Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

January 8, 2009
Set Free
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32 NIV).

Friend to Friend
For fifteen years, Leeanne was emotionally and verbally abused by her mother.  Every day she heard that she was a stupid worthless failure.  Her mother told her that she was "ugly" and "fat" and "not good enough."  "No man will ever want you," she scorned.

Leeanne grew up afraid of women and hating herself.  "Why can't I be different?" she wondered.  She believed her mother's estimation of her and lived in defeat.  Leeanne grabbed attention any way she could, and by the time she was twenty-three, she had three abortions on her medical record.  The guilt and shame of those abortions compounded her feelings of worthlessness.

But something amazing happened to Leeanne when she was twenty-four.  She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and became a new creation.  She knew that God forgave her the moment she asked -- totally and completely. However, Satan continued to remind her of the terrible mistakes of her past.  How could I have killed my children?  What would my friends think if they knew the truth? I can never let anyone know about my past.  Some things are simply unforgivable in human eyes.

Leeanne met and married a wonderful Christian man.  They began their life of ministry as he pastored a church in a small community.  God blessed them with three wonderful children, but still the shame of her past lingered.

"I felt so unworthy of my husband's love," she said.  "I felt I wasn't good enough to be his wife.  I never told him about my past.  It was a secret that weighed me down."

Leeanne went to a women's retreat and picked up one of my books, Your Scars are Beautiful to God.  For the first time, she began to heal from the wounds her mother had inflicted on her little girl heart.  She realized that is was Satan who continued to taunt her with those lies and make her feel as if they were true.  Then she did something that really made the enemy mad.  She forgave her mother.  Even though her mother had since died, she forgave her as if she were standing before her that very day. 

Leeanne imagined Jesus erasing away all her faults, especially the ones that her mother had so maliciously written on the chalkboard of her mind. "All gone," she said.  "I'm set free."

But there was one more step to Leeanne's freedom.  See, as long as she kept her past a secret, she would never be totally free.  "I prayed all day and night for the courage to tell my husband about the three abortions, and I finally did.  No one in the world knew about the abortions but me.  I had to tell my husband the secret so Satan could not use it against me any longer."

"Finally, I did it. I told him the truth. But he did not react the way I imagined he would. He held me in his arms and cried.  'I can't believe you have held on to this for so long alone,' he said." 

Leeanne went on to say...

"I am no longer shameful.  I am pure."           

"I am no longer ugly.  I am beautiful." 

"I am no longer unlovable.  I am dearly loved."

Leeanne recognized the lies.  Leeanne rejected the lies.  Leeanne replaced the lies with truth. She is now walking in the truth as a holy, chosen, dearly loved, child of God.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD,   thank You for setting me free from condemnation.  Thank you for Your grace -- receiving the gift I don't deserve, and for mercy -- not receiving the punish I do deserve.  Thank You for making me a new creation in Christ -- pure, holy, cleansed.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Is there some secret in your life that the enemy is holding over you?

Do you want to be free?

Often, an important step to freedom, after receiving God's forgiveness, is telling someone and using what you have been through to help others.  Then the enemy can't use it against you any longer.  If you don't have a trusted friend with whom to share, I would like to be that friend.  You can simply e-mail me and tell me how God has forgiven you.  You can write me directly at Sharon@sharonjaynes.com

More from the Girlfriends
Do you want to experience the freedom that Leeanne experienced in her life?  It begins with recognizing the lies and replacing them with the truth.  It's time to renew your mind and think God's thoughts rather than being held in bondage by the enemy's deceptions. If you would like help on that journey, see Sharon's new book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.   Also, if you have wounds in your life that have yet to heal, Your Scars are Beautiful to God will walk you through the steps to freedom.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 9, 2009
Crow anyone?
Marlo Peddycord Francis

I hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions.  We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends.  From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry.  We call them our "Friday Friends."  So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend", Marlo Francis.

Today's Truth
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, or criticize their faults-- unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."
Matthew 7: 1-5, The Message

Friend to Friend
It was late afternoon as I screeched into the driveway and franticly started unloading my car.  I had arrived home the night before from a week of ministry travel, and as brilliance would have it ... I planned a dinner party for my return.  You'd think that I would have planned it somewhere else other than my own home ... but no, some flicker of momentary insanity convinced me that I would arrive from Atlanta calm, completely caught up, and ready to entertain.  Would someone please slap me the next time I think something like that?     

