The Precious Blood of Jesus

March 28, 2013 by Courtney 10 Comments

Today we remember. (Taken from Matthew 27)

We remember…

the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver

the flogging

the crown of thorns

the purple robe

the sign “Hail, King of the Jews!”

the strike on Jesus’ face

the crowd shouting “Crucify Him!”

the long walk to Golgotha carrying the cross

the nails in his hands

the nails in his feet

DARKNESS

the words “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom

the earth trembling

the guards exclaiming “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Life is in the blood –the precious blood of Jesus.

{If you cannot see my video click here to view it.}

On the cross, Jesus said “It is Finished.” (John 19:30)

FINISHED – PAID IN FULL. All the bad things you have ever done are paid for in full by the blood of the lamb who gave his life for you on the cross. Do you wonder if you are lovable? Do you wonder if he really can forgive you of your sins? Does your guilt lie to you?

Psalm 103:10-12 answer these very questions: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

It’s in Christ’s mercy that I have found rest in this difficult world. The blog Women Living Well would not exist if it were not for the truth of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I have found rest in Jesus Christ my Savior.

Have you found this rest? If you have placed your faith in Christ and believe that he indeed lived, died and rose again and have repented of your sins – your sins have been cast as far as the east is from the west. But, If you have not done this, I John 5:12 says you do not have eternal life. If you have never accepted the free gift that God has offered you of eternal life which only comes through faith in his Son Jesus – I beg you – do it today!

Have a fabulous weekend with your family and Happy Easter!

He is Risen!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: Easter, Jesus

We Are All Just Donkeys

March 24, 2013 by Courtney 39 Comments

This is not an insult. Just stick with me for a second.

In the blogging world, there’s awards for everything. On the “Circle of Moms” they crown the Top 25 Blogs in a boatload of categories: couponing, cooking, decorating, party planning, travel, homeschooling, beauty, fashion, vegan, fitness, outdoorsy, single moms, adoption, and more. You name it, they crown it and yes –they even have a Christian Mom Blog category.

I’ve been in the running a few times for these awards and it’s been awkward for me…I mean – really…should I try to get votes for an award for sharing Jesus on-line? Probably not. It’s awkward…but I have to humbly admit –I’ve participated and accepted the awards.

As I reflected this past Palm Sunday on those who cheered “Hosanna! Hosanna!” as Jesus rode upon a donkey – I remembered something I once heard.

Elizabeth Elliot once said “as the people cheered for Jesus, the donkey did not pause and accept the praise as his own. It was the rider who was being praised – NOT the donkey.”

Matthew 21:9 says, “The crowds that went ahead of Jesus and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

This praise was NOT for the donkey. In the same way, as I carry Jesus to the world via my blog, facebook, twitter, and youtube, I am reminded that all praise I receive belongs to Jesus. Apart from him I can do nothing. And apart from his word, I literally have nothing worthy to blog about.

We are ALL donkeys carrying Jesus to the world. I pray that at the end of the day it is Jesus people see in you and me.

I Corinthians 3:7 “So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.”

According to this verse, we are nothing – just simply planters and God is everything and as the missionary David Livingston once said

“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa…I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of ‘sacrifice’ when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s Throne on high to give Himself for us.”

No sacrifice is too great for Jesus.

It is not a sacrifice to honor my husband – it is my honor.

It is not a sacrifice to care for my children – it is my honor.

It is not a sacrifice to care for my home – it is my honor.

And it is not a sacrifice to daily be the donkey on social media – carrying Jesus - it is my honor.

I pray today that in your sphere of influence, you would find it an honor to carry Jesus to everyone who crosses your path inside and outside your home. If the message doesn’t get out via us, it doesn’t get out!

We are all just donkeys.

Love God, love your husband, love your children and take Jesus to the world – shine like lights in the darkness!

It is an honor.

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: Jesus

When It Feels Like No One Understands

March 14, 2013 by Courtney 50 Comments

One thing I’ve learned from Facebook, is that all of us are going through a lot of similar things. When one mom complains of her child not napping, 5 more moms are there to say, “Mine too!” When someone mentions her frustration with all the laundry piling up, we all do a cyber nod in agreement. And when another complains of headaches, someone is there to say “I’ve been there and here’s what helped me.”

We all have common struggles with husbands, children, our work and stress load and just living life on planet earth.

But…

Our puzzles are all different.

One woman has a child with special needs while another is raising a gifted child.

One woman has a romantic, sensitive husband while another has a husband who has anger issues and he screams and yells at everyone in the house.

