worthyoftheprize.com: my one word

Showing posts with label my one word. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Shop Thirty-One Gifts to Help Me Reach the Nations for Christ!

In case you didn't know....REACH is my 2013 word! :)

I have committed to doing a few intentional things this year, which will help me REACH the nations for Christ through sports evangelism . You can read more here.

And I am absolutely thrilled that my friend Maureen has graciously offered to donate 20% of the proceeds of my online 31 fundraiser party directly to this ministry!!!

That said...I am inviting YOU to the party! Your purchases will help us run more evangelistic sports camps and send more evangelistic soccer balls and basketballs to orphans and children in poor villages around the world! We are sharing the gospel message one ball and one camp at a time!

Will you join us on our mission? Simply place your order online here by April 26th.

If you are not familiar, Thirty-One offers fashionable handbags, totes, coolers, organizational systems and accessories for you, your home and your office...everything comes in a variety of styles, colors and patterns and can be monogrammed if you choose!

I am pretty much a 31 addict myself! ;)

One of my very favorite items is their Large Utility Tote! I own two already and continually find reasons to justify buying another!

It is very spacious and sturdy, stands up on its own...perfect for hauling sports equipment to little league games as well as beach toys and towels to the beach! I also load mine up and take it with me to school on the days that I teach and keep one in the back of my car as a "catch all."

I cannot get enough of their thermal coolers, pretty sure I own one in every size!

These are great for taking a lunch to work, snacks to the tball team, drinks to a birthday party, for keeping your groceries cold or for going on a family picnic!

I am in love with their brand new Rec & Roll duffle collection, which is available during the month of April ONLY!!!

I am definitely gonna buy Little A one in each size, in his team colors, with a baseball and his number on it as well...IconIt is only $7 this month!! He will be so excited to get this gear for his birthday in a few weeks!

Their Spirit Collection is awesome too, you can get a variety of bags, totes and thermals in your favorite team's colors! Certain school logos are available as well!

Or maybe you just need something for Mom for Mother's Day? Thirty-One offers all kinds of purses, makeup bags, wallets and accessories which are perfect for spring and summer!

Come on by here and take a look, I know you will find something you cannot live without...and you will be helping a worthy cause at the same time! Spread the word to your family and friends, all are welcome to the party!

Click here to shop my online 31 fundraiser party!

Happy Tuesday, friends! Thanks so much for your continued support...it means the world to me! :)

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Reach 2013: Cover Photo

I mentioned to you here that I was working with a graphic designer on a branding for my 2013 word. So far we have come up with a cover photo for the Worthy of the Prize facebook page, which I am also displaying at the top of our blog to help keep our goal at the front of our minds this year!

What do you think?

Go here to read more about my 2013 word and goals for the year.

By the way, our first (ever) shipment of (evangelistic) balls has arrived at the Belize Basecamp ministry headquarters in Washington. A mission team will be taking them to Belize at the end of the month, where they will be used to share the gospel message with orphans and children in poor villages there, through sports camps, clinics and by simply making deliveries to the orphanages and schools! This time around we were able to ship a mixture of 35 soccer and basketballs, as well as 10 pumps and 60 gospel tracts, which use the colors on the ball to tell "The Greatest Story Ever Told!"

I am SO excited about this new aspect of our ministry and I cannot wait to see pictures of the kids using the balls!!! Thank you J316 Ministries for making this happen and to all of you who donated to this worthy cause!

Check back by often as I continue to report (probably about once a month) what God is doing around here through my 2013 word...REACH!

Monday, January 7, 2013

{Hope for the Home} Linky Party: One Word Resolution

It is the first {Hope for the Home} post of 2013 and I am so excited!!! Excited to see what God has in store this year! It was such a blessing last year...not only to my family, but to the many others I heard from who reaped the benefits of joining us in our efforts to make God apart of our everyday lives and homes!