As I slid the grocery bags across the kitchen floor and then ran for more, I decided that if I triple-timed everything from that moment forward, I would have dinner ready when the guests arrived.  Of course, that meant sacrificing some of the frivolous things off my pre-dinner "to do" list, such as using the bathroom, changing clothes, and washing the vegetables.  I could live with that!

As I unpacked, my husband Steve chose the wrong time to walk through the kitchen.

"Oh honey, would you puh-leeze help me get this stuff put away?  Everyone is going to be here and I still have a gazillion things to do.  If you would put those salad dressings in the fridge to cool before we eat, it would really help." 

Now, let me just say, Steve had just gotten off "daddy duty" with my arrival home, and his accommodating spirit had graciously allowed me the opportunity to stay out of town for six days.  He is so supportive of my ministry work, and he does everything he can to encourage what God is doing in my life.  However, the man was more than happy to pass the torch back into my motherly hands when I got home.  Still, my request was met with an understanding smile and a, "Sure, sweetie", as he turned around and headed to unpack my bounty of Newman's and Hidden Valley. What a precious husband I have, had scarcely passed through my brain when all of the sudden I felt my blood pressure rising. 

When Steve opened the door to the refrigerator, he saw the crowded door filled with bottles, jars, and containers. He sighed heavily, shook his head, and proceeded to unload the whole fridge door onto my countertop. My head began to spin around like a rabid owl.

Now hear me ladies, this is exactly the same sort of behavior I have seen in my father. My mother will ask him to stop and help her do a simple task ... and he (along with his enormous left brain) will have to stop, reorganize, label, and color code whatever the project is centered around. He just doesn't understand how Mama lets things get so... ummm ... "right-brainy". We creative types must have our outlets. You could eat off Mama's or my kitchen floor with no risk of disease ... but stay out of our fridges and sock drawers. It isn't pretty.

Steve is so much like my father, so he quietly dove right in to remedy my "right-brainy" refrigerator disorder. Observing this from the other side of the kitchen ... and knowing our guests were most likely on their way across town ... I stopped spinning my head long enough to release a low, guttural growl and said, "You're doing that thing my father does." Steve looked up at me with sticky, half-full bottles of dressing that expired 7 years ago piled in his arms and calmly, unashamedly stated, "That's because you are doing that thing your mother does."

Touché.

Score:
Steve -1
Marlo - 0

When he said it, I felt such conviction flood my spirit.  Sure, I was rushed and flustered.  Sure, there were hungry people headed across town expecting a meal I had yet to prepare.  As the world would see it, I had plenty of reasons to be impatient with this sudden display of tidiness on Steve's part.  However, not only had he willingly given so much of himself over the last six days for the good of our family; but he had done it out of genuine love and support for who I am in Christ.  I was so quick to overlook that precious gift ~ and instead, I chose to react harshly to the first thing that irritated me.  As soon as he responded, the scripture of Matthew 7 sprang from my memory.  I felt so badly for jumping on him, knowing that his intent was to do something helpful.  In the seconds that followed his reaction, we stopped and our eyes met.  I'm amazed that Steve could see mine with the honking planks protruding from my sockets; but surprisingly, he could.  We started at one another for a moment, and then we burst out laughing.  I said, "I'm so sorry!  You are right; I am just like my mother.  I love to cram bottles in the door ... I can't help it!"  We hugged, and the guests arrived within the hour.

As we sat down to our meal, I gazed across the table at Steve, realizing all over again why I love him so much.  I also thanked God that He swiftly brought the truth of His Word to my heart when harsh words were so close to the surface. He reminded me that it is easy to look at the actions of others and feel justified in judgment ... but He used that truth to point out how my actions are equally capable of prompting the same response.

