Wow! What a little bit of coffee will do!

Personal photo: Starbucks in Thessaloniki, Greece

Ladies and Gentleman, 

You all blew me away yesterday. Some things that I learned:

• A chance to win Starbucks coffee will make people flock to your blog.
• You people really do know where that comment button is...and for those of you that didn't, you asked for directions yesterday!
• You are very opinionated and don't hesitate to write how you feel. (And, I LOVE THIS!)
• I have readers like you who are very supportive of me, my blog, and my ministry. I feel loved. Thanks.

If you are clueless and missed yesterday's post, you might want to click here to read it.

Ok, I know why you are reading today. You want to know which title won. Well, it was a tie. Seriously.

1. Living for One. God. His Purpose. His Passion. His Glory.  received 13 votes for this title or some form of it. 

2. Living for One when Life is a Crowd received 13 votes for this or some form of it.

3. Get Off the Throne received a surprising 7 votes which means it is still on the table for a book title.

What does this mean? I am taking the first two titles and will spend some serious time in prayer asking God to tweak them however He chooses. Obviously, Living for ONE will be in there somewhere. And the verse I wrote at the end of the post yesterday, Ephesians 4:1 goes along with my word for the year. I hope to incorporate that somehow as well.

My message is that we all will realize that Living for ONE is the only way to live. I have been down the path of living for others and living for myself and both have wreaked havoc on my heart, mind, and relationship with God. Living for the ONE and ONLY brings freedom, purpose, and abundant life.

So, pray for me as I seek God's tweaking and clarification. I can't wait to share the results with you soon when I launch my new website.

You're still reading? Great!  Because now I will announce the winner of the $10.00 Starbucks giftcard. Drum roll please...

Laura Rath

Laura, email your address to me via kelli[at}ccclive{dot}org.

For the rest of you, I would love to know your fave drink from Starbucks just in case we are ever there at the same time. Then, your drink is on me. And if you have any other comments about the title or my message, speak up! Oh, and if you haven't figured out where the comment button is, keep scrolling down, you'll see it. I would love to hear from you.

Living for ONE,

Kelli

Need Starbucks? I Need your Thoughts!

If you are wondering why "Unwrapping the Gifts of God" is no longer posted as the title of my blog, it is because I am getting ready to move to a Wordpress website. God is blessing me with new avenues to minister and a website will best suit my needs.  But before I do, I wanted to try some titles out on my favorite friends...you!

Change is good! 

So, I want you to vote today. Here are three choices...

1. "Living for One...God. His Purpose. His Passion. His Glory."

2. "Living for ONE...when Life is a Crowd." (This is a title of a message I am working on for an upcoming conference.)

3. "Get off the Throne...there is only room for ONE." (This is a title I have played with since 2002.

I had a sweet friend who evaluated my blog back in December and gave me some excellent feedback. She said that my blog was busy. (You know me, bright colors and swirls.) And though I like the bright colors and swirls, it can make it difficult to read and focus on the content of my blog. Therefore, as you can see, I am trying out the white. A little sterile for me, but much easier to see and read. 

She also told me that she loved the title of Unwrapping the Gifts of God, but that my title did not always match who I was or what I wrote about. She said, "After reading some of your posts, it seems to me that you are about encouraging and empowering people to live out their purpose -- to understand their calling." She hit the nail on the head. Wow. 

So, even though I loved the "unwrapping" notion and the generality of that title, I desire to be more specific and focused for my readers. And...I will be sharing bits and pieces of my work-in-progess book on my new blog. So, my new titles will reflect that as well.

So, what do you think?

Please, please, please, leave a comment to let me know if you vote for 1, 2, or 3. Or if you have another creative suggestion of a title or a way I could improve my blog, please let me know that as well. I write for you! 

And for everyone who comments, I will choose a random winner to win the first signed copy of my book to be released in June of 2013. (Oh, I dream. Sigh.) Seriously, I will give away a Starbucks gift card. So, get busy voting! Can't wait to hear what you think!

"Live a life worthy of the calling you have received." 

Ephesians 4:1

Kelli

And if you want to read a short blog post, I am guest posting today at www.leighgray.com

Linking with 

Milestones and Road Signs...and the Giveaway Continues!

I had some sweet family members and friends put up several signs in my neighborhood to alert everyone that I was turning 40. I loved it! There was a sign greeting me just about every 50 feet or so.  (I loved them so much, I didn't take them down until last night!) 

As I approached the entrance to the neighborhood, I saw these two signs together and I was struck:

One sign marks a milestone. The other is a road sign.

They both are significant.

The milestone promotes reflection. It is a time to look back, to evaluate, to celebrate, to remember, to give thanks.

The road sign provides direction. It requires looking ahead, gaining perception, making goals, following instructions.

We need both in this life:  milestones and road signs.