Now that we have completed an entire year of this series and have seen how God is blessing it, I have decided to add a linky party every Monday, so that you can link up your own ideas for finding God in the everyday!

Go here to get an idea of the types of posts we are looking for and to see the previous posts in the series. All I ask is that you link back to this blog in your post and be sure to link directly to your {Hope for the Home} post (not to your general blog), so that people can easily find it. As time passes and we start getting link ups, I will feature my favorites each week!

I am not much for resolutions. I usually get overwhelmed and quit. So two years ago when I discovered the one word movement, I was so excited. It simply gives me one thing to focus on in the new year. One thing that I want to accomplish. One thing to filter everything else through to make sure that I stay on track and am not adding anything to my life/schedule that does not fit with my God-given purpose and goals.

I suggest you consider doing it too. That way you can head into the new year with a goal, but without setting yourself up for disappointment, failure and frustration.

Go here for 5 tips to help you decide your one word, making sure to give it much thought and prayer. You want to be sure your word is God's word for you.

My 2013 word is REACH. I explain why here, where I also give you an overview of my word from last year.

My friend Melanie at Only a Breath is giving away free blog buttons with your one word on it! Simply send her an email at melanie@onlyabreath.com telling her your word, the color you want your word to be (to match your blog), and if you want the black button backgroud or white (pictured above).

You can also purchase a one word necklace from Lisa Leonard with your word on it and wear it all year long as a reminder!

Image courtesy of Lisa Leonard

I also love the idea of displaying a piece of art (or maybe a framed print) in your home, so that you and your family and all who enter can journey with you.

Here are a few ideas...

Easy DIY Art Image from We Are THAT Family

Word of the Year Art Image from We Are THAT Family

So, whose with me? Tell me your 2013 word!

May God bless you as you seek Him in your everyday lives and homes this year!

Friday, January 4, 2013

My 2013 Word

Last year my word was JOY! And what an awesome year it was! You can read about my 2012 word and download our free "find joy in the journey" printable here, go here for my 2012 highlights and then download our "find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives" ebook, a direct result of what God showed me on my 2012 journey to find joy, despite my circumstances!

This year God gave me a very different word. REACH. He is calling me to reach the nations for Christ, one sports camp at a time!

As you may or may not know, Worthy of the Prize is first and foremost, a sports ministry. We run volleyball team camps all summer long, partnering with high school teams to get them ready for their upcoming season. And after many years of running evangelistic sports camps for kids, we have written a sports camp manual for churches and mission organizations, giving them everything they need to run their own evangelistic sports camps in their community or on mission. Most recently, we have partnered with J316 Ministries to send evangelistic balls to orphans and kids in poor villages across America and around the world, with the hope that we will one day be able to follow up with evangelistic sports camps in those areas.

Because God blessed us with two baby boys, just two years apart, and because we have moved twice in two years, this mission has been somewhat on hold. This is actually why I branched out into other areas of ministry (things I could do from home), causing us to grow tremendously. And I am SO thankful for the glory God has brought to His name through those ministries.

BUT...I am thrilled that He is allowing me to return to my first love...sports ministry!!! And that He is giving me the GO ahead to pursue those ministries full force this year!

Will you join us?

Happy 2013, friends! May God get all the glory!!!

Go here for more information on the One Word movement and how to get involved.

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances . Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

Monday, December 31, 2012

JOY: A Year in Review

2012 was a fantastic year!! I set out to find joy in the journey, despite my circumstances, making JOY! my 2012 word and boy did God bless my efforts! Here are a few highlights...