As everyone cut open their piping hot potatoes and dressed their crunchy, cold salads, I quietly thanked the Lord for the salt of Scripture ... and how much better crow tastes when it's sprinkled with the Word of Truth.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the power of Your Word.  Thank You that when we hide scripture in our hearts, You bring it back to us when we need it most.  I am sorry for the times I quickly reach out to remove the smudge from someone's face ~ failing to check my own face in the mirror.  Please give me a heart that is quick to love and slow to point a finger.  Let me be a servant of grace and an ambassador of mercy.  Thank You that even when we see fall so short, You allow us to find reconciliation and even sometimes, a laugh. 

In Your name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
We all have moments of looking at the speck in someone else's eye.  Our sinful nature makes sure of that.  This week, ask the Lord to make you sensitive to those times when your reaction is to check your neighbor's eye before your own.  Often times, after examining our own faces in the mirror ... we see grace in a whole new light.  Thank God today for His patience and mercy ~ and ask Him to give you new eyes to see others more clearly, for His glory.

More From The Girlfriends
What an important message Marlo has shared today!  I will never again look at salad dressing in quite the same way!  We encourage you to read, to study and memorize Scripture so that when the time comes, it is a powerful tool, ready to be used.  Need help?  Visit the Girlfriends in God website for resources that will encourage and equip you for the journey.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 12, 2009
Swollen Imaginations
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"(We are) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

Friend To Friend
Ada had an uneventful dental visit at my husband's office -- just a routine filling.  He was surprised when she called him at home later that evening, complaining of a swollen cheek and excruciating pain. 

"Dr. Jaynes," she groaned.  "I can barely hold my head up.  My face is swollen, I can't open my mouth, and the pain is severe."

"Ada, I'm so sorry you're having trouble," Steve replied.  "I can't imagine what the problem could be.  I'll call you in some pain medicine and you come in first thing in the morning."

The following day, I was working as Steve's assistant, and was amazed at Ada's appearance when she arrived at the office.  Her eyes were half closed, she could barely walk, and her right cheek did appear quite swollen.  Ada sat down in the chair as if every movement took great effort.  She could barely open her mouth to let Steve see what the problem might be.  Finally, she did manage to open slightly.  Steve gently lifted her lip and a huge grim spread across his face.  He reached in with an instrument and removed a cotton roll from the area between her cheek and tooth... that I had forgotten to remove the previous day.

Ada's eyes popped open as she miraculously bolted upright in the chair.  "What did you do?" she exclaimed, all signs of weakness gone.  Ada was miraculously healed!

Steve grinned and held up the small piece of cotton.  "This is what was causing you so much 'pain.'"

Ada was terribly embarrassed.

Steve and I replayed the scenes from the previous day.  Before placing the filling, he put a small cotton roll between Ada's cheek and tooth to keep the area dry.  I was assisting him that day and forgot to remove the cotton roll when he had finished.  When the anesthesia wore off, Ada felt her cheek and thought it was swollen.  As the night wore on, her imagination ran rampant until she had worked herself into such a state, she could barely move with imaginary pain. She had made herself sick.  Never once did she open her mouth and look inside.  If she had, she would have seen a little white piece of cotton.

That is the power of our imagination and faulty thinking.  We can talk ourselves into believing a lie to the point that it affects our actions and our emotions and even our health. However, with close examination, we can recognize the lie and stand on the truth.

Finally, Paul writes to "take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ."  Just like the policeman who pursues and captures a criminal on the loose, we can capture those runaway thoughts and lock them away for good.  Oh, Satan will try to post bail and set them free again.  But we have the power and the authority to lock them up and throw away the key.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, Help me recognize when I've let my thoughts run away like a wild stallion.  Help me rein in worry and regret with the truth of Your Word.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit who gives me the power to take every thought captive.  Help me to cooperate with him.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
I hope today's devotion made you laugh.  To tell you the truth, sometimes we just need to laugh at ourselves.  Yes, taking every thought captive is serious business, but laughing at the way we can work ourselves up over nothing is sometimes ... well, just plain funny.

Has there ever been a time when you've just had to laugh at yourself over unnecessary worry or fretting?  If so, I'd love to hear about it! 

