their house, the family den with stone walls. I loved the stone. The couches were so comfortable, they had a big screen t.v. that fitted inside the wall which Ray would have loved, and a fireplace made the room cozy. Helen and I sat here Monday morning, just sharing our hearts. This is a special memory I have from my trip.

Family den with stone walls at Reimer’s home

Helen had some baby kittens who were adorable. Leah would have loved them. They ran and jumped and hardly stayed still long enough for me to take a picture for Leah. This one turned out blurry. They were so cute!

Kitten at Reimer’s home

I am so thankful for this incredible trip. God is so good. Stay tuned for part 10 of my Canada Trip Blog Series, where I’ll share pictures from the breathtakingly beautiful Rockies in Canada.

Canada Trip, Part 8: Pics of Women’s Conference

Beth Jones — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:21:15 +0000

God is so good. Recently He opened the door for me to be one of the keynote speakers at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, Walk Into Your Blessing. This is part 8 of my Canada Trip Blog Series, with my pictures of the conference. You can read Part 7 here.

Canada Trip, Part 8: Pics of Women’s Conference

One word would describe the Walk Into Your Blessing conference: Excellence. Doreen and her team did a tremendous job planning and organizing it, from the moment you walked into the door until the closing prayer and smiling goodbyes.

Below dressed in white and black is Helen Reimer’s beautiful friend, Sarah, her decorating/designing assistant. I wish I’d had a chance to talk with Sarah longer. I complimented her on her stunning jewelry, telling her that I loved it, and she said with a big smile, “I do, too!” A kindred spirit for jewelry!

Sarah at welcome registration table
Walk Into Your Blessing conference, Canada

About 27 women attended the conference in Mitchell, Manitoba. Manitoba is a province, located in central Canada (provinces are like U.S. states). Attendees were all ages, races, and denominations. They were so sweet and gave me a warm Canadian welcome.

Women’s Conference, Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada
Conference attendees talking

God gave Doreen the vision for this conference, Walk Into Your Blessing. We began the conference with prayer and worship. Doreen’s sister Edna Russell opened in prayer. You could tell immediately from being around Edna that she is a woman of prayer and has a huge heart of love.

Doreen’s sister, Edna, leading us in prayer at the conference

Here is a closer-up shot of Edna.

Doreen’s sister Edna, who started us off with prayer
Walk Into Your Blessing conference

Doreen’s friend Rachel Giesbrecht led worship, starting us off with a beautiful song about God being our Friend. Rachel was such a sweetheart. Below is a picture of Rachel, when she was working on her faith board, a craft activity we did in the afternoon.

Doreen’s friend Rachel Giesbrecht led our worship
Here is Rachel creating her faith board during the afternoon

There were 3 keynote speakers (Doreen Penner, Karen Wells, and me), and the sessions were spread out through the day.

I spoke at the first session in the morning.

Me speaking at Canada women’s conference

I am a very visual person, so I love using visual aids when I speak.

An audience only retains 10% of what they heard with no visual aids. With visuals like slides, charts, and props, retention rises to 60%. If a handout is given, the amount of information retained rises to 85%. Use visual aids and handouts when you speak!

(Source: http://www.publicspeakinginternational.com/blog/?Tag=audience%20retention)

Below is the table with different kinds of shoes for my visual aids.

My visual aids table for my speaking session
Walk Into Your Blessing conference, Canada

Below is Karen Wells speaking during the second session (mid-morning). She is holding a copy of her book, Even With My Knees Knocking, I Will Follow God’s Call. Karen is awesome and such a loving person with such a passion for Jesus. She told me and Helen some amazing stories of how God used her to lead people to the Lord in foreign countries, even when she couldn’t fluently speak the language! Karen is a gifted communicator and is incredible at marketing! She sold her books all the way driving to Mitchell from B.C., Canada, just by telling people what she does and about her book. I wish she had stayed in Mitchell longer, so I could have talked longer with her. But I’m very excited that she and I will be talking real soon!

Karen will be a special guest on my Women’s Battles Radio Show on Friday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. Central Time. We’d love to have you join us!

Karen Wells, Speaking at 2nd session
www.MyBestLifePossible.com

Doreen Penner spoke at the third session, in the afternoon. I love Doreen. She made me feel so welcome there. She is so sweet and is such an anointed speaker and writer. She also has such a loving heart for God’s daughters. I watched as she sat down by each woman at the conference and just talked with her throughout the day. Doreen is now planning her second women’s conference. I’m so excited for her!

Doreen Penner speaking at 3rd session
Walk Into Your Blessing conference, Canada

Doreen’s husband Rick did an amazing job with our sound and video set up to record our sessions with lapel mics, and doing much of the behind-the-scenes, manual work. Doreen, Karen, and I told him that he is now officially hired when we go on the road speaking in Canada!

Rick setting up sound at retreat

One of Doreen’s closest friends, Helen Reimer, was the M.C., conference organizer/planner, and decorator. Helen was in her element doing this. It’s her gift from God. She hosted Karen and me in her beautiful, Italian decor home while we were staying in Manitoba. I will share pics of her house in my next blog. It was incredible.

Helen Reimer, conference M.C., organizer, decorator

I LOVED Helen’s outfit at the conference. She has such style!

Helen Reimer, conference planner, organizer, & decorator
Walk Into Your Blessing women’s conference, Canada

Here is a pic of me and Helen at the train station just before I left Canada. She is beautiful and precious and I miss her! Karen and I encouraged Helen to start writing her powerful story in a book and she has already started writing it. I can’t wait to read it when it’s ready. She also needs to be out there speaking, because she had an instant anointing for speaking as soon as she took the mic! I wish I could have listened to her for hours! I need to have Helen on my Women’s Battles radio show, too!

Me and Helen at Winnepeg Train Station, Canada

For the Walk Into Your Blessing shoe theme, she did an incredible job decorating the tables with cloths, candles, and elegant shoes with flowers inside of them. Below is the beautiful display table at the front of the room, which served as the background for the speakers. I love the high heel, pointy-toed, red boots with the flowers in them!

Helen Reimer’s front display table

This was the main display table which Helen and Doreen’s team decorated.

Main display table
Walk Into Your Blessing conference

Each table had a different type of shoe. So creative!

Black Shoes Display

I also miss Lynette, who made me feel welcome instantly, helped me personally so much while I was there, and did much of the behind-the-scenes work at the conference. Lynette, I miss you! Give me a holla’ when you get back home to Canada from Louisiana! Lynette has an Esther anointing on her life. God has great things in store for her, amen!

Lynette Krahn and Karen Wells

The women enjoyed doing their faith boards. A faith board is like a vision board, only it focuses more on our relationship with God and our faith. Below is a pic of the women picking out the materials for their faith boards.

Women picking out materials for faith boards
Walk Into Your Blessing conference

All you need is white or black poster board, glue or tape, scissors, and magazines with pictures…then tap into your creativity and go!

Conference attendees working on faith boards
Walk Into Your Blessing conference, Canada

Each woman’s faith board was as unique as she and her spiritual gifts are.

Women working on faith boards
Walk Into Your Blessing conference

I loved the women at the conference. They were so sweet. I was able to pray for a couple of the women after the conference, which is one of my favorite things to do when I do live speaking events. Below is a pic of Karen and me with one of the attendees we prayed for, Shannon. She wants to start a Bible study in her home with a couple of women she knows. We encouraged her to do this and prayed for God’s leading for her and His blessing on her.

Karen Wells, Shannon, and me

During my speaking session, I gave away two door prizes with a random drawing: my book, The Hands Of a Woman, to Rachel Giesbrecht, and one free coaching session to Julie Feilberg. I can’t wait to talk with Julie this coming Monday morning! Congrats to the winners!

Coaching session winner Julie Feilberg

I loved how Doreen took time with each woman at the conference to welcome and speak to her during the day.

Doreen and conference attendee
Walk Into Your Blessing conference

I’m so thankful to God that I had this incredible opportunity to go to Canada, speak, see the awe-inspiring beauty of the Rockies on the train, and meet all these wonderful people!

Stay tuned for more pics from my trip. In my next blog, I’ll share pics of from Dan and Helen Reimer’s beautiful, Italian decor home, where I stayed during my time in Mitchell, Manitoba.

Karen Wells, Doreen Penner, Beth Jones
Keynote Speakers, Walk Into Your Blessing Conference
Mitchelle, Manitoba, Canada

Canada Trip, Part 7: The Man From Africa

Beth Jones — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:41:15 +0000

Recently God blessed me with an incredible trip to Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada, where I was one of the keynote speakers for Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, Walk Into Your Blessing. When I came home, I rode the Canadian Via Train and the U.S. Amtrak train across the Canadian and U.S. Rockies, and had many divine appointments. This is my Canada Trip Blog Series, Part 7, The Man From Africa. You can read Part 6 here.

Canada Trip Blog Series, Part 7: The Man From Africa

When I was booking my Delta air fare for Canada, God spoke to my heart and said not to take a plane, but to take a train coming back home to Kansas City. He was also very specific to not take the optional route, but to take the Chicago route. I didn’t know why He wanted me to do this, but I obeyed.

After I arrived at the Seattle train station, I asked a staff person where I could exchange my Canadian money. If you are crossing the border, be sure that you have exchanged your money in Canada before arriving in the U.S., at least if you’re coming into Seattle. The staff person told me that a certain bank would exchange my money and gave me directions for how to get there.

Canadian money

I quickly discovered that “it’s just a couple of blocks this way” was MUCH longer – especially when you are carrying luggage. One of the lessons I learned on this trip was to PACK LIGHT. I had packed light, but found out that I STILL had too much luggage! Pray and ask God to show you any area in your life where you’re carrying excess baggage:

unforgiveness
bitterness
guilt
false guilt (condemnation, shame)
anger
fear
worry
stress
discouragement
depression
self-pity
negative thinking.

You don’t want anything hindering or stopping you from your great purpose.

I also realized as I walked a total of 10 blocks to and from the bank that my extra physical pounds were slowing me down. What is holding you back from achieving your great destiny?

^”Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14, NIV

When I arrived at the recommended bank, I was told by the teller and the bank manager that they wouldn’t exchange my Canadian money, because I was not a current customer. Welcome to America! Their unwillingness to help me made me unwilling to bank with them in the future!

Nowhere to exchange my money: A Divine Set Up

This situation was not a setback, but a Divine setup for God to be glorified later. I only had $2 American dollars in my bag when I boarded the train for Chicago. My train for Kansas City wouldn’t depart until the next morning, so I had to stay overnight in Chicago.

Remember that when I left Kansas City for Canada, I hadn’t booked my two overnight hotel stays yet. God supernaturally provided this need for me before I started back home! A friend had booked a beautiful hotel room for me (like a suite!) in Chicago, but I still had to be able to get there somehow – bus, cab or subway – and I had to go back to the train station the next morning! The $2 American dollars would NOT be enough! I also needed money for a meal when I arrived in Chicago, as my own personal money had not transferred to my bank account in Kansas City yet!

As I sat in the train station, these thoughts were swirling around in my mind. The “angel” kept me company and encouraged me to not worry, but to have faith and trust God. I decided to go ahead and check one piece of luggage to go straight to Kansas City to lighten my load.

Chicago – needed to pack light for travel

Another lesson I learned on this trip was to carry ONLY rollerboard luggage. The luggage piece I checked for Kansas City was a rollerboard. The black messenger bag I kept with me was great because it had compartments where I could put different items in, but I had to carry it on my shoulder. Very uncomfortable for long distance traveling. Take rollerboards if you travel long distance!

The Divine Appointment – Chicago Train

I loved the trains, but train stations are noisy, dirty, and crowded. I don’t like them. As I sat waiting on my train for Chicago, I people watched. I noticed a tall, slender black man dressed in business attire and had the immediate impression from God that he was from Africa. Impressions like these are part of the spiritual gifts. This is called a “word of knowledge.” You can take a test for the spiritual gifts online.

God had told me to take the train and specifically, to take the train to Chicago. I had the strong sense that my most important Divine Appointment was going to take place when I was going to Chicago or arrived in Chicago. I thought this man might be my Divine Appointment from God, and followed him when he went on the train.

Me on train

I sat in the seat across from him and prayed that nobody else would sit beside either of us, so we would be able to freely talk. I began praying that God would put His words in my mouth and open the conversation for us to talk. I prayed for courage and boldness.

The man began small talk with me – was I going to stay in Chicago or go somewhere else, where was I from, etc. Then I found out he was from Nigeria and a smile crossed my face. “I thought you might be from Africa,” I said. I told him that I’d been praying for several years to go to Africa, and so had my husband Ray and our daughter Heather.

I don’t know if you are familiar with the spiritual gifts and if you will understand what I’m about to say next. But for people who have the gift of prophecy, sometimes you will begin to get prophetic impressions or insights from the Lord about a person or a situation. I felt things “cooking” inside my spirit, but continued to pray so I wouldn’t speak rashly. I wanted to make sure that what I shared would be the true word of the Lord. I thought maybe that I should just sleep on it, to make sure this was God’s will and His words for this man.

Streets of Chicago

The Morning Stop

I slept pretty well on all the trains. I usually have insomnia, so I was surprised and happy that I slept good on the trains. I would hear the train whistle in my sleep. It felt surreal and was also comforting to me. The next morning, I woke up and discovered we were at one of the stops. I put in my contacts, and went downstairs to get a breath of fresh air. When I came downstairs, the “angel” was there and said hi to me, smiling. Another coincidence? You guess!

It was cool and invigorating outside. When I came back in, the man from Nigeria was standing in the little hallway where people board and deboard the train. No one else was standing there. Then I knew it was time. I needed to give this man the words God had given me for him.

As I shared scriptures and words of encouragement with him, he raised his hand and said, “Halleluah!” I found out he was a Christian. At one point, he had tears in his eyes from the encouraging words I was sharing with him. Afterward, I smiled and went upstairs to my seat.

Then I wrote the words out for him on my journal pages, tore them out, and gave them to him so he would have a copy. He read them with delight, took pictures of them, and then called (I assume his wife), speaking to her excitedly in his own language as he read the words from the paper to her.

Chicago – view from subway later

The Lie

If you’ve hung around my website very long or know me very well, you know that I am extremely transparent and “real.” So I want to share with you what happened next, so you can see how Satan operates so craftily and tries to thwart or stop God’s good plans in our lives.

Sky at dusk

After the train started moving again, I noticed the Nigerian man wasn’t speaking to me. I began to personalize this and grow uncomfortable. I wondered if he had just been pacifying me by listening to what I said downstairs, but if he really just thought I was crazy or something, giving a stranger “a word from the Lord.”

Please understand, this is not new territory for me. Actually I do things like this quite often, usually with very positive results as people need and want to be encouraged from God. Prophecy comes as naturally to me as breathing, because it’s my strongest spiritual gift. I’m often told that the words are extremely accurate. That is because it is not me – it’s a gift from God. He simply chooses to USE me as His willing vessel to minister to people’s hearts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some of you may be bristling right now and vowing to never visit my website again because of the controversial word “prophecy.” I do not apologize for this word or for the spiritual gifts. The gifts are precious and are from GOD! If you have seen the gift of prophecy abused, please do not despise prophecy because the Bible tells us not to do this in 1 Thessalonians 5:20. Just because there are some flakey people out there misusing or abusing the gifts does not mean that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater! Prophecy is a true spiritual gift. It is always to be used to glorify JESUS, not exalt a person. The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. -Revelations 19:10.)

What I did was prophesy to this man. But Satan couldn’t stand that God was at work and was trying to mess everything up. He began lying to me that this man didn’t want to talk to me anymore or have anything else to do with me, that he thought I was just nutts. It is never easy to step out in faith to obey God, including using your gifts – especially with a stranger! At this point, I began feeling upset and even mad at God!

This is what the inner dialogue with God sounded like:

“God, all I was doing was trying to share a word of encouragement with this man! I was just trying to obey YOU! And now here he is, on his laptop, not even SPEAKING to me and apparently offended somehow – or else he thinks I am just crazy! God, why did you have me do this if this was going to be the result?” I then began to focus on writing in my journal and not even looking at the Nigerian man. I was miffed at God (who was probably amused at my little tantrum). I let it go and forgot about it.

An Invitation to Nigeria

A little later, we had another stop. It seemed everyone on the train got off but me and this man. All of a sudden, he leaned over and began speaking to me! He wanted to talk to me. Maybe it was some sort of African cultural thing which had prevented him from speaking to me earlier when other people were around. He was a black Nigerian married man; I was a white American married woman.Perhaps he thought it would seem inappropriate if he was striking up a conversation with me on the train. Or maybe he just had things to do and was busy working on his laptop!

Do you see how Satan is such a LIAR?!!!

I was shocked that he was talking to me. I then asked him if what I’d shared with him earlier had encouraged him. He said yes, it had encouraged him, and he was smiling. He then showed me pictures of his wife and his two sons on his smart phone, and I showed him pictures of my family. He also gave me his business card and invited me to come visit in Nigeria – perhaps to even speak there one day!

I pray to speak in Africa one day!

Oh, I was so happy! I felt so relieved. He didn’t think I was just crazy; he had received what I had shared with him as from God!

I also felt a sense of peace, that I had done what God told me to do and obeyed Him, giving this servant of God His words of life. Tears filled my eyes. I knew with an assurance in my heart that I had fulfilled the important mission God had sent me on for this trip!

When God tells you to do something, it is so important to obey. God told me to go to Canada to speak. He told me to take the train coming back. He told me specifically to take the Chicago route. Then He gave me words for this business man from Nigeria.

When you obey God, great will be your reward!

Stay tuned now for just some pics from my Canada trip in my next several blogs!

Talkshoe Show with Karen Wells: Unhooked: 7 Life-Changing Steps to Emotional Freedom

Beth Jones — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:26:58 +0000

This week I shared about my childhood sexual and physical abuse and my 3 abortions in adulthood with a friend, who had no idea about these traumas in my past. Childhood abuse and abortion deeply wound a woman’s soul. Only God’s unconditional Love and Forgiveness, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit can heal her and set her free.

I am so thankful for God’s love and forgiveness, and the grace and mercy He has extended me. God has even turned this around 180 degrees and used my painful past to minister to and help heal other women, who have been through similar traumas. He uses my powerful testimony to glorify His Son Jesus, as He did when I shared my story with my friend this week. Just look at the great things God has done in and through my life!

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” – Genesis 50:20, NLT

What about you? Have you been sexually, verbally, or physically abused in childhood? Had an abortion? Lived in a dysfunctional family with alcoholism, drug addiction, or gambling? Had absent parents? Were you adopted? Have you been through a difficult divorce? Had a spouse who committed adultery or abandoned you?

Karen Wells

Whatever your painful, past, there is HOPE for you through Jesus! Join me and my special guest, Canadian Speaker/Author/Counselor Karen Wells, on my Women’s Battles Radio Show on Friday, December 14, at 4 p.m. Central Time (5 p.m. Eastern).

Karen will be sharing 7 life-changing steps to “unhook” you from your painful past to achieve emotional freedom.

You can join us in the chat room by clicking here.

Or you can call into the show with these call-in details below:

Talkshoe Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698

We’d love to see you there – please share this on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and bring a friend!

Canada Trip, Part 6: The Writer

Beth Jones — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:08:23 +0000

I had so much fun on my trip to Canada, where I spoke at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, Walk Into Your Blessing. I took the Canadian Via train and the U.S. Amtrak train coming back home, and had many divine appointments on the trains. This is part 6 of my Canada Trip Blog Series. You can read part 5 here.

Canada Trip, Part 6: The Writer

I love writing. I’ve been writing since I was a child. I’d write in my diary that had the lock and key so no one could read it, the secrets of my heart like my junior high “crush.” I’d make up fictional, dramatic stories in my mind and write them on white, crisp, school notebook paper on my round-mirror dresser, stuffing them into a drawer, and then yell at my younger sister Maria for violating my privacy when she’d later sneak into my bedroom and read the stories. Today she is one of my biggest writing fans.

As I shared in Part 2 of this blog series, I told Ray that for my birthday in 2012, all I wanted to do was ride on a long distance train. I wanted to try something new, to savor the experience of having a nice dinner on a train, to take beautiful pictures of the scenery ~ and to write on the train.

I bought a pretty, flowered journal at one of Canada’s Dollaroma stores and wrote in this on the train trips.

My journal on Canada train trip

The man who I wondered if he was an “angel” had advised me to check my luggage before I got on the Amtrak train for Seattle. I’m so glad that I listened to him. I winded up going up and down a lot of stairs to get to the train station.

When I awoke that morning, my plan was to take the bus again to get to the train station. My departure time was 6:55 a.m., and I checked out of the hotel in Vancouver about 5:30 a.m. to get to the train station in plenty of time. But the buses didn’t come to that particular stop by my hotel that early.

Streets of Vancouver, Canada

I was a little nervous standing in the streets as a woman alone in a foreign city, especially Vancouver, but I knew the cab would cost more and I was trying to be frugal. I asked a woman walking by about the buses. She looked at me like I had two heads, and said sharply, “The buses don’t run this early. Walk just a couple of blocks that way and you’ll find the Sky Train station.”

I prayed walking down the dark streets of Vancouver. It was quiet and a little unnerving. I went inside a building, and asked for directions to get to the station. When you listen to too many voices, you become confused. This is what I’ve shared with my coaching clients. Listen to God’s voice and maybe one or two good mentors, whom you trust, in order to succeed.

The morning was stressful and hectic. Finally two security guards told me how to get to where I needed to go. I took the Canadian Sky Train Waterfront, then the Sky Train to Main Street. The Sky Train is like a subway above the streets.

Some of the escalators weren’t working in the buildings to get to the Sky Trains, so I had to carry (lift) my luggage. At one point, I was almost crying from the adrenaline and the stress of hurrying to get to the Amtrak train station on time.

At the hotel, I had lightened my load, throwing away a book, some lotions, and other unnecessary things. I had tried to pack light for this trip, but I still had too much with me. Next time I am packing much lighter! I also realized that me being overweight was slowing me down a lot. What do you need to let go of in order to run this race more freely? What is hindering or stopping you from your purpose?

Amtrak train cab attendant

My second divine appointment: the writer

When I boarded the Amtrak train going from Vancouver to Seattle, I found that we were assigned seats (on the Via train, you could sit where you liked). There were two seats on each side of the train. The older man I sat next to was wearing a dress shirt, slacks, and nice shoes. He looked like a business man, and was reserved, like he just wanted to be left alone and not talk. In fact, he even requested another seat! (How insulting! But maybe he didn’t want to tell his wife that he’d been sitting next to a beautiful woman on the train, right? )

The cab attendant told him that all seats were assigned. I was amused and wanted to add Divinely Assigned, but was quiet. After awhile, to break the ice, he began a conversation with small talk, saying that he had made this trip from Vancouver to Seattle many times.

When I told him that I was a writer and a speaker, his eyebrow raised and he said, “You’re a writer?” I could tell he was immediately interested. He said he was a writer, too. At this point, I knew it was a God thing. He wrote children’s stories, dabbled in science fiction (Ray would love that!), and had some ideas for a non-fiction book.

White Rock Beach

[Above is the ocean at White Rock Beach, which we rode by on the Amtrak Train. White Rock Beach is in British Columbia, Canada. The community is clustered around a sandy beach and the warm shallow waters of Semiahmoo Bay and is flanked on the south by the Canada/US border and Blaine, Washington. It is famous for a big white rock that weighs 486 tons and is a glacial deposit from the coastal range.]

Why self-publish?

This man then began asking me questions about self-publishing. I shared my writing journey with him, and told him why I’d chosen to self-publish my books vs. traditional publishing. There are pros and cons to both types of publishing.

Traditional publishing can take anywhere from one to two years, and can be difficult to break into without the right connections.

To be honest, it’s STILL my dream to be published by a traditional publisher. Despite the rapid changes in technology making self-publishing easier and the fact that self-publishing doesn’t carry the stigma it used to, traditional publishing does offer a little more credibility for writers, unless you are Amanda Hocking.

(Disclaimer: I’ve never heard of her. I just found her by googling “self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.” She writes books for young adults that are very dark. I don’t get exactly what they are about, even after reading the descriptions on her blog, but have titles like Blood. She started out self-publishing three books, but they were re-released internationally, made the USA Today Bestseller List, and were recently optioned for a film.)

Anyway, I shared with this man on the train that I made a decision to self-publish because I felt the message God gave me in writing the books were too important to wait. I didn’t want to go to the grave with my books still inside of me. I’ve written five books. And I believe I have many more books inside of me!

My friend Jim Maher, a great man of God who made such an impact on me and others, encouraged me to self-publish for this reason (getting your important message out there), as he did his own books before his early death.

I’d submitted some manuscripts and was tired of rejection letters. What if nobody every published me? I wanted to get the books out there into the hands of people so they would know the truth and would be encouraged. I also wanted to physically hold my book, my baby, in my hands! I also wanted to be able to sell a product on back tables whenever I spoke.

Self-publishing gave me the freedom to accomplish my goals.

Self-publishing resources

As a writer, you should do a lot of research to decide whether traditional publishing or self-publishing fits your needs best. For self-publishing, there are a lot of options available to help you get your book or ebook published.

With the Kindle and other Readers, you have even more options to share your message with the world! (You can buy my ebook, Walking With God, in the Kindle edition for just 99 cents on the Kindle by clicking here.)

I encouraged this man to consider self-publishing his books and gave him two excellent resources of POD (Print on Demand) companies to get his book into physical form:

Vervante (my book publisher), who published my book, The Hands of a Woman: Everyday Women in Everyday Battles.

Vervante’s motto is “Our dream is to breathe life into yours.” Love it! They are professional, fast, and efficient. Their customer service is excellent! They also have a graphic artist on staff you can hire to design your book’s front and back covers.

Create Space (whom my friend Karen Wells uses for her books and highly recommends).

You are the expert!

One of the take-aways that I had from this divine appointment was this: Don’t ever feel like you can’t offer others anything and that you can’t possibly be an “expert.”

You know things others don’t know. You’ve been through experiences that no one else has: childhood abuse, a divorce, a plane crash, poverty, a sick spouse or child, a terrible car accident, miscarriage or abortion, self-publishing a book, winning a trophy in Toastmaster’s even when your visual aid breaks, counseling clients. No one else has your story. That makes YOU the expert!

This was obviously a well-educated businessman. He was intelligent. Yet he was seeking ME out to ask questions about writing and self-publishing.

Why? Because I had experience with it. I had self-published. This made me the “expert.”

You have something to offer others. Shine your light. Give what you have inside to help others.