- we started {Hope for the Home} with the help of various bloggers around the web, to help moms and families find God in their everyday lives and homes

-we began selling our sports camp manual "Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp" to enable churches and mission organizations to reach their community (local or on mission) with the gospel message of salvation through Christ alone

- we ran 5 high school volleyball team camps during the summer

- moms living in The Mercy House, a maternity home in Kenya, are now receiving our prayer cards and we have an international presence in Canada and Italy as well

- we started our orphan ball ministry to spread the gospel message one ball at a time and are about to send our very first shipment through our brand new partnership with J316 Ministries, which will go to further sports ministry in Belize

- we wrote "find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives" which is now in the final stages of publication, should be available for purchase soon

- we helped 5 families bring their adopted children home through our Chosen Child Adoption Ministry

- we held our first donation birthday party which raised almost $900 for our adoption ministry

- we hired Julie Steed, our Director of Orphan Ministries, to help with both our adoption and orphan ball ministries

As for blog traffic, features and numbers...

- we have been featured on some major blogs around the web: our "12 Ways to Make Easter About Jesus" post and our "Pumpkin Pie Croissants" post were both featured on Tatertots and Jello, our "50 Ways to Make Fall Fabulous" post was featured on TidyMom and our "find joy in the journey" printable was featured on Ann Voskamp's site A Holy Experience, to name a few

- we are now averaging 60,000+ hits per month and have over 250,000+ total pageviews

- we have 6,000+ followers on all of our social media sites

- one of the posts from our "Dress Up Your Tailgate" series (Paula Deen Easy Crockpot Potato Soup) has gone viral, being viewed 104,000+ times since we posted it less than 3 months ago

- our blog is now drawing a profit through sponsorships, ads and affiliates

On a personal note...

- we moved from Wisconsin to Tennessee, our 2nd (cross-country) move in less than 2 years

- Big A and I together have lost 55 lbs so far

- Little A started kindergarten

And yet, as fantastic a year as it was, I feel very overwhelmed as I think about the upcoming year. God is doing tremendous things through this little ministry of ours and honestly, I don't feel that I can keep up. I am praying and praying that He will provide the support I need to keep this thing going. I am a big picture, visionary kind of person to say the least, but I have tremendous difficulty when it comes to organization and details. I need others to come alongside of me to put systems into place and keep me in line. I am trusting that God will provide the help I need but most days I want to quit. My life would be so much easier without the burden of this ministry. I feel like God is about to do something huge through our sports outreach ministries and the devil is attacking big time.

Pray for me and us! And a HUGE THANK YOU for your support! Could not do this without you and could never thank you enough for the money, love and prayers you have sent my way!!!

I hope you and yours have a Happy, Happy New Year celebration and a blessed 2013! Check back soon to find out my 2013 word and my plans for the upcoming year, which I believe God has already revealed to me!

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Friday, January 27, 2012

{Free Friday}: Trust in the Lord

Oh my goodness - did I hit the jackpot this week!

As you know, Pinterest has been giving me fits lately, right? Well. Turns out it is actually my old, run-down computer that cannot handle the site, not Pinterest itself.

Upon this discovery, I trekked on over to the library one afternoon this week to catch up on all of my "pinning." A necessity, I know.

And while I was there, I found a fabulous little print to share with you this week...

Download here.

Love the clean look. Love the color combination. Love the verse - one of my all-time favorites, such wisdom. Love it.

Little did I know that when I clicked on the link, I would discover a fantastic litte blog by a fellow pastor's wife, who designs all kinds of awesome prints and verse/quote cards, including these...

Download here.

A matching set of verses and quotes that compliment the above printable! And to top it off - they are all about JOY! which as you know, just happens to be my 2012 word! Yipee!

I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be sharing more prints from The Blogging Pastor's Wife in the future. For now, hop on over to her blog and check it out! Leave her a little love while you are there and let her know that Worthy of the Prize sent you!

Happy Friday, friends! May your weekend be filled with JOY!

Friday, January 20, 2012

{Free Friday}: Filled With Joy

Pinterest has been giving me fits lately. Anyone else having problems with it?

One day I can get onto the site and the next day I can't. Frustrating.

Today being one of the days I cannot get onto the site, I figured I would just design my own print for Free Friday! instead.

So, here it is..

