Courtney's Contemplations . . .

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

Amidst the chaos in my home this morning (ya’ll focusing on anything more than 20 seconds with these two kids and a dog who has decided that my entire purpose in being home 24/7 is to pay attention to her is nearly impossible . . . any one else with me???), I opened my Bible to read about the triumphal entry.

As I was reading the above passage of scripture, I glanced over at my notes in the margin. They read as follows:

Sunday - Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cries of "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 

Hosanna from the Hebrew "Yashana" - "Yasha" - deliver and save and "Anna" - beg, beseech The crowds were literally beseeching Jesus to save them. They were throwing theit coats and palm fronds down to cover the path of Jesus all while crying out for deliverance and salvation. 

Friday - 5 days later - The same crowds cry out for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. 

And one word always comes to mind when I read this passage, fickle.

Fickle - changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection (Oxford dictionary)

These people were fickle. Human beings are fickle. We are fickle. We live in a fickle world where loyalty and devotion mean little, and one day we can be madly in love with someone or something, and five days later, we’re shouting “Crucify . . . “.

Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel, is quoted as saying, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Manning was no stranger to struggles with sin. Alcoholism, his alcoholism, literally destroyed his life. Which makes this quote all more powerful and poignant. He knew deeply the need for the grace of Jesus, the power of the cross, the redemption of the resurrection. But he also realized the effects of his own choices and actions on others.

God is not surprised by our fickleness, failings, and personal battles. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and what was to come. Romans 3:23-24 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” That “all” is me. That “all” is you. That free justification is for everyone.

The journey to the cross . . . the crucifixion and the resurrection . . . encompassed Jesus’s whole purpose in coming to this earth . . . to save a fickle people from their sins. The only thing we absolutely have to do to be saved is open our hearts and accept His forgiveness.

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 still here. Things have gotten very busy with two kiddos doing school from home and keeping up with all the normal daily chores and things that have to be done. But I’m still here. And quite frankly, I can’t think of anything to write about other than the Coronavirus because, like it or not, it’s our current reality. In the midst of the chaos and the crazy and the surreal unsettledness of this season, there are blessings, and I’m learning to focus on those, be them large or small. Just one of those blessings is joining a group of ladies (some I know and some I do not) online for Bible study.

Part of the reading yesterday came from Acts 16 . . .

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'” Acts 16:25-30

This is not an unpopular passage of scripture. I’ve lost track of the number of messages and sermons I’ve heard preached on the subject, and with few exceptions, these usually focus on the “suddenly”. And rightfully so. God can do so much suddenly in our lives.

As I was thinking about these verses in the early hours of this morning, I was struck with the before the suddenly. It’s not that this hasn’t also been taught, but take a minute to really think about what is happening here. Paul and Silas are in prison . . . in chains. And vs. 25 says they were praying and singing hymns. I have to wonder what I would be doing in such a moment. I think it’s more likely I’d be lamenting my circumstances than singing hymns. I might be praying, but it wouldn’t be powerful prayers of praise. It probably wouldn’t be something others would want to listen to.

As I pondered all of this I realized that, right now, we are very much in a situation where we are in imprisoned. Not in a literal prison, but in a very real sense we are imprisoned by a disease, a virus, that seems to be holding the world hostage. And I realized one of two things can happen in this.

I can praise the problem . . . I can complain. I can WORRY and be ANXIOUS and AFRAID. I can get annoyed at the interruptions in my life, the missing of the routine, the having to homeschool, the constant togetherness . . .

OR

I can praise the Problem Solver . . . I can turn it all over to Jesus. I can choose to do as it says in Philippians 4:6 and “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”.

