A Halloween to Remember

Today is reformation day! A huge piece of our Christian heritage is celebrated on this day - do you know what happened on this day in 1517?

On October 31, 1517, a priest and monk named Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to his church door beginning the Protestant Reformation. What does that mean to you and me?

Martin Luther was a Monk and Professor. He had studied the Bible thoroughly and had devoted his life to knowing God's truth. But as he studied he began to see the flaw of the Pope and his teachings specifically over the sale of indulgences.

On Halloween or the eve of All Saints Day Martin Luther posted on the church door the 95 Theses or 95 reasons why we are justified by faith and grace alone and not by works that the church was requiring for forgiveness of sins.

On All Saints Day the church had a large festive occasion where hordes of pilgrims would travel to the church to receive indulgences. What is an indulgence? It's when you pay money to the priest to have your sins forgiven. So Luther was posting a very long list of why this was wrong - from here a huge firestorm broke out and with the birth of the printing press the list was printed, passed out and the protestant reformation began.

It is good to remember two things today - 1. I am thankful for the men who have gone before us who have fought for the truth of God's word. 2. We are not saved through any good works but solely on the work of Christ on the cross. We are saved through faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone to the glory of God alone! Rest in this truth.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Witches, Wizards and Ghosts

My daughter Alexis - age 3 1/2, was given two coloring books with these titles - "Witches and Wizards" and "Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts". Hmmmmm...the lady who gave them to her is so kind and I did not realize the titles until we were in the car driving away. Alexis of course loved it and was so excited to get home and get to work coloring. I on the other hand had a predicament!

Are witches and wizards and ghosts innocent fun at Halloween or should I tell my children they are "bad"? Does it really make a difference?

According to wikipedia - a 'wizard' is one who practices magic or sorcery. A 'witch' is one who practices witchcraft and sorcery. So what does God's word have to say about witches and wizards?

Exodus 22:18 is pretty frank! It says "Do not allow a sorceress (witch) to live." That's pretty straightforward I think.

Deuteronomy 18 says "Let none among you be found who practices sorcery, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist who speaks to the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord." And Galatians 5 warns those who practice witchcraft will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Then there's the ghost part and wikipedia says a ghost refers to the spirit and soul of a deceased person or to a demon. In Matthew 12:24 Satan is called the prince of demons. God's arch enemy uses the demons to do his evil work.

So, back to my predicament, what did I do with the coloring books? Trust me you won't be impressed. I told my daughter that I needed to throw the coloring books away because they were not pleasing to God. Poor Alexis fell into a heap of tears on the floor. Feeling badly I thought I would compromise - I gave her just the stickers of witches and wizards (about 30) and threw out the books. Then I proceeded to explain in more detail why the stickers are not pleasing to God - and she happily ran off to get a piece of paper to stick them to. Now if this were the end of the story I would not have blogged this because it's embarrassing that I caved in under pressure.

Moments later Alexis came back with her paper all done - but there were only about 5 stickers on her paper and they were only of squirrels and trees and pumpkins. I said "Alexis are you done?" She said "ya mommy, those other stickers are bad. I don't want to use them, they don't please God. Throw them away." I sighed with relief. My 3 year old's conviction was stronger than mine! Thank goodness.

My prayer for her is my prayer for you also - Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Anxieties - To Be Cast Not Carried

Are you anxious today about something? Maybe it's the future outcome of the election, or the failing health of a parent. Maybe you worry about your child's strong will and where that will lead them or the failure of your marriage. In this economy you may be fearing your husband losing his job or how you are going to make ends meet. We all have anxiety - or things that we worry about.

Anxiety can grow and grow until it's a burden that we carry everywhere we go. I have something on my mind this morning that I am worried about and so I turned to I Peter 5:7. It says "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Our anxiety is to be cast onto God - not carried. But how do we literally do this? I mean how many times have we all prayed to God and given him our burdens and then within a day picked them back up and continued to carry them.

I discovered today that the key is in the second half of this verse. It is in believing that "He cares for you." Believe this promise. The command of this verse is to "cast ALL your anxiety on Him" and the promise is "He cares for you."

