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light

Blog, Faith, prayer

My one word 2023: Light

How is your 2023 going so far? Before the beginning of each year, I reflect on that year and pray about the coming year. God often begins speaking to me a “one word” before the beginning of each year which serves as a theme throughout the year, and He usually also gives me a Scripture or two for the year.

Sometimes He gives me a song to go with the one word. (I stopped making new year’s resolutions years ago because I often broke them within the first month — or the first week!)

Let your light shine image

My one word for 2023 is “Light.”

The two Scriptures for this one word are John 1:5 and Daniel 12:3.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.’ (Daniel 12:3)

One word 2023: Light
Shine like the stars!
Photo source by Alexander Andrews @ Unsplash

God never intended for us to hide, but to use our spiritual gifts, talents, and skills to shine like the stars for His glory.

Here are some fun facts about stars (source: Google):

January 22, 2023 by Beth Jones

Blog, Faith, prayer, Spiritual Gifts

Be salty

Please read this blog at your own risk. DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this blog post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various spiritual and practical topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

salt

My husband Ray loves salt. He puts salt on everything. No matter what dish I cook, even if I salt it or it has salted ingredients, he adds salt to his food at the dining table.

He loves pickles, because of the salt: pickles, pickled okra, pickled asparagus. The first thing he does when his paycheck hits the bank is to go to Walmart and buy his pickles to eat. One year as a joke, our daughter Heather and I bought him a pickle Christmas ornament decoration for our tree. We laughed so hard when he opened the present and stared at it.

Ray’s pickle Christmas ornament deco

Salt has so many benefits! The following information is from this website’s article: http://empoweredsustenance.com/salt-is-good-for-you/

It preserves food. It aids blood sugar control by improving insulin sensitivity. It’s a natural antihistamine.

Your body needs salt to maintain proper stomach ph. Salt lowers adrenaline (stress hormones) spikes.

woman sleeping

Salt improves sleep quality by suppressing stress hormones and increasing the metabolic rate. (If you’e having trouble sleeping, mix a pinch of salt in a little honey.)

Adequate salt consumption encourages a healthy weight and a fast metabolism. It leads to an increase in the elimination of cortisol and lower blood cortisol levels. Salt supports thyroid function by reducing circulating stress hormones. It balances hormones.

Slender girl looking in mirror

Most importantly, salt makes food taste good and enjoyable!

Jesus had something good to say about salt in Matthew 5:13-16, NLT:

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one hides a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

I want to be a salty girl, sharing the salt of God’s word with others, benefitting them and bringing good flavor to their lives.

Beth Jones
Women’s Conference Speaker & Author

One thing I love and could eat every day of my life is chips and salsa. It’s the wonderful salty flavor in the salsa, especially at my fave Mexican restaurant El Charro in Butler, MO, where I live. They have the very best salsa I’ve ever tried! In fact, I made Ray go get me some today!

chips and salsa

I love this quote I found online by Michelle Pfeiffer and really relate!

“My favorite food in the world is Mexican food. I’m not a dessert person. I’m more of a crunchy, salty girl. I could live on chips and salsa. I would take a Mexican meal over some fancy French cuisine anytime.”

What about you? Are you salty? Please leave your comments below.

(Medical Disclaimer: If you are experiencing any type of health issue such as hypertension or liver problems, or on prescription medication, please see your doctor before adding more salt to your diet. Please see the medical disclaimer at the top of this blog post.)

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Need a salty girl for your women’s conference or retreat? Contact me here about speaking at your event!

January 17, 2017 by Beth Jones

Blog

A candle in a dark world

manger scene
Source: Pinterest

Tonight is Christmas Eve. I just went to our church’s Christmas Eve service. It was beautiful.

The church sanctuary was decorated for Christmas with soft colored lights and a Christmas tree. We celebrated the Lord’s Supper (communion), partaking of the bread and wine (grape juice in our church!) that represents the broken body and the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice of Love for us on the Cross over 2,000 years ago.

communion
Source: http://images.wisegeek.com/communion-bread-and-wine.jpg

At the end of the service, everyone gathered in a circle holding white candles and Pastor Jeff lit his white candle first. He then lit the candles on either side of him, and everyone lit their neighbor’s candle until all were lit.

This was symbolic of Jesus Christ being the light of the world and how we are His ambassadors and are to share that Light and Love with others in a lost and dying world.

When I left to go home, one of the elders offered to take my candle, but I asked politely if I could keep it. If he had said no, we might have had a wrestling match right then and there, LOL! I was determined to keep this candle for tomorrow, when our kids and grandkids are coming over for our family Christmas lunch. I plan to light it before we eat, explaining about Jesus’ light and how we’re to be His vessels of Light here on earth–a candle in a dark world!

white candle from church

I pray you are having a blessed, happy Christmas Eve with your family and friends. I’m very excited about having our kids and grandkids over here tomorrow for Christmas lunch to celebrate and open their presents.

Since my husband Ray is in Texas right now after his stepfather Leonard’s death this week to support and help his mom, our family is having a non-traditional dinner, and are ordering Chinese food! It will be so fun.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”–John 8:12

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:14-16

I pray

December 24, 2016 by Beth Jones

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I'm an International Speaker, Author of 30 books (and still writing!), traveler, wife to fire chief/paramedic Ray, and a blessed mom of 3 beautiful daughters, Heather, Eden, and Leah. I encourage women to use their gifts for God's glory, fulfilling their great purpose, and living a life they love. I help aspiring Christian speakers & writers to share their hearts' unique, powerful messages. The ocean is my happy place and place of peace and refilling. I love Jesus, my family, my cats Natalya and Nichodemus, traveling, chips & salsa, coffee, chocolate, nature, music, and art. My husband Ray calls me an enigma: I love to laugh and cry a lot. What about you? I'd love to connect more with you and hear how you desire to make more of an impact here for God's glory. Thanks for stopping by here. I pray you will find the hope, inspiration, and motivation you need to become all God created you to be. Dream big because we serve a big God!