//

"Laborare est orare; orare est laborare"

"To work is to worship; to worship is to work"

Who will you work for this week?

Fall Photos

Just a couple of photos I've taken with Mom's Rebel XTi this fall. :)

The heavens declare the glory of God!
~Psalm 19~

It is near...

You can feel it in the air.

It is coming, but not here.

You can smell it in the drying vegetation.

You can hear it in the locust's hum.


Autumn is near...

~Grace and Peace be multiplied to you~

Garden Growth

This year is by far the most successful garden I have ever had! Possibly having to do with the fact that #1) I know what will actually grow for me and #2) I didn't spend three solid weeks neglecting it to help make a movie this year! ;)

So here is a picture of the garden at the beginning of the year:

This picture is from my room a few days ago:

Hello, come in! :)

I planted these cosmos last year, and they reseeded themselves~ how nice!!

~2 Peter 3:18~
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture Memory

First off, I admit, I'm not the greatest at memorizing, well... anything, really! But the more I read God's word and "hide" it in my heart, the less anxious and fearful I am- and that's a very good thing! So, here are a few ideas I have found helpful~

1) Pick a verse or passage that speaks to you. If it doesn't hit home, it won't stay long. During your daily Bible reading, keep your eyes out for it! If nothing "pops" out to you, pray and ask God to speak to you through His word. He knows what we need to hear most. It's His delight to speak to us- it is His word, after all!

2) Write it down. You've dug for treasure and found it, now take it to heart! Write it in your journal, on your mirror, on a paper to put in your pocket, print it off and stick it on your cereal box to read every morning! Make it the home screen on your phone, your computer's backdrop. Find a song with that verse put to music and put it on your MP3 player. Say it out loud and record yourself to listen to it later.

3) Memorize with someone. Find a friend or family member who will listen to you recite regularly. Being consistent is the key, accountability is great, but don't rely on them to ask you to recite, be ready whether they check you or not!


~1 Peter 3:15~

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer
to every man that asketh you a reason
of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:"

July 4th Epicness

Hope in the Storm

²¹This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

²²It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

²⁴The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

²⁵The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

²⁶It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:21-26

Joy in the Journey

I've decided that when I have forgotten what my last post was about, it's a good indication that it's time for a new post! So here it is.

My dear "little" brother (who is bigger than me :) has just returned from a trip to Italy with a flash card full of amazing pictures and several treasures for his family who has missed him dearly. Specifically the treasures of an awesome hat and a red Italian leather notebook for the scribbler, yours truly!

Traveling is a great thing. New sights, sounds, and smells. Honestly, though, I think one of the greatest things about traveling is by far, coming home. Oh, you wouldn't trade the trip and memories for anything! But there is that ache for your own little piece of the world that thrills when you are homeward bound!

This ache is only a reflection of the deeper longing for my real home- heaven. Not that I'm tired of this life and want it to end, by any means! But knowing that this is not where I was made for, that this is just the journey, makes my heart thrill at the thought that I will someday be home. Enjoying the trip, helping where I can, but just passing through.


"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18

Words and Wisdom

"My Bible is precious and perfect.

Each word is inspired by God.

It tells me the way of salvation,

And guides me as onward I trod."

~This little song I learned from a children's Bible club sums up my thoughts about the "Set-Apart Girl's" conference I attended last weekend. (www.setapartgirl.com) God's Word is so central to life. With out it, we wouldn't know the power given to those who are "in Christ", we wouldn't know that we are "called out" from the world into godliness. The Spirit of God is so powerful and it's amazing He chose to use words to change hearts. I am gratefully humbled He chose to change mine.~



"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." ~Ephesians 2:10


- Experience - Faith - Truth -

I'd like to share an illustration Eric Ludy gave at the conference. Imagine Truth -THE Truth of God's Word. Truth, Faith, and Experience are walking the ridge of a roof with barbed wire on each side of them. The ridge illustrates "the path of life" and the Truth is always on the right path. As long as Faith follows and focuses on the Truth, it walks a straight path- nothing will shake it. But if it looks back at Experience, Experience will be shaky and Faith will fall off the roof! We cannot trust where we are, or what we have seen in this life to be the ultimate, final truth. If we base our faith on experience, our faith will be shaken and we will very likely fall and be hurt. But if we look at the Truth of God's Word and follow it- even when experience is lagging behind- we will safely reach the end. Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it? A thousand times- yes!