{Click photo to download 8x10 print}

This verse has become very special to me lately, for many reasons. Mostly because my 2012 word is...JOY! You can read why here.

And because the LORD continues to amaze me with the incredible things he is doing in our lives these days.

What great things has the LORD done for you?!

Linking Up With:
Cherished Treasures
Tatertots and Jello

The Treasurista

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

{Blog Button}: Find Joy in the Journey

As you know, my one word for 2012 is...JOY! You can go here to read why if you missed it.

I am leaving little reminders for myself everywhere I go, so that I can keep my focus.

As a result, I made a {Find Joy in the Journey} blog button using the awesome print that Mary Jo at 517 Creations designed for us!

I plan to download the print for my home and I already put the button on the sidebar of my blog.

I thought I would give you the code to the button in case you wanted to put it on your blog, to remind you to find joy in the journey this year and every year! It links back to my post about...JOY!

Or if you would rather, simply download the print here and put it on your blog or computer screen, or display it in your home.

Be sure to read the nice things that Mary Jo had to say about me and this print here. Humbled.

May you and yours find joy in the journey this year...

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY! {Psalm 126:3}

Monday, January 2, 2012

My 2012 Word

2011 was a rough year and I am not sad to see it go.

Ministry triumphs were in abundance but unfortunately, so were personal trials.

As the freshly fallen snow covers the cold, hard ground, may the grace of God cover over a multitude of sins as he washes us whiter than snow.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. {Philippians 3:13-14}

As for 2012, I look forward with great hope to the possibilities it brings. A new beginning. A clean slate. A fresh start.
And after much thought and prayer, I have decided that my one word for 2012 will be...JOY!

I am not much for resolutions. I usually get overwhelmed and quit. So last year when I discovered the one word movement, I was so excited. It simply gives me one thing to focus on in the new year. One thing that I want to accomplish. One thing to filter everything else through to make sure that I stay on track and am not adding anything to my life/schedule that does not fit with my God-given purpose and goals.

I suggest you consider doing it too. That way you can head into the new year with a goal, but without setting yourself up for disappointment, failure and frustration.

What do you say?

Tough things may come my way. Unknowns may be scary. Yet, I am determined to find joy in the journey in 2012!

Download here this print designed for us by 517 Creations, which has also been featured at Be Different Act Normal, 517 Creations, Printable Decor, Creative Busy Hands and A Holy Experience.

Go here for the matching blog button and go here to read the nice things that Mary Jo of 517 Creations had to say about me and this print. Humbled.

I may have to look hard to find it at times, and some days I may even have to choose joy, but the bottom line is that my God is with me, he has a plan for me and his mercies are new every morning.

A big part of this is going to be living a life of gratitude, being thankful for all of his blessings, not taking the little things for granted. And learning to embrace/cherish the special moments along the way.

My husband is a wonderful, loving, Godly man of character and integrity. I have 2 beautiful, healthy boys who light up our home. And if nothing else, by the grace of God {through faith}, I have a personal relationship with my savior Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life in heaven with him!

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. {Philippians 3:8}

These are the things I will cling to when the going gets tough.

And believe me it will get tough when I start Weight Watchers next week! I have been carrying around extra weight off and on {mostly on} since Little E was born, 3 1/2 years ago. It is time for it to be gone once and for all! My sister Sarah {Director of WOTP Volleyball} is getting married in November, so I have 11 months to get rid of at least 30 lbs! The good news is Big A is doing it with me and it was actually his idea, which will make the journey a lot easier on me!

Here's to looking good in that bridesmaids dress! ;)

So, whose with me? Tell me your 2012 word!

Go here for 5 tips to help you decide your one word.

And by the way, I plan to print the {above} 517 Creations print to display in my home this year, as a reminder of my one word and my goals. I already put it on the left sidebar of my blog. I also plan to purchase this necklace from The Adopt Shoppe to wear as a daily reminder as well.