When this verse says "He cares for you" it means he knows every detail of your situation. He is involved in your life and will take care of you. You have no need to fear and can have comfort knowing that he is right there with you and will not leave you alone in your situation.

So today - whatever your fears are - cast them onto Jesus in prayer. The previous verse says God's hands are mighty! He is strong! And this strong God cares for you. Now go have peace - a peace that the world does not understand.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

One Week Until a New President

Wow - can you believe - in just one week the Presidential race will finally be over?

The 19th Ammendment guaranteed that women would have equal access to the voting booth. "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."-Passed by Congress June 4, 1919

I sent in my absentee ballot yesterday so my job is done and now I pray and wait. Less than a month ago, I was taking a different stance - I was engaging in debates and "quarreling". Proverbs 13:10 really convicted me - it says "Pride only breeds quarrels." In my pride - I found myself feeling like I had to engage every conversation on the subject of the next president. God humbled me by allowing an email I sent to a woman ,that I did not write in humility but in a prideful spirit, to be forwarded to many other Christian women. Once my very flawed email was exposed - my eyes were opened to my pride and I took off the gloves and decided I'd fight this battle on my knees rather than in a boxing ring!

Theodore Roosevelt once said "Every thinking man , when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally - I do not mean figuratively, but literally - impossible for us to figure what that loss would be if these teachings were removed. We would lose all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards towards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves."

We must stand up for truth. We have seen the standards in our country begin to slip due to the removal of God's teachings. Theodore Roosevelt could not imagine what America would look like without the Bible's teachings and standards in America - but I can - because America has drifted from Roosevelt's respect of God's word. We must stand up for truth humbly and fight on our knees in prayer. Join me for the next seven days - commit to praying everyday for our next President.

II Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Walk With the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Could God Applaud You Today?

Saturday my husband and I attended the Ohio State vs. Penn State football game! It was a HUGE game and the stadium was packed with over 100,000 fans! When we stood to applaud the sound was deafening.

I had a sober moment during the game where I stood there and thought - "wow - this is a lot of applause for some guys who are chasing a ball around a field." Then I thought of all the moms at home everyday - 24 / 7 changing morning diapers, nursing, cleaning up spit up off your shoulder, feeding the family breakfast and packing lunches, giving hugs and saying morning prayers with the children. Moms carpool their children to all their games and faithfully sit in the heat or pouring rain to support their kids. There's heaps of laundry and piles of dishes done every day and bedtime stories and lots of kisses to go around.

Does a crowd of 100,000 stand and applaud you and cheer you on? There really aren't any accolades yet what you do in any given day is much more valuable.

Saturday before the game I had my quiet time in Luke 12 and a part of verse 24 lept off the pages and touched my soul and then God brought it back to my mind during the game. It says "Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE YOU ARE THAN BIRDS!"

This verse speaks to my soul!!! Did you catch it? You are so valuable - have you been told that yet today, this week or this month? If you haven't, open God's word and right there he wants to tell you that you are soooo valuable to him. He loves you so. He sees all your sacrifices and hard work and he values you. You deserve an applause - but most likely - unless you get a mommy of the year award someday - it may not happen.

So for now - ask yourself this - God is watching me. He knows my every thought and my every deed - would he applaud me today? That's convicting for me. I know God can not applaud me on grouchy days. Nope - but even when I fail him - he tells me - he does value me. No matter what I do good or bad - he will always love me and value me. And because of that I want his applause. He is our audience of One - today - Let's seek his applause!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Dealing With Guilt - Part 2

Yesterday I wrote on my struggle with guilt. I struggle with guilt over small sinless things - like not having a warm coat on my children when I see all the other preschoolers arrive in their winter coats! To guilt over real sin - like the things that come too quickly out of my mouth when I am angry with one of my children.

Guilt is a universal experience. I received quite a few emails from readers saying that they too have this struggle and I thought maybe I should say more. So I went to my Bible searching for more and I found the answer in one word "Jesus"!

We all have a God-given conscience. Our conscience is committed to getting accounts settled with God and to make things right when we've done wrong.

Hebrews 10:22 talks about our conscience and it says "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

This is one power house of a verse! Do you see what it says - when you feel guilty - draw near to God. Isn't that the opposite of what we want to do? Trust me when those lights came on behind me last Sunday (see Monday's blog) my conscience made me want to hide not chat with a police officer!

