As moms, wives, and entrepreneurs, we need to continually learn from others as well as to get and give support so we can fulfill the greater purpose God has for our lives. I am in three different, great support groups right now (one is a mastermind) and lately we’ve been discussing how as Christian women, we daily face Satan’s attacks against us to distract us, cause us anxiety, stress us out, oppose our growth in God and our business success, or outright wipe us off the face of this earth.

The Bible says in John 10:10 (NLT), “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Satan is that thief, and he’s doing everything he can to come against the women who are passionately pursuing God, and who desire to make an eternal difference here on earth with their lives and their gifts that God has given them.

But God is greater than any demon in hell. He will give you victory if you just trust and have faith.

Right now I am offering an exclusive 25% discount off the price of my new ebook to everyone who signs up on my update list. This ebook is about women and spiritual warfare. Eight women share powerful stories about some of their worst spiritual battles, and about how their faith in Jesus Christ brought them through to the other side.

When you sign up for the update list, you’ll receive a free special report, 6 Tips For How To Find and Fulfill Your Great Purpose, and you’ll be able to get the special discount on my newest ebook, The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles, before the ebook is for sale here at Tablet of My Heart. This is a limited time only sale!

To learn more, just click on this link.  http://womensbattles.com/free-report.html

Remember, God is greater than Satan, and the battle belongs to the Lord!

Tomorrow, Friday, March 19, after midnight marks the beginning of Purim, going through March 20. Purim is the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar, celebrated to commemorate the events found in the book of Esther when God delivered the Jews from complete destruction, using Queen Esther (a Jew) to save her own people.  Queen Esther is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. She was a great woman of faith, prayer, and courage.

What does Purim have to do with us as Christians?

Although Chrisitans typically don’t celebrate Purim, we can remember how God delivered the Jews – and how He has delivered us from our enemy satan - and celebrate in our hearts with them. So many believers don’t get that God’s heart burns with passion toward Israel, and that  as believers we are intimately connected with Israel.

Ray and I have always celebrated Jewish holidays from a Messianic viewpoint, knowing that we’re connected with the Jews. I have  a special love in my heart for them. Years ago Ray and I went to Israel on a missions/pleasure trip – a huge dream of mine that God made come true.   Also, our Savior Jesus is Jewish, and Jesus celebrated the Jewish holidays. Ray and I have done a Messianic Passover each year, and while we may not go “full out” on the other holidays, we do try to remember them in some way.

 The Jews also gave us our Bible. Gentiles (non-Jews) are tied with the Jews by virtue of God’s covenant to all mankind that He would provide a Messiah(Genesis 3:15). The difference is that the Jews are still waiting for their Messiah, but Christians know the Messiah – Jesus – has already come, and will return soon.

What do Jews do to celebrate Purim?

It’s interesting to study how the Jews celebrate this holiday of Purim, that we can apply in our own lives anytime to demonstrate the love of Christ. There are four “requirements” for Jews to participate:

• Bible reading and study – They go to a synagogue to listen to the miraculous events of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) once during the day and once at night. They listen to the entire reading, which usually takes about 25 minutes. During the reading, they use noisemakers called graggers to show their displeasure and “stomp him out” when Haman’s name is mentioned during the reading. We can thank God that Jesus “stomped out” satan’s power on the cross!
• Charity – They give to at least two needy people.
• Help others – They prepare two ready-to-eat foods for at least one person.
• Celebrate life – They sit down to a royal feast.

Purim and prayer

As Christians we know the importance of prayer.  The Jews say the Al Hanissim prayer at Purim: “And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time -”

“In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose up against them, and sought to destroy, slaughter, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelth month, the month of Adar, and to take their spoil for plunder. But You, in Your abounding mercies, foiled his counsel and frustrated his intention and caused the evil he planned – to recoil on his own head, and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows.”

We as believers can praise God every day, too, for the miracles and great things He has done in our lives. We can thank God how He has frustrated satan’s intentions of destruction in our lives, destroying him through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection.

Foods and fun at Purim

Special foods are made, like the traditional hamantashen cookies, made with strawberry or apricot preserves. They have hidden fillings, which relates to the hidden mystery of God in the story.

While Christians have varying beliefs about the use of alcohol, the Jews also drink to celebrate God’s deliverance of His people on this day, “imbibing more than usual” – the only day of the year they are allowed to drink more than is their custom. Whatever your stance is on drinking, their celebration isn’t a drunken party, but it has an atmosphere of great joy. (I could do an entire teaching on the use of alcohol. There are always extremes on both sides of the coin.)

One fun custom of Purim is for children to dress up in costumes and masks, an allusion to the fact that the miracle of Purim was disguised in natural garments. While God isn’t specifically mentioned anywhere in the book of Esther, His Divine Hand is seen clearly behind the scenes. Kids also play games, do crafts, put together puzzles, and sing songs.

