Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

October 25, 2012
Overcoming the Fear of Rejection
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us," - (Romans 8:37 NIV).

Friend to Friend
I can still remember when God first gave me a glimpse of what my future held. Writing, speaking, radio ministry, mentoring. A host of insecurities rose to the surface and the fear of rejection wrapped its fingers around my skinny neck. But God assured me I was not alone, and He was perfectly capable of doing everything He promised. I only needed to be obedient and say "yes" to Him.

We have only to flip through the pages of the Bible to see that overcoming the fear of rejection is a thread that runs through the record of history.

Noah overcame the fear of rejection when he obeyed God and built an Ark on dry land.
Abram overcame the fear of rejection when he left his homeland with no clear direction as to where he would go.
Jacob overcame the fear of rejection when he returned to his homeland and his brother whom he had deceived.
Joseph overcame the fear of rejection when he refused Potiphar's wife's sexual advances.
Moses overcame the fear of rejection when he went before the Pharaoh and demanded the Israelites' release.
Joshua overcame the fear of rejection when he told the army their orders were to march around Jericho in silence for seven days.
Ruth, the Moabite, overcame her fear of rejection when she gleaned wheat in the field of a Jew. 
Samuel overcame the fear of rejection when the people decided they wanted a King rather than God to be their ruler.
David overcame the fear of rejection when he offered to slay Goliath.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego overcame the fear of rejection when they refused to bow and worship King Nebuchadnezzar.
Esther overcame the fear of rejection when she went before the king to plead for the lives of her people.
Each and every one of the prophets overcame the fear of rejection as they delivered God's message of judgment to the people.
When we turn the final page of the Old Testament and look into the New Testament, we see the same pattern of courage. Jesus, his disciples, Paul, and the expanding body of believers all faced and overcame the fear of rejection. Paul's attitude was "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). It doesn't matter what anyone thinks! "If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies" (Romans 8:31, 33).

And then the ultimate rejection occurred when our Lord and Savior hung on the Roman cross. "He was despised and rejected by men" (Isaiah 53:3). But Jesus overcame the fear of rejection and the result was his glorification. He knew crucifixion was imminent. Just before He was arrested Jesus prayed with His disciples: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you," (John 17:1).  He didn't mention His rejection and death on the cross that was ahead of Him. He prayed that God would be glorified. That was foremost in His mind and on His heart. Likewise, I believe that we overcome the fear of rejection when glorifying God is foremost on our minds and in our hearts.

The apostle Paul faced rejection at every turn. In his letter to the Thessalonians he wrote:

"We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts," (1 Thessalonians 2:2-4).

Whether it is sharing the gospel or the scars of our past, there will be some who do not accept us. We certainly are not above the prophets in the Old Testament or the disciples in the New.  Not everyone liked what they had to say, but they pressed through the fear and walked in faith.  It is because of them we have the gospel at our very finger tips!

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, thank You that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. Help me not to give up when times get tough, but to persevere with endurance. I know that not everyone will like me or what I have to say about You, but I pray for the courage and the power of the Holy Spirit to speak when You lead and to keep quiet when You lead. Help me know the difference.
In Jesus' Name
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Can you think of a time when you gave up too soon?

Is there an area in your life where you might need to pick back up where you left off and get busy?

Has the fear of rejection kept you from obeying God in some area of your life?  If so, what are you going to do about it?

If you are ready to say "yes" to whatever God is calling you to do...it's time to say it out loud! Click over to my blog page and leave a comment on today's entry. Tell me what God is calling you to do and I'll pray for you as you begin!

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God– Find peace and purpose in the hurts of your past. Do you feel like God is calling you to tell your story? Are you reluctant to say "yes" to what God is calling you to do in ANY area of your life? This book can give you the courage you need to say "yes" to God. Read a sample chapter or watch a video at http://sharonjaynes.com/store/products/your-scars-are-beautiful-to-god/

[Judy Harder]

October 26, 20l2
When Love Trumps Anger
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"My dear brothers, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" - James 1:19-20 (NIV).

Friend To Friend
"I'm a terrible mom!"

Do you ever say these words? I do. I did that day. The day I was working in my office, minding my own business, when my oldest son threw a paper airplane at the back of my head.  Not one to normally welcome an air attack, I gave him the stern "mom voice," and asked him to stop messing around. I told him to give me some private time so I could get some work done. He agreed, and turned to leave. Surprisingly, he then jumped around and threw it at me again!  Well, let me tell you, my grace-o-meter was reading pretty low at this point!  I barked like an angry dog.  "What in the world do you think you are doing?  I just told you that I needed to be left alone so I can get some work done!  Stop it!"

"But Mom, there's a message on the plane," he tenderly replied. "Read it."

As I unfolded the airplane made of orange construction paper, I saw this message written in pink marker:  "Mom, I Love You." His affectionate declaration was followed by a few X's and O's. You know: hug, hug, kiss, kiss. Pure precious. Big fail.

