Wonderful Counselor By Cortney Donelson

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

“For to us a child is born … And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…”

Source: www.todaysword.org

As I write this, I am in tears.

It has been a really rough week in the midst of a terrible month. I feel overwhelmed from all sides and from all places – spiritual, family, work, national tragedies … I am emotionally drained and trying desperately to hold on. Every time I think I have it together, something else falls apart. It seems in each area of my life I find myself wrestling with God and myself. Have you ever been here too?

Typically, God lays the titles of my devotions on my heart – sometimes weeks or months in advance of when I write them. I love how He does this. It’s like we have a secret game together … “I’ll give you the title, and you live out the content. Give My title some breath; I will give it the fire.”

The title “Wonderful Counselor” dropped into my heart on March 18, 2013, at 9:26 am – exactly one month ago as I write this. I know this because I immediately put the title in the notes section of my phone. If I ever lost my notes, God and I would need to retreat together to a quiet place for quite some time so that He could refresh my memory!

I knew the name “Wonderful Counselor” was one of Jesus’ names. I also knew that once we become true believers, the Holy Spirit enters us and counsels us from within. So, when the title was pressed into my heart back in March, while I was in a truly good place in my spiritual and physical life, I wondered who in my world might soon need some counseling. I sat back and waited upon the Lord.

Little did I know that a few short weeks from that prompting, my spiritual high would start to slip, my safe and secure outer world would start to fail, and my inward resilience would start to shake. God knew though. He is so good.

However, let's get back to the present … More bad news has just come, but the most marvelous thing happens. The Bible has literally fallen open to this verse in Isaiah (9:6) as I plop my exhausted body down on the couch in utter defeat: “For to us a child is born … And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…” As I read the Scripture, the words “Wonderful Counselor” jump off the page and my tears flow harder. There is that title – the one in my phone – and suddenly it all makes sense.

My life is ripping open at many of its seams, and I become conscious of my mistake. It is this: I have put on His shield, yet I walk out the door every day with a false sense of security. I have been telling myself God can handle all this mess, and then I move on, plastering a smile on my face as I go and face others. So, what’s the problem? I am talking the talk but not walking the walk. I am not getting on my knees, actively handing my struggles over to Him and seeking His wisdom. I am not allowing Jesus to be everything He is. I am only seeking out our Lord as Creator, Savior, and King of Kings, not as Wonderful Counselor. I am not treating Him as my wise leader but reducing Him to my “holy handyman” – there to fix everything.

I am stuffing my stress down into my heart instead of releasing it to the One who can provide counsel, guidance, and advice. I have His hope; I am missing His truth! I am lying to myself, believing my relationship with God is whole. In reality, I am missing some critical pieces. I have made God too small. Have you ever done this too?

With this Scripture, I know in my soul that my God is here! My Wonderful Counselor is right here. And now, I am ready to listen to His advice…

“Take a deep breath and slow down. Let Me calm your spirit during this emotional time … Be slow to anger … You can do this through Me. I will give you strength … Let that one go. It’s not from Me … Ask for help … Seek forgiveness … Smile at the silliness instead of worrying about the time … Wait on Me … Don’t panic. It’s not what you think … Make the call … Send that email … Support him … Love her.”

God has many names for a reason.[1] We are not meant to come to a relationship with just one or two sides of God. The complexity of our lives requires us to know everything of who God is and to be thankful for each unique character of God that these names bring to our relationship table.

“For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 24:6).

Now, I am equipped to stand up and face these things … face them with all of who He is and in obedience to His infinite wisdom. Amen.

Prayer – Wonderful Counselor, I seek to know You more in this role. I am sorry for trusting You with only my head and not with my heart and soul. As things fall apart, I will seek Your guidance and wisdom – not just Your hope and love. You supply us with everything we need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

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[1] Here is a comprehensive list of God’s names I found that include their biblical references. This is pretty amazing, huh? Which character of God are you missing? http://smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html

The Ultimate Trust Test By Cortney Donelson

Psalm 31:14 (NKJV)

“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’”

Our kids…

That’s where many of us would fall short. I am not talking about failed parenting or unrealized dreams. I am also not alluding to any of our frustrated outbursts or our mini moments of neglect. I am talking about trusting God when it comes to our kids – even with their very lives. It’s where I might not pass the test.

