Through Me! – A New Year’s Goal

It’s 2018!!

Am I the only one the feels like we were just ringing in 2017?!

I mean time has just gone by so incredibly fast.

2017 was a a year of change for me. Some of those changes were welcome and some….well, I probably would have e preferred a different outcome.

Here are a few highlights of the good stuff:  we sent our baby, I mean 18 yr old, off to college.  Did I mention that he’s 6-1/2 hours from home?!?  We sent our daughter to public school after 7 years of homeschooling. We moved into our own home – 14 years of ministry has had us in rentals and parsonages…a huge blessing but I will say it’s nice to have “our” own home – one that I can paint the walls if I choose to.  It might seem silly but it’s how I feel.  {smile} And a big change…I’m on a new adventure. You can read about it here.

Then there were the fails. I won’t go into detail with personal stuff but I did completely miss the proverbial boat on the the plans I had to blog more in 2017.   As a matter of fact,  I didn’t write much at all.  I even did a 31 day challenge, hoping it would spur my writing, however, I only got through day 19.  For 2018, I make no promises on how much I will blog but I have set a goal to finish the 31 day series by the end of February.

Another semi-fail is that I chose a “word of the year” for 2017. I was so sure that I could focus on it and write about it and by December 31st, my outlook would be forever different.  My word was MARVEL. And while there was plenty to “marvel” at, I just didn’t focus on it. And I have ended the year feeling as though I may have disappointed a few folks.  So this year, I’m not choosing a word.

This year, I’m making a goal.

A few weeks back I was reading through Psalms and was intrigued by verse 6 in chapter 69.  The ESV version goes like this:

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

Sometimes I need to read a verse in another translation just to help me see it more clearly.  While I love the phrase “through me” in the ESV, I do also like the the CSB version of the verse:

Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord God of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.
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This verse caused me to ask myself if through my victories, failures, and missed goals, did I allow others to see Christ through me? Putting into the terms of the CSB version, was anyone disgraced or humiliated because of me?

It’s a heavy question.  But isn’t it what we are called to do as Christ-followers?

Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.  We are to be humble and gentle, patient, loving and eager to maintain unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So that’s my prayer…and my goal for 2018.  I want others to see Jesus in me.

Do you have a New Year’s goal?

Until next time…Joy to You!

 

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Julie Elias – A Girl Like Me (A CD Review)

We love music around our house and so when I had the opportunity to review “A Girl Like Me,” the new CD by Julie Elias, I took it.  If you are like me, I saw this CD cover and thought to myself that she looks really, really familiar.   I just couldn’t put my finger on it.  As it turns out, Julie was an actress in Hollywood. You may have seen her in “Grey’s Anatomy” or “CSI:NY.”  Her life in Hollywood was not bringing her the  contentment that she knew she could as she was living her life for Christ.  Stepping out on faith, Julie left Hollywood behind and began looking ahead to what God had for her.  That led Julie to pursue a career in music believing that her life experiences could encourage others in their faith.

In her music, Julie shares her heart by sharing personal experiences that span from beauty to rejection.  Her willingness to be transparent through her music makes it all the more beautiful.  As I listen to the music and read the words to Julie’s songs, I am touched by the reality of God’s grace that is freely offered.  A few favorite lines, with the name of the song noted at the end, are:

When I’m lost You call me by name…and when I fall You love me the same.. ~ Unchained

You build power from my weakness…give me life with Your great love… ~ Awaken

A girl like me could be worthy of a King… ~ A Girl Like Me

Can’t make it through without grace and favor…~ Lost

When the hurt and fear are at my door, let me look to You when I need more… ~ Run Away

You’re treasured and loved, a child of a King…There’s hope on the way…There’s love on your side..There’s strength for today…You’re never alone…There’s light to lead you home… ~ Wherever You Roam

It may be because Christmas is less than 20 days away, but I think my favorite song on the CD is Here With Us.  It’s about the manger. It’s about the gift of our Savior and the sacrifice He made for us.  One thing I have to mention is that I love instruments! And Julie’s CD did not disappoint in this area.  Not only are the words poignant but the instrumental portions of the songs are just beautiful reminding us in every song that we are “worthy of a King”.

