DaySpring

[Judy Harder]

 

When It's Best Not To Listen
To The Voice In Your Head
There are so many things I'm not good at.
And apparently I have an inner monologue determined to record each and every one of them.
There's a voice in my head that tells me I am not enough. Some days it's quiet and some days it's super shouty.

My friend Holley calls it devil static - the noise that tries to drown out the truth God is speaking into our lives and through our lives. The noise that crackles and cackles and tries to poke fun at who we are growing up into; tries to derail us out of sheer embarrassment.

And there is a much greater voice, a voice with all the rich, resonant tones of Truth so filled with love for us that unlike that devil static He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

-Devotional excerpt by Lisa-Jo from (in)courage.
Click Here to read Lisa-Jo's full devotional story and testimony.

For more hope and encouragement, visit with us at the (in)courage blog. And to receive Free Devotionals from (in)courage {and be entered into a monthly DaySpring $100 drawing}, Click Here to subscribe by e-mail.

 
 

God Rejoices In You
The Lord your God is with you...
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

God rejoices in your life.
He believes in you... watches over you...
and tenderly keeps you in His constant care.
You are valued and loved,
not only by those who know you,
but by the One who created you!

[Judy Harder]

 

Take That Brave Step
It's funny how the biggest, bravest steps in our lives often happen quietly...
When we decide that God's silent whisper is somehow louder than the sound of our heart about to beat out of our chest. When we longingly look back at our comfort zone and say, "I'm going to miss you." When we cross the ocean and burn the ships and we don't yet know what we may find.

Everyone talks about when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. But that's not the only time God parted the waters for them. On the edge of the Promised Land, they came to the Jordan river. When the priests stepped into the water then it parted. It always takes a step of faith to get to the Promised Land. Always. And if you wait until you're unafraid, you'll never cross.

Go for your Promised Land, friend.
Let nothing hold you back.
Put your feet into that water and feel the dry ground of God's goodness.
You can do this with Him-one step at a time.
"With God all things are possible."

Words of encouragement by Holley Gerth. For more hope and encouragement, visit her blog Heart to Heart with Holley. And to receive Free Devotionals from Holley, Click Here to subscribe by e-mail.

 
 

Move Forward
God is with you, for you,
behind you, and ahead of you.
And even if you lose your way for a bit,
even if you grow weary,
even if you donít know which direction to go at times,
His purposes will prevail.

So move forward in faith, woman of courage,
and know that love goes with you all the way.

Many are the plans...but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

[Judy Harder]

 

Open Doors to Community
{Flower Pins & Chocolate}
If there is one thing I know about building community, it is that to be successful, you have to have two things: an open door and someone to go through it. An open door is one in which you have provided a safe, comfortable, welcoming environment for someone to enter in to a community where they may not know anyone. Building community is a two way street to be sure, but someone needs to make the first move by creating the open door environment.

We are praying for even more women to take that important brave step by walking through the open door and meeting us in the middle where we can get to know each other!

A local community of friends is SO important, sweet dear ladies, and it can't be built when we choose to stay home instead of participating. Oh, it is so tempting to stay home sometimes, isn't it? There have been times I've set the stage for community and women were too tired or too busy to meet me in the middle. They didn't realize the divine opportunity to encourage others by their presence.

I know we are all really busy and have so much going on. But I encourage you to make real community building a priority in your life. Set aside time for it. God designed us to grow and thrive as followers of Christ in community. We need each other more than we might even realize!

Be a door opener or one who walks through the doors. Either way, you'll be a blessing to someone else and in all likelihood you'll BE blessed.

-Devotional excerpt by Melissa from (in)courage.
Click Here to read Melissa's story about building a church family in a new community.