Blessings

General Update

By Lisa B on January 22, 2010

So much to say, so little time Here’s some bullet points for ya. You’re welcome!

I mailed half of my Women of Faith stuff out today. So Mandy @ Pennies and Blessings, Heidi, Jenny 86753oh9 and Punkinmama — your stuff is officially in the mail. Please let me know when you receive it! To Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman and Annabelle @ Christian Momma my sincerest apologies. It will be Monday before I have a chance to mail yours. Ran out of mailing supplies
I want to specially thank Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman. She won 2 days of giveaways and wrote me an email to say give one of them away to someone else. Well, it just so happens that the new official winner of Sheila Walsh’s All that Really Matters book is a lady I know in real life. One that I had no idea read my blog until she left a comment on that post. So congratulations Monica! Now you don’t have to be mad at me
Monica is a lady at Doodle’s school that I know well enough to say “hey” to — when I talked to her today and told her about the book, she thanked me for my blog. Ya’ll … that floored me. My blog? She thinks it’s neat. I told her that it felt good to be writing again like I believe God wants me to do. I mentioned getting overwhelmed at reading other blogs and the mentality of “well they said it so I don’t need to.” Monica confirmed God’s calling for me. She said “I don’t read those other blogs. Write for me.” Thanks Monica for sharing that with me today. You blessed me more than you know
For my BlissDom ladies, I’ll have a post up Monday with tips for ya’ll. Shoot, I might have to make more than one I’ve got so much to share! So check back then to look for it. And even though I’m not going to BlissDom any more, I’m still going to keep the MckLinky up — so link up and get to know some of the other ladies going!
I’ll be disappearing from the blog and Twitter this weekend. We’ve got a lot of good stuff going on, and I’m going to try doing life off my computer and with my family. I hope you make that kind of time this weekend as well.

| Filed Under: Blessings, Bloggin', Family, Women of Faith

Months ago when the tickets went on sale, I jumped on one. I was on the fence. There were some bloggy friends I would love to see again and some that I would love to meet. I wanted Duck to go with me — after all, he’s my cowboy. Can’t go to Nashville yet again without my cowboy!

So I put it on the calendar. As the weeks progressed, other things got added to the calendar. Like the Upward Basketball schedule. Duck and I are coaching Doodle’s team again this year. I really enjoy it, but our practices are on Thursday and the games on Saturday. Ok, I thought. I can miss one practice and one game. But Duck can’t. Not really. Oh, and Upward pictures are that Saturday. Hmmph. I don’t want to miss those too.

Then Duck’s on-call schedule was released. He put the dates on the calendar. Yep, he’s on call that week. So he’s really, double-y triple-y out of going. And that was the final feather that knocked me off the fence onto the side of not going. See, Duck’s on-call weeks are very stressful to him. I need to be here to run things. I need to be here to run practice and the game if he happens to be called into work.

It’s not that he couldn’t handle it. Seriously we are blessed with great grandparents that take Doodle and do what’s needed. But I need to be here. I’ve been praying for quite awhile that God would lead me one way or another — that if I go, He’ll work everything out. If I don’t go, He’ll work everything out. And He has. I have His peace inside me that I need to be here {see an obvious pattern?}. I’ve already sold my conference ticket to another Christian lady who said I was an answered prayer. While God was closing the door on me going — He was opening the door for her to go. Seeing as how the conference is now sold-out, I can see how He used me buying that ticket for His good.

Don’t get me wrong. I not only need to be here, I want to be here. Maybe I will meet ya’ll next year if the scheduling falls just right. I still have some advice I’m going to give ya’ll who are going and I’m definitely praying for all my friends who will be there.

Go enter my Women of Faith giveaways (ends today!) and I’ll be back tomorrow with the winners, and BlissDom advice!

| Filed Under: Blessings, BlissDom 10, Bloggin', Conferences, Family

To Tithe or Not to Tithe

By Lisa B on January 10, 2010

I just have to share some God-greatness that’s happened recently.

You may remember back in December I wrote a post about beating myself up — something I struggle with often. Well, over the holiday break, Duck took over the finances and began paying bills his way. We talked this week about whether or not we should tithe, because like a gazillion other people we have debts.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. — Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

Duck has this quote printed out and taped to his monitor so he’ll see it all the time. It’s the only place in the Bible where the Lord says “test me.” Every time we have tested him, we have been blessed beyond measure! I told Duck I thought we should make sure we tithe — though keep in mind while I was doing the finances and stressing things, I did not tithe on any kind of regular basis.