But this verse says - "draw near to God with a sincere heart" - be open and honest with God - he already knows what you have done. And don't be scared have "full assurance of faith" - God always loves you - you are his child.

How are we able to come to his throne? Through the blood of his son, Jesus, shed on the cross and that blood has "sprinkled our hearts and it cleanses our guilty conscience!" Wow! God knew that our consciences would bother us - and he wants us to know that our conscience has been cleansed through his blood. We are right with God not because of any of our works but because of his blood alone!

So I want you to ease your conscience today. Picture your heart like a cup cake with sprinkles - it's a delight to God - he does not see all that bad you see. Draw near to God right now and tell him your failures and allow him to sprinkle blood on your conscience and cleanse you and then believe it, accept it and live in it!

Walk with the King!

Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Guilt - Do You Struggle With It?

"Mommy - I'm SO sorry" are the words I heard coming from my daughters room after she had already been put to bed last night. So I entered her room and there she sat on her bed crying and again she said, "Mommy - I am SO sorry" and she held up a little plastic doggie that she had chewed on and broken.

Normally, there is a consequence for breaking toys - but her remorse was so obvious that my heart had compassion on her. She was clearly upset that she had broken the doggie and the only thing she needed at this point was forgiveness and a hug.

Do you struggle with guilt? Maybe you have a past that haunts you. Maybe you had an addiction in the past that ruined family relationships or you chose an abortion at a young age. Maybe you feel guilty for something you said in anger to your husband or about the food choices you make. Maybe you worry that you are not a good enough mother and feel guilty for all your short comings.

I bought a bag of 100 daffodil bulbs that I have yet to plant. Each morning I see the frost I feel guilty that I have not planted those yet - they stare at me condemningly every time I go into the garage! I feel badly that I wasted the money on them or that I've been too "lazy" to get out and plant those and when spring comes if there's no spring flowers AGAIN in front of my house - I will AGAIN feel the guilt of my fall failure!

Do you struggle with guilt over big and small things or am I alone here?

As you can see by my current struggle with the daffodils - this has been an issue for me. The list of failures I feel guilty for is too long to list - from my failure to nurse my son successfully (which was not a sin and I should not feel guilty about! - but I do) to silly daffodils! It's endless!

But when I saw my daughter in bed crying over her remorse for the broken doggie it reminded me of the compassion God shows us. He loves us as deeply as I love my daughter and he does not wish to see his daughters cry over our failures. Once we have said we are sorry he immediately forgives us. Yet the real question is - do we forgive ourselves?

Would it surprise you to hear that the Bible does not say anything about forgiving ourselves! That's a pop culture idea. Our freedom from guilt and shame is completely dependent on us understanding God's deep forgiveness of all of our sins. I John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Your choice is - feel guilt and shame and wallow in it or confess your sin to God and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Let's choose to be free from guilt! If you have confessed your sins you are free! God wants you to live like you are free! Believe it, accept it, and live in it!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Ps. Is it too late for me to plant these daffodils even though we've had frost or could I do it this weekend and they would come up? Anyone know?

My Son's First Trophy

My son received his first trophy last night. It was for completing a season of flag football. He carefully placed the trophy high on his book case where his sister could not touch it and he went to bed one happy boy!

Receiving a prize - it feels good. It feels good to be rewarded for our hard work. I Corinthians 9:24,25 tells us how we should live our Christian life. It says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training, They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore do not run like a man running aimlessly."

Paul here compares the Christian life to a race. I run - but on a treadmill and never in a race. But those of you who have ran a race know that it takes sacrifice, hard work, a careful diet and plan to compete and complete a race.

This is how we are to live our Christian life - with sacrifice, hard work, watching our diet of the mind and soul and preparing to receive an eternal prize - a crown that will last forever!

In the movie, Chariots of Fire, the character playing Eric Liddell makes that famous statement: “When I run I feel His [God’s] pleasure.” When we use the gifts God has given us for the glory of God, we can also know the pleasure of God.

