Courtnaye Richard

                                                  www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org

At this time, do you think or believe that God has given you an assignment? If so, what is it? Are you preparing for it? And in what ways? That’s what I’m going to help you focus on this week from a biblical and practical perspective. So, let’s get started.

For starters, there were many in the Bible we can quickly trace back to such as Noah who was given the assignment of building the ark. Moses who was given the huge task of leading millions of the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Joshua who was given the torch to bring them into the Promised Land. Esther who was chosen to be a queen for such a time to save her people from annihilation. Nehemiah who was heavily passionate and burdened with the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. And the disciples, as well as the Apostle Paul with carrying out the Great Commission to all the nations and spreading the gospel (we also have this assignment).

So, has God given you any assignments?

As I thought and prayed about this post, the Lord impressed upon my heart to write specifically about understanding the importance of assignments, who they affect, how we should prepare ourselves for them, and why we do them in the first place. Before I go deeper, just know that any assignment God gives you should be taken seriously and with a confident trust that He will show up and be there to help and lead you by His Spirit. And guess what, no matter what it looks like or how it turns out in your eyes, God’s plans never fail. Remember that.

When you look back at his track record - the ark was built. Moses did lead the people out of Egypt. Joshua successfully lead them into the Promised Land. Esther boldly saved her people from annihilation. Nehemiah and his team did finish rebuilding the wall. The disciples, as well as the Apostle Paul kept the faith and finished the race at all cost. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:1-2, “I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the message of life by Jesus.” (MSG). Amen! You see, in all of these successfully completed assignments, God’s plan prevailed.

So, when God gives you an assignment, it’s very important to stay close to Him through prayer and His word for direction. He may even send Spirit-led messengers, volunteers, or instruct you to create a team to assist you. The key is following His divine provision step by step. Trust me. He knows how to get the job done, successfully.

And listen. In your lifetime sis, there will be many assignments given. If you’re a mother, you have the assignment of not only nurturing your kid or kids, but also teaching and training them godly ways and the Word. If you’re a wife, you have the assignment of being a loving, respectful and submissive wife who comes alongside her husband to help him fulfill his God-given assignment. You two are a team.

But also, if you work on the job, you’ll have many natural assignments. You’ll also have the task of being a light even on the dark or hard days. Your co-workers or fellow co-laborers will need encouragement by you and to see Jesus working through you by the way you carry yourself as a Christian. And you and I both have the assignment of helping to fulfill the Great Commission.

Assignments come in big and small packages. Our job is to unwrap them, accept them, and trust that our good Lord will help us carry them out well with the gifts He has so graciously given to us by His Spirit.

So lastly, I’ll ask one more time. Do you have a God-given assignment? Do you have something that you need to work on specifically this week? If so, prepare yourself accordingly. Break out a pen and pad, and start writing ideas down. Or open up a fresh screen on your computer and do some research about how to do what it is that you need to do. Make a list. Plan your week out early. Ultimately, you and God know what it all entails to get the job done and to get it done right and on time.

Don’t forget to pray, watch for His direction, listen for His voice and messengers, and be diligent in working towards completing your assignment. And make sure to give Him all the glory when it’s all said and done. I echo the words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye

QUESTION: Do you have a God-given assignment that He has called you to be all in on? How can you prepare for it? Also, if you need prayer, you can email me directly @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you.

ALSO, my NEW 8-Week Study Guide and Video Teaching Series from my book, "IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ & Moving Forward in Your Purpose” is FINALLY available!!! Purchase here.

*Tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts, “Like” my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye), and follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/InOutwCourtnaye. Also, share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!

                                             www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org

This is that look that you get when you are about to flip out! You're trying to compose yourself before you blow up either because something is not going as planned or someone did something that just didn’t make sense! Really, it could be a number of things, especially if you’re hurt or overwhelmed. Simply stated, this look is all about trying everything within you to practice self-control before you break or lose it for a second or two.

