Courtney's Contemplations . . .

Drip . . . drop . . . drip . . . drop . . . some days, some weeks, some months . . . the stress just keeps coming. Not in the deluge of a downpour. Not in one isolated event, but in one small thing after another. One more concern. One more worry. One more thing to juggle.

Drip . . . drop . . . drip . . . drop . . . like a leaky faucet, slowly filling the sink until it overflows.

As far as stressful goes, 2020 is one for the history books. There’s not one of us that hasn’t felt the pressure and stress of this year. And last week, I wanted nothing more than to turn that faucet off. I didn’t want one more thing added to my list, good or bad. I didn’t want to think about COVID or the election, about school schedules or masks, or how to keep my family healthy and safe in the middle of all this chaos . . . I just desperately wanted normalcy to return to our world and my life. But the reality is, things are not changing anytime soon, and even when this storm passes, there will always be new storms on the horizon.

As counterintuitive and dysfunctional as it seems, my go to coping mechanism whenever I’m feeling overly stressed has been to fixate on the problems and worry. I can’t pray. I don’t want to pray. I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to let it go. I want to worry. I’m comfortable with worry. I welcome worry and wrap myself in it like a warm blanket. As if by worrying, I can exert control over the situation.

I’ve never known a time in my life where I couldn’t find something to worry about. My earliest memories often have me laying in bed at night, all the “what ifs” running a marathon in my head. Worry is the enemy I’ve become far to comfortable and accepting of. I’ve allowed it in where and when I absolutely shouldn’t, and I let it run amuck in my mind and my life.

But it’s wrong.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

It doesn’t say “try to be anxious for nothing”. It doesn’t say “if you can, be anxious for nothing”. It commands us to “be anxious for nothing”. Letting worry and anxiety rule my life is both wrong and unbliblical.

So I did what I could do. I did what I absolutely did not want to do. For me it was putting on my workout clothes and running shoes. It was grabbing my headphones and pushing myself through the desire to do anything other than work out. I turned the praise music up, and as I ran, on a treadmill in the middle of my gym, I worshipped. And as I did, the layers of worry began to fall off. The anxiety began to melt away. The stressors weren’t gone. They still existed . . . they still exist, but I realized, I had no control, and worrying only gave me an illusion of control. Both obvious and reasonable, I know, but so hard to grasp sometimes. I also had an overwhelming sense of peace knowing that the God who created me and loves me is completely in control.

I don’t serve some distant God. I don’t serve a God who sits back and watches as we all spin out of a control. I serve a God who loves me, and you, intimately, deeply, passionately, and unconditionally. This world, this fallen, broken, world, is going to throw things at us. Things that are hard. Things that are heartbreaking. Things that are terrifying. Things that are stressful and tempt us to worry, and we have a choice, I have a choice. I have a choice to let anxiety rule, or I can “be anxious for nothing” . . . whether it be good or bad or somewhere in between, I do not have to choose anxiety. I can throw on my running shoes (or whatever it is that helps me get my head in the right space), and as I’m running it out, I can praise Jesus because this life is but a blip on the radar. My problems are not permanent nor are they definite, and I can choose to believe that God is constantly moving and constantly fighting for me.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

Sometimes, I get a little sassy, and I post things on social media, especially my personal pages, that, albeit unintentionally, kind of stir people up. The other day I was feeling particularly cheeky and posted two things, one on all my pages regarding leadership within the church and idolization of these leaders, and the second on my personal pages that kind of waded into the political realm . . . which I generally have tried to avoid as of late but felt, based upon some messages and page invites I received, I was at a point where I needed to clarify and express my stance on certain things.

The political post, I won’t address here because I’ve expressed my personal beliefs and viewpoints on certain specific issues in a post entitled Uncompromising Beliefs (and you can click on the title to read the post if you’re so inclined), but beyond that, this is not the place where I have any desire to delve into politics.

