How to Handle Insults

Criticism can come from so many avenues - it can come from - parents, in-laws, friends, co-workers, our children, and even our husbands.

Webster's dictionary defines insult as "to treat with contempt, indignity, or to offend."

So how do we as God fearing women handle insults? Let's see how Jesus handled them.

As Christ hung on the cross Matthew 27:39 & 40 tell us, "Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying... "Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God."

Argh! How frustrating it must have been for Christ to listen to their insults. He could have jumped off that cross with no problem!!! He is God! He could have said to them - "just give me three days and then see if I still need to prove that I'm the Son of God to you!"

Can you even imagine having the power of Christ and not responding to these insults! Since Christ would not come down he appeared powerless but Christ crucified is the Power of God! He had only one response to the insults found in Luke 23:34. Jesus said "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

Christ prayed for the forgiveness of these men who hurled insults at him. We should do the same. The world does not usually respond this way - they say - stand up for yourself - you have a right to be bitter and angry. But Christ did not express this sort of emotion. He only expressed sympathy and prayed for them.

Today - pray for someone who has hurt you. Pray that God forgives them and that you too would forgive them.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Responding to America's Financial Crisis

I had begun writing on a completely different topic today - but I couldn't keep my mind off of the financial crisis of our country right now.

Sunday night I watched Huckabee's show on Fox News about the Crisis. Then I proceeded that by watching another show with financial advisors saying that Americans are living a lie. We have bought into the dream of having the nice home, nice cars, lots of toys and gadgets and have gone into debt to have those things. Now the bottom is falling out of our financial system.

How should Christians respond to America's financial crisis? Here's my thoughts this morning:

1. Recognize that God is in control. Pray for the financial health of our country.


2. Do not give way to fear and panic. It is not "In Money We Trust" but "In God We Trust".
   
3. Realize that all the money we have is God's and we are a steward of the money he has given us. Reject the ugly greedy monster inside of us that wants to go to Target and buy those new set of towels or shoes or cute fall decorations IF you are going to go into debt to have them.


4. Dave Ramsey said on Christianity Today's website, on September 26th, 2008 "Have money in savings, get out of debt, live on a budget, live on less than you make, don't co-sign, and diversify your investments. These are things the Bible tells us to do with money. If you do these things, you're going to survive in bad times and prosper in good times. I'm not sitting here fretting that my world is going to come to an end based on what they are going to do in Washington."

I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon Him because he cares for you."

Walk with the King!
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

What Will We Get Rewards for in Heaven?

What will we get rewards for in Heaven? In Revelation 20 verse 11 we see the great white throne judgment beginning. The dead great and small will stand before God's throne and he will judge the dead "according to what they had done as recorded in the books."

In Revelation 22:12 Jesus says that he is "coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

2 Corinthians 5:10 says "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

These judgments are not to be mistaken for the first judgement of faith. First we will be judged based on our faith and what Christ has done for us not on what we have done.

Following this judgment, believers will be judged and rewarded for their good works. Does that make you a bit uneasy? Or scared? or Does that make you feel good?

Something I tell my children regularly is God is always watching and listening and he always cares for you. I say this to comfort them. But you know what else would be a true statement - God is always watching and he's keeping track of what you are doing to serve him! He's making some permanent records in heaven!

That truth floors me and makes me want to quick turn off my computer and go do a good deed. I hope it does to you too.

Earlier this week I wrote about people pleasing - when I think about the truth of the above verses I realize that God's appraisal of my life is really all that matters in the end - that there is a world to come where I will have wished I didn't people please and had only concerned myself with the audience of one - God.

Of course, we don't want to spend our day doing good deeds for selfish reasons - to get rewards. I Cor. 3:12-14 says that God will test our works with fire. And on that day, will they burn up like wood and hay or will they stand the fire as gold or silver? We will all face this test. Are you ready?

Walk with the King!
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Living Beyond Yourself

Beth Moore has written an in-depth Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit titled "Living Beyond Yourself." I just started this study in a small group at church and I will be talking about it as I learn new things about God and myself.

Tuesday our small group gathered to watch a video of Beth speaking on the subject - Living Beyond Ourselves.

The one sentence she said that struck me the most was "In Christ I get to be a different person!" Do you ever feel like you are in a rut. Like you decide that this week you are going to make some changes in your life and get organized or wake up early to have quiet times or cook new recipes or reach out to your neighbors. In your mind you make grand plans for living well but then life happens and you don't change.

I do this. I see things in my life that I wish were different about myself. I try to change them and it's like running into a brick wall. I feel like I just can't change some things about myself! Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Aren't those comforting words!!!! The thief - that's Satan - has come to steal, kill and destroy. All he wants to do is steal your heart from God, kill off the next generation of Christians and destroy your hopes of living beyond yourself!

BUT Jesus says - He came that we may have life and not just have life, but have it to the full! We have to stop defeating ourselves and believing that we can't change! Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If we try to change ourselves in our own strength it will be impossible. But with God's help it is possible - you CAN live beyond yourself!

It's a day by day process. Walk with God every day, call out to him for help, depend on him in moments of need. Galatians 6:9 says "Do not grow weary in doing good for in due season you will reap a harvest IF you do not give up." In a year you will be a different person - IF you do not give up!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Are you a People Pleaser?

By nature I am a "people pleaser" but if you know my husband you know that I did not marry a "people pleaser". Over the years he has convinced me that I put too much stock in what other people think about me, my kids, and my decisions in life.