Canada Trip, Part 5: The “Angel” and the To Do List

Beth Jones — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:55:07 +0000

After I spoke at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, I rode the Canadian Via Train and the U.S. Amtrak train to come home. This man dressed in scraggly clothes and a camouflage hat was on all of my train rides, who I wondered if he was an angel in disguise. This is part 5 of my Canada Blog Series. You can read Part 4 here.

to do lists

Canada Trip, Part 5: The “Angel” and the To Do List

The To Do List

One morning this man got out some papers and a pen from his duffel bag, and I noticed at the top of the paper the words written in bold, black letters, TO DO LIST.

At this point, I almost LOST it, laughing. EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE, I create a to-do list. It was almost too much. This was not a coincidence. God knows I love to do lists! This had to be a God thing!

Shaking my head at the irony of this, I asked incredulously, “You write to do lists?” Do angels write to do lists?

He got that little smile on his face that he often had when I would ask questions or say something, as if he already knew what I was going to say. Yeah, it was freaky, but in a good way. He answered,”Yes, I do. I write one every day. Do you?”

Somehow I had a feeling that he knew the answer anyway. “Yes. I love to do lists.”

He was still smiling and then he asked, “And do you PRIORITIZE your to do list?” He then began to talk to me about priorities.

The biggest priority was doing what God says every day, to not lose our reward. Being faithful.

I really don’t know if this was a man or an angel. Only God knows.

I do believe with all my heart that God sovereignly put him on all the trains I rode on to get home, to help me during this trip and to speak truth into my life. Meeting him changed my perspective on not judging others by their appearance, viewing the poor and the homeless differently, recognizing the shortness of time we have left here until Jesus comes, and not losing our reward.

I noticed that when I walked around with him at the train station in Seattle, that people would look suspiciously at him or with disdain because of his unkempt, scraggly clothes and unshaven face. They would then look over at me with a puzzled look, as if to say, “Why are YOU with him?” (Because I didn’t look homeless or scraggly.)

I mused that probably very few people I knew, ESPECIALLY successful women online, would be SEEN walking around with him. Maybe some of them won’t even associate with me now because this whole thing is just a little too “out there” for them. They would be too ashamed or embarrassed to be seen with someone who looked homeless- yet his heart was good as gold and God was using him to speak His words of life to my heart.

One business man in a nice suit looked him up and down with an openly contemptuous look on his face. It made me angry. Then I realized that initially I had looked at him with distrust and judgment, too, based on his appearance, and was convicted to change.

I don’t think I will be the same after this trip. I hope not.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

Lord, take judgments out of my heart.

When I went to say goodbye to him and thank him before I stepped off the train at Kansas City (he was going on to Los Angeles, which means “the angels,” by the way), I went to hit his hand with my fist, gangster-style, because he’d done that earlier to me. Instead, he reached out and hugged me. He told me he had enjoyed traveling with me and our conversations.

Stay tuned for Part 6 of my Canada Blog Series, where I share about the writer.

Canada Trip, Part 4: Sometimes we entertain angels unawares

Beth Jones — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:47:52 +0000

I had many divine appointments on the train ride from Canada, where I spoke at Doreen Penner’s women’s conference. I wondered if one was an angel. This is part 4 of my Canada Trip Blog Series. You can read Part 3 here.

Canada Trip, Part 4: Sometimes we entertain angels unawares

Why I thought he might be an angel

This man went on every train that I went on, from Winnepeg to Vancouver, Vancouver to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, and Chicago to Kansas City. He said he was with me “to the end.” Despite his appearance, I actually began to feel safer with him there because I was traveling alone as a woman in a foreign country. On one train, some young guys in the seats in back of me started getting drunk and cussing loudly about the things they didn’t like on the train. This man moved his and my stuff toward the front of the cab to get away from them, and then informed the cab attendant.

He also had memorized well over 150 Bible verses. Scriptures began flowing out of this man as he talked with me, that exactly pertained to my life. The Scriptures he shared with me, which he encouraged me to memorize, were:

Romans 12:1-3 (offer your body as a living sacrifice to God)
Joshua 1:8 (meditate on the Bible day and night & obey it to prosper)
Mark 11:23-24 (speak in faith to the mountain and tell it to move)
Hebrews 4:12 (the Word of God is a sharp, two-edged sword)

Another reason I thought he might be an angel was because he kept giving me directional tips for wherever I was going. Maybe he had just ridden the trains on these routes before, and knew what to expect and what to do. But he gave me extremely helpful advice that I needed, which I would not have known otherwise, like:

When I arrived in Vancouver, take the bus to get to my hotel downtown, instead of a cab. Cab fares would rob me; the bus was only $2.50 and would get me to my hotel safely. How did he know the bus stop was close to my hotel?
When I arrived in Vancouver, I could buy groceries at the produce market across from the bus stop near my hotel. How did he know there was a produce market there by my hotel?
Buy plenty of groceries for my 3-day train ride to Chicago because it was a long ride and dining on the train is expensive ($15 to $28 per meal).
Watch for the Pyramid Waterfalls on the train trip to Vancouver. How did he know I love waterfalls? He showed me exactly where they were so I would not miss them!
He encouraged me to check in my 2nd bag before I went on the train to Chicago. He said the extra weight would hinder me from where I needed to go. He was exactly right, because in Chicago, I had to walk several blocks to get to the subway station (going downstairs and upstairs) and then walk to get to my hotel. I had tried to pack light for my trip, but thank God I didn’t have all that luggage!
At the train station waiting for the train to Chicago, he suddenly began to SING Zephaniah 3:17 to me, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” This is the exact verse that I shared at the women’s retreat in Canada (he was not there and I hadn’t told him about it!)
When I was on the train to Chicago, I only had $2 American dollars with me. The rest of my money was in Canadian money, because the bank in Seattle said they could not exchange my Canadian dollars. On the train as I talked with him about arriving in Chicago and needing to exchange my money there, the “angel” told me to have faith and trust God. Later as we arrived closer to Chicago, he exchanged his $20 American dollars for my $20 Canadian dollars. With this money, I was able to take the subway in Chicago, as well as get dinner. If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been able to eat supper -and I was SO hungry! (I was waiting on some money to transfer to our checking account at home, so I wasn’t able to use my debit card while traveling!)
The Canadian border police made me throw away the bananas I had just bought for food, except for one banana. This man asked me to watch his stuff while he went to try to find me some bananas to replace mine. He came back a few seconds later with a brown bag of bananas for me, saying he had gotten a “real bargain on them.” How did he find bananas so fast? He also had a cup of coffee for himself, and said he was having, “Java with Jesus.” I think I’m going to use that as a new book title!

These are just a few examples. He talked to me about MANY things on the different trains we took, including:

obeying everything God says and being faithful, so I won’t lose my reward (2 John 1:8)
using my preaching gift and sharing the gospel with the lost because time is short. You can show God’s love by helping others practically and sharing your story.
offering my body as a living sacrifice to God – eating healthy, exercising, fasting and praying. “Lethargy is our enemy,” he said.
continuing to write, because writing brings me closer to God and is changing me.
viewing myself as valuable and successful, because the way you view yourself is the way others will view you. I found this astounding advice, considering his appearance, but he walked in confidence and authority. Ray later said maybe if he dressed in a nice suit, he couldn’t reach all the people he needed to reach for God, like homeless people, drug addicts, and the poor.
living within your means, not spending more than you earn, saving each month.
establishing new good habits.

As you can see, he talked to me about many practical things. God wants us to have common sense and wisdom for our lives here.

Stay tuned for Part 5 of my Canada Blog Series.

Canada Trip, Part 3: A young man searching for God and “the angel”

Beth Jones — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:03:01 +0000

On the way home from speaking in Canada at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference, I rode the Canadian Via Railway train across the Rockies in Canada and the U.S. Amtrak train going from Vancouver, Canada to Seattle, Washington; Seattle, Washington, across the Rockies to Chicago; and then Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri, where I live. This is part 3 of my Canada Trip Blog Series. You can read Part 2 here.

Canada Trip, Part 3: A young man searching for God and “the angel”

As I shared in part 2 of this blog series, I told Ray that all I wanted for my birthday this year was to ride on a train. On this trip, I was able to speak at a women’s conference, see Canada, AND ride a train! I’ll share more later about the awesome people I met in Canada, but for now I want to tell you the exciting train stories. I had several divine appointments. I also wondered if one of the people on the train was an angel.

I’ve only ridden a train twice before, and those were for short distances. I’d never ridden a long-distance train before and wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve decided that I like trains, but not train stations. They are crowded and dirty, not as nice as airports.

They are rather boring, so you shouldn’t get there too early – but early enough so you won’t miss your train. They WILL leave you at your stop, as one did a man who went to get a cheeseburger. I will tell you this amusing story later. Some stations are more crime-ridden than others, like Chicago’s. They do offer snack shops. The larger ones have more stores and places to eat, and even t.v.’s to watch the news.

The conductor really does say, “All aboard!” for you to board the train a few minutes before departure.

On the Canadian Via train, a CBC camera crew boarded to film children traveling by train. They also took footage of some of the other passengers. I think they cut my part when I looked up into the camera and said smiling widely, “Hi!” to the camera man, a big no-no in t.v.. You are supposed to pretend the camera is not there when on t.v. So I’ll never be a star…My one big chance for fame and celebrity-hood and I blow it, sigh!

It was surreal

The private sleeper cabins with beds are small and are much more expensive than coach, and to save costs, I booked a seat in coach. Next time, I will probably book a sleeper cabin so I can have a bed. The coach seats do recline.

Surprisingly, even though I often have problems with insomnia, I slept fairly well on the trains. Maybe it’s the motion of the wheels. The train whistle was surreal at times and was actually comforting in my sleep. It totally blessed me that God made my dream come true.

Have you started making your bucket list yet? What are your dreams?

The train was not as crowded as planes are, and security is a lot less strict. While I hate and feel violated how over-the-top strict airport security is today, I was shocked how lax the security is on a train. It seemed like anyone could just walk onto the train from the street at our stops without being checked.

Bring cash on your train trip

If you are on the Canadian Via train, you need Canadian money! They don’t accept U.S. dollars in the dining car and at the snack shop. One of the lessons I learned! I think some trains accept debit/credit cards. The meals are anywhere from $15 to $28 each on the train, so you need to bring a lot of money or buy groceries to eat, especially for long distance trips. I ate one nice meal on the train, but bought food to eat the rest of my meals. Next time I’m dining on the train more. It was delicious!

The U.S. Amtrak train is much cleaner, newer, and nicer than the Canadian Via Train, but the Amtrak train made a lot more stops due to freight and passenger trains. For example, I arrived three hours late in Chicago. The conductor would tell us why we were driving so slowly or why we were stopped, but it was still annoying at times.

But as the “angel” said to me (who I’ll tell you about in a minute), in America we are always in a hurry, rushing, rushing, busy with some place to go. Trains are slower and give you time to think about your life – what is going right, and what you are doing wrong. Trains give you a chance to spend some time with God and reflect and pray.

The Canadian train trip to Vancouver (across the Rockies) had much more beautiful scenery. Canada has a lot of farmland. My husband Ray would love it. There is something about wanting to own a lot of land that is in a man’s blood. “The land gets inside of us; and we must decide one way or another what this means, what we will do about it.“ – Barry Lopez

The further we went, the more we encountered the challenges of snow, ice, frozen lakes, trees, and huge rocks on either side, and snowy mountains. Despite the dangers, though, I felt safe on the train. I knew God was with me for the ride.

On the Via train to Vancouver

Doreen Penner and her precious friend Helen Reimer, who hosted me at her beautiful, Italian-decor home while I was in Mitchell, Manitoba, took me to the train station to see me off. Doreen prayed for me before I boarded, and we both cried! I miss my Canadian girlfriends!

Below is a pic of Helen and me at the Via train station. I confess that I was secretly coveting Helen’s beautiful, fashionable, white coat with the big, black buttons, and Helen’s hair. It is highlighted blonde on top, and toward the bottom and underneath, it is dark brown. She is licensed to do hair and did her hair herself. Doreen and I saw coats like Helen’s at the mall when we went shopping. Doreen and Helen are beautiful women, inside and out.

Me & my new precious friend Helen

One of my goals was to write on the train. The train ride went smoothly overall, but at times it was bumpy, which made writing on the dinner tray a little hard to do. (The tray pulls out of the seat like plane trays.)

Below is my pretty flowered journal that I wrote in during my train trip. I bought this at one of Canada’s Dollar stores called Dollaroma, like our Dollar General or Dollar Tree. I was surprised at how MANY American stores and businesses that Canada has, such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, and J.C. Penny. Doreen and Helen often cross the border to shop in Grand Forks, IN.

My journal on Canada train trip

In my journal, I wrote, “On the train now for Vancouver. It definitely is not what I expected. The train building is very old, probably built in the late 1800′s or early 1900′s. I was expecting something more modern…we are now by the Red River. I’ve had an incredible time here in Canada. It’s going to take two days to get to Vancouver. The train is not that crowded…the train is going pretty slow. I do hope it goes faster.” The train, at higher speeds, goes about 80 mph. One night I awoke in the middle of the night to it hauling butt. It must have been at top speed. It was pretty fun.

My first divine appointment on the train

On the Canadian Via train, after I sat down and put up my bags, a young man in about his late 20′s or 30′s sat next to me. We would be on the train for two days. I was content to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside my window and write, but after dinner the first night, he suddenly struck up a conversation with me. I found out that he’d ridden the train before and was riding for pleasure this time. He was engaged to a woman, had a baby son with her, and had one baby on the way.

For the next hour and a half, this young man, Eric, talked to me primarily about God. When he found out I was a Christian, he began asking me all kinds of questions about God, Satan, the garden of Eden and Adam’s and Eve’s temptation, Job, life, suffering. His father Peter was in the last stages of cancer and dying, but he was at peace because he had faith in Jesus. Eric was troubled because he didn’t know if he believed in God or not, and was afraid of dying and what came after that.

He asked me questions about Buddha, Allah, and reincarnation. I shared the gospel with him, and how Jesus is the best thing that had ever happened to me and is my Best Friend. Suddenly in the middle of the conversation, the man in front of Eric began to talk about Jesus, too. He said that Jesus is the only “god” who ever died and came back to life.

I smiled and said to Eric, “Do you think this is all just a coincidence? God knew that I would be sitting next to you on this train, and that man in front of you. He put us both by you so we could tell you about Jesus. None of this is an accident, Eric! God loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you through His son Jesus! He wants to save you. He has a great plan for your life!”

Via train

Eric didn’t say the “sinner’s prayer” on the train, but I have no doubt that what I shared, and the man in front of him did, greatly impacted his life. I shared the good news with him. I planted the seed, someone else will water, and God will cause the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6) It was obvious God had touched him and made him really think about things.

The “angel” on the train

As I shared, there was a man in front of Eric who began interjecting about Jesus during the middle of our conversation. I’d seen the man when I first boarded the train. He was very tall and skinny, dressed in scraggly clothes with a camouflage hat.

I confess that at first, I avoided him because from his clothes, he looked like a homeless person and I didn’t know if I could trust him or if my belongings were safe around him. Later, God really convicted me for this initial judgment for his appearance. He turned out to be such a good person and he helped me so much!

After he shared about Jesus’ resurrection with Eric and Eric got off the train the next morning (with me giving him some last encouraging words about God’s love for him), the man stood up and asked our French cab attendant Sylvie if he could move over to the seat across from him, in front of me.

She said yes, and he turned around and looked at me, saying with great authority, “Ask and you shall receive.” (Matthew 7:7)

This startled me and at this point, I began to wonder if he was an angel in disguise. (After hearing the story, one of my friends is CONVINCED he was an angel! She said, “Do you REALLY think this man traipsed all over Canada and North America on EVERY single train ride with you all the way to Kansas City, helping you, and he was just a man? This was an angel!”)

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

I watched him intently. I noticed that he spread peanut butter on thick, wheat slices of bread and ate cold corn out of a can with a plastic spoon. WHAT?!

I couldn’t turn off my analytical, logical, inquiring mind. Why would God send an angel on a train who was dressed in scraggly clothes and who ate corn out of a can? Yet, what a better disguise? And the Bible says that God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Stay tuned for part 4 of my Canada Blog Series, where I share more about this man who was a divine appointment.

Canada Trip, Part 2: Divine Appointments

Beth Jones — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:41:36 +0000

Recently I was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at Doreen Penner‘s women’s conference in Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada. So many exciting things happened that it’s hard to compress it into one blog post, so I am breaking it up into several posts for you. Below is part 2 of my Canada Trip Blog Series. Click here to read Part 1.

Canada Trip, Part 2: Divine Appointments

After Doreen asked me to speak at one of the sessions at the conference, and I had talked to Ray about it, prayed and God spoke to my heart to go and said that He would provide all I needed, I compared prices online for round-trip flights. As I was searching, I heard God’s still, small voice, Delta.

Because I didn’t want to spend all my husband’s hard-earned money on air fare, I spent about two frustrating hours online bidding prices on Priceline to try to get a lower price, to no avail. I winded up booking a Delta flight, which is what God told me to do in the first place. See, even though I speak and write about prayer and obeying God’s voice, I am still learning to do it myself!

When I was looking at round trip air fare, though, God told me to take the train coming back, instead of flying. As my friend Doreen’s daughter Kirsten said at the women’s retreat, “It pays to obey God.” Out of the mouth of babes!

Rick’s and Doreen Penner’s daughter Kirsten

I’d been wanting to take a train ride anyway. I told Ray that all I wanted for my 2012 birthday present was to:

ride on a train
eat a nice dinner on the train
take pics for my blog on the train
write on the train.

God didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to obey on this one! This way I could go to Canada to speak and ride on a train, too – one of the things on my bucket list!

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Several years ago, Ray and I saw the Steve Martin comedy movie Trains, Planes, and Automobiles. Steve Martin played the role of Neal Page, whose flight has been cancelled due to bad weather. All he wants to do after his trip is get home for Thanksgiving to be with his family. He winds up struggling to get home with an obnoxious slob of a shower ring salesman, Del Griffith (John Candy). A series of transportation mishaps – first the flight cancelling, then the train’s main engine blowing out, then a car catching on fire- leave you rolling laughing. When I was on the train coming home, I remembered the movie, giggling, and then this week Doreen reminded me of the movie, too.

Luckily, I didn’t experience any of those things – except maybe the night an obnoxious train passenger became drunk and was screaming profanities that he was married to a woman who beat him. (He was removed from the cab by cab attendants, after screaming this over and over to the other passengers, who probably felt like beating him, too.)

Other than this, the train rides were incredible. I rode the Canadian Via Railway train and the U.S. Amtrak train coming back home from Canada, traveling throughout the breathtakingly beautiful Rockies. The train trip was one of the funnest things I’ve ever done in my entire life. But first, the flight into Canada.

Inside Canadian Via Railway train

The Jewish woman on the plane: the wedding cake was awful!

I had to fly from Kansas City, Missouri, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, then Minneapolis to Winnipeg, Canada. I was shocked how fast the flight was to Canada; I was on Canadian soil by 1:30 p.m. Central Time. On the flight from Minneapolis to Canada, the woman sitting next to me was pretty with blonde hair, bright eyes, and a contagious laugh. She was friendly and outgoing, and I couldn’t have slept even if I’d wanted to because she talked the whole way there.

But I enjoyed every minute of it. She was a political science major, highly intelligent, funny and interesting, and engaged for the first time in her life (she was in her 40′s). Also to my delight, I discovered that she was an Orthodox Jew….so her Jewish mama was very happy, helping her to plan her traditional Jewish wedding. (For those who don’t know, I LOVE Israel and the Jews!)

Jewish kosher wedding cake

She said that wedding cake tastings are common for Jewish weddings. The cake is as important, or maybe even more important, than the ring. She, her mother, and her friends had been invited to a wedding cake tasting. You sample little pieces of different kinds of cakes and decide which one you like best.

She said the cakes were beautiful, but they tasted AWFUL. None of them had redeeming qualities. Laughing as she told me about this, she said, “But of course you have to be polite. We couldn’t TELL her they were awful!” They thanked the woman, sharing their appreciation of her time, but didn’t buy her cakes. She winded up choosing another cake somewhere else!

Do you have the gift of hospitality?

I’ve never been to a Jewish wedding in real life, but have read about them or seen them in movies (Fiddler On The Roof came to mind immediately; she laughed again). I asked her if they would have the traditional canopy at her wedding (the chuppah), and she said yes. It is open on all sides to represent having an open tent, welcoming all people in unconditional hospitality. Is your home like this? I was challenged by this thought.

I told her my favorite part of the wedding was when the groom broke the glass under his foot. At that moment, everyone seems to have so much joy. She said that is an important and a joyous part of the ceremony, and has many different meanings.

Jewish groom breaking glass

One is that “this serves as an expression of sadness at the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, identifying the couple with the spiritual and national destiny of the Jewish people. A Jew, even at the moment of greatest rejoicing, is mindful of the Psalmist’s injunction to “set Jerusalem above my highest joy.” [Resource: Guide to the Jewish wedding, http://www.aish.com/jl/l/m/48969841.html.]

It’s also a reminder that relationships are as fragile as glass and must be treated with love and respect.

What are some important traditions you and your family have? What meaning do they have for you?

She showed me photos on her phone of her fiance’, her wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, the lace she had chosen to add straps to the dress, and the table cloths. Beautiful!

A Jew’s different viewpoint: Empathy for the Palestinians

We also talked about Palestine and Israel. I am adamant that Israel belongs to the Jews because of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants, the Jews (Genesis 13:15), and was shocked that she was actually a little empathetic to the Palestinians.

She said of course she believes Israel, and especially Jerusalem, belongs to Israel and the Jews, but said you also have to consider the Palestinians’ point of view. She said many of them are just ordinary, loving families wanting to raise their children in a place they consider “home” and that perhaps some land could be conceded to them (though not Jerusalem).

While my viewpoint remains the same about this topic, I found hers eye-opening and surprising; not all Jews view Israel as solely “Jewish” land.

Eating kangaroo

She and her fiance’ have traveled to many different countries, including Russia, China, and Australia. In Australia, she tried kangaroo meat and said it is pretty good. I love good stories like these! Australia is also on my bucket list (although I’m not sure about eating kangaroo – I like kangaroos, and don’t think I want one for lunch!).

On the plane, she was wearing toe shoes, which fit the foot like a glove fits the hand. Toe shoes are gaining popularity with runners and walkers. They were made of kangaroo hide and she let me touch them. They are soft like suede, and she said they are very comfortable.

Before we landed in Canada, I told her “Shalom” and “The Lord bless you,” remembering God’s promise that whoever blesses Abraham (and his seed) is blessed. (Genesis 12:3) She said, “Shalom,” to me, too, and we hugged.

This was my first divine appointment.

In my next post, I’ll share the story of the young man on the Canadian Via Railway train, who I shared the gospel with – and about the man who I wondered if he was an angel in disguise.

Ray is Superman hero

Beth Jones — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:47:09 +0000

Superman
(Cake topper for Ray’s cake one year)

My husband Ray is either Superman coming to my rescue, or else he simply wanted to avoid me having a major meltdown because of my laptop needing replacing.

Until I can buy a new laptop, I am using a combination of my smart phone, our daughter Leah‘s computer, and our old DINOSAUR computer to do my work.

Last night Ray created a temporary solution so I don’t take Leah’s computer hostage for the next couple of weeks: he got the dinosaur computer running again and attached a keyboard.

I’m thankful but this is a great test of patience, since the dinosaur computer and its keyboard are very S-L-O-O-O-O-W. It makes me want to SCREAM! How am I ever going to get through the next couple of weeks until I can buy a new one?!!

But as Ray reminded me last night in bed, a true business person uses the resources available to him or her (and a mature one doesn’t whine or rant).

And Thanksgiving reminds me: BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE…even the dinosaur computer! Especially for God, family, friends, health, and all the blessings God has given me!

I’m going to ATTEMPT to continue with my blog series on my Canada trip. If this proves to be too patience-testing because of the dinosaur computer’s slowness, then I’ll pick it back up again after I buy the new laptop (which will be my early Christmas gift from Ray, by the way!).

What about you? Have you experienced laptop or computer problems? What did you do until it was fixed or you bought a new one?

SO THANKFUL FOR YOU!

Meanwhile, I want to tell you how thankful I am for you. I couldn’t do what I do without God, my family, and you, and my heart just overflows with gratitude for your love, support, and encouragement. My prayer is that you will have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends.

What are some special ways you are celebrating the day?

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2, NAS

My laptop is toast!

Beth Jones — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:09:48 +0000

Beth Jones

When I came back from my Canada trip, my laptop wasn’t working. I took it to the Best Buy geek squad (where I bought it), and I’m going to need a new one. It would actually be cheaper to buy a brand new one than to pay for the labor and the part to fix my laptop. It may be several weeks before I can buy a new one.

For now, my blog series on the Canada trip is being put on hold, as well as my two ebooks that I’d planned to finish this month! I plan to continue the Canada trip blog series when I get another laptop. It seems God often is teaching me patience and that HIS timing is different from my own!

I am typing this post on our daughter Leah’s computer and because I don’t want to hold her computer hostage for long periods of time, I won’t be able to blog consistently until I’m able to buy the new laptop. Please don’t feel I am neglecting you or just being a lazy blogger! I do hope you understand.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We celebrated ours early this Sunday. Ray, Heather and Eden all have different work schedules, so we had to find a day where everyone was off work the same day. We combined it with Leah’s 18th birthday. I can’t believe our youngest child is EIGHTEEN!!! After we ate, we went to Cherry Berry yogurt place for her special treat.

As you sit and enjoy the Thanksgiving feast this holiday, remember all of God’s goodness to you…and pray for others’ needs, helping them practically as you can.

I will let you know when I get the new laptop and will post here as I can!

“Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.” – Thomas Goodwin

Walk Into Your Blessing: My Canada trip

Beth Jones — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:34:43 +0000

What an adventure!!!

I just returned from Canada, where I was one of the keynote speakers at Doreen Penner‘s women’s retreat, Walk Into Your Blessing. I flew into Canada on a Delta flight and came back home by train on the Canadian Via railway and the American Amtrak railway. It was one of the most incredible, funnest things I’ve ever done in my life and I can’t wait to share it with you!

I had many divine appointments on this trip. It’s hard to compress everything that happened into one short blog post, so I’m going to break up the exciting stories into several shorter posts like I did my Bahamas cruise trip, when I spoke at the Women of Destiny conference.

Also, I created a private forum on Facebook, and uploaded 6 videos, sharing what happened. If you’d like to be part of this exclusive forum to see the videos, request to be my friend on Facebook and private message me on Facebook that you’d like to be part of it.