More From The Girlfriends
Today's comical look at how believing something that is not true can affect every aspect of our lives ... even our health ... is taken from Sharon's new book, I'm Not Good Enough and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.  To learn more about how to recognize the lies, rejects the lies, and replace the lies with truth, check out the book at www.sharonjaynes.com.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 13, 2009
Getting Good at Being You
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you." (NCV)

Friend to Friend
Beginnings are very important!  In fact, the place of origin has much to do with the quality of the journey as well as the final destination!  My journey - like yours - began in the heart and mind of God.  Before I took even one breath, God wanted, loved and planned me.  That same truth applies to you, my friend.  You are no accident!  You and I were created in response to the love of God and according to His plans. God did not "accidentally" create us and then step back in alarm and say, "Oops!  I created her.  Now what am I going to do with her?"  The plan came first.

There have been many times in my life when I doubted my worth and value.  I filled every waking moment with activity -- good things -- thinking that if I did enough good things, I would be good enough.  It didn't work.  I can never be good enough to earn the love and favor of God.  The good news is that I don't have to be!  My worth and value rest in the fact that I am chosen by God to be His very own child.  I am loved, wanted and planned by God Himself.  Wow!  God Himself supervised our formation.  We were created -- not to be a puppet -- but for an intimate relationship with God. 

Psalm 139:14-16 "I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother's body. When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old." (NCV)

When our son, Jered, was four-years-old, we enrolled him in a daycare for two mornings each week. Jered loved to play with other children and always seemed to get along with all of the other children.  I was surprised and upset when his teacher asked me to come in for a conference.  My husband said, "Honey, how bad can it be? Jered is only four!"  Jered's teacher met with a smile and a good report.  "Jered is a wonderful little boy," she began, "but there is one problem. How long has Jered known he was adopted?"  I was still clueless about that being a problem, but answered, "Since he began talking.  We have told him repeatedly how special he is and that he is a chosen baby."  She smiled and went on to explain that Jered told the other children that he was special because he was adopted.  In fact, Jered informed each child that his mom and dad had chosen him -- while their parents "got stuck" with them.

Listen, my friend, when you begin to understand and live out the eternal truth that you are loved, planned, wanted and chosen by God, His perfect plan and highest purpose will naturally unfold before you each day. Remember, in His eyes, you are special and His plan for your life is simply for you to get good at being you.

Let's Pray
Father, I want to know You and find Your plan for my life.  I choose to see myself through Your eyes of love, forgiveness and grace.  I want to be the woman You created me to be.  Thank You for loving me.  Help me to walk each day in the knowledge that I am Your child.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

Do you really believe God loves you unconditionally?   
What proof of that belief is evident in your life?   
Do you consider yourself worthy? Why or why not?   
Read Psalm 139 each day for one month.  Record the new truths that you learn, the changes in your perspective and any fresh insights in your journal.   
At the end of the month, write Psalm 139 in your own words and share it with a friend.
More From The Girlfriends
I have spent many years of my life trying to earn the favor and love of God.  I worked very hard at being the person I thought God wanted me to be instead of seeking Him to discover who He created me to be.  Rick Warren once asked, "Mary, who is going to be you if you don't be you?"  I had to stop and think about that statement for a minute, but slowly began to realize that God really does have a special plan just for me and that my highest act of obedience is to seek that plan each and every day.  Hope in the Midst of Depression is the story of my struggle to see myself as God sees me and in doing so, be set free from the darkness of judgment and condemnation.  I encourage you to visit my online store and pick up a copy.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 14, 2009
The Problem with Sight
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Friend To Friend
On July 16, 1999, John F Kennedy, Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, met their death in a watery grave in the Atlantic Ocean.  John was piloting their single engine aircraft and was only a few miles from their destination of Martha's Vineyard when something went terribly wrong

The plane left New York City en route to a family gathering in Massachusetts in the dark of night, and while crossing a thirty-mile stretch of water to make its final decent, the plane began a series of erratic maneuvers.  John's descent varied between 400 and 800 feet per minute, about seven miles from shore.  The plane began an erratic series of turns, descents and climbs.  Its final decent eventually exceeded 4700 fpm and the airplane nose-dived into the ocean.  Other pilots flying similar routes on the night of the accident reported no visual horizon while flying over the water because of haze. They couldn't see a thing. The watery grave swallowed the plane and the three passengers on board. (www.airsafe.com/events/celebs/jfk_jr.htm)

One pilot explained that John most likely experienced the "Black Hole" syndrome.  Pilots of small engine planes use the horizon as a reference point.  However, John lost visual sight of the horizon and his eyes gave the brain no clue as to which way was up and which way was down.  In this situation, if an airplane should turn slightly or nose down slightly, the body's inner ear compensates to make the pilot believe he's flying straight and level.  If for some reason the pilot makes another correction, he can make a bad decision worse. (www/cnn.com/chat/transcripts/Edmund.pinto.html)           

John was not flying under Instrument Flight Rules, but rather Visual Flight Rules.  That means that he was not trained to use the instrument panel properly, but simply learned how to fly by sight alone.  When he could not see the horizon due to hazy conditions, John became disoriented and his mind lost its sense of perspective and direction.  He had what we commonly call vertigo and the flight pattern showed all the evidence of "mind wobbling and tortured confusion." (www.airlinesafety.com/editorials/JFKJrCrash.htm  Heart Over Mind: the Death of JFK, Jr. by Eric Nolte) While John had all the instruments on board for a safe landing, he did not know how to use them.

One pilot explained John's vertigo and disorientation this way, "And here is the crux of the matter; the pilot's emotions drowned out the flight instrument's story about banking and diving at high speed, and screamed out, "No Way! It can't be!  I'm actually flying straight and level!  I know it!"

John's instruments told him that his wings were tilted (flying sideways), but he felt that he was right-side-up.  A skilled instrument flyer knows he can't rely on his feelings and has the ability to regain control of the airplane by depending on the instruments.  Instructors call this lifesaving skill "recovery from unusual attitudes."  "The real skill of instrument flying is truly depending on the instrument's readings rather than your feelings.  Recovery from 'unusual attitudes' consists of one essential belief:  your feelings cannot be trusted as the final authority on what the airplane is doing.  Your mind is the boss.  The instruments are your window on reality and you desperately need to understand the data they provide."

Friend, I hope you are tracking with me.  This isn't just about flying an airplane; this is about maneuvering through life! John had everything he needed to make a safe landing right there on the instrument panel in front of him.  He had the resources available for a safe landing, but he didn't know how to use them. John chose to rely on his feelings rather than the facts. His feelings lied.  He died.

We have the opportunity right before us to learn how to fly through the storms of life with limited visibility.  We can maneuver safely through unexpected turbulence and relational malfunctions.  God has given us the tools to avoid becoming disoriented and going into a tailspin or nose-dive.  His Word is the Truth that guides us through the inky soup of life when the horizon is nowhere in sight.  His Word is the instrument panel.  However, if we rely on our feelings we won't know which way is up and which way is down.

This new year, let's purpose to learn the instrument panel (God's Word) and stop flying by sight alone.  Then we'll have smooth take offs and safe landings, even in the turbulence of life.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You have given us everything we need for a life of godliness and truth.  Help me to walk in the light of Your truth and not to stumble around with my limited sight.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the following verses and note how living in the truth affects your life.  Give an example of each. 

Psalm 40:11   
Psalm 43:3   
John 8:32   
John 8:51   
More From The Girlfriends
Ready for some flying lessons so that you can soar? Want to learn more about the instrument panel of God's Truth that will guide you in the darkest of times?  Then you'll want to check out Sharon's new book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, to see the important role that knowing and believing the Truth plays in abundant living.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 15, 2009
Sandpaper People
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  (NIV)

Friend To Friend
We live in a world that hoards a myriad of problems. However, you will be thrilled to know that I have discovered the biggest problem of all -- people!  In my opinion, if there were fewer people, there would definitely be fewer problems.  Let's be honest!  Some people are more difficult to get along with than others; they "rub" us the wrong way! I call them "Sandpaper People". Sandpaper people come in all shapes, sizes and colors and sometimes they are us!  We try to change them, run from them, ignore them and even take a stab at fixing them. If only it were that simple. It rarely is. 

Getting along with sandpaper people requires a new point of view, seeing them as God sees them.  We cannot base love on feelings, but on God's love released by choices we make in dealing with sandpaper people. 