A little more about Julie…In 2014, she founded Aurora Ministries, an organization that creates Christian material and hosts conferences for teen and tween girls around the world where Julie shares her music and life experiences in hopes of reaching others for the cause of Christ.

Lastly, and just maybe the best part, I get to end my review with a giveaway. You can enter to win Julie’s CD “A Girl Like Me” by clicking HERE.

“A Girl Like Me” is available now in CD format and also on all digital outlets such as iTunes.  Julie’s official website is: www.julieeliasmusic.com.  And you can learn more about Aurora Ministries HERE.

Until Next Time… Joy to You!

 

Please note that I did receive a free copy of “A Girl Like Me” in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Need ~ A FMF Post

It’s Friday!  Yay!  It’s been a long week and yet, time is really passing quickly.  Maybe that’s because I’m getting older. {smile}.

Even though I am still not finished with the 31 Day Challenge, I wanted to participate in the regularly scheduled Five Minute Friday post today.  Why?  Because the prompt, when revealed last night, struck a cord in me. 

And GO….

As has become my practice, I like to share the definition of the word I am writing about. It helps give me focus on what I am writing.  The definition of NEED is:

a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation

a lack of something wanted or deemed necessary

urgent want, as of something requisite

necessity arising from the circumstances of a situation or case

a situation or time of difficulty; exigency

a condition marked by the lack of something requisite

destitution; extreme poverty

I began to think about what it is that I really NEED.  I thought of things that I quickly realized are actually wants.  There was nothing on the list – that I am a bit embarrassed to share – that keep me from living my life and even being joyful about the life I’m living.

So…I asked myself again…

What do I NEED?

And what I came up with was really simple.  I need Jesus.  Every second of every minute of every hour of every day.  I need His grace and mercy.  I need His love and compassion.  I need to be confident in the salvation that He freely gave to me.  That’s it.  That’s really all I NEED.

And the cool thing is that He provides all of that.  God’s Word tells us in Philippians 4:19 that He provides for us.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I have to do my part in my relationship with Him to fully receive what He offers but it’s all there.

And STOP…

One more thing.  I wanted to share a favorite hymn from when I was a little girl.

Until next time…Joy to You!

 

This post is linked up with other bloggers over at FiveMinuteFriday.com.  If you have a moment, take a look at what the others have to say about NEED.

A Reminder About My New Adventure

(This post contains affiliate links.  Please visit our disclosure page for more information.)

Hi Friends,

I just wanted to send out a quick reminder about the Virtual Assistants Making Money Course that I shared on Tuesday this week.

The big reason for sending this information again is that the early bird special will expire tomorrow and the class will then be available for $129.  Today there is a $10 discount making the class $119.

If you have ever wanted to work from home but been afraid of other opportunities because you just aren’t sure that they are legit, I can personally vouch for this one.  The instructor is the real deal!  She has a passion for the “work at home mom”.

If you have specific questions, please reply and we can talk.  I’d love to share more about my new business and how this class has helped me so far.  And I am just getting started.  So here is my official plug for the class:

The Virtual Assistants Making Money course will teach you everything you need to know to start your own virtual assisting or freelance business.  The class officially begins on November 5, 2017.

Current pricing schedule is as follows:

11/3: $119

11/4-11/5: $129

I can’t wait to see what the Lord wants to do in your life and home through this opportunity.

Joy to You!

My New Adventure…You Might Want To Join Me!!!

This post contains affiliate links.  Please visit our disclosure page for more information.

I am in the middle of a 31 Day writing challenge.  Of course, today is the 31st day of the challenge and I am (technically) on day 19…I’ll get back to the series soon.

Right now, I wanted to share my new adventure with you AND an exciting opportunity that you may be interested in.

About a year ago, I was offered the opportunity to help a friend with a few tasks for her blog and on-line business.  I agreed and became, even somewhat unofficially, a virtual assistant.  In January of this year, I added another client to my business.  It has been a wonderful year of learning and growing in skills that I never, ever thought I would have.