Below is part 1 of the Canada trip blog series. I’d love to hear your thoughts after reading this blog series! Please share in the comments below!

Remember that when you say YES to God, He will do amazing things beyond your wildest dreams!

Canada Trip Part 1: Leap of Faith

How did I get an invitation to speak in Canada? GOD! God is my best PR agent!

I met Doreen Penner on Facebook last year. We are both members of Diane Cunningham’s NACWE * organization for Christian women entrepreneurs. Doreen and I share the same passion for women fulfilling their God-designed purpose, and I felt prompted by God to ask her to be a guest speaker on a webinar.

In 2012, God gave me a vision for women speakers, authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs to share their heart messages with the world on webinars. To my delight, Doreen accepted the invitation and it was an anointed session. We both felt a connection to one another.

God will bring DIVINE CONNECTIONS into your life! This is the power of SOCIAL MEDIA!

When I read in Doreen’s ezine recently that she was having her first women’s retreat in Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada, I emailed her about it, telling her I wanted to go, even though it seemed a financial impossibility. Doreen actually had been thinking of me and wanted me to be there. Before I knew it, she was asking me to speak as one of the keynote speakers at the first session! There would be three sessions, and she and Karen Wells were the other keynote speakers. Here’s the 3 of us below. Yep, I am in my NEW SHOES!

Speakers, Women’s Retreat
Karen Wells, Doreen Penner, Beth Jones

When God gave Doreen the vision for this retreat, He also put together a team to assist her: her friend Helen Reimer, her sister Edna Russell, her friend Lynette Krahn, and her worship leader and friend, Rachel Giesbrecht. These are loving, very giving, gifted women. Ask God to help you put your team together. Remember that Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. You can’t build a profitable, successful business being a Lone Ranger. You need God and others to help you. They will have strengths where you have weaknesses, and you have strengths where they have weaknesses. With a great team, you will have great success as Doreen did.

Helen was in charge of planning, organizing, and decorating, and did an incredible job. The retreat theme was Walk Into Your Blessing. On each table there were lovely cloths, with a centerpiece of a beautiful shoe with flowers inside the shoe. Who would think of this but someone very creative! It looked stunning. I love how Helen thinks outside the box!

Shoe centerpieces at retreat

About 24 women attended the retreat ~all ages, races, and denominations. I believe that God gave Doreen this vision for the retreat and that it’s going to grow BIG, like Women of Faith in America. I shared this with Doreen and the audience at the end of the retreat, and again later at dinner with Doreen and her husband Rick. I’m so excited to see what God is going to do!

Women’s Retreat, Canada
Walk Into Your Blessing

Doreen’s sister Edna met me at the Canadian airport with Doreen. She, Doreen, and Doreen’s wonderful family made me feel immediately welcome and so loved! Doreen and her husband Rick have such servant hearts. Rick was amazing with all the things he did to help Doreen with for this retreat, especially the sound/video system. He was able to get the speakers lapel mics and made sure our sessions were videoed.

Rick setting up sound at retreat

I miss everyone so much already, and hope to come back! Edna is so sweet and such a prayer warrior. At the women’s retreat, Edna started us off with prayer and Rachel Giesbrecht led beautiful worship on the piano. I was so blessed that the song Rachel started with was about God is our Friend.

Doreen’s sis Edna Russell

Helen was not only the retreat decorator, but also the M.C. There was an instant anointing as Helen took the mic. She is an incredible speaker and needs to get out there speaking, sharing her heart-breaking but powerful testimony, and writing her story in a book! Whatever your gift is, be sure to use it! Time is short and we need to be about God the Father’s business.

Helen is beautiful, loving, giving, creative, intelligent, and so friendly. I loved her so much and miss her! Helen and her husband Dan also so generously allowed Karen and me to stay in their beautiful, Italian-decor home while we were there. I felt such a warm Canadian welcome from these people!

Women’s Retreat M.C, Organizer, & Decorator
Helen Reimer – loved her!

The speaking session topics at the retreat were:

Session 1 (Morning) – Beth Jones: Walk With Shoes That Fit

Session 2 (After Morning Break) – Karen Wells: Even With My Knees Knocking

Session 3 (Afternoon) – Doreen Penner: Embracing God’s Blessing For Your Life

We centered our presentations on the theme, Walking Into Your Blessing, but each of us had a distinctive speaking style and a different type of personality, so it was interesting.

Karen is very comfortable in front of an audience, and I noticed the audience was very engaged with her. They listened attentively. Doreen is one of the most polished, professional speakers I’ve ever seen. She was excellent. Karen and Doreen both gave insightful, encouraging, funny, and heart-touching presentations. And then there’s me!

I am a very visual person, so I use a lot of visual aids when I speak. I started off my presentation by sharing the Cinderella story. Only her foot fit the glass slipper. Are you wearing the shoes custom-designed by God for you? Are you walking in shoes that fit? Are you fulfilling YOUR unique, God-given purpose and using the gifts He’s given you?

Speaker Karen Wells

Speaker Doreen Penner

Helen’s sister Becky Friesen made delicious cinammon buns for our morning break. The center was so moist. Perfect with coffee!

Delicious cinammon buns

For lunch, Helen, Edna, and others had cooked cheesy potato soup, served with dinner rolls and salad.

Dinner roll, salad, potato soup

Doreen wanted to include a fun activity for the women for the afternoon, so we created a faith board. It’s similar to a vision board, only it’s more centered on our faith in Christ.

Lynette was the wheel in motion for this part and so much of the behind-the-scenes, necessary tasks. Below is a picture of Lynette and Karen. Lynette is glowing because she is now engaged and flew this week to Louisiana to see her sweetheart. Lynette, hope you are having a BLAST! You deserve it! Thank you for all your help personally to me!

Lynette Krahn and Karen Wells

The women cut pictures from magazines and glued or taped them on white or black poster board, representing their values, their dreams, their goals, anything that was important and meaningful to them. Scrapbooking materials were supplied. I was surprised that everyone in the room was engaged in this activity, because not everyone enjoys doing crafts. Great idea, Doreen!

You can create your own faith board at home. Be inspired by God and tap into your creativity. No limits with God!

Below is my faith board. I added a few more pics when I came home. It includes pictures representing:

Christ as my center
Love for God and family
Friends
Big dreams
Success
Fun and laughter
Spiritual gifts
Physical fitness
Love of nature
Thinking outside the box.

My faith board

We had some fun give-aways at the retreat. I gave away one of my books, The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles, which you can buy here at my website’s Estore or at WomensBattles.com. I also gave away a free coaching session at the retreat.

At the end of the day, Doreen, Karen, and I had a panel discussion during the Q & A time for the attendees. We sat up front and answered any questions the attendees might have, or expanded on something that they wanted to know more about from our presentations.

This was an important part of the retreat to connect more with the audience. Find ways to really reach and connect with your target market, tribe, fans, whatever you call them. Afterward, we offered to pray for anyone who needed prayer.

Two women asked me afterward to pray with them. Below is a picture of one of the sweet, precious attendees I was able to pray for, Claire. This is always my favorite part of speaking, getting to talk with the women and pray for them, giving them words of encouragement.

Me & Claire, a retreat attendee

The retreat was a HUGE SUCCESS. One attendee voted it “an 11 out of 10.” We had the women fill out evaluation forms about the retreat for feedback, and received rave reviews. Everything was very well organized and flowed smoothly. Doreen and her team made it happen! God’s presence was there. The women were blessed and uplifted. The speakers were anointed. We had fun and good food. God is just amazing!

That night Doreen, her husband Rick, her daughter Kirsten and her friend, Doreen’s team, Karen and I went to Helen’s and Dan’s house and ordered pizza. We talked about the retreat, what went well, feedback we’d received, and ideas for the next retreat in 2013. Then we went to bed and crashed, sleeping great!

Doreen is taking the vision and running with it, (Habakkuk 2:20), planning her next retreat for 2013. This retreat turned out to be an incredible blessing for me!

I’m so thankful and honored that I was able to be one of the keynote speakers there. So humbled God chose me and so grateful to Him for how He provided EVERYTHING I needed to make this trip. Yes, God did MONEY MIRACLES for me on this trip! I’m also so thankful to my husband Ray for working so hard to provide for our family so I can do things like this and being supportive of my calling and me using my gifts for God. Thank you to all my friends and fans who prayed for me about this incredible journey!

I have so much more to share with you about the divine appointments I had on the trains going through Canada and the U.S. Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog series! The beauty of the Rockies was breath-taking!

The Rockies, Canada

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*This is an affiliate link. I only promote products or services I have personally used and/or believe in

When life hurts, what do you do?

Beth Jones — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:51:16 +0000

tear bottle

Right now I’m watching friends around me and they hurt. Really hurt. I feel so helpless and say things that must sound so trite: “I’ll pray for you.” “I’m sorry you’re hurting.” “Text or email me if you need to talk.”

Does any of this help with…

my friend whose brother is battling cancer and doctors have given him six months to live?
my friend whose wife told him she may want a divorce, after 15 years of marriage and having two beautiful sweet kids together?
my friend who’s still recovering from a nearly fatal wreck, who has a high calling on her life, but can’t go as fast as she wants in pursuing her purpose and working her online business?
my friend who’s going through a painful, slow divorce and is suddenly a single mom, having to adjust from a nearly 6 figure income to counting every penny?
my friend who juggles mothering three kids as a single mom, working fulltime, attending college fulltime, and is just wanting a Godly man to share life with and a Godly father for her children who won’t obey her?
my single friend who’s never been married and is afraid she won’t ever know the joy of marriage and children?
my married friend who is being drawn to a man who isn’t her husband, because she feels alone and lonely in her marriage?
my gifted, anointed friends who don’t know how wonderful they are and hold back in using their gifts to their fullest potential?

What do you do when life hurts? When you see those you love and they are hurting – and you feel so helpless to do anything about it?

It breaks my heart. It also makes me mad – at satan, who is wreaking havoc in believers’ lives because he knows time is so short.

But I know God is still in control, and He has collected all these tears in His bottle. He is God of the Angel Armies, battling on our behalf.

Trust in Him.

Keep looking up. Keep bending down in prayer.

Jesus is the Healer. Jesus is the Answer.

New shoes, new jewelry

Beth Jones — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:19:07 +0000

My new shoes

Recently I bought some new shoes from Kohl’s. I love them. They are high heels, black, and -as my friends on Facebook described them when I uploaded the pic- stunning, hot, and on fire! I bought them for my upcoming speaking engagement on November 1, but intend to wear them for other dress-up occasions.

Sometimes you need new shoes.

It’s the same way in business. You need to do something new: speak on a new topic, write a new book, hold a new virtual class, begin a new joint venture.

That is what I’m doing now with my awesome new friend Jennifer Whiddon, Jewelry Artist and CEO of Jennifer Whiddon Designs. After I shared the vision for my business with her, God gave Jennifer this inspired idea for a necklace exclusively for my site. It’s a beautiful, sterling silver necklace with the words hand-stamped on it, “Custom Designed By God.”

In the center stamped on a small rectangular, silver piece, surrounded by the words, is a cute cartoon graphic of a woman, representing being a custom-designed-by-God woman.

You are unique, one of a kind. You are custom designed by God for a specific, great purpose. There is no one else like you, who is called to do the things God made you for.

You weren’t an accident. You weren’t born by random chance, here today, gone tomorrow, existing with no meaning. God made you in His holy image for a Divine Reason and Destiny.

Be sure to check out this new necklace on this page here. This would also make a great gift for family and friends to let them know that they are custom designed by God, created for His wonderful purpose. I LOVE this necklace and it’s now one of my favorite pieces. I think you will love it, too!

Study to show yourself approved

Beth Jones — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:32:17 +0000

Do you enjoy learning?

In this week’s Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process class, we are having the 5th and final module of my signature program, using the acronym G.I.F.T.S. – S for Study to Show Yourself Approved. This comes from the scripture 2 Timothy 2:15, AKJV:

“Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I love learning new things, and never want to stop. I also believe that God desires for us to be life-long learners and to share what we learn with others. Water that doesn’t move becomes stagnant and putrid- and stinks, like the Dead Sea, which has no outlet.

As God’s Word is flowing into our lives and others are imparting into our lives, in return we need to pour into others, sharing what God is teaching us. As believers in Christ, we are responsible to learn wisdom and knowledge to grow in truth.

A great example of Study to Show Yourself Approved is the Bereans, from Acts 17: 10-11, NASB.

“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

The Bereans listened attentively and respectively to Paul teaching the gospel in Berea on his second missionary journey. They searched and studied the scriptures every day to find out if what he taught was the truth. The Bible says they received the word with readiness or eagerness.

From the Forerunner Commentary*, we read:

The Greek word, prothumos, suggests that they looked into the Scriptures with enthusiasm, eagerness, and zeal. The Greek paints a word-picture of a ravenously hungry man who devours the food set before him or an extremely thirsty man who is finally given something to drink. The Bereans were full of enthusiasm, readiness, and zeal for God’s Word.

I love this word picture – a ravenously hungry man (woman) or extremely thirsty man (woman), devouring the food in front of him/her or thirstily drinking.

Are you hungry for God’s presence ? Are you thirsty to learn new things from His word and others?

Do you have a hunger and passion to learn new things – or are you failing to grow, not life-giving and stagnant like the Dead Sea?

Become like the Bereans. Get hungry. Get thirsty. Study to show yourself approved.

*Resource: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/466/Bereans.htm

Hello, sweet fall!

Beth Jones — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:32:27 +0000

I’m lovin’ the cooler weather and the change of seasons here in Missouri. Fall is now my favorite time of year:

Soft sweaters
S’mores
Hot apple cider or cocoa
Brightly colored leaves
Pumpkin pie
Crisp air
Boots
Comfy hoodies and jeans.

New seasons give me hope. They are like a fresh new start.

What is your favorite thing about fall?

Please leave your comments below.

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” – Genesis 8:22, ESV

Lovin’ Your Life

Beth Jones — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:10:37 +0000

Do you love your life? Is it filled with joy and purpose? If not, what is keeping you from it?

Recently I ordered iChoose2 Love My Life by Kelly Thorne Gore and the iBloom team. Better late than never, right? (It came out in 2011!) But God’s timing is always perfect.

The first chapter of this wonderful book is iChoose2 Love My Life. Kelly writes:

“This is a book written by a dedicated team of women who have a heart for helping others shift from surviving to thriving. Through this one-year journey, we want you to experience a life:

Without regrets
Where you intentionally invest in yourself
Full of joy, purpose, and love
Where you aren’t just existing, but instead, living your legacy.

Through the year, as you will make small changes at a determined and steady pace, you will be transformed.”

I want to experience all of these, and more; what about you? But I feel the third one is so important. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) And I want my life filled to the brim and overflowing with God’s purpose and His love.

Joy even in the hard times

That isn’t always easy. Having a life of joy, purpose, and love doesn’t mean your life will be perfect. Mine certainly isn’t! Only Jesus was perfect and lived a perfect life. It does mean, though, that God desires for you to know the vitality and the endurance which His joy gives you during the hard times and tough days.

When the bank account is low.
When your marriage is on the verge of divorce.
When the kids are fighting non-stop.
When your loved one gets a bad medical report.
When the company is downsizing and you have the least seniority.
When the headline news terrifies you.
When your son or daughter is being sent to the front lines.

Joy is not a Pollyanna, illogically optimistic view of the world. Rather, it is a quiet, trusting, unshakeable confidence in God and His faithfulness, that He is working out everything for our good and His glory. That He’s saving the best for last for us, just as Jesus saved the best wine for last! (John 2: 1-11)

Living a Life of Purpose

Are you living a life of purpose – or are you just wandering around, lost and confused, trying to figure everything out still? Are you doing what God created you for – or wasting time in mediocre, boring living? Are you pursuing your passion, doing what you love and knowing that joy and that sense of fulfillment each day?

We are talking about this each week in my virtual, Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process class. If you missed registering for this class, I plan to have another one in spring 2013. Be sure to sign up for my personal mailing list at the top of the page on the right hand side, to be the first to hear about this class.

If you need more one-on-one help with discovering your life purpose and using your gifts for God, click here for my coaching services. There are three packages to choose from, depending on your budget and your needs.

I do love my life right now. Each and every day is like a kiss from God. My family is my most precious gift. My wonderful friends are what makes me wealthy. I’m in alignment with God’s purpose for me: speaking, writing, and coaching, ministering to and working with Christian women, who know God has more for their lives and want more of His Presence and all He has for them for His glory.

What about you? Are you lovin’ your life right now?

What’s one thing you would change right now if you could to make your life happier, more purposeful and joy-filled?

*This post contains an affiliate link. I only recommend products I use and/or believe in myself.

Home School Tool Box is here!

Beth Jones — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:54:35 +0000

This year our youngest daughter Leah graduated from our homeschool, and I am adjusting to this new season after being a homeschool mom for over 15 years. But I have friends who still homeschool, and one of them just launched an AMAZING homeschool site that I want to share with you!

Beth Cranford, founder, contributor, and columnist of Home School Tool Box, is passionate about helping Christian parents design and implement an education that honors and nurtures their children’s individual design, equipping them for a life of freedom and power. She has created a site that is a WEALTH of resources for homeschooling parents.

If you sign up with your name and email address at this site, you’ll receive Beth’s free ebook that she compiled from 10 Christian homeschool moms. And guess who is one of them?

Yes, I am a contributing author to this ebook and encourage you to grab your copy today! Just click here at Home School Tool Box for your free ebook, and scroll down to where it says, “Sign up for a free gift.”

Beth and her team are also giving away a different resource every two weeks. The give-away this week is the preschool resource Learning for the “Littles” by Sheri Graham, which you can find out more about by clicking here.

One of the most unique features at this site is the directories, where you go to find just the kind of resources you need for homeschooling, such as notebooking pages.

You also can get involved in this homeschool community by submitting a product to give away, recommending a site or resource, or submitting an article for publication. Learn more about getting involved here.

Beth has an incredibly gifted team of experts, who are contributing authors of the articles and administrators of the site.

This is a wonderful website for homeschoolers! I’m so excited for Beth and her team, and encourage you to check it out today. You can also learn more about Beth Cranford at her personal blog by clicking here.

Promises In The Dark trailer

Beth Jones — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 05:49:54 +0000

Earlier this year I began writing another book, Promises In The Dark: One Woman’s Search for Authentic Love Through Abuse, Abortion, and Adultery. I’ve had some setbacks with completing this book by the deadline, but still have been working on it.

Tonight I created the trailer for it. I outsourced the voice-over, and am pleased with the good job she did on it. I’d love to know what you think. A couple of slides lag behind the voice-over, but other than that, I feel it is good.

I’d also love to know what you think of the ecover. I found the beautiful, intriguing picture of the woman at Istock, one of my fave places to find photos for projects.

Please leave your comments below. If you aren’t already on my personal mailing list, be sure to sign up on the right hand side at the top of the page so you’ll be first to hear about the release of my new book!

Promises In The Dark intro trailer

When A Child Is Sad

Beth Jones — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 04:11:13 +0000

Reese’s Peanut Butter/Chocolate Cheesecake – Cheesecake Factory, Overland Park, KS

Today I had fun spending time with my girls Heather and Leah. Leah and I went to pick up Heather at the car dealership, waiting on a minor part to be repaired, and we had lunch at the Tea Garden Chinese restaurant.

Then we went shopping at Kohl’s to buy a new set of luggage for Leah, her graduation gift from my dad in Georgia.

Afterward, we stopped by the Cheesecake Factory in Overland Park for a delicious dessert. Heather had been thinking of going there on her special day off work for her birthday. Leah had never been there before and I wanted her to have the unforgettable experience.

If you are ever in Kansas City, you simply MUST visit the Cheesecake Factory and try some of their famous cheesecake (their meals are divine, too!). I had so much fun spending the day with my daughters!

However, Heather is going through some hard things right now.

She has lost her joy. It breaks my heart to look at her sad face. I just want to hug her and take away all her pain. It hurts me to see my child hurting.

Our daughter Heather in her purple hat

God feels the same way about us, His beloved children.

Are you hurting? Go to Jesus. He understands what pain is like. He went through it and even died for us. He will hold you and tell you how much He loves you.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” – Isaiah 53:3, NIV

Please keep Heather (unspoken requests) in your prayers.

****To learn more about God’s unconditional love for you, click here to learn more about my 50% off sale on my ebook on prayer, Walking With God, and on all my products now.

The Convenience Store Clerk Who Writes and Sings Country

Beth Jones — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:59:24 +0000

Sometimes I am just going along, mindin’ my own business, when suddenly God interrupts. Last night, for instance.

I ran (ok, drove) to Walmart to buy a bubble-padded envelope for the cd’s on which I’d burned Leah’s graduation pics for my dad in Georgia. Then I went by the convenience store to get a coke.

As I pulled up to the curb, the store clerk was outside, sweeping the sidewalk and talking to his friend. After I went to the counter to pay, he came back inside, singing rap.

“My friend just told me to shut up because I’m not black,” he said. “But I think I have black in me. I love rap.”

“Blacks know how to sing and how to dance,” I replied, thinking of one of my favorite singers, Whitney Houston, and my friends, Tony Robinson, Angela Hardy, and LaToya Gay, dancing in the purple room on our Bahamas cruise.

“Do you like to sing?” I asked him as he rang up my purchase.

“Oh, I like to sing, but it’s not usually worth listenin’ to. What I really like to do is WRITE!” he said.

My eyes lit up and I smiled. “I love to write! What do you write?”

He said, “Songs! Rap, hip hop, rock, country, anything. I wrote this one.”

To my complete surprise, he broke out in a country song right there in the middle of the store. And sang all of it. With heart and soul.

I am not ordinarily sang to in convenience stores. In fact, I’m not ordinarily sang to anywhere.

I began sensing this was a Divine set-up.

There were at least three or four stanzas. Like many country songs, it was ridiculously romantic about some woman, some wine, and some lovin’. But still impressive. Especially since when he clocked into work at the convenience store, he had no idea he’d be auditioning that night and it was completely unrehearsed. He knew the words, he knew the music, he knew the emotions.

After he finished, he looked at me and grinned proudly. My eyebrows raised and I said, “Pretty good.” Now what would Simon have said?

I wasn’t really thinking about Simon, to tell you the truth. All I was thinking was that this whole thing was just too —I don’t know, something, to NOT be God.

That’s when I dove in with the core message I so often give to women. “You know, God gave you that gift. He puts gifts inside of us that He wants to use for His glory. He wants to use that gift in you for Him.”

The clerk kind of snorted, laughed, and said, “Well, some of my songs ain’t got nothin’ to do with God! I’m not too sure He’d like them.”

I already had a little of this impression from the one he just sang for me, but pressed on. “Well, God still gave you the gift. You should publish your songs! Keep writing songs. Get singers to sing them on the radio. Ask God to help you write the songs and to open doors for you, and He will!”

He looked at me, as if wondering if it could be true. Then I left.

Now I don’t know whether this convenience store clerk will take me up on that one or not. Maybe he’ll keep working at the convenience store. Maybe he’ll write a hit country song and be the next Tim McGraw. Who knew?

All I know is that I planted seeds of hope and encouragement in this convenience store clerk who writes and sings country.

What is your gift? Are you using it for God?

*******

To learn more about using your gifts for God to their fullest potential, doing what you love and experiencing God’s blessings, sign up on my personal mailing list at the top of the page on the right hand side, and receive my free G.I.F.T.S. study.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years

Beth Jones — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:28:13 +0000

Me at 50

This Thursday was my 50th birthday. I wanted to write a blog post about 50 things I’ve learned in 50 years. This isn’t all I’ve learned, but it’s a start.

1. God is first, God is last, and God is everything in between. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
2. Jesus is my Best Friend. I don’t know what I’d do without Him.
3. Next to the gift of my salvation through Jesus, my family is the most precious gift God has ever given me. My kids are my undeserved blessings from God; motherhood is the most important and sacred work God has given me on this earth.
4. And sometimes your own family members can be your worst enemy! Jesus said love your enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48)
5. Kids teach you patience. LOTS of patience. I’m still learning.
6. Sometimes you need to just stop what you’re doing and have fun. Lighten up. Smile and laugh a lot more! Especially do this with your kids and grandkids.
7. God uses the most painful things that hurt you the most in the most unexpected, precious, beautiful ways.
8. I will never look like perfect Texan women, who constantly look like they just stepped out of the salon (like my mother-n-law Judy). Not my hair. Not my makeup. Not my nails.
9. Men and women are different. Really different. God has a sense of humor to put them together.
10. Take pictures and videos of everything. Your kids grow up so fast. SO fast. Cherish the moments with them every day. And if you homeschool, please know it ends much too quickly. I ache for it again and wish I could have those years back.

11. Real men cry. Women NEED to cry – even though it freaks men out and makes them feel helpless and uncomfortable and will do anything to make her stop. It’s okay for me to cry. A lot. Tears heal and make you feel better. Nothing like a good Scarlett O’Hara crying jag.
12. Meryl Streep movies and chic flic movies cure boredom and depression. Even if Ray does hate Meryl Streep.
13. Babies are miracles.
14. The best education you can get isn’t always in school. Your kids, life’s hardships, and nature teach you more.
15. Some of the most intelligent people (I.Q. wise) don’t have a lick of common sense.
16. Always keep a clean house. When you least expect it, someone will suddenly drop by when the house is a complete wreck.
17. When you go out, dress decently and wear your makeup. Invariably, you will see someone you know or meet someone important while you’re out and be totally humiliated, looking like a slob.
18. Black eyeliner is my trademark and a defense against life’s hard times.
19. Red roses, sunflowers, and daisies create happiness.
20. Chocolate heals. Ultra fine black Sharpies and pretty stationery make a bad day good. Eating at Mexican or Mediterranean restaurants restore. Do what you love and be happy. Ride the train, San Franciso street car, or hot air balloon. Go to Europe or Africa. Travel to all the U.S. States. See the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls and Grand Canyon. Go horseback riding. Make a bucket list and then do it before you die.

21. Don’t live in a way that you’ll regret it tomorrow. Or 25 years later.
22. Your parents really are smarter the older you get.
23. I hated it when my father made us do all kind of work instead of sleeping, laying around, or watching the Flinstones. Today I appreciate it because I have a strong work ethic.
24. “…better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” – Proverbs 27:10
25. Some of the most incredible friends I’ve ever made, I’ve never met in real life (my online friends).
26. Rainbows always give you hope.
27. Rain is beautiful and an extravagant gift.
28. Sometimes there really can be a thing as too much snow. (trapped in our house for 3 days from the snowstorm)
29. S’mores and cartoon movies unite families.
30. Pets can be good for a family; they can also drive families apart.(No more scaly reptiles, Ray!)

