I Dare You To Change Giveaway

"DARE TO CHANGE" 60 sec SPOT from Bay Area Fellowship on Vimeo.

Short Blurb of I Dare You To Change!: I Dare You To Change! was released in September 2010 and has already become a USA Today and Wall Street Journal National Best Seller with over 60,000 books in print! A no-holds-barred motivational action plan that shows you how to take charge of your life and find God's best for you from one of the most exciting new pastors in America! Why can't I ever get ahead? Why do I always have to settle for less than I planned? Most of us have asked ourselves these questions at one time or another. Pastor Bil Cornelius firmly believes that everyone wants to do better, live better, and to be a better person but we find it difficult to sustain a life of peace and fulfillment. In I Dare You to Change! Pastor Cornelius explains in his trademark winning style how to live the life that God has planned for us. In this inspiring and biblically oriented book, he shows us the difference between dreaming of a better life and actually living one. Using the story of Gideon from the book of Judges, he shows you how to re-imagine life and to understand the steps that you need to take each day to make it happen.

Pastor Bil Cornelius’s Bio: Bil Cornelius is the lead Pastor of Bay Area Fellowship, which is one of Outreach Magazine’s Top 100 fastest-growing and largest churches. Bil's life calling has been to create a movement that is reaching into the lives of the lost and unchurched of the next generation and beyond. In 2008 Bil took his teaching to television and launched Bil Cornelius Ministries. By the end of 2009, the program expanded worldwide through Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Daystar, The Church Channel and ABC Family and is currently reaching millions across the globe. Bil travels around the country speaking and consulting on church health and growth. In 2004, Bil received the Purpose-Driven Health Award, from Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. Bil thrives on helping people reach their full potential in Christ and taking the limits off their life.

Links: I Dare You To Change! Website

Q&A with Author Pastor Bil:

(1) Why do you think God places promises beyond a person’s current reach? God is interested in our growth more than our comfort. One of the biggest reasons why God gives us dreams bigger than our abilities, is so we have to depend upon Him for their accomplishment. Another phrase I use often is people use people to get tasks done, but God uses tasks to get people done! He gives you an assignment bigger than you are for one reason only…to grow you.

(2) How can a person protect herself/himself from slipping back into old habits? The best protection from moving backwards is to always be moving forwards! This is why setting new goals is a continuing process…or as the Bible says, we go from glory to glory! Accountability is important as well as a strong routine, but nothing takes the place of forward movement!

(3) How did it feel when God fulfilled one of His major promises to you? Accomplishing something great with God’s help is exhilarating! It’s also addictive in a very good way! God wants us to get hooked on His will by moving into a place so far ahead of where we ever dreamed, that we are in “promise land” territory beyond our abilities.

(4) You write that encouragement is important. Who has been your greatest encourager? My greatest encouragers vary, but the most consistent are the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and my wife Jessica. My time with God keeps me going, and when I’m stuck, nothing can replace a loving example and encouraging word that comes from my closest friend in the universe, Jessica. She always knows just what to say when I need it.

(5) What has been the most difficult change for you? The toughest change has been the acceptance that my time is limited. I can’t speak at every event, nor can I be available to everyone anymore. The price for God opportunities is to quit committing to good opportunities. God has a “best will” versus a “good will.” Limiting my schedule to the absolute highest uses of my time has transformed my life, family, and ministry. This will move you from success to significance, and it is worth it!

Giveaway: Win a copy of I Dare You To Change! signed by Pastor Bil Giveaway Details - (up to 5 entries can be made. Must have 1 comment per entry)

• Leave a comment to this post with your email address. • Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you are already a follower. Leave a second comment.

• Receive bonus entries by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please leave a comment for each social networking platform you share this post on (up to 3).

• Deadline to enter is midnight on Nov 6th.

• Winner will be notified via email. Please join us at the next IDY2C Blog Tour stop with Alene Snodgrass next week! If you have any questions, concerns or would like to participate in the IDY2C Blog Tour email Christina.