So Duck said he would think about it, pray about it and look at it before Sunday. He wrote the check Saturday for the tithe. We got an insurance reimbursement check in the mail. I was paid for some work I did on a ministry website — this morning! A few other people that I have helped out just sent me money. Ya’ll, none of this was expected, and you know what? The total was more than we tithed.

I have been stressing going to BlissDom (an awesome blogging conference in Nashville at the beginning of February). I’ve been wondering if I should go — what’s the point? I’ve been praying about it a lot. Others are going to learn how they can make money off their blogs — others are going for relationships. Nothing at all against them, but I decided a long time ago not try and make money from this blog. It’s personal. It’s for God. But you know what? I’ve actually earned enough money freelancing to pay my way there. I get to room with 3 other ladies — one who I’ve known online for what seems like years. The other two? I just got hooked up with online.

The really cool thing? We’re all Christians. Relationships. I pray that while I’m there I can help a few people — not only with their bloggy questions, but maybe give them some encouragement as well. I believe that God has me going there for His purpose and His glory. I hope I do Him proud and don’t argue with Him too much

Even with the way the economy is, I dare you to tithe. Seriously. God is bigger than the mess we’re in.

| Filed Under: Blessings, Marriage, Money, Personal

God’s got a great sense of humor

By Lisa B on November 9, 2009

Who knew? Really? I always thought God was this serious, angry man. He must love to laugh, or at least chuckle, because He totally blew my mind this weekend at Women of Faith!

As you may have read in my Arguing with God never works post, even before the weekend He was rocking my world — getting me out of my comfort zone. Once I got my friend Tonya in the car, I figured it was all down hill from there. Then the thought crossed my mind and out my lips — God’s got a purpose for Tonya to be at Women of Faith. He must have a purpose for me this weekend too.

Now, I say that Tonya is my friend, really now she is — before the weekend I didn’t know much if anything about her. I sat in her Sunday School class and knew her name. I knew she had 4 boys (though I didn’t know all their names), and I knew her husband wasn’t with her in Sunday School. That was pretty much all I knew about Tonya — oh, and except that God impressed on my heart that she needed a break, to be refueled, and that she was busy helping everybody else around her.

During the weekend she and I had some great conversations. I continually had to laugh at (with?) God because He had put the two of us together in this situation. There are things that we are totally opposite about. She’s beach. I’m mountains. She cooks. I’m Queen of the Drive-Thru. She thinks computers are of the devil. I’m on the computer way too much. But no matter what our differences are, we both love Jesus and want to know what’s God’s will.

We had an amazing time. We cried. We laughed. We talked. We slept (a little). I pray that God used me to speak to her and encourage her in her struggles. She encouraged me to share my stories with others. She encouraged me that I can organize at least 50 people to come to Women of Faith next year. Yep, you heard that right.

They kept announcing that if you committed to bringing 50 peeps to Women of Faith next year they’d fly you to Dallas in January for a preview and training — an all-expense paid trip. No airfare. No money for hotel or food. At first Tonya would just lean over and say “you could do that.” Then it turned to “you should go to that meeting.” She wouldn’t let up. So when I thought the last meeting had occurred, I told her if she found out where I should get more information from, I’d think about it.

She found the table. We talked to the guy behind the table. I was wavering. We struggle financially. How could I commit to these tickets? If I don’t sell all of them, I’d be responsible for paying for them? But Tonya said they had gotten a group of about 25 women just from our church (which shocked me because it’s a kinda small church — but she said they brought friends). I joked and told her if it was online, I could do it But my peeps are all over!

Finally when I started thinking about all the people I know in other churches, I caved in. I thought surely I can get enough of my friends in other places to get other friends, and I’ll be able to do this. What a story I’ll have to tell people from going to the pre-conference last year by myself, to asking Patsy for tickets this year to bringing a group of 50 next year. Not to mention I had already run into 2 friends who I didn’t know where going to be at the conference.

I signed up.

I folded the copy he gave me and stuck it in my back pocket. A knot formed in my stomach. I didn’t want to look at what else he had written. As we walked back to our seats, I looked up and said, “God you know the 50 women you want to be here next year in my group — just please don’t take too long letting me know them.”