"Nice!" I said to myself. "Loser-mom strikes again."  I had scolded my son and reacted out of frustration with an unkind tone. All the while, my son was trying to communicate love to me.

I felt horrible. Time seemed to stand still as I started to beat myself up.

Shame began to fill my heart, but as it did the Spirit of God within me gently nudged – reminding me that condemnation is not from Him ... that His conviction was purposed to spur me on toward choosing a godly response.  So I chose love - God's love alive in me.  As I chose God's better way, the grace way, His love trumped my anger.  It's weightier.  Praise God!

I called my son back into my office, and apologized for my behavior.  I welcomed this tall, lanky teen to sit on my lap and told him that – while I'm not particularly fond of airplane attacks, especially while I'm working, I am fond of love attacks.  We held each other and had a very sweet moment.

As Preston and I hugged, God reminded me of this principle: When we allow His love to trump our anger, we are able to experience restoration in relationships.

My dear brothers, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20 NIV).

The Bible tells us that we are to be slow to anger.  It is a lesson that I am still learning.  Now, that doesn't mean we should never be angry.  Jesus exhibited righteous anger in the Jerusalem temple when he drove out the merchants that were buying and selling there.  Righteous anger is permissible.  We should be angry about sin and injustice.  But when we respond to others in anger, it becomes our sin.

Got any relationships that are in need of restoration?  Is there any anger, unforgiveness, or bitterness in your heart that might be gaining a stronghold in your life and keeping you from God's best?  The benefits of allowing the love of God to trump the anger in your heart are tremendous, but the application can be very challenging.  We can't overcome our natural, sinful tendencies to react, and overreact, in anger alone.  We need God's help.  His strength will meet us at our need when we call on Him.  The Holy Spirit will help us to respond in God's strength, not our own.

Call on His strength today.

Let's Pray
Holy Father, Thank you for leading me in Your way of grace today. I need Your help!  I confess my anger/bitterness/unforgiveness right now with _______________.  Please forgive me.  Please bring restoration to the relationships that have been affected by my anger.  Help me recognize when I over-react or when I respond in anger that is ungodly.  Give me the strength to respond in love – to be slow to speak and quick to listen – so that You can be glorified through my behavior.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you need to trade anger for love? In what relationships? How?

Spend a few moments in confession and ask God to bring a fresh awareness to your soul each time you react in anger.

Are you in a Bible study? Knowing God's Word is essential to growing in faith. Join a local Bible study today, or begin reading a book of the Bible on your own. Try reading the book of James this week. It's only five chapters.

More From The Girlfriends
Friend – I'm a very passionate person.  When my kids were little, I over-reacted far too often.  And although God has been working in my heart for years on this issue, I humbly confess that anger still comes much too easy to me.  If you struggle with this, you are not alone.  Need prayer? Let's meet on my Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic to PRAY for one another today.

To be honest, there are a million times that I feel like screaming instead of praising. What a crazy mess I am! Yet, I know the best response is to trust God and choose to praise Him...in and through it all. Music really helps me. My new CD, Uncluttered is purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. We are running a great CD Special now, so swing by www.GwenSmith.net...or you can download the songs from iTunes or Amazon.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.


Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
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[Judy Harder]

October 29, 2012
Doubt Your Doubts
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Friend To Friend
Billy Graham once said, "Most of us do not understand nuclear fission, but we accept it. I don't understand television, but I accept it. I don't understand radio, but every week my voice goes out around the world, and I accept it. Why is it so easy to accept all these man-made miracles and so difficult to accept the miracles of the Bible?"

Faith is a personal issue and often demands that we give up what we can seefor what we cannot see, but just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Let me share some ways to weaken your doubts and strengthen your faith:

Read the Bible consistently.
Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

You may have heard the familiar Old Chinese saying, "There is a good dog and a bad dog fighting within each of us. The one that is going to win is the one we feed the most." The same is true when it comes to faith and doubt. We weaken our doubt by strengthening our faith in God. The Word of God feeds the new nature God gives us when we surrender our life to Him. As that new nature grows stronger, the old sinful nature becomes weaker and as that old nature becomes weaker, faith in God grows. A steady diet of the Word produces strong faith. Read the bible each day. Memorize a verse of Scripture each week.

Turn to God constantly.
Mark 9:14-29 tells of the man who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus Christ and pleads, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus responds, "If I can! All things are possible to him who believes." The dad exclaimed, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!"

Sounds just like us. We believe but we also doubt. In those moments, we must be honest enough to cry out to God. Jesus didn't punish this man for his doubt. He healed his son. God always responds to honesty.

Focus on God continually.                                                     
Psalm 34:6 "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

We focus on the mountain while crying out to God for help, wondering if He really will do anything. We need to remember what God promises and does not promise. God does not promise to remove the mountain or that we will even understand the mountain. However, God does promise to help us climb the mountain and He does promise to climb it with us. We must make the continual choice to fix our gaze on God and our glance on the circumstances. When doubt comes, refuse it.