This isn’t a denial of reality. I think sometimes Christians deny the reality they are standing in thinking that’s faith. Paul and Silas didn’t deny reality. They just chose to praise in that reality. The reality is we are facing a very serious, very sobering situation. And the time in which we are currently living is a heavy, heavy time. In Philippians 1:9 Paul says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment“. Y’all, knowledge and discernment are not unimportant in these times. We need to stay informed. We need to have wisdom and discernment. And that means, that things in our lives, in our normal, daily way of living, look vastly different right now. It means we respect what we’re being asked to do by those making the decisions. It means rather than disparaging them, we pray for them.

BUT we do it all while praising the Problem Solver. We do it all while praising Jesus.

If you read just a bit further in the passage, you see that the jail keeper and his family were saved. Had Paul and Silas chosen not to praise . . . had the suddenly, that I firmly believe was a result of that praise, never happened . . . the jail keeper may not have come to Christ. In these times, as Christians, we need to be leading the charge. Yes, we need to be honest and vulnerable and real, but we also need to be a light in a very dark world. We need to show the world what it means to seek God, to trust Him, and rest in Him in these very troubled times.

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.

The virus is sickening . . .

The stock market is crashing . . .

Oil prices are plummeting . . .

Earthquakes are happening . . .

Panic is rising . . .

Politics are dividing . . .

People are screaming . . .

I’ve seen the statements on social media . . . on news articles . . . the “get right or get left” statements . . . the fights over what the next step should be . . . the fear driven, anger laced, back and forth . . .

And to it all, what I want to say more than ever, is this . . .

JESUS LOVES YOU!!!

He didn’t come and die and rise again just to scare you into heaven and keep you out of hell. He didn’t just come to point a finger at you and call you a “dirty sinner”. He came to wash you white as snow. He came to wash me white as well. He came to do far more than just get you and me into heaven. He came to bridge the gap. He came because he wants a very intimate relationship with us. He came because He loves us.

“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. The have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

This is not bad news but very good news. No matter how badly I’ve messed up or how terrible the world gets, Jesus loves me and wants an intimate relationship with me. He loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you.

I’ll say it once again for the people in the back, I do NOT for a millisecond think God brought on this virus (or any natural disaster or calamity) to draw us to Him, but I do think He can use it for His good. I believe He can use it to draw people to Him. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen, sin filled world. We are not promised a life free of tribulation, but as Jesus told us we can have peace and should “be of good cheer” for He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33).

As we approach Easter, there is so much uncertainty, and we wonder if we will be able to gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, but this I can promise, whether we gather collectively in a church building or virtually in our homes, Jesus is still King. He still rose again, and He’s still coming again. I don’t know exactly when. My heart tells me soon, but I also know that my focus shouldn’t be on the day of His coming but instead, should be on telling others of His love for them.

In times of heartache and heartbreak . . . in times of fear and catastrophe . . . He is our salvation in every way. And it’s not super complicated. All you have to do is cry out to Him . . . cry out to Him to be your forgiveness, your redemption, your Savior.

I’ll leave you with the words from one of my favorite hymns. I pray they bring peace in the turmoil. I pray you turn your face toward Him and seek Him. Not just for what He can give you, but for who He is.

“The Love Of God”

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song

As sung by Mercy Me, 2002 
Original Words and Music Frederick M. Lehman, (1917), copyright 1923

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.

Last night, I was listening to Dr. Tony Evans, along with two of his children, Chrystal and Jonathan, talk a bit about the Coronavirus crisis and how we navigate this extended time at home with (or without) our families and loved ones (link at the end). While it definitely had spiritual elements, it was also a very down to earth look at what’s going on and how this affects us on a daily basis. These are three practical things that I took away from listening to this conversation expanded just a little in some spots to add my own thoughts and feelings.

1. Don’t waste this time . . . It would be easy to wish this time away. Even the biggest home bodies among us (raising hand over here) are used to being somewhat on the go. For the first time in history, our schedules have been wiped clean. Rather than bemoan that fact, we need to embrace it. And we need to help our kids embrace it. There will be absolutely no harm done to our kids in learning not to be continually entertained and constantly having somewhere to go and something to do (and let’s be honest, it’s not as if we’ve taken away all sources of entertainment).

2. Get to know your kids . . . Maybe you already know your kids, but take the opportunity to reconnect with your family. Eat meals together, play board games, laugh and enjoy one another.

3. We still need community . . . This is really tough for everyone, but for those without family, this can be super hard. While it’s not the same as person to person contact, I am very thankful for technology, for the ability to connect via text, social media, facetime, whatever . . . for church online when we can’t do church in person . . . so reach out, help where and when you can. Check in on your people.

Here’s the thing, I do not believe, for a second that God caused COVID-19, but as I’ve said before, we live in a fallen world where sickness and sin and catastrophes happen. But God (again with the “but God” . . .) can and will use this for His good and His glory. On a personal level, I’ve had to completely switch gears. Those that know me well, know I rarely vary from my schedule, and I plan carefully for changes and interruptions. I’m very used to my daily routine of dropping the kids of at school, working out, doing housework, laundry, paperwork and bookwork . . . shopping for and prepping meals . . . and to have it unceremoniously interrupted, without any time to really prepare my mind and my calendar, as ridiculous as it sounds, kind of threw me. But I’m learning all about flexibility. Remember when I said vulnerable wasn’t my word of the year? Well I would add, neither flexibility nor spontaneity will ever (or as my youngest says “never, ever, ever”) be my words either. Of course, God sometimes has different ideas than us. And He’s using this to teach me, that it’s okay to interrupt my schedule.

Amongst all the stress and anxiety and uncertainty, God can use this to teach us and reach us and change us . . . and God can use us to reach others in this. And rest assured that no matter what we see in the natural, God is for us, and He loves us.

Continue to pray for this to come to an end. Continue to pray for those that are sick. Continue to pray for those in authority and making the hard choices. Continue to pray for those that have to be out there working, our healthcare workers, the grocery store and pharmacy employees, first responders . . . and those that aren’t working but are anxious about finances and job security. Respect what is being asked of us and be willing to do what needs to be done in order to stop the spread.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:18-28

If you'd like to hear the whole conversation with Dr. Evans it can be found here. (Hopefully that link works. It's on IGTV so if you don't have Instagram I'm not 100% it'll work.)

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.

Disclaimer: What you are about to read is written in jest. Humor is how I deal with hard things, and I think, in the midst of what is a very difficult and often isolating time we all need a little levity. I am not oblivious to the seriousness of our current situation in any way. Nor am I flippant about what is happening. I am very aware of the effects of COVID-19 medically, emotionally, financially . . both for my family on a very personal level, for others individually, and for our world as a whole. COVID-19 is not funny, but my kids are, as is my life at times. And sometimes, I just have to laugh at the craziness in which we’re currently living. If you’re going to be bothered by the humor, or if you’re going to message me to tell me how I should appreciate home schooling my peeps or about how bad screens are or whatever, feel free to click the X in the upper right corner.

Y’all I feel like we’re all starring in an apocalypse movie, but not just any movie, a really bad, low budget film . . . a really bad, low budget film without any toilet paper to be had.

My kids are out of school until at least April 6th, but I’m thinking it will be longer. And even though I taught school for ten years, I am not about that homeschool life. Not even a little. Hear me now, I do NOT want to teach these people. They don’t listen to anything I say, and those four years in college and ten years in the classroom mean nothing to them. Nothing. Nope. Not wanting to do this even a little.

I’m writing this on Tuesday, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Day 4 (might as well be day 4000) of our social distancing/quarantine. I’m finding out that, although I’m an introvert, I’m not really about that quarantine life either. My kids are currently on spring break so I’m using that to justify inordinate amounts of screen time, but at some point today or maybe tomorrow, I’m going to get my act together and write out a schedule for the next few weeks . . . or maybe I won’t. I don’t know.

This morning my youngest, who hasn’t worn clothes in four days (she’s not about that clothing life), was coloring so nicely at her little desk, and I thought, “Well that is great. Look at her coloring.” FYI she hates to color. What didn’t I know? I didn’t know she had gone into our den closet and managed to get the markers off a shelf she cannot reach. I didn’t know that not only was she coloring all her coloring pages solid black, but she had also colored her arms, face, and belly button. Enter inordinate amounts of screen time.

I fed my kids breakfast at 9:00 a.m. today. At 9:30 a.m. they asked when we were eating lunch. Fix it Jesus.

Thank the good Lord above, I love to cook because all the restaurants are either closed or closing. But when planning for meals last week (I have to do our weekly grocery run tomorrow . . . pray for me), I didn’t think my meals through very well, and every meal is heavy on rice, pasta, and/or cheese. The Coronavirus 15+ is going to be a thing if I continue to cook and eat the way I’ve been. We’re going to need some veggies up in this place.

In order to survive with our decency intact and not turn into total sloths, I’m about to enact some rules:

• Get dressed . . . in actual real clothes (but only one set/day . . . I’m also not about that laundry life) Monday – Friday.
• Bathe and brush teeth daily . . . my 12 year will think he’s being abused but we are social distancing . . . not hygiene distancing.
• Go outside, weather permitting, or at least, get some exercise, daily.
• Read daily.
• Do school work as needed.
• Eat real food not just junk.
• Kids clean up their messes and complete normal daily chores, and grown ups (that’s Patrick and I in case anyone is confused) continue with weekly chores so our house is not a pit.
• Limit screen time to 1-2 . . . maybe 3 . . . maybe 4 hours . . . just try to limit daily screen time. My kids will have all the feelings about this.
• Go to bed at a decent time.
• Turn off the news. Pray more . . . for all those that are sick, scared, struggling . . . for my family and friends but also the healthcare workers and first responders and grocery store employees and those without family or resources. Help fulfill and meet needs when and if I can. Hug my kids and kiss my husband (ewww 😜 . . . but also, that’s definitively not social distancing 🤷🏻‍♀️). Play games. Laugh. Listen to music. And enjoy and appreciate my very blessed life.

This is uncharted territory for all of us right now, and while I knew this virus could be a thing, I didn’t realize how much of a thing it would turn into. But we’re going to do this. We’re going to look back and have a heck of a story to tell our grandkids. We’re going to learn big lessons and small lessons, and hopefully, we’ll come out of this better people than we went in.

And for every mom (or dad or grandparent) attempting to maintain normalcy in the chaos, may the odds be ever in your favor.

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 keep writing novels on Instagram and Facebook. I finally decided I should just hop on here and write it all out. But I’m having trouble bringing my thoughts to one concise point, and I really should be planning for my kids being out of school indefinitely (pray for all the mamas . . . we love our kids, but pray for us), so the bullet points:

First some context for those that don’t know us in real life:

• We live in Texas just outside the Austin-Metro area. Our town is “rural-ish” but not really. There are no COVID-19 cases in our immediate area (our little city), but there are cases in neighboring cities, towns, and counties. We, and pretty much everyone else, travel throughout Central Texas on a daily basis. The only way to stop the spread is to stop unnecessary traveling. But we will likely see cases here really soon.
• My husband is a realtor/broker, and we own a real estate company. He deals with people, from all over Texas and quite a few from out of state, all day, everyday. He will have to continue to work as needed . . . at least on a limited basis. He also is the youth pastor at our church. We felt strongly that we needed to stay home on Sunday, and we did. We are not limited to worshipping God within the walls of a church building. Nor is deciding to stay home giving in to fear. The kids and I, other than absolutely necessary appointments and grocery pick up, will be hunkering down for the foreseeable future.
• Our family is healthy. We are not considered high risk, but our youngest is adopted from an Eastern European Orphanage. She was severely malnourished when we adopted her over four years ago and had some concerning irregularities in her bloodwork which, thankfully, stabilized over time. But because of her health history and also because her mental and emotional well being is extremely important, we think it’s very important to use wisdom when it comes to exposure for her and us.