We sat down in our seats, and I started thinking about telling Duck what I’d done. I thought he’d tell me I’m crazy, so I pulled the piece of paper out of my back pocket. I looked at the total of the tickets — the amount I’d have to pay if I didn’t sell one of them. I almost puked. Tonya looked over at me and said, “calm down. It’ll be ok. I’ll take one and I know others that will too. I’ll pray for you.” When I got home Saturday night, I told Duck that I had signed up to sell these tickets. His response? “Good luck with that.” Which made me laugh. out. loud.

When I woke up Sunday morning, God hit me with another idea, and the worry about selling all these tickets hasn’t overwhelmed me since. I’ve realized there are even more ladies I know that I can talk to and challenge them to bring a friend. Now I can’t help but wonder how many over 50 God’s going to send my way. He’s funny that way too. I can just see Him sitting in heaven laughing at my lack of faith and my worries.

Just planting the seed right now … you know you want to go to Women of Faith next year

Here are some pictures

Steven Curtis Chapman — you know I cried when he was talking about Maria. It was absolutely awesome to see him perform. Oh, and it didn’t hurt that we were on the second row right in front of him

Beth_LisaWomenOfFaith2009

It totally blew Tonya’s mind that I had known Beth @ Sports Momma online for probably about 2 years and never met her in person — until Women of Faith I fell in love with Beth’s original blog design where the header had a softball and said “I throw like a girl.” Cracked me up! Beth and I chat a lot on Twitter and I was so glad I finally got to meet her!

| Filed Under: Blessings, Conferences, Personal

Arguing with God never works

By Lisa B on October 28, 2009

You would think I’d have learned by now, but arguing with God never works. Here’s my latest God story

I wanted to go to Women of Faith again this year — coming in a few weekends, but we don’t really have the money to spend for it. When Kaitlyn’s fundraiser was scheduled a few weekends before, I knew that was a much more important thing to do with our money than to go to WOF. So I really gave up on going this year. The thought had crossed my mind to volunteer — I’d gladly work doing whatever they ask, just so I could be there, but then hotel costs crept in mind.

During Sunday School, He hit me with it the first time. Tonya needs a break. She needs to go to Women of Faith.

“That’s nice God. Send her to Women of Faith then. I can’t pay for her to go, so what do you want me to do? Watch her kids?” Tonya is a single, stay at home mom of 4 boys. I’ll let that sink in for a minute. AND she doesn’t like to ask for help and won’t take it if you offer it. AND she’s been busting her tail the past few months not only taking care of her family, but organizing a class reunion for her mom and helping out a great deal with Kaitlyn’s fundraiser.

Ask Patsy for tickets.

{this is where the arguing started} “You’re kidding, right God? You want me to ask Patsy Clairmont for tickets to Women of Faith? I’m sure she has people ask her for stuff all the time. I don’t want to be like that God. Isn’t there another way? Can’t you just send me some money to buy the tickets?”

Ask Patsy for tickets.

“Well, what if she doesn’t have anyone else to watch her kids for her and she can’t go? I’ll talk to her best friend. If she says Tonya has someone to help with kids and thinks she’ll go with me (we don’t know each other very well!), then I’ll think about asking Patsy.” {trying to bargain never works either!}

Sunday morning I went out of my comfort zone totally. I walked up to Tonya’s best friend and mumbled something like “this is gonna sound crazy, but I feel God leading me to take Tonya to Women of Faith. Do you think she’d go? Would she have someone to keep her kids?” Of course her friend said she would love to keep the kids and do something nice for Tonya because she does so much for everyone else.

“Great God. She does have someone to watch her kids. Are you really sure about this? I feel really, really weird asking Patsy for tickets. What if she thinks I’m a crazy loon out to mooch freebies?”

Ask Patsy for tickets.

So I did. I asked. “Ok, God. It’s in your hands. If it’s your will for us to be there, then I trust that you will let Patsy know that too.”

This morning I got the message. Patsy’s got 2 tickets for me. God is so awesome! And you know what else? I was checking out hotel rooms for us to stay in and realized that Duck and I have enough reward points to cover one night — so we don’t have to pay for the hotel either. God just continues to blow me away!