31. Your kids are all different and unique and wonderful. Encourage them to use their creative, incredible God-given gifts each day and shine in this world.
32. Traveling makes me happy. Traveling inspires.
34. Going on vacation with your husband helps you to have hotter sex.
35. Pack light. On trips. Emotionally and spiritually.
36. Hug those you love and tell them every day you love them. Life is very short and unpredictable.
37. Forgiveness isn’t an option. Forgiveness sets you the prisoner free. Forgive unconditionally because God has been so merciful with you and me. Besides, you don’t want to wind up an old, bitter person who nobody wants to be around.
38. It’s not a sin to be wealthy or better to be poor. God wants to bless and prosper you. Be a good steward, work hard, and believe God for abundance!
39. Some of your friends aren’t really your friends.
40. Use your gifts. Pray, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” He will. God wants to use you in ways you can’t even imagine.

41. God will expose the truth. Pray and trust Him. He will also deal with those who attack you and speak against you.
42. If you judge, others will judge you. It comes back into your own life. Remember mercy triumphs over judgment.
43. Brush and floss. Don’t let your kids eat those candied apples or lots of candy or sugar. Trust me.
44. Don’t buy so many Christmas presents that you’re broke for a month afterward. And ask people what they really want for Christmas. Then get them that, not useless items that they don’t like and that makes you broke. Create special family traditions to make sweet memories. (Jewish feasts, Ray’s holiday ham, Heather singing “Carol of the Bells” in her red Santa hat, me decorating the tree with Christmas music, Leah giving out the gifts, Eden’s cupcakes, etc.)
45. Your Irish temper doesn’t work forth God’s righteousness or purpose. And being angry about it won’t help anyway.
46. Panty hose are the devil. So glad I don’t have to wear them any more! Wedge shoes are the bomb with dresses -no hose!
47. Sometimes being quiet and praying is the very best thing to do.
48. Save money. Spend less. Be content and thankful to God for His daily blessings, especially here in America. Even if you are struggling financially, there are people all over the world who are much worst off than you – pray for them. Give generously to others.
49. Take care of your body. Cherish it. It’s God’s temple and the vehicle for your great purpose and destiny.
50. Love God and others every day. Leave a legacy of love.

What are some of the things you have learned in life? Share in the comments below.

*******

In honor of my 50th birthday, I’m having a 50% off sale on all my products and services. Click here to learn more.

50% off Sale on all products and services for my 50th milestone birthday!

Beth Jones — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 19:58:31 +0000

Me in my office this week

Here in Missouri, we feel the first kiss of autumn. I am lovin’ the cooler weather at times, after the frequent 100+ temps this summer and after one of Missouri’s worst droughts. The change in season is a welcome balm.

There are different seasons in our lives, too. On Thursday of this week, I had my milestone 50th birthday. I wasn’t exactly going to advertise my age, but two of my friends felt compelled to announce my age to the world on Facebook when they wished me happy birthday, LOL, so I guess it’s not news now! At least they said I was lookin’ good, which made me feel a little better.

Ray encouraged me when he gave me a card and wrote in it that 50 is the Hebrew jubillee year of the Lord, the year all debts and faults are cancelled. I receive that! Some of my friends have told me it just gets better from here, and these are going to be some of the best days of my life. I receive that, too!

Fifty sounds “old,” but I don’t feel old and I have always believed that age is more of a state of mind. Some of the youngest, happiest, most alive people I know are women who are senior citizens, who frequently laugh, have fun, and have a child-like spirit. They love their lives. I intend to be like that, too, and to NEVER grow “old” in mind and spirit! I believe that my best days are ahead!

“The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.” – Haggai 2:29

In honor of my 50th birthday, I am giving a 50% discount on everything in my estore. Just email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com and tell me which product you want with your email address. I will send you a Paypal invoice with the 50% off price, then send you the link for the info product after your purchase. I have 3 books and a 7-audio bundle set just for you to choose from, that will bless you!

This 50% off discount includes my coaching service here. It’s my gift to you! Remember to email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com, and do NOT use the Paypal buttons on the store or the coaching page, so I can properly invoice you with the 50% discount!

Just click here to find what you need today. Or buy something for a family member or friend to bless them!

Soon I’m offering beautiful jewelry here!

I have more products coming for my estore (two new ebooks due out this fall!), and I’m happy to announce that soon I’m going to offer some beautiful, hand-made, sterling silver jewelry from my friend Jennifer Whiddon of Jennifer Whiddon designs)!!! Be sure to sign up on my personal mailing list so you’ll be first to hear about these new products for sale. I am SOOO excited about this new Joint Venture with Jennifer, and can’t wait to share them with you!

Some of Jennifer’s creative, unique pieces go perfectly with my products and my passion for encouraging women to use their gifts for God and my belief that God has custom designed each of us for His glory. Jennifer got an idea this week for a piece that I believe God gave her JUST for me and my business, and I am SUPER excited about this!

I can’t wait to get one for myself, but first Jennifer and I are doing a JV to give away the first one on the last class in my Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process sessions that I’m holding now online. You can find Jennifer on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Jenniferwhiddondesigns.

In my next post, I’ll share 50 things I’ve learned in 50 years.

Remember to email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com today for your 50% off discount price on any of my products or coaching services.

Faithfully Rich Breakthrough Series

Beth Jones — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:03:58 +0000

If you’re a Christian who has an online business, you want to make sure that you’re staying aligned with your values while building a profitable, successful business.

If you’ve hung around me very long, you know that I’m passionate about women using their gifts for God’s glory. God wants to use you and your important message to help others, shining your light in the marketplace.

He doesn’t want you hiding in a corner, never telling others about what you have to offer. If you don’t tell them, how will they know about you and how can they receive what you’ve got that can help them in practical ways?

That is why I’m excited about the Faithfully Rich Breakthrough Series, a 6-day virtual event held over the phone on October 9-11 and October 16-18, 2012. You can listen to the live sessions free. There are also upgrade packages. I looked over the speakers for this event and can’t wait to hear from Leesa Barnes and Steve Kloyda, among others.

To sign up, just click here.* I’m looking forward to this telesummit and will see you there!

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

*This is an affiliate link.

Finding your sweet spot

Beth Jones — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:25:21 +0000

What is your sweet spot?

We are already in week 2 of my Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process virtual class. This class has an amazing group of gifted, anointed ladies, who are connecting quickly in our private Facebook forum. We are brainstorming creative ideas to help each other, having a “mini-mastermind” group. Mastermind groups are powerful. Napolean Hill wrote about the power of a mastermind group in his book Think and Grow Rich.

What you can get from a class and a brainstorming, mastermind group like this (adapted from the article, How To Create and Run a Successful Mastermind Group):

Instant, valuable support and encouragement (and I’d like to add, prayer)
Experience, skills, and confidence
Creative ideas, solutions, and answers coming from the group
Accountability and progress moving forward and getting “unstuck”
A sense of shared endeavors – there’s others out there and you don’t feel alone anymore
Design things the way you want them to be, not as you’ve been told they “should” be.

If you missed this class, I plan to have another one coming up in spring 2013. Be sure to sign up on my personal mailing list with your name and email address at the top of the page on the right sidebar, so you’ll be first to hear about this.

Two of the many resources that I’m using for this class are iChoose2 Love My Life by Kelly Thorne Gore and the iBloom team, and Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado. Both of these are excellent.

Kelly’s book takes you through a one year journey toward living a life you love, and Max Lucado’s book helps you with living in your “sweet spot” – that place where you were made by God to dwell, that you love and which glorifies God.

For example, my sweet spot would be speaking, writing, coaching, traveling. When I speak in front of a live audience, I feel energized. When I travel to new places, I feel happy and so alive.

What is your sweet spot? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Our Saint Louis Trip

Beth Jones — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:39:36 +0000

Recently Ray, Leah, Heather, her daughters Annabelle and Violet, and I traveled to Saint Louis, MO, for a mini-vacation. I had been up the Saint Louis arch, but my family never had, and I wanted them to have the exciting opportunity. This trip was also Heather’s birthday treat.

Leah, Beth and Ray Jones at arch, St Louis

So we packed up two cars and headed out on a Friday afternoon after Heather got off work. (Ray was off work that day and the next). Saint Louis is about 293 miles away (4 hours 46 minutes) from Kansas City. (NOTE: In good weather!)

We have been in a severe drought here in Missouri. It hadn’t rained in months. The grass was withered and yellow, and the leaves on the trees had died. But the week of our trip to Saint Louis, of course Hurricane Isaac hit the U.S., causing flooding in Louisiana, but bringing much-needed rain relief to the mid-west.

All the way to Saint Louis, it rained cats and dogs. I couldn’t believe it! Now God answers my prayers for rain, I thought.

Raining cats and dogs on way to St. Louis

Our daughter Heather is nearly as perfect child as a parent can have, but she has one bad habit: a lead foot. She’s also like me, a take-charge personality (i.e., she is a control freak!).

As we started out on the highway, she immediately called us on the cell phone: “I want to be in front,” she said. “Why?” I asked petulantly (I was driving). “I just do. I’d like to lead,” she said. “Whatever,” I said and hung up.

I had just told Ray a few minutes before that Heather was going to try to get ahead of us. She has to drive fast, she wants to be in charge, and she is very competitive, wanting to “beat” others first. I didn’t want us to drive fast because of the rain. A couple of times I called Heather and yelled, “SLOW DOWN! This is not a race and we have kids in the car!” Heather doesn’t drive 85 mph, but let’s just say she loosely interprets the speed limit as a suggestion, rather than as a law.

We stopped half-way for dinner at a Chinese restaurant, where they had a buffet. Outside the restaurant there were beautiful yellow rose bushes. Roses are my favorite flower, especially long-stemmed red roses. But these roses reminded me of the movie Sweet Dreams that I’ve watched over and over again – the life story of country singer Patsy Cline, who died tragically in an airplane crash in the prime of her career.

In the movie, Patsy talked a lot about her dream to be a famous country singer, to raise her kids right, and to have a beautiful house with yellow roses planted in the yard. “Please, mama, help me to get my house with the yellow roses!” she shouted when her mother refused to go on television as her “talent scout” to help Patsy’s public exposure, because her mama would not lie (she was her mom, not a talent scout!). In the Chinese restaurant, I mimicked what Patsy said to Ray: “Please help me to get my house with the yellow roses!”

Yellow roses at Chinese restaurant

Below is our granddaughter Violet trying to eat with chopsticks for the first time.

Violet trying chopsticks

Her sister Annabelle tried the chopsticks too, but preferred using them as drum sticks to play a fast beat on the table.

Annabelle’s “drum” sticks

At the restaurant, Ray entertained himself by trying to make a fish in the aquarium turn over with his fingers. He had trained a calico cat we used to have, Sierra, to do this. She would roll over on her side when he would snap his fingers.

Ray training fish

I’m sure the fish was wondering what strange creature Ray’s finger was.

Fish watching Ray’s finger

Since we left home in the late afternoon, we arrived in Saint Louis close to 10 p.m. After we ate dinner, I was leading driving, but the closer we got to Saint Louis, Heather went around me to be in front again. Ray kept making jokes about it: “Go, Beth! You can’t let Heather beat you to Saint Louis! Pass her!”

Since I was still concerned about driving fast in the rain, especially with Leah in our car and Annabelle and Violet in Heather’s car (I wouldn’t go over 60 or 65 mph), I let Heather win. Otherwise, she would have sped up to be in front. Winning made Heather happy. Oh well, I want my kids to be happy! (Maybe next time, it won’t rain and I can beat her there!)

I had booked our reservations online to get a discount price for our mini-vacation. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel At the Arch, which was just a few minutes’ walk from the arch. I highly recommend this hotel for your stay in Saint Louis. The accommodations were nice. Below is a picture of the hotel room that Heather, Leah, Annabelle, and Violet stayed in.

Heather’s and girls’ room at Saint Louis hotel

The room Ray and I stayed in had a balcony which gave a beautiful view of the city and of the Mississippi River, especially at night.

City of St Louis at night

Even though we’d had dinner earlier, Ray was still hungry when we arrived in Saint Louis. Heather and the girls went to their room to go to sleep. First Ray and I went downstairs to the lobby and had some drinks, talking. The city was alive, unlike the small town of Butler, where we live, which shuts everything down between 6 and 9 p.m. It was raining softly outside and it looked beautiful through the glass patio doors.

Rain outside glass windows, St Louis, MO

In the lobby I saw a guy wearing a funny t-shirt. Ray and I talked with him and found out his name was Donivan. The t-shirt had a picture of a groom and a bride, and underneath it was the caption, “THE END.” He said his cousin had given it to him for his bachelor party prior to his wedding as a joke present. He insisted that he really loved his bride and couldn’t wait to marry her. I had to get a picture of it for my blog.

The End funny t-shirt

Ray ordered an anchovy and pepperoni pizza at midnight, which we ate in our room and spent some much needed “alone time” together.

Anchovy pizza in St Louis

Then we watched half of a movie on his Kindle Fire, Where The Heart Is, about a pregnant 17-year-old girl being abandoned by her boyfriend and she begins living in a Walmart at night. She keeps tabs on how much she owes Walmart for everything she’s using (chocolate milk, food, sleeping bag, etc.). She has the baby in the Walmart, becoming an instant celebrity in the media. Eventually she becomes a photographer and marries the man who rescued her when she had her baby in Walmart. They marry in the Walmart. Ray rarely watches “chic flics” with me, so I considered this an achievement for our marriage. (He prefers sci-fi or action movies where things are exploding, there’s some serious weapons with men shooting, stabbing, or somehow killing each other, and people are in high speed chases.)

Ray and I had hoped to wake up the next morning, enjoying a hot cup of coffee together in a quiet room, enjoying the balcony view. Bright and early, though, Annabelle and Violet ran a few doors down the hall, pounding on our hotel door. “Nana! Papa! We want to see the balcony!”

So of course, everyone had to get a picture on the balcony. Leah was excited to use her new Nikon camera that we bought her for her high school graduation.

Annabelle, Leah, and Violet on balcony

Here is sweet, beautiful Leah on the balcony. You can see the Mississippi River and the city in the background.

Leah on balcony in St Louis

Here is beautiful Heather and her two precious girls, Violet and Annabelle, on the balcony.

Violet, Heather & Annabelle on balcony, St Louis

Ray and I also took our picture on the balcony. This is a rare photo of Ray SMILING in a picture! Ray hates taking pics, because when he was in elementary school, a cruel school photographer told him, ”Don’t smile when you take your picture, kid. It looks stupid.” So you will almost never see Ray smiling in pics. I’m glad he’s smiling. He looks GREAT smiling!

Me and Ray on balcony, St Louis

After we ate the breakfast we’d brought of fresh fruit, blueberry bagels and blueberry cream cheese (the hotel does not provide breakfast, unfortunately), we walked to the arch, just a few minutes’ away. Here is Ray leading us to the arch.

Ray leading, St Louis arch

Heather previously had warned me that Annabelle was going to freak out when she saw the arch and refuse to go up it (a fear of heights). That is exactly what happened. As soon as Annabelle saw how big and tall the arch was, she immediately began SCREAMING in panic.

We finally calmed her down on the sidewalk, but it started up again just before we went up the tram to the top. Ray had what we call in the south “a good talkin’ to” Annabelle, explaining this was her mommy’s birthday treat – didn’t she want mommy to be happy for her birthday? I think the only thing that really calmed Annabelle down was the souvenir of a toy arch in the gift shop. Violet opted for a more elegant souvenir – a tiny replica of the arch inside crystal glass. Leah the artist bought beautiful, vibrantly-colored coasters which had a picture of the arch on them. Heather bought a keychain with a picture of the arch, which had three different colors on it, representing her, Annabelle, and Violet. The trip – a mini-vacation – was mine and Ray’s souvenir! (I did get a postcard for me and my sister Maria.)

The arch is enormous, standing at 630 feet tall. It is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S. It is called the “Gateway to the West,” built as a monument to the westward expansion of the U.S. Construction began in February 1963 and ended October 1965, costing $13 million U.S. Dollars at the time.

Arch, Saint Louis, MO

We bought tickets for the “Journey to the Top.” There is a limited number of people in each capsule, so we had to split up. Ray suggested I go with Heather to help her with calming down Annabelle who was still scared.

Below you see the tiny door to the capsule to the tram that goes up to the top of the arch. It takes about four minutes to go up, and about three minutes to come down. The ride isn’t very fast, but it is a little bumpy.

Heather and Leah are both a little scared of heights, but they did great. So did Violet, who is younger than Annabelle. I distracted Annabelle during the ride by giving her mints and talking to her about details of the arch. I am so proud of all of them for going up the arch! It’s a great way to conquer your fear of heights (or claustrophobia as the capsule is small!).

Door to tram at arch, St Louis

Heather and Violet inside the tram

Heather and Violet inside tram, arch

Heather and Annabelle inside the tram

Annabelle and Heather inside tram, arch

Here are Leah and Ray at the top of the arch! Leah loved it and enjoyed taking pics of the great view with her new camera. You can see the tiny windows they have at the top for you to look out at the city of Saint Louis.

Leah and Ray at top of arch

Here are Heather, Violet, Ray and Leah at the top of the arch

Heather, Ray, and Leah at top of arch

Here I am at the top of the arch. I felt so happy; I love traveling, going new places and doing fun, new things!

Beth Jones, top of arch, St. Louis

Here’s a view of Saint Louis from the top of the arch. You can see the Historic Old Courthouse, the site of the famous Dred Scott lawsuit, fighting for his and his wife’s freedom from slavery. (He won the case.)

Historic Old Courthouse- site of Dred Scott case, top of arch

Here is a shot of the Mississippi River from the top of the arch. Pretty cool, huh?

Mississippi River, view from top of St Louis arch

View of the city from top of the arch. You can see the football stadium in the background of this pic. I love the skyscraper buildings!

View of Saint Louis from top of arch

Annabelle and Violet loved the top of the arch! They enjoyed looking out the little windows and seeing the great view of the city.

Here are me and Leah when we came down the arch in the tram.

Me and Leah in tram, arch, St Louis

After we visited the arch, we went to The Hill, a quaint Italian section in Saint Louis. I loved it here, and could’ve stayed for several hours, walking around. We ate at an Italian restaurant that one of Heather’s friends recommended called Zia’s. It is the best Italian food I’ve ever eaten. Leah and I had fettucine alfredo, Heather had the special (a pasta dish with chicken), Ray had spaghetti carbonara, and the girls shared spaghetti and meatballs. The restaurant was extremely crowded, but had a nice atmosphere and wonderful service.

First they served us warm bread, which you can dip in oil and parmesan cheese.

Bread with oil, Zia’s Italian Restaurant

The salad that Ray, Heather and I ordered was a meal in itself!

Salad at Zia’s Italian Restaurant

Below is a pic of the delicious fettucine alfredo that Leah and I both ordered. Mmmm, delicious!

Fettucine alfredo at Zia’s Italian Restaurant

Annabelle and Violet loved their spaghetti and meatballs!

Spaghetti and meatballs at Zia’s

After we ate, the girls wanted to go to the bakery and get a “snack.” There are several in the area, but this particular one was very crowded. They had everything from doughnuts and cakes to baklava.

Now we needed to decide what to do, that was either free or reasonably priced! We opted to go to the Saint Louis zoo. It is free, but they do charge for special exhibits like feeding and touching the stingrays. They have huge rocks at the entrance, that Annabelle and Violet loved climbing on.

After we went in, we were rained out, but at least we got a few good pics. Violet didn’t care about the rain; she just sang and danced in it! Is it time for you to start singing in the rain?

Saint Louis zoo entrance

Here is one of the staff members feeding the penguins.

Staff feeding penguins at St Louis zoo

Here was one of the cute prairie dogs. Leah really liked these.

Prairie dog at St Louis zoo

This was a strange looking creature called a sloth bear, with very long, front claws.

Sloth bear at St Louis zoo

Overall, it was a FUN family trip. Heather felt loved and blessed for hers and Annabelle’s birthdays. God provided all we needed for this trip, and we had a great time. I’m so thankful God provided for us to go.

Our daughter Heather

What has been one of your favorite family trips? Share in the comments below.

Like A Skyscraper

Beth Jones — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:35:59 +0000

Skyscraper buildings – St. Louis

This weekend when our family traveled to Saint Louis, we saw many skyscraper buildings. And when we stayed at the Crowne Hotel by the Arch, our room was located on the 23rd floor, almost the top of the building! The view of the city of Saint Louis, so alive at night, and of the Mississippi River was incredible from our hotel room balcony.

Today I heard a song that my friend Amanda Taylor posted on Facebook, “Skyscraper.” I LOVE this song! I believe it is a song that is anointed by God. It is encouraging and empowering!

For those of you who don’t know, I was sexually and physically abused as a child, and my daughter and I were battered in my second marriage. I’ve been hurt by people all my life. Sometimes the ones who hurt me the most were Christians, leaders in the church, friends – and even those closest to me!

Since I was a little girl, I’ve had people all my life trying to break and crush me, making me feel as if I was nothing. Unloved. Unwanted. Unworthy of anything good.

At times I felt as if I was made of glass or paper, as Demi Lovato sings in this fierce song. The abuse shattered me. But God has done an incredible amount of healing in my life. Then as only God can do, He turned the situation around 180 and He began using me to minister to people who had been hurt like I’d been hurt, to heal them. Because that is the kind of God He is! God is amazing!

As Jarrid Wilson shared on Facebook today, God uses broken people to bring hope to a broken world. I am Jesus’ living proof!

Through Christ, I will be rising from the ground! I overcome everything through His power and His Spirit in me!

I’m going to share more of my story and talk about how you can still fulfill your great purpose and destiny, no matter what painful things have happened in your life, in my upcoming, fall Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process class. To learn more and to save your spot today, just click here.

Sometimes it will seem as if people enjoy seeing you bleed and hurt. Don’t let them win. You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ. He is your victor. The battle belongs to the Lord.

Like a skyscraper, you will be rising from the ground!

Let me know what you think of this song. Again, I LOVE it! Thanks, Amanda!

Video – Skyscraper by Demi Lovato

5 Life Tips From the St. Louis Arch (blog)

Beth Jones — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:00:48 +0000

Me at the top of the arch – 630 feet tall!
This weekend my family and I traveled to St. Louis, MO, to go on the “Journey to the Top” of the Saint Louis arch. Here are 5 life tips from the St. Louis Arch that I learned and want to share with you. You can also see the video I made today about these 5 tips here.

5 Life Tips from the St. Louis Arch

1. Go The Distance. We had to drive 4 1/2 hours from Kansas City to Saint Louis. To see someplace new, to accomplish new things, you have to get moving or you are going to be stuck in the same place. You have to take action and you have to persevere and refuse to quit. You have to go the distance if you are married; marriage is hard work. You have to go the distance if you’re a parent, growing in love, wisdom, and patience. You have to go the distance in your health, eating good foods, drinking lots of water, and exercising. You have to go the distance in your business, doing what it takes to succeed with vision, hard work, and persistence. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Go the distance.

2. There’s going to be a little rain. We have had a severe drought here in Missouri for the last several months. It’s been terrible! The grass has withered and is yellow and brittle, the leaves are dying and falling off the trees. But on the way to St. Louis, it rained cats and dogs! We had to slow down, and couldn’t go as fast as we wanted, arriving late at night. I’m like a racehorse rarin’ to go, and God often teaches me patience by things happening slower than I’d like. (It seems to me that God is VERY slow!) But even with the “rain” in life, you don’t completely stop. You keep driving. The rain made it hard to see out the windshield sometimes. We’re going to face obstacles and distractions in our life sometimes, that makes our vision a little blurry, but keep driving. Don’t quit. Don’t let the rain in life – obstacles, distractions, stress – stop you from your destination.

3. There’s a price. We had to spend money to go on this trip. We had to pay for our hotel room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Arch, pay the ticket fees to go up to the top of the arch, and pay for the delicious Italian food at Zia’s Italian restaurant where we ate lunch. There’s a price for the anointing of God on your life; it’s called obedience. Because of the anointing and high calling on your life, you’ll be misunderstood at times. You’ll face criticism and be judged. It can be a lonely walk. But God promises that He will never leave or forsake you. Follow Jesus! There is a price for a successful business; it requires a big learning curve, hard work, and developing strong people skills. There’s a price for a good marriage and parenting well. You need to be loving, forgiving, and unselfish. There’s a price for being single; it’s loneliness. There’s a price to pay for the important things in life.

4. Take a risk and be brave. To get to the top of the arch, you have to wait in line first and then go into a tiny capsule on the tram. You have to face and overcome feelings of claustrophobia or especially a fear of heights. The ride going up is a little bumpy and scary. There’s a risk the tram might get stuck or the arch could collapse. But it’s worth all the risks when you get to the top of the arch. You have to take risks and be courageous to have a successful business. If your dream is to be married, you have to take a risk saying “I do” to that man or woman who might wind up breaking your heart. If you desire to have children, you need courage and strength during labor and delivery of that precious, little baby. If you want your life to be different and happier, you have to take risks and be brave.

5. Enjoy the view. Once you get to the top of the St. Louis arch, the view is incredible on a clear day. You can see for miles. You see the skyscraper buildings, the football stadium, the Historic Old Courthouse, the beautiful church, the river, the cute little chugboats. While you’re on the ground, you have a limited view. When you go to the top, you get a different, much bigger perspective. Go higher in your walk with God; obey Him. Go higher in your marriage; strengthen and work on it. Go higher in parenting; develop a closer relationship with your children. Go higher in your business; take risks, learn more, step out in faith. Most of all, enjoy the view. Enjoy your life; do things to be happy. Enjoy the blessings God has given you every day and be thankful. Enjoy your life and have fun. Take time out to relax and do new things. Go new places. Meet new people. Live a full life; really live and enjoy your life.

These are 5 life tips from the St. Louis arch. I hope you’ve enjoyed them and they were helpful to you. I’d love to know what you think. Please leave your comments below.

Copyright 2012 Beth Jones

Beth Jones is a Christian speaker, author, life coach, wife, and mom of 3 beautiful daughters. She resides in Kansas City, MO. Her mission is equipping women to hear God’s voice, unlock their gifts, and pursue their passion. You can find out more about Beth’s products, services, and events at www.BethJones.net.

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5 Life Tips from St. Louis Arch

Beth Jones — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:02:16 +0000

This weekend my family and I went up to the top of the arch in Saint Louis, MO. It was my second time going up and my family’s first, and we had a blast. I have 5 life tips to share with you from my trip. Just click on the video below.

Video – 5 Life Tips From St. Louis Arch.