·         Choose love.    Ephesians 2:10 "We are God's workmanship." (NIV)

The artist came to the park every day when the light was just right, positioning his easel and paints under the same familiar shade tree.  For hours, he watched people strolling by, searching for just the right face to paint. A beggar sitting across the path caught his eye.  Thinking of God's handiwork in every human being, the artist resolved to paint the man as he imagined he could be. With the last stroke, the artist breathed a sigh of satisfaction.  It was done.  And it was some of his best work.  The artist then called the beggar over to see the painting.  "Is that me?' the beggar asked.  "That is the "you" I see!" replied the artist.  The beggar stared at the painting, and with tears in his eyes, softly spoke, "If that's the man you see in me, then that's the man I shall be!"

Sandpaper people desperately need someone who will look beyond their abrasive behavior to recognize their worth.  Sandpaper people have allowed someone or something to assign an identity to them that is false.  As a result, they live a life they were never intended to live, bound to an unhealthy self-image, having no concept of who they really are or what they can become.  Desperate to fit in, they try on different identities like trying on new clothes, wondering why none of them fit.  Sandpaper people fail to understand that their identity was established before the world began, in the heart and mind of God.  That's where we come in. 

When we make the deliberate choice to love a sandpaper person, we are inviting God to work in us and through us to bring about change; to create His image in us so we can then see His image in others. Difficult relationships find it hard to survive in an atmosphere of love because stubborn wills yield to love as the worth of a soul is recognized and valued. 

·         Choose encouragement.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Encourage one another." (MIV)

If you want to disarm a sandpaper person, become their cheerleader!  By focusing on their good points, your perspective of that person will change. Other people's perspective of that person will change and even that person's own perspective will change.

In second grade, my son, Jered, had a classmate, Kyle, who qualified as a first class sandpaper person.  One Monday morning, Kyle came to school with both arms in a cast from wrist to elbow.  The teacher explained that Kyle would need a friend to help him do class work, eat lunch, go to the restroom, and in short, be his personal slave for eight weeks. 

In the silent, tension-filled classroom, it seemed as if everyone was holding their breath, hoping Kyle would somehow disappear.  He didn't.  Disappointment clouded the teacher's face until Jered said, "I'll do it, Miss Chism."  A sigh of relief erupted as everyone stared at Jered in gratitude, unable to understand why he would link himself to this abrasive kid, but clearly glad he had.

Over the next few weeks, Jered discovered that Kyle wasn't so bad after all.  In fact, they became friends. Then Kyle's behavior began to change. The other children, watching this unlikely friendship unfold, surmised that if Jered liked the sandpaper boy, there must be something worth liking.  After eight weeks, the class of now-wiser children included Kyle in every activity.  When the casts came off, so did the old sandpaper person.  All he needed was a cheerleader.  Maybe that's all your sandpaper person needs. 

·         Choose thankfulness.  Philippians 4: 6b "Always be thankful, for this is God's will."  (NIV)

Choosing to be thankful for sandpaper people is one of the most important choices we can make, as well as one of the most difficult choices we must make to bring any measure of health to the relationship. Thankfulness is a foreign language to sandpaper people, their native tongue criticism and displeasure.  The last thing any sandpaper person expects to encounter is an attitude of thankfulness. Yet, it is the first step God commands us to take. 

Right now, begin thanking God for allowing you to experience pain at the hand of a sandpaper person.  Praise Him for the shattered dreams and crushed hopes that have come as the result of a difficult relationship.  Trust Him to take what the enemy meant for bad and use it for good in your life.  If you want to experience victory in your most difficult relationships, thank God for each and every one. 

Sandpaper people are not only a reality of life, but opportunities from the heart of God.  God uses difficult relationships in my life as catalysts through which He lovingly upsets my comfortable plans and purposefully redirects my safe and sound steps. Every relationship, difficult or easy, is wrapped in God's love, faithfully delivered with His permission and wrapped in His plan.  The world is watching, as is every sandpaper person in our lives, pushing every limit to see how we will respond.  It is through these difficult relationships that we grow and mature in Christ.  The rough edges fall away as we welcome the lessons sandpaper people bring.

