"What Do You Want?" By Debra Courtney

Photo Courtesy: havencaraliers.com

“She was quick: “You’re right Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table”. Matt. 15:27.” MSG

A surplus of leftovers was stacked in the fridge. So precariously, in fact, my thoughts of unpacking the milk for morning tea caused me to settle for yogurt and granola. I had no time to risk the probable avalanche, nor the energy to rearrange before my first cup of tea kicked in.

Like last year as I pushed back from a Christmas Buffet laden with ham, turkey and all the trimmings, etc… I vowed never to eat again. Yet, before the dawn’s early light had broken and with only the light of the refrigerator piercing the morning, my bleary-eyed glimpse of sliced turkey and some persimmon pudding caused me to eagerly anticipate my next meal.

Leftovers are rarely considered choice fare. But, for the Canaanite woman, seen only as a “dog” and deemed unworthy of anything more, even leftovers were desirable.

Desperation regarding her daughter’s illness seized her soul as she pushed past the self-righteous glares of the crowd and fell humbly at the feet of the Master.

Jesus sat silent. (Reading this to myself I am thinking that Jesus is saying to himself, hum; I’ll see what she “says” first before I make a comment.)   

A sense of smugness must have engulfed the disciples as Jesus’ initial reaction appeared to validate their deeply embedded beliefs of superiority. Little did they know, a few “incisive words” from Jesus would quickly extract their shallow roots.

Undaunted by Jesus’ alleged indifference, the Canaanite women voiced her unwavering hope.

Jesus gave in. “Oh woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well. Vs 28.MSG

Jesus came to save the pharisaical community; yet most blindly looked on in self-righteous indignation. In contrast, the outcast woman believed even a single word or touch from the Master would be enough to restore her daughter’s life.

This morning, as I munch on my yogurt and granola with an abundance of food piled high in my fridge, I question if I take for granted all I have while feeling entitled to more. Do I humbly receive whatever God desires to give me, knowing that even the scraps from his hand will bring more healing to my body than the surplus of leftovers stacked in my fridge?

It is not what we receive, but the spirit with which we receive that brings the results we desire, and the surplus sounds of Thanksgiving our Master longs to hear.

This New Year, give God thanks and share from your place of abundance with those around you.

Debra’s life goal is to inspire and motivate women globally to become all they have been created and designed to be by using the guiding principles of their Creator’s word in gaining wisdom, understanding their designed-given personality identities & create their purpose!  You can contact Debra at dwcscc@yahoo.com.

Your Opus - By Debra Courtney

Burlington Free Press

 "...your voice is unique, and it is sweet to God's ears." Song of Songs 2:14 

Any woman who has the courage to believe in her music “Opus” (her work) inside her will write the music for her orchestra, but must to turn her back on the audience to conduct the instruments that brings HER VOICE. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee..." 1 Tim. 4:14.

This is really a word that speaks to me and rings true to who those who know who they are and who’s they are and what their “Opus” their work is. But some of us don’t. 2013 was a mixture of breakthroughs, delays and contradictions for many of us. Like the noise of an orchestra tuning up.

 If we want to orchestrate heavens symphony we must be willing to turn our back on things and some people on the earth. Sometimes God puts His people into a thing called “transition processing.” It is a place where we go into our own “wilderness transition” so we can find GOD’S VOICE and FIND OURS! I have experienced this “transition” even all the while being surrounded by people. Have you?

It takes courage for us to believe in the music, the “Opus” inside us, the instruments that we bring together and surround ourselves with so we can conduct the symphony we need to hear, and to be faithful to write it out accurately so that others can hear it also. 

When we are true to the one thing that we alone were created to do, we tap into an inner strength, not in and of ourselves, but an inner helper, an inner comforter, what could be called a “Spirit of Truth” that we are doing the right thing, even when nobody around us fully understands where we are at. This “place” of being is the most powerful in the world. It is an aspect of “God Speaking” out through the uniqueness of His design as he created us that we are exhibiting.

