Browsing Tag

goals

Blog, Faith, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Speaking, Spiritual Gifts, Travel, Writing

Happy Things

Happy things

Today I found this cute, flower weight for my desk. It reads, “Do more of what makes you happy.”

Summer is in full swing now with its 85-100 degree heat here in Missouri.

Many of us have to work, but it’s important to take time out to relax and have FUN! To do what makes you happy.

It might be getting some adorable, new heart socks like I bought today. (I’m a heart girl!)

Heart socks

Or some new, pretty journals to write your heart out—your dreams, goals, bucket list this summer.

Pretty journals

Or if you’re a mom like me, it’s spending time with your kids.

Our 3 beautiful daughters Heather, Eden, & Leah

Or going away ALONE for the weekend with your hubby.

Ray & me

It might be something as simple as a hot bubble bath with deliciously scented candles.

bubble bath with candles

Or a refreshing swim in the summer heat with your friends!

girls holding hands at beach

Maybe it’s a blissful beach getaway–just you and God!

Woman relaxing on beach

Or getting fit and healthy this summer.

woman running

Or maybe you plan to just spend a lot of time reading good books.

stack of books

Or writing one!

Asian woman writer

Or take a much needed vacation!

mountains

Or a much less expensive staycation, getting your home organized and things done!

folders

But whatever you decide to do this summer, make sure it’s fun and makes you happy.

And make this summer count.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”–Unknown

hot air balloon

June 22, 2016 by Beth Jones

Blog, Faith, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts

Heather’s college graduation!

Never stop dreaming

Do you have a big dream in your heart? If you’ve heard me speak or write, you know one of my mottos is, “Dream big because we serve a big God!”

Our oldest daughter Heather had a big dream in her heart—to get her college Associate’s degree in Business Administration. And she did it, while working full-time and taking care of her two little girls, Annabelle and Violet!

Our daughter Heather is a college graduate! We are so proud of her!

Heather wanted to quit many times. I encouraged her she would reach the finish line and to keep going. And she did. Ray and I and our family are so proud of her!

Heather’s pretty degree holder

Heather’s college degree

Below she is walking across the stage to get her degree. Of course, our family, her girls, her boyfriend Matt, and her friend Lindsey cheered loudly as she did!

Heather in procession

Heather crossing stage to get her degree

Below is a great headshot pic of Heather. She looked so beautiful in her cap, tassel, and gown!

Heather in her cap, tassel, and gown

Heather needed me to come get her phone and purse before the ceremony. I snapped a couple of pics of her and me before she graduated. I’m so excited and happy for her!

Me with my daughter Heather before her college graduation ceremony

Heather & me before her graduation ceremony

During the graduation ceremony, the speaker asked all veterans who had served in the military and those serving now to stand up, for us to honor them. Ray served in the U.S. Navy for over 14 years as a combat medic.

Ray honored as a veteran

Below is a great pic of our family with Heather: Ray, our daughter Leah, Heather, and me. We’re just missing our middle daughter, Eden, who is in OKlahoma and couldn’t come for the ceremony.

Our family with Heather at her college graduation: Ray, Leah, Heather & me

Below is a pic of Heather after the ceremony with her two precious girls,Violet and Annabelle.

Heather after her graduation with her 2 girls, Violet & Annabelle

Before the ceremony, I took a pic of Violet and Annabelle in their pink dresses by an ice cream freezer at a coffee shop at the church, where the graduation was held. It made such a cute pic!

Violet & Annabelle in their pink dresses

Below is a pic of Heather after graduation with her boyfriend, Matt Franklin. They’ve been dating two years now and he was very proud of her, too.

Heather & her boyfriend Matt after her graduation

Below is Heather with her friend Lindsey, who has been a great friend to her.

Heather & her friend Lindsey after her graduation

I thought it was funny when my husband Ray told me that Heather had taken a picture with her “friends” at graduation. I said, “What friends? All her classes were online!”

Heather is a social butterfly. She had just met these people at her graduation ceremony and took pics and funny videos with them. I thought it was hilarious. Welcome to the social media world! You can see the long line of graduates in back of them.

Heather at graduation with peers

I gave Heather a little party at her house with family and a couple of friends to celebrate this huge accomplishment.

I ordered a cake from Hy-Vee, which was a white cake with white frosting and inscribed with blue frosting, “You did it, Heather!” It also had a cute little cap and scroll on it for the degree. They did a beautiful job on the cake and it was delicious!

Heather’s college graduation cake

I found these adorable, teal-blue “sprinkle” plates and napkins and heart cup decorations to match the cake for the party at the dollar store.

Sprinkle, teal-blue plates and napkins for party

Heart cups for party

We had a few tasty snacks like little smokies with BBQ sauce, potato chips, pickles, olives, broccoli with ranch, and Matt’s mom Kay brought yummy salted pretzels, drizzled with caramel.

Little smokies with bbq sauce

snacks for party

Salted pretzels drizzled with caramel

Since Heather loves the ocean like I do, I bought her a silver necklace with a clam pendant and a white stone and a silver bracelet as a gift.