Book Bug

Once upon a time Mom taught me how to read... and I've been reading ever since!

Ok, I know it's been beautiful outside and I'm writing about a great indoor activity, but one of my favorite things to do in the spring is sit out in the sun with a good book and an ice-cold tea.

I always have multiple books going. It seems the more I read the more books I find I want to read! Take "The Hiding Place" for instance. I read it, then wondered "what was Corrie's life like the 45 years before WWII"? So I started reading "In My Father's House" -a book about her childhood- which made me in awe of her father's wisdom, making me want to read her book "Father ten Boom"!

Just recently, I finished "Joyfully at Home" which perfectly describes me (most days! :) and was a great encouragement to keep on keeping on! (I've also decided I need to meet Jasmine someday!)

"Dug Down Deep" is a book I've just started and I've already recommended it to several people! It explains the purpose of doctrine and what it has to do with "real" life.

My church has been doing an "Experiencing God" Bible study for Sunday School these past few weeks. If you've ever wondered how to hear God's voice and know His will- this study is an excellent help.

A book that blesses me ever time I pick it up is a little devotional written by my dear Pastor's daughter, Deana Myers, "I Will Give You the Rain". I can't count the times I've been grateful to have her as a mentor and example in godliness! What a treasure it is to have her gleanings from the Word in my hands when I need it!

Last, (but by far the greatest!) is my tiny ESV Bible. I have my big, trusty Geneva Bible I read for morning devotions, but this little treasure is so portable- it's right there when I need it! Somehow the small print makes it easy to read through whole books of the Bible at once, giving me the "big picture".

One more thing I love as much as reading, is scribbling the thoughts that come to mind as I read. That's why I have my notebooks close at hand. You can never have too many cute notebooks, that's for sure! :)

Happy reading!

Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners!

Have you ever had a moment when nothing could keep you from going into hysteria except a song? Music speaks to the soul and when combined with truth, it does wonders for me personally. I've even made play lists of "Truth" songs when I just need to think about something that is "True, lovely, good...". Although I don't have many hymns on my iPod, they can be so rich with basic truth that my soul needs when I'm hurt, lonely, or simply discontented. When I really stop to think about what these words mean- they are life giving! Here is one that has been on my heart lately:

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

(Refrain)

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Famly Filmmakers

I just have to say- I love my family!

Last weekend we took a family venture to Muskogee Oklahoma to attend the Bare Bones International Film Festival. Caleb's film "Pawn's Move" (www.pawnsmovethemovie.com) won "Best Feature Family Film" and "Feature Audience Choice" awards. Not surprising, since he's the best filmmaker I know! (Ok, so I don't know that many filmmakers, but in my book- he's the best!) So, basically, I'm just bragging about my brother in this post. I can do that- that's what sisters are for! :)

It Was Mint To Be

If there is one thing I've learned while gardening- it's that some plants just keep coming back, whether you want them to or not! Weeds are usually easy to spot and get rid of. The one plant I thought would be a blessing to have around has become "a thorn in my flesh" so to speak, although it has no thorns!

This plant looks so innocent, so sweet and tranquil. It smells delightful and has health benefits when used rightly, but don't let that deceive you!

If this plant is not contained, closely watched and constantly cut back, it will take over everything!!! Just look at this path by my rose bush!

The moral to this sad tale, is that my heart is like a garden. I must "weed out" the bad thoughts and ideas- anything not Christ like- but I also must keep in check those thoughts that, while they are good and useful in their proper place, should not be allowed to overtake more than is fitting.

Another lesson to be learned from this is to use and be grateful for what I do have going/growing well in my garden. :)

Girls: Be True Women

Last summer, I was browsing an antique store when I happened upon a bit of treasure. It was a little book called "Girls: Faults and Ideals" by J.R. Miller subtitled "A Familiar Talk, with Quotations from Letters" published in 1892. I quickly found the contents to be worthy of my attention and study. I thought the following excerpt from it might be an encouragement to my girl friends, as it was to me. He is writing about desirable qualities in young ladies...