It did not take me long to know that this was, in fact, something I wanted to pursue in order to work from home successfully.  And so I have launched my official virtual assistance business.

As I continue to work with my two clients, the Lord has me on a journey – and has given me a passion – to grow my business.  The first big step in that process has been taking an on-line course with a seasoned virtual assistant…learning the ropes of the business…learning how to take skills that I already have and use them to have a successful work from home business.

The Virtual Assistants Making Money course will teach you everything you need to know to start your own virtual assisting or freelance business.  The class officially begins on November 5, 2017.  The best part is that you can sign up for the early bird pricing!  Please do take note that the super early bird pricing starts at $89 and increases $10/day until it reaches the full course price of $129 on Saturday 11/4.

Current pricing schedule is as follows:

10/31: $89

11/1: $99

11/2: $109

11/3: $119

11/4-11/5: $129

If you have any questions about the course, I’d love to chat with you.  I can’t wait to see what the Lord wants to do in your life and home through this opportunity.

Joy to You!

Brave ~ A 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Post

As mentioned yesterday, I am behind in this 31 day challenge.  I hope you – my readers – don’t mind but I am determined to keep going.  That being said here is #19 of the Five Minute Free Writes in the Write 31 Day challenge.

Today’s word is:

And…timer set!

This is a hard word for me to write about because I’ll just be honest – I.am.not.BRAVE!!!  Not in trying new things.  Not in dealing with hardship. And especially not in trying new foods.  I’m just not.

The definition of BRAVE is:

possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance

I could write for way more than 5 minutes about my inability to be BRAVE. Instead, I think I will just simply share a song and a quote.

This song gives me hope and well…BRAVERY, if I can call it that, when I really listen to it’s words and understand that any courage I need truly comes from the Lord.

Because no fear can hinder now the promises You made

And my lack of BRAVERY comes with my desire to know the future.  If I just knew how a situation would turn out.  If I just had a sign or something.  But so often we don’t.  We have to BRAVELY trust the Lord with the perfect plan that He has for us.

It’s like Ruth when she followed Naomi into a land that she was not from to worship a God she had not worshiped before.  But oh the blessing that came from Ruth being BRAVE.

I love this quote by Corrie Ten Boom.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

Wise words from a woman who had to be BRAVE.

My time is up!

Until tomorrow…Joy to You!

 

For a complete listing of all the posts in this 31 day series, click HERE to go to my landing page.

Share ~ A 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Post

It’s day 18 of the Write 31 day challenge, but only in number.  I have been out of town and did not get to schedule ahead OR write while I was gone.  So I’m catching up.  Obviously, this 31 day Challenge will now go into November for me.

All that to say…the 18th Five Minute Free prompt is:

And GO… 

I am once again starting with the definition – both the use of SHARE as a noun and a verb:

 Noun

the full or proper portion or part allotted or belonging to or contributed or owed by an individual or group

one of the equal fractional parts into which the capital stock of a joint-stock company or a corporation is divided

Verb

to divide and distribute in shares; apportion

to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly

I keep an index card on the wall over my desk that I read at least once a day.  It has Colossians 1:9-13 written on it.  Several years ago I was encouraged to really study the book of Colossians.  I did but I got stuck in Chapter 1 for a long time.  When I got to verses 9 – 13, I just had to spend extra time there.  Here is what is says: 

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 I realize that there is a lot in these verses but one of the things that stuck out to me was in verse 12 where it says,

…qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

 Isn’t that cool?  God himself qualifies us to SHARE in the inheritance of the saints.  He wants us to “have the full or proper portion”.  He wants us to “participate in, enjoy, receive” His inheritance.    

I think about how I emphasized to my kids over and over again to SHARE. And I wanted them to.  I really, really did.  But in light of eternity my focus should have always, always been to teach them to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10).  To be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Col 1:11) so that they can SHARE in the inheritance offered to anyone who believes and confesses the Lord as Savior.

And STOP… 

So this post may or may not have really focused on the word SHARE.  But how could I not SHARE the good news of what Christ does for us?

Until tomorrow…Joy to You!

 

My landing page for this 31 day series is HERE