Have you ever been there before? Are you there now? In this post, I'm going to talk to you about what to do when you feel like you're about to flip out and how to maintain your composure.

For starters, let me just say that I've totally been there! This image is me! And before I even thought about writing this post, I had a real moment where I felt like I was about to flip out, sis. Seriously! LOL!

It was a particular Saturday morning when I’d laid out my perfect To-Do-List, and I was ready to tackle it. However, right after I completed my prayer and devotional time, I looked at that list and realized that I had a lot of things to check off – but, when I looked around, I knew that I needed to clean up my house. Ugh!

But I really wanted to tackle MY list! My beautifully crafted schedule was about to be ruined. I felt the pressure. I felt the mess closing in on me (so dramatic, right?). I felt overwhelmed. I knew that these people in my house would eventually become hungry and look to me to have something cooked. I felt like I was about to flip out, sis!

But the Holy Spirit...

Whew!

Mind you, I had already prayed and asked the Lord to order my steps in His word and all that He wanted me to do for that day. And when I looked back at my list, my housework was in fact listed as well. So, guess what? The Lord answered. He was saying, “Clean up. Get the house in order.” I couldn’t help but put my face in my hands and say, “You’re right, Lord. It’s a housecleaning day.” And what did I do?  I called in my troops (my kiddos), and we went to work…on the house.

Here’s the thing, sis. God knows everything that’s going on in your world. He knows everything that’s going to happen in your day…including how many things you’re going to actually check off on your To-Do-List. So don’t flip out! The remedy to not flipping out is realizing that you really aren't in control and that the fruit of the Spirit, which is found in Galatians 5:22-23 is within grasping distance. The one needed here is the fruit of self-control and maybe patience with yourself.

So, if you’re angry, I get it. But try not to flip out. Breathe. Think on good things. Renew your mind. Take a break. Walk away. Take a ride. Stop, drop, and pray. The biggest thing is DON'T let the anger control you or cause you to have an angry outburst.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:26-27, “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” And Galatians 5:20 says, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear…hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger…” and the list goes on. The Word has power and can really help us when we feel like flipping out. Plus, the Holy Spirit is right there to remind us of these very words and give us peace in the heat of the moment.  

Listen. I want to also say here that if you’ve already flipped out, I get that too. Because I’ve totally been there before. How do you think I know about this stuff? ;-) But here’s what you do. Repent. In other words, acknowledge the fact that you let the situation get the best of you and you flipped out. Tell the Lord that you’re sorry for disobeying His word on letting anger control you in that moment. Ask Him to help you in the future to practice self-control. This is all about spiritual maturity, growth, and sanity! Sis...

I’ll tell you, the word of God combined with the help of the Holy Spirit will help you. The key is pausing and yielding to them. And even though I know that’s not always easy, try it, anyway. ;-) This will help you and me when we feel like flipping out!

Oh, and in the end…we got the house cleaned up and I realized that cleaning was God’s plan for that day (not work). It actually felt really good to have a sparkling clean house (I broke out the lemon fresh Pine-sol and all sister-friend). The result - I had a happy hubby, food cooked, and a clean work and living space for the upcoming week. WOOHOO! Father truly does know best. So, don’t flip out, sis. He’s got it all figured out! Just breathe, relax, and follow His lead.

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye

QUESTION: Have you ever felt like you wanted to just flip out, sis? Again, are you there now? Do you need someone to stand in the gap with you in prayer on it? If you so, you can email me directly @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you.

ALSO, my NEW 8-Week Study Guide and Video Teaching Series from my book, "IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ & Moving Forward in Your Purpose” is FINALLY available!!! Purchase here.

*Tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts, “Like” my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye), and follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/InOutwCourtnaye. Also, share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!