Abraham passed with flying colors. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his son. God stopped Abraham the moment He witnessed his total surrender to Him. Abraham passed (what is in my eyes) the ultimate trust test.

Could I be so faithful? Could you?

My children entered our family through adoption. I see them as children of God – from God. He matched us with these two energetic and curious gifts, and we consider ourselves blessed to have the opportunity to raise them. Make no mistake – when I look at my earthly children, I see His Kingdom’s kids.

Source: znconline.wordpress.com

So, why is it so hard to trust God with them 100% of the time? Why do I worry about their health, their futures, and their safety? Why do I doubt God’s plan is good when my own plans for our children are not turning out the way I imagined? Stubborn fear still occasionally rips at my ability to fully trust.

Author Ann Voskamp talks about a concept called “practical atheism.” She explains that we are not functional atheists. We are true believers in Christ. Yet, when we choose worry or fear over trust in God, our actions speak louder than our words. We become practical atheists – those who opt to believe God is not always good – or that God is not always love. Our worries and fears are indicators of our lack of trust in a God whose overarching plan is always perfect.

In the past few months, my prayer list has been heavily tilted towards prayers for children. There is the 1-year-old beauty with heart concerns in Texas. There is a boy down the street who could use a reversal of destiny[i] in his life. I have a friend whose son is battling wounds and hurts that any preteen would have difficulty handling well. A close friend’s child was sick for quite some time, leaving his family and doctors concerned about hearing loss. Parents all around me are worrying – for good earthly reasons. I worry about my kids too – the possibilities for emotional, physical, and spiritual pain are limitless. We want to protect them as best we know how. However, there’s a better way to accomplish this…

Source: Unknown

God wants us to know that He is not worried. He has a plan. He is in control at all times. No circumstance, diagnosis, or disaster passes through His hands without His love flowing through along with it. This happens with every aspect of our lives, but it can be difficult to remember when it comes to our kids’ lives. There are other things that flow through His hands alongside His love – hope, peace, restoration, and even joy pour out with every event, illness, or crisis. Trusting in God – passing the ultimate trust test when it comes to releasing our children into His hands – is the only weapon we need in fighting the battle against fear and worry. God loves our children more than we do. Let me say that again…

God loves our children more than we do.

It’s hard to believe sometimes. But, it’s worth believing every time.

It may be easy to become a practical atheist in a world with so much pain, disease, and dysfunction. Instead, I pray that we follow David’s example in Psalm 31:14, “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’” Except, I don’t want to just say it … I want to shout it! “You are my God!” In spite of it all, God is trustworthy and good. And, I will remind myself that this world is not our home.

I cannot think of a single time – joyful and celebratory or horrifically painful – when God was not faithful in making all things work for good. I sure can’t say that about everything I’ve had my hands in…

Prayer – Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and trustworthiness. I live each day knowing You are by my side and in control, even when my own decisions fail me. I will lift up my children to You and completely surrender them to Your perfect plan. For, I know Your love for them is more than enough. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

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[i] Source: “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman” Bible Study by Beth Moore

Loving Grace By Cortney Donelson

Source: www.ninatidwell.com

1 Corinthians 13:2 (The Message)

“If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, ‘Jump,’ and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.”

I would classify most of my devotionals as hybrids. I attempt to blend encouragement with challenges interpreted straight from His truths. However, this devotion is simply a dare for yours truly. Will I choose to follow one of God’s greatest commandments? On the surface, it seems like it would be easy to answer “yes!” 

Not so fast…

I have a friend. Let’s call her Grace. We all have a friend like this. Grace has been wounded – just as we all have been. Grace is dysfunctional – just as we all are in some way. She has no self-confidence and is selfish. Don’t worry, she admits this. What she may not realize is that she seems manipulative, difficult, and lost. She puts people down and plays favorites. She unknowingly struggles with boundaries. She has no spiritual direction … no True North to guide her. Our relationship is a challenging one. We have no common ground. If it were up to me, there would be no relationship at all. But, God hasn’t released me from this friend. He has purpose here. See, God loves Grace.

I don’t want to admit this, but perhaps I need this relationship. I must love Grace too.

