Browsing Tag

friendship

Blog, Faith, prayer, Spiritual Gifts

You are a _______!

I’ve been tweaking things at my website lately, like my EStore. I’ve added info products that I used to carry, and I’m planning to add more this year: ebooks, books, webinars, telecalls, cd’s. It’s time to get productive!

I was Skyping with a friend/business peer yesterday, who surprised me when she said she thought I was mostly a coach. Wha-a-a?! (No offense, coaches!)

We discussed how both of us can more effectively and clearly market ourselves and our biz.

We talked about how we as women entrepreneurs need to be bold and step up and say, “I am a _______.”

Beth Jones, International Speaker

Beth Jones speaking at Carriage House, Butler, MO

For me, that would be, “I am a public (professional) speaker.”

My signature talk is on The Power of Shoes, based on Cinderella’s story.

I so wish that I could claim credit for the title. One night I was having an insomniac, late-night Facebook chat with my jewelry artist friend Jennifer Whiddon, telling her my signature talk will be about Cinderella – and I wanted it to focus on shoes.

I LOVE shoes. Women in general love shoes.

Cinderella’s glass slippers were cool, and I wanted to encourage women to walk in their unique shoes (their purpose, life assignment, gifts). 

I spoke on Cinderella when I flew to Canada to speak at Doreen Penner’s women’s retreat in Manitoba (and bought beautiful, new shoes to wear when speaking!).

Since then, Doreen has strongly encouraged me to delve deeper into the story and consider it as my “one talk.”

Jennifer got really excited about the whole idea, and immediately thought of the title The Power of Shoes.

This is why I surround myself with brilliant, creative people. They think for me.

 Jennifer and I brainstormed about the talk. The wicked stepmother and stepsisters told Cinderella she couldn’t go to the ball like everyone else. She felt left behind, all alone. Have you ever felt like you were on the outside looking in at others?

You weren’t meant to fit in, but were created by God to STAND OUT ~ set apart by Him for a holy purpose! You were made to do great things!

No one could fit into Cinderella’s glass slippers but her. No one can fit into or walk in your  shoes, either – no one else has your purpose, your spiritual gifts, your personality, your looks, your experiences, your intelligence, your story, what makes you uniquely you.

This “not fitting in and standing out for God’s purpose” could be my unique hook for speaking….with me wearing a funky Cinderella dress and shoes (boots!). 

If you are an event planner or know someone who needs a women’s conference or retreat keynote speaker, contact me here. I’m now booking speaking events for 2014 and 2015.

(Shameless plug over now…)

Anyhoo, my friend knew I spoke, but it surprised me that she thought I was primarily a coach and an author! 

Yes, I write books. I’m writing one now ~ Promises in the Dark.  It is the most transparent, vulnerable book I’ve ever written, which is why I’ve had MAJOR resistance to writing it (I was supposed to finish it last year!). I.e., you hear about a lot of my bad stuff I’ve done! But it has a point!

If you haven’t heard about it, the book’s theme is God’s promises versus the world’s promises. The world promises you and me so much, but comes up empty and leaving us unsatisfied (and often hurt and filled with regret). God’s promises are true and forever. They fulfill you.

You can view the book trailer for it by clicking here.

And yes, I also coach clients. I’m working with 2 wonderful clients now!

But coaching is a way for me to use my spiritual gifts to help women discover their gifts, to tap into their creativity and great potential, and to succeed in business. It is also an additional income generating stream for my online biz.

But PRIMARILY, I am a speaker. And I love to travel. Combined together, this is my PASSION.

Speaking on a stage in front of a live audience and traveling are what makes me feel alive and energized. What makes you feel that way? Do you know?

I love looking into women’s faces as I speak to empower them, and encouraging their hearts. I love praying for them afterward, and if God is graceful to me, giving them a prophetic word from God to speak life into them and their troubling circumstances.

Urging them to come higher and step into God’s fullness for them. To display them for His glory.