Patience produces virtue

Beth Jones — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:38:57 +0000

Last Thursday morning, I turned on my laptop and saw the computer black screen of death and words on the screen to the effect of “corrupted hard drive.” (Always have a back-up. My most important info was, thank God!)

Ray knows a lot more about computers than I do, but even he couldn’t fix this. With serious misgivings, I sent my laptop into the shop, trying to patiently wait things out. I could do life without my laptop, right?

I should have listened to my gut on this one! Not having my computer ~~forced~~ helped me to clean the house, organize closets, and get things ready for the city wide garage sale in a couple of weeks.

But I’ve been having SERIOUS laptop withdrawals….and I have NOT passed this test well, because the man at the computer repair shop working on it:

promised it back last Friday

made me wait over an hour in the shop one day, only to finally tell me that it was NOT going to be ready that afternoon. My time is VALUABLE! Why didn’t he tell me that to begin with?

told me numerous times it was going to be ready by a certain time, and then it wasn’t

charged $100 more than he told me it was going to cost

and worst of all, talked to me about BORING computer stuff in which I have NO interest at ALL!

Smart phones are wonderful, but it’s a lot harder and much more time-consuming to blog a post or write articles on a little phone…so that’s why it’s been a little quiet around here at www.BethJones.net.

This week I also over-extended my elbow working out my upper arms with dumb bells, and I’ve been in a lot of physical pain all week long. So much for toned upper arms.

Yes, I’m being tested in patience again, which is producing virtue IF I allow it.

Can’t wait for God’s finished product in me!

How has YOUR week been?

Also, what do you use for backing up your data – Carbonite, Mozy, or something else and why? Please say hi and leave your comments below!

“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

^3-5There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!”

When You’re In Transition

Beth Jones — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:56:24 +0000

Woman in labor (transition)

It’s back to school time now for many families, and we’re also entering a new season, fall ~ my favorite time of year!

The change in seasons is often a welcome one. But sometimes change isn’t always easy.

I am there now. I’m in a BIG and VERY DIFFICULT transition period. Our youngest daughter Leah just graduated from our homeschool (high school). This means that homeschooling is ending, after over 15 years of homeschooling our children. “Homeschooling mom” was my identity for a long time. I am in transition.

Transition in pregnancy is the last part of active labor, when the cervix dilates from 8 cm to a full 10 cm. It’s called transition because it marks the shift to the second stage of labor.

Transition is the most intense part of labor, with very strong contractions coming every 2 1/2 to 3 minutes apart.

During transition, the mother may shiver, throw up – or yell at her husband or her coach! The woman may feel the urge to push before she’s fully dilated.

It may be helpful for the woman to be massaged during this time, to have a cool cloth placed on the forehead, or to have a comforting, warm compress on her back. Other mothers need all distractions eliminated to be able to focus getting through this period.

The woman needs to be reminded that she’s doing a good job and that the baby will arrive soon.

She just wants the pain to stop!

With Leah graduating and homeschooling ending, it’s hard for me. It hurts. I just want the pain to stop.

But it’s a new season for her and me.

As I shared at Leah’s graduation ceremony, despite this difficult transition, I believe that this new chapter of our lives is going to be a good one because God is good. He has pleasant surprises in store for us both.

Tips for an Easier Transition

If you are in a hard transition stage, I want to encourage you with these tips for an easier transition time:

It’s going to be okay. How many times has my husband Ray told me this when I’m going through a hard time, and yet it always encourages me and make me feel better! You are going to get through this. This too shall pass. You’re going to be okay!

Allow yourself to grieve. I homeschooled for over 15 years, and loved it. I didn’t love every single minute of it, of course (some days I wanted to run away to the beach!), but mostly I enjoyed it and loved spending time with our kids. I am going to miss homeschooling, and am grieving that it’s over. Allow yourself to fully feel the painful feelings of the grief, to embrace the loss. In 1969 Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief and in her last book before her death, she said of these stages, “They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grieving is as individual as our lives.” Life and feelings are messy. My husband Ray and others don’t really understand what I’m going through emotionally right now with this grieving process about homeschooling being over. Others may not get what you’re going through either. That’s okay. God does.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. A lot of times, when we’re in transition, we want to know the future – exactly what is going to happen ahead. God often gives us just enough light on the path for our next step, and not any further. That way we learn to have faith and trust Him, and not in ourselves. If you’re like me, you have an over-analytical mind and want to know everything. As my friend Suzy Bunton texted me yesterday, “Just relax. You don’t have to have it all figured out.” Stop trying to figure everything out! Give your tomorrows and their cares to God. They’re in His capable, loving Hands.

Get support. In transition in labor, the woman might need a light touch massage or words of encouragement that she’s doing a great job. In transition periods in life, when you are feeling scared or lost, it might help to go on a date and talk with your spouse, go out to lunch with a friend and pour out your heart, or counsel with a pastor, a mentor, or a coach. Surround yourself with positive, faith-filled people who will be a support and an encouragement to you. The best is yet to come!

Identify your needs. During transition, many women want to just give up. They may say, “I can’t do this” or “I need something.” They might feel out of control or want medication. During transitions in life, sometimes we feel we can’t get through it. We may feel overwhelmed, out of control, angry, discouraged, or depressed. One of my friends recently packed up her family after buying many acres of land in a different state, with plans to build a new home there – only for every bank they asked to turn them down for the home construction loan. They now have to go back to the state they left and rent another house until things change. It was quite discouraging. Find out what your needs are during this transition time. Do you need encouraging words? Prayer? Your spouse’s extra attention? More time with your girlfriends? Additional rest and sleep? More down time relaxing?

Get the sacred space you need. Sometimes in labor, the woman doesn’t want anyone touching her or saying anything to her. She just needs emotional and physical space to labor. In life’s transitions, you may need a sacred space to be alone. Find a quiet place of rest to pray, to listen to worship or other music you enjoy, to journal, to drink a latte’, or to take a walk in beautiful nature and just think. Get refilled.

Transitions are never easy. They stretch us. They challenge our faith. They stir up fears, worries, stress, and other emotions. But they are necessary for ours and others’ growth.

This next season in your life is going to be good. Because God is. You’ll see.

Not in his goals but in his transitions is man great. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Leah’s Graduation with pics

Beth Jones — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:28:07 +0000

Leah Jones – The Graduate

On Friday night on August 17, Ray and I hosted our youngest daughter Leah’s high school graduation ceremony and party.

God’s presence was there, family and friends attended, and Leah and her friends had fun at the party and bowling after the ceremony and party at Aaron’s Family Fun Center. Leah was also happy that she wracked up gifts of money and gift cards, and she loves the gift that Ray and I got her – a NICE Nikon camera.

Leah has loved to color and draw since she was a toddler. Several years ago, Ray bought Leah a graphic art tablet that hooks up to her desktop computer. She loves it and uses it every day to draw.

As a special surprise for her and to display at Leah’s graduation her incredible talent as a completely self-taught artist, I had some of her art work blown up and put on faux canvasses. We hung it up in her room last night.

Her art talent is a gift from God and I believe art is somehow part of her future. But she will need to hear God’s voice for herself. She is praying about her next step. Right now after graduating, Leah is just going to take a break from studies and just focus on having FUN!

A grateful heart

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have homeschooled Heather and Leah. I will cherish the sweet memories! I encourage you that if you are a homeschooling parent, to savor these precious moments in homeschooling. The time passes so fast. It will be over in no time.

Be sure to set down the books sometimes and just go have fun on field trips and road trips. Pack a picnic lunch for the park. Learn new languages and cook or eat ethnic foods. Celebrate each holiday with crafts, shopping, baking. Go to the zoo, the museums, the beach, the mountains, the nature walks, the water parks, the historical sites, the hands-on science exhibits, the movies. Have FUN; make good memories!

Below are some pics of her graduation.

Leah’s favorite color is blue, so we used blue colors for her cap, gown, diploma holder, cake border, and our family dressed in blue for pics. Enjoy!

The cake

Leah’s graduation cake

Basket for her cards

Basket for Leah’s cards

Blue Diploma Holder, with scripture Psalm 119:105 inscribed in gold lettering. It’s beautiful. We ordered this from HSLDA.

Leah’s blue diploma holder

Leah’s diploma. We ordered this also from HSLDA, in a summer package with her cap, gown, and tassel.

Leah’s diploma.

Leah’s blue cap, gown, and tassel

Leah Jones’ graduation -in her blue cap, gown, and tassel

Heather and Leah

Leah’s graduation – her sister Heather and Leah

Eden and Leah

Leah’s graduation – her sister Eden and Leah

Our family after the graduation ceremony

Leah’s graduation – Our family

We rented a room at Belton Recreation Center for two hours. This was NOT enough time, with Ray and me both speaking and all I had scheduled for this event – several songs from YouTube, the finger foods and cake to eat, prayer for Leah for God’s direction and blessing upon her, just hanging out with our friends. Below are family and friends who attended the graduation ceremony and party. Ray, in the far left corner at the podium in the blue shirt, is about to give the welcome to everyone.

Leah’s graduation – family and friends

More people came than we expected - a good problem! We had to get an extra table and chairs.

Leah’s graduation – more family and friends

Heather was such a big help: helping me decorate, cut the cake, take videos and pics. Leah and I had picked out some video songs on YouTube to play at her ceremony. The rec center found a projector for us, that Ray and our friend Dave Christian hooked up to my laptop, for us to play the videos on a big screen for easier viewing. This was SUCH a blessing! You can see the big screen behind Heather (getting her camera ready).

Leah’s graduation- Heather helping me

We took Leah and the teens/kids to Aaron’s Family Fun Center afterward for them to bowl a game.

Here I am in my new dress and wrap and wedge shoes at the bowling alley.

Heather and my friend Diane called me a “hot mama.” LOL!

Leah’s graduation party – me at bowling alley at Aaron’s Family Fun Center

Leah and her friend David Christian at bowling alley

Leah’s graduation party – David Christian and Leah

Leah and friends after graduation party at the bowling alley at Aaron’s Family Fun Center:

Leah’s graduation -Leah, Annabelle Denney, Nicole Ruhter, Morgan Ruhter, Rachel Zacharias. Second table in background: Nicholas Ruhter, David Christian, Mariah Zacharias, Aaron Christian.

Leah and friends bowling

Leah’s graduation – Nicholas Ruhter, Mariah Zacharias

Leah and friends at the bowling alley after graduation party

Leah’s graduation -Aaron Christian, Morgan Ruhter, Nicholas Ruhter

Our good friend Dave Christian and Ray at bowling alley.

Leah’s graduation – Dave Christian and Ray Jones

Dave and his son Aaron, who loves to cut up and joke around

Leah’s graduation – our friend Dave Christian and his son Aaron

Leah’s graduation gift from Ray and me – a NICE Nikon camera.

She’s been having fun taking pics with it. Now, where did she get that from?

Leah’s graduation gift – a Nikon camera

One of the videos we played at Leah’s graduation – POWERFUL AND ANOINTED!

I asked Leah to share some of her favorite songs for me to play at her graduation ceremony. One that she selected was Bourne Vivaldi by The Piano Guys. I was surprised that Leah liked this because of her age (a lot of teens don’t like classical music!), but then again I wasn’t surprised because she is an artist and so creative – so naturally something so beautiful would appeal to her.

I felt this video and song was prophetic over her life – its beauty and creativity, the piano (Leah wants to learn to play), the lake that the train went by on the rail (water is symbollic of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit), and the mountains in the distance that the train is going toward at the end of the video (mountains are spiritually symbollic of high places in the Spirit). These men and this song and video are SO anointed by God – POWERFUL! Just click here to listen.

I was also so blessed by the words of encouragement and the scriptures our friends gave Leah as we prayed for her after the ceremony, for God’s guidance and direction for her life and His blessing and protection upon her. Thanks so much to all of you who came to support Leah and to celebrate with her and us for her great achievement!

Leah, we love you and are so proud of you. Congrats!

God has a great plan for your life.

Do not underestimate yourself. You are going to do incredible things for His glory.

You are a beautiful (inside and out), smart, multi-gifted, funny, precious young woman!

Leah Jones

Brave movie and Leah’s homeschool graduation tonight

Beth Jones — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:09:57 +0000

Merida with bow and arrow, Brave movie

“If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?” – Merida, Brave movie

Yesterday I was wracking my brain, trying to think of something FUN that Leah and I could do for a field trip for her last homeschool day before she graduates tonight. I had googled Missouri, Kansas, homeschool field trips, events, you name it. We’ve been to so many places in Kansas City NUMEROUS times, such as the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, the Kansas City Zoo, Science City, Union Station, Powell Gardens, etc.

What could we do that was different and which would make Leah smile big and have a sweet good memory of our last day homeschooling? I wanted to end homeschooling on a great note. Then the idea came to me: go to the animated Brave movie and then eat lunch out afterward!

It was God-inspired.

Excellent movie! I highly recommend it. And Leah really liked it. The story is of a girl with flowing red hair on the thresh of womanhood named Merida, who is a Scottish princess and an aspiring, skilled archer. She protests against the expectations of royalty’s tradition (marrying a suitable lord after a sports competition for her hand),

Merida makes a reckless, foolish choice to try to change her mother the queen (who has been training and preparing her for years to be a “proper” princess and for marriage), and her rash decision results in chaos and near destruction of the kingdom.

I loved red-haired, high-spirited Merida, her big black horse, the beautiful scenery in Scotland, the Scottish music, the spiritual symbollism of archery (prayer, intercession, prophecy), the humor, and the realistic story of a relationship between a girl and her mother. The movie is about the importance of family and of a young woman creating her own destiny, which I felt was an appropriate theme for Leah’s graduation tonight.

Leah is a lot like Merida – strong-willed, independent, passionate. I laughed at the frown on Merida’s face when her mother would say things like, “A lady does not place her weapon on the table” and “Princesses don’t bite into their apples.” Despite my attempts at “training” Leah, she often insists on her way about doing things, choosing a new path.

When the queen helped Merida to dress for the special occasion of the suitors’ games, Merida felt restricted in her tight dress and headdress and she gasped, “I can’t breathe!” “You look perfect!” the queen said. Seeing her daughter’s discomfort and misery in the dress, she admonished as she left the room, ‘Just remember to smile.”

Tears sprang to my eyes several times during the movie as I recognized Leah and myself in the daughter and the mother characters, as Merida ran her black horse (reminding me of Leah’s horseback riding and horse show winner days), and as she used her gift – her bow and arrow against an enraged black bear (the ancient prince Mor’du).

As I watched Leah smiling at times through the movie, I prayed a prayer of thanks to God for leading us to this movie to close out her homeschool years. I also felt it was prophetic for her life – the bow and arrows, the horse, the blazing of her own trail.

Ride like the wind, Leah. Touch the sky. And remember to smile.

Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one’s destiny intertwines with many others. It’s the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led. – Brave movie (Pixar)

Video of Touch the Sky (Julie Fowlis)

Only You can see my destiny…because my life is Yours now

Beth Jones — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 05:47:12 +0000

Hey! I heard this beautiful, encouraging song the other day in the car, and wanted to share it with you. Listen to the lyrics: “Only You can see my destiny…because my life is Yours now…I want to lift you higher.”

Soak it in. Enjoy.

Video – Banner of Love by Luminate

Women’s Battles Radio Show replay: Kristine McGuire

Beth Jones — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 02:19:07 +0000

Kristine McGuire

Today’s Women’s Battles Radio Show with my guest Kristine McGuire was powerful. Kristine is a speaker and author of the book Escaping The Cauldron, which you can pre-order now at her website. On today’s show, Kristine shared her incredible story of how God delivered her from the occult as a witch, a medium, and a ghost hunter.

After she spoke, we had a Q & A time, discussing this topic more in depth. If you missed this anointed show, you can still listen to the recording replay.

Just click here. It is Episode # 32.

Please let me know what you think about the show. Have you been involved in the occult or do you know someone who has? Jesus came to set the captives free. Just leave your comments below.

A (former) homeschooling mom

Beth Jones — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:33:11 +0000

Leah Jones, Kansas City fountains

I haven’t been blogging lately because I’ve been too busy living life. The last two weeks I’ve been running around like crazy, getting things ready for Leah’s homeschool graduation, which I am so dreading! Everything is almost done now. I’ve missed you, though!

I’m still crying a lot. Yes, STILL. Every time I see school supplies. Yesterday Leah and I went on our last homeschooling week‘s field trip (do you feel my agony from writing that?) to eat at Fritz’s Restaurant where they deliver your cheeseburgers and fries by a little whistling train and to explore Crown Center in Kansas City.

Leah’s less-than-enthusiastic response to Fritz’s was typical teen disdain: “This is for BABIES, mom!” I wanted to say, ‘You ARE my baby!” but I knew that would go over like a lead balloon and I’d get the rolled eyes, which she has down to an art. Besides, I liked the little train!

After we ate, we left (without the train engineer paper hat) to walk around Crown Center. When I saw the Crayola Store, I became teary-eyed again. I know, grow up, right?

That’s the problem. Growing up happens way too fast. Why don’t we ever notice while it’s happening?

For so long I’ve had the identity of “homeschool mom”…homeschooling for over 15 years now. How do I suddenly let it go? Or at least it seems sudden.

Yes, I have done other things in life. For the last 1 1/2 years. I started an online business for my Speaking and Book Writing. (I’ve also been an editor and personal assistant to the CEO of a national organization, a pizza maker making an average of 30 to 60 pizzas on Friday and Saturday nights, a flight attendant, an executive secretary doing transcription/word processing for 7 executives, a waitress many times, a newspaper featured news/police beat reporter, and a J.C. Penny catalog clerk.)

It’s not like I’m an empty-shell person, a non-person, that I’ve stopped existing just because I had children or started homeschooling our kids. I am my ~~own worst enemy~~ my own person, not just wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend.

God wants us to use our gifts for His glory. He doesn’t want us wives and moms to have totally child-centered homes, for our identities to be completely wrapped up in our kids until they leave home. It’s not healthy for our children, our marriages, or ourselves as women.

BUT I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!

When I shared my feelings with some friends this week, they joked that I could find other children to homeschool. Yes, just go to the mall and ask some random child and her mother if they mind if I take her home and can begin to homeschool her.

One friend of mine admitted she had struggled a lot, too, when homeschooling ended: “Yes, I grieved over leaving homeschooling. I STILL miss it and it’s been several years!! God started planting the seed of leaving it a couple years earlier cause He knew I would have trouble leaving it, too.”

Another friend, who’s been homeschooling for 14 years and still has a 3-year-old whom she intends to homeschool until high school graduation, had a different view about the final homeschool year: “Let’s see, I’ll be 60 years old when I’m done. YEP, I will DEFINITELY be ready to stop by then!”

Seriously, this ache inside me is BIG. What’s a girl to do when she can’t homeschool any more? I LOVE homeschooling. What am I gonna’ do now?

Here’s just a few things I have on my homeschooling-is-forever-over list:

Rise up and not regret. Remember and cherish the happy, fun times. Be thankful for the privilege of homeschooling.

Keep dreaming big for me, Ray, our kids, and grandkids. Good things are around the corner!

Have fun and laugh a lot.

Strive to please God (not man) in all I do, say, and think!

Start letting go and watch Leah learn to soar on her own.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Try to make myself believe this list.

As my sister Maria and our daughter Heather told me, it’s not like Leah will stop learning new things just because she’s graduating or we can’t still do fun things. We can still go on fun field trips.

Maybe this is even a brand-new, even funner chapter in our lives.

Just putting the books down and going on a road trip (letting Leah drive, now that she has her driver’s license!)….until the day she drives away, all on her own.

Now I’ve got tears again…

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” ~ Coco Chanel

Have you ever gone through a time like this where your identity was changing? Please leave your comments below.

Women’s Battles Radio Show With Kristine McGuire

Beth Jones — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:32:47 +0000

Kristine McGuire
I’m so excited and humbled about my guest on today’s Women’s Battles Radio Show – Kristine McGuire, author of Escaping the Cauldron.

The show is at 11 a.m. Central (12 p.m. Eastern).

We’d love for you to join us in the chat room today. Just click here.

Or you can call into the show with the call in details below:

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698
PIN: 1 # or Your Talkshoe PIN.

See you there!

Gabby as a CHRISTIAN role model

Beth Jones — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 20:40:43 +0000

Eyes have been glued to the t.v. to watch the Olympics this month, and Gabby Douglas has won America’s heart as she leapt into history as the first American athlete to win the prestigious team gold and the all-around gold medal in the same Olympics. The New York Times reports that Gabby wants to be a role model for minorities (possibly for her sponsor Kelloggs as an outreach in minor communities and possibly for her to take part in Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to promote exercise). But Gabby is already being a role model to young people as a CHRISTIAN. She is giving God all the glory for her achievements!

After her win, Gabby Douglas told NBC, “It is everything I thought it would be; being the Olympic champion, it definitely is an amazing feeling. And I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him and the blessings fall down on me.”

This is so exciting to me! Praise God He is using this tiny teenage girl and her talent in this incredible way!

I am praying for God’s protection over her from becoming a target of hate and criticism, after seeing the backlash against Christian football quarterback Tim Tebow for his open declaration of faith in Jesus.

God wants to use you and the gifts and talents inside of you for His glory, too! Click here to learn more about my upcoming 5-week, virtual G.I.F.T.S. Process.

Gabby, you are an inspiration to me and so many others! Our prayers are with you!

Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold winner

Get to know your people on a first name basis

Beth Jones — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 03:28:41 +0000

Tonight when I picked up my husband Ray at the hospital after he taught an EMT class, he wanted to go by a convenience store. While he was in there, I noticed that the store clerk was smiling big and talking to him animatedly. When Ray came back to the car, I asked what they had been talking about. Basically, chit-chat about Ray’s work.

Ray knew the store clerk’s name: Dave. And vice-versa. Just from the times Ray has stopped into the store and talked with him as he made his purchases. As a paramedic in the local community, Ray said, he likes to be acquainted with people on a first-name basis as much as possible. To get to know them and to make friends.

Isn’t that true for your online business? To get to know your fans, followers, “tribe,” “flock,” whatever name you choose to call them? To become friends with them?

They’re not just a number, or a subscriber, or a follower, or a peep on Twitter. They’re real people with needs, hurts, wants, dreams. Get to know them on a first-name basis.

Make new friends.

Chic-Fil-A Appreciation Day: Taking a stand

Beth Jones — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:08:11 +0000

Yes, I ate at Chic-Fil-A today. To take a stand for God’s Word and to stand for Chic-Fil-A President Dan Cathy’s freedom of speech when he told a Christian publication that “his company supports the Biblical definition of the family unit.”

I support it, too. I believe the Bible is God’s word and is truth.

That doesn’t mean that I judge or hate people who choose a gay lifestyle. (And yes, it’s a choice, not a gene.)

Nor do I think that calling a protestor of Chic-Fil-A “a moron,” like I saw happen today at Chic-Fil-A, is the right response to this issue. People can disagree without unkind name-calling.

But yes, today I stood for what I believe in: freedom of Speech and God’s word about marriage.

It was crowded and I had to wait in line. Then I wasn’t able to get a seat inside the restaurant with air-conditioning, and had to sit outside in the heat, right by the drive-through order box and a few feet away from the protestor standing by the curb with a sign.

One man who went through the drive-through asked, “What is going on here?” as he looked around at the unusual crowds. Apparently he hadn’t checked Facebook or Twitter lately.

The employee answered, “I have no idea, sir.”

News reports said that Chic-Fil-A executive vice president of marketing stated that Chic-Fil-A Appreciation Day was not created by Chic-Fil-A.

It was created by Mike Huckabee, encouraging Americans to go to Chic-Fil-A on August 1, to show their support of Cathy’s freedom of speech and of traditional marriage.

Christians supporting gays?

I was surprised to read posts on Facebook today from Christian women whom I know. They said they “support gay relationships and marriage.” Huh? Have they read their Bibles?

We can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible we’ll accept, and throw the rest out.

God’s Word is forever and established. It doesn’t change with the culture.

It’s not always “politically correct.”

They will know us by our Love

I also had to agree with one of my friends today, who posted on Facebook, “They will know you’re Christians by your LOVE…not whether or not you eat a chicken sandwich.”

As I teased her, “Yes, but the chicken sandwich sure was good!” (And it was delicious!)

God doesn’t hate gays

My friend is right about love. The Bible says we will be known as Jesus’ disciples by our love. (John 13:35)

God IS love. He doesn’t hate homosexuals or lesbians.

But He is holy and He has a standard of righteousness. (Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15)

We can choose to obey or to rebel to that standard of holiness.

In and of ourselves, we can’t obey God. We can’t be holy. We mess up every day, because we’ve inherited Adam’s sin nature.

I, for one, have been disobedient to God almost my entire life. It’s only been in the last several years that I truly repented of my sins, rededicated my life to God, and began passionately pursuing an intimate, daily relationship with Jesus. And I still struggle and will struggle with sin until I go to be home with Jesus. So I can’t possibly “judge” anyone for any sin.

But homosexuality and lesbianism are a sin, like any other sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) And these are not just Old Testament laws.

Everything is level at the Cross. Being judgmental and hateful are sins, too.

We all fall short of the glory of God, every day. (Romans 3:23)

That is why we need a relationship with Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the Cross and was raised from the dead, ascending to heaven, over 2,000 years ago. Through accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, we are reconciled to God and will live with Him forever. (Ephesians 1:7)

Do you know Jesus? Have you given your life to Him?

Once we are reconciled, we need to live in obedience to His word.

Even when it goes against the current culture.

Me enjoying Chic-Fil-A chicken sandwich and waffle fries today

And sometimes we will need to take a stand for what is right.

Teaching your eagle to soar

Beth Jones — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 23:18:22 +0000

Leah Jones

I’ve been crying a lot lately.

On Friday, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. CDT, we are having a ceremony/party for our daughter Leah. She is graduating from “high school” homeschool. I have homeschooled her since she was 3 years old, so this is a big, and emotionally difficult, transition for me. For years, my identity has been “homeschooling mom.”

My heart feels like it’s being ripped out when I walk past the aisles of school supplies in Walmart or see homeschool curriculum online. Barring a miracle, I won’t ever have another baby or be able to homeschool another child. Buying new school supplies and new school clothes was always one of the funnest parts of homeschooling.

I’m going through a grieving process.

Having to let go of Leah so she can “soar” into adulthood, like a young eaglet. Having to let go of homeschooling, which I love.

So I’ve cried a lot lately.

I haven’t always loved homeschooling

I confess, there have been days (weeks, months, even a couple of years!) where I haven’t always loved homeschooling. On some days I’ve wondered, “Am I CRAZY to do this?” It is challenging. Especially math!

