If we were to meet in person, we could each wear one of those “Hello, my name is” name tags, and my name would be scribbled in Sharpie, not nearly as nicely as I would have wished to write it. But there likely would have been a line of other ladies behind me waiting to use the Sharpie, and I would have filled out my name tag hurriedly, so as not take up too much of their time.
So if you’ll pardon my messy name tag, I’d like to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Courtnie Walton Lawrence, and I’m oh-so-pleased that you stopped by this blog. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Who am I? Well, since we are what we love, I’ll tell you just a few things that I love. I love laughing until the tears roll down my cheeks and destroy my makeup, reading in bed until my head nods forward in slumber and smacks into my beloved Kindle, and baking anything I can find that includes obscene amounts of chocolate (and eating the raw dough; I know, I know, but it’s too late to turn back now, and some things are worth the risk).
I love both decorating and decluttering. I have yet to decide what’s more fun: to give stuff away or to buy something new. Probably still the latter, just by a smidge. I do like to shop. I love Jane Austen and really anything British. I wind down by watching baking shows or Hallmark movies. I love going out to dinner with my husband and to the gym with my daughter (preferably in that order, since I then need to work off the calories).
We are also what we do, and I am most excited about studying the Bible along with other women. Most recently, I completed a six-year stint as Teaching Director for a local branch of Community Bible Study. I have always loved to write, and while earning my BA in English from Gardner-Webb University, I discovered that there is actually a name for my favorite genre of writing: Creative Nonfiction.
We all have a story to tell (many stories, most likely!), and I find such value in both sharing my stories as well as listening to the stories of others. But what I treasured most from my days as Teaching Director was being able to study Scripture with other women and then see how God could use what He has given me in writing to help us better understand and apply the truths in His Word.
We read in in 2 Timothy 1:5-7 –
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (ESV).
As I was stepping down from that position at Community Bible Study and asking God what He was calling me to do next, I read those verses in 2 Timothy. I am an introvert, and as such, it would be natural for me to give up writing or to hide it away and not let anyone else see it. But one of the most memorable encouragements I received from a friend was that in fanning into flame the gifts God gives us, we are multiplying what God has given us. In other words, we are being faithful to His call on our lives.
You may recall the parable in Matthew 25 about the man who goes on a journey and entrusts his property, or his talents, to his servants. To one, he gives five; to another, he gives two; and to another, he gives one. While he is gone, these three servants handle his talents in different ways.
The one with five talents actually uses those to produce five additional talents. The one with two talents also doubles those talents. But the one with only one talent actually buries that talent in the ground. He does nothing with it at all.
When the man returns from his journey and checks in with these servants, he is happy with the ones who have invested his talents wisely. However, he is angry with the one servant who just buried the talent he was given.
I don’t want to bury what God gives me to use for His kingdom. I want to invest it wisely. I want to spend it well. I want to be a good steward. And so begins This Glowing Ember. The imagery of an ember glowing brings to mind a fervency, an ardor, a passion for the purpose God has placed in each of our hearts, the calling He has for each of our lives. Mine just happens to be writing and studying His Word. And sharing it with you!
I want to echo Paul’s admonition us to in Romans 12:11-12 – Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
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