Silver necklace with clam and white stone

Silver bracelet

Matt’s mom Kay bought her a beautiful, sunflower recipe book as a graduation gift. It was very cool!

Heather’s sunflower recipe book gift from Kay

Recipe book gift

Here’s a pretty pic of Heather wearing the necklace and bracelet I bought her.

Heather wearing necklace & bracelet I gave her

Here’s a great pic of Heather, Violet, and our daughter Leah at the little party. I love Heather’s picture of the ocean and stairs in the background.

Heather, Violet, & Leah at little party

Heather’s party with Matt and his mom Kay and our family

Heather’s pregnant friend Tiffany came to the party. Her due date is in July. I think pregnant women are beautiful. She looked so cute in her hat. They’ve been friends since they were teens.

Heather & her friend Tiffany

Her girls enjoyed the snacks. Here’s Annabelle acting silly, eating cake! Her girls were very proud of Heather, too!

Annabelle being silly

Violet with cake

I drew a little sign with a heart (I love hearts!) on the girls’ white board for the party to congratulate Heather.

Congrats sign

What big dream or goal is in your heart? Whatever it is, you can do it!

God helped Heather to accomplish this amazing dream and goal, even while working full time and taking care of her girls, and He can help you, too! Nothing is impossible with God!

Ray and I are so very proud of Heather! If you would like to bless Heather with a gift for her college graduation (money is always good!), please feel free to do so!

“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”–Ephesians 3:20, The Message

Heather did it!
We’re so proud of you!

June 17, 2016 by Beth Jones

Blog

My “One Word” and Scriptures for 2016

Several years ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions because they don’t work anyway; 1/3 of resolutions don’t make it past January because of no commitment.

Resolutions lack a foundation of meaning. Life Hacks’ article on resolutions by Steve Erry says that:

“What you need is something more fundamental, more central and more important to you. What you need is something that comes from the inside, something that’s based on what’s important and what matters to you. That’s the only way to get behind it, have confidence in it and keep the motivation and commitment going.”
“>
That is why before the beginning of each year, I pray to God for the coming year, for His wisdom, guidance, protection, and blessing over me, my family, our loved ones, the U.S. and Israel.

Several years ago I heard about asking God for a theme or a “one word” for the year. I also pray to ask God for a meaningful Scripture and a song that will carry me through the year.

In December 2015, I attended iBloom‘s Planning Virtual Retreat. It was a wonderful conference that filled me up, encouraged and refreshed me. During team member/speaker Betsy Ringer‘s session on getting a new “theme” for the year, she allowed time for everyone attending to pray to get quiet before God and ask Him for the theme.

While praying, I had a vision from the Lord A vision is not some woo-woo, out-there-in-left-field, New Agey thing (although they can be if you’re not a true Christian and it doesn’t line up with God’s word). A vision is part of the gift of prophecy, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You can learn more about these gifts in Lester Sumrall’s book at Amazon, Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit.

I describe visions as like a running picture (like a movie) in your head. Your eyes are open physically but you see it with your spirit.

deer on mountain

In my mind as I prayed, I saw a picture of a female deer in a grassy field in the woods by a creek. The waters were graceful and peaceful, flowing gently.

The doe was eating the green grass, and lifted her head. She looked around her alertly,watchful, and listening, with her large, gentle brown eyes. That was it.

I immediately felt impressed that my “one word” for 2016 was “DEER.”

Then I believe God gave me an acronym for it:

D- Do what God says.

E – Each morning God has new mercies, new things for me. (Isaiah 43:19)

E – Enter the land.

R – Rinse and Repeat; Renew.

When I shared about the picture I received during the prayer time in the chat room, Betsy immediate typed that before iBloom’s virtual retreat began, God had given her a Scripture:

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as sure-footed as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19, NLT)

I believe this is my Scripture for 2016, as well as Psalm 23, specifically verses 2 and 3:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Hinds' Feet on High Places

I felt led to re-read Hannah Hurnard’s book, a gift given to me by my friend Wendi and which I read years ago, Hinds’ Feet on High Places. At that time I was bound by many fears, and related much to the main character Much-Afraid.

I confess I still struggle with fear about various things (don’t we all), but God doesn’t want you or me to be afraid–just to TRUST HIM.

With this vision and Scriptures, I feel led to study the deer to learn more about them, specifically the hind that is the character in Hinds’ Feet On High Places. The hind is known today as the red deer.

I’m going to continue blogging as I study Scriptures on the deer (as many as 26 verses are on the deer in the Bible).

I felt like God led me to this song about the deer, too (As The Deer by Eddie James), and am searching for other meaningful ones for 2016, as part of my 2016 “theme.”

Do you make New Year’s resolutions and goals, choose a theme or a “one word,” or ask God for a Scripture at the beginning of the year? Please share in the comments below.

And my prayer is that you’ll experience a wonderful year filled with God’s wisdom, guidance, protection, blessings, and goodness–your best year yet!

If you’re like me, 2015 was a HARD year and I’m so glad it’s over. Each new year provides a “clean slate,” a fresh, new start for you and me. God has good things planned for us!

January 3, 2016 by Beth Jones

Older Posts

Newer Posts

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!