Seek out faith-builders persistently.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

We need to look for people who will encourage us to be faithful instead of constantly looking for ways to undermine our faith. Did you hear about the farmer that had a brilliant dog? He also had a neighbor that was negative - no matter what. If it was raining, the farmer would say to his neighbor, "Boy, look at it rain. God's washing everything clean." The neighbor said, "Yeah, but if this rain keeps up, it's going to flood." Then the sun would come out and the neighbor would say, "If it keeps that up, it's going to burn the crops." The farmer thought, "What am I going to do with this guy?" He made a plan. The farmer trained his dog to walk on water. He didn't tell his neighbor - just took him duck hunting. Boom! Boom! They got two ducks. The farmer said to his dog, "Go get 'em." The dog sprinted across the water, picked up the ducks and hopped back in the boat, nothing wet, just his paws. With a confident smile, the farmer asked his doubting neighbor, "What do you think of that?" The neighbor quickly replied, "He can't swim, can he?" Do you know people like the neighbor? Run from the doubters in your life. We struggle enough with doubt on our own and should not compound it by investing time in doubters and cynics. Look for people who walk in faith, who believe God and study His Word. They will encourage and build your faith while weakening your doubts.

Women have so much in common. We have the same problems, the same fears and the same doubts. Don't let fear and doubt wreak havoc in your heart and mind. Stay in God's Word. Don't be afraid or ashamed to cry out to Him when you are afraid. Keep your eyes on Him and look for other women who do the same. Will you join me in a new commitment to becoming a woman of faith? Remember, when doubt knocks on the door, just send faith to answer it - and you will find no one there.

Let's Pray
Father God, I want to become a woman of faith, but I am so weak. I constantly battle fear and my faith seems so small. Please give me a new thirst for Your Word. I choose to focus on You, Father, instead of focusing on my circumstances. Help me find faith and learn to be a faith-builder each day. I now turn to You, Lord.
In Jesus's name I pray, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Make a list of your top five fears.
Choose one verse from today's devotion for each fear.
When that fear comes, cry out to God and pray that verse of Scripture aloud.
Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 and record it in your journal.
Share your decision to be a woman of faith with other women who have the same desire. 

[Judy Harder]

October 30, 2012
Getting out of God's Way
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"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," - (Philippians 1:6 New Living Translation).

Friend to Friend
He ironed. I watched.

I stood in the door frame of my guest room, watching my nephew Jonathan iron the wrinkles out of his crumpled shirt, the rumpled creases out of his crumpled heart. He ironed and talked. I watched and listened.

Jonathan, my twenty-seven-year-old nephew, stopped by for a visit on his way to a wedding in my hometown. I'll take every opportunity to spend time with my two nephews, Stu and Jonathan, and their sister Grace Ann. I've always been convinced that the stork dropped them off at the wrong address, missing my doorstep by 200 miles or so. I'm just crazy about them.

But life hasn't been so easy for this precious nephew, or his siblings. While they have an adoring godly mother, it has been the absence of a father that has left a lingering ache – an oozing wound. Each one has reacted differently to the abandonment, but it has been Jonathan, the youngest, who seems to have struggled the most.

I've always known that God had a special plan for Jonathan. The shaping and molding by God has been fierce, intentional, deliberate. But today he ironed.

"Aunt Sharon, can I borrow your iron to press my shirt for the wedding?"

"Sure, Bud," I replied as I pointed him to the board.

I plugged the iron in the outlet, leaned against the doorframe, and watched.

As Jonathan moved the iron back and forth across the wrinkled fabric, he ironed out much more than a shirt. He ironed out the wrinkles in his heart, pressed out the pain of life without a dad, smoothed out the hurt of abandonment, and steamed out the stubborn creases of years of questions. Why did his dad leave? Why wasn't he worth sticking around for? Why wasn't he worth the effort? Why was he more affected and infected by the virus of abandonment than his siblings?

He ironed.

He pressed.

He talked.

I watched.

I listened.

I prayed.

I loved.

"God has done so much for me and in me," he explained. "It has taken a long time, but He has healed me. He has mended my heart. I'm ready to move on now. More than my dad coming home to me, I pray that he will come home to Jesus. That's what I want more than anything."

Twenty minutes later, Jonathan finished ironing. One shirt. One heart.

You know, I could have said, "Hey, let me just iron that for you." I could have finished the job in two minutes or less. But this was not about ironing a shirt. This was about pressing out the rumpled creases in a young man's heart. I couldn't do that. Only he and God could. Jonathan needed to hold the iron of God's love and move it back-and-forth, back-and-forth, until the rumpled mess was smoothed. My job was to watch. To listen. To pray. To love.

How about you? Is there someone in your life that has a wrinkled wounded heart? Have you yanked the healing tool of God's love out of His hand and tried to iron out his or her problems yourself? Did you ever consider that you might be standing in the way of what God is trying to do? Those are hard questions. Perhaps you have thought that you could solve a problem or heal a heart quicker than waiting on God. Perhaps you've stepped in where you were never meant to step. (Speaking of stepping...I think I'm stepping on some toes. Mine are starting to hurt too.)