But the other post, I quickly realized, I probably should’ve saved for this space versus trying to fit it into social media. A lot of the responses were in agreement which is all well and good, and of course, there are those that flat out disagree with what I was saying. Also, well and good. I do not live in a echo chamber where I only expect to hear the voices of those that agree with me. But there were definitely those that I, honestly, don’t feel were fully grasping and/or understanding what I was saying.

Before I go any further I want to clarify, I rarely (read: never intentionally and only if it’s a mistake on my part, and if it is, I will acknowledge it and apologize should the Holy Spirit bring it to my attention) post anything regarding biblical insight where I don’t feel passionately that God is teaching me and prompting me to share. Sometimes I take pages and pages of notes and never share a single word, but other times, I just feel like I need to share even if there are those that see things differently. The reality is, we’re not going to all agree all of the time, and that. is. okay.

So without further ado . . .

I’ve been working my way through the book of Acts for the past few weeks. I’ve read Acts, in its entirety countless times, but I don’t remember the last time I read it from beginning to end. And I don’t know that I’ve ever read it, in its entirety, where I took the time to take the scriptures back to the original text and meanings. If you’re a believer I encourage you to take some time to spend in the book of Acts, reading it on your own, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and really study it. There is so much wisdom there, but it’s also our history, the history of the church, in its earliest days. And it’s incredibly insightful and important that we read and understand it.

Setting the scene: Acts 14:8-18 – Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra, Paul tells a man, who was “a cripple from his mother’s womb” to get up and “walk”, and guess what? The scriptures say he lept up.

Sidebar: I don’t believe the days of miracles have passed away. I often hear people say, “Well God’s not going to change their ______ or grow a new ______ or make their ______ disappear.” Truth is, I not only believe He can, but He does. While I don’t have all the answers as to why some receive healing on earth while others wait for heaven, it’s not going to stop me for praying and believing for miracles. Moving on . . .

“Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God , who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them . . . “ Acts 14:11-15

Those scriptures led me to share these words:

“Some thoughts as I read Acts 14 this morning. The leaders in the church (speaking of the body of Christ as a whole) are so important. They’ve been gifted by God to teach and lead, but we must be very careful that we don’t shift from holding them in high regard w/respect to idolizing and worshipping them. Paul and Barnabas were greatly grieved at being worshipped and emphasized that they were just men. So many leaders are not grieved at the concept being worshipped by the church. And although it may not look the same, I believe there is worship of men and women in the church today … where even when their “interpretations” (and I use that term incredibly loosely) of God’s word are not sound and their “revelations” are contradictory to the truth of the Bible we still accept it because of who they are. And that doesn’t even get into the the hero worship of political leaders which I’m not going to discuss today other than to say, both are so dangerous. God has given each of us the ability to read and understand the Bible through and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That’s not to say that we can’t learn from and do not need the guidance of church leaders, but we need to pray that as we study the word and listen to, read, and study teachings that truth is revealed to us. And if it’s out of context and/or contradicts the word and the nature of God in any way, it shouldn’t be accepted.”

And while I felt I was pretty clear, it seems that some things need to be clarified (obviously the word of the day). As I was reading this chapter in Acts, I first saw it through the lens of a society where idol worship was rampant, and it’s somewhat easy to say, “Well we don’t live in that kind of society,” or at the very least, “In the church, we don’t have that issue.” But that’s where the Holy Spirit placed a check in my own thoughts. Because here’s the thing, we do often hold men and women leaders in the church up as infallible when they are not.

Does that mean we don’t respect, honor, learn from, and come under the leadership and authority of men and women of God? Absolutely not. I have certain Christian pastors and evangelists for whom I have the utmost respect, and I do take the time to listen to their teachings and learn from their guidance. I also believe in the importance of the authority of pastors over the local churches where they have been called. We need to be learning and hearing from the men and women of God. We need teachers, preachers, evangelists . . .

But I will never just take what someone is saying and regurgitate it. I will always, first, take it back to the word and see if it lines up biblically, and in the cases where the interpretation and revelation of the scripture are questionable, where the proverbial red flags start to go up, I start by taking it in context of the entire passage of scripture. I also go back, as much as I can, to the original text when word meanings and interpretations come into play. I pray for the the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth, not what I want the truth to be, but the actual truth of the word of God. I pray for wisdom and understanding. And if that interpretation or revelation doesn’t line up biblically, no matter how much I love that person, I won’t accept that teaching as truth.