Sometimes I would have preferred to send my kids off all day to school, while I went out to eat Mexican or shopped for new clothes whenever I felt like it. Let someone else teach them about verbs or fractions, while I pampered myself with a manicure! (I’ve actually only had one manicure in my entire life.)

Yet God told me to homeschool. And for the most part, it’s been an incredible privilege and joy:

Spending time every day with my kids. What greater gift is there in life?

Reading and studying the Bible and talking about Jesus freely each day

Watching a beautiful red cardinal in the tree outside the kitchen or den windows

Taking the day off to go to the Kansas City Nelson-Atkins Art Museum or the KC Contemporary Art Museum

Having picnics for lunch at the park

Walking on nature trails and drawing in nature notebooks

Jumping in the car in the middle of the week to go to the Kansas City zoo, when all the other poor kids were in school!

Picking your own pumpkin with kids from the homeschool co-op at Johnson’s Pumpkin Farm

Drinking fresh cider and eating cider doughnuts on a cool fall day at Dunn’s Cider Mill

Eating lunch at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant, where you order lunch by phone and are served your food by an overhead train

Seeing the treasures of the Steamboat Arabia, which rapidly sunk from a walnut tree trunk snag.

Flying to Florida to help our friends Pat and Kim with their kids, when they adopted their Chinese baby Hadassah, and getting to go to the beach in December

Encouraging our kids to use the great spiritual gifts God has deposited inside of them for His glory, as well as using their inate, God-given talents and skills

Other fun times.

I’ve ordered the graduation cake and Leah’s new cap, gown, and tassel from HSLDA. I’m preparing my speech (Ray and I both will speak at the ceremony). I created the event on Facebook to invite our family and our friends to celebrate with us.

It’s like grasping water

I’m trying to hold onto these last days of homeschooling before her ceremony, but it’s like trying to grasp water.

My heart is aching. Where did the years go?

You can’t hit rewind

I can’t hit rewind. There is no replay. This is it; it isn’t a dress rehearsal.

The years are gone. I’ve missed portions of her childhood when I’ve been too busy, too stressed out, too selfish.

WHY didn’t I realize how fast she would grow up? Why didn’t I recognize that one day our homeschool would end, and take more care to cherish the days homeschooling?

There are things I wish I could’ve done differently. Like put the books away more and go on more fun field trips. Less work, more play.

My sister Maria and our daughter Heather encouraged me that just because she is graduating, that doesn’t mean she will stop learning – or that we can’t do anything fun anymore.

We can still take fun field trips and fun road trips together. We can still spend time together. It’s not like she’s moving out of the house tomorrow. And even when she does fly the nest, she’ll sometimes fly home for a visit, like Heather and Eden do.

I have some painful regrets. I wish I’d savored spending time with her and homeschooling more. But I am extremely thankful to God for the opportunity to have homeschooled Leah.

God has great plans for her life – Jeremiah 29:11. Ray and I are eager to see those plans unfold.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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I still have a little time left to teach her some things. She’s the “baby” eaglet, the youngest child, the only one still at home, but if I try to shelter her too much and keep her in the comfort of the nest, it will cripple her for life.

I need to teach her to fly alone, on her own wings.

When she does, I will look on with great joy – but not let her see the tears on my face as she flies away into the open, blue sky.

Fly, Leah, fly. You were born to soar.

Image Resource: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you praying in trust and humility, or are you telling God how awesome you are?

Beth Jones — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:39:15 +0000

Kimberly Ehlers

I’m so excited because my precious friend Kimberly Ehlers is recording her anointed audios on prayer at her site called Faith Challenge Series. She’s been digging into God’s word and mining gold. She’s also having to walk out what God is teaching her right now, with her brother’s recent cancer diagnosis. (Scroll down below her video to read what Kimberly shared.) Praise God that Jesus is the Healer!

Her first audio is about praying with perseverance. I loved this one. If you’ve been praying about something for a long time, don’t stop! Your break-through is just around the corner.

The second audio Kim made is about praying and trusting God. Kimberly is excited about what God is showing her in His word, and encourages you to to move toward happiness, prosperity, and blessing if you are stuck in the muck of doubt, unhappiness, lack, and shame.

Kim challenges you: are you praying in faith and humility, or are you telling God how awesome you are, like the Pharisee did in Luke 18:9-14?

He doesn’t want us walking in pride OR beating ourselves up, but walking in humble, child-like faith in Him….praying and believing God for His best for you.

Kim gives you challenges to do each week with these audios. I encourage you to stop by her beautiful site and listen in on these wonderful, life-giving-water audios that Kimberly is offering you, absolutely free.

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To learn more about praying with persistence, just click herefor my 7-audio devotional series on prayer.

A new Pinterest follower: it’s an honor you’ve chosen to be in my space

Beth Jones — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:35:41 +0000

Today when I opened my email, I saw that I had another new follower on Pinterest.

My first thought was, “I’m really not doing anything on Pinterest!”

See, I’m a sporadic user, even though Pinterest is the fastest growing social media site and I better get to it!

But for some reason, this email made me pause.

Someone was following me. That means, technically, I’m leading.

What a humbling and awesome responsibility before God.

I know, I know, don’t be overly-dramatic. A Pinterest follower, big deal! It’s not like I have millions on followers on there…or anywhere!

But I don’t take it for granted. Neither should you.

Look at the definition of lead from the Online Dictionary:

to go before or show the way

to guide in direction, course, action, opinion

to influence.

If someone has signed up as a subscriber for your ezine at your website, you’re leading.

If you have peeps on Twitter, you’re leading.

If you have fans on Facebook, you’re leading.

If you have requests to connect on LinkedIn, you’re leading.

If you have a follower on the virtual crack Pinterest, you’re leading. (Just to avoid raised eyebrows here, I’ve never used crack. But I’ve read about people who became addicted to it and whose lives were ruined by it through their addiction. And Pinterest is so addictive…right now with 11.7 million unique monthly U.S. users!)

If you’re leading, you have a responsibility to be a Godly example to others.

To lead with integrity.

To be a brightly shining light to others in a dark world.

And to be humbled and thankful for the opportunity.

Sharing my heart here

I just want to tell you my readers, subscribers, peeps, fans, followers, and connections THANK YOU SO MUCH!

It’s an incredible honor that you’ve chosen to be in my space.

I don’t take it for granted.

I love you and am so grateful for you.

Nothing I do could be done without Jesus, without my family, and without you.

This morning I said a special prayer for you, for God to lead you, help you, and pour out His blessings on you.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”— John Quincy Adams

Image Resource: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you curious?

Beth Jones — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 04:51:25 +0000

Are you curious?

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiousity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

Several years ago, I attended the Upper CLASS professional speakers’ and writers’ training in Connecticut. The founder of CLASS, Florence Littauer, and her team critiqued each woman as she gave her presentation in front of our small group, praising her for what was good and giving her tips for how to improve it.

The weekend was encouraging, motivating, and inspiring. We were treated to delicious, elegant, home-cooked meals prepared by our hostess and her husband, were helped with a mission statement and a logo for our websites by Florence’s daughter, Marita, and were given a private consult with the great, legendary speaker/author Florence Littaeur.

It was one of the most powerful ministry/business times I’ve ever had in my life. Before we left to go home, Florence surprised and blessed each of us with a Curious George stuffed animal (pictured above), which I keep on my office desk and cherish. Florence told us to always be curious, always learn new things each day.

Are you a Curious George?

Are you teachable?

Are you learning? Did you learn something new today?

It’s important to learn new things each day – and then do things with what we’ve learned.

Leadership and organizational expert Stephen R. Covey, whose book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People sold more than 20 million copies, said, “…to learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.”

Here are 8 practical tips for learning new things:

Be teachable. Glean from others’ experience and those who are ahead where you want to be. Hire a business, finance, health/fitness, writing, or speaking coach or mentor – people who can pour into your life and help you personally grow.

Ask questions of your grandparents, family members, elderly neighbors, other senior citizens. They have a lifetime of wisdom to share with you and can tell you their mistakes to help you avoid the same ones.

Learn in multiple ways – Learning styles are visual, auditory (hearing), kinesthetic (hands-on), a combination. Instead of just listening to a podcast, rehearse the new information visually and verbally. The more regions of the brain that store data about a subject, the more interconnection there is in the brain. God gave us a brain and He wants us to use it, to learn, to grow, to be all He created us to be!

Write your thoughts down with pen and paper, on your computer, or record them on your smart phone. Jot down or record those ideas that come in the middle of the night or the first thing in the morning, that you don’t want to forget. Make to-do lists with pen and paper, getting quiet before God and letting Him schedule your day. Prioritize and schedule your life.

Clean and organize your surroundings -your home, your desk, your car. When your environment is chaotic, you will feel that way inside. Your mind will be cluttered when your desk is. File important papers, organize folders, have tubs, baskets, or boxes for writing utensils, cords and charges, sticky notes. Get rid of the debris and clutter to make room for more creative ideas to flow and creative work to be accomplished.

Eat or take Smart Fats (Omega 3′s) in capsule form (the purest form, and that are free of mercury). Omega 3′s improve memory, calm ADHD and hyperactivity, and can even help you lose weight.

Exercise. Exercise can help memory and learning. Women ages 60 to 75, who walked briskly for an hour a day, showed a 25% higher scores in cognitive ability than women who just stretched and didn’t push their limits. (Resource: www.howtolearn.com/start/52-instant-learning-tips) If we want to be in better health and learn more and faster by the time we are that age, then we need to start taking care of ourselves now with healthy eating, learning new things, and exercise! The dentate gyrus is a region of the brain critical for retaining long term memory for facts and events. Exercise can target the dentate gyrus. (Resource: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/12/studying-the-link-between-exercise-and-learning/) Get that body movin’, baby!

Do something you’ve never done before. Go horseback riding, take swimming lessons, ride a hot air balloon, take a foreign language class, enroll in a college course, try parasailiing (just once for me, thank you very much!) or parachuting, take a trip overseas. Get out of your comfort zone. Meeting new people, trying new ethnic foods, visiting a new place will expand your horizons and will enhance your learning. Do these things, even if you feel afraid. It will be liberating.

What new thing have you learned today? Keep learning and growing!

A subscriber’s question on spiritual warfare

Beth Jones — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:16:05 +0000

Today I received an email from a friend and a subscriber, who has been asked to lead a class at her church that relates to spiritual warfare. A concerned friend of hers told her that when you teach on this topic, the enemy Satan comes after you that much harder. My friend emailed to ask me if this is just something Christians say or if there are any scriptures that back this up.

I wanted to share an excerpt of my email answer with her here for you, since this is an important topic. This doesn’t include all that we discussed in our emails to each other, but it is the gist of what I shared. This email is much longer than I normally write, because I wanted to address it thoroughly.

God doesn’t want us walking into things blindly. Today I was doing some writing and shared on the importance of preparation and being ready for God’s anointed, appointed time for us.

We are going to experience spiritual warfare whether we want to or not, because we are believers in Christ and Satan hates us because of that. As the thief, his job is to steal, kill, and destroy. He hates believers because of Jesus in us.

When you step out to teach this kind of material, there definitely IS spiritual warfare and what I call backlash from Satan. It just comes with the territory. When God has a high calling on your life, you will be attacked.

No, it is NOT just something Christians say. When you teach on warfare, it gets the enemy’s attention because then he is being EXPOSED. Every time my husband Ray and I have preached or taught on spiritual warfare, we experienced more warfare. As I was writing my book on women and spiritual warfare, I experienced more warfare. When I did a webinar two years ago on spiritual warfare, I and the other two speakers experienced incredible warfare.

By now you are probably thinking there is NO WAY I AM GOING TO DO THIS NOW!

But hold on! I want to encourage you. As I said, we will have spiritual warfare no matter what we do -or don’t do. The question is this: what is God telling you to do? And will you obey God?

You can choose to wait to teach the class until “next time.” We can always “wait until the next group.” But you’ve already been in the battle. God has trained you already in the trenches of previous spiritual warfare.

I have such a sense of urgency in me right now, that I don’t want to wait to do anything. I believe time is so short and we need to be about the Father’s business TODAY.

That is not to say you SHOULD do this…only not to let anything hold you back from what God may be wanting you to do. Don’t let Satan stop you!

Your friend who cautioned you about teaching the class might have been operating either out of experience and genuine concern for you, or out of fear. If it’s fear, fear is not from God. His perfect love casts out all fear. Sometimes, though, we have to do things even when we FEEL afraid.

The first thought that came to mind regarding if there’s scripture backing this is up was Jesus being in the wilderness with the devil before He launched into ministry. (John 4:1-11) Satan was attacking Jesus – spiritual warfare.

This is the same scripture my husband Ray thought of when I asked him about it. He also thought of the scripture in Acts.16:16-40, when the female slave with the spirit of divination followed the apostle Paul and his companions, shouting after them that they were the sons of the Most High God.

This doesn’t seem like much warfare, but it really got on Paul’s nerves and its purpose was to distract him and others. Distractions can keep you from God’s plan. Paul cast out the demon of divination in the girl. After that, things got hotter with Paul and Silas being stripped, beaten and thrown in jail.

Not a comforting thought for you, I know. But God’s glory showed up after that with the earthquake, everyone’s chains were loosed, and the jailer and his household were saved.

It doesn’t really matter whether Satan will attack more…God HAS already won! Satan is a defeated enemy.

That doesn’t mean we should take the battle lightly. We should be alert, with our armor on daily, and keeping our eyes on our Commander Jesus, following every order and walking in obedience.

We all battle with fear. But GOD IS GREATER! We can’t let Satan intimidate us. He’s a liar and he’s defeated by Jesus.

How do you know if this is what God wants you to do? My first response is this: from His still small voice. Get to a place that’s quiet, away from everyone and everything. Pray. Ask Him to tell you what He wants you to do. Also as Joyce Meyer says let peace be your umpire. God’s peace will accompany the right decision.

That doesn’t mean you won’t feel a little afraid….but ultimately you will know in your heart this was God. There will be an inner witness.

>Sometimes God will confirm the decision through other people’s confirming words, through nature, through signs in a variety of ways…but mostly through His word and through you hearing His voice in prayer.

My thoughts are just JUMP! I know you can do it! GOD IS BIGGER THAN SATAN! And God will lead! Of course, I encourage you to pray to hear God’s voice yourself.

If you decide to do the class, I encourage you to have your pastor pray over you and your family beforehand and ask intercessors to pray over yall during the length of the study, specifically praying for God’s protection against any of the enemy’s strategic plans and from any backlash.

Don’t be afraid, dear friend. God is with you and your family, watching lovingly over you.

Love, Beth

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Do you have any questions or thoughts about this topic? Please leave your comments below.

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Do you want to learn more about spiritual warfare? Sometimes this topic makes us feel afraid. But it’s important to be armed and ready for battle. Click here to learn more about my book, The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles.

New Spiderman movie, childhood stories, & spiritual traps

Beth Jones — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Sometimes Ray and I have interesting conversations late at night as we’re laying in bed to go to sleep. Last night was a prime example.

The entire thing started because yesterday Ray, I, and our daughters Heather and Leah went to see the new Spiderman movie (regular version, not 3D). In the movie, Peter Parker’s father’s former partner, Dr. Curt Connor of Oscorp, injects himself with a chemical he’s been experimenting with on defective lab animals, to try to grow his amputated arm and hand. Instead, it turns him into a super-power, evil lizard.

“The Lizard” is bent on spraying the city of New York with a biological weapon of this chemical, creating the people into super-power, ferocious lizards, too. Peter finds the home of The Lizard by noticing that the little green lizards in the city are going into the sewer, and he as “Spiderman” goes down there to fight it.

These lizards in the movie reminded me of lizards in the south. I don’t know if these lizards were chameleons, geckos, or anoles, but they could change color. This is what I was talking to Ray about last night, and then he told me two incredible, hilarious stories from his childhood.

Lizard (chameleon)

Image Resource: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

First, my lizard story

My mother used to be terrified of these lizards. It would send us four kids into gales of laughter when we saw our big mama running when she saw one or climbing on a kitchen chair. She’d scream, “KILL IT, Leland!” Daddy would shake his head and smile at her silly fear, saying, “Oh, it’s not going to hurt a thing!” He then proceeded to brush it outside with the broom or with a stick from outside.

My brothers Greg and Herbert (Herbert is affectionately known as “Bubba”; a lot of brothers in the south are called “Bubba”) liked to play with the lizards. Greg would pick one up that had found its way on our back porch to scare mama with it, and the tail would break off, a defense mechanism from predators. (The tails may grow back.) Mama would scream, we’d laugh, and Greg or daddy would force it outside to “rescue” mama.

While I don’t really care for reptiles, I wasn’t scared of the lizards and became accustomed to seeing them on our back porch, staring at them curiously and the lizards looking back at me with just as much interest. They actually look quite intelligent. It fascinated me that their scaly skin could turn from emerald green to leaf-brown, and back again, and that the tail could snap off and grow again.

Coral Snake Jewelry

After I shared my lizard story, Ray then felt prompted to one-up me as he often does. I wouldn’t believe these incredible stories, if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve been married to this man for 19 years and know his behavior can be odd at times. Plus, I have seen him pick up snakes for fun and to impress our kids, so I know he does it.

Ray grew up in Louisiana and Texas, where fascinating critters abound. When Ray was about five years old, his friends dared him to pick up the “pretty colored” coral snake. Can we say DEADLY? Ray knew it was poisonous, but what a better way to gain a reputation with his friends as macho. He picked one up by the tail, and wrapped it around his arm, somehow getting the snake to bite its own tail.

Deadly coral snake – Image Resource Wikipedia

Surely God’s angels surrounded Ray as a child. The coral snake has one of the most potent venoms of any North American snakes, with a neurotoxin that can paralyze breathing muscles, causing respiratory failure within hours!

Little Ray ran with his “coral snake bracelet” to proudly show his mother who was inside the house, trying to get a moment’s peace from her hyperactive ADD child. When Ray showed it to her, she freaked out and screamed at him to PUT THE POISONOUS SNAKE DOWN RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

Ray and his friends, not content with this being a one-time event, tried it a couple more times. I commented that it’s a wonder Ray’s mother survived his childhood, and Ray dryly replied it’s a wonder HE survived it.

The bumble bee story

As a child, Ray often entertained himself by capturing critters. One he enjoyed playing with was the bumble bee.

He’d heard that if you get a leather belt and spit on the inside of it, you could rub the belly of a bumble bee with the rough wet hide, the bee woudl get mad and try to sting, and its stinger would fall out. Then you could play with the bumble bee without getting stung.

Ray said that he would do this and sometimes he even tied string around its belly to make it fly in a circle like an airplane.

Oh my gosh. Last night I laughed and laughed at this image. I can definitely see Ray doing something like this.

I asked Leah to draw a picture of a bumble bee on her graphic art tablet this morning, with the string around it. She whipped it up quickly for me. Isn’t it cute? She’s such a great artist!

bumble bee -Copyright 2012 Leah Jones

One time Ray caught a bumble bee and he was curious to know if the stinger would still sting if it wasn’t in the bee. So he touched it to see. Of course, the stinger did still work, and he ran crying to his mom, and told her that his “friend” had stung him. Eventually he had to ‘fess up and tell the whole story.

From that point on, Ray was invincible. He began deliberately catching bees and hornets, stirring up their nests to tease them, letting them sting him in his hands.

My big foot from a bee sting

Apparently he’s not allergic to them like I am. As a child, I was stung once on the bare foot by a bumble bee, and my foot swelled up to twice its size.

I avoid them and any flying insects at all costs. The other day a wasp or hornet somehow got into our kitchen. When I die, I want it to be peacefully in my sleep. I don’t want my obit to read, “Beth Jones’ life was tragically cut short and she died on her kitchen floor by a bee sting.”

Terrified of Leah or me being stung, I cautiously snuck to the bottom cabinet to get out the spray insect killer, and sprayed G.I. Jane-like at it from across the room, a dozen times. Finally the wasp, drunk on the potion, laid on the floor a minute, and I pounced on it with the fly swatter, hitting it over and over to make sure it was really dead. Then I grabbed a handful of napkins to gather up its body parts, to make sure I wouldn’t be accidentally stung and threw it away in a plastic bag in the trash.

What’s the point?!

I know you may be wondering what’s the point of this blog post…if there IS one. Yes. It’s this: sometimes our enemy Satan attacks us with either real or perceived dangers. We can be intimidated with imagined fears and overreact like my mother, screaming and climbing on a chair to get away from something basically harmless, like the lizards. Or we can walk in ignorance that there are spiritual traps, like Ray wrapping a coral snake around his wrist as a bracelet, or playing with bumblebees.

We need to use wisdom to know the difference each day, being alert to Satan’s dangerous weapons of warfare.

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To learn more about spiritual warfare, check out my ebook The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles.

The Occult: Talkshoe Show With Kristine McGuire, author of Escaping The Cauldron

Beth Jones — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:20:53 +0000

Kristine McGuire

Each day we as Christian women face some kind of spiritual battle, because we have an enemy whose job as the thief is to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)

Maybe that battle is a financial crisis. Or a marriage on the verge of divorce.

Maybe it’s issues with chronic depression, an eating disorder, or a quick temper.

Or maybe the spiritual battle is about our teen who’s become addicted to alcohol or drugs.

For wife and mom Kristine McGuire, her spiritual battle was the occult.

An eight-year journey through the occult and into freedom

Though Kristine McGuire was raised in a Christian home, at an early age she became fascinated by the occult. At sleepovers she and her friends told fortunes and held séances. As a teenager she was convicted and put all games of mysticism aside. She went to a Christian college and married a Christian man. But despite her decision to follow God, a longing for the occult persisted, leading her to leave her church and husband and to fully embrace witchcraft.

Escaping the Cauldron, available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.com, takes you deep inside Kristine’s eight-year journey as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. Part Bible study, part memoir, it exposes the subtle occult influences that affect us as it reveals how God mercifully delivered her out of the occult altogether and restored her faith and life in Christ.

Escaping The Cauldron

Join me and my special guest, Kristine McGuire, on my Women’s Battles Talkshoe show on Tuesday, August 14, at 11 am CST/12 pm EST, as Kristine shares her powerful story to help set men and women free.You can join us in the chat room at Talkshoe by clicking here.

Or you can call into Talkshoe with the call-in details below:

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 98698
We would love to see you there at this anointed show. You are welcome to come with your questions and to share your thoughts. Mark your calendar now!

Kristine McGuire is an inspirational writer and speaker, sharing her testimony and encouraging others in their walk with Christ. A gifted writer, her work has been featured on Positively Feminine, Faithful Devotions, and Praise & Coffee Magazine (Fall 2011). Kristine’s book, Escaping the Cauldron will be available in stores everywhere on September 4, 2012 and is currently available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.com

You can find out more about Kristine at her website, http://kristinemcguire.com.

Why Does It Take So Long?

Beth Jones — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:49:12 +0000

Chinese bamboo tree

This week I was so excited that I received something in the mail that wasn’t a bill. The UPS truck always makes my day. It was my new books, Writer’s First Aid and More Writers’ First Aid by Kristi Holl (available at Amazon). One of the chapters entitled Why Does It Take So Long? included trivia about the Chinese bamboo tree, which I didn’t know. I wanted to include an excerpt here, to encourage you today. Kristi is talking about writing, but it can apply to any other dream or goal you may have.

“Whenever you feel discouraged about your lack of writing success, consider the Chinese bamboo tree. When you plant this tiny shoot, you can expect no growth for up to four years. Even though you water it faithfully, there are no signs that the tree is growing or maturing or will ever amount to anything. But if you keep tending the Chinese bamboo seedling all during those somewhat discouraging years, you can expect as much as 80 feet of growth in the fifth year! The tree could never support that rapid growth without a deep root system. Those early growing years, when it appears as if nothing much is happening, are rooting and grounding years. It is the same with your writing career.”

If you feel as if nothing is happening, be encouraged, dear friend. God is causing much growth underneath the surface, that you can’t even see, for you to be able to sustain the incredible growth and blessings in your later years! God has wonderful things in store for you, if you will just believe and obey.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” -2 Chronicles 15:7

Summer is mid-point of the year: are you doing what you love?

Beth Jones — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:14:46 +0000

Summer is mid-point of the year.

It’s a great time to take a pause and reflect on how your year has gone so far.

Is it going good, or is this your worst year ever?!

Are you doing what you love?

What dreams have come true this year?

What goals have you achieved?

What obstacles have you overcome?

What barriers are now in your way?

What new step do you need to take to get to the next level?

What’s missing or broken in your life?

What would get you closer to your purpose?

What would make you feel happier? Do you know that God wants His children to be happy, just as we want our children to be happy?

What new place have you visited?

What new friends have you made?

What is something new you have learned?

What good habits have you made? What bad ones have you eliminated?

What fears or other hurdles have you overcome?

If everything is going great, I celebrate with you! I want to hear about your summer and would love to hear more in the comments below.

If your life isn’t going so well and you need some guidance to build more confidence, take bolder steps of faith, and push past fears, uncertainties, and limiting beliefs to walk more fully in your God-given, great purpose, be sure to check out my new fall virtual Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process by clicking here.

Are you hiding or holding back? It’s time to be Unveiled! New, fall 5 Week, Virtual G.I.F.T.S. Process

Beth Jones — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:58:49 +0000

Have you been hiding or holding back from fear, uncertainty, or limiting beliefs?

Do you feel God has much more for you, but you’re not sure exactly what it is or how to get there?

Do you want to use your gifts for God more fully to genuinely help others, but have doubts?

It’s time to take off the veil,

for the world to see God’s glorious beauty in you

~His gifts that He hand chose just for you!

Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process (© 2012 Beth Jones)

5 Week, Women’s Virtual Connection

Tuesday, September 11 – Tuesday, October 9

10 a.m. CST – 10:45 a.m. CST (11 a.m. EST – 11:45 EST)

What is Unveiled?

My brand new, never-before-released signature program, Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process (© 2012 Beth Jones) is a women’s 5 week, virtual connection to help you stop hiding and holding back in fear, uncertainty, and limiting beliefs.

Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process (© 2012 Beth Jones) will help you “take off the veil” to display God’s glorious beauty in you.

It will enable you to pursue your passion, doing what you love, living an authentic, Spirit-led, fulfilling life.

In this 5 week online event on my private conference phone line, you will discover and use more fully the gifts God has put inside of you for His glory and to make a lasting difference in others’ lives.

We will be covering more in depth each of the 5 modules, which I shared in my Unveiled: Share Your Gifts webinar.

Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process © 2012 Beth Jones

G. God First (Module 1, Week 1 – September 11 at 10 a.m. CST)

I. Ignite Your Passion (Module 2, Week 2 – September 18 at 10 a.m. CST)

F. Flow In Your Purpose and Gifts (Module 3 – September 25 at 10 a.m. CST)

T. Train and Coach Others (Module 4 – October 2 at 10 a.m. CST)

S. Study to Show Yourself Approved (Module 5 – October 9 at 10 a.m. CST)

What You Get:

•One weekly, 40-minute call on my private conference line with Q & A;

•A handout for each module with lists of helpful, practical resources to help you with take action now steps;

•A life-transforming opportunity to make new friends and make business networking connections;

•A free replay recording of each conference call, delivered within 48 hours to your email inbox.

What Others Are Saying About Unveiled: G.I.F.T.S. Process:

Diane Cunningham, President & Founder of NACWE

Beth, your G.I.F.T.S. Process is brilliant and amazing.

~ Diane Cunningham
Founder and President of NACWE, www.NACWE.org

Beth, this is great.

Your G.I.F.T.S. Process is something women really need.

~ Scarlett Von Gunten
President and Founder of IWoman Magazine, www.IWomanMag.com

What You Also Get With This 5 Week, Virtual Connection:

An exclusive, private Facebook group with your new friends to help you “take off the veil” to display God’s glorious beauty in you and to encourage you to use your gifts.

Weekly bonus videos about the modules to keep you going strong;

A downloadable Unveiled: Stop Hiding! PDF to encourage you to take bolder steps of faith, finding your place, doing what you love, and using your gifts;

One-on-one consulting, confidential call with me to talk about your passions, your unique place and your gifts and how to use them more fully for God’s glory. Time is short. We need to be about the Father’s business!

Are you ready to stop hiding and holding back,

and to use God’s gifts to help change others’ lives?

Then join me beginning September 11, so you can do what you love,

discover and use your gifts, and help make a lasting difference!

Just $59 for all 5 weeks!

Just click on the Paypal button below.

After payment, just click on my email address/website while you are still on the Paypal site to be redirected to your Thank You page, to sign up with your name and email address to get the details you need.

PLEASE NOTE: After payment, you MUST opt in on the Thank You page, to receive the information you need and to be part of this virtual connection group!

Please add my email address elizabethdjones@gmail.com to your email contacts list!

You will receive the information immediately, even if it’s 2 a.m. on a Saturday.

Just click on the Paypal button below to secure your spot now!
Seating is limited.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Technology isn’t always perfect! In the rare event that you aren’t redirected to the Thank You page on the Paypal site, to opt in with your name and email address, please email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com so I can send you the URL page link to get you signed up immediately in this group.

I’m so glad you’ll be joining me on this exciting adventure! You’ll be blessed!

I’m so excited to see the great things God is going to do in YOUR life!

Beth Jones

Beth Jones
www.BethJones.net

Are you stymied?

Beth Jones — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:50:11 +0000

One of the ezines I receive in my inbox is Word of the Day from Dictionary.com, to learn new words and use my brain more. Today’s word of the day is stymie, and I wanted to share its meaning and a cup of encouragement and motivation with you.

stymie \STAHY-mee\, verb:

1. To hinder, block, or thwart.

noun:
1. Golf. (On a putting green) an instance of a ball’s lying on a direct line between the cup and the ball of an opponent about to putt.
2. A situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.

This rule, and its corollary—admit nothing into the ambit of the characters’ consciousness which would not reasonably have been there—accounts for both the authenticity of Ulysses and much of its ability to stymie its readers.
– James Joyce, Jeri Johnson, “Introduction,” Ulysses

No, I won’t stymie you, but I could, real fast, you know that.
– Catherine Coulter, KnockOut

Stymie is of unknown origin. It came into common usage in the 1830s, before the rise of golf as a popular game.

***How are you stymied in your life purpose, in using your spiritual gifts?

What is hindering, blocking, or thwarting you from moving ahead in your life and succeeding, from achieving your big dreams?

I’ll be sharing about this in my free webinar on July 10 at 10 a.m. CST, Unveiled: Share Your Gifts. If you can’t attend the live event, there will be a replay and there will be a special bonus for those who attend it live. To secure your spot today or to learn more, just click here.

Are you hiding? It’s time to be unveiled.

Beth Jones — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:40:49 +0000

Are you hiding?

Are you holding back from all God has called you to and to be because of fear, uncertainty, and limiting beliefs?

It’s time to stop hiding.

It’s time for the veil to come off so the world will see the glorious beauty God has put inside of you.

Click here to learn more about my free Unveiled: Share Your Gifts free webinar on July 10, at 10 a.m. CST/11 a.m. EST.

The colors of Africa: What step of faith do you need to take?

Beth Jones — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:56:58 +0000

“I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills…The colours were dry and burnt, like the colours in pottery.” ~ Out of Africa, Isek Dinesen

This week I had a dream that I was walking on a dirt path in Uganda, Africa. It was hot, but not unbearably so. I was wearing a sleeveless top, a blue jean skort, and light shoes like sandals or flip flops. I was walking alone, but not lonely, and was content. There was more to the dream, but this part of the dream encouraged me the most. I was actually in Africa!

For several years I’ve been praying to go to Africa. It’s just something God has put into my heart, although I’m not really sure why. All I know is that God has spoken to my heart that I will go one day, and when I go, He has an impartation for me there.

Things to teach me and to share with my heart, like He did when I went to Israel and to Niagara Falls, two other places I prayed for years to visit – and God made a way where there was no way. As He will do with me going to Africa.

Things to inspire my writing in Africa.

I have faith one day I will go, and am praying this is the year!

Out of Africa is one of my favorite books and movies. In the movie version, it stars one of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep. Each time I view pictures of Africa, each time I see the movie, watching Karen (Meryl Streep) fly over the plains and seeing the wild animals running, my heart aches and longs to be there.

The drums of Africa beat in my heart. Africa beckons me, and I don’t know why. I am re-reading the book again now. I’m preparing my heart through reading this book, through activating my faith, and through prayer.

I also have to prepare for the journey by getting the yellow fever shot. The yellow fever shot is required to go to Uganda. I can’t go without it. I had my passport renewed when I went on the cruise to the Bahamas, so my passport is ready.

Last year I bought a set of purple luggage on sale at Kohl’s on Black Friday, so I have new luggage to pack my clothes and other things (yes, I will pack light!).

I attend a small Bible study group every Sunday afternoon. The group leaders, Dave and Ruth Christian, and Ruth’s mom, Alma Jones, were missionaries several years ago in Uganda, Africa. (I interviewed Alma about her work in Africa on my Talkshoe show. If you missed this great show, just click here.)

I have listened eagerly to their stories about living in Africa. God has been using them to teach me about preparing to go there. They are in close contact at their church with other missionaries to Africa, and I’m praying to see if these are possible contacts for me, too (a team that Ray and I could go with there).

It’s not enough to just believe and have faith. Abraham had to offer up Isaac to prove his faith in God.

If I want to go to Africa, I have to prepare, to take action steps of faith.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” ~ James 2:26, NKJV

What is it that you want to do for God?

What first step of faith do you need to take right now to prepare? Share your first step in the comments below.

What lie did you believe?

Beth Jones — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:42:03 +0000

Beth Jones

In the garden of Eden, the first woman Eve bought into the lie by Satan that she could be like God. Since then, Satan has been lying to women and men to keep them from fulfilling the great purpose and destiny for which they were created by God – ultimately, to glorify Christ.

What lie did you believe?

There have been three primary lies Satan has used to destroy my life and my calling from God. I share about these lies in my upcoming, new book, Promises In The Dark, due this coming fall 2012. If you are not already on my personal mailing list, be sure to sign up on the right hand side at the top of the page, so you’ll be first to hear about its release.

God’s promises are true and last forever. He is not a man that he should lie. His promises are yes and amen! You can always count on Him!

My book will expose Satan’s lies, but most of all will focus on God’s faithful promises. I’ve been trying different video production software and created a book trailer for Promises In The Dark from ProShow Producer, recommended to me by a friend. I already had the music that accompanies the video trailer below. Future videos won’t have the yellow-orange ProShow Producer banner, but I wanted to know what you think of the trailer.

What are your thoughts on it? What else does it need for the book trailer? Please leave your comments below.

Promises In The Dark trailer

What are your fun summer plans?

Beth Jones — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:55:21 +0000

Hermit crab

What are your fun summer plans? What is new in your life right now?

Here’s what is new with me:

I just finished writing my new ebook, Bahama Mama: When God Uses Ordinary Women For His Extraordinary Purposes. You can see what other women are saying about this great little ebook (for just $5!) by clicking here (the testimonial box). Everyone who buys this ebook will get to join an exclusive online event, my first Spreecast – where you can chat with me and other Bahama Mamas by video.

I’m still working on my book, Promises In The Dark: One Woman’s Search for Authentic Love Through Abuse, Abortion, and Adultery, which should be out by fall 2012. If you’re not already signed up on my personal mailing list to be FIRST to hear about its release, sign up today on the right hand side at the top of the page – and get your free G.I.F.T.S. study! Have you been abused as a child, had an abortion, or had an affair – or know someone who has? If so, I’d really like to hear from you. Email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com or leave your comments below. How did those things affect your life? What were the consequences? How has God turned what Satan meant for evil into good in your life?

Leah and I are still working on her driving so she can test for her driver’s license. She no longer takes right turns at 90 mph, going into ongoing traffic, and I can breathe again. She’s actually doing very well. Please pray she passes the driver’s test soon!

Playing catch up! I missed past episodes of Army Wives, and have been trying to catch up watching them this week up to Season 6. Ray was in the navy for over 14 years, and feels that me watching Army Wives is almost treason. He says I should instead watch Navy Wives. You have to understand that in military men’s minds, while the army and the navy are supposed to be on the same team, it is NOT true that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” The Marines make fun of Army guys, and vice versa. Oo-rah! (The Marine’s battle cry, which really means, “Let’s kick some butt!” The Army uses a similar word, “Hooah!”) I don’t care about this silly competition between the Navy and the Army. I just like the Army Wives show! I’m addicted to it, but NOT nearly as much as I was to Lost. (Still grieve that show is over!)

I’ve started walking again, training to do another 5K this year. Heather just finished a challenging 5K with hills and is signed up for two more 5K’s this summer. What are you doing to take care of beautiful you? Walking, running, zumba, belly dancing? (Don’t laugh! I have a friend who’s doing it and loves it – it’s great for the abs!)

Planning more field and road trips with Leah. I’d love to travel all over the U.S. and the world, wouldn’t you? But it’s not always (financially) possible ~ so we might have to settle for the next town. It’s so fun to go someplace new, seeing new sites, eating at a new place, experiencing new things, even if it’s a new city. I plan to take Leah to the new Kansas City Sea Aquarium and the new Kansas City Titanic Exhibit soon. Are your eyes and heart wide open for all God has for you? We can get in a rut sometimes doing the same thing, day after day. Today take a step to try something new or go someplace new!

I’m scheduling new speaking engagements for fall 2012 now. If you are an event planner or know someone who needs a speaker at a women’s conference, retreat, workshop, online event, etc., just drop me an email at elizabethdjones@gmail.com or let me know on my Facebook page.

Whatever you are doing this summer, I pray it’s a fun one. Please leave your comments below to let me hear how you’re doing and your summer plans.

You Carried Me (Rising Waters)

Beth Jones — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:33:53 +0000

I’ve been uploading videos to YouTube and my Facebook business page since I got back home from the Bahamas, and uploaded the last one tonight. The sound was off in the video, but I improvised with music and text.

The video is of me in a long, black gown for our one formal dinner night. I don’t even remember what I was saying on the video that night.

But the song I chose for this video is a POWERFUL message, which is my story: that my life is not my own, that God has always carried me, and that it all rides on FAITH somehow – in Christ.

God has always carried me throughout my life. I’ve felt His loving presence ever since I was a little child. He carried me through:

childhood physical and sexual abuse

domestic violence in my 2nd marriage

the aloneness and stresses of single motherhood

multiple dysfunctional, immoral and painful relationships with men

3 abortions (and Post Abortion Syndrome)

2 broken marriages and divorces, and a current marriage that’s been @#!*% at times

Two children who had serious medical problems (miraculously healed, thank you, Jesus!)

Foreclosure and bankruptcy

Financial destitution

Spiritual Abuse by leaders in the church

Attacks and false accusations by family and “friends”

Loneliness

Depression

Panic attacks

Judgments from Christians

Much more.

Yes, God has carried me through it all. He’s never left me, always been there.

And He’s given me beauty for ashes:

salvation

deliverance

forgiveness when I deserved His wrath

emotional, inner healing

the gift of laughter

favor

blessing after blessing

answered prayer after answered prayer

joy unspeakable

peace

three beautiful daughters, my greatest and most undeserved gifts from God

a husband who’s stayed with me for 20 years, despite myself

3 precious grandchildren, who are my laughter and double blessing

a sister who is my precious friend

in-laws who love me anyway

nieces and nephews, so dear to my heart

incredible friends, online and offline

a platform where He uses me in speaking, writing, coaching – me, God?

a small group of believers who pray with and for me, love me, and encourage me each Sunday

future hope in Him.

so much more!

My life is not my own. It belongs to Him.

God my loving Father has carried me all my life.

Through all the pain. All the tears.

Then collected them in His bottle.

Turned the tears into liquid worship of Him and balm to help heal other women’s wounded souls.

Jesus is my shelter from the storm. Psalm 91.

All I can do is fall down and worship Him for His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and above all His LOVE in my life.

Everything rides on FAITH – in Christ.

Click on Video below – You Carried Me

Words as Seeds

Beth Jones — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:43:25 +0000

Sunflowers

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24, ESV)

Your words are like seeds, falling to the ground.

What beautiful things are you growing with your words?

Making Room For Your Own Home Office

Beth Jones — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:32:15 +0000

Beth Jones

My speaker and writer friend Rochelle Valasek and I were chatting on the phone today about now having our own official “office.” Before I left for my cruise to the Bahamas, my “office” space was just a small corner of our formal dining room. My desk was a little, black card table from Walmart. You can see a video of the dining room “office” by clicking here.

It worked…temporarily. Our rental home where we live was built in the 1960′s, and many homes back then weren’t built with ceiling lights, so that room is dark. Several lamps didn’t help, because the room has dark 70′s-style paneling. I use a lot of videos and host webinars with video for my business, and good lighting is important for video quality.

Your family is not “an interruption”

The dining room has no doors, and every time Ray and Leah would come into the kitchen, banging cabinets or opening the fridge (invariably during one of my webinars or a training call I was attending!), the noise distracted me and I’d feel frustrated. At night as I lay in bed praying, God would deal with me on my not-so-Proverbs-31-woman attitude that my family is NOT an interruption! They are my priority.

An Act Of Desperation

Also, we have to walk through the dining room to get to the utility room, where our washer and dryer are…so Ray and Leah often came through the room as I was working, to carry in their dirty laundry. (NOTE: this was an act of DESPERATION on their part to get their clothes washed, rather than trying to help me out with the chores!) Again, I couldn’t concentrate on my work, and the result was, as our friends Don and Gala like to put it, “Intense Domestic Fellowship.”

How Can Others Take You Seriously If You Don’t? A Mindset Shift

You can have your home office anywhere, but I think it’s helpful to have your own creative space, so that you and others will take your work seriously.Making room for an office is a mindset shift. Our daughter Leah came up with the perfect solution. The “office” in our home, which really has been no more than a storage room for photo albums, books, and papers, could be used for my NEW office.

No More Library-Quiet Voices

I made the move just before I left for my trip to the Bahamas, and this week I set it up. I’m now officially moved in! This room has a window to let the sunshine in and a ceiling light for better lighting for videos and webinars, and a door that I can actually close. Now if I am on a training call or have a webinar, I can just close the door! My family can also go into the kitchen now, freely eating and drinking, banging cabinets to their hearts’ content, and without having to use library-quiet voices.

Our internet is set up in this office room, with the modem connected to our old “dinosaur” computer, so I wasn’t able to remove that computer from the room. But the desk has a slide-out drawer table, where I set up my laptop.

My new office

A Mental And Physical Clutter-Free Environment

Sandi Krakowski says that you need to remove mental and physical clutter from your environment to FOCUS. My office is clutter-free. I have a few things on my desk to inspire and motivate me as I work:

My spiral-bound calendar, and sticky notes or a writing pad to jot down thoughts and important info through the day;

A print out of Linda Claire Puig‘s article, 5 Ways To Make Your Newsletter Soar;

An enclosed black box which contains chargers and other cords for my smart phone, purple Ipod, and other techy stuff;

A yellow sunflower coaster for a water bottle or cokes. I LOVE sunflowers because they are beautiful and happy flowers;

A sunflower pencil box to hold no. 2 pencils and Sharpie, ultra-fine pens, my fave pen in the whole world;

An open black box which contains my lime-green, block “B” paper weight that Heather gave me as a gift and a little booklet Leah gave me as a gift to write down all my online passwords, so that I won’t forget them again, lol;

A Curious George, which was a gift at CLASServices Writers’ and Speakers’ weekend training. Florence Littaeur gave this to all the class students, advising, “You should always ask questions and learn new things EACH day. Be a Curious George.”

Curious George, Sharpies holder, passwords booklet, and "B" paper weight on my desk

Surround Yourself With What Inspires You

Beautiful pictures also inspire me. On the wall to my left, I have pictures of my family, a Thomas Kinkade, fabric-cloth picture with Psalm 23:2, and a cross which has the imprinted words, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Look around at your environment in your home and for your business. Do you like what you see? How does it make you feel inside? Do you need to change things up a bit, add a splash of bright colors, buy some intriguing art?

Family pictures, Thomas Kinkade picture, and cross

Focus on God For Business Success

On the wall to the right is one of my favorite pictures that Ray bought me several years ago. It’s a beautiful woman in an ivory, lace dress, sitting on a multi-colored rug (like Joseph’s multi-colored robe). She has a Bible open in front of her and has her head bent down, praying. The art piece’s title is He Shall Hear My Voice. This picture and the cross help me to focus on Christ throughout the day. Focus on God for your business’ success. He will show you the way.

He Shall Hear My Voice art piece

Music To Get Your Business Going

I’ve always loved music. Recently I watched a video from a successful entrepreneur, who encouraged listeners to play their favorite worship and praise music as they worked to see if it made a difference in their creativity and productivity. I have a big “boom” box that I use for playing CD’s and tuning into K-LOVE, and recently added new music on the Pandora app on my phone. Try listening to your fave tunes as you work to see if it lifts your mood and gets those creative juices going!

Listen to your fave tunes as you work!

Learn New Things Each Day!

What’s your favorite collectable? I collect Willow Tree Angels. This angel on my desk is Wisdom: A Lifelong Love of Learning. Do you love learning? What is one step can you take today to learn something new: registering for a college class, signing up for a webinar or telecall, reading a good book, hiring a coach?

Wisdom: A Livelong Love of Learning

Are you organized?

Organization is a big key to a smooth-running business. I use a pretty, flower-decorated, spiral-bound desk calendar, a larger Wall Calendar, a writing pad, and LOTS of sticky notes to help me stay organized. I also love Google calendar. What tools do you use for organization in your business?

Writing pad, calendar, sunflower coaster for my water bottle, & box containing charger cords

Making It Work

Having your own home office is no guarantee for success. Success takes passion, determination, hard work, obedience to God’s direction, and God’s favor and blessing. But making room for your own creative space that is a reflection of YOU will make you feel happier and can help you to focus more on the work you need to do, to glorify God, to help others, and to make a real difference in others’ lives. Whatever space you have dedicated to your office, make sure it works for you!

If you need help and guidance with figuring out what your next step should be in your home business, hearing God’s voice more clearly and using your gifts to glorify God, just click here.

I’d love to see pictures or hear about your home office, too. Please share your comments below.

When Life is All Uphill

Beth Jones — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:16:29 +0000

Erin, Amber & Heather (far right) after 5K Run

She did it again! Heather finished her 5K Run!

This one was harder because of the Missouri heat and because it had steep hills (“horrid hills,” as Heather called them), so she wasn’t able to run the entire 5K, but she FINISHED, with good timing! I am so proud of her!

I wrote an article on the topic of When It’s All Uphill. This article is my gift to you.

Just click on the link below to read it, or right click and save to your computer. Enjoy!

Uphill

Do you feel like your life is just an uphill battle right now? Leave your comments below.

Heather’s 5K Run Tomorrow

Beth Jones — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 03:34:49 +0000

Our daughter Heather

Tomorrow morning our oldest daughter Heather is running another 5K.

This one is uphill much of the way, so she will need extra strength and grace with the Missouri heat and the hills.

Please say a prayer for her!

Heather, I am cheering you on all the way to the finish line! YOU CAN DO IT, WHOO HOO!

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31, NLT

Bahama Mama Ebook Package Ready!

Beth Jones — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:32:57 +0000

I hope you enjoyed my Blog Series – Women of Destiny about my cruise to the Bahamas. While I was in Nassau at the famous Straw Market, it was wall to wall vendors and one of the native women grabbed my arm saying, “Lady, come here! Come closer, come closer! Which one you like? I make you a Bahama Mama! I give you a real deal!”

As soon as I heard the words Bahama Mama, I knew it was a new book idea! And now my ebook is ready for you! Best of all, you get a Bahama Bargain – it is only $5!

To learn more, just click here.

The good news is that I am giving away three ebooks in a contest on Pinterest this week! You can PIN IT TO WIN IT! All you have to do is share what you feel is holding you back from your great purpose and destiny, then PIN IT.

Click on the graphic below to PIN IT to win your copy! Winners will be announced on Sunday, June 17.

But a lot goes into that presentation beforehand: prayer to hear God’s still, small voice for His specific word for that specific audience, hours of study and research in the Bible and other resources, writing or typing out notes (or preparing a power point), gathering visual aids if they’re to be used during the presentation, and practicing the presentation so that you know it and aren’t a bumbling fool in front of everyone when it’s time to speak! Most of all, I pray for God’s anointing on me because without that, it will just fall flat and won’t bear any fruit!

After all that I’d been through to get to the conference on the ship, I was exhausted, yet pumped up because I knew this had to be good! I was nervous the first day being on the ship, battling the fears I’d had, especially about getting seasickness. Praise God, I didn’t get nauseous or seasick the entire cruise! This is a HUGE praise report! Thank you so much for your prayers!

On Monday night, we had a short Meet and Greet meeting with the ladies attending the conference. Everyone was excited to be on the cruise and about the conference. Tony was fired up and I couldn’t wait to hear her preach!

Tony Robinson

After dinner in the formal dining room on Monday night, I went to bed and slept better than I had in months. Throughout the cruise, I never had insomnia or problems sleeping, which I usually do. (My friend Diane calls it “entrepreneurial ADD). As my sweet friend Shelley had told me, I slept like a baby on the ship, with God rocking me to sleep with the waves.

Sunrise Prayer, Coffee With God, and A Divine Appointment

Tony Robinson had planned sunrise prayer for Tuesday morning to set the tone for the conference. She had told all of us at the Meet and Greet meeting on Monday night that she would probably be hugging her pillow and wouldn’t make the prayer time. I am NOT a morning person and the thought of intentionally getting up early is NOT appealing at all to me!

Since our husbands weren’t able to come this time, Tony and I were roommates during the cruise. I heard her getting up at the crack of dawn and decided that I better go, too, since I would be speaking that morning!

Dear friend, it was so worth it! Looking at that sunrise over the ocean that Tuesday morning, my eyes filled with tears and my heart overflowed with joy and anticipation of what God was going to do. I couldn’t believe that He had sent me here! I certainly didn’t deserve this blessing, but God is just so good and full of grace!

Sunrise on Carnival Destiny ship

Tony and I enjoyed having “coffee with God.” Maybe this is something you can begin to do each morning ~ setting a little time each morning to drink your coffee, hot tea, or cold drink, to pray and read from the Bible or from a daily devotional, like the powerful, little one I’m reading now by Sarah Young, Jesus Calling ~ just spending some quiet time with God before your day starts.

Coffee with God

If your mornings are too busy and hectic, then you can “Take Five” with God at lunch, in the afternoon, or even have night time devotions. God doesn’t care when you spend time with Him. You don’t have to spend hours a day with Him, either. He’s always there for you and He just wants to be with you!

After Tony and I talked a few minutes and then prayed, she suddenly said, “I just felt the wind of the Holy Spirit blow through this place!” I told her I’d felt it, too, She turned around and began speaking to the man at the next table (who we did not know).

I started smiling big, because I often do the same thing with people, giving them words of encouragement. (At Leah’s 17th birthday party at the bowling alley, Heather saw me talking to a man I didn’t know at the hot dog stand and said, “There mom goes again, prophesying to someone!” The man was blown away by what God had told me about him, and was jumping up and down with joy, and ran to tell his fiance. My family is used to this kind of thing by now.)

This man on the deck had just purchased WiFi time on the internet, and told Tony, “Just a minute.” We sat there, waiting on God, and then the man actually came over to our table and stood there, talking with us! Everyone needs to be lifted up with positive, encouraging words sometimes!

Tony, sunrise prayer

Tony and I began to speak prophetic words of encouragement into this stranger’s life. Tears filled his eyes and he stood there, with his mouth open. Tony and I laughed when he said, “And y’all can tell all of this just by looking at me?” I said, “NO! God is telling us these things so we can share them with you to encourage you! Do you know Him? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?”

This man said that he had been raised Catholic, but he knew he needed a close relationship with God. I encouraged him to ask Jesus Christ to be his Savior. All he had to do was call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved. (Acts 2:21)

Tony invited him to our meeting that morning at 9 a.m. (even though it was a women’s conference!). He didn’t come, but we do know that we planted seeds of eternity into his heart that morning and we were filled with joy! A divine appointment!

Tony and I went to get ready for our meeting, and then she had more divine appointments in the laundry room and invited the women believers there to our meeting! Meanwhile, I got ready and set up the room. I.e., I asked the Carnival Destiny staff person to crank up the air conditioning in the meeting room because I get hot easily!

Tony by my table with visual aids

The sweet staff woman helping us also found a music stand for me to put my notes on, and I used a little table for my visual aids and gift bags. Carnival Destiny’s staff had given us this beautiful room with the big window view of the ocean, and set up chairs and glasses of ice water for us. The staff is just awesome!

Free Gifts Given Away

I had several books to give away as gifts to the attendees: Sandy Krakowski’s book Read Their Mind: How to Hear What the Marketplace Wants and Build A Huge Business, Katie Brazelton’s book Pathway To Purpose for Women, and my book The Hands Of A Woman. What do you have to give away to others that will bless them?

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” ~ Luke 6:38, NLT

Are you a friend of God?

Tony had been led by God to ask one of the attendees, Donnisha Russell, if she could sing and would she lead worship that morning. Donnisha’s face broke out into a wide smile, and she said yes. She has a beautiful voice, which you can hear a little of as she sings “Friend of God” in this video by clicking here.

Donnisha Russell singing

You see, only God had told Tony that Donnisha sings! That is the kind of God we serve!

I believe the Women of Destiny conference being on the waters was significant and prophetic. God had given me the following points about the conference:

Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” God was hovering over the people on the ship and the waters as we traveled, just as He hovered over the waters in the beginning of time. God wanted to touch not only the women at the conference, but all those on the Carnival Destiny cruise ship with His Holy Presence! This is something God spoke to Tony and me both before the conference.

My favorite scripture, Psalm 42:7: “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterfalls: all your waves and your billows are gone over me.” Deep calls unto deep – God wanted to speak to us the deep things of God during the conference by His Holy Spirit – through prayer, worship, and studying His word. Only the Spirit of God understands the thoughts of God; the natural man doesn’t understand or accept them.

We as women of God have an incredible purpose and destiny and we will need the double portion anointing of God like Elisha had, in order to fulfill our great destiny. (2 Kings 2)

Satan will try to hinder or stop you from achieving your great destiny through fears, distractions, stress, strife, discouragement, getting you to just give up and quit, not using your spiritual gifts, spiritual apathy and laziness, and many other strategic tactics….but God is greater. Your destiny is inevitable, with faith and trust in God. Keep pressing on and running the race to the finish line!

Beth Jones, speaking at Women of Destiny conference

I had so much fun giving away the gifts at the conference. Here I am with Carlette Jackson. Carlette is such a friendly woman and she is absolutely HILARIOUS. She shared lots of helpful tips with me about the cruise. She also had all of us in stitches laughing one night at dinner, telling us how she lets her kids know they WILL behave in her house.

Beth Jones & gift winner Carlette Jackson

Another winner was Ana Muniz. Ana was so sweet. She has been blessed with a lot of children and as she told me, “All my children are good children.” She and her daughter Enid came together on the cruise to the conference, which I thought was awesome. It was Ana’s Mother’s Day gift!

Beth Jones & gift winner Ana Muniz

The pic below is of Ana’s beautiful daughter Enid, who has a heart for Mexican women to pursue the things of God.

Beth Jones & Enid Narvaez

The third winner was LaToya Gay. I was friends with LaToya on Facebook prior to the cruise, but like with Tony, I’d never met her in person. I was so happy to finally meet her in real life!

We hit it right off . She, Tony and I talked a long time one night on the top deck. (And LaToya was afraid of heights, but she went up there!). She and these other women of God are mighty women of God! LaToya is a powerful worship leader. I had no idea that she had that kind of voice!

LaToya bought my book The Hands Of A Woman, and in the pic below I am sharing words of encouragement with her as I’m signing my book for her, about her being a warrior like Deborah (book of Judges). If you are not already on Facebook and Twitter (and Pinterest) to make new friends and to network, I encourage you to do so. You will have divine connections like these!

Beth Jones & LaToya Gay

Other awesome women at this conference were Founder and President Delonda Adams of Proverbs 31 Mama Ministries, and Carol Patterson, who personally blessed me with her generosity and instant friendship. Tony spoke powerful words of destiny into these ladies’ and the other attendees’ lives.

Donnisha Russell, LaToya Gay, and P31 Mama Ministries Founder Delonda Adams

My favorite women at this conference were Well Watered Woman Ministry leader Tony Robinson, her powerful intercessor Kim Hudson, and Tony’s conference M.C. Angela Hardy. These are beautiful, anointed, incredible women and I loved them and the women at this conference instantly! I hope we all stay connected and are friends for life!

Angela Hardy, Tony Robinson, & Kim Hudson

Since Tony and I were roommates throughout the cruise, we had an opportunity to talk privately some. She is a powerhouse for God. I loved watching her preach and teach. She walks her talk. She’s a wonderful person, a woman of faith in God and she walks in peace, no matter what circumstances say. Tony has a huge heart of giving and love, and is very prophetic. (She will read your mail!) She is inspiring as a wife and a mother.

Kim is Tony’s ministry intercessor. She’s God’s battleax in prayer. (Jeremiah 51:20) Kim personally ministered to me one night on the cruise. She came to check on me just to see if I was doing okay, and she prayed for me and blessed me so much, sharing words that uplifted me and gave me great hope.

I loved watching her in action at the conference as she prayed over the meetings, prayed for Tony, and prayed over the women. Kim also had been “praying it through” for me to get to the conference. I attribute Tony’s, Kim’s, and Tony’s team members’ prayers with the victory!

What is incredible is that even though Kim had never met me before, God gave her a prophetic dream of me speaking at the conference. When my plane flight was cancelled the day I was leaving for the cruise, Kim reassured Tony I WOULD be there, speaking at the conference because God had given her that dream. I love how God works!

Carol Patterson & Kim Hudson

Kim is married to a man who is a great man, a man after God’s own heart like King David and is a spiritual father like Abraham. I believe that one day he and Tony’s husband Reggie will meet Ray, and they will all hit it off great! Divine appointments!

I felt like beautiful Angela was my black twin sister, LOL. She and I have been through similar painful things. She is ON FIRE for God! The MOMENT she takes the mic, the anointing is INSTANT. I wanted to hear her preach so bad! Next time, Angela! Angela and I spent some together on the deck just sharing our hearts with each other.

Below is a picture of Angela with another Women of Destiny conference attendee and mighty Deborah warrior, Deborah Caldwell. Deborah is a serial cruiser, having taken many other cruises before this one. She and Carlette Jackson gave me great tips about cruises. Deborah bought my book and personally encouraged me that God had indeed sent me there to the conference to speak words of truth.

Angela Hardy and Deborah Caldwell

After I spoke, Tony prayed over the women attending the conference including me, and she really encouraged me. That first meeting ignited our hearts with anticipation for the rest of the conference.

We relaxed the rest of the day ~ eating, resting on the deck, swimming, just doing whatever we wanted.

After I experienced all the bad-singing karaoke that I could stomach for awhile, I went down to my cabin room for a few minutes and Tony came downstairs, too. She, Angela, and LaToya were going dancing in the purple room together, and Tony invited me to go with them.

I LOVE this pic below of Tony and Angela dancing in the purple room. I crack up laughing whenever I look at it. Angela said every time she starts dancing, she just can’t stop! They know how to DANCE! We were having so much fun!

Tony and Angela dancing

Below is a pic of LaToya dancing. She knows how to dance, too! We had a BLAST!

LaToya dancing

Here is a short video I made today, I Just Gotta’ Dance! I haven’t been dancing in awhile and it was great! Dancing makes me happy! Dancing will set you free. King David danced before God with all his might.

You can see a short video of the ocean from the top deck by clicking here:

In tomorrow’s Blog Series Part 5, I’ll be sharing about visiting Grand Turk, where the water is blue-green, clear as crystal, and just incredible to swim in…and what God spoke to my heart there that will encourage you, too.

Blog Series Part 3 – Women of Destiny

Beth Jones — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:00:37 +0000

This is a Blog Series on the Women of Destiny Conference, Cruise to the Bahamas, which will be continuing through this week.

Click here for Blog Series Part 2 – Resistance

Part 3 – Ship Destiny

God has a great destiny for you. Are you ready for it? Will you walk in it? I had no clue that God was going to send me to the Bahamas for His purposes, but He did. I had to be ready to go when He called me. Preparation for your destiny is vital. It will give you the faith, the strength, and the courage you need when the battle begins heating up.

In yesterday’s post, I shared about the enemy resisting your great destiny.

But God had said I was going to the Bahamas. Do you know that with God on your side, you are unstoppable with faith in Christ? Distractions prior to the trip, attacks against me and my family, and a cancelled plane flight weren’t going to stop what God had already said. God always has the last word!

God also has a sense of humor. As Tony said when she spoke at the conference, “God has jokes.” Haha, so true! I don’t deal well with heat. I freeze my family in our home, cranking up the a-c in the summer. In winter, I keep the heat turned down low. Throughout the year, they stay covered in blankets, shivering. When I went outside the Miami airport, it was about 90 degrees, humid and sticky. Perspiration dripped from my forehead and neck. Only God could get me to go somewhere hot – ON PURPOSE.

Miami was a blur as my taxi cab driver sped to the port, weaving in and out of cars. The taxi to the port was about $27, just FYI. As soon as the taxi cab driver pulled up to the curb at the port, the Carnival Destiny staff person was waiting there. He greeted me in such a friendly way and offered to take my bags.

The taxis sped by, hard to get a pic!

You can give the staff all of your bags at the curb if you want to, and they bring them to your cabin, but I just gave him one luggage piece. It’s expected to tip at least $1 USD for this help. I was surprised how quickly the staff gets your luggage to your cabin. The staff is AMAZING!

The required gratuity for the staff is $11.50 per day, which is divided among all the staff. When you see how they wait on you hand and foot, you will be shocked that the gratuity is so low. As Tony told me, you’ll want to take them home with you! For an entire week, I didn’t have to cook, clean, or make my bed! I felt so spoiled!

What a relief that I’d gotten to the ship in time!

You have to show your passport as soon as you enter the building, and go through security again. From the moment I stepped into Carnival Destiny’s building, I was so blessed by how friendly the staff were. You show your passport and boarding documents, and then you are given a “Sign and Sail” card, which as Tony warned me beforehand is your “lifeline.” Do NOT lose this! It has your name and all your important info, and is your key into your cabin room.

The ship doesn’t carry any cash, so it works like your bank’s credit-debit card. You also don’t leave it on the ship in your cabin after the trip because the magnetic strip holds all your credit card info and you don’t want to be a victim of identity theft.

You can get a lanyard in different colors (I chose purple!) and have the card punched at the casino, so you can wear the card around your neck without worrying about losing it. I was so happy about the lanyard, as I have a tendency to lose my keys, phone, and debit card a lot and then freak out, asking my family to pray that I find it. This is a REGULAR occurrence at my house.

Sign and Sail card - your "lifeline" on the ship

The Carnival Destiny ship was enormous, although there are bigger ships, like the Disney Dream and Glory ships which we saw pulling into the port at Nassau. When you go on the ship, you first walk along the deck, then you enter the lobby area on the 3rd deck. A woman checked my passport and boarding document, then took my picture -I suppose so they have a picture of me for identitification if I were to drown! :O

Side of the cruise ship Carnival Destiny

The bar is right there when you enter, so it’s a happening place. Throughout the cruise, you will see people drinking everywhere, so just be prepared. I saw some drama on the swimming pool deck the night before we left: a woman was kissing on one woman’s husband in the jacuzzi, and a chic fight broke out. You can bet the woman was letting her husband have it. (They were all drunk.) Other female passengers on the ship who had seen it all were letting the man have it, too, and cheering on the wife.

Anyway, I was lost when I first entered the ship. The ship was ENORMOUS and I never did figure out how to get around everywhere. I learned the front of the ship is the “forward” and the back of the ship is the “aft.” I finally stopped calling the ship “a boat.”

I asked a staff person nearby where I go to get to my cabin, and found my way to the elevator. Mine and Tony’s room that we shared throughout the cruise was an interior cabin (no window) and on the second deck ( a lower deck). It was small, but not as small as I’d expected from a friend who told me the rooms are “really tiny.” The cabins are nice! My bed is on the left in this pic. I slept wonderfully the entire cruise, thank God!

As soon as I set down my luggage, Tony came through the door, and just hugged me, laughing with joy that I’d gotten there! My first thought was, “Tony is so TALL!” She’s almost 6 feet tall. Her worship leader LaToya Gay – who I am friends with on Facebook – was just as surprised to see how short I am. I’m only 5’1″ tall!

Tony and I were so happy to finally meet in person. We’d been friends on Facebook for a few months. It was so awesome meeting Facebook friends in real life! If you aren’t using Facebook to make new friends and network, now is the time! I believe Tony and I will be friends for life. She’s an amazing, beautiful, anointed woman of God.

After I got settled in, then I went to explore the ship. Tony showed me the meeting room where I’d speak at the conference the next morning (Tuesday). The meeting room was PERFECT.

It had a huge window view of the ocean, which fit right along with what I’d share about from Psalm 42:7 (“Deep calls to deep at the noise of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and billows are gone over me”), Genesis 1:1-2 (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”), and women’s great destiny.

You can view a video of me showing you the meeting room where I spoke by clicking here. You can also view other videos of the trip there. (I’ll be adding more this weekend.)

In our cabin the first day, Tony and I filled the gift bags with goodies from sponsors of the conference. When I asked Tony how she was able to get the sponsors, she said God gave her the idea and told her to “just ask.”

Is there something that you need to ask God for today? God desires to bless His people who love and obey Him!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” ~ Matthew 7:7, NIV

After we filled the bags and took them to the meeting room, then we got dressed for dinner in the formal dining room. Cruises are known for their food. All the meals you can eat are included in the fare. Some of the best food I had on the ship was lobster and lasagne (not the same night!).

Lobster and shrimp dinner on cruise ship - YUM!

You can have as much food as you want. If you want all the appetizers, two main courses, or three desserts, you can have them! You likely won’t lose weight on a cruise!

Here’s a pic of desserts I sampled one night on a dessert splurge – the banana was dipped in the chocolate fountain. YUM!

Banana dipped in chocolate fountain

Passenger’s extra costs are for sodas, alcohol, gifts from the shops, (it’s more like a nice mall!), and any other extras like Tylenol, suntan lotion, etc. This is where they “get” people…it all adds up, using that little Sign and Sail card! When the cruise is over, there’s a line of irate people, who are objecting to their very large bill from all the drinks they didn’t realize they’d ordered!

The ship had 10 decks. You can access the decks through stairs like the one below, or go on the elevators.

Stairs to one of the decks on the Carnival Destiny cruise ship

The ship is beautifully decorated. Here is one of the halls on the 5th deck, the main deck where there are meeting rooms, stores, the casino, the dance floor, the show rooms, etc.

Beautiful hall on the 5th deck of the Carnival Destiny

One of the prettiest rooms on the ship was the “purple” room, where they had dancing at night. Tony Robinson, I, Tony’s conference M.C. Angela Hardy, and Tony’s worship leader LaToya Gay danced a few dances one night there. It was so fun!

Purple room on the Carnival Destiny ship

The staff provides activities for kids on the cruise, and one night the kids did the wedding “cha-cha” dance. You can view a short video clip of it by clicking here.

Our cabin steward, Jay, took excellent care of Tony and me. One of the well-known services the stewards offer, other than cleaning your room, making your bed, and attending to your every need, are the towel animals. They are so cute! Here’s one Jay made for us:

Towel animal on Carnival Destiny

There’s a lot to do on the ship while at sea (mostly eat too much! But amazingly, I didn’t gain ANY weight on this cruise – probably the walking and swimming I did. I also tried to eat healthy, although I ate a LOT!).

You can attend shows at night, dance to the live bands like this cute elderly couple, shop in the stores, swim in the pool, relax in the jacuzzi, or sit on one of the decks and just praise God for the glorious view of the ocean. It is so relaxing.

Deck and view of ocean on Carnival Destiny cruise ship

Tomorrow I’ll continue this blog series, sharing more pics and videos with you of my trip to the Bahamas. Meanwhile, enjoy videos of my trip my Facebook page or on my YouTube channel. Be sure to mark your favorites and leave your comments to let me know what you think!

Videos of Bahamas trip

Beth Jones — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:02:33 +0000

Dresses in Grand Turk souvenir shop

I’ve been posting pics and videos of my trip to the Bahamas on my Facebook business page (not my Facebook profile page!). This was foremost a business trip, so that is why they are on the business page. Videos take up a LOT of space on a website, but I want you to be able to enjoy them, so you can view them on my Facebook business page by clicking here.

OR you can view them on my YouTube channel by clicking here.

I’m not sure why, but many of the videos didn’t have sound for some reason and they also need to be rotated with Windows Live Movie Maker so I’m having to rotate them first – and I’ve added Reggae music to them for you to enjoy them.

Windows Live Movie Maker won’t rotate the videos in their current format from my phone, so I have to use Real Player Converter to convert them to WMV format first. Then I have to rotate the video with Windows Live.

As you can imagine, this is a slow process that is taking a LOT of time because I have LOTS of videos! :O But I’m determined to keep posting them for you to enjoy! What do you think of the ones I have finished so far?

I’m also uploading the pics to my Facebook page as fast as possible, and I’ll continue writing my Women of Destiny blog series here at www.BethJones.net, so keep checking back to read about this exciting trip!

Keep checking my Facebook page and YouTube channel this weekend and next week to view the videos – and be sure to “favorite” them and “like” my Facebook page. Let me know what you think of the pics and videos by leaving your comments. I hope to finish my ebook on the trip SOON!

Blog Series Part 2: Women of Destiny

Beth Jones — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:43:48 +0000

Carnival Destiny ship

This is a Blog Series on the Women of Destiny Conference, Cruise to the Bahamas, which will be continuing throughout this week.

Click here for Blog Series Part 1 – The Invitation.

Part 2 – Resistance

When you have said yes to God to fulfill your great destiny, the enemy Satan immediately tries to hinder or stop you.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, NASB)

God is greater than Satan. The battle and the victory belong to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

After Ray said he thought I should do it and after I prayed and God told me to accept Tony Robinson’s invitation to speak at the Women of Destiny conference on the cruise to the Bahamas, I had to immediately prepare with prayer regarding my fears, the costs, and the message.

We had to have faith for this trip. God would have to provide the finances for this if I was going to go. We live off of Ray’s paramedic salary and my speaking/writing/coaching business which just started a year ago. As I shared in yesterday’s post, my cruise fare would be covered by Well Watered Woman Ministries, but I’d need provision for my hotel stays, the air fare from Kansas City, MO to Miami, FL and back, and spending money.

I also needed to pray to hear what God wanted me to speak about at the conference. I immediately felt that the name of the cruise ship, Carnival Destiny, and the conference name, Women of Destiny, was significant and prophetic.

I also sensed that there was something prophetic about this conference being on the waters. God reminded me of Genesis 1:2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

God’s Spirit would be hovering over this ship and the waters that we were going through. He wanted revival on the entire ship and in the Bahamas, and He would use us women at the conference to do it!

I spoke about this and on the great destiny God has for women.

God has an incredible purpose and destiny for your life. Do you know what that purpose and calling is? If you ask God, He will show you. If you need a coach to help guide you in the process of discovering and living out your purpose, you can find out more about my coaching services by clicking here.

Not what I want, but what You want, God

Ray has always wanted to go on a cruise to the Bahamas and wanted to go on the cruise with me. Tony was also praying for her husband and four children to go with her on this cruise. We prayed for months in faith for God to make a way where there was no way.

The provision came in miraculously for Tony and me to get a cabin, and Tony booked us as “temporary roommates” until Reggie and Ray were booked. Then in January 2012, Ray worked some overtime at work, so I was able to book my roundtrip flight.

Right before I left, my precious sister Maria – a single mother of three children – sent me a financial blessing in the mail to sow into this good soil opportunity. Initially I deposited it in the bank to book Ray’s cruise fare when a cabin opened up. When he couldn’t go, this was the provision for my spending money for my meals at the ports and for spending money for souvenirs.

My precious sis Maria and her 3 kids

Our prayers were being heard! These provisions by God boosted our faith even more.

Tony’s husband Reggie had prepared a great speaking presentation on not allowing the enemy to stop your destiny. Tony’s kids were planning to present workshops for youth on the cruise, and one of her daughters worked up to the last minute on her speech in child-like faith. The kids had their bags packed and ready to go.

At the midnight hour, a friend of Ray’s loaned Ray the money for his cabin cost, air fare, and spending money. We had above what we needed for this cruise and were so excited!

The morning I was leaving, Ray went to the airport with me when our daughter Heather took me, with a packed bag, in faith that a cabin would open up for him and Reggie to share as room mates.

But we were meeting resistance. Cabins didn’t open up. The cruise was booked solid.

Everyone who was to go on this ship experienced spiritual warfare. Satan did all he could to distract us, cause us fear, and stress us out before boarding this ship. He attacked our families, our emotions, and our health.

The day I was leaving for the cruise, my flight was first delayed, then completely cancelled! The airline cited maintenance issues as the reason. Looking back now, I believe God was protecting me from something happening to me on the plane…but at the time, it was quite stressful. I had to choose to walk in peace when this happened, and not freak out!

There were no other flights going from Kansas City to Miami. The airline provided an overnight hotel stay free of charge, gave me two food vouchers, and gave me $50 credit toward another air fare. They put me on standby for a flight leaving the next morning, which meant I had to leave for the airport about 4:30 a.m.! (I am NOT a morning person!)

Hotel room where airlines booked me in KC

My cancelled flight meant that I would lose the money that I had spent on booking a hotel at in Miami that night! I prayed for God to restore this loss. When I came home from my trip, I had an email that a woman had ordered and paid for a bulk quantity of my book, The Hands Of A Woman, for a Bible study at her church. God answered my prayer before I even left!

I was able to get on that standby flight the next morning, but found when I boarded the plane, that I was at the very BACK of the plane – the last seat! I asked the flight attendant if I could move closer because I was on a time crunch and she said that was the gate agent’s responsibility, who was in too much of a hurry to do anything now. Unreal. The airlines should have bumped me to first class for the inconvenience.

“”So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” ~ Matthew 20:16, NIV

By this time, I confess that I was irritated and tired. On top of this, the passenger beside me didn’t want to sit by the window (I had the aisle seat), and sat right next to me. Please understand, I normally LIKE people, but I just wanted to be left alone and sleep.

This man would have none of that! He wanted to TALK. He asked questions, too. He was a foreigner, a short little man who spoke with broken English. I had a lot of trouble understanding him and kept having to ask him to repeat himself. You may think this is funny, but now I wonder if he was really an angel…yes, an angel who didn’t speak very good English.

When he found out that I was on a time crunch to get to a ship by that afternoon (I would be flown to Atlanta first, then Miami), he went to the bathroom toward the front, and when he came out, he looked around the cabin. Then he boldly told the flight attendant that there were PLENTY of seats up front where I could move closer to the front!

The flight attendant looked and said I could move closer. I thanked the man and he nodded, smiling big. I believe now that if I wasn’t moved closer, I might have been late getting to the ship! Ironically, the woman I sat next to toward the front had been on a cruise before and gave me some helpful tips. Just before I deplaned, she grabbed my arm and said, ‘Don’t take the cruise’s shuttle to the ship. Take a taxi – it’s faster and will get you there on time!”

How many angels had God sent to earth for me for this assignment?

In Atlanta, GA, on my layover, my plane was delayed again, which gave everyone involved another scare. While waiting to find out more info, I was praying and texting Ray, Heather, my sister Maria, and Tony to pray. I went on Facebook and posted a short prayer status: “Need intercessors to pray NOW! Thank you.”

Thank God for intercessors! See how God uses social media for His purposes? I was able to get on that flight. When I landed in Miami, I was sprinting through the airport, texting Tony and my family on the run, LOL.

In Atlanta, the flight attendant had taken my purple roller board, saying there wasn’t enough room on the plane. They’d go ahead and send it to my final destination, and it would be waiting with my one checked piece of luggage. I looked dubiously at my roller board being tagged and quickly wheeled away, and prayed to God it wouldn’t get lost.

At least I still had my makeup, my outfit to speak in, my Bible, and the speaking presentation with me! The essentials in life!

This next part is nothing but GOD! When I got to baggage claim in Miami, I went up to the man who was answering questions about baggage claim and suddenly I see this airline staff person RUNNING out with my two purple luggage pieces! This NEVER happens! You always have to wait forever for your luggage at the carousel! I think she was an angel sent by God to help me! God wanted me on that ship!

I yelled, “Those are my bags!” and grabbed them from her, then ran outside in the hot Miami weather to the curbside to get a taxi. My sister thought this was hilarious. Perspiration dripped from my face and neck. Only God could get me to go somewhere hot – ON PURPOSE!

Meanwhile, Tony was already on the ship and texting me, “If you don’t get to the ship by a certain time, they won’t let you on!” I texted back, “Getting a cab now!”

There was a long line of people waiting for a cab. You couldn’t get your own taxi; you had to get in line. It was some sort of weird Miami rule. A man with a radio calling taxis got a taxi for you.I couldn’t get a very good pic of the taxis, because they sped by….

Taxi - Miami was a blur!

The taxi driver that I got said that he didn’t understand English very well, but when I asked if he could give me change, he understood that! “No change!” he said.

He also understood the word “Fast!” to get to the port. Miami was a blur as he sped to the port, weaving in and out of cars. Would I make it to the ship alive?

By the time I arrived on the ship, I was exhausted, but exhilarated with excitement. With all I’d been through to get there, this was going to be GOOD!

Below is a picture I snapped through some glass windows of my ship Carnival Destiny at the port in Miami. The ship was ENORMOUS! I had just gone through security, showing them my passport and my boarding ticket.

From the moment, I entered Carnival Destiny’s building, I was so refreshed by their smiling faces and how they cater to your every need and desire! They truly have servant hearts!

Carnival Destiny cruise ship

Oh, but it was worth it all to get there! Remember, it’s always hottest before the breakthrough. Keep praying and keep your eyes on Jesus.

What resistance are you facing right now that is hindering or stopping you from fulfilling your great destiny?

Have you ever wondered why it is that right before something great is about to happen that all hell seems to break loose against you? That’s because it is! Satan hates us and can’t stand when we glorify Jesus Christ. If he can’t kill us, then he’ll do his best to:

throw us off course and cause our faith to be shipwrecked

discourage us

cause us to have unforgiveness toward someone and embitter us

cause us to just give up and quit

become spiritually apathetic and lazy, not using our gifts

render us ineffective to be used by God.

BUT GOD! The battle and the victory belong to Him!

So many things happened before this conference. Tony, her ministry team, and my family and I kept pressing through in prayer. People who had said they were going to go to this conference suddenly backed out. Suddenly Tony’s other speakers who were lined up for this conference couldn’t come for reasons beyond their control.

There were a few times when I began to wonder if I was going to be able to go, but I just kept praying and had faith in the word God had given me. God was sending me to the Bahamas for His glory! It was all about HIM and His kingdom purposes.

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” ~ Psalm 2:8, NIV

For whatever reason, Ray, Reggie, and Tony’s kids weren’t able to go this time. We don’t understand why, but we have to trust that God’s will was accomplished. Tony and I are believing they will all go next time!

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing on what it was like to step onto that huge ship for the first time and showing you some pics of the ship, so stay tuned for Blog Series Part 3!