It's hard not to step in! Our momma's heart wants to help. We don't like to see our kids, or anyone, hurting. But just as the caterpillar has to struggle to emerge from the cocoon, a soul has to struggle in the dark places of life in order to soar. And we shouldn't mess with that.

It was such a joy to hear how Jonathan had pressed through the pain and let God iron out his questions – how God had smoothed out the bumps in the rocky road of adolescence after abandonment. He wears his mended heart well. That doesn't mean that it won't need a touch up pressing when daily life ruffles-up the fabric of his heart from time to time. But I have every confidence that he and God will iron out the wrinkles together.

And the shirt? It looked pretty good.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, forgive me for trying to fix other people's problems when they are not mine to fix. Today, I'm committing to watch, to listen, to pray, and to love. Help me not to get in Your way of what You are doing in someone else's life.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
How are your toes?

Has God convicted you that you might need to step aside and let Him do what only He can do?

Are you ready to watch, to listen, to pray and to love? If so, click over to my blog page and leave a comment.

Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to pray alone? If you'd like for me and your other GiGs to pray for someone in your life, leave the person's name on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes. Let's pray for the woman's name before us and after us.

More from the Girlfriends
If you are a mom, your kids are probably at the top of your prayer list. I know my son is always at the top of mine. Motherhood - if it were easy, it wouldn't start with something called labor. If you would like some encouragement in the most important job you will ever have, check out my book, Being a Great Mom-Raising Great Kids.Also, I have an inexpensive laminated card of Scripture to pray over your children that will fit snuggly in your Bible. You can find that on the Bookstore page as well. Just look in the drop down box in the top heading.

[Judy Harder]

October 31, 2012
The Wrestling Match
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. - (Ephesians 6:10-12, NIV)

Friend to Friend
It was the end of the school year.  The sun was blazing in the sweltering high 80s with not a hint of shade to be found on the treeless playground.  The boys were stinky from their sweaty schoolyard endeavors and the girls were now wilted versions of the fresh flowers they had been that morning.  It was almost time for the big wrestling competition.  Electric excitement lingered in the air.  I was a fifth grader at West Hempfield Elementary School in Irwin, Pennsylvania and I had signed up to participate in the wrestling match.

To this day, I'm somewhat amused and perplexed that I would've thrown myself into the middle of such a barbaric display.  Wrestling certainly wasn't my sport of choice, or even a faint interest of mine.  So, as we all gathered around the red and white striped gymnasium mats for the annual, end-of-the year wrestling tournament, I was sweating bullets...not just from the relentless, yellow ball of heat in the sky, but also from the nerves that consumed my body.

Before the match even began, I was a captive to the bully in my brain.  What do you think you are doing?  This is ridiculous!  Caroline is not only three inches taller than you, but she's meaner than you, and she's in the sixth grade!  You are going down, Gwen.  Prepare to be humiliated in front of every fourth, fifth and sixth grader in the school.

At the sound of the whistle, the match was on. Caroline and I danced around like two alley cats with their backs raised high. She had a confidence in her eye that was foreign to me at that moment. A series of unskilled and ungraceful moves followed. (Cringe with me here!) She lunged and I retreated. I lunged and she retreated. Then came contact.  Within seconds we were on our hands and knees battling for control. Battling for the win.

The sounds of the crowd were deafening as Caroline moved in to get the better of me. All I could think was, Just DON'T let her get you on your back! Feelings of hopelessness and desperation flooded my heart as she and I exchanged move for move. There were several points allotted and several restarts from Mr. Gordon's whistle.  In the midst of this primitive battle, my goal had changed from trying to win to just trying NOT to be pinned...therein lies the defeat.

As the match came to an end and the final whistle blew, it was Caroline's victorious arm that was raised high in the sky.  I was defeated in front of half the school.  Cheers went up for Caroline as I shrunk back into the sea of students, longing for super powers that would render me invisible.  I was exhausted from the match, humiliated from my failure, and defeated by both Caroline and my own mind.

That was a dark day for me as a young girl.  But as dark as that day was emotionally, I was able to clearly see my opponent.  Ladies, when it comes to spiritual wrestling matches, we do not have the advantage of sight.  The Bible says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)

Many of the battles we contend with each day are spiritual.  We can't see our enemy.  And while at first glance this may seem disarming, look again at Ephesians 6.  The Bible clearly tells us that we can be equipped to stand firm with the Armor of God!

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:13-18, NIV)

Though the wrestling match with Caroline seemed overwhelmingly daunting, the battles that I face now are so much greater.  I'm thankful that God's word clearly says the victory is ours if we are in Christ. If God is for us, who can be against us?

What are you wrestling with today?  Is the enemy speaking lies to you?  Do you feel weak?  Strength comes when we call on Jesus!  We can stand firm against the schemes of the devil when we put on the armor of God!   Suit up girls...a battle is going on all around you.   Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I thank you for being a mighty God who longs to cover my weakness with Your strength.  Please equip me for all that lies ahead today, protect me from attacks and schemes of the enemy, and help me to be strong in Your mighty power.  Cover me with Your peace, truth, faith, and salvation so I can stand firm in the battle.