And now my thoughts:

• I’m, surprisingly for me, not anxious or afraid. I don’t take any credit for that. I’ve found in the most intense moments of my life the Holy Spirit has brought me peace that matches that intensity. I have felt very strongly, in the past few weeks and particularly, in the past few days, about certain things, and I’ve made those feelings known. I firmly believe they are not my own thoughts or feelings, but the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I think we need to take the time to seek God for both direction and wisdom as well as protection and a swift end to this.
• I’ve heard a lot of things the past week . . . “this is all just fear mongering” . . . “the government just wants to keep us under its thumb” . . . “this is the start of government control” . . . “I have faith. I’m not afraid. I’ll do what I want” . . . the list goes on . . . but serious “face palm” to all of it. I do not, for a second, believe this is some sort of crazy plot to take over our lives. I believe it is what it is . . . a virus, that, while definitely not as bad as it could be, is plenty serious and dangerous for many. I believe you can most definitely have faith while operating in wisdom.
• We have friends and family here and around the country that are high risk. We feel a strong sense of responsibility to protect them.
• Stop hoarding and stockpiling. For the love people, there are those that cannot buy it all and need stuff. Have some compassion and common sense. I’ll be picking up our weekly grocery order tomorrow. We have staples in our house. I keep our pantry pretty well stocked because . . . well two kids that eat their body weight in food. But I don’t have months’ (or even a month’s) worth of all the things. Still, we’ll figure it out if we can’t find it, but no one needs 36 packs of Ramen. Just sayin’.

I’ve thought a lot about past generations in the last few days. We’ve all heard mention of The Greatest Generation . . . the generation that fought and won WWII. We’ve heard of the sacrifices made of family being sent off to war, of children buried in graves overseas, of rationing, not for weeks, not for months, but for years. We’ve heard of those that stayed back on the home front to keep life moving forward. My grandparents were children but not babies during this time. My husband’s grandfather was a pilot in WWII. The sacrifices made by those at that time are why we are able to work from home today. They are why we are so used to having everything we want and endless entertainment at our fingertips. We are, in large part, used to living a very comfortable existence here in America. Inconveniences do not sit well with us, but we are going to be inconvenienced over the next few weeks and months. We are going to miss out on some things. Let’s act in a way that would make past generations proud. Let’s be willing to sacrifice a little for the good and protection of others. We will get through this. But how it looks on the other side greatly depends on how we act and respond today.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 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. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9

And coming soon to a blog near you . . . a little quarantine comic relief because we are all going to lose our minds if we don’t laugh. And if I can get my act together and actually do something productive, I’ll let you know how we’re structuring our days . . . maybe . . . maybe not . . .

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.

The world seems to have gone crazy. I’ve seen and heard everything from sheer panic to absolute flippancy about what is currently happening with the coronavirus. And unless you live under a rock, I expect you have as well.

Some are stockpiling toilet paper to last years. While others seem to think the definition of faith, the opposite of fear, is denial of the reality which we are currently facing. Neither is the answer. But there is a lot to be said about wisdom.

Wisdom and faith are not mutually exclusive. Faith and common sense are not mutually exclusive. And using discretion and the brain God gave us does not equal fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Every single morning that I drive Anna to school we recite this scripture (not just during flu epidemics or Coronavirus pandemics). We don’t just say “For God has not given us a spirit of fear . . . ” and leave it there. We say all 21 words because I firmly believe all 21 words matter.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear . . . ” The word fear* here literally means cowardice. Walking around terrified. I’m sure we all remember the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz. He was scared of everything that moved or didn’t. He was controlled by a spirit of fear. We’re not talking about that healthy moment of fear that alerts us to danger. We’re talking about all encompassing fear that leads to panic and rash decisions. God does not deal in controlling us with fear, and He gives us the authority, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to stop that from happening.