So what gifts has God given you - use them for God's good pleasure. Work hard today - do not run aimlessly. Have a plan as to how you are going to live today - what sacrifices will you make, when will you sit down to meet with God and who will you follow? I ran in college with a friend who had competed at the state level for track. I never could keep up - but I tried to keep her pace and I improved as a runner. Do you have someone you can follow in this race who makes you better? Run hard and you will feel God's pleasure!

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

Children - A Reward or Inconvenience?

Does America treat Children as a reward or inconvenience? With all the talk in politics these days over abortion I have to wonder what your view is? Do you think children are a reward? I know many women who have struggled with fertility and they would shout a resounding - "yes - children are a reward!" And those of us who can conceive should confirm this - yet in America this has not been the case as millions of mothers have slaughtered their unborn babies!

Psalm 127:3b says "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, Children are a reward from Him."

Do you have days where the kids are fighting, disobeying, and giving you a headache and you think - certainly this can not be a reward!!! But it's true - your little sweat peas are your reward. Do you treat them that way?

Some Americans have adopted the view that children are an inconvenience so they dispose of them via abortion. Some mothers have their children and then neglect them rather than enjoy them. And others have children and then spend their days complaining about their children.

I recognize that my children are a reward - but not the way I imagined they'd be before having them! Yes - I cherish the sweet moments every night when I rock my daughter and sit and chat with my son on his bed about his day. Their silly sayings, hugs, kisses, homemade cards and smiles are priceless!

But the biggest reward I have received from them is spiritual growth. My children have forced me to get on my knees more often in prayer. I am more aware of my sin in my own life and things I must change if I want to be a good example for my children. And ultimately God uses them to sanctify me - that is to reveal my sin and purify me.

I never knew how short my patience was until I had children - God has clearly shown me that I am far from being like Christ in this area. Since confessing this sin over and over I have found growth in this area and I am so thankful for my children who have drawn me closer to my Savior. It's a double reward!

Let's display to all of America that children are a reward! We value them! They are blessings! To an unwed mom - she may not feel like she just got a reward when the pregnancy test reads positive. But our feelings do not dictate fact. God's word says - "they are a reward". I pray God will forgive our nation for not viewing babies as He views them.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

I Got Pulled Over!

Yep, I got pulled over last night after leaving church. I had barely driven down the road when the flashing lights appeared in my rear view mirror! It was a surprise. I truthfully had no idea what I had done wrong.

So the police officer asked - and I was honest, I said "I'm going to guess I was speeding." He said - "yes you were - do you know what the speed limit here is?" "No, was I over?" I asked. "Yes mam - the speed limit is 40 and you were well over". Argh!

He took my license and I sunk down into my seat and waited and prayed. Yep - I prayed a pitiful prayer begging God to get me out of this one! Lovely! I'm sure God really appreciates me trying to wiggle worm out of breaking the law.

Now I must admit I was not sure if I should share this story because people may judge me and it certainly does not make me look like much of a saint - but peeps - there are no halos in real life. And I know you all know I am far from perfect and this is just more evidence!

Okay - back to my story - the very merciful police officer gave me a... Warning!!! Hooray!!!! I wanted to kiss the man but I restrained myself and just said a big thank you to him and God. And guess what I did after - I drove as slow as molasses in the winter!!! It's amazing how effective a warning is!

What a perfect picture of God's mercy. I deserved a ticket - but the police man did not give me what I deserve. He gave me mercy instead.

Romans 12:1 says "Brothers, in view of God's mercy (Romans chapters 1-11 display God's mercy and grace clearly), I urge you to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God."

The police officer let me off the hook - but God has done more than let me off the hook for my sin. He paid the price for my sin on Calvary, calls me his child, hears my prayers and loves me and will one day take me to live with him in heaven - now that's mercy!

In view of this great mercy God has given me, I so desire to live my life as a living sacrifice for him - but it's not easy in daily life so first up - try to drive according to the speed limit as I drive my children to preschool! Baby steps here!

Your character counts everywhere, all the time!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Put Down those Magazines and Novels!

Let me first say - I do not think that reading magazines or novels are wrong. You must judge the content of each bit of literature you read through the filter of God's word. If it comes through with flying colors - then read to your pleasure because I believe God has given us the art of literature to enjoy!