One woman struggles to make ends meet while another is going on her third vacation of the year.

One woman has a husband who doesn’t work while another is married to a workaholic.

One woman has a traveling husband who calls everyday while another woman has a husband who is off the grid for military reasons for weeks on end.

One woman is running a marathon while another suffers from a debilitating disease.

Our puzzles are different.

And here’s the key…don’t think for one moment that the woman with the Prada purse on her shoulder – who is on her third vacation this year has less problems than anyone else. Her purse still holds junk–secret pain and dissatisfaction.

We’ve seen it on television –famous music, television and movie stars commit suicide. Why? They have it ALL! Because life is hard and we all have struggles that beat us down and fame, fortune, power, and even health and wealth can’t fill that empty void that God has placed inside of us that only he can fill.

All of our lives are riddled with trials, hardships and circumstances that truly no one else can understand. I’ve even contemplated that my husband, who shares the same house, kids, marriage and trials as me, does not really understand — because he’s not married to himself! lol! He’s married to me…and that makes his puzzle different.

But Jesus…He sees and He knows.

Jesus understands.

He can sympathize with our struggles because He was born to die for us. It is hard for me to imagine the struggles Jesus faced…because when I’m tempted, often times I just give in. For example, when my kids drive me nuts –I yell. Then I apologize.

Jesus felt temptation to the fullest degree because He did not give in. He suffered deeply –for us. We serve a God who understands.

Hebrews 4:15 says “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.”

Our God is not a distant God –He came near by dying on the cross for our sins and after he rose from the dead –before he ascended into heaven, his last words were that he would send the Holy Spirit –the ultimate comforter to be with his children.

You do not walk this road alone. You are a child of the King! He is with you every step of the way.

Somedays it may feel like no one understands…until you hop onto facebook or a blog with a writer you relate to. Often times I breathe a sigh of relief to find that my marriage is normal or my kids are normal! My Christian sisters have helped me through some of my greatest common struggles…but it’s through my deep study of God’s word and through prayer that I’ve found comfort in my individual struggles.

And so I urge you, during this season leading up to Good Friday and the Celebration of Easter Sunday, to draw near to God in his word and prayer. Open to the gospels, breathe in his love and truth and exhale all your burdens.

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

He already knows your burdens. You need rest…you might as well set down that burden and talk to Him about it. I can guarantee you –He FULLY understands.

Walk with the King,

Filed Under: Facebook, Jesus, Trials

Election Day Thoughts

November 5, 2012 by Courtney 58 Comments

My son at the “Restoring Honor” Rally in 2010 with his daddy.

I just finished reading this post by Kevin DeYoung at The Gospel Coalition:

Politics Is Hell

Imagine your life were an open book.

Every conversation recorded. Every errant word written down. Every gaffe broadcast before all.

What if everything you ever did was fair game?

What if every action and every decision were held up to the severest scrutiny?

What if all your last minute apologies failed to satisfy?

How would you feel to realize someone knew everything about your past? And someone was chronicling everything about your present?

How would you like to face a barrage of questions for every inconsistency in your life?

What a fearful proposition: anything you ever say or ever do can, and often will, be held against you. If an adversary so desired, he could paint an ugly picture of any of us. And without resorting to lies.

It’s a scary thought to think that your whole life could be an open book. With defenses that do not hold, and sorry’s that do not stick, and excuses which only make things worse.

That’s politics.

And that’s the day of judgment without the blood of Christ.

~Kevin DeYoung

Um Wow! That hit me in the gut.

There is NO escaping the fact that this is a huge day! Tuesday night every channel on television will be about the election results – and the suspense of such a tension filled race has us all on the edge of our seats. It’s riveting.

I’ll be honest – I’m very concerned about the direction and future of our country. Elections have consequences and we decide for our children what kind of America they will grow up in. Our family cares about this election. But after voting – as believers we must press on. God has mandated one way to change this world and it’s through the transforming power of his word and Christ’s work on the cross.

Do not confront culture just with your vote but with the spiritual power of God’s word.

John McArthur says: “This is a lesson evangelicals ought to know from church history. Whenever the church has focused on evangelism and preaching the gospel, her influence has increased. When she has sought power by political, cultural, or military activism, she has damaged or spoiled her testimony.”

So if it was a rough day at the polls – do not lose heart! Do not give way to fear.

Do as Christ said “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20

And please – do vote. Not just for you and your children - but also for our military who depend on you to choose their Commander and Chief. They need a man in the oval office they can trust.