I love when the anointing of God hits after I take the mic and then afterward, I am all empty, having been used by Him out of His utter mercy toward me…because it’s not about me anyway. God can use a donkey if He wants!

My constant prayer is, “Here, I am, Lord, send me” and “God, please, don’t let me flop…I can’t do this without you!” 🙂

I love studying His word, reading great books, and sharing with others the gems I’ve discovered. I love sharing the good news of my BFF, Jesus, how applicable and relevant and practical it still is in this post-modern, so independent world, and the powerful stories of what He’s done in mine and others’ lives. 

I can’t even breathe without Him. He’s everything to me. And I have to tell, even if I stumble over my words and am not polished perfect. But I’m simply willing to go wherever He wants and open my mouth and glorify Him. And I think He likes that, because He knows I will ALWAYS POINT TO JESUS. 

What’s funny about this speaking business is that years ago, I used to be scared to death to speak in front of people! Like most people. It’s the #2 fear among Americans.

So I am a speaker by default…and by divine assignment! God opened the door about 3 years ago for me to share my testimony at a woman’s Bible study. The director of the pro-life pregnancy center where I was a voluntary counselor was asked to speak there.

She was busy, so she recommended and volunteered me instead! When I got in front of that roomful of ladies, my whole body shook, I sweated profusely, and my voice quivered. I thought I was going to faint.

Then I got hooked on it. Now I LOVE IT! God has such a sense of humor ~ and uses the most unlikely of people.

Like me – a woman with a past, like the Samaritan woman at the well Jesus spoke to – and then He used her to turn the city inside out.

Turning my messes into messages of hope. Hope only Jesus can give.

So yea…if you didn’t know, I’m a speaker! If you need one, talk to me and let’s get this event booked! Email me at elizabethdjones@gmail.com or contact me here

Blog, Faith, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Writing

Darkness moves the Spirit of God

Vickie Oakley

Vickie Oakley

The Women’s Battles Radio Show today with special guest Vickie Oakley was very powerful.

On this show, Vickie shared the story of her 17 year old daughter Hope being suddenly and tragically killed in a car accident, and how God changed Vickie’s life through it.

One thing she said which struck me was when she shared from Genesis 1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

She said, “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Darkness moves the Spirit of God.”

Wow.

Are you in a dark time? Do you need hope?

If you weren’t able to attend the show today, you can listen to the replay by clicking on the link below:

Women’s Battles Radio Show with Vickie Oakley

Are you a parent whose child died, or another loved one?

Have you faced the loss of your marriage, job, career, ministry, home, or another kind of loss?

How did you get through it?

Vickie shared that while she greatly struggled after Hope’s death with the normal grief stages of shock, anger, confusion, and hurt, it is Jesus Christ who gave her the strength to get through the pain. He is now using Hope’s life and death in a powerful way. 

Remember that with Christ there is always hope.

I was so blessed that some of Hope’s family and friends were in the chat room and on the phone lines today to support Vickie and to honor Hope’s life. Her family and friends said she was a wonderful person who truly loved her family, friends, and others, had a contagious laugh and a giving heart, and was very sweet. I wish I’d known her.

The name of Vickie’s new website at www.VickieOakley.com is a play on words with Hope’s name: Messages of Hope.

There Vickie will be sharing inspiring, hope-filled messages from God’s word and life to encourage you. She is an anointed speaker, teacher and writer, and I believe today was the launch of something new and great in her life.

I also LOVE that Vickie is a very unique, creative person -a photographer and a Harley-riding chick, who rides motorcycles with her husband and their biker friends. You can see the picture of her and her husband with Vickie on their Harley bike at the home page of her website www.VickieOakley.com.

Hope, we honor your life today. Thank you for inspiring others and impacting them with your life.

Blog, Faith, prayer

The little things

flowers

flowers

Yesterday when I went to our weekly small group (our home church), my sweet friend Ruth and her daughter Abi blessed me with these beautiful, fresh flowers: pink roses, pink and purple carnations, white and yellow daisies.

I love fresh flowers. This made me so happy.

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder