The Family of Faith - a new post by Debra Courtney

“... for you had become so very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2: 8 AMP

During the 1990’s, a singles class at our church became a close-knit family for many people who had lost a spouse through divorce or death. I have experienced this for myself through the passing on to eternal life of my husband last year.

When someone needed to move, class members or members of the church packed boxes, carried furniture, and provided food. Birthdays and holidays were no longer solitary events as faith and friendship emerged into an ongoing relationship of encouragement. Many of those bonds forged during adversity a couple of decades ago continue to flourish and sustain individuals and families today.

Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Thessalonica paints a picture of life-giving relationships in God’s family.  “But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own children.”   1 Thess.2:7 AMP.

“For you recall our hard toil and struggle [and plied our trade] in 0rder not to be a burden to any of you…” 1 Thess. 2:9. “For you know as a father [dealing with] his children, we used to exhort each of you personally, stimulating and encouraging and charging you”. 1 Thess. 2:11

Like mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, Paul and his associates shared the gospel and their lives with these fellow believers who “had become dear” to them. Vs.8.

In God’s family of faith, He provides mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers for us. The Lord gives His joy as we share our lives together in His grace and love. Our Abba Father has called us to serve one another - to give us a heart willing to accept the care of others. May we ask for help when we are in need and respond with a heart of grace to others when they ask for help.

God loves you and me; let’s love one another.

Justice and Mercy Combined - a new post by Debra Courtney

 “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 AMP

What will you do in the “day of trouble”?  I believe we are wise to have a made up mind ahead of time concerning what we will do when trouble come.

Let me encourage you to decide to be stable. Decide to stay in faith and if your faith is on the empty side, go to the WORD of God and get more faith down inside of you, because you will need it. When difficulties have come my way I found that by staying rooted and grounded in the WORD and PRAISE keeps my mind in the right perspective. The problem is always screaming at you, you’re not going to get it, you’re going to go broke, or there are no jobs for you etc… Trials are a part of life. Jesus said they would come, but we are overcomers because He overcame. God already has a plan for our deliverance before our trouble begins. Believe it and have a made up mind to live in expectation of it!

When a defendant stands before a judge, he or she is at the mercy of the court. I understand this completely by being in the courtroom in the past on behalf of someone else.

If the defendant is innocent, the court should be a refuge. But if the defendant is guilty, we expect the court to exact punishment.

In Nahum, we see God as both a refuge and a judge. It says, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble” 1:7 NIV. But it also says, “He will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.”  Vs.8.

Over 100 years earlier, Nineveh had repented after Jonah preached God’s forgiveness, and the land was safe. Jonah 3:10 But during Nahum’s day, Nineveh was plotting “evil against the Lord” Nah. 1:11. In chapter 3, Nahum details Nineveh’s destruction.

Many people know only one side of God’s dealings with the human race but not the other. They think He is holy and wants only to punish us, or that He is merciful and wants only to show kindness. In truth, He is judge and refuge. Peter writes that Jesus “…but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.” 1 Peter 2:23. As a result, “He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree…”

vs. 24.

The whole truth about God is good news! He is judge, but because of Jesus, we can go to Him as our refuge.

It should be our desire to never underestimate Him by seeing only one side of His role in our lives. We are to recognize and enjoy His love, grace and favor he has given to us, yet understand He hates sin. He loves us unconditionally and looks for a heart that trusts and loves Him, not for perfect performance.

God’s justice and mercy intersect at the cross.

  

How May I Serve You, Or How Can I Sell You? A new post By Debra Courtney

Photo courtesy: pixgood.com

“…But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22: 27

How many of you know that success in this prosperous, generous, and slothful age is easy for a Christian? It hangs like a ripe plum from a tree. With a ladder named wisdom, it is within easy reach of all. Hey girl, climb and take it! Do not make excuses; do not blame others; use the ladder and pick the fruit before you miss out.

Have you noticed now how more than in the past how foreigners often come to America with very little and make prosperous lives? They typically do not complain, sue, or talk of discrimination. They work diligently, live frugally, save faithfully, adapt wisely, and exist peacefully. But others with greater advantages go nowhere. What is the difference? Without knowing God, some practice natural wisdom.

I’d like for us to take a quick look at Joseph who was a teenage foreign slave with a shepherd’s resume, which the Egyptians despised. But he advanced by God’s blessing in Potiphar’s house (Gen 39:1-6). Though accused and convicted of rape, faithfulness in prison earned him an administrative role there (Gen 39:19-23). Then he passed Pharaoh’s sons and ruled Egypt (Gen 41:38-46)! He was a fervent and effectual servant! WOW!

I’d like for us to take a quick look at Daniel who was a teenage Jewish war captive that was made a eunuch. But he graduated at the top of his class in the king’s management program (Dan 1:18-21). Though a foreigner, he was promoted over all Babylon and was chief of staff to King Nebuchadnezzar. He retained his high positions for 70 years, even when Cyrus the Persian took the empire. He was a fervent and effectual servant! WOW!