I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

·         Make a list of the top struggles you are currently facing.

·         Take each struggle to the LORD and ask that He would equip you for the battle.

·         How will putting on the Armor of God will help you trust Him more? Stop by my Facebook page so we can discuss it. www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic

More from the Girlfriends
Hey friend. I hope you're suited up and ready to do battle now. If you are struggling to see how you can get from the wrestling mat to the winner's circle, be sure to get a copy of our GiG book, Trusting God: A Girlfriends in God Faith Adventure.  (Today's devotion is an excerpt from Trusting God by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith and Mary Southerland.)

Ready to Go Deeper with God? In the Old Testament, the Israelites used to head into battle lead by the singers. Worship went before them and paved the way to victory. My new CD, Uncluttered is purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. We are running a great CD Special now, so swing by www.GwenSmith.net... or you can download the songs from iTunesor Amazon.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about

[Judy Harder]

November 1, 2012
Raising Your Expectations
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10 NIV).

Friend to Friend
When I was in my early twenties, I did not have great expectations for what my marriage would be like, if I ever walked the aisle at all. My parents had a tumultuous relationship from my earliest remembrance. Cycles of heated arguments and physical violence followed by silence and passive aggression were as predictable as the seasons. The atmosphere in our home was tense. It was as if I lived on an earthquake fault line, never knowing when the "big one" was going to hit. There were many "big ones."

I became a Christian when I was fourteen and resolved that if I ever got married, it would be to a man who loved Jesus with all his heart. Through the years, I dated many Christian young men. In my young mind, most of them were not very much fun.

So I had a conversation with God that went something like this: "OK God, if I ever get married, it will be to a Christian man. I'm committed to that. I won't give a guy a second glance unless he is a man who loves You with all his heart. It is not enough for him to say that he is a Christian. I want to see it in the way he lives his life, the way he uses his words, and the way he relates to other people. I'm going to pay attention to what he laughs at, what he watches on television, and how he handles anger. I know what I'm asking here. I know what I'm getting into. I realize that I most likely won't feel very passionate about this guy. I know that my life will probably be rather dull, boring, and lackluster. But that's OK. I'm holding out for a Christian man, no matter how humdrum and ho-hum he may be. If I like him pretty well, that's enough for me."

Oh my goodness! Talk about low expectations! I'm sure God got a big kick out of my request.

Here's what happened several years after that "prayer."  When I was twenty-two, I returned to college to further my education. A young man from my hometown had a Bible study at his apartment and invited me to attend.  When I walked in, I saw a young dental student sitting cross-legged on the floor and leaning up against the wall. His dark chocolate eyes looked up at me as he said, "Hi." I melted in a puddle.

After a few weeks, Steve finally asked me out on a date. But the venue of our rendezvous confirmed what I had expected all along.

"There is a missionary from Jackson, Mississippi speaking over at Murphy Hall," he explained. "I'd like to go hear him. Would you like to go with me?"           

Well that certainly lined up with my expectations! Steve was handsome; no doubt about that. He was a Christian, that was for sure. But going to hear a missionary on our first date? He was going to be boring after all. But hey, what did I expect? (Now remember, I was young. I love missionaries! I am one! Just keeping it real.)

When he came to pick me up for our date, I wasn't quite ready. My apartment mate welcomed him and directed him to the sofa to wait. While he perused the scattered magazines on the coffee table, some of my favorite music played on the stereo. In the South, we call it beach music. It's a type of 60s R&B Motown music.

When I finally emerged from my primping, Steve looked up and asked, "Do you like that kind of music?"

"Sure do," I replied. (I must say I said it with an attitude of "and you gotta problem with that?")

"I do too," Steve said. "I have an entire collection. Do you know how to Shag (a traditional Southern dance similar to a slow version of the Swing)?

I think I heard God laugh.

"I've been dancing the Shag since I was in the fifth grade," I said.

"Let's see if we do it the same way," he said as he grabbed my hand.

For twenty minutes, we separated and came together as if we had been dancing together all our lives. He held my hand up and I spun under. He pulled me in and then rolled me out like a scroll. His shuffle kick mirrored my own.

You know what? We did go and hear the missionary on that crisp fall night in 1979. And afterwards, we went to a favorite college hangout on the Campus of UNC the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and danced until the doors closed. We had fun, and we haven't stopped having fun yet. We have grown in God's grace, and we've graced the dance floor. Steve is the mostfunnest guy I have ever known, and he loves the Lord with all his heart. And to think I actually was ready to settle for a just a nice Christian guy. God exceeded my expectations beyond all I ever could have asked or imagined.

But this isn't just about my love story with Steve. It is about my love story with Jesus. It is about yours too. And like my silly twenty-something prayer for a mediocre-but-nice husband, I fear we have lowered our expectations in our relationship with God. He longs for an intimacy with us that ushers in a deep abiding joy, but I'm afraid we've settled for simply nice.

