"Give Yourself Away to God"

This morning I was reading bits and pieces I had highlighted in one of my favorite books, Stepping Heavenward, by Mrs. E. Prentiss. I love what Katy, the main character, wrote before her wedding:
     "I am dressed and have turned everybody out of this room, where I have suffered so much mortification and experienced so much joy, that before I give myself to Ernest and before I leave home forever, I may once more give myself to God. I have been too absorbed in my earthly love and am shocked to find how it fills my thoughts. But I will belong to God. I will begin my married life in His fear, depending on Him to make me an unselfish, devoted wife."

Katy's attitude is one we should all have, every day of our lives. She said she was once again going to give herself away to God. What does it mean to give yourself away to God? I was thinking about that this morning and decided to break it down a little:

Give yourself away to God.
GIVE yourself-- hold nothing back; this is a gift.
Give YOURSELF-- all that you are, all that you do; all that makes you you.
Give yourself AWAY-- far from your reach, out of your control, beyond where you can see.
Give yourself away TO GOD-- to the only One who deserves this gift, your whole-hearted, self-sacrificial trust, loyalty, respect, and love; to God, and God alone. Let Him rule in your heart; let Him have your mind, soul, heart, and strength.

This is what it means to truly GIVE YOURSELF AWAY TO GOD.

"'...What commandment is the foremost of all?' Jesus answered, 'The foremost is, "Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'" (Mark 12:28b-30)

Have a blessed day!
~Courtney

Worthy Of His Love?

"And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'" (Acts 13:25)

John the Baptist was a great man. He was chosen by God for a very important job. He lived for God and served Him whole-heartedly. If he was "not worthy to untie" the sandals on Jesus' feet, then who am I to ever even consider being anywhere near deserving of His love? How dare I ever think or do prideful things or hold myself up or even try to deem myself worthy of any love, grace, or mercy, let alone any free salvation and the reward of eternal life!

And yet Christ showed me my worth when He died on the cross for me. Those nails did not by any means keep Him up on that cross; LOVE did! Love for me, for you, for every single soul in this world. Compassion, mercy, grace -- all this for us, because He deemed us worthy just because He said so, because He loved us. We would never be able repay Him for His love and sacrifice, but He has canceled that debt and paid the price for us!

There is a wonderful Savior, my truest Friend and Guide, who loves me so very much, "the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie." But He doesn't care how lowly I am. He loves me all the more, and He told me that I am worthy by all the many things He did in order to save my soul.

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:56-58)

Have a blessed day!
~Courtney

Memorial Day 2013

Today is the day set aside in our nation that we get to take a moment and thank our soldiers and appreciate those who lost their lives while serving our country. The USA has been so very blessed these 237 years. Our founding fathers went through a lot and sacrificed so much so that we might have freedom. I appreciate every man and woman who are still doing their best to defend the rights we have. America is obviously not what it used to be, but we can pray that our freedom and justice for all will remain for a very long time.
Here is a chapter in Psalms that I found appropriate for today. May God continue to bless this great nation. May We the People continue to give Him the glory for it all!
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" (Psalm 67)
No matter how many soldiers we may have striving to defend our freedom, we must always remember that it is our Heavenly Father who, after all, is the One who blesses us and grants us with victory and peace.
"Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 60:11-12)
God bless America!
~Courtney

Modesty: An Attitude of Love

For a while now, I've been wanting to write to the ladies about modesty. It's kind of a big deal and a huge study once you try and get the information to talk about it, but I'm going to try to write on this topic in as little words as possible, but with several passages from the Bible.

     First off, I'd like to say that although immodesty/modesty is obviously a physical issue, having to do with what you wear and how you wear it, it is not completely about that. Modesty is mainly an issue of attitude. The way you present yourself says a lot about who you are as a person. The way you present yourself physically says a lot about your character and outlook on life. It says a lot about your own self-esteem, but most importantly, is says a lot about your love for others, in particular your brothers in Christ.

     When we dress immodestly, we are sending a message to fellow Christians and the world that we don't really care what people think of us. We are saying it doesn't matter that we might be distracting to someone or causing a man to stumble -- we just selfishly dress in a way that pleases ourselves, and might say it's not our fault, but theirs for lusting after us.

     But this isn't completely true. Sure, the men need to guard their eyes and hearts and not think bad things, but have you been to town lately, or turned on your TV, or looked at a catalog that came to your mailbox recently? Immodesty is everywhere! The guys have got it tough enough. I don't think we girls who claim to be Christ followers need to be contributing in any way to that sort of thing. We need to make an effort (no matter how hard you may have to look for modest clothes), to be an encouragement and not a distraction to the men around us.