How we can pray for the Jews and Israel

As the Jews celebrate Purim, we can pray for their eyes to be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ and for their salvation, and for the continued protection of Israel. We can also read the book of Esther and model her example of faith, courage, and trust in God, no matter what we may face ahead. As we trust in God, we can have confidence He has us in His hands as He did Queen Esther and the Jews.

Queen Esther

Here were Esther’s brave words of faith and love for her people that she spoke when she learned of Haman’s evil plans to kill all the Jews.  It is why God chose her to be the new queen, to be used as a mighty weapon of warfare against the enemy intending to destroy the Jews. May we cultivate that same believing, faith-filled heart of love for God and others.

“”Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink at all for three entire days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die.” – Esther 4:16, God’s Word Translation

Video of Queen Esther coming before the king, facing possible death because he hadn’t summoned her (One Night With The King movie)

Elizabeth and Jim Maher

Yesterday I attended the funeral of our dear friend Jim Maher, worship leader at IHOP, author, speaker, and the man who used to be the worship leader at our former church and led the worship at our oldest daughter Heather’s wedding 8 years ago. The funeral was amazing. All of us laughed, cried, and celebrated the life of this great man of God. 

Jim’s death in a motorycle accident was very sudden and such a shock to everyone. His daughter Rebekah was following him in a car behind him, and witnessed the accident, being with him in his last moments. Please pray for his wife Elizabeth, Rebekah, their son Reuben, and all the family. We never know when it’s our time; that’s why it’s so important that we make the most out of every moment, living for God.

In today’s vlog, I talk about the funeral and the impact Jim had on my life personally – and the questions (and conclusions) his life and sudden death made me think about that I wanted to share with you.

You can buy his book As Storm Clouds Gather at Amazon here and The Coming Kingdom here.

Video about Jim Maher’s funeral

It’s been a week for prayer with Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, and a friend of our family’s dying suddenly in a motorcycle accident (Jim Maher – incredible worship leader with a firey passion for Christ. He played the beautiful song “Famous One” at our daughter Heather’s wedding. You can read a tribute to Jim at this blog post tribute by Tom Stuart.). Just now I got a text that a two-year-old girl with leukemia, who we’d been praying for, just passed away.

With tragic situations like this, it seems that things would come into clearer focus. And yet we’re such flawed human beings. We get distracted from what really matters.

The little frustrations each day drive us crazy. We fight with our spouse, get mad at the driver who’s tailing us, stress out over losing our debit card or cell phone (again!), and fret about the extra pounds on the scale.

Why don’t we just get a grip – knock it off? When are we ever going to grow up?

I’m thankful that God is so patient with me and extends grace as He watches me grow, like we do our own beautiful, precious children and grandchildren. I’m grateful that God holds me securely in His arms.

Please keep the people of Japan, our friend Jim’s family, and the little girl’s family in your prayers.

In memory of those in Japan who have died, our dear friend Jim Maher, and the two year old girl with leukemia, here is a video tribute with the song Held by Natalie Grant:

Video of Held - Natalie Grant

We’ve all heard the expression, ‘Your attitude determines your altitude.”  Meaning if you have a great attitude, the possibilities for you are limitless. Our minds and thoughts are powerful, and one way we can overcome everyday problems and even extreme hardship is by having a good attitude, thinking positive thoughts, and having strong faith in God.

The reverse is true, too. Lately dh Ray has been on a pickle kick. Claussen hearty garlic pickles, pickled okra, pickled asparagus. He’s just craving pickles for some reason. Yesterday at a convenience store he bought this pickle:

pickle

Do you see what it says on the package?  “Sour sis…one puckered pickle.”

I don’t want to be a “sour sis.”  I don’t want a frowning, puckered face. I want to have a cheerful attitude, a smile always on my face, to be a positive, life-giving person, and to have a rock-steady faith in Christ. I.e., I want to be like Jesus. 

What about you? Do you have ”an attitude”?  Do you struggle with doubt, negativity, depression, anger, gloom-and-doom expectations, pride, anxiety, stress?  Does your “tude” need adjusting lately?