Are you ready to raise your expectations in your relationship with Jesus? Oh sister, He got so much to show you, to tell you, to share with you. Don't settle for "just nice." Jesus is much more exciting than that!

Let's Pray
Dear Jesus, forgive me for having such low expectations in our relationship. I know that You came to give me abundant life, not a so-so life. Today, I'm raising my expectations of life to line up with Your word. I'm expecting the abundant life that  You came to give!
In Your Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Look up Zephaniah 3:17 and enjoy!

God wants you to enjoy Him today! Look for moments of sudden glory where he makes His presence known and then tell me about it. Log onto www.sharonjaynes.com; look for this post on my home page, and tell me how you experienced God TODAY!.

More from the Girlfriends
My new book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is all about raising your expectations to experience the full, abundant life that Jesus came to give. If you've settle for a ho-hum, so-so, Christian life, it is time to start enjoying the abundant life Jesus came to give. God wants you to experience His presence every day through moments of sudden glory where He makes His presence known. Ready to get started? Download a free sample chapter or watch the videos on my website!

[Judy Harder]

November 2, 2012
Be My Portion, Part 1
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." - (Lamentations 3:24, ESV)

Friend to Friend
I am a lot of things, but low maintenance is not necessarily one of them. Straight up, I am a girl with some constant cravings. Though I do try to savor life moments with gratitude, I fail all the time. Many days, I find myself looking beyond my now to my next, longing in discontent. I seek God's blessings instead of seeking God. I seek His hand instead of His heart. This frazzles my peace and messes with my joy. It tangles my heart in knots until I begin to dance through my days to the tune of, "I can't get no satisfaction!"

Why do we desire God's presents in our lives more than His presence? Does God need us to tell Him how to be God? Isn't that what we do when we stomp our feet before His throne and whine about all of the things that need fixing instead of praising Him for the strength He graciously gives us to get through? While we're certainly encouraged by Scripture to make our requests known to the Father (Philippians 4:6), the highest calling on our lives is to love God with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds (Matthew 22:37). We can do both, but we are commanded to seek God first: to look to Him as our Ultimate. Our Portion.

Asaph wrote Psalm 73 with a lot on his mind. He was flustered about all the bad people around him. He wondered why God wasn't smacking them around for being so wretched and was struggling to keep his eyes on his own life. (Sound familiar?) Then his woes turned to worship as he entered into the sanctuary of God (v17). His heart began to untangle as he remembered God's sovereignty. In Psalm 73:26, he finally landed in a good place. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

He took a deep breath and found his God-confidence.
Oh, how I can relate to that!

The Bible shows us time and time again that when we prioritize God – when we look to Him to be our Portion – we are supernaturally equipped to rest in Him. Do you remember that old hymn His Eye Is On The Sparrow? Girlfriend, God doesn't miss a trick. He knows what's going on.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today(Matthew 6:30-34, NLT).

If divine eyes rest on tiny sparrows and flowers of the fields, how much more are the needs and desires of God's children known to Him?

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Would You be my Portion today? Help me to trust Your plan and rest in Your grace – beyond what I see or feel. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn
How has God met your needs in the past?
Do you trust that He is able to meet them today?

More from the Girlfriends
Friend! If I could grab both of your hands and jump up and down with you I totally would! I am SO excited to tell you that I have a brand NEW website filled with videos, posts, songs and resources that I believe will be a deep well of encouragement to you. Please swing by to visit: www.GwenSmith.net.

[Judy Harder]

November 5, 2012
Be My Portion, Part 2
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him" - (Lamentations 3:24, ESV).

Friend to Friend
I sometimes run to God as if He's a celestial Wal-Mart purposed to satisfy my every want. Change my family. Fix my job problem, God. Do it my way! Instead of leaning in to hear the whispered will of the Lord, I selfishly shout my will, my desires and my demands. Lord, give me relief from life-pressures instead of giving me strength to endure them. When I'm desperate to fill my mega-sized heart-cart with things that I want, I rob myself of what really matters: the pursuit of God and the blessings found in Him alone.

The truth is that even those of us who are Jesus-girls, you know... good Christian women who strive each day to live for Christ... continually sin and wallow in the shallow, unsatisfying waters of discontentment. We tell God what we'd like Him to do for us so we can be happy and then expect Him to intervene in ways that suit us. We blur the lines between our wants and our needs – between our plans and God's plans.

In part one of this devotion, we were reminded to rest in God. We looked at His care of the sparrows, considered that God loves us even more than he does the birds of the air, and were challenged not to worry. Today, we focus on prioritizing God above all else. Matthew 6:33 instructs us to seek God first: to look to Him as our Ultimate. Our Portion. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

David modeled this beautifully when he called out to God in the midst of trouble and recognized Him as being enough. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living" (Psalm 142:5). In Psalm 119, the psalmist recognizes God as his portion and takes the moment of surrender a step further by tethering his satisfaction with obedience. You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have soughtyour face with all my heart; be gracious to meaccording to your promise (Psalm 119:57-58).

