• My Story
  • Passion and Purpose
  • Our Ministry
  • Messages

Life Women

~ doing life together

Life Women

Blog Archives

Image

hold nothing back

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Tags

christian living, christian women, expensive perfume, God, Jesus, living faith, living for God, perfume

Today’s guest post is by a wonderful woman of God, Deena Smeltzer.pastors_edit2

Tony & I passed the pastor baton of Living Faith Church to Deena and her husband Steven in November 2012. They are doing an awesome job taking Living Faith to the next level and reaching into the community. You can check out the church at: Living Faith Church

I know Deena’s article will bless you!

Hold Nothing Back By: Deena Smeltzer

One of the most expensive perfumes in our world today is Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes by Baccarat: selling at $6,800.00 an ounce.

perfumeThe Baccarat crystal pyramid bottle contains a perfume of which the main ingredients are frankincense and myrrh.

If I owned this perfume I most likely would use it very sparingly, and probably only on special occasions; I wouldn’t want to “waste” it. However, I’d like to think I would have no hesitation in pouring it on Jesus’ head should I have the opportunity.

I like to believe that I would pour it all out and hold nothing back, just as He did for me, but would I? Would you?

Ladies of Living Faith get together for what we call “Women of Substance”. Together we search God’s Word to see what it says to us regarding being determined, influential women. We know that substance is what we have, what we possess. It also means who we are and what we are made of. Recently we studied a woman who poured costly perfume on Jesus and a widow who gave two small coins; two seemingly very different accounts, and yet oh so relevant to one another.

In Matthew 26 the word precious describes the perfume, and it meant very valuable.  It says she poured it on His head; she didn’t just dribble a little bit, she poured it! You could say she held nothing back!

In Mark chapter 14 the oil was extremely expensive, costly. We learn even more about its value by the rest of what is said. It could be sold for three hundred pence: one of these Roman coins was equal to ten donkeys which was valued at one day’s labor.

This perfume was worth ten donkeys times three hundred! So this perfume she poured on Jesus was valued at approximately one year’s labor. The disciples considered it a waste. Yet the act of love she displayed was so valuable to Jesus that He said wherever the gospel is preached throughout the entire world she would be spoken of.

Jesus observed a woman giving an offering in Mark 12: 41-44. It says He observed how the people cast money into the treasury. A poor widow threw in two mites; studies say this valued at the fourth part of a donkey. We see here that the amount she put in was much less than the perfume was valued at, and yet Jesus said it was much more than all the rich people had put in combined. How could that be? Jesus said they cast in of their excess, or that which was left over; but the widow gave her entire life’s value, all that she had. We could say she held nothing back.

One woman had something of great monetary value, one did not. Yet we see that Jesus esteemed them both as priceless. What is it that we esteem as valuable and precious? What is it that we have that we can pour out for Jesus?

In Acts 3, Peter declares he didn’t have any silver or gold to give a lame man begging for money. Peter extended something to him that was much more valuable. Peter took him by the hand, lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Are we willing to give the most valuable possession we own, or the very last cent we have? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and extend our hand to someone that can’t stand on their own two feet? Jesus, in Matthew 28 told us to go and baptize, or we could say drench all people in the Name, the nature and character of God. Selfless giving, holding nothing back is exactly how we do just that.

Jesus purchased us with His own blood, He held nothing back. Being set apart as His possession is to be completely at His disposal. Are we willing to pour out our very essence for Jesus? All for Jesus, we freely give. All for Jesus, we freely live.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Maria Costadini | Filed under guest posts

≈ 2 Comments

Image

hey! wait a minute

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

Tags

allergies, christian living, circumstances, five senses, healing, Jesus, storms of life, victory, walk by faith, word of God

Spring finally came after our first winter in Nashville. I was driving with the windows down enjoying the beautiful day. While stopped at a traffic light I took a deep breath only to be greeted by the horrific smell of freshly cut grass. Yes, I said horrific!

