Do Not Favor the Rich Over the Poor

In this video, I mention a book by Richard Stearns titled "The Hole in the Gospel". This book powerfully explained the need for American Christians to understand the poverty of the world around us. I reviewed this book here .


Here's an excerpt from the book: "Richard was a godly husband and father to 5 children and was the President of Lenox China before giving up his Jaguar, large home, and large salary to become the President of World Vision. He went from living the country club lifestyle to sitting in grass huts in Uganda feeding children who are starving. Why? Why did he give up the American dream?




Richard told the story of a pastor friend who went through the Bible literally cutting out with scissors, all the verses on poverty and then when he preached on poverty, he held his ragged, tattered Bible in the air and said "Brothers and sisters, this is our American Bible; it is full of holes...here are all the Biblical texts we ignore."





James  2:1-13
The Sin of Partiality


2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?



8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Walk with the King!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers, Titus 2sdays, and We Are That Family.


Today is Women Living Well Wednesday! It's a Link-Up Day!!!

Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don't forget if you join below -please add the Women Living Well Wednesdays button to your post so your readers can find us here! (posts can include the topics of marriage, parenting, homemaking, finances, recipes, organization and more!)

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This Is What I Do When Life Hurts

The Making Your Home a Haven Challenge is over and I miss reading all of your link-ups already!!! Thank you for helping me make October special in my home - your accountability truly helped me! I have the most amazing readers ever! Keep it up!


Today I'm thinking about the reader who is frustrated with her home and feels that it is anything BUT a haven. I turn to Psalm 23 and I think about the inner dialogue of a woman who is hurting...


1 - The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. (want. want. want. I want...)

2. He makes me lie down (lie down...if only I could lie down for just 20 minutes...if only if only if only) in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. (quiet. quiet. quiet...this home is so loud...television, ipods, cell phones, chatter, I can't get a moment of quiet here).


3. He restores my soul (my soul. needs. restored. ...it hurts). He guides me in paths of righteousness. (I am so alone...I have no one who understands...if only I had someone to get me out of this mess. mess. mess. Someone besides me please clean up this mess!).


4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (what if. what if. what if. what if I'm not enough?) for you are with me (you are? why are you so silent God?); your rod and your staff they comfort me. (comfort. who needs comfort. I am strong. I will pick myself up and press on. I am not weak.)


5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (overflows. overflows. overflows. Dirty dishes overflow, closets overflow, my trash cans overflow, my laundry baskets overflow, my calender overflows...if everything is so full - why do I feel so empty?)


6. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. (follow. follow. follow. I feel like difficulties, trials, disappointments, bad relationships and financial problems follow me... goodness? love? follow me?) and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (put on fake smile. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever...BUT...I want. I want. I want. if only. if only. if only. my soul hurts. mess. mess. mess. I am weak. no. I am strong. empty. empty. empty.)


Do you hear the self talk? Do you hear what is happening between this woman's two ears? She is saying rotten things to herself about her life, about the people in her life, about her circumstances, and even about God. And then she wonders...why? don't? I? have? peace?


The problem is not out there - it's inside of her. Romans 12:2 says, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Do you want to see a change in your home? It starts in your mind.

The Lord is indeed your Shepherd and you shall not be in want. You must claim these truths. Let him lead you by still waters...are you thirsty? Sit still. Drink a tall glass of his living word! Let him restore your soul. He is with you. He loves you. You will one day dwell in his house forever. You only have one life and living it in the Eeyore state is not living at all!


Are you in a storm? Do you need help? Psalm 121:1 says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

At the core - I am empty, ugly, self-seeking, insecure, questioning myself to death regularly (even cried for about 30 minutes in my husband's office this week over my fears. fears. fears. and failures). I hurt. I struggle. I wrestle. But then - I lift my eyes up to the maker of the heavens and the earth and this world pauses for just a moment and all my ugly thoughts and self talk are washed away by his love, grace and peace. The storms do not disappear but seeing a glimpse of the sunshine that awaits me, lifts me up when I am weak. I am weak. I am weak. He is strong. And so I rest. And he restores.

(If you are discouraged, I pray you will take just 5 minutes to let this song speak truth into your life. Stop the inner dialogue and habits of doubt and negative self talk and fill your mind with truth. truth. truth. You must hear the truth.)

Praise You in This Storm / Casting Crowns

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.


Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm


I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away


Chorus
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth


Walk with the King!

I am linking up here :

Shopping For Feminine Clothes On A Budget

I have received emails from ladies expressing their desire to dress up for their husband's but their budget is too tight. So here is how I shop for feminine clothes on a budget.

Also, I know that some of the styles I will show you might hate lol! Cause it's my taste and not necessarily yours, but you get the idea! And I mentioned a "Clothes Swap" in the video - here's the link to how a clothes swap works.

Walk with the King!

God Will Meet All of Your Needs

Every year in the spring, we take the kids to our old apartment where daffodils grow wild in the woods nearby and no one seems to care. 9 years ago, a neighbor discovered them and she told me to "get my bucket and get picking." It was such a joy to make a spring bouquet - for free! So every year we drive the kids over to our old apartment and we make spring bouquets from these wild daffodils!

There are no paths to these daffodils and it appears that no one ever sees them. I am sure that we are the only ones who venture in to find these treasures and when we get past the mess of leaves and twigs there we find these daffodils standing tall and proud, in all their splendor ready to greet us!

Luke 12:27 and 28 says "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"

Jesus says - "Consider the lilies". This means - take some time to really look at them - pause - think about their splendor and how God has provided sunshine and rain so that they can bloom. And then think about your needs - and how much more Jesus cares about you than those lilies! Certainly he will take care of you - and if you don't believe - your faith is little!!!

Phil. 4:19 says, "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." In the margin of my Bible by this verse I have written: "If he didn't meet it, I didn't need it."