Life is unpredictable. There will always be days that we want to yell, C'mon, God! Throw me a bone here! I could use a little help, please! It is not a bad thing to call to God in the midst of our struggles. In fact, we should! We must! The big game changer, however, is not God's presents – but His presence. Refuge from our circumstances and contentment in the midst of them is found in the center of our surrender.

So what's the connection point between our longings and His provision? Perhaps the better question is not what but who? The late pastor and theologian Charles Spurgeon said it this way, "It is not 'The Lord is partly my portion,' nor 'The Lord is in my portion'; but He Himself makes up the sum total of my soul's inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire. The Lord is my portion. Not His grace merely, nor His love, nor His covenant, but Yahweh himself."

Once again, Spurgeon hits the nail on the head. We are distracted cravers when we expect our people, places and things to fill our hearts as only God can. God loves us so much. Why do we forget this all the time? His plan is perfect and we can trust Him. He knows our needs and desires. When we seek Him as the answer instead of for the answer, God enables us to rest in confidence that He's working on our behalf and in our best interest, to bring glory to Himself through our lives.

Set your list of wants aside today and seek God. Go before Him with a heart of worship and adoration. Get lost in His presence. Remember His mercy. Relish His grace. Love Him. Seek Him. Choose Him as your Portion.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Please be my Portion. Forgive me for the times when I seek Your blessings before I seek Your heart. You are all I need. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and consider these verses: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2a).

Spend a moment in prayer asking the LORD to increase your thirst for Him.

I co-wrote a song called "Center of Surrender" that invites God to be our Portion in a very personal way. Listen to the song on my Facebook page HEREand allow the lyric to become the prayer of your heart today.

More from the Girlfriends
Friend! If I could throw a big celebration party and invite you all to my house for brownies, I totally would! I am SO excited for you to see my brand NEW website! It is filled with videos, posts, songs and resources that I believe will be a deep well of encouragement to you. Go grab yourself a piece of chocolate and swing by to visit: www.GwenSmith.net.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers

[Judy Harder]

November 6, 2012
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
I [Jesus] came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)," (John 10:10 Amplified Bible).

Friend to Friend
C.S. Lewis says that most Christians lack "merriment."  I like that word. "Merriment." Just moving the words across my lips is fun. And I think Lewis is right. We lack merriment and we don't expect it. Many Christians look like they've been weaned on a dill pickle. My goodness, if there is anyone who should exude merriment, it is a person who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord. We, above all people, have something to be merry about!

What God desires, not from you but for you, is life to the full (John 10:10). There's nothing ho-hum about that. I read Jesus' words in John 10:10 and I am famished for glory moments of life to the full. I want to see God, to experience His presence as I live and move and have my being in Him.

John wrote, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1). He didn't simply use the word given, but lavished. Webster defines lavish this way: "given or provided with great generosity and abundance, to bestow with large generosity, profusion, a downpour." Ponder those words separately.

Lavished.
Provided with great generosity.
Abundance.
Bestow with large generosity.
Profusion.
Downpour.

Do these words reflect your expectations in your relationship with Jesus? C.S. Lewis said it well:

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."(C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (New York: HarperCollins, 1949,1976,revised 1980), 26.)

The first statement in the Shorter Catechism of Westminster Confession of 1646  states that man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Enjoy Him! To enjoy God is to glorify Him. Just as He takes delight in you, He longs for you to take delight in Him. You simply can't separate the two.

Are you enjoying God? As you live and move and have your being in Him, is there a smile on your face and a skip in your step? Do you expect the rich adventurous faith-filled life that you read about in the Bible? Do you expect to experience God's glory today? If not, perhaps you need to raise your expectations of what your relationship with Jesus can be.

Once we've tasted the sweetness of His fruit, to settle for anything less than the bountiful orchard of His blessings will always disappoint. Oh yes, there are heavy-laden branches filled with low hanging fruit just waiting to be picked. If only we would reach up high enough, raise our expectations, and pluck them from the tree.

Let's Pray
Jesus, forgive me for acting like I'm doing You a favor for following You. I know that you came to give me life to the full. Help me to stop walking around like I have life to the half-full. Today, I'm going to laugh, to smile, to enjoy being in Your presence. I am going to keep my eyes open for moments of sudden glory as You make Your presence known to me!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Today's assignment is going to be fun. As you go through your day, look in the mirror.

Are you smiling? Are you frowning?

I want you to do this at least 10 times today. No cheating. Don't smile and then look. Look first.

Then tell me what you experienced. Did you smile more? Were you more aware of your countenance?




November 7, 2012
He Took My Place
Mary Southerland


Today's Truth
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever - (Psalm 106:1, NIV).

Friend to Friend
In a few short weeks, friends and family across America will gather around beautifully decorated tables filled with warm, scrumptious food to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day. However, this day will be nothing like holidays of the past for many people.   

Lonely but committed soldiers covered in the dust of battle will patrol foreign borders, fighting for our freedom while their families back home long for word of their safety. The homeless will make their way to the nearest soup kitchen, hoping for a warm meal and a smiling face as so many celebrate this day of abundance. An empty place at the table will be a painful reminder of the loved one lost not long ago. A worried husband and dad will sit at the head of the table, wondering how he is going to tell his family that he just lost his job. The list of wounded hearts and unmet needs is endless.

We convince ourselves that life will be better when we have more money, when we find the right mate, when we get the kids raised or build the right house. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we get that promotion, when we are able to go on our dream vacation or when we retire. We keep trying to find joy, contentment and peace in lifeless places and things.

Jesus Christ is life. He is Joy and Love, and He took our place on the cross. That's why we can give thanks when it seems as if there is nothing for which to be thankful.

One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out.  Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!" The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome but said nothing.

After Sunday school, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment but still said nothing.

During the worship service, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Yes, we live in a broken world and life is filled with pain, challenges, dark times and trials, but today can still be a day of thanksgiving and praise because praise and thanksgiving have little to do with the Thanksgiving holiday and everything to do with our inner attitude toward God. It really doesn't matter how much we lose here, my friend.  I have read the Book and we win ... for all of eternity!  We just need to take the time to remember ... and give thanks.

Let's Pray
Father, we come to You today, praising You for meeting our needs this year in ways that we may or may not have understood at the time. Looking back, we see Your hand of mercy and love. We recognize Your presence and your power and we celebrate You. We celebrate the life You give us now and for all eternity. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read Psalm 68:4 and make it your prayer.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts; whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him (Psalm 68:4).

What does it mean to you when the psalmist says we are to "cast up a highway" for God to ride through the deserts in our lives?

Consider the following questions:

Are you known as a woman who praises God?
As you begin each day, take time to position your mind and heart for praise. 
Look for opportunities during the day to praise God – then voice that praise aloud. 
Begin keeping a praise journal in which you write your praises to God.

[Judy Harder]

November 8, 2012
The Day God Showed Up
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
[Jesus said] "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working"
(John 5:17 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Bob told me about a visit to Vietnam where he met with a leader of an underground Christian church. This leader, who had spent a large part of his life in prison for his faith, told Bob many stories of the growth of Christians as approximately one-million believers met in hidden huddles all around the country. "What everybody wants is to see God move," the pastor explained.

And isn't that the desire of your heart...to see God move in your life and in the lives of those you love? Jesus reminds us, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (John 5:17). Always at His work.  Always. And yet, do you expect to see it? Are you willing, along with me, to raise your expectations and anticipate seeing God's glory through His work in your life today? Are you willing to raise your expectations to experience moments of sudden glory where God makes His presence known?

I sat in a Sunday School room with a group of fellow Baby Boomers as Bob shared about his experience with this Vietnamese pastor. And at the close of the lesson, Bob opened up the floor for the class members to tell of a time when they experienced God moving in their lives.

"When I was sixteen..." one began.

"When I was twenty-seven..." another chimed in.

"Several years ago..." still another shared.

I was struck. We should have all been waving our hands and excited to begin with these words... "Yesterday God showed me..." "This morning God revealed to me..."

Why do we have to go so far back into the archives of our lives to look for that one time we recognized God moving in our lives? I dare say that we miss the glory moments that flash before us and even linger around us because we don't expect them to be there.

I want to challenge you to make a list. Get a notebook or a journal and write A Sudden Glory across the top. Then begin chronicling how God makes Himself known to you today...and tomorrow...and the next day. I am sure you will have far more to record than these few pages would allow, but I don't want you to wait another minute to get started!

David wrote:

"I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every dayI will praise you and extol your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your words to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:1-7 TNIV)

That is a party I'd like to attend! David recognized what God was doing in his own life. He listened to what God was doing in other people's lives. And then he invited all to join together and tell about the glory moments in a grand celebration. Merriment at its best. "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!" (Psalm 106107:2 TNIV).

And I would love to hear yours!

Let's Pray
Dear Father, open my eyes, my ears, my heart. Help me to see You working in my life today. Please don't let me get so involved with the busyness of life that I miss the Source of Life. I'm looking. I'm listening. I'm paying attention.
In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Today, I want you to pay attention. Look for God working in your life. Then click over to my blog pageand tell me how you saw God today.

Also, I would love to hear your most fabulous Sudden Glory God moment. There's a special place on my website to share your sudden glory moments. Enter your story on this page, and I'm going to randomly pick 10 entries and send them a butterfly like the one on the cover of A Sudden Glory to stick in your favorite house plant. So share away! You can even go back to one of your past blog comments and post it onto the Share Your Glory Moments page.

More from the Girlfriends
My new book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is all about raising your expectations to experience the full, abundant life that Jesus came to give. If you've settled for a ho-hum, so-so, Christian life, it is time to start enjoying the abundant life Jesus came to give. God wants you to experience His presence every day through moments of sudden glory where He makes His presence known. Ready to get started? Download a free sample chapter or watch the videos on my website!