I am sure that my talented friends over at Cap Creations, The Adopt Shoppe and 517 Creations would love to design a necklace and/or a word art print with your word on it for you. Just let them know that I sent you!

Also, my friend Melanie at Only a Breath is giving away free blog buttons with your one word on it!

Be sure to check back every Monday to join in our brand new blog series, Hope for the Home: Finding God in the Everyday, which includes a fabulous group of guest bloggers posting here each week!

I am SO excited about it!

Happy New Year, friends! May God bless you as you seek him in 2012!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. {Jeremiah 29:13}

Linking up with:
Baby Be Blessed
Cherished Treasures

It's a Long Story
Someday Crafts
Tatertots and Jello
The Tuckers Take Tennessee
We Are THAT Family

Friday, December 23, 2011

{Day 23}: Free Friday! {Joy in the Journey} giveaway CLOSED!!!

Physical Fitness:

100 stairs
10 super-slow squats
10 super-slow crunches
10 super-slow reverse push-ups
30 quick calf raises {straight, in, out}
1:00 plank

Spiritual Fitness:

Today is Free Friday!, which means we have another {free} printable for you!

I asked my friend Mary Jo of 517 Creations to design this one specifically for today's post.

Isn't it cute?! Go here to download it. It has also been featured at Be Different Act Normal, 517 Creations, Printable Decor and Creative Busy Hands. Definitely gonna have to frame this one for our house.

Here it is again with the description of my 2012 word...JOY!

Go here for the matching blog button and go here to read the nice things that Mary Jo of 517 Creations had to say about me and this print. Humbled.

Sometimes it is incredibly easy to find joy in the journey, isn't it?

Love. Engagements. Weddings. New jobs. Healthy babies. The list goes on.

But what about when the journey gets tough? When you just cannot take it anymore and you want to quit?

Anger. Break-ups. Divorce. Lost jobs. Miscarriages. Sickness. Death.

It is during these times that you must "choose joy." And believe me, sometimes you have to search for it. And sometimes the holidays can be the hardest. Find God in the little things. Count those blessings that you usually take for granted.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. {James 1:2-4}

I truly hope that you are finding joy along your 25 Days of Fitness journey this Christmas season. Like the wisemen, I pray that the star leads you to the King of Kings. And that you find joy along the way, not because of the details, but because of who you are traveling with.

The Journey

by Erin Vick Franklin

This great gift I have been given

I am not worthy of

It's only by the wondrous grace

Of my Lord above.

So I wait upon you oh Lord

I do not want to fall

It's your will I desire

Only your will above all.

I know you have great plans for me

But I just feel so lost

What do you have in store for me?

I will go despite the cost.

It is me my sweet child

That you are yearning for

It is me who is your destiny

I am your great reward.

My plan is for you to know me

And to become just like my son

I promise to come back for you

When all is said and done.

For now enjoy my presence

Lead others to my grace

Don't worry about tomorrow

Simply live life for today.

In honor of this post, my friend Kate of The Adopt Shoppe has graciously agreed to giveaway 1 of her new Joy in the Journey necklaces and 1 of her new Joy in the Journey word arts to 1 lucky winner!

I am SUCH a fan! I want these for myself. ;)

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us 1 thing that has brought you joy this Christmas season.

For extra entries {leave separate comments for each one that you do}:

1. Follow this blog {scroll down and click Follow, 1 extra entry}
2. Heart The Adopt Shoppe on Etsy {1 extra entry}
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link to your blog post in your comment {5 extra entries}
4. Post this giveaway on your facebook page {3 extra entries}
5. Tweet this giveaway {2 extra entries}
6. Pin the {free} printable onto Pinterest {4 extra entries}

**Be sure to leave your email address in your comments so that I can contact you if you win.

You can enter through December 31st. Winner will be announced January 1st. Goodluck!

Sidenote: The Adopt Shoppe happens to be one of my favorite shops! And the best part is that ALL proceeds go towards Kate's adoption.

Update: GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!!

Followers