One way our attitudes can become better is by renewing our minds. Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

It’s not always easy when problems or trials come up. But day by day we can train our minds to think new faith-filled thoughts and to develop a better attitude with all those around us – much like Roman soldiers used to train daily for hours with their swords to stay physically fit and to be skilled in the art of war. The Roman soldier was a master in sword-fighting, considered one of the best in those days:

“A legionnaire had to go through intense physical, mental, and military drills before being admitted to the unit. The daily regimen of a soldier was grueling: they started their morning with a march to build up endurance; they carried weights in running, walking, or swimming drills to build up strength and stamina; and they needed to endure hunger and thirst to prepare them in times when supplies were cut off. The Roman army was considered the best of its days, and it heavily used military science to defeat enemies. Compared to the armies of the barbarians, it is an army that knew exactly what to do at any point of the fight.”  (http://www.2-clicks-swords.com/article/roman-sword-fighting-techniques.html)

We too can train daily by renewing our minds with God’s word, so we are well-prepared for any battles ahead and so we will “soar” – by thinking on good things:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8, NLT

***Want to learn more about having a strong faith in Christ during spiritual battles until you see the victory? Sign up for my update list at http://www.bethjones.net (the opt-in box under the little pencil on the right sidebar of the page).  That way you’ll be able to keep up with the latest updates about my ebook on women and spiritual warfare that I’m writing now, which will be available soon.

prayer

Today I enjoyed Diane Cunningham’s call, especially when she shared about how connected we are as women today through social media. Some of the best friends I’ve ever made are online. On Twitter one night, I saw that a prayer request went out for Joanne Heim, speaker, author, beloved wife and homeschooling mom of two beautiful girls.  She’d had a major stroke.

I don’t know her and hadn’t read Joanne’s blog before, but I immediately started praying for her. So many people are, and as a result of those prayers, God has done miraculous things. Her rapid progress has amazed family, doctors and medical staff.

You see the button here at my site, “Praying for Joanne.”  I don’t usually put a lot of buttons on my site, but felt led by God to include this one.  It will remind me and others to continue to pray for her. Tonight I went on Joanne’s blog and read her husband Toben’s updates. Yes, all of them. I read every single blog post that he’d written since she had the stroke, tears filling my eyes as he described all Joanne and her family have been through, day by day – the uncertainty, the fears, the victories in Christ. 

I also read many of Joanne’s posts that she had written before the stroke, and was inspired, convicted, challenged. What an incredible woman of God.

I agree in faith for Joanne’s complete and total healing, and will keep praying. I also looked at her sister Kristen’s blog where Kristen has journaled Joanne’s incredible progress with blog posts and beautiful photography.

Let’s keep Joanne and her family lifted up before God.  I encourage you to stop by and visit Joanne’s website for updates. You can also give financially via Paypal or check here, send cards or letters, and spread the word through email, blogs, and social media.

barley

Are you satisfied?

Yesterday our daughter Leah and I spent a little time reading from the book of Ruth Chapter 2, and two verses really stood out to me about this word. I wanted to share this encouragement with you today. 

First, though, just to give you a little background, Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi had left Israel and gone with her husband Elimelech and their children to Moab because there was a famine in the land. While in Moab, Naomi’s sons had grown and married two Moabite (foreign) women, Orpah and Ruth. They were there about ten years when Naomi’s sons died, too. Naomi heard that the famine was over, and decided to go back home, and her daughters-in-law wanted to go back with her. But Naomi told them to go back to their own people and their own gods. Orpah left, but Ruth still begged to go with her, saying one of the most famous verses in the Bible (Ruth 1:16, NLT):

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

Naomi and Ruth went back to Bethelehem at the beginning of barley harvest, and because the custom of the Law was to allow the widow or any resident foreigner to gather anywhere she pleased, and landowners weren’t to completely reap the corners of his fields, leaving some of the gleanings for the strangers and the poor, Ruth was able to glean in a field of a family relative, Boaz. 

 Boaz had noticed Ruth. He had heard the news of the kindness she had shown her mother-in-law and how she had come back with her. He spoke a blessing over her, and invited her at mealtime to dip her piece of bread in the vinegar. This next verse is what stood out to me.

“So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.”  Then in verse  18, “So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satsified.”  (Ruth 1:14, 1:18)

Boaz is called the kinsman-redeemer because he had the right and the responsibility to redeem the forfeited inheritance of the family so that Elimelech’s property remained in the family. Boaz is a representation of Christ, our kinsman-redeemer, who has redeemed us from sin. Boaz’s eye was on Ruth, just as God’s loving eye is always on us.  Boaz fed Ruth the grain, like God gives us His good word to eat each day. Ruth took the parched grain and “was satisfied.” God’s presence, His word, is what truly satisfies us.

We were created with a God-void, an ache and a longing that only God’s love can fulfill.  People try to fill up the void and the emptiness with different things -relationships, food, sugar, drugs or alcohol, tobacco, career success, wealth, sports achievement, etc. But only God satisfies.

Ruth took just what she needed and kept some back, which she then gave to Naomi. God will not only fill us up with His presence and His word, but He will refresh and refill us so much that we will have an overflow in our lives, to give to others. We can share the good news of the gospel, heal the sick, prophecy a word of encouragement, teach the hungry, help the poor.

Are you satisfied or empty?  Come to God today, and let Him fill you up and satisfy you.