When we are together, I find it impossible to even like Grace. Yet, I am called to love her. As a believer, I do my best to follow God’s will – His ways. Loving others is at the top of His list. Others include people like Grace. In fact, Scripture alludes to the fact that it’s easy to love the likable. Loving the difficult, the hurtful, and those who must be repeatedly forgiven marks a true follower of Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 talks about the power of love.

The Way of Love

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, ‘Jump,’ and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” – The Message

I lead Bible studies, read Christian-themed books, have quiet times, pray constantly, speak to groups of people for His Kingdom, and write devotionals. My faith registers a 10 out of 10 on most days. I can hear God’s whispers. I understand His teachings and His commands. I give enthusiastically to His causes. I love Him first and foremost. I worship Him. I have forgiven many “unforgivables.” I worry very little and trust a whole lot – even through the painful and difficult times.

And, it all means nothing.

Why? I fail miserably at loving Grace. I try desperately to love this person I cannot like and do not respect. I have a long way to go.

Here’s an attempt at some encouragement for myself:

Every time I neglect to love Grace, God’s grace is there for me. I can lift my offense up to Him, and He forgives it and wipes my slate clean. Then, I am able to try again – if I choose. After all, it is a choice – this commandment to love others.

Ironic, isn’t it? God provides unending love and mercy for me every time I miss His mark at showing unending love and mercy for Grace. I guess that is how Grace and I are connected. It is why I cannot let this relationship slip away and why He asks me to keep trying. God is using my struggles within this relationship to sharpen me into a more Christ-like image of Him. Most days, I honestly don’t like it. The easy and wide road is tempting, but God is calling me through the narrow door.

The next time Grace and I meet, I will remember that Grace is a child of God who makes mistakes (just like me), I will remember that God has forgiven me (as I must forgive her), and I will remember the unconditional love that He has modeled for me through Christ (so I can someday soon show it to her). 

One more thing. Grace can be a person or a group of people. And, I have no doubt I am somebody's Grace too...

Prayer – God, in my transgressions, I find Your forgiveness. For that, I will be eternally grateful. When others step on my toes, pull on my wounds, and facilitate my fears, my prayer is that I can focus on You. I desperately want to model Your love in everything I do and with everyone I meet. Please give me strength to do so. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

God's Silent Voice By Cortney Donelson

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

I imagine God having two communication channels.

His first channel is loud. He speaks to us as we soak in the words of His Bible. His messages come today as encouragements or convictions from speakers, pastors, family, or friends. They come as answered prayers. Prior to Jesus’ life, this channel spoke through prophets and God’s chosen people. During Jesus’ life, He spoke through His Son’s teachings and miracles. The messages are clear, purposeful, and oftentimes direct. There is no mistaking this communication channel. It has a voice.

“…the Word of the Lord came by Haggai the man of God, saying, ‘Speak now…” (Haggai 1:3)

The other channel is silent. Yet, the messages are just as clear, just as purposeful, and even more direct if we can prepare ourselves to hear what God says through His silence.

In the movie “Ocean’s Eleven,” Brad Pitt and George Clooney portray the characters Rusty Ryan and Danny Ocean, respectively. They are sitting at a bar deciding how many more members to recruit for their entourage in order to pull off a big casino heist. It is famously nicknamed the “You think we need one more” scene. Rusty’s head is down on the bar facing away from Danny.

“Saul makes 10. That ought to do it,” says Danny.

Rusty doesn’t move. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t make a sound. He just stares at the bar’s TV screen. Silence.

“You think we need one more?” asks Danny.

Silence.

“You think we need one more,” states Danny.

Silence.

“Ok, we’ll get one more,” Danny agrees.

The scene is one of my favorites of the movie. Rusty never says a word, yet communication flows and a decision is made. The two are connected by a silent bond of understanding. They know each other.

I don’t know about you, but that is sometimes how I feel when I talk with God. I pour out my heart, and I hear silence.

Just as in that movie clip, we don’t have to fear that God’s silence doesn’t carry with it a hefty message, an influencing nudge, or a comforting embrace. Two-way communication continues to flow through God’s soundless channel. Love is expressed. Decisions are made. Lives are changed. Silence has a voice too.