BUT if you have not read your Bible today - I'm going to be so bold as to say - "Put down those magazines and novels!". First - be a woman of one book - the book - the Holy Bible.

John Wesley said "I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! Iwant to know one thing, the way to heaven - how to land safe on that happy shore.

God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowlege enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri (a man of one book).

"Preface to Sermons on Several Occasions, 1746" The works of John Wesley

Let's follow Wesley's example and be women of one book!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Essentials for a Good Quiet Time

Here's my list of essentials for my Quiet Time:

1. A Good Bible - one with commentary notes along the bottom, cross references along the side and a concordance in the back.

2. A pen

3. A 5 Subject Notebook - I date the top of the page and then write anything new I learn or don't want to forget. Then I pray and as I pray, I write my prayers out word for word - or I write them in list form.

That's all I use in the mornings!

Later in the day when I have more time, I may include books written by Christian authors, devotional study guides with workbooks and good websites like http://www.crosswalk.com/ . This website has excellent "bible study tools".

Did I miss anything you find essential? A good cup of coffee right? I must admit I only rarely include a drink - for fear of waking the children and losing the entire quiet time for a cup of tea~!

Walk With the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Why Have a Quiet Time?

This week we have covered - "when" I have my quiet time, "where" I have my quiet time and now it's time for "why" I have my quiet time!

In the midst of this noisy world from televisions, radios, ipods, cell phones and computers we can not hear God's voice. He is drowned out by all of the noise and distractions of our busy days and Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth"

My son has always been a very active little guy and not much of a cuddler. From the day he began walking he no longer wanted to sit in my lap. I would try to hold him and cuddle him and he would straighten his arms and like a bullet slip to the floor. He wanted to be free! But that made me sad - because I longed for lingering moments like when he was a baby.

Sometimes I act this way with God. He desires to spend time alone with me. He wants me to just be still and enjoy Him. But "NOOOO" I want to be free. Free to run around distracted and doing my own thing! God doesn't want to hold me down all day long - but he does want just a little while to linger with me. He wants to tell me how much he loves me and guide me by his Word. He wants me to talk to him about my day, my struggles, and my needs. He wants to teach me. He wants to reveal to me areas I need to mature in and fill me up with love, joy, and hope. He wants to be thanked and worshiped. He wants me to be still and know that He is God!

So that's why I meet with God. He loved me so much he hung on a cross for me in agony. He humbled himself to death on a cross so that I could be forgiven of all my heinous sins. Certainly I can set aside a few minutes a day to worship him.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Where Do You Have Your Quiet Time?

Yesterday I talked about "when" I have my quiet time and today I want to talk about "where" I have my quiet time.

This may seem unimportant to address? Again there is no Biblical mandate as to where we should meet with God - actually we are commanded to "pray without ceasing" and "meditate on his word day and night" so everywhere would be a fine answer!

But I thought I would share with you what has worked for me. Just like during different seasons of life I have had my quiet times at different times of the day, at different seasons of life I have had my quiet times in different places.

In college I found the dorm stair wells and the shower stalls a nice place to "get away" from all the girls and meet alone with God. I especially found these secluded places a respite when I needed to let the tears flow in prayer.

When I was working, my car on my lunch breaks was where I met with God.

As a newlywed I felt a need to create a "prayer closet" so in our apartment I turned a walk in closet into a prayer closet. Matthew 6:6 says "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

In the closet I put a cheap chair and footstool bought at a bargain outlet store, a cheap night stand filled with my journal, Bible and hymnal, a little water fountain and CD player in the corner along with some photos of loved ones. This was the most inviting quiet time place I've ever had.

In our current home I have a vanity in the master bathroom where we took down the mirror and I put up a dry erase board. Then rather than using the drawers for makeup and accessories, it is filled with books, highlighters, my Bible and planner and on the counter top lies my computer - where I am typing you from right now!

I have worked hard to create a "sanctuary" where I can escape from the distractions of life and be alone with God.

So I challenge you to create a "place" that is inviting and that is ready and waiting for you. Maybe you have a chair in the family room that you could place a basket by with all your quiet time goodies or maybe there is some where else you have found to work - tell me - where do you have your quiet time?

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

When Do You Have Your Quiet Time?