Some people love the smell of fresh cut grass; for me it brings back the worst childhood memories. Suddenly I was back in the fifth grade sitting on the grass at school watching giant red welts take over my body, and itching for the rest of the day. Then sneezing uncontrollably all the way home with no Kleenex to wipe my nose, snot flying everywhere using my new pancho for a Kleenex. I was a vision of loveliness!

IMG_1618

“Hey! Wait aaaa minute”; interrupting this trip down memory lane, I reminded myself the Lord healed me of allergies over eighteen years ago (sometimes it’s good to interrupt yourself). Immediately I started praising God for healing me.

So what happened? Something I smelt (the freshly cut grass) and saw (stuff floating in the air) triggered my memory back to the days of allergy attacks. I got caught off guard through my senses.

Thoughts come at you contrary to what the Word says. Maybe what you are seeing is so in your face you can’t see anything else, the circumstances may be screaming at you “you’re not going to make it”; no matter, it’s our job to bring those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:3-5), and to walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7) and not by what we see, hear, feel, smell or taste.

Memories or circumstances can trigger your senses and pull you out of the faith realm. Following your senses will only cause you to keep your eyes on the circumstances and not the promises of God. Which is exactly what the enemy wants, to keep the battle in the sense realm; victory will never come on that battlefield.

At that moment I had a choice, I could fall into the trap of my senses or I could continue to thank God for what He has already done for me. I chose right; I sneezed once and said, “I will have none of that devil, the Lord healed me and that is the end of it! I am not dwelling on this any longer”. I don’t care what the mold spore or pollen count is, I don’t care that I am seeing huge floating things in the air, and I don’t care that the news is saying this is the worst allergy season ever… I am healed and I will not be subject to what I see, smell, and hear.

Several weeks later I was driving down the Highway; up ahead was a storm coming towards me fast and furious. Within two minutes I was in the thick of it; rain coming down like a solid wall. I couldn’t see two feet in front of the car. I didn’t panic; I heard the Lord say, “keep your eyes fixed on your lane”. The Lord gave me a point of reference. About three minutes later I passed through it.

274

The enemy will try to come at you with all he can; he tries to create fear through circumstances. He tries to get your eyes off of the Lord and His Word, which is our point of reference. He wants you to focus on the storm. But if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, fixed on His promises, fixed on His Word you will come through the storm. Even if the storm seems to take forever to pass, your job is to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith (Heb 12:2 NASB). It will pass!

A few more scriptures:

2 Cor 4:18 NIV “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen”

Isaiah 43: 2 NASB “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you”.

Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him”.

I would love to hear your thoughts! 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Maria Costadini | Filed under spiritual

≈ 2 Comments

Image

stand still~ part two

02 Sunday Jun 2013

Tags

armor of God, christian living, christian women, christianity, praise, rejoice, spiritual authority, thanksgiving

Last week I left you with two statements:

~Standing is not passive but active  

~Standing is a position of rest and trust

These are absolutely true statements, yet the words rest and active seem to contradict one another. Is rest an activity? Well… if you live in the Costadini household it is!

Rest is a place of trust; we can rest knowing that the promises of God are true. Trusting in Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, which has provided our every need. So we rest, we cease from striving, knowing that it was a gift and we can never earn it by our works.

Hebrews 4:11 says we are to “labor to enter into that rest”. It might be a fight getting there but when you are there, you rest, you trust, you have a peace.

believeWhen we get to that place where we’ve done all;                                              we are now simply required to stand.

What does standing still activity look like?

~Put on the armor of God– Never stand unarmed

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God. Why? So we can resist and stand our ground against the enemy.

~Count His faithfulness

Do you remember the Psalmist (Psalm 77) I wrote about last week, the one questioning the Lord? In verse 10 he comes to the conclusion he was lacking God’s help because of his grief. He quickly gets over it and says: “I shall remember the deeds of the Lord”; and for the rest of the psalm he meditates, he remembers God’s goodness, and the Lord working in the life of the Israelites.

Sarah did this as well; in Hebrews 11 the writer tells us that she “judged (counted, considered) Him faithful who had promised”. Sarah knew the faithfulness of God. While standing you must count His faithfulness. What has He done in your life?