Have you ever had those moments where you think "do people judge me for my past?" or "what will people say about this decision I made?" or "what kind of mom do they think I am when they see my child acting a little nutty?" I am aware that people form opinions of others based on some of these things. And our own selfishness causes us to want people to only think well of us. Of course - God wants us to be women who have a reputation for being a follower of him and for righteousness but that's not really what I'm referring to here. I'm referring to that "people pleasing" need that causes you to be gripped with fear when you fail or are who you really are - a flawed person!

Galatians 1:10 says "Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Paul said here - that his rank and status with men no longer hold him captive. He now tries to please an audience of one - God.

Whose approval are you striving to win? Your friends? Boss? Children? or just one - God's. Other people's opinions should hold no power over you. When you choose to follow Christ - you choose to forgo pleasing people.

So let's do it together today! We will strive to please one - God and if by chance we receive approval from others - do not put too much stock in it - because tomorrow their approval could flip-flop and be gone - because we are really all the same - flawed.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Life is Not Easy

As I packed my suitcases at the age of 17 to attend the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, I truly believed I was going to become a missionary some day in another country. But God had other plans for me. But he did not have other plans for a classmate of mine, Bonnie Penner.

A couple years ago I read about her in the Akron Beacon Journal and here's what it said "A gunman fired three bullets into the head of an American missionary Thursday at the clinic where she worked as a nurse. It was believed to be the first targeted killing of a US citizen in Lebenon in more than a decade. Bonnie Penner 31, was slain at the Unity Center, which houses a Christian Chapel and clinic. Investigators said they believe the gunman knocked at the door of the clinic and shot Penner in the head with a 7mm pistol. A colleague found Bonnie lying in a pool of blood."

As I type this, I can't hold back the tears that stream from thinking about her strong faith and sacrifice. She was a beautiful God-fearing woman who died taking the gospel to the people of Lebanon. I keep this newspaper clipping on my bulletin board because it inspires me to not shrink back from being bold with the gospel! People around the world are suffering to take Christ to the world - while I sit in my comfy cozy home and worry if my neighbors will stop talking to me if I talk about Jesus or church too much!!! Bonnie died for the gospel while I consider losing a friendship over the gospel as a hardship!

Maybe you've had some hard days lately with the kids, with your husband, with a friendship or at work. I read Acts 14:22 this morning and it says "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."

There is not much of a halo in real life - we all face struggles and hardships - that is what this verse tells us. If we follow Christ we can count on it costing us something. Life is not easy. If you are in the middle of a hardship you need to run to Jesus - yes - don't walk - run. God will comfort you -- IF you let him.

Walk with the King

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

A Woman's Influence

Do you know how powerful your influence is??? You may say - oh no - I'm not a mover and a shaker - I don't have much influence in this world. But all women have a sphere of influence whether it's with their husband, children, friends or co-workers. How do you use that influence? Do you use it for selfish motives or for God's glory?

In Acts 13:50 Paul was spreading the word of God in every town but when he arrived to Antioch the "Jews incited the God fearing women in high standing" to stir up the town. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and had them expelled from the region.

It was the women that the Jews seemed to target. They recognized our power of influence. The same thing happened in the garden of Eden. The serpent approached Eve first and once she was convinced to disobey God she was able to convince Adam also.

Now as you approach your sphere of influence in your home, church and workplace; remember you have the power of influence - how will you use this power you have? We must be sure that we are following God closely or we will lead others astray. God has blessed us with this awesome gift and we must use it for Him.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

www.womenlivingwell.org

Welcome!!!

I hope you like this new blog page I am working on! It should be much more user friendly than what I was previously using!

Walk with the King!
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

About Me

25 Random Things about Me:

1. I am the youngest of 3 girls.
2. I have loved Jesus as long as I can remember - I have excellent parents!
3. I married my high-school sweetheart and we have been married for 13 years.
4. My dream as a little girl was to be a stay-at-home mom - and I LOVE it. I have a 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter.
5. Being a mom has been very humbling.
6. I love Starbucks - Mocha Frappucinos!
7. My favorite hobby is reading - and now blogging!!
8. I love books about marriage, parenting, homemaking, and theology.
9. I hate to exercise - but I do it at least 4-5 times a week.
10. I love facebook and keeping up with my friends there!
11. I went to college in Chicago and dated my husband long distance for 4 years!
12. My husband is the smartest person I know - he has taught me so much.
13. I love Ohio and we are HUGE Buckeye fans.
14. I love all the seasons equally! I love summer - and getting a tan, I love the fall crisp air and football season, I love winter and the beautiful snow and I love spring with the birds chirping!
15. I love my church - and Sundays are my favorite day of the week.

16. I home school my children using the K12 curriculum.
17. I love schedules - I love typing them up, living by them and dreaming of the next one!
18. I try to go to bed every night while there is still a 10 on the clock and I try to wake while there is still a 6 on the clock --- 7 days a week.
19. I am not a movie buff - so when people start to talk about movies - they lose me quickly!
20. I love people!
21. My life verse is Galatians 6:9 "Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."
22. I tend to see the glass half full and am a bit of an optimist.
23. I wish I were a better cook and had more organized closets.
24. I love to take photos and scrapbook them - but I am very behind.
25. I feel blessed that you even stopped by this website to read these 25 things. I am praying for you - remember - there is an audience of One to please. God is always watching, He is always listening and He cares for you!

Much Love,

Courtney