How do we hear the voice of His silence? We follow the advice in Psalm 46:10. “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we slow down – stop even – we will find Him. We can know Him. When we intentionally slow our own thoughts, our own desires and expectations, and our flesh’s pursuits, He comes as a wave of relief. We will feel Him like a security blanket wrapped around our hearts. He may coach us with gut checks. We will become acutely aware of His comforting love and understand we are not alone.

Source: Uknown

To know God is not to be intellectually aware of Him and His inspired Scriptures but to capture and experience His reality and truths for ourselves. Just as Danny Ocean knew Rusty Ryan’s thoughts and wishes without any spoken communication, we can know God’s will and healing power by simply spending quiet time with Him. We can know Him by listening to and filling with His Spirit.

When we allow ourselves to be filled by His Spirit, our outlooks change. Our hardened hearts melt with His fire at the same time our restless minds learn to embrace His peace. Decisions feel “right,” and choices are confirmed. Peace blossoms into a solid confidence that we are operating within His will. God doesn't have to speak for us to know He is God and He is there. The people of Jesus' time were able to see and touch God through the person of Jesus. At times, I am envious of this. Then, I am reminded that we are filled with God through the person of the Holy Spirit. That is probably something for which the people of Jesus' time would have been envious of us.

Beth Moore, an extremely powerful Christian author and speaker, reminds us of something amazing in her “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman” Bible study. The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not have God written into the account. God is silent throughout the pages, but He is never missing. He is working through the details of His story, leading Esther to her God-ordained destiny while staying behind the scenes … remaining unspoken. Esther knew God despite the silence. God’s silence had a powerful voice. It ultimately saved His people from complete annihilation.

What will God’s silence say to you?

Prayer – Father, thank You for communicating with us in all forms and avenues. You never hesitate to give us exactly what we need at the precise time we need it. I pray we continue to hear You and, even more importantly, obey You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

The Invitation By Cortney Donelson

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLV)
“Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. … For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.”

April 2, 2013 Dear Beloved, As your Creator, Savior, Friend, and King, I am inviting you to come away with Me on a life-changing adventure. Let’s share a moment, an hour, or maybe even a day in each other’s presence. I hope you choose to stop racing around in your world for just enough time to drink in My world. I will fill your cup. That’s My promise. Children grow faster than one can imagine. You are My child. I watch you grow with the weight of worldly expectations, neighbor comparisons, backward-aimed success, and unmet goals. It is time to flourish in a new stage of life – one where the race is focused on Me … on Christ-like comparisons, upward-aimed success, and realized Kingdom dreams. Your world defines success one win, one promotion, one new car, one home-run  or one medal at a time. I watch you put on your mask of happiness. I see you ignore the “but I am well-rounded” exhaustion. I gaze on your inner beauty as you try to ensure your outer appearance is acceptable to the lofty standards of your culture. You have bought into the mixed up idea that if your kids are involved in every activity, do well in school, secure that scholarship, find that well-paying job, and win the most awards, then you have parented well. Dear Child of Mine, I do not measure success by those things. Success in My world does not require you to look to others for applause, admiration, or adoration. You have an audience of One – Me. I applaud you. I admire you. I adore you more than the stars I lit that shine for millions of miles. I created you to reflect Me, not those around you. Imagine a day where straight A’s don’t matter, but straight truths do. Imagine a place where cars, houses, and possessions are worthless, but your priceless heart has been gifted eternity. Imagine a Father that looks at all your activities and sorts them by grace’s standards and not by prestige, power, pay grade, or by the check marks in the win column. Think about enjoying a day without wondering who will call you, what you should wear, how much money you need to make, or what others might think about you. This place is real. It’s called Home. And, if you accept My invitation today, right here and now, Home will reach down from the heavens and fill your fatigued soul. You can live an abundant, joy-filled life regardless of what is happening around you. You can choose this now. Today, I think about you – every second. I long for your whole heart. I already gave you Mine. Please accept it. My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. Leave the weight of your world, and come find peace with Me. Please RSVP now. I hope to meet you here to enjoy this special moment.  Love, Jesus*

* As interpreted from His teachings

Prayer – As Your child, I thank You for helping me look through Your lenses rather than mine today. Thank You for the reminder that You do not define success as we do. You are after our hearts, not our accomplishments. Help us to keep our focus on You. Help us say no to chaos and yes to peace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.