When do you have your quiet time? That's a question I get asked a lot and with each season of life it is at a different time. There are many great Christian heroes of the faith down through the ages who had early morning quiet times including David, Daniel and Jesus. In Mark 1:35 it says "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place and there he prayed."

But I have found that some seasons of life do not lend themselves to a consistent morning wake time like when I had newborn babies! My energy level was low in the morning and I found that during the children's afternoon naps I could have a more "alert" quiet time! But I have passed through that season of life and am able once again to return to my morning quiet time.

So every morning I meet with God around 6am-ish. The discipline of rising early is not as difficult as the discipline of going to bed early! The computer and television lure me into staying up late and create a weariness that would not exist if I had more discipline!

So here's what I do - each night my goal is to go to bed while there is a 10 on the clock. So if I get to bed at 10pm - I get 8 hours of sleep and if I get to bed at 10:59pm I get 7. Once I see a ten on the clock - I wrap up what I'm doing and head to bed. Sometimes I get sidetracked - but as the 10 o'clock hour comes to a close - I can be found rushing to my bed so that I am in my bed when that clock hits 10:59pm.

Let me shout from the roof tops -this blog is NOT to make moms of nursing babies or toddlers who are still waking in the night, to feel condemned for not rising early!!!! I think God does not command that we rise early for this very reason - there are situations in life where it just is not possible! So I cannot speak where the Bible does not speak!

Evening quiet times may work best for you, for me I often think I will do it later but then it just doesn't happen. So this is what works for me. Elizabeth George says there is just a small window of time in the morning that slams shut the moment your children wake. So even if you can only rise just 5 minutes early - grab that window of time and delight in your time with your Heavenly Father. He loves you so!

It's your turn. When do you have your quiet time? What works best for you and why?

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

My Facebook Community

Well I did it! I created a facebook account in August! I thought I might be too old to hang out on "facebook" but I was pleasantly surprised to find many other older (haha) people hanging out on facebook too!

So why do I go to facebook nearly every day for a sum total of 5 minutes? To see what everyone is up to! Within a small time frame, I find out how old friends from high school are doing, how my very far away friends from college are doing and how my friends who - sometimes I will see in less than an hour are doing!

In one click of the button I can see a list of status updates that range from comments like "I'm doing my laundry" to one that broke my heart yesterday. A good friend from college who lived across the hall in my dorm for 2 years - wrote in her status update regarding her marriage that she will soon be single.

Community - it's something we all desire. We desire to connect with others, to be heard, and to be a part of each other's lives.

People used to have front porches where they visited with one another - now many people have elaborate back porches where we disconnect from each other. People used to fill their evenings around the fire with the family - now families disconnect to play on their computers or watch television.

Community - it's Biblical! We are to have fellowship with one another. We are to love, serve, pray, encourage, admonish, forgive, comfort, bear burdens, confess, have kindness, live in harmony, spur on, offer hospitality, greet, be devoted, and accept each other. God's word calls us to a community of love!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ is a community where we talk about what God is doing in our lives. I do not think that I have some great wisdom to impart to other people but I wish to create a "community" on the web where women can say - "Goodmorning - here's what I read in my Bible today or here is what God is teaching me." I tell my kids - "no talking back" but peeps - it's time for all you lurkers to start talking back to me!!!! I know you are out there - how was your quiet time today? What did you read? Share a verse! Add some depth to this blog! The community wants to hear from you!!!

Walk With the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Hmmmm- Diet Coke or Water?

Every time I sit in a restaurant I have this inner battle - diet coke or water? My favorite drink is diet coke but the bad news is diet coke is not the healthiest choice and it doesn't stand a chance next to it's competitor - water. Water has been proven to:

Improve Your Energy
Increase Your Mental and Physical Performance
Remove Toxins & Waste Products from your body
Keep Skin Healthy and Glowing
Allow for proper Digestion
& Help you lose weight

Soda has the opposite effect - it dehydrates you and does other harmful things to your body. And though I've heard all these facts many times - I just keep on drinking my diet cokes! So what's my problem?

The simple answer is - I like it! But I know water is better for my well being! I get sad just thinking about my internal war at restaurants - diet coke or Water? Hmph!