In America it is rare to find someone who is worried about how they will clothe themselves. But I know that the recent recession in America has struck fear into the hearts of many and I want to encourage you to exchange your fear with faith. If you are struggling to walk in faith in the area of finances - let the daffodils and other spring flowers remind you - God cares for you much more than these - and he will meet all of your needs in Christ Jesus.

These daffodils sit on my window sill today as a reminder of God's faithfulness to me.

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Do Not Pursue Stuff - Pursue God

So I was at Target last night. I didn't go there to shop, but to find a table to sit at and do my Bible study while my children were in Sunday evening church. As I sat there studying the book of Ecclesiastes I found it ironic that I could hear the non-stop beep beep beep beep sound of things being rang up at the cash register!

Ecclesiastes is written by the wisest man to ever live - King Solomon. King Solomon was also known for his immense amount of wealth and his extravagant palace. In chapter one he sits back and evaluates all he has and says, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly Meaningless! Everything is Meaningless!"

Beep Beep Beep Beep - go the cash registers.


In chapter 5 King Solomon continues, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them."

I get up from my seat to get a refill on my drink - the lines have grown quite long - beep beep beep beep - the cash registers all play in unison.

"And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them. The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."

I look out the window and watch as men, women, young and old walk out of the store with overflowing carts - beep beep beep beep - the people continue to flood in through the doors.

Who am I to judge I think? I can see one mother with a baby carrier and diapers. Those certainly are necessary. Who am I to judge? I see another family carrying a bag - the bag is clear and I can see the letters W - i - i . What a blessing - their family now has a Wii - I bet those children are going to have a ball when they get home!!!

Oh what a blessed nation we are!!! Or are we? Have we realized that this is all meaningless? Have we realized how much work we have made for ourselves trying to organize all of our STUFF! We buy bins, shelves, hooks, baskets, etc. just to try to manage all of this stuff!

I sit back in my chair and just ponder for a minute - and the noise of the beep beep beep beep sound has grown terribly distracting and annoying! I cross reference over to Proverbs and read chapter 23:5. "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky line an eagle."

Are riches stable? I think about what is happening on Wall Street and Main Street and in our Capital right now. For many, their life savings or retirement just grew wings in the last month and flew away. So many have lost so much! All that hard work and labor - gone... meaningless.


Beep Beep Beep Beep - the registers continue their song.

What do we do? The book of Ecclesiastes comes to a close with 3 conclusions. Chapter 12 tells us: 1.) "Fear God" 2.) "Keep God's commandments" and 3) be prepared for judgement day because "God will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

I read a challenge on another blog that I want to bring to you - I challenge you to try to use every single thing you own in your house this month! What? Did you just say - "It's not possible." Me too. What are we teaching our children? Are we fearing God and keeping his commands in America? Are we ready for judgment day?

Beep beep beep beep - the registers continue to sing their chorus. I sense the Holy Spirit urging me - do not pursue stuff - pursue God.

Walk with the King,

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Peace During this Economic Crisis

Last week I blogged about making weekly schedules and daily schedules and meal planning - but no schedule or plan could foresee the financial crisis that our country is currently experiencing. Are you experiencing the recession in your home? So what do we do when our plans don't go our way? Where do we turn? How do we handle this downturn in the economy emotionally and spiritually?

Philippians 4:6 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God." This verse tells us to not worry about anything and how can we do that? By praying about everything!

We must remember the same God that carried us yesterday will carry us today. Beth Moore says, "Often times we want to be delivered from our trial but God wants to take us through the trial to make our weaknesses strong. When we get down on our knees - God gets up." There is power in prayer!

How should Christians respond to America's financial crisis?
1. Recognize that God is in control.

2. Pray for the financial health of your family and our country.

3. Do not give way to fear and panic. It is not "In Money We Trust" but "In God We Trust".

4. Realize that all the money we have is God's and we are a steward of the money he has given us.

5. Reject the ugly monster inside of us that wants to go to Target and buy those new sandals (when you still have last years sandals in the closet that are just fine) if you are going to go into debt to have them. Do not even allow yourself to meander down the isles with all the cute spring decorations - the temptations may be too strong!

Dave Ramsey said on Christianity Today's website, "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."

Today, I challenge you to obey God's word and pray about everything and worry about nothing. When you do this the next verse offers this promise "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

Peace - that's what we all seek - peace comes through prayer. Pray about everything.

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Setting your 2009 Budget

Every year at the beginning of January my husband and I sit down together and set our budget for the new year. We use a software system where we track our receipts, bank account, credit card (we have one credit card that we absolutely never carry a balance on) and direct withdrawals. Keith always invites me to help shape the budget since I know what birthdays fall in what months. For example in April my daughter will have her birthday, so I want to be sure there is extra money in the budget for presents and groceries for a party. But there is also another holiday that month - Easter - so we'll need to budget for a Easter baskets and a new little dress.

Our budget is very detailed as we look at what month we will be traveling, needing new clothes for sports, fees for swim class, holidays, etc. If you have not gotten your finances in order - this could be your year to set a budget and live well!

At http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ I am spotlighting a Titus 2 Woman, Sandy, on the area of finances this month. She may have some advice that could encourage you! So hop on over there and check Sandy out!

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 and 34 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

The key to setting a good budget is living according to it. First, the budget must be within your means and then second you must discipline yourself to abide by it! That's the challenge for me - especially with all these big sales right now. Yesterday I was in the mall and passing up the sales was like passing up popcorn at the movies - the sensory overload killed me - but I managed to walk through and do my exchange without giving in - plus if you saw my closets - you would confirm that I do not need any new clothes - I simply need to get more organized with the clothes I already have!!!! But that is the topic of a blog for another day!

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/