2010 July

How 2 Years of Blogging Has Changed My Life

July 30, 2010 by Courtney 29 Comments

Next month, I will have been blogging for 2 years. At this point, blogging has taken up a HUGE chunk of my free time. This ministry has changed my life.

The emails I receive from hurting women – have touched me.

The encouragement and support from women whose lives are being changed – have touched me.

The criticism I have received from angry women – have touched me.

The writing of other bloggers in the “blogging community” – have touched me.

But most of all – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has touched me. He has opened my eyes to the needs, hurts and beauty of my generation. He has opened my eyes to the beauty of the Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 woman. He has opened my eyes to what the word GRACE really means.

We do not and will not all look alike. There is no cookie cutter mold for how we as women will serve our God. We each have our own story from where we came, where we are today and where we are going tomorrow.

We are journeying together in this thing we call life. If I have ever appeared to have it all together – I apologize – because I am a very flawed sinner saved by grace. Nothing more.

During these two years, I’ve been surprised by some of my bloggy happenings…things like the Rachael Ray Show producer emailing me (I remember being weak in the knees during that phone call!) or when my readership spiked over 1,000 visitors in a day for the first time. Sure, those moments are exciting. But it’s not what my blogging is all about.

It’s about me being faithful to what I believe God is calling me to do. As I listen to God, submit to my husband, train my children, serve in my home and then turn my attention to the social media world -I open myself up – and say – here I am Lord, use me.

Has God laid a ministry on your heart? Have you surrendered your life to him saying “use me Lord Jesus”. Oh, it’s scary to say those words – but let me testify – it’s so exciting too! There are hard nitty gritty painful days but THEN there are those moments when I sit on my deck, with my face towards the sun and the wind blows and I feel his presence like a warm coat around me. I have never been more confident in my life that this is the work God prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10) .

I am reminded of Noah building the ark for days on end. Others walked by and wondered what in the world he was doing! (and trust me I have had plenty of people say “you do what? You blog? Why? Who has time for that?) In Genesis 6:9 the Bible says “Noah walked with God”. This is what Noah was doing – walking with the King! And this is what happens when you walk with the King. The King might ask you do to something outside of your comfort zone!

Dear sister, take risks – follow the King of Kings! Is he asking you to submit to your husband? Is that scary to you? Do it – and you will find freedom there! Is he asking you to sacrifice something you enjoy so that you can spend time training your children? Do it – you won’t regret it. Is he asking you to step out of your home and talk to your neighbor, your cousin or a mom on your child’s soccer team? Do it! Be like Noah – who surrendered his all to the King – took a risk – and found joy on the other side. Do it!

If I can – so can you! But you must be listening – you must be sure that the quiet voice you hear is God’s. And when you are sure it is – surrender.

I’m reminded of missionary and martyr Jim Elliot’s quote “Where ever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

God can use anyone and he wants to use you. Below is a 4 minute video by Author and best seller of Crazy Love, Francis Chan. At birth his mom died. At 9 his step-mom died. At 12 his father died. His only close family was his aunt and uncle and at 16 they both DIED! And so at 16 Francis had nothing…

Are you living a “safe” life? Then You MUST watch this video – it is only 4 minutes long – but it will prepare you for the day you meet Jesus!

Join me in abandoning the safe life – let’s serve our King of Kings with every breath we have - till we all meet together in heaven! I’ll see you there!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: Perseverance

I Don’t Need a Spa – I Need Solitude!

July 29, 2010 by Courtney 22 Comments

I am thinking about the power of solitude. Solitude is something mommies with little ones rarely get. In the part of my life I call B.C. (before children) it was not difficult to get times of solitude. But once I brought my first baby home from the hospital, I realized my life was changed forever! I remember showering with the bouncy seat right outside the shower curtain. I remember peaking out to be sure my little boy was okay and there he’d sit in the bouncy seat, happy as a lark with the shower noise and steam delighting him. My solitude was gone!

I remember a time when my children were littler, they’d push notes and toys under the bathroom door (the crack was large in our old house lol!) Needless to say – I’ve learned that mothering is an intense – around the clock job and solitude is not something that happens to a mom – it’s something we have to seek out.

I have learned that I must be purposeful to get alone with God daily. It is in my times of solitude that God refuels me and I can hear him speak. I can find order in the midst of chaos and connect with my creator.

