Faith Inspired Update

Welcome back!

My kids and I have been battling a stomach bug for several days now, therefore I am not going to be having a Live show of Faith Inspires tonight, but I am ready for next week with an awesome topic, “What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?” We’ll be talking salvation, convictions, and beliefs, next Thursday, 9 pm CST / 10 pm EST on Mom TV Live.

I hope that you’ll join us.

My Ezine Has a New Name and Direction

For over two years now I have authored a weekly ezine called “Mom-Daughter Connection” as a part of my ministry, Beauty by Design Ministries. Over that time I have shared articles, tips and advice with moms of girls of all ages. Many times I found that other moms would subscribe to the ezine even if they were not the mother of a daughter.

I had many of those moms, either moms of boys, moms of grown children, or just women in general to tell me that they enjoyed my ezine, even though they were not a mother of a girl. So, with this new direction I am taking I am going to be changing the name of my ezine to “Faith Notes from Alyssa” and it will now be available on all of my websites to anyone who chooses to sign up, NOT just moms of girls.

Yes, it will still include articles and encouragement, tips and advice, but I”m hoping it can apply to any mom. As I share my journey of faith with you I hope that you can be encouraged, inspired and that your heart will be “turned towards God”, after all that is my mission.

I was reminded by an online friend today that “faith is a gift” and she honored me by saying, “and you’ve got it.” As a Christian, I know that since I do indeed have that “Faith”, that I should share it with others. That is what I hope to do by offering you a subscription to “Faith Notes from Alyssa” sign up in the sidebar to your right.

While you’re here.  I’m asking that my reader’s take a survey, as I am attempting to “get to know you better”.  If you would please do the quick survey here.  I promise it is painless.

Christian Writers, Speakers & Bloggers, Oh My!

She Speaks, was a conference for Christian Writers, Speakers and Bloggers, oh my! The worst part, feeling torn between all three. I have for a long time called myself a Christian speaker, for a shorter time however I have began to dub myself a Christian writer and blogger. Though, I have had a love for writing a long time and been a faithful blogger as well, I just didn’t realize that I really WAS ONE! Does that even make sense? But now, looking back on the conference I realize, I am …. really… ALL 3. Which is awesome, but challenging at the same time.

As I chose for the conference to go as a speaker, I chose to take the Speaker’s Track and mostly take speaker related workshops with a few exceptions here were my choices: Blogging: What Works and What Doesn’t, The Power of a Story, Marketing for More Bookings, Teaching By The Book and Balancing Marriage & Ministry.

I feel like God placed me in each of those specifically for a reason. The blogging one helped me, in addition to Friday’s blogging reception to connect with those ladies online who I only knew by face and words. It was amazing to meet someone whose blog you’ve read and pictures you’ve seen 1000 times. I told my husband it felt so weird because I felt like I knew them already in “real life” though I really did not, but now can say that I do.

The other workshops were amazing, I learned too much to even possibly post. And, in addition I participated in Shari Braendel’s Speaker Evaluation Group which was the most nerve racking of all the things I did this weekend. You see, I’ve been a “speaker” for 3 whole years. I have had no shortage of speaking opportunities, no matter how small to me, I felt I was prepared. So, why did I suddenly become nervous when I strangely never got nervous before about speaking?

Well, normally the 11 other ladies in the room aren’t “evaluating” me. I think that was the key. However, these sweet sisters, were very honest, yet critical, but just what I needed and Sunday afternoon I walked away with an even greater confirmation that I am a “Christian speaker”. I can do this with God’s Grace!!! Ironically one of the themes of the weekend was “grace, grace, grace”, the other, “Setting my agenda aside, for God’s Will to be done.” Something I want, now, more than ever, “for God’s will to be done in my life”.

I was blown away when Shari shared with me during my speaker evaluation session that I should write my “speech” into an article and submit it for publication in a Christian teen magazine. This confirming that I am a “Christian writer”.

And, as I sit her “blogging” this morning, I know, I am a “Christian blogger”. So, I guess God has only confirmed in me what I thought I knew, but now know for sure! Amazing, and as I said yesterday I am truly BLESSED!

Though I know for many of my readers it seems like I am going on on and on….there is more… so stay tuned.