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

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.

April 18, 2023 by Beth Jones

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, Family, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Travel, worship/praise/music

My birthday: Destin beach, a surprise visit, Japanese hibachi grill, Starbucks gift cards, songs, and more

Yesterday was my birthday. My husband Ray’s gift to me was my recent week-long trip to Destin beach, Florida for a week alone (August 15-22, 2022). I’ve been praying for over 3 years to travel there. One day I found a reduced plane fare online and Ray said, “Book it!” so I did immediately!

Destin beach is gorgeous with soft, white sand and clear, blue-green water. I desperately needed this time of relaxation on the beach and to work on my speaking and writing biz. You can see my recent vlog, My Happy Place, here at YouTube. It is my 11th vlog about the trip.

Destin beach, Florida

Beth Jones, Destin beach

Ray also gave me a pretty card with a Starbucks gift card and took me out for supper to a Japanese restaurant in Lee’s Summit, MO, called Siki.

We got dressed up to go out, a rare occasion. I found a pretty teal, inexpensive dress on Amazon and an elegant but cheap necklace and earrings from Paparazzi. I already had my bracelet and black shoes with a slight heel. The dress had high reviews on Amazon and was soft and comfortable. Ray wore a charcoal-grey, button-up shirt and beige slacks.

My teal birthday dress and Paparazzi jewelry

Ray in charcoal-grey shirt and beige slacks

We had a nice, funny chef who cooked us delicious food.

Chef at Siki restaurant

He couldn’t put on the usual great show of fire, because there was a toddler girl there at the hibachi table, who screamed and cried when he first made the flames appear. I’m sure this was a disappointment to the chef. Everyone else at the table was related to her, so they understood. Ray and I are parents so we got it, too. We remember those days! They grow up so fast!

September 21, 2022 by Beth Jones

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I'm an International Speaker, Author of 25 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. The ocean is my happy place and place of peace and refilling. I love Jesus, my family, my adopted cat Natalya, traveling, chips and salsa, coffee, chocolate, walking in nature, music, and art. My husband Ray calls me an enigma: I love to laugh and cry a lot. What about you? 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!