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January 23, 2011

What Is God’s Purpose In Trials?

If I could, I’d reach out and give each and everyone of you a big hug! Thank you for such an amazing week last week! God is soooo GOOD! I can’t begin to tell you how encouraged Courtney and I are to hear how you’re enjoying using the S.O.A.P. method! I just want you to know that those of you who left comments last week on our blog or on our Facebook page, each and everyone of your comments touched our hearts! I LOVED reading about each of your groups. I loved reading how you can see God’s hand in who He put in your group! Being apart of GMG is such a wonderful blessing and an answer to prayer!

This week we are starting week 2 in our 12 week series. My prayer for each of you is that as we dig further into James this week:
1. God will give you a hunger for His Word.
2. You will make it a priority in your life to be in His Word.
3. He will open your eyes to new truths in His Word!

I’d like to share with you a quick video of what I learned last week as we read about God’s purpose in trails.

If you are following along with us in James don’t forget to download this week’s S.O.A.P. print-out. This week, we are reading James 1:12-18

James Book Club Downloads

1. Week 2 S.O.A.P. Print-Out

Thanks again for being a blessing in my life and making God’s Word a priority in yours!!!!

Love God Greatly!

Filed Under: God's Glory, James Book Club, Perseverance, Trials, Videos 12 Comments
November 30, 2010

Jesus – The Prince Of Peace

 Life has gone into overdrive! Christmas seems to be coming at me at a fast pace and every year I feel organized in November and a little overwhelmed in December!

So I am thankful today for today’s quiet time in Isaiah 9:6 which says “”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

We’ve looked at Jesus being the “Wonderful Counselor“, the “Mighty God” and the “Everlasting Father” and today I am pondering His name the “Prince of Peace.”

As I have been reading many blogs out on the web, I can see two common themes with women. One – we are stressed about the holidays ie. decorating, shopping, cookie baking, mailing Christmas cards, attending or hosting parties and on and on it goes. On top of our daily workload, these are added and if we do not manage our time wisely this can be disastrous to the peace God wants us to have in our hearts.

Secondly, I see the financial burdens that women are carrying. There is a lot of talk on the web world about America’s recession. Women are dealing with the layoffs of their husbands or their own cut hours. Some cannot sell their house and are desperate to get out from their mortgage payments while others are just wondering how they will pay the debt that they are creating with the holiday season.

I have one word I see – STRESS! But wait – it’s Christmas – and in Isaiah 9:6 it says that Jesus is the Prince of Peace - so why is there so much turmoil in our souls?

Are you experiencing the peace that only Jesus can give? As Christians, our lives should not look like the world’s - it should be baffling at how much peace we have in the midst of chaos – but can that be said of us?

Peace can not go hand in hand with rushing, hurrying, tossing, and turning. It can only come from turning to our Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and just being alone with him – as our “daddy”. Pray and ask God to give you His peace in an area of your greatest need.

Right now on Women Living Well I am running a December Challenge titled “Peace On Earth”.  Each Monday I am giving practical and spiritual tips for finding peace in the midst of the holiday rush.  I hope you will join me there as I walk with the King!

Peace may be the best gift you can give your family this holiday season!

Walk with the King!
Courtney

Filed Under: God's Glory 3 Comments
November 18, 2010

Baby Jesus Is The Everlasting Father

 Today I am continuing my study in one of my favorite verses for Christmas time, which is Isaiah 9:6 which says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I’ve already focused on the first two names that God calls baby Jesus – “Wonderful Counselor” and “Mighty God”. Today I am pondering His name “Everlasting Father.”

This is a verse that clearly points to the trinity – Jesus is the Everlasting Father! They are one! And then I think about the word “Everlasting” and how God never changes. We can experience his love for all time. Let that soak in. It’s hard for us to imagine because we live in a finite world. God the Son is not bound by time or space. In an ever changing world we can be totally secure in Christ – he is from everlasting and will continue on with us into eternity for forever!

My friend Aimee  sent me an email yesterday morning. In it she was writing about how God is like our earthly father and it seemed appropriate to share as I am looking at Jesus being the “Everlasting Father.” Here is what she wrote:

 
 
 ”I was thinking today about the access we have to God — I compared it to my boys freely going to their daddy, running into his arms when he comes in from work, or crawling up on the couch with him to snuggle in his arms or on his chest, and the fact that he might be sleeping does not deter them; afterall he’s their daddy, why shouldn’t they crawl up into his arms even if it means waking him up. Now, I know that God never sleeps, but if someone else looked at a man sleeping, most would leave him alone — not a good time to approach him, but children, with their daddies, in their innocence, go to him on a whim. That is how God wants us to be with him; come to him, crawl up into his arms and bear our hearts to him, on a whim, anytime, all the time. That is humbling.” 

Have you crawled up into the arms of your Everlasting Father yet today? He loves you – He desires to be close to you. Won’t you take the time today and allow him to talk to you through His word, listen – allow him to speak to your soul. He is always watching, He is always listening and He cares for you!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: God's Glory 3 Comments
November 11, 2010

Worshipping Jesus As God

One of my favorite verses to reflect on at Christmas time is Isaiah 9:6 which says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Last Thursday, I focused on the first name that God calls baby Jesus – “Wonderful Counselor”. Today I am pondering the second name - “Mighty God”.


Jesus is the Mighty God! While Jesus was fully human he was not merely man. JI Packer says “The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man… The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.”

Though many photos show Jesus looking soft with flowing hair and a white robe – we know that he was actually a construction worker with callused hands and muscles on his frame. Many people have claimed to be speaking for God such as Buddha, Muhammad and Gandhi – but very few claim to BE God. Jesus was not killed for telling stories and healing people but for claiming to be God.

Matthew 1:23 says “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “God with us.” So who do you say that he is?

Our only appropriate response to Jesus is to worship him as God. If you saw Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of Christ” you were moved by the reality of Jesus’ humanity as you watched him be flogged and crucified. It was the portrayal of Jesus’ humanity while maintaining his deity that made this movie a box office hit.

Do not forget what this baby Jesus – the Mighty God – has done for you – and worship him during this holiday season. He is worthy!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: God's Glory 18 Comments
September 30, 2010

What Does God Look LIke?

I love passages in scripture where we see a glimpse of God’s glory. I like to just ponder his glory and attempt to imagine what it must be like to be in heaven with God. Meditating on these passages spur my prayer life to repentance and to remember that when I pray I have access to a HUGE God!

So the next time you pray, I want to encourage you first to ponder these verses in Ezekiel and then go before his throne with your confessions, praises and prayer requests. I think it might just change your prayer life!

In Ezekiel 1:25-28, Ezekiel writes: “Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings(when you have a minute read about these angels that surround the throne in chapter 1 – they are magnificent!). Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down.”

Does that not stir your soul! Wow! Who is this God we serve – can we even imagine how awesome he truly is???
Trust and rest in this Almighty God’s arms. This is my prayer for the Good Morning Girls today:

 

” To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and foreveer more! Amen.” Jude 24

Walk with the King!

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