Does that mean that I write them off and never learn from them in the future? Does it mean that I still don’t hold them in high regard and respect and honor them? Again, absolutely not. But what it does mean is that I know that they’re not perfect, they’re human (we’re all human), and I have a responsibility, as both a follower of Christ and a leader, to do the best I can to be certain that what I’m both taking in and putting out is biblically sound.

And that, to me, is the fine line between honoring, respecting, and coming under someone’s leadership versus idolizing them. Because when we idolize someone, we think they can do no wrong and cannot be wrong, and we never question their teachings. And that is incredibly dangerous. But when we see church leaders as God intended, imperfect men and women brought to teach us and lead us despite their imperfections, then we realize it’s okay and actually, biblical, to go back to the Bible ourselves and seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom regarding what we are being taught, and I’d venture that is precisely what truly Godly leaders want us to do.

Sidebar number 2: I am NOT saying we go around stirring up strife and spend all our time denouncing people we think are wrong. I don’t think that brings much in the way of edification to the body of Christ except in very particular circumstances where the person is purposefully and clearly misleading believers for personal gain or where the teachings are continually and obviously contradictory to the bible. It’s also important to note that the absolutes, acceptance of Jesus being the only way, His death and resurrection, the Holy Trinity, etc. are never up for interpretation or debate, but there are parts of the bible very much open to interpretation by both individuals and denominations within Christianity. If we’re reading, praying, studying, and asking God to help us, He will. He will reveal the truth of His word to each of us. But again, we need, spiritual leaders in our lives. I’m in no way saying we don’t.

Resource Note: I often use Bible Hub and Strong’s concordance when I study. There are debates about Strong’s, but as a whole, I feel it’s a reliable resource. I’ll also read various commentaries on things that I’m having trouble grasping, and sometimes, I just have to let certain things lie for a while trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal truth as it’s appropriate. Because we see things through the slant of our circumstances, it’s important to know that will affect all of our interpretations from time to time.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

“Don’t blink . . . “

“Babies don’t keep.”

“They grow up too fast.”

All the clichés . . .

In less than two weeks my oldest will turn thirteen. Thirteen! I will officially have a teenager, and when I look at this man child, who is taller than me and almost outweighs me, I wonder how on earth we got here. There’s a tiny drop of bitter that goes with the sweet of each passing year, but even more, there’s this huge privilege that comes with watching our kids grow into who God created them to be.

My baby boy came into this world in a whirlwind, five weeks early, amidst major complications. Statistics and science tell us he shouldn’t have lived, or at the very least, he should’ve had major medical and developmental issues. The doctors and nurses were astounded at the strength and health in that tiny four and a half pound body. They called him our miracle boy. And here we are, almost thirteen years later . . . he’s still our miracle boy.

I don’t take any of this for granted. I don’t for a second take for granted the absolute blessing it is to be able to watch my children grow up, and I always try to be mindful of those who don’t have their miracle babies to hold and love . . . of those who’ve suffered devastating loss and indescribable pain and heartbreak. I don’t have all the answers, nor will I pretend to this side of heaven. Just know there is a God who loves you deeply, completely, and unconditionally.

It is such an honor to raise both of these children. Two of the liveliest, most passionate, funniest, slightly stubborn, and most amazing people I know. Two young people, who came to us in two very different ways. Yet, they both defy the odds of their history on a daily basis, and I am so aware that each milestone, each step of growth and development, is one to be celebrated.

That’s not to say there aren’t hard days . . . exhausting days . . . days when I just want them to go to school or bed . . . either way. I would be remiss in not owning up to those things, and every single mother, admit it or not, would say the same. But even on the hardest of days, there’s always a tinge of sadness that accompanies another passing year. There’s always some bitter with the sweet, but I decided a long time ago, to give myself a moment as each birthday comes . . . a moment to reflect, to be a bit sad, to think back and wonder where the time has gone . . . and then I shift my focus. Because I want to focus far more on the sweet than the bitter. I don’t want to wish away the hours, but I also don’t want to dwell on the past.