Please join us at the next IDY2C Blog Tour stop with Alene Snodgrass next week!

If you have any questions, concerns or would like to participate in the IDY2C Blog Tour email Christina.

*I did not receive any compensation for this post. I have also not read this book.

Creepy, Crawly Creations: Do You Know Me?

Yah, I’m not so hot when it comes to creating…anything. I’m not talented or creative. If I do anything, it’s because I’ve ripped off someone else’s idea. Not in a I’m-going-to-steal-your-idea kind of way, but when someone shares something spectacular, I’ll give it a good ol’ try if their idea is a tutorial.

So, what have I done this Halloween? Have I created some fantastical costume that will have the town talking? Have I decorated my house that puts my neighbors to shame? Have I baked and created the most amazing treats all the neighborhood families want to come play at my house?

That would be a resounding NO! Wait a moment while I roll my eyes.

Let’s face it, I stink at pretty much anything when it comes to decorating or creating. I can’t be great at everything, or even good at it. Nah, not even passable.

So, what are you going to get out of this newest SITS post? A whole lotta nothin’. As I type this, it’s 12:23 a.m. Pretty sure by the time I’m done with Church on Sunday that I’ll not be able to leave this page without something to show for the day. Must be the people pleaser in me.

Let’s see what happens by tonight, shall we?

It’s now Sunday afternoon and we didn’t go to church. I slept in, aside from the dog wanting to go out at 7a.m. I bought the boys one of those cool carving kids. This one I thought would be the surprise that would make the boys fawn all over me as the Best Mom Ever.

Hmmm, maybe they didn’t get the Memo?

They liked the tools and thought that maybe next year they’d try one of the designs. Next year? Excuse me? Did you hear the phone call I just made? That was to your sister who LOVES Star Wars and she’s going to come and get it to use it THIS YEAR on her pumpkin. Take that!

Alrighty, with that out of my system you ingrates (my boys) I finally decided what I was going to make.

I figured I’d put those pumpkin seeds to work and bake them. I think I tried it like 15 yrs ago, but since it wasn’t yesterday I can’t remember. Thankfully I had seasoning salt. Had no clue how they’d turn out.

Well, Buddy and I have been eating them non-stop. Doodle tried one and shook his head. Fine, more for me. They are really yummy! Hurray I got something done for today’s activity.

This is in conjunction with the SITS site for the giveaway of the Canon Rebel T2i. Who couldn’t use that baby? Oh, and have I mentioned today that Tiffany is Pretty?

Sneak Peek Into Christmas Gathering Partners

The beginning of next week will mark the count down to my Christmas Gathering & Gift Guide at my Marvelous Mom Reviews site.

Still wondering if you should grab my button and add it to your site? Well, maybe checking out some of the products I’ll be reviewing and giving away are listed below will encourage you put it on your site.

Hasbro

Oneida

Wilton

Misikko

TamaTown

Corel

Bridgewater Gifts

Aurora Gifts

Crest Pro Health For Me

Grilling 4 All

Legacy Family Tree Cradle Rock 

Doesn’t that make you want to go grab my button for an extra 5 entries? Go do it because you’ll want to have it done by tomorrow October 31st. Do NOT leave a comment here for grabbing my button as it WON’T count.

Are you a company interested in getting in on the action? Email me at mnjesusfreak at gmail dot com.

Halloween Pasts: A Trip Down Memory Lane

I have 2 computer towers. Neither of them is the greatest, but both hold the most important things a computer could hold; photos from my camera. Today, after about 6+ months, I unhooked computer #2 and reconnected computer #1.

I needed to find some photos of my daughter and her friends from several Halloweens ago. I have no idea where I came up with this idea, but it was fun to watch the girls dress up. Smooch, her BFF MB, and another friend J decided to go to our church’s Halloween alternative as Miss Girls.

MB is Miss Interpreted, Smooch is Miss Chievous, and J was Miss Fortune. They had foam tiara’s and gowns borrowed from my friend LK. My oldest daughter went as well and her name was more apropos than just any of the others. She was (and IS) Miss Hap. That girl gets into more accidents than any of us can count!