                                                  www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org

Where are you today? Because I don’t know 100% what made you choose to click onto this post, but no matter what, I'm glad you did. Maybe it’s because you want to know more about the topic. Maybe it’s because you’ve noticed the rise in suicide lately. Maybe it’s because you’ve lost someone that you know who was very dear and close to you. Maybe you’re looking for answers of how to help someone who is suicidal. Or maybe because you’ve either considered it or you’re considering it right now. Wherever you are, I want you to keep reading.  

Right now, I don't know if you've noticed or heard, but suicide is on the rise. After researching stats myself, for Americans in 2015, there were more than 44,000 with one suicide happening every 12 minutes. Those numbers have risen since then. But it’s also rising for Christians. So there is a concern for both non-believers and believers. That’s why I believe the Lord has laid this upon my heart to write about it during this time. 

So again, were are you today? Let's talk about it. Are you depressed? Hurt? Broken? Confused? Misunderstood? Sick? Feeling hopeless? Are you suicidal right now or have you been there before?

Personally, I’ve been there. When I was a young adult, while in my early 20’s…I considered it. Was I a believer? Yes. Did I love God? Yes. But my thoughts and sense of not going on was weighing on me heavily. 

So, I understand the feeling. I understand the thoughts. I understand the despair. I understand the sense of hopelessness. But I also realize that I'm here to tell this story because I made a choice to put the pills down. 

No doubt, I was in a pretty dark and lonely place at the time…even as a Christian. But the drive to live beyond my tough circumstances, combined with my faith proved stronger. I overcame the hurt feelings, the negative thoughts, the despair and hopelessness by the grace of God. So if you’re there now…you can too.  

God loves you. Actually, He loves all of us. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:38, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” This is about God’s love for us. (Listen to this song after you finish reading this post…"Reckless Love")

I want to say here that if you’re considering suicide, I really want to encourage you to press on and endure unto the end as the Bible instructs. If things are tough at this very moment, know that nothing that is happening to you is beyond God’s supernatural help. He’s right here. As believers, He promises that He will never leave you, nor forsake you. And if you're a non-believer, He's totally pursuing you right now. Either way, He is here. 

So if you’re hurt, broken, depressed, anxious, sick, or uncertain, hold onto God’s word that says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” Let Him rescue you (also, if you know someone who needs to be rescued, hold onto this verse, believe it, and pray for them as well). 

It’s not over. God has a beautiful plan for your life (and their life) here and in heaven. So instead of thinking or pondering on letting everything and everyone go, renew your focus on the things to come and live out this verse from Philippians 4:8 which says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Fix your eyes on Jesus. 

And I encourage you to do what 1 Peter 4:7-9 states, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering.” 

You are not alone in the fight. But do fight. Fight against our great enemy Satan with everything within you. Remember, he’s like a roaring lion and he’s a thief. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus brings life. And He’s also fighting for you. 

In addition to these verses, please reach out and call someone. Talk to someone that you can trust. Ask them to pray for you and with you. Just don’t give up. Even if you’re reading this right now, I want to tell you that this is God reaching out to you. I’m just a vessel. But He knew that you would be reading this right now. And it’s simply because He loves and cares for you so much and all that concerns you. So, press through this. 

There is also a hotline that you can call to speak to someone right now. It’s the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 and they’re open 24/7. So please pray and pick up the phone. Also, if you know someone who has committed suicide, I want you to know that my deepest sympathy and prayers go out to you and the families and friends. Truly.

Lastly, I want to tell you this…

You matter.

You are loved.

You’re worth it.

You are here to make a difference for others.

You were created on purpose and for a purpose. 

If God is for you, who can be against you. 

You are His. And He is yours. 

Jesus loves you and He died for you, so that you could have life. 

We need you to survive. 

And as I always say at the end of each one of my posts…

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye

QUESTION: Do you need prayer? If you so, you can email me directly @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you.

ALSO, my NEW 8-Week Study Guide and Video Teaching Series from my book, "IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ & Moving Forward in Your Purpose” is FINALLY available!!! Purchase here.

*Tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts, “Like” my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye), and follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/InOutwCourtnaye. Also, share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!