In just under six years, our boy will be off to college only to return for holidays and breaks. While six years seems like a long time, y’all it’s not. It’s a snap of the fingers. A blink of the eye. Both of my babies are far from babies anymore. Both are very much in the process of growing into their own people with all of their own feelings and motivations and opinions . . . boy do they have opinions. While their paths may not be identical, and maybe even different than what we envisioned . . . God doesn’t call us to raise children the way we want them to go . . . . He calls us to raise them the way He wants them to go . . . watching what they’ve overcome, makes us embrace and celebrate each passing year and each moment of growth rather than lament them “growing up”.

As parents we want to raise our children to be as independent as they’re capable of being. To grow into the person God wants them and created to them to be. And then one day, we hope and pray, they are able to launch out into that great big world confident in who they are, knowing that they’ll always have our support, but no longer our step by step guidance. And (for most children) there comes a time when we have to “cut the cord” so to speak. Where we complete the shift from the parenting relationship . . . where we guide, provide, and raise . . . to a friend relationship where we come side by side with them as equals. Because that is God’s design. He created us to grow in families and be sheltered, nurtured, provided for, encouraged, and taught by our parents. But that was never intended to be forever. We’re also meant to fly. To grow up and build lives of our own.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife . . . ” Genesis 2:24

“Leave” – forsake and loose (Strong’s Concordance 5800a. – “azab”)

So as we move into these teenage years, I’ll look back on all the birthdays we’ve celebrated and embrace the memories. But I refuse to mourn what has passed. Instead I’ll celebrate the past and look forward to the future in all of its unique beauty. And together, as parents of both of our kiddos, we’ll continue to be here, to guide and protect for a little while longer as we help them find the path God has for them.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

I’m 39 years (plus a few months) old . . . for those that care . . . but also, for those that don’t . . . ’cause y’all know I’m telling you either way. In less than nine months, I’ll turn 40, and I find that this impending birthday, one that most people dread, is one to which I look forward. Not only because it’s not happening in 2020. Can I get an amen??? But, getting older has never really bothered me, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the morsels of wisdom I’ve acquired over the past 39 years. So here they are . . . 29 of them because although that number has absolutely no significance, and that in itself kind of makes me twitch, it’s what I came up with . . .

1. Clean your kitchen every night . . . you won’t ever regret it. There’s nothing worse than waking up to a mess in the morning.
2. If you don’t like your hair gray, color it. That’s your prerogative.
3. Make your bed . . . most days . . . but on the days you don’t that’s okay too.
4. Every time you open a fresh bag of coffee take a deep breath. There’s no better smell.
5. Sleep and sunscreen keep the wrinkles away . . . but stock up on both before you have kids . . . because once you have them, you’ll never sleep again. 😉
6. Exercise most days . . . rest too. Balance is a thing.
7. Eat your vegetables and also, sometimes, eat dessert. Again with the balance.
8. Read your bible.
9. Pray. Then pray some more. It’s not “all you can do”. It’s the best thing you can do.
10. The most perfect parents don’t have any kids. The longer you parent, the more you realize, you’re no expert. Having kids will make you eat every single time you uttered the words, “When I have kids, they will never . . . “. They will. I promise they will.
11. If you home school . . . you’re right. If you send your kids to private school . . . you’re right. If you enroll them in public school . . . you’re right. Just educate them young’uns . . . however it works for you.
12. Buy yourself flowers or coffee or chocolate . . . whatever it is that floats your boat. Don’t wait for someone else. Buy it for yourself.
13. We’re not all the same. God did that on purpose.
14. Social media is a fantastic tool, but it’s not reality. Don’t let it dictate your life.
15. And also, don’t fight with people on other people’s posts (or even your own). Move on, unfriend, unfollow, ignore . . . whatever . . . just don’t engage.
16. Be strong enough to be independent, but also, be soft enough to form relationships where you’re dependent on others.
17. Your children should never be the priority in your marriage. If you want them to grow up with a healthy view of marriage, put God first (God . . . not ministry, not the church, just God . . . and for the record I believe in both church and the ministry so don’t come at me), your spouse second, and your kids third. Always and forever.
18. Date your spouse. It sounds cheesy and goofy and maybe even, pointless . . . I mean you live together . . . it’s not.
19. Don’t be late. It tells others their time isn’t valuable to you. But if you are late, apologize profusely and do better next time.
20. On the flip side, extend grace. Every chance you get. Give it. You’ll need it.
21. Separate those bananas . . . if they’re getting too ripe . . . separate those suckers. It’ll buy you at least an hour more.
22. Read books . . . for no other reason than enjoyment.
23. Vote . . . even when all the choices stink . . . still vote because it’s both a privilege and a right.
24. Travel.
25. Eat good food.
26. Laugh and cry, they’re both important.
27. Grieve loved ones lost.
28. Cherish those still living.
29. And remember . . . perfection is so overrated.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author