***Want to learn more about God’s presence and His word?  Click here for my 7-audio, quiet time series.

Beth Jones

Were you able to join us this weekend at Cindy Rushton’s Talk-a-Latte’ retreat? I spoke Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on Do The Next Thing – about us never operating in presumption, but always asking God what to do, like King David before each battle with Israel’s enemies. If you missed it and would still like to hear my workshop and the other great speakers, you can still grab the set for only $19.95 until Sunday, February 20 at midnight, when the price goes up to $29.95.

OR you can join Cindy’s Talk-a-Latte club, and pay the discounted price of $12.95, and receive this set and monthly audios. You’ll love them.

As usual, this weekend Cindy poured into us her secrets for ultimate productivity. We want to be productive and fruitful for God, not just busy all the time. We want to do and to be all that God has prepared for us for His glory.

What has God told you to do next? Maybe it’s:

• Write a book, article, or speech
• Do something you haven’t done before, like using video, getting a coach, doing a webinar or teleseminar
• Take a pottery class, college class, or a class on marketing or social media
• Focus on your physical fitness – start an aerobics class, walk, join a gym
• Forgive someone who has hurt you
• Start taking time out for yourself – a spa day, a hot bubble bath, a new hairstyle or color, a day at the mall or bookstore, going to Starbucks or Mexican with a girlfriend or alone
• Work on your marriage – have a weekend get-away at a bed-and-breakfast
• Go on a missions trip or to that place you’ve always wanted to travel to
• Start using your spiritual gifts. Find out what they are and begin using them. Fulfill your purpose!

What is the next thing God wants you to do? Leave your comments below.

Kimberly Ehlers

Do you have a favorite hero or heroine in the Bible? Someone who inspires you and that you admire? Maybe Noah, Abraham, Moses, Esther, Mary the mother of Jesus, or Mary Magdalene? One of my favorites is Deborah. Deborah was a judge and prophetess in Israel. She was also a great warrior for God, a woman of bold faith.

You can read more about her in Judges Chapter 4. I shared about Deborah in my recent webinar.

I also wrote an article about Deborah for my dear friend Kimberly Ehlers, and she posted part 1 of a two-part series of this article at her website here. You can read part 2 of the article at her website here.

While you’re there be sure to check out Kimberly’s wonderful bundle product, Messy Motives.

Her Messy Motives Bundle was based on her inspiration from Deborah.  At the end of the battle against Sisera, Deborah sang praise to God.  As Kimberly shared in her bundle, Deborah sang that those who love the LORD shine like the sun at full force. 

Kimberly’s website is to encourage parents who have children with serious and/or chronic health challenges. She is an anointed speaker and writer. Here is an excerpt from Kimberly’s wonderful article, Shining Like The Sun In Full Force – Even In Our Storm:

“Do our songs of praise come from hearts that adore Him?  Do our minds search His Word to find Him?  Do our prayers flow from souls that long for Him?  Do our actions share His love?  When your child is sick, our motives for doing these things easily become murky and not so pure.

When God’s people love Him passionately, great things happen.  Seas are parted.  Slaves are set free.  Evil is conquered.  The sick are healed. 

When God’s people love Him with all that they are, they “shine like the sun at full strength” (Judges 5:31b NKJ).  That was Deborah’s prayer, and it is mine now.  I want to see what life is like when I shine for the Lord, not just a little, but at FULL strength.  I want to find out what it’s like to mother and be a wife glowing with His power.”

Don’t you love it? Kimberly’s description is so beautiful – shining at full strength, glowing with God’s power. That is my prayer, too. May we shine with God’s love this day.

Kimberly’s articles and her products will be such a blessing to you! I encourage you to check out her site today.

 Have you ever wondered where God was, if He had just forgotten about you or those you love? Have you ever wondered if He was truly good? 

The 16th Century Spanish monk, St. John of the Cross, wrote a poem called The Dark Night of the Soul.  “Dark night of the soul” is a metaphor used to describe a phase in a person’s spiritual life, marked by a sense of loneliness and desolation.The main idea of the poem is the painful experience that people endure as they seek to grow in spiritual maturity and union with God. (Reference: Wikipedia)

This “dark night of the soul” is described perfectly by Ann Voskamp in her new book, One Thousand Gifts. She begins the book sharing the story of her younger sister’s death. Ann’s 18-year-old sister Amy had toddled across the country road, wandering after a kitty cat, and was hit by a propane delivery truck driver – killed instantly. Their mother saw the whole thing from her kitchen window, washing dishes. It is Ann’s first childhood memory, and where her life’s story and her book begins.

In this book, Ann asks the same questions we ask, but often never voice. “Where is God, really? How can He be good when babies die, and marriages implode, and dreams blow away, dust in the wind?” (p. 12)

And on page 14, “No, God, we won’t take what you give. No, God, Your plans are a gutted, bleeding mess and I didn’t sign up for this and You really thought I’d go for this?  No, God, this is ugly and this is a mess and can’t You get anything right and just haul all this pain out of here and I’ll take it from here, thanks. And God? Thanks for nothing.”