I’d like for us to take a quick look at David who conducted himself wisely and the nation loved him (I Sam 18:30). What was his background? He was a shepherd from the lowly town of Bethlehem, ignored by his own family when they considered sons for honor. He easily passed his seven older brothers. And the reigning king’s own family chose David over their father. He was a fervent and effectual servant!

So, what are trying to say Debra is the source of success in this characterization? Wisdom! It is the quality that embodies all the instruction of being a servant and not a sales person!

A poor child can be promoted past an old king for one simple reason – WISDOM (Ec 4:13). The king resents being admonished, so he rejects correction. A man too proud to listen to others is worse than a fool (Pr 26:12). A wise child is willing to learn (Pr 9:9). He has no problem being told what to do. That young man is going somewhere! The king, nowhere!

At the very least ponder these examples. Then let me know what you think! (Comment below to continue the conversation.)

Celebrate Your Uniqueness!

                                    ...your voice is unique, and it is sweet to God’s ears.”

                                                                           Song of Songs 2:14

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. 

“All Shook Up” Out of Carolina (Pt 1 of 4)…by Debra Courtney

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

When I would visit Carolina during the past 18 years having left this state in 1995, I never thought in a million years’ I would actually move back to Carolina and especially the town I grew up in. I had been gone from that part of the state for 30 years total. That just wasn’t on my radar. I had tried my very best to forget everything about this state that I had ever known or learned. Certainly some of my family still lived there in the town I grew up in, and it was good to go back to visit at holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and see how they were doing and growing in their families and having nieces and nephews and yes my son and grandchildren lived there but to move back… well I just had no interest in that notion at all! I liked seeing me pass by that Carolina state line in my rear view mirror as I drove down I-85 south bound headed out and into the next state. I would get almost pukeing sick just thinking about if I had to go back to living back there again.

Carolina held for me a lot of bad memories that I had tried my best to forget and not living in the town that I grew up in well it was a thrill for me to be out-of-there. As I think back and reminisce about my childhood although it was not all that bad (compared to what some children go through and deal with), however, it was not all that good, at least in my young eyes at the time. To say the least I hated the town, the county, and the state. Jackson Browne song “Doctor My Eyes” can just about sum it up! I needed a great physician! I was “ALL SHOOK UP.”

I carried a long, long chip on my shoulder and I was mad at the world for about 40 plus years. I think my leaving had a lot of payback in it for me.  People whom I did not want to deal with day in and day out was now living at a distance and their concerns were not my concerns any more. That phrase, “out of sight out of mind” was good for me and my well being at the time and I was glad to be gone from that “neck of the woods” to borrow an old southern expression. Unfortunately, I took that same spirit they had with me into my adult life. I had seen it used so often, but didn’t know what it was called. I just thought it was just the way people were and I was comfortable with it like an old pair of comfortable bedroom shoes and it worked for me; because I thought I was in control of my destiny now and I didn’t have to listen to anyone telling me what to do, when to do it, how to do it, etc... you get the point I am trying to make. I took people, places and things to the max. It worked really well until…

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! 

Why Work At Friendship By Debra Courtney

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

 “Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.” Ephesians 4:32

Why do you suppose Jesus emphasized forgiveness? Because he wanted us to be nice? Because he didn’t care about justice because he was naive about human evil and what we do to one another? Because “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” simply didn’t grasp the horror of injustice?

Forgiveness was the focal point of Christ’s teaching because he knew that without genuine profound and “to the bone” forgiveness, there is no freedom, no real joy, no peace and no release from the pain and the “root of bitterness” that destroys nations, families and individuals. He understood that the key to everything important in life is forgiveness.

Have you known someone who builds fast friendships but then moves on to another friend at the first sign of conflict or disagreement? I really don’t want to be that type person. Do you? Friendships can deepen through adversity, grow through pain, and flourish with forgiveness. Rather than abandon someone who has hurt us, we should explore if we can work through the issue.

Lasting friendships only happens with hard work. Because we are human, we are not perfect people, and that affects every area of life – including our friendships. Over time, any friendship will fall victim to disagreement, jealousy, misunderstandings, and inconsideration. While we or our friends may give in to these shortcomings, that doesn’t mean that friendship is failed and worthy of being terminated.

Sometimes lifelong friendships are born through tears of forgiveness.

Would you throw away a diamond because it pricked you? One good friend is not to be weighed against all the jewels of all the earth. If there is coolness or unkindness between us, let us come face to face and explore what it is. Quickly, before the friendship grows cold. Life is too short to quarrel in, or carry dark thoughts of friends. It is easy to lose a friend, but a new one will not come for calling, nor make up for the old one when she comes.

Some friendships come’s with pressure. Some friendships come on purpose. Be on the lookout for what friendships God places in your life and why they are there.

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!