DESIGNED for PURPOSE and DRIVEN by PASSION

If driven by purpose without passion our work (our Opus) is average and never the best. If driven by passion without purpose, we are pleasure seekers (sensualist). If driven by both, we are a creative force in a uniquely designed universe waiting to cooperate with us and to bring us all into all that we were designed and destined to be.

I like what Steve Jobs said, “To design something you really have to get it! Be passionately committed to thoroughly understand something. The design of the Mac was not in how it looked…it was how it worked.” 

It is not so much what people think about us that matters, it’s what heaven knows about us that matters! Use the criticism to your advantage. In fact get on the positive side of it.

"Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he that heeds reproof is honored." Prov. 13:18.

The notes erased, marked through or scratched out on the paper of our lives are ugly – however stay with it, because when the 'Opus" is finished the melody is beautiful.

Forgetting those things in the past and pressing onto the greater achievements of the future. The symphony you will conduct with all the different talents of the orchestrate (instruments)that shows up in your life can change everything in your future. It's your choice. It's your "Opus".  Be that instrument in the Redeemer hand.

A Few Things of What I Know

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

A Few Things of What I Know

By

Debra Courtney 

I am to see my problems & troubles as a part of GODS’ education for me.

The seed that leaves my HAND never leaves my LIFE. It goes out into my FUTURE and produces my HARVEST.

ALWAYS have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE. (Send thank you notes to everyone who helps us.

IGNORE OFFENCES!!!

Enemies create my REWARDS. GOD only PROMOTES OVERCOMERS.

SILENCE cannot be MISQUOTED.

The PROBLEM I decide to solve for others is called MY PASSION.

My mentor is interested only in my PROSPERITY. In who or whom do I trust?

What SELF-PORTRAIT do I decide to BELIEVE?

What weakness do I decide to CONQUER?  CONFESSION stops PERSECUTION.

The time I invest in the presence of GOD determines my PROSPERITY.

(In family, business, education, finances, friends, health, wisdom, understanding, favor, blessings, obedience, grace, mercy, joy, humility).

What FAVOR do I decide to PURSUE and PROTECT.

I am FOUR (4) people away from a FINANCIAL BLESSING. I cannot do anything by myself.

Whose AUTHORITY do I decide to HONOR?

SEED is NOT a MONEY word.  IT IS a SEED WORD.

(It is a supply word. I sow seeds of love, money, inspiration, time, study, learning, listening, caring, etc...). By doing all these and more I reap all these and more.)

SOW for a desired result.  SEED is what I SOW.  EXPECTATION is WHY I SOW.

EVERY ACT of OBEDIENCE I do, SHORTENS the DISTANCE GOD is BRING TO ME.

DISOBEDIENCE brings JUDGEMENT & CURSES.

GOD will never ask me for something I don’t have, but he will always ask me for something I want to KEEP.

My FAITH creates any FUTURE I WANT. My Miracle is in my MOUTH.

The PROBLEM that IRRITATES me the MOST is the thing GOD will give me to SOLVE. 

How long I stay in the PROBLEM, determines how I LOOK the problem. 

All MOUNTAINS look like a HILL from Heavens point of view. 

JESUS became the SON OF MAN, in order for me to become a DAUGHTER OF GOD. 

THE BLOOD OF JESUS has WIPED OUT my sin in HIS MIND & MY MIND. 

My SIN is JESUS' businesses NOT MINE.  (Jesus does not remind me of my sin, the devil does that). I do not stand accused any longer.  My plea: NOT GUILTY! I am redeemed. I am justified, just as if I had never sinned! 

The PRAYER will be answered once I SAY IT, VISUALIZE IT, TAKE IT, HAVE IT, & BELIEVE IT! 

One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purpose of hell in us. 

Don’t look for a natural answer to prayer. God works in the supernatural. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. 

If we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving others.