Have you ever felt that way?  Some of you may read that and react with shock and outrage. How could someone talk to God, the Creator, like that? Yet God knows we think it and He loves us anyway.  He is big enough to handle our questions, our anger, our confusion, our hurt,  He knows exactly the pain we feel. He, too, experienced a dark night of the soul when His creation, Adam and Eve, chose death instead of the life He made them for with Him.  He, too, knew the pain and sorrow we feel in this life when HIs only son Jesus died on the cross to redeem humanity.

Yet as Ann writes, it’s only in darkness that we understand and finally see light.

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” ~ Psalm 139:12

If you haven’t already bought One Thousand Gifts and joined the book club at (In)Courage, there’s still time. We just finished chapter one on Sunday. Below is a video on Chapter 1 from Sunday, with Ann. She will be there for each video session!

Thought for this week: has there been a time in your life where you wondered where God was? That you experienced a “dark night of the soul”?  Looking back, do you now realize God was there through it all, or do you still feel abandoned and wonder if He is really good?

Action step:  Journal about it today.

Video of Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts: Chapter One from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.

Secretariat

Last night Ray, Leah and I got to watch the amazing movie, Secretariat, about the greatest racehorse in American history. Secretariat was a large, chestnut American Thoroughbred horse that  became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years in 1973, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series – the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. These records still stand today.

He was sired by Bold Ruler, one of the most important stallions of his day, and Somethingroyal’s foal.

The movie was incredible and inspiring, even though writer Steven Crist - whose article I found by googling “Secretariat” - dislikes the movie not being historically accurate, and who objects to Edwin Hawkins’ spiritual song O Happy Day at the end of the movie:  “What in the world does ”Oh Happy Day/When Jesus washed/He washed our sins away” have to do with Secretariat winning the Belmont by 31 lengths?”

Well, Jesus IS the one who made the horse and gave him the power and endurance to run like he did! ANYWAY!

Secretariat’s jockey Ron Turcotte, who rode him to historical victory in the Triple Crown, said Secretariat was the greatest and fastest horse he’d ever ridden. Ron said that the horse was a ham, loving crowds, highly intelligent, and that he just loved to run. He was not afraid of anything. Jockeys try not to get attached to horses, but Ron was to Secretariat. He doesn’t believe there will ever be another horse like him. 

Factually accurate and sentimentally mushy or not, I thought the movie was still GREAT and LOVE it!  I’ve always had a special place in my heart for horses (I want one!), and felt  the movie had a great Biblical message – that we are winners, championship material.  ”All right then,” Penny said to Secretariat. “Let’s show them what you’re made of.”

It spoke to my heart about our lives as believers in Christ. “This is about life. You run at it!” Penny said of her horse.

• The odds were against Secretariat. He was one of the fastest horses in history, but many fast horses don’t have great endurance. When he died, it was discovered that Secretariat had an abnormally large heart, twice the size of a normal horse. This large heart was probably the reason he was able to run so fast and get more oxygen pumping in his body to endure. What spoke to me about this is that even when things seem very hard or even impossible, they aren’t because nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37) And may our own hearts be enlarged with God’s love.
• Sometimes all we need is just someone to believe in us, like Miss Chenery did Secretariat. “I’m that right,” his owner Penny Chenery (played by the beautiful Diane Lane) said about him winning the Triple Crown to wealthy breeder Ogden Phipps (James Cromwell), when he offered to buy him for $9 million and she refused because she knew she had a champion.
• “I’ve run my race.  You run your’s.” – Chenery said to Secretariat the evening before the Belmont Stakes. We all have unique gifts from God that He wants us to use for His glory. We need to fulfill the specific calling God has given us. Secretariat was created to be fast by God, and I’m sure God smiled as He watched Secretariat run that last stretch, winning by 31 lengths and running the fastest 1 1/2 miles in history at 2 :24 flat! 
• “I will not live the rest of my life in regret,” Penny said about not letting Secretariat race.  Don’t live a life of regret. Live to the fullest. “Let him run, Ronnie! Let him run!” Penny shouted to his jockey as Secretariat was going down the backstretch at Belmont.  What were you created to do and to be?  Run your race here on earth well! Don’t hold back in fear, doubt, or intimidation!
•  It’s your time. I loved watching the horse in the movie when he was at the gate, just before the race began. He eyed his competitor, but as soon as the gate lifted, all he focused on was what he was made to do – to run as fast as he could. Don’t worry about other people and what they think of you. Don’t try to be anyone other than who you are. It’s your time, your season. You are uniquely you, made for a specific purpose to glorify God.  This year 2011 is going to be a wonderful year for you. God has great plans for you this year. (Jeremiah 29:11) Now is your time to shine!

