faith and prayer

The FLIP video camera for your business

~ Beth ~ Leave a comment

Video is hot right now, and if you’re not using it for your business, I encourage you to jump on board. One incredible tool to record videos that I use for my writing/speaking business is the FLIP Ultra II video recorder. I use mine all the time, and have recorded 148 videos on YouTube this past year.

The FLIP is amazingly simple and easy to use, with just the push of a button. It uses the FLIP battery pack or regular batteries. You can plug it straight into the USB port of your laptop or computer and upload your video straight to YouTube. The Ultra HD II is less than $90 for one hour and less than $130 for two hours of recording time…a small investment that will reap benefits for your business.

If you’re like some people, you don’t like the idea of seeing yourself on video. So get creative! Record your husband, your kids, your friends, the beach, nature, the weather, a sports game, driving down the road, an instructional video, or just whatever you want to record!

If you’re a writer or speaker, you need to FLIP! 🙂

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Are you serious about your hot dog – or whatever you’re making?

~ Beth ~ Leave a comment

This morning I read an amusing news story about a dog fight in Chicago – hot dogs, that is.

Vienna Beef, one of the world’s most famous hot dog makers, is suing the owner of a rival hot dog company, accusing him of either stealing Vienna’s 118-year-old recipe or lying to customers by claiming that he’s using it. The rival is the grandson of one of the two men who founded the company after their hot dogs became a hit at the 1893 World’s Fair.

According to this story, the lawsuit accuses Red Hot Chicago of false advertising, unfair competition and trademark infringement. In Chicago, the “meal on a bun” is part of local history and where loyalty to one of the region’s 2,000 hot dog stands is passed down from generation to generation.

One of the funniest quotes in the story was by Tanya Russell, a mail carrier who stops at a downtown stand called Fast Track, to deliver some letters and to grab a Vienna hot dog before finishing her route. “This is Chicago, and we take hot dogs seriously.”

If only we would take our writing and speaking so seriously, right? You might even be able to pass down this gift from generation to generation!

Last night I was on a NACWE telecall, and the guest was Joslyn Johnson, one of NACWE’s youngest members. Joslyn shared how everything we do needs to be related to God’s purpose for our lives. If you read my blog at Tablet Of My Heart, you know that I am passionate about women pursuing their purpose and calling from God, and using their gifts for God’s glory.

If your gift is writing and speaking, I encourage you to set aside any distractions, excuses, or fears, and begin using this great treasure that is inside of you. Don’t wait. Don’t hold back in intimidation, doubt, and fear.  The world needs to hear your great story!

Just write. Share the messages that are burning on your heart for God.

This morning I found this quote by Eric Maisel, author of a book I ordered at Amazon today, A Writer’s Space: Make Room to Dream, to Work, to Write .

“The writing life is defined by the succession of choices you make, primary among them whether or not you will write. You honor your writing space by entering it with this mantra: ‘I am ready to work.’ You enter, grow quiet, and vanish into your writing.”

Isn’t that beautiful? Find your writing space right now.

Have you checked out my latest creation, The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles? Just $20 – get your copy today!

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When you need rest

~ Beth ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever had a day whose hours seemed to stretch and stretch…until your “fuel tank” was running empty? It’s been one of those days – and weeks – for me. Our oldest daughter Heather (married, with kids) woke up yesterday morning with a fever and sore throat. My husband Ray started coughing today, and I am not feeling too whoopy myself with a headache and slight fever.

Today I interviewed one of the contributor writers for my new ebook, and one of the guests in the chat room wasn’t able to hear the sound, although everyone else could (she had never used Talkshoe before and didn’t know how to use it, even though I was trying to tell her how) – and I felt so bad for her! (The interview with Stephanie Buckwalter went great, though! You can listen to it here, with the interviews of the other contributor writers under “Past Episodes.”)

It’s days like these when we just need to lay our heads down in Jesus’ lap like John the Beloved disicple did. To rest. To be renewed and restored.

Just you and God. His hand upon you. You hearing His heartbeat of love for you. His strength pouring into your tired, weary body. His voice soothing your anxieties and your stress. His Spirit calming you like still waters (Psalm 23).

Take some time today to rest. Create a sacred space for God and your writing. To be still and quiet before God. To hear His voice. To write down what He’s speaking to you. Rest, child, rest. Bring your weariness, your troubles to Me, and I”ll take care of them. Set aside your urgent to-do list, and just be in My presence. Let me fill you again.

“Come with Me to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:30-31)

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