~Rejoice

James tells us to count it all joy in the trial. The joy of the Lord gives you the strength to continue to stand. So start rejoicing!

PraiseHimSea.lg_~Praise & Thanksgiving

God inhabits the praises of His people; your praises release God’s glory, His power in your life. Thanksgiving is the attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for what He has done and is going to do in your life.

~Confess the Word

Hebrews tells us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised IS Faithful”. Make the Word of God the final authority in your life. Keep speaking God’s Word; He is faithful to bring it to pass.

~Fix your eyes on Jesus

He is the author & finisher of your faith. Isaiah tells us that those who keep their minds stayed on the Lord will be kept in perfect peace. Be immoveable!

~Pray in the Spirit

Jude says: “build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”

~Enforce Your Authoritystory

Jesus tells us in Luke “Behold I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy”. Be bold!

 

 

 

~Determine to live by the Word, faith and love

Faith in God’s Word will only work by love. Walking in love must be a way of life in order for you to resist the enemy.

When we stand well in the trial we are ensured rest, peace, strength, joy and ultimately victory.

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

I would love to hear how you stand in a trial.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Maria Costadini | Filed under spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Image

directionally challenged

14 Tuesday May 2013

Tags

christian living, christian women, directions, God's Word, lost, map, psalm 119

A few weeks ago while driving home from an area I thought I knew; I found myself going in the completely opposite direction. Nashville has a unique Interstate system to say the least; and if you aren’t paying attention you can get lost in a heartbeat.

My thinking was, I got to my destination with help, I know the way back, I don’t need navigation, let’s just go. Well go I did, and 20 minutes out I realized I was headed for images-6Memphis, TN and miles from a place where I could correct my situation.

When I finally got back on the right route; the Lord spoke to me….”being directionally challenged cost you”.  Yes, Lord it did… it cost me precious time and resource (gasoline/money).

Where did I go wrong?

My first mistake: “I thought I knew”.  How many times we think we know God’s Word and His will for our lives and we end up miles off course. This is how Eve was deceived in the garden… she thought she knew God’s Word, the devil came in with a little twist and there they were on the outskirts of paradise. It cost them.

My second mistake: I didn’t bother to pull over and consult my navigation. It was right there…. waiting for me to ask directions. Which is something I don’t usually have a problem with… not sure what happened there.  Maybe I was embarrassed or still full of pride thinking I knew where to go; a few reasons why we fail to get help when needed; and it costs.

The solutions to my mistakes are obvious: know the specific directions and allow yourself to be helped. In other words: don’t think you know it all and don’t be so proud that you’re ashamed to get help.

When we have these attitudes it will cost us, not only in the spiritual realm but in the natural as well. What’s the solution? Know His Word; know His specific direction for your life, and ask for His help along the way, especially if you get off course.

In Psalm 119 we can read about the “Excellencies of the Word of God”. Yes, it is the longest chapter in the Bible, but really worth the read specifically in the Message Version.

The Psalm opens with: “You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set”.

Here’s a few more snippets:

Vs 9-16: “How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word”.  “Don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted”.

Vs 17-24: “I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions”

images-3Vs 25-32: “Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner”.

 Vs 33-40: “Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway”!

Vs 97-104: “I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions”

Vs 105: “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path”

Directionally challenged? Try the map of God’s Word. Get started by:

~Placing great value on the Word of God-it’s treasures will keep you on the right road

~Knowing God’s Word-it will guide you and show you the steps to take for every situation

~Walking in God’s Word-great reward comes with obedience to His Word; His Word gives life

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Maria Costadini | Filed under spiritual

≈ 2 Comments

Image

the interest with pinterest

07 Tuesday May 2013

Tags

craft ideas, party ideas, pinterest, recipes

There’s another social media craze called: Pinterest; as if our world needed another form of social media. Of course some of you reading this already know all about it. But I’m sure there are a few of you who have no idea what I am talking about. No worries, I was like that about a year or so ago. I first learned about Pinterest from my daughters, as with all of the other social media…. I needed their help with navigation.

