This Blog Was Born From A Trial

Love notes for Daddy in his suitcase
This past winter, I did a video series from the book of James on my sister site GoodMorningGirls.org
For the next 5 weeks, I will be sharing those videos with you here on Women Living Well.  If you are in need of some direction in your daily quiet times, I hope you will pull out your Bible and follow along with me. 

For those who have already viewed these videos over on GoodMorningGirls.org, I hope you are gearing up to begin the Summer Book Club~ The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson!  We begin May 23rd but the Good Morning Girls groups are enrolling NOW – this is the final week!  We need all the returning groups to re-enroll and can’t wait to meet all the new groups too!  (Questions about what Good Morning Girls are?  Read here.)

Today I begin in James Chapter 1:1-12 titled: Consider Your Trials Pure Joy.

In the video, I talk about a dark time in my life – which actually led to the birth of Women Living Well! I hope you will listen and follow along in James 1:1-12!


James 1:1-12 (ESV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

“Our fight for joy is a fight to see God.” ~ John Piper
Wednesday I’ll be covering James 1:12-18 (and talk more about a marital clash we faced during this trial).  I encourage you to read ahead in your Bible!

Walk with the King!
This post is linked to A Holy Experience, We Are That Family and .

16 Comments

  1. Oh how I love the way you convey God's truth Courtney. It's refreshing and encouraging to know God used some hard circumstances in your life to help you start this blog! I too have been facing some challenges lately and this really helped. Thank you!

  2. I've been having a hard time this week missing my husband and feeling a bit sorry for myself and separated from the lord… Your words have encouraged me and lifted me up! The cup analogy was perfect and so true.

    -Autumn

  3. I am so looking forward to the Summer book club!! Loved the James study so I will probably watch those again!

  4. Thank you for the reminder to fight for joy this morning! much needed reminder for this mom! Be blessed!

  5. Thank you for this message. We went thru a trial for 20 months and I depended on God during that time, spending time in prayer and Bible study. For the last few months, I have struggled with making the time for God, I know it is important but seem to be drifting away from God. This post has brought this to the forefront for me and I will be making a renewed effort to get back to that closeness I had with God before. Thank you again.

  6. Thanks for the prompt, I read chapter one aloud to our two little ones from my NIV translation and then we talked a little about what is said. We have been reading through the armor, the whole armor, and it was nice to be reminded of another spot. *smile* Thanks again. Sincerely, Mommy of two little blessings & so much more.

  7. Thank you so much for this Courtney! I have been reading the book Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney and just finished the chapter on Joy. And so of course, Satan has been after me this week in this area and I have been struggling with this just this past night and unfortunately miserably failed in an argument with my husband last night. The result left me very bitter and not happy last night. So this morning, I watched your video (which I meant to watch yesterday, but couldn't). It was just what I needed. Thank you!

  8. I love hearing back from you all – thanks for sharing your hearts – we are in this journey together towards "living well".

    Keep pursuing Jesus and walking with the King!

    (((hugs)))
    Courtney

  9. Thank you Courtney. The cup analogy really hit home with me. My husband and I have talked about this before, but hearing it again, from someone outside of our personal circumstances, reminds me that it is true.

  10. Thank you Courtney. The cup analogy really hit home with me. My husband and I have talked about this before, but hearing it again, from someone outside of our personal circumstances, reminds me that it is true.

  11. Thank you so much for doing this, Courtney. I did not know about your ministry when you first posted these on the other site. It is a blessing to me, and I pray that you are blessed in your obedience to God and the many women you encourage and spur on in Him!

  12. Hey, Courtney! I was wondering if there was another page where this video and links to the James videos/study might work? My group is about to be studying James and I was looking for an extra resource to go along with it. 🙂
    Thanks!

  13. I was trying to watch this video and it is telling me it is private and I need to sign in. Is there a part of instructions that I missed. 🙂

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