But we cannot just leave it there. Because the Paul goes on to tell us what God has given us. And I think these three things power, love, and a sound mind are just as important.

Power* – from the Greek, “dunamis” . . . Guess what the root word for dynamite is? Dunamis, and it means “(miraculous) power, might, and strength”. This is no human power. This is power that can only come from God. The kind of power that changes things.

Love* – from the Greek, “agape” . . . Most people know this is the God kind of love. And the only way we can love this way is through Him.

Sound Mind* – I want to focus here for just a second because here’s the thing. Yes, we are free from a spirit of fear. Yes we have dynamite power and divine love in abundance. But y’all we also have a sound mind. The Greek word used here is “sophronismos”, and it means self control, self discipline, and prudence. Have you ever taken the time to look up the word “prudence”? If you just type it into any search engine (in this case Google, but any search engine will do) this is what you get:

“the quality of being prudent; cautiousness. ‘we need to exercise prudence in such important matters'”synonyms: wisdom · judgment · good judgment · judiciousness · sagacity · shrewdness · advisability · common sense · sense · caution · cautiousness · care · carefulness · canniness · chariness · wariness · circumspection · far-sightedness · foresight · forethought · discretion · thrift · thriftiness · providence · good management · careful budgeting · economy · frugality · abstemiousness · forehandedness · sparingness antonyms: folly · recklessness

I think this is pretty self explanatory. No, we are not called to live in or be controlled by fear and panic, but there is much to be gained by using wisdom. There is much to be gained by proceeding with caution and using common sense. Saying “no” to those things which could potentially cause harm, maybe to us or maybe to those we love, is not fear, but very wise. And I believe that in times like this when the fear level is very high, but also in times when things seem to be pretty calm (relatively speaking), there is much to be said for seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And God has given us the ability to make the wisest choices.

So I will continue to pray Psalm 91 over my family. I will continue to pray that our leaders have the wisdom to guide our communities in the right direction, and we will continue to go about our daily lives as long as it seems prudent. But we will use wisdom about the situations we face. And above all we will trust God.

I’ll leave you with one more of my favorite scriptures:

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:13-14‬

It’s International Women’s Day . . .

The day designated over 100 years ago to celebrate women and promote all their achievements.

My, how things have changed for women over the past 100 years. And that is very good. I have no doubt they’ll continue to change over the next 100 years and beyond.

Bu what I want my daughter to know about being a woman as she grows up . . . what I want all girls to know . . . is this . . .

You can do all the things.

You are strong.

You are gifted.

You are so smart.

You are beautiful.

You can be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a research scientist, or a teacher, or a therapist, or a mom, or a designer, or an athlete . . . the possibilities are without end.

You can shatter all the glass ceilings. You can and will change the world. And you can do it married or single. You can stay home or be a career woman. You can do it with short hair or long . . .with or without make up on your perfect face . . . wearing heels or flats or running shoes . . . yes, you can do it all.

But you will never reach your fullest potential or know your true value or find complete peace and fulfillment without Jesus. Because God, your Heavenly Father, holds you in high regard. When He created you He took His time. You are unique. You are greatly loved. The Bible tells us in Psalm 139 that you are “fearfully and wonderfully” made. It tells us that He “knit you together in your mother’s womb”, and no one knows you like He does. That’s no joke. You are valuable. Never let anyone tell you anything any differently whether it be through words or actions. And always be the one to cheer others on. We were not created to tear one another down but rather, to build each other up.

So go out there. Celebrate that you are a strong and amazing woman. Be a world changer. But do it with Jesus in your heart, a prayer on your lips, and praise in your words. And while you’re doing all that world changing, always remember whose you are.

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.