My boys share their costumes. So far it has worked, but this year we’ve changed it up and both boys are wearing brand new costumes. Are you a bargain shopper? I am. I always shop at the end of a holiday to get the best prices! For costumes, I just go up a size. I got both my boys costumes at Walmart last year for a whopping $10. Yes, that was for BOTH.

It’s a bit tricky because what they like this year, they might not find as spook-tacular as the next year. So, I go for a safe choice: Super Heroes or something along those lines. I can guarantee you that I’ll be shopping the sales after Halloween again this year and getting a deal. Who knows, maybe I’ll even shop my own store since we’re carrying costumes for the first time!

On Monday I’ll show you what the boys dressed up as!

This post is part of the SITS “Get Ready For Halloween” challenge. They will be giving out a Canon Rebel T2i to a Random participant. Here’s the link for today’s Challenge: Tiffany Is Pretty. Head on over to participate!

What?! No Wordless Wednesday?

I know! How can that be? Well, let me explain.

This past weekend had me at the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul, MN with my oldest daughter. Then I worked all weekend. Monday I worked and then the reason for being off-blog the last few days…

My 2nd daughter, Smooch, was at the State Team Tennis Tournament in Minneapolis!!! AHHHH!

I took Tuesday off from work and already had Wednesdays off so I headed down to watch my girl play some awesome tennis.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a laptop so had no way to create my posts…kinda. I DO have my Droid2, but wasn’t interested in using it to create posts! Seemed like a lot of work on a little phone! I was able to keep up with my emails, to a degree, so I was very thankful for my new phone!

Yah, so the tennis games…didn’t go so great. Our team played the top team on the tier. We lost fast and easy. I guess the team was from a private school where they have private coaches and year round tennis.

The next team was very equal to ours. Smooch was completely at the same level as the girl she played, buuuut, sigh, she doesn’t have very good endurance. On top of that, she had eaten a 6” sub sandwich about an hour before she played. She should’ve eaten light, but I wasn’t even thinking of that. For the record, the volleys these girls did were insanely long. I could’ve read a couple chapters of a book with how long it took one of them to score a point!

I would say 1/2 way through the first set, she was grabbing her side and was having a hard time breathing. She wanted nothing to do with her coach or anyone. She wanted to be left alone. Unfortunately, instead of getting mad or frustrated and putting it into her game, she sinks inside of herself and it becomes a mental and emotional game in ways that she just can’t shake.

And there I sit, watching this all happen. Watching her struggle, knowing that our relationship is so tumultuous that she wants nothing to do with me. For me to try to encourage her would have been like a matador having a sit down chat for a few minutes after he’s stabbed the bull a few times. Not gonna happen.

There were a few times that I thought I was going to start crying and at one point had to go to the other arena where some friends were watching their daughters play. I needed to talk to someone who could calm ME down so my Smooch wouldn’t see me so upset. We all want some success for our kids, right? Even if it’s ONE not-so-measly tennis match?

Well, our team won so that meant they were to play again today. Wow, today. I had Bible Study Fellowship and half our North of home and the match was about an hour and fifteen minutes South from my house. I could do it! *wink*

I prayed. I prayed a lot. I didn’t try to bribe God, but I did beg and plead that He would be merciful and show his favor on my girl. Throughout my prayers I did go back to, “Your Will be done.” I just hoped his Will would be for her to win at least ONE game at State.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The entire team lost. They came in 6th place. I believe in their division there were only 8 teams that made it. The tennis department has only been in our district for around 7-10 yrs, if that. Our rinky dinky town rarely goes to State for anything.

As parents and a district we are so proud of each and everyone of these girls! They put their hearts into each match they played and represented our town very well! Not a single one of these girls gave up and played until the very last point!

So, in a nutshell, that’s where I’ve been the last couple days! Sorry that I don’t have a WW or linky. I’ll be back next week!