Solitude is powerful. Moms – are you getting enough of it? If you are feeling inpatient, irritable, bitter, forgetful, disorganized or disconnected from God – it’s time to take care of your soul in a time of solitude. Grab your Bible and get alone with God.

Jesus has set us an example to follow.

Jesus inaugurated his ministry by spending 40 days alone in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).

Before Jesus chose the 12 disciples he spent the entire night alone (Luke 6:12).

When the disciples had finished a long day with the crowds Jesus instructed them “Come away, by yourselves to a lonely place” (Mark 6:31).

Following the healing of a leper Jesus “withdrew to the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16)

And Jesus was alone again when he was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-9) and before his death in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36).

If Jesus, who is God, needed solitude then certainly we do also. When we forgo our own needs, including our own need for solitude, we not only shortchange ourselves but our families also.

Here are some ways I have been able to find solitude in my own life.

1. For about 4 years I have risen by 6am so I can have time alone with God in prayer and scripture before the rest of the family awakes.

2. When the children were little I set the timer on my oven for 30 minutes every morning around 9am while the kids were still fresh. I had my daughter play in the playpen while my son played in his room. This taught my children how to appreciate solitude also! (This did take some time of training – starting at 5 to 10 to 15 minute intervals – working them up to 30 minutes of being able to play alone without calling for me.)

3. When the children were little, I lined up their nap times so they were both asleep at the same time – some days this felt like a work of art.

4. On days when we are home all day long, I still give my children (ages 5 and 7) a one hour “roomtime” (in place of naptime). It’s usually around 3pm. They look at books and play alone. It’s a peaceful rest time in our house. We all get a break from each other and I see that it really does refresh us all.

5. When the children were younger my husband would travel sometimes for a week straight. On those weeks, I had a sitter come once a week for 3 hours in the afternoon during the overlap of the kids nap times so I could actually leave the house and breathe fresh air without 2 children, 2 sippy cups, 2 snacks, toys and stress!!! I ran necessary errands and then always finished my time off at the library or Starbucks with my Bible and journal in hand. These were sweet moments of solitude that I savored!

6. Now, I take advantage of evening hours, once the kids are in bed, to sneak away to my bed for a moment of solitude with scriptures.

Mommies, we don’t need a spa (although I’m not against it lol!)! We need solitude with Jesus!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: Quiet Times, Silence

Vlog: Teaching Our Children About Friendships

July 28, 2010 by Courtney 18 Comments

I originally made this video with plans to run it on a Friday – but it’s Wednesday! So up it goes and I’m sorry for mentioning the wrong day on the video! (and the freeze frame of me below is even funnier than my mess up on the days lol!!!)

Deuteronomy 6 says that parents are to teach our children along the way of life, the truth of God’s word. Sometimes we will be in formal settings reading God’s word to our children. But other times there will be opportunities just in the normal course of the day, to speak God’s truth. So here’s how to turn cooking a spaghetti dinner into an illustration for our children on friendships.

Walk with the King!

I am linked up here today:

works for me wednesday at we are that family

Word Filled Wednesday’s and Wordful Wednesday.

Filed Under: Friendships, Parenting, Raising Homemakers, Teaching Our Children Along the Way, Videos

Tasty Tuesday:Quick Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip!

July 27, 2010 by Courtney 10 Comments

I will admit that my recipes are not spectacular – actually they reveal my very basic cooking skills lol! The good news is I have a spectacular cook coming to Women Living Well for Tasty Tuesdays in September - she’s gonna knock your socks off!! But until then – you’re gonna have to put up with my 3 ingredient recipes lol!!!

Two weeks ago we had our church VBS all week long – I worked with the sweet 1st graders! We have it in the evening and we serve the children dinner! Our church served over 500 dinners every night – incredible isn’t it!!!

The kitchen served this veggie dip that I loved – so I facebooked a friend, got the recipe and voila – just made it yesterday! It’s so yummy!

Here’s the 3 Ingredient Quick Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip! I can hardly stay away from it!

12oz Cottage Cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 packet of Ranch Salad Dressing Seasoning

Mix it together, chill and enjoy!

My good friend who is a fitness trainer, Clare, would suggest that you chop up green peppers, carrots and other veggies and just stir them right into the cottage cheese mixture and eat it as a salad. I’ve had her cottage cheese salad and it is very good too. So that’s an extra twist you can add to the above dip!

Walk with the King!

I am participating in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Tuesdays at the Table recipe exchanges. For more blogger recipes go to these links.