Growing up, my sister and I loved to watch the movie National Velvet. It’s an old movie (based on an even older novel) starring a very young Elizabeth Taylor as the main character, Velvet. Without giving too much away, Velvet, an avid horse lover, falls in love with a horse she names The Pie. Coincidently (as plotlines often go), The Pie is to be raffled off, and Velvet is determined to win him. She can see no future where he is not hers. In yet another stroke of “luck” for young Velvet, her father is the one chosen to draw the winning raffle ticket, and a conversation regarding this happenstance ensues between Velvet and Mr. Hallam (one of the townsfolk):

Mr. Hallam: “So you’re to win the gelding are you Velvet?

Velvet: “Oh, of course I’m to win.”

Mr. Hallam: “There are ways of arranging it, aren’t there? And your father’s a clever man . . . “

Velvet: “Oh, I didn’t bother him, Mr. Hallam. I just arranged it with God.”

I won’t spoil the rest of the movie for you (it is certainly worth a watch if you haven’t seen it), but that last line in this conversation has always struck a chord with me. Not because God is a wish granting genie or here just to answer to our every whim, but because I wonder how often it is we try to arrange things for our benefit . . . how often do we try to manipulate and curry favor with men long before we seek God?

That’s not to say that God is going to give us every single thing for which we petition Him. He’s not. And that’s not to say we are to be lazy and not put forth effort. But the Bible also says in Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” And Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

There is so much wisdom in going first to God. Not only to let Him know what it is we want, but to allow Him to bring our hearts into alignment with His. God wants us to give us good gifts, but He, ultimately, is the one that knows what is and is not best for us. He knows exactly what good gifts we need, and He knows when the things we may see as gifts will only bring us heartache in the long run. So the next time you’re trying to work or manipulate a situation to your advantage, stop and take the time to lay your desires at the feet of your Heavenly Father. You’ll find that it brings far more peace and far less effort to arrange it with God rather than man.

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.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.” Psalm 19:7-9 NIV

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:7-9 NKJV

Same scripture. Two different versions. But here’s the take away. If God said it . . . if He decreed it . . . if He set up something as a way of being done within certain confines, with certain limitations and guidelines and rules . . . there was and is a reason for that. If He said “no” to something, there was and is a reason for that as well. We don’t live under the rule of the old testament law. I’ve said that before, but it’s not because Jesus abolished the law. It’s because He fulfilled it. (Matthew 5:17) There are certain precepts (general rules) set in place, by God, from the beginning of time, that aren’t there just to stop of from doing all the “fun” things, but are there to protect us. The only path to true joy and peace and freedom comes from living under these precepts.

“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:9b

The world does not love that verse. The world in which we live likes to take the judgments of the Lord only when it suits them. “Thou shalt not murder ” . . . “Absolutely . . . well most of the time . . . as long as it’s convenient . . .” (see The Ten Commandments . . . Exodus 20) . . . “Thou shall not commit adultery ” . . . “Yeah, but what if I don’t really like my spouse anymore??? I mean we don’t get along very well. We have nothing in common.” And those are just a couple examples. We don’t get to decide which parts of God’s Word we will accept or not accept. All of it is “true and righteous altogether”. And all of it is written and given to protect us from harm.

Tragically, we, as a society, and many times even in the church, have accepted and bought into the lies of the enemy. We’ve taken ownership of the devil’s lies as if they’re our own and accepted them as if they’re truth.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV

I didn’t always understand that I didn’t have to accept or own every thought that came into my head. Satan will happily feed us lies all the live long day, hoping that we will bite on just one or two of them, and we have to learn to identify those lies for what they are and not take ownership of them. But the issue is, oftentimes, the lies are cleverly disguised as something far from false, and sometimes they even seem like they feel so good they couldn’t possibly be bad. But thoughts believed will eventually morph into actions taken.

“Your husband/wife doesn’t really care about you anymore. They don’t put any effort into your marriage. It’s okay to ______.” Maybe there is an ounce of truth in that. Maybe your relationship is struggling. But that doesn’t excuse any and every behavior. Running from your marriage and commitment won’t fix your problems. It may seem to for a time, but if you accept the lies, the cycle will repeat time and again.

“Yeah the bible says ______, but that was a different time. God didn’t really mean that. Things have changed. We’ve evolved.” (Also, check in with Eve in Genesis. Satan has been using this line pretty much for all time.) Lies are still lies, and God’s Word is still true, cover to cover, whether we choose to believe it or not.

And then there’s the self deprecating lies that look kind of good because they’re wrapped in a very false humility . . . “You aren’t really good enough unless . . .” “You have no value unless you (lose weight, eat less or healthier, look prettier or more plain, wear more or less make up, less clothes or more clothes . . . )”. Newsflash, your value lies in nothing you do, but in whose you are. You cannot work your way into or out of God’s favor.

The lies of the enemy don’t just come straight at God. They will sometimes challenge our belief in God and our faith directly, but more often they come at us sideways with the “Did God really say?” line. Satan loves to use a fraction of an ounce of truth to justify a whole lot of lies. And it’s manipulation and trickery at it’s finest. That is why we have to learn to first, identify and second, cast down these arguments that go against God’s word and the very essence of who He is.

But how?

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. ” Ephesians 1:17-19 NKJV

Ask the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to enlighten your heart. To open your spiritual eyes to the truth. To identify the lies and to give you the strength to cast them down. Pray daily for Him to open the eyes of your heart to the truth.

I’ll say it again for the people in the back, the guidelines and rules we are given aren’t for us to earn anything but are the there to protect us and bring us joy and true freedom. There is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit” (Romans 8:1), but there is transformation through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). And maybe you’ve been walking according to the flesh (i.e. doing your own thing). Good news. You can start right now, right here, this very second seeking to live differently through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even if you’ve messed it all up, I encourage you to both own and understand, that if Jesus is your Savior, your past is washed in the blood.

Sidenote #1, because I always feel the need to qualify this: there are biblical grounds for divorce and separation, and if you’re in an abusive situation, physically or emotionally (manipulation and controlling behaviors, continual drug and alcohol abuse, etc. have no place in a Godly marriage), you need to get help and quite possibly (probably, with very few exceptions), get out (at least for a time, but maybe forever). If your spouse is not faithful, you need to figure out if this is something from which your marriage can be saved (and only you can know that, but if your spouse isn’t repentant, that’s a big problem). If you’ve been abandoned, know that is not your burden to carry. If any of these things are happening or have happened to you, I encourage you to find Godly counsel and support, but all of them are breaking covenant, and either something needs to change, or you will have to walk away.

Sidenote #2: I address marriage a lot because it’s important to me. The devil absolutely hates the convenant of marriage. I’ve seen so many marriages (I’ve lost count at this point) fall apart over the years. Some of them were at a point where one spouse had no choice but to walk away. I’ve stood with people I cared about through this. I’ve seen and felt the heartache that comes when this happens. Others fell apart because of lies believed and lack of care on both sides. Regardless of why, I am most definitely not pointing any fingers. Please hear that. But it has made me, in my own life and marriage, seek God and His wisdom on how to protect both my marriage on a personal level and to share what I’m being taught and learning with others. God is continually working on me and teaching me truths regarding my role as a wife (and a mother), and at times, it can be hard, but I also know it’s so worth it. The statutes regarding marriage aren’t given to us to trap and smother but to give us the ability to live free and healthy within the confines of a Godly, biblical marriage. But this goes far beyond just marriage. In every situation and relationship in which we find ourselves, we have to learn to identify the lies that are fed to us. And so wherever it is you are now, married (for the first or second or third time or even beyond), divorced, single for now, single forever, a parent, not a parent, a sibling, a friend, a son or a daughter . . . . I believe that God wants to meet you right where you are and speak truth and healing and freedom into your situation, but you, first, have to let Him.

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.