Tonight at church I’m going to corner Tonya and make her go with me. Well, actually, I’m pretty sure God’s going to make her go with me I can’t make her do anything, but this is obviously God’s will! And if you happen to go to church with me, and happen to read this on Facebook before I get to church — SHHHH! It’s a secret

| Filed Under: Blessings, Conferences

Ever given anonymously?

By Lisa B on October 19, 2009

Have you ever been blessed by giving anonymously?

This weekend I had the privilege of being a small part of a fundraiser for a little girl in our church. I grinned ear to ear every time I saw her bright, smiling face at the dinner! Praise God we raised enough to cover her surgery (almost $20,000)!!! I’ll let that sink in

In Sunday School class, one of the ladies shared a story about a man who had seen the banners and felt compelled to stop by the church and give money. She showed him the way to the table and when he was asked, he’d only give his first name. He said he didn’t want anyone to know his name. Now this isn’t all that anonymous, because they know what he looks like, but how cool is God that He laid it on this guy’s heart to give? And that he doesn’t care if he “gets credit” for it?

Well, I had the opportunity to give anonymously yesterday. It felt soooo good! There’s a lady in our church who is struggling with many things. She’s been busy helping with the fundraiser and other things — all thinking about and serving others — meanwhile she is the type that will refuse help for herself. So knowing this, I had a gift to give her, but I knew she would refuse to take it from me if I tried to give it to her. I left it in her car. Unsigned. I felt so sneaky I grinned ear from ear thinking about her finding it in there and wondering who left it — but (most importantly) not being able to give it back!! {and if you happen to go to my church, and happen to know who I’m talking about — shhhhh! Don’t tell!}

I don’t share this to say “oh look at me — I did this great and wondrous thing!” Quite the opposite! It wasn’t a wondrous thing — it was a small gesture. The main reason I am sharing here is to challenge you to do something this week for someone and be sneaky about it — don’t let them know it’s you who did it! It’s an amazingly good feeling. Trust me. You’ve got to try it!

Ok, I’m off to get some work done today. I hope to be back here blogging a little more regularly than every couple of weeks! I’ve got an awesome idea (inspired by God, confirmed by a few God friends) for this blog. There’s lots of stuff I’ve got inside me that I want to share with you. I think along the way, I’ve been distracted from my purpose for this blog. I’m getting back on track — not to say I might not go off track again, but I’m working my way back to the track Oh, if you do give anonymously, let me know in the comments — you don’t have to give details, just let me know you did something and how you felt I know God will bless you!!

| Filed Under: Blessings, Church

To God’s Perfect Gift To Me

By Lisa B on October 12, 2009

Happy Anniversary boy!

In our pre-marital counseling, the pastor said that we should always remember God doesn’t make mistakes — that He brought us together and He knows what’s best for us. The pastor continued that we should treat each other as God’s perfect gift. God certainly knew what He was doing when He brought us together … and I’m glad that He used your mom to help the process along. It’s hard for me to believe I was once so stuck on myself that I immediately dismissed you just at first glance. Thankfully the wonderful advice of ignoring me actually drove me batty.

Before we got married, I thought the day would never come. Now, 13 years later, it feels like a dream. I remember some of the little things like wanting to be Mrs. Boyd and wash your underwear. Now I make you do laundry because I’d always forget stuff was in the washer! I wanted so badly to have our own house and thought I would do things like clean, decorate, and nest. Well, at least I had good intentions. So often I feel like I’m the worst wife/mother in the world, but you still love me just for being me. Amazing.

We’ve grown so much in the past 13 years and thank God, we’ve grown together! You’ve made so many of my dreams come true that I need to come up with some more. I am in awe of all that God’s done in our marriage! I love you more and more each day and I’m really not the mushy type I wish we could have taken our anniversary ride in the mountains, but I know the benefit is more important — and where we should be. Hopefully we’ll be able to get away soon and maybe it won’t be too awfully cold on our bikes

I missed you before you ever walked out the door to work this morning. I wish we could have stayed in the bed and cuddled all day. It’s so cool to me that I still feel this way after 13 years of marriage. I know other women who think about getting away for a girls’ weekend, but all I want to do is get away with you.

And now that everyone else reading this is gagging …

I love you with all my heart! Happy Anniversary Duck!

Howard and Lisa Wedding Cake