Here is the movie trailer of Secretariat, and below that is a clip of the real horse Secretariat winning the Triple Crown. It is just incredible to watch him with that 31-length lead. The  movie trailer and the clip of the real race just brought tears to my eyes. “‘You’re about to see something that you haven’t seen before!” Secretariat’s groom said.  Amen! God’s creation is just amazing! Enjoy.

Video of movie trailer Secretariat 

 
Video of Secretariat winning U.S. Triple Crown

February is almost here, so most of you have already jumped on the “3 in 30″ goal-setting for 2011 and even finished your January goals. I saw it on Twitter before January hit, but have been busy, so I’m just now getting around to putting the badge on my blog here and adding the twibbon to my Twitter and Facebook profiles. I already had 3 goals for January that I wrote down (though not here yet). Here they are for you: 

• Prepare for my spiritual warfare webinar on February 2, 2011
• Work on my ebook on women and spiritual warfare
• Organize my space at home – my office desk, closets, etc. 

I am ready and excited for the webinar (you still have time to sign up!), and have already written 3 chapters on my ebook (my deadline for the new ebook is February 29). After I took down our Christmas tree and decorations, I cleaned out drawers and closets, organized my file organizer, and went through all my sticky notes on my desk, taming that paper tiger.

Or you might not have even heard of it. What is 3 in 30? It’s a joint venture between Ashley Pichea (AP Freewriting 101) and Meghan Tucker (The Tuckers Take Tennessee) to encourage and challenge you to accomplish your goals.  

By breaking up our to-do lists into more doable, bite-sized chunks and checking in with each other over the course of a month, we can accomplish our goals together. It really helps when girlfriends are encouraging you that you can do it!

Sometimes we struggle with procrastination, distractions like the Facebook black hole, or just overwhelm. It’s like you need someone spurring you!

My February goals are:

• Have a GREAT webinar that brings a smile to God’s face, and that equips and empowers the women attending!!!
• Finish (you heard me say it!)  my ebook on women and spiritual warfare
• Start the new zumba class (our oldest daughter Heather is teaching it again, and is starting a second class in a different city), doing zumba at home in between class, at least 2-3 times  week with my tapes.  Arrg - pray for my self-discipline!

God has great things for you to do in 2011. He wants us to intentionally plan and set high goals, not just float along with a c’est sera sera attitude. As we go to Him in prayer and ask Him what He wants us to accomplish this year, He will show us and help us. And He will shine His glory through His Son Jesus in it, using you as the willing vessel!

So what are your goals for February? Write them down!  I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Julia Williams and son Ted Williams on Today show

Ted Williams, the homeless man whose voice is described as “golden,” already received a great opportunity from God;  he recorded a commercial for Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. He also reunited with his mom. A video posted by the Columbus Dispatch showed Ted walking quickly toward his mother at their New York reunion at a hotel, the first time they’d seen each other in about 20 years.  Both of them were in tears.

Ted said he just finished doing a commercial for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese that will air Sunday during the Fight Hunger Bowl on ESPN. According to Fox news, Ted recorded voiceover promos Thursday for MSNBC’s Lean Forward campagain, and the spots will begin running immediately. He’s being paid for the spots at an undisclosed amount. Can you imagine how thankful he is for these blessings from God after being homeless so long?

A position with the Cavaliers is still a possibility that could include announcing work at Quicken Loans Arena, the team’s downtown facility. They’ve offered him a two-year contract and would pay his living expenses. (Fox news)

He’s being offered lots of jobs right now, but in his interview on the Today show, he said he wants to choose just one, because the rest of the offers are just too overwhelming right now. (He’s even being offered a movie role!)  He also said that he hopes to get therapy with a pyscyhologist who’s a contributor on Today’s staff, to work on his issues, which I really hope he will do.  That way he won’t be on his own to deal with the overwhelm of offers and sudden publicity, and can have someone to help him through his addiction recovery process.

The interview of him on the Today show with his mom Julia is here.

Ted also taped an appearance on the NBC late-night show hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon, who told him his voice “is golden.” I agree, he has an incredible voice. I believe God wants to use this man for His glory and am really praying for him to keep clean from addiction.

When I watched the video of him and his mother Julia being interviewed on the Today show, I was intrigued by his mother. She looks great for being in her 90′s and was amusing sometimes, being so stern with him live on air about getting his life straight with God and especially when she talked about the sign he was holding, which embarrassed her and her family.  The sign is what gave him his break!  Besides, this is not about personal appearances, but about someone who’s fallen down and needs help getting back up – and more importantly, staying up!

Ted’s mom Julia said she had heard lots of promises over the years, and when she first saw him at the hotel reunion in New York, some of her first words were, “Don’t disappoint me.” 

She said he is her prodigal son and is hoping he will finally get his life straightened out.  I wanted to just shake her and tell her to say something positive to the man, but I’m sure she’s been through a LOT of worry and concern over Ted.  I am praying for them both, especially that Ted won’t relapse with all this attention coming at him all at once. Some of the comments I read on YouTube were that Julia provides the “tough love” Ted needs.

What do you think?  Was Julia too harsh on Ted, especially during the interview? Did you think she was a critical person? Or did you think she was just speaking truth to him that he needed? Have you ever had to deal with someone addicted to drugs and alcohol?  (Again, the interview on the Today show is  here.)  Please leave your comments below.

Below is the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese commercial with Ted. The commercial itself is pretty funny. The little boy cracked me up when he talked about dad being in the doghouse.  The mom’s expression at the dinner table is hilarious.  You hear Ted’s voice at the very end.

He’s considering the other job offers, and hopefully will get on the right path, being accountable to others, getting the professional help he needs for his addiction recovery, and making new godly friends. Wise advice for addicts is “New playgrounds, new playmates!” 

I am praying for a happy ending to this story, for God to help Ted stay clean of drugs and alcohol, and that the rest of his life will be victorious.  Please keep this man in prayer!

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese video- Ted Williams’ first commercial after being homeless

The Last Song photo

The Last Song is a new movie starring Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear, and Bobby Coleman about a rebellious teen girl and her father reconnecting after her parents’ divorce through their mutual piano music gift.  I felt the movie was symbollic of the spiritual gifts God has put inside of each of us, to use for His glory. Don’t let the music inside of you die. Play it for God’s glory. Join Beth Jones today as she shares about this movie and using your spiritual gifts and talents.

Download by mp3

When I married my husband Ray 18 years ago, shortly after we married, his grandfather Hutchins died and Ray was one of the heirs to his estate. Ray was very close to his grandparents and this was a great loss in his life. But we were blessed with his grandparents’ beautiful antique furniture and their antique china. 

Because it is valuable and we want to handle it with care, we use this delicate china only for special occasions such as family Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holiday meals. The china pattern is called “Georgia Rose,” which is interesting since I was born and raised in Georgia (Ray was born in Louisiana and raised in Louisiana and Texas, his parents’ and grandparents’ place of residnece). Here is a picture of the beautiful china pieces:

Ray's grandparents' antique china

This Thanksgiving we had a young guest who looked at the specially set table and told me he’d never sat at a formal table like this before, which took me by surprise. I told him that almost everything in our dining room was an inheritance from Ray’s grandparents. Like Mary pondering things in her heart, I thought about how God had blessed us with the antique furniture and the china, and then thought about the inheritance we give our children, both physically and spiritually.

Several years ago, I bought a beautiful, antique, Victorian, maroon-red sofa with a high, ornate back.  Our kids have more modern taste in furniture and decorating, so none of them really like it. Ray’s friend Ed, who helped us to load and haul the big, bulky thing in his pickup truck 60 miles to our home after we bought it at an antique store, joked that the day after Ray and I die, our kids are going to carry it to the side of the curb by our house, where the trashmen will pick it up. Well, I guess some things our kids don’t want to inherit! 

Seriously. Are you giving your children, grandchildren, and generations to come a godly inheritance? If not, what are they receiving from you?  Doubt? Unbelief? Anger? Unforgiveness? Bitterness? Distrust? Jealousy? Greed? Lust? Materialism?  Strife?

Or are they receiving God’s love, forgiveness, purity, holiness, faith, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, trust, giving heart?  When you are no longer here, what will you leave as your legacy?

I am thankful Ray received the antiques and the china. But more than anything, I want to leave a godly legacy of prayer and faith in Christ for our children and their children. I want them to know Jesus intimately, to be able to hear His voice clearly, to follow Him, to fulfill their great destiny in Him.

What will leave you behind for your children and those around you?

antique china plate

Plane departing

Several years ago I was a flight attendant for a company that owned small jets servicing a major airline. Imagine that you are a passenger 10 gates away from your gate, when you hear over the intercom, “Your flight leaves in 5 minutes.” Would you leisurely stroll along, stopping for a Starbucks latte’ or to buy a book at the newstand – or would you run to get to your gate on time and ultimately to your place of destination? Join Beth as she shares about the brevity of life and the importance of obeying God, loving others, and fulfilling your purpose from two major events this week.

You can download this podcast immediately to your computer, Ipod, or Iphone.

Download by mp3

Ugandan missionary Alma Jones

It’s been a busy couple of weeks flying to Phoenix to speak at Norma Washington Motivational Ministries’ conference, speaking at UHSE 2010 on Filled and Focused, and getting ready for the holidays.

This week I also interviewed African missionary Alma Jones at TalkShoe. Alma got cut off twice at the beginning of the interview, which was frustrating (gotta’ love technology!), but after that it went well and you will love her!  She is a hoot and has much wisdom to offer.