To everything there is a season, 
A time for every purpose under heaven: 

A time to be born, 
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down, 
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep, 
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The air is cool in Texas today. And though the heat will return, it has ushered in those first hints of fall. The promise of cooler days after a long, hot, dry summer. The shifting of seasons has begun.

As each season ends, and a new one begins, I always find myself ready. Even in my part of Texas, where our longest season is summer and the lines between seasons are blurred, I’m still ready for the changes that come . . . however subtle they may be.

It’s not only the change in temperature . . . the shortening or lengthening of the days . . . the different holidays . . . that each season brings. It’s the reminder that nothing is permanent. That no matter where we are today, nothing is forever. And while there are seasons, good seasons, that we wish would last indefinitely. It’s in the differing seasons, the ebb and flow, the ups and downs that stretch and challenge us, that we grow.

For so many, this year has been hard. There is no other word for it but hard. It has brought trials and grief, loss and heartache, and on some days those hits just seem to keep coming. It seems as if it will never end. But if we take a moment to read these words from Ecclesiastes 3, words penned thousands of years ago yet so seemingly relevant to our current times, we realize that as long as the world has turned, there have been both seasons of horrible devastation and seasons of indescribable beauty, often running, not end to end or back to back but simultaneously. It’s one of the greatest contradictions and gifts we’re given in this life, the fact that we can experience immense grief and huge joy concurrently.

This season will end, and with it a new season will enter, and the cycle will continue until our lives on this earth are over. But the one thing we can count on, the one constant and steady in the midst of all the shifting seasons, in both the beautiful and the heartbreaking, is God. He never changes. He’s never unreliable. He promises in Deuteronomy 31:6 that “He will never leave you nor forsake you”. He loved us, He loves us, enough that He sent His son as the eternal sacrifice for our sins, and He sent the Holy Spirit to both comfort and guide us. And in a world that is often uncertain and ever changing, that is what we can count on. That is what we can press into no matter what season we are in.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

I laid in bed in those quiet early morning hours and listened to the whistle of the train in the distance . . . it blows each morning long before the sun starts to make its way into the sky . . . dependable. . . steady. . . reliable.

What is an annoyance to some stirs up nostalgia for me. I grew up in the small Texas town of Luling. A river town that exploded with the oil boom of the early 1900s but was built by the railroad years before. A town known for oil, barbecue, watermelon, and trains. A town known, in its long forgotten rowdier days, as “the toughest town in Texas”. A town where secrets don’t exist . . . don’t even try . . . it’s impossible to keep a secret in Luling, and where you can’t walk down the street without meeting someone you know. A town where “oldish” men (sorry, Dad), and a few women as well, meet for coffee as the sun rises, and win or lose, high school football games reign supreme on even the hottest of fall Friday nights. The town where I grew up, met my husband, graduated from high school, and got married. The town to which I’ll always return for holidays, reunions, weddings, and to say my last goodbyes to old friends and beloved family members.