     We need to realize that once we have put on Christ in baptism, that we are no longer our own, but God's, by purchase. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and  you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 

     Once we have put on Christ, we are His and in Him, and have no right to dress inappropriately to draw attention to ourselves. "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25) "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

     We need to look out for the best for not only ourselves, but those around us. What we wear may make us feel good, but it's not helping those around us to grow closer to the Lord and remain focused on Him. "Let no one seek his own, but each other's well-being." (1 Corinthians 10:24) "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others. Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3-5) "Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

     "In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which  is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

     Again, modesty is not only physical. It's an attitude, looking out for others in the way you behave and the way you present yourself. "Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:3-4) This doesn't mean we can't dress up and look pretty; it just means that the outside is not what matters, but rather to be ladylike and pleasing to God.

     No one said it's going to be easy, but doing what is right will never go out of style. We need to lead by example, even if we're one of the very few who are doing what's right. "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) "Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

     "And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it." (2 John 5-6)

   Have a blessed day!

   ~Courtney
   

He Still Loves Us

Isaiah 40 is a beautiful chapter that tells of the Creator's wondrous power and authority over all things. We are nothing in comparison to Him, we are so small and weak next to Him, and He has no logical reason to care for us in the least bit.

...And yet He does. He still cares, even when we don't care for Him. He still helps us up, when He knows we will just fall time and time again. He still watches over us, even when He knows there are times when we choose not to see Him. He still leads the way for us, even when we let go of His guiding hand sometimes. And He still loves us more than any other created being, even when we are ungrateful, ruthless, and selfish and won't love Him back in the way He so deserves.

That is the kind of God we are so fortunate to have. That is the kind of God we should ever so willingly desire and strive to serve each and every day of our lives. That is the God I long to someday meet face to face and fall down at His feet and worship forever and ever. "Oh, what a day of rejoicing that will be!"

“'To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?' says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing. 'Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.'" (Isaiah 40:25-26,28-31)

Have a blessed day!

~Courtney

Wait

 

Being patient can be hard. Sometimes it can be very hard to wait for an answer from God. But we know that when we wait patiently and hopefully for His reply to our diligent prayers, the answer is always more perfect and more beautiful than we could have ever imagined.
        Here is a poem that tells how precious our waiting time is and how we can learn from it and grow closer to God while we wait for His will to be done:

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; 
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. 
I pleaded and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Wait." 

"Wait? You say 'wait'?" my indignant reply. 
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! 
Is your hand shortened? Or have You not heard? 
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming Your Word. 

"My future and all to which I relate 
Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to wait? 
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, 
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign. 

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, 
We need but to ask, and we shall receive. 
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry: 
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply." 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, 
As my Master replied again, "Wait." 
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, 
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?" 

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine, 
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. 
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. 
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. 

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. 
 You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. 
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint. 
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. 

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; 
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. 
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me 
When darkness and silence are all you can see. 

"You'd never experience the fullness of love 
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. 
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, 
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. 

"The glow of my comfort late into the night, 
The faith that I give when you walk without sight. 
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask 
From an infinite God who makes what you have last. 

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, 
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. 
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, 
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you. 

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see 
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me. 
And though oft My answers seem terribly late, 
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

--Author Unknown 

Have a blessed day!

~Courtney

Stand Strong!

In a world that seems to pull Christians down and accuse us of being intolerant and prejeduce, while at the same time they drag our God's words through the mud, it can be quite disappointing at times. We often wonder why a God would let such things happen to good people in this once wonderful nation. He blessed us, but now this country isn't doing her fair share of blessing Him and giving Him the glory for all He has done for us. Just like the good Father that He is, we know there will be consequences for what the wicked people have done, and we know that although there are still good people in the world, we may still be part of the punishments that are yet to come.

Yeah... that sounded pretty depressing, didn't it? Well, I just want to say a few things today that might be a little encouragement to you. Sure, I'm afraid of what God might do to the people who disobey Him, but I have no reason to doubt that He will take care of His people. No matter what the evil people around us try to do to Christians, we shoudln't lose heart. Being tested makes us stronger. This is good training for us, a wonderful opportunity to prove our courage and love for Christ.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exeeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1)

"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

Like Joshua and the children of Isreal, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, we also need to stand strong, especially when in hot water and put to the test:

"And the people said to Joshua, 'The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Joshua 24:24)

"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

We are the light of the world, and we should never be ashamed of that! I love this verse: "For we are to God the frangrance of Christ among those who are being saved among those who are perishing." (Romans 1:16)

We must remember never to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, no matter the cost.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ...Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13)

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)

And if we remain strong, we can boldly say, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

My thoughts may have been a bit jumbled today, but I hope you got my main point. Even if you're the last person on earth who stands for God's word and His truth, don't be afraid. Don't worry, because He will always be with you, no matter what.

Have a wonderful day!

~Courtney