Jesus compared his word to water - here's what he had to say in John 4:13-14, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Did you see that? Jesus calls us to drink from His living water - we know all the benefits and how he can change our lives and yet we still continue to fill up on other earthly stuff to fill our voids and Jesus says - as long as you fill up on this temporary stuff - you will continue to thirst. You see, without Christ you will always long for more - more food, more clothes, more friends, more fun experiences, more vacations - more, more, more. But Christ says - come to me - I will fill you up and you will never thirst! You will be completely satisfied!

Do you wonder why the title of my website is http://www.womenlivingwell.org/? Because Jesus is our living well and women will not live well until we are drinking from the living well!!!

So the question is not diet coke or water? But will you reach for Jesus -or- stuff to satisfy your soul? Does anyone else feel this tug-o-war for your soul?

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

Americans Crave to Be Full

Americans crave to be full - we want full stomachs, full closets, full garages, full toy boxes, and full calendars. Americans have more stuff than any nation in the world and we have placed our hope and dreams in this stuff. We find joy in the next meal, the next fun experience, or our next purchase. But we only feel full for a few moments and then we are empty again and have to go back out and try to get full again from something else.

Beth Moore says "Any craving is a red flag that we are not being satisfied in God. What makes people want to get drunk or high? They want to feel different because they are empty."

Maybe you don't get drunk or high - but are you craving stuff? It's an American epidemic that is going to ruin our country if we don't stop.

Psalm 63:1 says "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you..."

Do you long for God in this way? Do you spend time with Him everyday and fulfill those longings? I remember when Keith and I were on a cruise - the food was spectacular - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks in between and even a midnight chocolate buffet! My stomach was satisfied - there was never a chance for me to even get hungry!

Psalm 63 goes on in verse 5 to say "My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods".

Can you say that your soul is satisfied with Christ as with the richest of foods? As if you just buffeted on Him all day long? God wants us to be completely satisfied in Him - complete and lacking nothing.

Don't just be pacified by what the world offers - like a baby is with his pacifier - but be like a baby who has just finished his bottle - fully satisfied. Be fully satisfied with Christ.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Are You a Porcupine?

So I had a situation over the weekend where I wanted so badly to be right about something that I hurt someone's feelings. I quickly made amends but it still bothers me. Why has it bothered me so? Because God has been reminding me of all the times he says in the Bible to keep peace with others and I failed to do that in my desire to be right!

Matthew 5:9 says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

A while back I read a book by Donna Partow where she discussed the thought of being a porcupine. She suggested that if you are someone who always has to be "right" then you may be a porcupine. "A porcupine has a lot of good points, but nobody wants to be around it."

A porcupine is someone that you really don't want to be close to because when you do get close to them - they hurt you. Sometimes someone else hurts us and the way we respond to the hurt is worse than the original offense!

So are you a porcupine? Do you say things without thought of how it may affect someone else? If you do - you can stop. Ask God to help you have restraint and to keep you from hurting your husband, children, family and friends.

Do you have a porcupine in your life? Is there someone who continually hurts you? A key to getting over the hurt is to ask God to help you see your porcupine through the eyes of God. Donna Partow says "Everyone who has ever hurt you has been hurt, too. And maybe that's why they hurt you. Now the question remains: What will you do? Will you live your life consumed by the bitterness? Will you be a porcupine? Or will you allow God to heal the hurt? Only you can decide."

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Do You Lack Self-Control?

My children just finished memorizing for Gopher Buddies (a Sunday evening program at our church) the verse, Proverbs 25:28. It says "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control."

So I've been pondering this verse since we've been reviewing it daily for 2 weeks. I've been using the verse to remind the children when they lack self-control that they are being like a city whose walls are broken down. My son gets very frustrated when we are building a fort and the blankets begin to slip and the "walls" come down. The fort is ruined and it takes a lot of work to rebuild it.

Likewise, when we lose self-control we ruin ourselves. Matthew Henry says of this verse: "The good character of a wise and virtuous man is one that has rule over his own spirit; he maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions, and does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience. He has the rule of his own thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order."

So I'm asking myself this morning - how am I doing? A new day is ahead of me - can I control my appetites, passions, thoughts, and desires? Or will my walls come falling down like my son's fort and my day be ruined by my lack of self-control?