Faithfulness is named by many as another essential element in true womanhood. One answers: "Courage to take a positive stand on all moral questions.... Industry that consists in something more than playing mechanically a few pieces on the piano, or tracing grotesque figures in wool or silk." Here two elements of faithfulness are indicated- faithfulness in one's place in all one's work, and moral faithfulness in following conscience. Other letters suggest practically the same essential quality.

It is impossible to over-emphasize this element. The time has gone by forever when woman, in Christian lands, can be regarded as a mere ornament, and can be shut out of active life. She is not a doll or a toy. She has her duties and responsibilities. She is not born merely to be married as soon as possible, and from girlhood to consider her wedding as the goal of her life. Thousands of young women will never be married, and yet their life need not be a failure though their fingers are never circled by a wedding-ring. Woman have immortal souls. Their heaven does not depend upon being linked with a husband, as the Mormons teach. Marriage is a good thing for a woman, if she marry well. I honor marriage as one of the holiest and most sacred of God's ordinances.

But here is the truth which I want to impress, that a young woman should not begin her life with the thought that she must get a husband. Oh, the sad desecration of womanhood that such a purpose in life produces! Every young girl should set for her great central aim in life, to be a woman, a true, noble, holy woman, to seek ever the highest things; to learn from her Master her whole duty and responsibility in this world, and to do the one and fulfill the other. That should be her aim, - to realize in her character all the possibilities of her womanhood, and to do all the work for her Master which he may give her to do. Then, if God shall call her to be a wife, let her still go on with the same reverence, faith, and love, in whatever lines she may be led. I call young women to faithfulness- that is all, simple faithfulness. Accept your duty, and do it. Accept your responsibility, and meet it. Be true in every relation you are called to fill. Be brave enough to be loyal always to your womanhood.


For Christ and His glory!

She's a Witness!

...That was probably the highest complement I've been paid all day!

It's cold and rainy, so what would be more natural than to go shopping for needed Easter accessories on a day like today? That's what Mom and I concluded. So we did.

There we were, in the Dillard's dress department. (I know you're thinking Wait, didn't she say they were looking for accessories? Yes, but that's beside the point :) While waiting for Mom to try a dress on, I was browsing, when a friendly African-American sales lady came and asked the usual "Can I help you find anything?" I wasn't looking for anything in particular so I replied "No thank you."

"Well if there is anything you need just let me know." she said, then added, "but only for the next fifteen minutes- then I'm outta here!" We both laughed.

"Do you have plans for this weekend?" I asked, thinking conversation would be more interesting than clothing. I was not disappointed! She quickly went into a discourse on her new exercise machine- she had the manual there, and was still learning how to use it, and had already lost inches and pounds on her new diet! Wow! Go her!

After catching her breath, she said "So, what about you? Are you going to school? What are you studying?" I dread these kinds of questions, mostly because I have no concise answer that "works" for everyone.

"I'm not going to school right now. Just didn't want to waste the money on a degree I have no use for." This usually works... most of the time.

"Well what do you do with yourself, then?" she inquired.

::mind goes blank:: "I... read my Bible a lot." That's a silly answer, Courtney! Who disconnected the brain-to-mouth wires?! I soliloquized.

"and I'm starting to learn Hebrew, so that I can study the Bible better, since that's the original language it was written in." ... again where did that come from? It's true, though, I am.

"and I teach Sunday School, and an after school Bible club..." Courtney! Why aren't you saying any of the NORMAL things you do??? For some reason things like cleaning, gardening and sewing would not come to my mind at the moment.

"Well that's great!" said the sales lady, "You know you could go to seminary and take that 'theology' stuff! My niece just graduated with her masters in Theology, so she's gonna be a minister. We're real proud of her."

Not wanting to get into my Biblical conviction of women "learning in submission" instead of holding positions of authority in the Church, I moved on.

"Yeah... that's great." change subject, change subject- quickly!

She made it easy and did it for me, "You know that's just great what you're doin' though. You just do the next person some good and you'll pay God back, that's what I say."

Red flags went up in my brain! "Oh, there's nothing good I can do by myself!" I said, "It's only Christ in me that can do any good."

Right at that moment, a sweet older lady came up. "That's right!" she agreed with me- praise the Lord!

"The Bible says that no one can be good enough." I continued, "and since no one is good, God can't just let everyone into heaven."

"Uh-huh!" -my new friend affirmed, "Only through grace!"