The railroad tracks run right through the center of town. At any time of the day or night, you run the risk of being stopped by one of the many trains that make their way through each day. In my teenage years, there was little doubt that if I was running late I would be on the opposite side of the tracks from my destination, and a slow train would have the impeccable timing of crawling its way through town clinching the certainty of my late arrival.

But the sound of those trains . . .

I lived just a block away from the tracks that split our town down the middle. I’ve always been a restless sleeper, and many a night, I would lay in bed in listen as the trains whistled their way through our sleeping little city. Those whistles that would seem so disruptive if you weren’t used to them, brought comfort . . . in those drama filled, ever changing, junior high and high school years . . . as I packed up to leave for college knowing I’d only return home to visit . . . on weekends home, seeing old friends at hometown football games and feeling the sameness of being back and yet, a new unfamiliarity that comes once you’ve left home and spread your wings a bit . . . over the decades as life has changed and I’ve grown older . . . I’ve always known, I still know, I can set my watch by the sound of those trains . . . dependable . . . steady . . . reliable.

I don’t live far from my hometown even now. Still, it’s not often find myself back home, flying through town, trying to beat a train, but I can guarantee that if I am home and running late, I’ll catch a train every single time. I can also guarantee that in our ever changing world, no matter where I am or where I travel, there will always be comfort in the sound of a train whistle, and I no longer mind so much sitting and waiting as a train passes by.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

We survived the first week back to school. I survived a week of virtual learning with a first grader. By Friday afternoon, I didn’t have two brain cells left to rub together, but I survived. Even after a very much needed, fun family day yesterday, I’m still kind of brain dead, and I’ve rethought posting this about a thousand times. But I feel like it needs to be said so here goes.

There is so much going on in our world . . . in our country. So much division. So much tension. So much destruction. So much heartbreak. It’s hard to keep your head on straight, and think clearly in the midst of all it. It’s hard not to let your mouth get ahead of your brain . . . and in some cases it’s hard not to let your mouth get ahead of the Holy Spirit.

One of my new(ish) life rules is to stay out of politics on social media and on here. I used to dive deeply into politics. I was proud to tow a party line, and I didn’t care who knew it. I’ve shifted a bit on that. Not on my beliefs (most definitely not on my beliefs, just in case anyone is wondering), but on how I discuss things. I don’t care to do “politics” anymore because quite frankly, I don’t love any of our politicians (yep, I said it), and I don’t see any of them as our “savior” (no man is perfect, and God can use any person to do His will, but again, no man will fill the role of savior for me). But what has become more solidified over the past ten years are my beliefs, based not on a party platform, which will ebb and flow and change over time, but based on the Bible. When it comes to the Bible, I cannot and will not compromise. And that doesn’t just fuel how I vote (and sometimes, I do have to hold my nose and go with choice that most closely matches my own beliefs), but how I want to live my life.

I also think that sometimes, we have to stand up and make our beliefs clear even if that means that some people won’t like them. Even if that means that some people will walk away, unfriend, and unfollow . . . so I’m going to take a minute to outline my uncompromising beliefs below. And none of these are up for debate. None of these are political for me, and generally speaking, people from both sides of the aisle get upset with what I have to say regarding politics and beliefs because I’m fun like that. But I want to be very clear where I stand based on the Bible.

Starting point because this is why I think how I think and believe how I believe. I believe in the Bible cover to cover. I believe that it is literal and God inspired and God breathed . . . both the harder parts and the easier parts to accept. And I cannot and will not compromise on that. These aren’t opinions to me. These are non-negotiables in my world.

And because of said “starting point”, I believe Jesus is the only way to God. Period.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” John 14:6.

I believe that Jesus loves everyone deeply and passionately and compassionately and completely, unconditionally. I believe that He sees people for who He created them to be and not who they are right now . . . I’m so thankful for that because I’m far from perfect.