I desire to reflect and give thanks and celebrate.

I remember the days long ago.

I reflect on all that you have done.

I carefully consider what your hands have made.

  I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.   Psalm 143: 5-6

But I can't wait to look ahead and expect and see what lies ahead.

The revelation of God is whole

and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of God are clear

and point out the right road.

The life-maps of God are right,

showing the way to joy.

The directions of God are plain

and easy on the eyes.   Psalm 19: 7 - 9

Spend some time today thinking about your milestones AND your road signs. 

We need reflection and direction.

Don't forget to comment here if you want to enter for the giveaway...

I am giving away THREE books that have hugely ministered to me deeply this year and a Starbucks gift card (that ministers to me, too!)

The THREE books:
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

Here's how you can enter to win:
1. Leave a comment on this blog and if you are feeling punchy, I would love to hear a subject you would love for me to blog about.

2. Spread the word about his giveaway via Social Media -
Facebook, Twitter, etc. and let me know that you did that by leaving a comment.  (Use the share link at the top of the page)

3. Follow me on Twitter (@kelliwommack). If you do already, thanks and let me know that !

4. Follow this blog by either signing up for it via email, Google Reader, or Networked blogs.  (You can do this all via the side bar.) Let me know that you did this by leaving a comment. If you already do, let me know that!

I will close the giveaway, Sunday, October 15 at 5 pm...and announce winners on my Monday blogpost.  I would love for you to win!

Unwrapping the gifts of reflection and direction,

Kelli

Celebrating Forty with Friends and My First Giveaway!

Yes, I turn the big 4-0 today.  
Do I feel older? Well, if you are talking about the fact that I have to hold books out a foot from my eyes now to read them, or the fact that my knees crack when I stand up, or that I feel the need to go to bed at around 9:30, then yes, I feel older. 


Honestly, I am incredibly blessed and I felt like today was a great day to celebrate His goodness in my life...and have a giveaway (that comes at the end.)


Today I am grateful for:


the fact that God loves me unconditionally and that after 40 years, I am really beginning to understand that love. I am thankful for my salvation, for my walk with Jesus, for my calling, and for the Spirit that enables me to fulfill that calling.


my husband of almost 20 years. He is an amazing man. I love him dearly and I am thankful that we have a marriage built on Christ.  We went to our first marriage retreat this year...and were affirmed that we were doing a lot of things right (by the grace of God!) He is my biggest fan...he just never comments on my blog.


my children. Bekah is 12 and wise beyond her years.  I think there is an old soul buried beneath that veneer of a young woman. She challenges me to slow down, to think deeply, and to love wholeheartedly.  Ryan is 8 and rocks my world. He always has. Ryan is a great kid with a big heart, a huge imagination, and a ginormous amount of energy.  My children are gifts that allow me to know and understand God better. And this was the year my family became complete in Christ when Ryan gave his heart to Jesus in July!


my extended family. So many I can't name, but I am thankful for all of them. I am blessed to have such an extended network of support.


my friends. You are one of them. Old friends. New friends. Thank you for your love,encouragement, and prayers. You are a blessing.


my church family. I love Christ Community Church.  I love serving alongside of such godly people who are passionately in love with Jesus.


my ministry at CCC. I never would have thought that I would be paid to do something I love so much. I absolutely love encouraging, equipping, and empowering people for ministry and seeing them reach their full potential in Christ.


my new emphasis on writing and speaking. Thanks to your encouragement and readership, I have been writing on this blog since July 4 and have written 33 blog posts on this blog and have guest blogged 3 times for others. I also went to my first speaker/writer conference  (She Speaks) this year and proposed my first book! I have been blessed to speak over 20 times, lead two bible studies, and speak for the first time internationally at a pastor's conference in Caracas, Venezuela. By His Grace and For His Glory!


These are just a few of many, many things I am thankful for.  Thank you for letting me share them with you.  


Now...for the giveaway...
I am giving away THREE books that have hugely ministered to me deeply this year and a Starbucks gift card (that ministers to me, too!)


The THREE books:
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick


Here's how you can enter to win:
1. Leave a comment on this blog and if you are feeling punchy, I would love to hear a subject you would love for me to blog about.


2. Spread the word about his giveaway via Social Media -
Facebook, Twitter, etc. and let me know that you did that by leaving a comment.  (Use the share link at the top of the page)


3. Follow me on Twitter (@kelliwommack). If you do already, thanks and let me know that !


4. Follow this blog by either signing up for it via email, Google Reader, or Networked blogs.  (You can do this all via the side bar.) Let me know that you did this by leaving a comment. If you already do, let me know that!


Thanks for helping me celebrate today!  I will post the four winners on Monday, October 17.  


Unwrapping the gifts of life,






Kelli


P.S. You have made my day.  I love you all!