The sales lady retaliated, "Well, I just say if you do the next person some good, then you pay God back."

"We don't do good to pay God back, though..." I searched for the right words, "We do good because we are grateful and love Him for what He's done for us! You know what He did, right? He sent His Son, Jesus, who was God, who died on the cross and rose again, to take our punishment, so that if we believe in Him- in what He has done- He will take us to heaven!" How can you not smile when sharing such good news, right!? :)

By this time, Mom had finished and was ready to go, the sweet older lady was done checking out, and another lady walked by saying "That girl's a witness!"

"Ok, then- you should go to seminary!" the sales lady went back to her first conclusion.

"You don't need to go to school for this- just read your Bible!" I smiled.

She smiled back and said, "I like you- you're friendly! I'll see you when you come back, all right?"

"I hope to see you in heaven!" was my reply- and I really do!

A Sower Went Out to Sow

Spring is such a great time of year! Warm sun is always a delight when the days are still cool and the forsythias are in bloom... I know it's time to start tilling my garden!

This is my sweet brother, Cory, after tilling for me :) >>>



These are some of my favorite tools >>>



> My red angled hoe


> Pink garden gloves -grippy, but breathable!


> Potato turner a.k.a. pitchfork

"A sower went out to sow his seed.

And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.

And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold."

{Luke 8:5-8}

Planting a garden always reminds me of this parable. It encourages me to not only turn the soil in my garden well, but also the "soil" of my heart.

"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." {Luke 8:15}

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." {Galatians 6:9}

Blue-Eyed Boy Busted

Standing in the library at Lawson Elementary, I started thinking about books. Surprising I started thinking about books while standing in a library, I know, but I did. Glancing around, I wondered if there might be any children's books on a particular topic I'm researching. So, I bounded over to the card catalog computers to see what I could find. While searching, there were two boys in a scuffle next to me. That was not unusual, there are always kids who are more than ready to release the geyser of energy they have bottled up inside them during school hours. I paid no attention until a brown-haired, blue-eyed boy addressed me with "He's gonna tell on me!", referring to the other boy walking off muttering "He called me a..."

"I didn't to anything wrong!" blue-eyes insisted.

"Really?" I asked.

"He said he's gonna tell on me, but I didn't to anything wrong!" he responded.

"Did you do something wrong?" I asked, surprised he would be opposed to being exposed if there was truly nothing to expose.

As children have the tendency to repeat exactly the same thing they just said "He said he's gonna tell on me! But I didn't to anything wrong!" he repeated.

"Well, if you didn't do anything wrong, you shouldn't be afraid, right?"

"Right." he insecurely replied.

"But if you did do something wrong, you know there is punishment. Everyone who does something wrong is punished, you know." I said soberly.

"But he closed down my window (on the computer) and I'll have to ask for permission to get it back open again!" he protested. Ah! Perhaps he had a little reaction to such an unjust act?

"He may have," I replied. "but we are each responsible for what we do ourselves. If we do something wrong we are punished. It doesn't matter what someone else does!"

"Right." blue-eyes responded, realizing that, perhaps, I was not an advocate for "fairness"!

As I turned back to my card catalog, I was amazed to think about how that truth has played out in my own life. Recently, I had been unjustly treated {gasp! could it be? someone mistreated sweet little ol' me?}. My reaction to such treatment seemed reasonable or "only fair", one might say. But in God's eyes would that matter? No. He sees me for who I am. His child, saved by grace, filled with His Spirit. I do not have to respond in the "normal" human way- I have all the power that raised Christ from the dead to respond with His amazing unreasonable love! Love that...

is patient,

is kind,

does not envy,

does not boast,

does not seek it's own gain,

does not delight in sin,

but delights in the truth.

Though I didn't have the chance to explain this life-changing power to that little blue-eyed boy today, I pray that he comes to know that the Judge is also the Redeemer. The Holy One is also the One who sanctifies.

So it Begins...

My very first post on my very own blog! After over two years of debating with myself about starting one, it is time to "just do it"! No promises about frequent or entertaining posts will you have from me. Something short, sweet and sound -when the occasion calls for something- will be my general goal.

Now, since nothing I could ever say is of any real value, here is something worth reading:

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things." ~Philippians 4:4-8

Blessings,

~Courtney