I believe in the sanctity of life . . . I don’t just mean I’m anti-abortion. I am pro-life. I am pro-adoption. I am pro-helping and supporting and giving resources to parents that want to raise their children. And there are a million ways to support these causes, but screaming hellfire and brimstone to those who are making choices with which we don’t agree isn’t one of them.

I am pro-marriage . . . traditional marriage . . . between one man and one woman . . . for life. I believe in this because the Bible is clear on how God created us to live. I believe that God knows what’s best for us and loves us deeply. I believe there is forgiveness and grace and redemption for everyone at the foot of the cross. I believe that no matter what is in your past, God is here to redeem you. And I believe that we can live and walk out what we believe while still loving others deeply no matter where they are in life. Because again . . . hellfire and brimstone and pounding Jesus into people really doesn’t do the trick. (And as I’ve said before, there are times when you need to walk away from a marriage, after a lot of prayer and seeking God, because the marriage vows have been broken and cannot be repaired whether that be through emotional and/or physical abuse and manipulation, continued unrepentance and infidelity on the part of a spouse, abandonment . . . please seek help if you’re in this type of marriage.)

I believe that God created all people equal, and I believe that He created a myriad of beautiful skin colors (and hair colors and eye colors . . . ) because He is the God of beauty and creativity. I do believe we need to look at our hearts and our motives and our attitudes toward others, and be one million percent certain that there isn’t even the hint of racism or prejudice there. There is nothing wrong with evaluating deep seated thought patterns that likely need to change. Rather than trying to deny or justify or argue, take it to Jesus. Ask Him to transform you because I promise, it’s not from Him.

I believe the church, Christians that profess to follow Jesus, need to look deeply at their own hearts. Because if we’re harboring hatred, unforgiveness, ugliness, bitterness, and anger . . . if we’re feeding on and perpetuating those things, then not only are we not a witness for Christ, but we are not following the Bible. We’re not walking out His word. We tend to give weight to sins here on earth. And while I’ll completely own that there are sins that are heinous and horrible and have larger, more destructive, consequences that hurt others deeply, I’ll also say, that allowing any of the things I listed above to simmer, unchecked, just below the surface, causes huge damage to ourselves and others as well. Maybe not the obvious, in your face kind of damage that we can call out, but if my actions, words, and behaviors push others from Jesus . . . and I’m not talking about speaking biblical truth set out by God here . . . then I’m doing more damage to the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of darkness.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesian 4:30-31

So that got deep real fast. And I’m sure there are plenty of people that will take issue with at least one thing, likely a number of things, I said here. The bottom line is, I love you no matter what. I love you if we disagree. I love you if you hate me. I love you if you unfollow, unlike, unfriend me. But even more importantly is the fact that Jesus loves you. More than you know. He loved you enough to die for you. He loves you enough to transform and redeem you (and me). And no matter what happens today, tomorrow, six months, or sixty years from now, you can count on that.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

I sat there, my head spinning as I stared at my daughter’s virtual learning schedules . . . trying to figure out two conflicting schedules plus all the normal, everyday things I have to get done . . . starting at 7:30 a.m. and continuing with varying activities until 3:00 p.m. . . . two different classrooms plus multiple therapies . . . I could feel the panic and frustration starting to rise. Only three weeks, but three weeks suddenly felt like an eternity. How on earth would I ever meet my normal responsibilities while also making sure I met her school responsibilities?

I walked my son into his school to drop off supplies for the upcoming first day . . . in person . . . we wear our masks . . . not everyone does . . . and all the thoughts began to flood in. The questions as to why people are so opposed to masks (it’s rhetorical so don’t answer) . . . and the fear begins to knock . . . yes, the fear of exposure to COVID . . . yes, the fear of sickness but also, the fear of life once again coming to a screeching halt . . . of being quarantined for weeks on end . . . of my kids both having to revert to virtual learning after a short time of being back in the classroom. And over and over, the question, how will I get it all done? How will I meet everyone’s needs and expectations?