Alma has an incredible story of how God called her to go to Africa when she was 17 years old – and she finally went to Uganda, Africa at 73 years old!  She has been there for 7 years, teaching the Bible to Ugandan pastors and other people, is in the states right now, and returns December 31 this year.

You can hear this exciting story here, as well as my interview with our daughter Heather Denney doing a missions trip to Nashville this past summer.

Do you have a dream in your heart, something you want to do for God?  Do you feel like it’s never going to happen? Don’t give up on your dream.  God is able. For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1: 37)

Technology and I sometimes have a love-hate relationship. In today’s world, you have to be somewhat tech-savvy. For us tech-challenged people, our dependence on it can prove sometimes frustrating, especially when you can’t get it to work or something goes wrong – usually just when you need it!

Yesterday I changed my Gmail password and wrote down the wrong password.  (I know, I know, duh!)  Of course, Gmail won’t let me access the account without the right password (which is a good thing really!), and I now am completely dependent on Gmail staff’s mercy to get back to me  very soon at an alternate email, so I can access my Gmail email again.

 Although I have several backup email accounts in different places like Yahoo, my primary friendship and business contacts are in Gmail – and of course I have never written them down or created a backup file of them!  Lesson learned the hard way – my usual way of learning things! (If you need to get ahold of me meanwhile, email me at bethdiane68@yahoo.com.  The email name “Beth Jones” was already taken.  And say a prayer for me about the Gmail account, please! I am backing up my contacts as soon as I can access it again!)

I was thinking about needing the right password for the access to Gmail. This morning in impatience I tried several different ones that I thought were it, but apparently they weren’t exactly right. In our relationship with God, we can try to relate to Him or find Him in different ways. It may be through  going to church, reading the Bible or other devotional books, enjoying nature, doing yoga and meditation, being a good person,  joining religions like Islam, Hinduism, or New Age, or looking for God in any number of ways. But there is only one way to God, one “access” to an eternal relationship with Him.

That access is through faith in His only Son Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus, in the blood He shed for us at the Cross over 2,000 years ago for our sins.  He died for you and me so we could be forgiven of all our sins and have a relationship forever with God.  One day we will all die and give account to God for our lives, and it will be determined at that Judgment where we spend eternity, based on our relationship to God.  Faith in Jesus is the “password” to enter heaven for eternity.

I have such good news for you, dear friend.  It doesn’t matter what you have done wrong in the past or even right now. God will forgive you if you ask Him. I am so thankful for His mercy and forgiveness in my own life! You don’t have to get “all cleaned up” before you come to God. Jesus’ blood is what cleans us and makes us righteous before God.  “For everyone who calls upon the name of the  Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10: 13)

Do you have access to God through a saving faith in Jesus? If you don’t, I invite you today to meet my BFF (Best Friend Forever) Jesus. He’s waiting just for you.

Tonight on Facebook I saw a video posted by my friend Sherri Johnson. It is of a woman’s testimony of what Christ’s love and resurrection power can do in someone’s life.  This woman Heather in the video thought that it was men and drugs who could fill her up, thought these things would take away the hurt deep inside of her.  But nothing can fill that black hole inside of you and me but God’s love. I pray this ministers to you the way it did me.

Video testimony

Heather’s Story from West Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Yesterday I finished the last class of my 2010 Spring Clean Your Business coaching class with Cindy Rushton, and learned, among many other wonderful things, that in order to get to where we as writers and speakers desire to be, we need to take one step at a time. Reaching for those goals by accomplishing our to-do lists. Pushing through every obstacle to the finish line.  When one task is done, going to the next priority A thing, not losing any momentum.  Doing and becoming what God has called us to do and to be for His glory.

Today my daughter Leah and I made home-made pancakes. Since this was not a boxed pancake recipe, we had to carefully measure each ingredient: the flour, sugar, milk, vanilla, egg yolks and egg whites (separated), salt, and baking powder. If we stirred the mixture too much, the baking powder wouldn’t react correctly. The pancakes with butter and raspberry syrup turned out delicious. To cook the pancakes though, we had to take one ingredient at a time.

In life sometimes things happen that we don’t understand, or we have prayed and nothing seems to be happening. Has God gone on vacation? Is He chatting with or texting someone else on His giant Iphone?  We as humans with our finite minds just don’t get everything that God is doing. Maybe we never will fully understand God and His ways, which are so much higher than our ways. But we must learn to trust Him and to obey Him.

We get through the dark valleys and climb the mountains of glory in life one simple way:  we take every moment, every day, every situation, one prayer at a time.

God hears your voice. Don’t stop praying.

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (1 Peter 4:7, The Message)

***********

Did you enjoy this post by Beth?  Learn more about prayer here.