If I do not maintain self-control today my walk with God will suffer, my marriage could suffer, my parenting could suffer and my work may suffer. Let's be women who are self-controlled. Plan ahead what you will accomplish today - and don't just put on your to-do list household tasks but put on there - pray for my husband, be patient with the children, encourage friends and neighbors, and walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Pray for the Upcoming Election

So I'm torn this morning - do I write on the political debates and the election our country is about to face or do I write about God's word? Do they intersect?

If they do intersect - where? And would my addressing these issues become a controversial topic that causes women to argue and debate in an ungodly way and even further - muddy the word of God that I so desire to share.

This is the issue I wonder about today. Maybe you could give me feedback - and say "yes" we want to hear your thoughts or "no" this is not the place.

So for today I will say "let's pray for the country". I am sure that is Biblical and not controversial.

You have the weekend to respond and for now here is what I am praying for my beloved America:

Thomas Jefferson A Prayer for the Nation:

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
--Washington D.C., March 4, 1801

Walk with with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Do You Like to Sing?

I had a REALLY rough morning yesterday! I blogged on Proverbs 14:1 about a wise woman and her attitude as she builds her home.

While I was blogging, Alexis was coloring beside me with a marker ... on a wall! Yikes! She's never done this before! I cleaned the mess up and proceeded to take the marker from her - which turned into a game of tug-a-war. She did not want to let go of the marker and when I finally pryed her fingers off she shrieked - which woke my husband. So I sent her to her room where she continued to cry. Lovely! The morning continued in this fashion with the kids resisting cooperation to get dressed, make their beds, fix their hair, get their shoes on and get into the car. So we were running late for preschool.

Once we were in the car I realized I had left something my son needed for preschool in the house - so I rushed back inside and as I got back into the car - Mommy was not happy and you know the saying - "if mama aint' happy, ain't nobody happy!" But I had just prayed in the morning about my desire to build up the people in my home. What was my problem???

Well, we began to drive with the Veggie Tales singing in the background. That was annoying so I switched it to the news - and then it hit me. I needed those Veggie Tales songs - I was grumpy and those songs lifted my spirits! They were simple songs that I've sang since childhood - "This little light of mine" and "The B-i-b-l-e". As the songs played and the kids sang I found myself singing too and by the time we reached preschool - I was a different mommy - I had regained cheerfulness!

Ephesians 5:19 says "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." So many times music has changed my mood. Do you like to sing? God doesn't really ask us if we do or not - he just says "do it" and I think it's for our own good!

A few years ago, a friend told me that she plays fast music when it's time for her kids to clean up and she titled the song "the clean up song". So when it plays the children quickly clean up! I tried it and my children danced more than they cleaned - but it still made for a cheery atmosphere!

Fill your home with cheery music and you will find that it will rub off on all the people. We really needed some music in our house yesterday morning!

So today I will "Sing and make music in my heart to the Lord." I have a feeling today is going to be a good day!

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Your To-Do List

This morning I looked at Proverbs 14:1 and prayed over it. It says "A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Do you ever have days where you think- "I just can't do it all!" Does your to do list seem endless. I mean did you ever notice that your to-do list for today is the same for tomorrow: fix breakfast, wash the dishes, dress the children, take them to school, fix lunch, fix dinner, keep doing dishes, run the laundry, give baths and on and on the list continues. And if today you completed all the tasks perfectly - guess what - the to-do list for tomorrow is the same!

It could all seem quite empty if you looked at it without God in the picture. But we see in scripture that the women's love and care for her home is vital to the health of her family.

Proverbs 14:1 says "A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Truly there is only one thing on your "to-do" list today - build your house. The foolish woman tears hers down - not just with her hands by failure to care for the home, but with her mouth, heart and attitudes.

Check your heart today - is it joyful and merry! Sing a song and display that attitude! Smile! Build your family up with kind words. Tell your husband one reason why you admire him!

Though your to-do list may go unfinished -you will have successfully built your home in God's eyes! And remember we are only trying to please an audience of One - God.

"Do not build up obstacles in your imagination." Norman Vincent Peale

Walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/