For my risk adverse, control freak self, the lack of control in our current environment can be incredibly difficult. But this is where we are right now. This is the season we are in. You know, the one where I want my kids to go back to school, but also . . . the one where we have to figure out how to move forward while seeking God for wisdom on how that should look. This is where I have to stop and give myself, and others, so much grace. No one expects perfection from me, and I shouldn’t expect perfection from others.

I’d love to wrap my family in bubble wrap, remove every risk on this earth. I’d love to micromanage every situation in a way that I *think* best meets the needs of my family. I mean, ultimately, I’d love to be the boss of the world . . . but yeah, that’s not happening (and it shouldn’t . . . ever). Truth is, when I get on a “need to control everything” kick, I’m showing a major lack of trust in God and trying to carry a burden I was never meant to carry. I was never meant to be in control, and when I am in control, I tend to make a mess of things. But God . . . always but God . . . is still on His throne, and He is still very much in control. And that is very very good.

So tomorrow, I’ll send one kiddo off to school, and I’ll sit down with one at the computer. I’ll pray that in three weeks my youngest can go back to school . . . please Jesus. I’ll do my best, whether it be with my youngest’s school work, with my family as a whole, or with juggling all of my day-to-day responsibilities. I’ll acknowledge and own that I have to let some things go, and that’s okay. I’ll pray for God’s protection over my family . . . Psalm 91, all day, everyday. I’ll ask Him for wisdom in every decision with which we are faced . . . I’ll go ahead and say it again for the people in the back, faith and wisdom are not mutually exclusive and walking in wisdom is not walking in fear. Sometimes God does tell us to stop or proceed with caution. And above all, I’ll put my trust where it should be, with my Heavenly Father. I will not expect perfection. Not from myself, and definitely, not from others.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Sidenote: if I’m MIA for the foreseeable future, you know why . . . I’m praying for all you parents, school staff, admin, nurses, and everyone else trying to navigate this craziness right now. This too shall pass . . .

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.

“You are not the Holy Spirit . . . “

There it was. That still, small voice. Not loud. Not hammering me over the head. But there it was . . . quietly, yet clearly, reminding me of who I am, and in this case, who I’m not.

“But God, You don’t understand . . . “

“You are not the Holy Spirit . . . “

“But God, they’re wrong. They need someone to set them straight . . . to point out their sins. To make sure they realize how wrong they are. If I don’t, who will?!”

“You are not the Holy Spirit . . . “

Point taken.

I’m not talking about whitewashing sin here. There is definitely a time and a place and a necessity to speak the truth. The bible is very clear on what constitutes sin, and I highly doubt anyone has ever questioned my stance on a myriad of issues . . . even if they don’t agree with my viewpoints. But this wasn’t about my beliefs or standing up for what is right. I have a tendency to ruminate. To try to control things. To try to fix people. God may not hammer me over the head, but I sure will be the first to try to pound truth into someone else. I’m going to be the one change people.

But wait . . . I’m not the Holy Spirit. It’s not my job to convict others of sin. It’s not my job to change people . . . as if that’s even possible. Hard lesson to learn. Extraordinarily valuable lesson to learn.

I. Am. Not. The. Holy. Spirit.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” John 15:26

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:7-15

A quick google search of this passage will lead you to site after site debating exactly who it is the Holy Spirit is convicting. Does He only convict non believers? Does He bring conviction to Christians? Regardless of who the scripture is referring to when it talks of bringing conviction in verses 8-9, we see that the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth, not once, but twice, in less than 20 verses. And you know what? There is no truth like the truth of God.

The Holy Spirit brings truth. He speaks truth. Regarding our sins, yes, but also regarding who we are in Him. Who He created us to be. When the Holy Spirit speaks truth into your situation, it brings awareness and wholeness rather than shame, guilt, or condemnation. And that truth is spoken, not only to our minds, but to the deepest recesses of our hearts. When the Holy Spirit brings truth, lives are changed.

So will I stand up for what is right? Absolutely, undeniably, yes. But I will also remember, it’s not my job to beat people down with truth. It’s not my job to bring about the transformation. But I know the One whose job it is, and I pray daily that He will bring truth to those around me.

I am not the Holy Spirit.

Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.