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Beautiful changes

sunflowers & purple flowers

sunflowers & purple flowers

It’s officially Autumn (Fall), one of my fave times of year. The leaves haven’t changed to glorious colors yet here in Missouri, but will soon.

“Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” Heather Stillufsen

I’m knee-deep in writing my next book (on repentance – the book cover reveal is soon!), attending a ladies’ Bible study at my new church (Hope City Church in Harrisonville, Missouri), and leading a writers’ Progress Pod for my writing coaches CJ and Shelley Hitz’s membership site, Christian Book Academy. The brilliant idea and software for Progress Pods with The Next Tiny Step were created by Richard Ralston of New Zealand.

The progress pod helps with accountability and support to reach your goals and dreams faster. I love the ladies in both my Bible study and my pod each week! They are so sweet and encouraging. Some women in our pod are just starting to write their books and others already have published several. Many of us also write blog posts, speak, and coach. The main thing is just to keep going and not quit!

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

If you need help coaching to step out to speak or to write your book, here’s my coaching page for beginner speakers and writers. 

One of the ladies in our pod, Constance Diakow, just published her first book; it’s a cute children’s book called Henrietta and her Special Rain Boots. You can find it for sale at Amazon here. Another author, Jill English Johnston, has written a Be Still book series with beautiful photography, such as this one, Consider: Trusting the Abundance of God.  

dolphin Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

dolphin
Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

I was so honored that my writing coach Shelley asked me to lead one of the progress pods. I asked my husband Ray to help me name the pod. He has a quick wit and said immediately, “Dolphin Pod,” because dolphins swim in pods. He also knows that I LOVE dolphins.

When we got engaged, Ray didn’t have a lot of money then to buy me an expensive diamond engagement ring, so he bought me a gold dolphin ring. I still have it and keep it in my jewelry stand. (He later bought me a beautiful diamond one!)

dolphin engagement ring

dolphin engagement ring

This past Friday, I attended the ladies’ retreat at Hope City Church with our beautiful daughters Heather and Eden, and Heather’s beautiful, previous neighbor, Samoy. God’s presence was there and it was so fun! Over 260 ladies signed up for this first-time ladies’ retreat at Hope City – wow! This blew me away.

Ladies' RetreatL to R: Beautiful ladies! Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

Ladies’ Retreat
L to R: Beautiful ladies!
Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

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Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, worship/praise/music

When you’re looking for a new church home

Image: Edward Cisneros @ Unsplash

Image: Edward Cisneros @ Unsplash

My husband Ray and I have been looking for a new church home for years. I’m excited about the new church that we’ve been attending, Hope City Church of Harrisonville, Missouri. Why? We’re among the 1/3 of people who used to attend church, but now stay away specifically because they “lost trust in God, the church, or Christians.” (According to a 2019 “Unchurched Report” by Billy Graham Center Institute and Lifeway Research, You Found Me, Rich Richardson, p. 47)

Image: Julian Florez at Unsplash

Image: Julian Florez at Unsplash

It’s a startling and scary fact that the number of youth (Americans ages 18-29) who have no religious affiliation has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years, and 59% of millennials raised in a church have dropped out.

There are several reasons that Ray and I and our children were wounded that I won’t go into here, but we’ve had to walk through a LOT of forgiveness. Unfortunately, there are many people in the same boat. My hope is that this new church will be a safe haven for us of God’s agape (unconditional) love, truth, and forgiveness; that we can make new friends; and that we’ll be able to serve in the Body of Christ and use our spiritual gifts, talents, and skills for God’s glory there. 

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Blog, Business, Faith, Family, Fitness, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Speaking, Spiritual Gifts, Stress, Travel

Are you making 2nd quarter goals? Hope, health, & happiness.

Image source: Katie Harp @ Unsplash

Image source: Katie Harp @ Unsplash

Yesterday I met with our CPA to file our 2022 taxes. So. Not. Fun!

My husband Ray and I now owe even more taxes than the year before. I’m looking to Jehovah Jireh our Provider. 

God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice to God instead of his beloved, precious son Isaac. God told Abraham to kill Isaac to test Abraham’s faith in Him. When God saw that Abraham was going to obey, not even withholding from God his son who he waited years into his old age to have and who he greatly loved, God stopped Abraham.

“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, NKJV)

I’m also praying for a payment plan with the IRS to pay the taxes that we owe. Now that we’re into the second quarter of 2023, I’m making other goals as well. Are you?

To summarize them, my new goals are hope, health, and happiness. 

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