In the beginning I resisted; I needed another time sucker like I needed a hole in my head. But the more I thought about the concept the more interesting it became. I want to share with you a few reasons why I think Pinterest is so cool.

~Pinterest is like a dream board

Every success guru, Christian or not suggests having a dream board in order to achieve success. The idea behind a dream board is to have it before your eyes. I fully believe that is a Biblical concept. You must see it with the “eyes of faith” before it becomes a reality in your life. The Lord told Habbakuk to write the vision and make it plain so he could run with it”. Proverbs 29:18 tells us: “where there is no vision the people perish”. The Lord encourages us to have a vision and to write it down so it is kept before our eyes.

This is exactly what Pinterest is: an online dream board, a place where you can dream. You can make different boards and fill them with endless possibilities. I have a home décor board, one for fashion, for places I want to go, one for home designs, one for outdoor living and several others.

~Pinterest is like scrapbooking with no mess

With Pinterest there is no mess, no cutting, no pasting; it’s cheaper because you don’t have to buy magazines. All you have to do is click on a picture you like to pin it to your board.

One day I stumbled across some scrapbooks I made when I was first married; my oldest daughter Ariana was intrigued by them. After showing her, my books filled with cut out pictures from magazines of fashion, jewelry, dream homes, home décor and garden ideas. She said: “Mom that’s what Pinterest is!” I suddenly understood the concept after seeing my antiquated form of Pinterest.

~Find & store useful information, craft ideas, and party ideas

My mother was the queen of junk drawers filled with craft how-to’s and party ideas. Now you can get rid of that junk drawer, by storing all those ideas in one place.

Pinterest is the “in place” for brides to find wedding ideas. What’s so cool is most of this stuff is DIY (do it yourself) which always cuts down on expenses.

My daughter Rachel found a great idea for making an earring display, her cost: under $10. IMG_1373

~Find & store recipes

I love to collect recipes; which poses two problems. First, I rarely make them because I am either too busy or watching my weight. Secondly, where do I store them? I have dozens of manila folders filled with ripped out recipes from magazines. Not to mention all the cookbooks I have purchased. “Where are they now?”…..in a box in storage.

With Pinterest you pin the recipes that look incredible and when you need them, there they are right on your computer, ipad or smart phone. I just set up my laptop in the kitchen to follow the instructions.

Here are two recipes I found on Pinterest and tried them….YUMMY!

Spaghettini with Spinach, Garlic & Lemon Pinned to Pinterest from: weekofmenues.blogspot.compasta with spinach

Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Knock your Socks off Brownie Bars Pinned to Pinterest from: betchacanteatjustone.wordpress.com6555bc7504b8763e6c57d2832bc8953c

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted by Maria Costadini | Filed under fun & random, recipes

≈ 2 Comments

Maria Costadini

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow me on:

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

My Fav Blogs

  • Faith Mama
  • Tony Costadini Ministries

Social Media

  • Life Women Facebook page

Stay Connected

  • Join Our Mailing List!

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Categories

  • fun & random
  • guest posts
  • marriage
  • proverbs 31 woman
  • recipes
  • spiritual

Archives

  • RSS - Posts

Blogs I Follow

  • Tony Costadini Ministries
  • The Nourished Life
  • The Mark Gungor Show
  • lifewithmisty
  • Messenger International
  • Keira Lennox
  • Betchacanteatjustone's Blog
  • cookiesandcups.com
  • Mangia Bene Mama
  • Faith Mama

Blog at WordPress.com.

Tony Costadini Ministries

Impacting lives with the power of God

The Nourished Life

doing life together

The Mark Gungor Show

doing life together

lifewithmisty

Inspire~Uplift~Encourage

Messenger International

doing life together

Keira Lennox

a real-life style & beauty blog.

Betchacanteatjustone's Blog

sweet treats from Katie's kitchen!

cookiesandcups.com

Mangia Bene Mama

doing life together

Faith Mama

doing life together

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
    %d bloggers like this: