That's it...

I'm stepping out of the boat with Peter, and leaving the walking on the water to HIM!

The "Glory Box"

Many of you may be taken by surprise by the statement I'm about to make, while others may not be: Today was the first time I have really been introduced to the idea of a "Glory Box" as they call it in the Land down Under (or a Hope Chest - or to some a "Hopeless Chest" LOL in the States).

With an ever-growing desire to be a virtuous wife (I've already acheived motherhood!) someday, I was so excited when I heard about this whole idea. For those of you who don't know what the idea is, basically a young woman collects things that she hopes to use in her own home someday after she leaves her parents and is (finally) united with her husband.

While reading through an article about this very matter, I started thinking about how I've not prepared quite like I might like to for my future home! (Oh, how I wonder what it will look like!) My perspective is forever changed when I happen to lay my eyes on that beautifully crafted wall-hanging at the farmer's market or perhaps heirloom seeds for my garden (if they last that long? That is something I will have to look into...)!

Also, Ava has a beautiful antique black with gold trim wood chest with her name painted on the front by a friend of ours and I've been using it as a toy box for her, somewhat reluctantly because of how beautiful it is. I now know exactly what we will use it for once she becomes a young woman! I may even start putting things in it for her that she can go through when she becomes a little lady.

I just love how sweet the idea is and can't believe I hadn't heard of this before. Or maybe I had but wasn't listening...

I look forward to finding items to fill in my "Glory Box" (I really like that name better) so that I can begin to put things away for the day that I am able to be the glory of my husband (Proverbs 12:4) and to pass on this wonderful tradition to my children and theirs!

Before closing, I do want to make mention that the reason I'm doing this is not because I want to be caught up in materialism but because I want to have things for my home when the time comes so we aren't without, and as I put these things in my box I can say a prayer for my future husband and family! What sweet memories lie ahead!

"I dream of the day I’ll walk down the aisle
In a pure white dress with a beautiful style!

I pray for my man that he’ll be righteous and true,
Hard-working, faithful and really “true blue”!

I pray he’ll love children and have a father’s heart
And from our marriage covenant never depart!

I will wait with patience for this godly man
And while I am waiting I’ll prepare and plan.

I’ll make myself ready in every way
Purifying my heart and character each day.

I’ll seek to be honest in all that I say
To keep my marriage from going astray.

I’ll fill my “glory box” with goods for my home
And make it a place from where we’ll never roam.

I will gather treasures, useful and rare
To make our home a place that is fair.

I will be ready to make my home a delight
Filled with God’s presence, His love and light,

Enhanced by the assets I save in this chest
To make our home a “glory”, the very best!"

By Nancy Campbell
AboveRubies.org

Just because..

I just changed the layout of my blog and I must say that I like it much more than the previous one. It may be pre-fabricated by someone else but it sure saved me a lot of time to put together and is pleasing to look at.

Ah, this reminds me of my most recent reading subjects (aside from my reading from The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh) - natural healing, eating organic and other things of the like...

It's so much easier to go to the store and buy something that someone else made in a factory, packed a bunch of GMO's and preservatives into a box so it can sit on a shelf for seven years without growing fungi, and sit down and enjoy the flavor of the enhancers that are going to kill us. Why would someone want to actually take the time to make something that is not only nutritious, but is possibly going to help with other ailments in their life?

Why are we so dependent on instant gratification? Because we are lazy and uneducated!!!

(Funny how this started out as a quick post about my new layout and turned into a rant by an aspiring health nut.)

Another Shot at This...

I haven't posted in a REALLY long time. I miss writing and am going to try to be more consistent with blogging about my thoughts and life - even if no one out there feels like reading it.

Here's a quick rundown...

Lately I've been filled with a lot of joy - more than I've ever experienced before. The blessings of the Lord are abundant and I'm beginning to see them in areas I never saw before. I'm so thankful for my relationship with Him.

One of these areas of blessings I've been especially focused on is my daughter. I just love the person she is. She is going to be a funny woman as she is always doing silly things and making everyone laugh. She listens to me as best as she can and desperately wants to please me. I'm so thankful for her!

Work has increased and I've actually had to outsource some work lately. I was able to pick my help so I handpicked a family member! It's definitely nicer to work with someone I know than a complete stranger oceans away.

Spiritually, I've been growing as well. In a search for what book I should study, the Lord sent someone along to open up the book of Romans for me and point out the three main aspects of the book: Salvation, the Mercy of God, and Service, each broken down by chapters and verses. I look forward to my continued growth in Him through this study. I will post more later as I'm able.

Sorry for the sporadic and short post (if anyone reads this anymore)...

Until next time...

~ Courtney

Timing...

I am in complete awe of the perfect and undeniable timing of God. He never ceases to amaze me!!!

Over the past few months I have prayed countless prayers about my future and that God would open doors He wants opened and that He would close doors He wishes to be closed in my life. I realize that prayer is not answered instantly in many cases, but when it comes to my future, many times have I prayed a prayer that God would let me know "beyond a doubt" about a specific subject, and nearly every time, within minutes, my eyes are opened a little bit wider to God's will in that area of my life.

I am so thankful to have a faithful and real God who answers my prayers - sometimes almost instantly! He is full of awesomeness! =)

Changes..

There is good change and bad change in our lives (or so we see it anyway). Like, I don't like when my keys change position from the last place I thought I saw them. I don't like when I wake up to work and my computer won't turn on any longer (it's okay, I fixed it). I don't like when my favorite shirt ends up with a stain on it that won't come out. This is negative change.

I experienced major good change in my life when I found out I was carrying a child within me. I experienced change that night in the basement when I finally surrendered my life to the Lord. I experienced change when moving away from a town full of memories of my past. I experienced change when my daughter first smiled at me, first crawled, walked, said "Momma," among other "firsts" that one generally experiences with a new life. The changes that continually occur in my walk of life as a follower of Christ (sanctification). The change of my relationship with my Mother, who has turned into my best friend who I share everything with. The change I have experienced as a person through motherhood coupled with my relationship with Christ. And then there is another significant change which I will not fully mention here today, but it is there, and it is very good.

I am seeing that our perception of change is often blurred. Whether the change is good or bad in my eyes, as long as I've surrendered my life to the Lord, it is for the greater good and good will come out of it as long as I submit to His will and not mine. Even the initial "bad" change I can see the good in with the new kind of joy one experiences as a Christian. This, however is not always the case. Sometimes we experience bad change (in our eyes) and don't recognize when the good change comes from it.

Whether I go through something good or bad in my eyes, I need to remember that God is in control and He allows these things to happen. In the bad times, instead of saying "Why me?" why not say to God "If need be!" There is a reason for that negative and eventually you will again find yourself saying "Praise be to God!"

I pray that this might encourage you even just a tiny little bit when reading this! :)

Love,
Courtney

I love this poem.

"Wait..."

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait".
"Wait? You say, wait! " my indignant reply."
Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting.... for what?"
He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want - But you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save.... (for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT."

- Author Unknown