Let's Pray
Father, ________________ is driving me crazy!  I know I am supposed to love her like You love her, but it is just so hard.  I have tried changing her, ignoring her and even tried to fix her.  Nothing has worked.  Today, I ask You to love her through me, Lord.  Give me the right heart attitude to encourage her as I thank You for allowing her presence in my life.  Help me to love as You love me. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What name came to mind when I first mentioned a "sandpaper person." Why?

What has been your response to this difficult person? Did it work?  Why or why not?

Find one good thing in the life of this abrasive person and voice it -- today!

Write a note of encouragement to your sandpaper person.

Right now, mentally cut any strings attached to your actions toward your sandpaper person.  Choose to love freely.  Choose to love like God loves you.

More From The Girlfriends
I know what you are thinking.  "Mary, you have no idea what you are asking me to do.  It is impossible to love the sandpaper person in my life."  First, I am not doing the asking.  God is.  Second, it is impossible to love the unlovable on your own.  God will supply the love you need to love that difficult person in your life.  Just ask.  Need some help?  Check out my book, Sandpaper People, for practical ways to love the difficult people in your life.  It is also available on CD and as a MP3 download.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 16, 2009

The Undertow of Fear
Lisa Whittle

I hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions.  We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends.  From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry.  We call them our "Friday Friends."  So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend", Lisa Whittle.

Today's Truth
"But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3 (NLT)

Friend To Friend
The beach is one of my favorite places on earth to be. I don't like the sand so much, especially now with three small children and all they can do with it, but I love the water. I love to hear its mighty roar as it crashes onto shore. I love to watch my children play in it, laughing and splashing while they try to "outrun" the waves.

Several years ago, my husband, Scott, and I took Graham, our only child at the time, to the beach for a few days. He was excited to get there and play, and I was anxious to rest my eight-months-pregnant feet on the soft sand while my husband and child got some daddy-son time. I had only watched them for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep in my brightly-colored beach chair. I didn't see the events of the next few minutes, but my husband remembers them quite vividly.

The beach we were visiting was right on an intercostals water way. The enormous cargo boats would pass by at a certain point everyday. And for a two-year-old child, the "great big boat" was possibly the neatest thing he had ever seen in his young life. Graham was ecstatic. "Wook, Daddy!" he said. "See the big boat?  My husband smiled as he replied, "Yes, buddy. I see it."  He was thrilled to share the moment with his awestruck son.

Scott soon noticed that the undertow was starting to pull them out a little farther than he felt comfortable going. The power of the big boat had made quite an impact on the ocean water. While Graham continued to play, my husband became afraid.

"Let's go back in, closer to Mommy, okay?" His anxiety was intensifying, as the subtle tug of water got stronger. As a young naïve child, Graham was oblivious. Soon Daddy's words became commanding. Come on, big guy. It's time to go in now. "Hold on to me, and I'll carry you back to the shore".  Graham then wrapped his arms around my husband's neck.  He was holding on to his daddy, and his daddy was holding on to him. Nothing or no one could have come between them.

Life is unpredictable, and dangers loom closer than we sometimes think. Undertows can sweep our feet from under us without warning. But our God is ready, willing, and able to scoop us up into His arms, His mighty arms, and carry us to a place of shelter, safety and ultimate security. He is our source, the only One we need, to rid us of all our deep anxieties and concerns.  We must rely on Him, and Him alone, to save us.

I learned a verse when I was a young child: "But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you." It started out as just one of my weekly verses my mother made me memorize to get a star on my "good behavior chart." But over the years, Psalm 56:3 came to mean so much more.

As a child, I would recall this verse whenever I was scared of the dark or had a bad dream. I said it when I heard a noise or if I imagined a "bad guy" in my room. It helped me go back to sleep feeling less afraid. With years of life now under my belt and young children of my own, I am still quoting this verse. Gone are the days of the boogeyman under the bed, but I still get scared. I get scared about my health. I get scared for my children. I get scared about what tomorrow holds. And when I do, I recite those eleven precious and inspired words that seem as though they were written just for me. They help me not to be so afraid when the darkness comes.

When you are facing your fear, whatever it is, God is asking you to hold on to Him. He in turn will hold on to you. And nothing and no one will ever come between you.

(*Excerpt taken from "The Seven Hardest Things God Asks a Woman to Do")

Let's Pray 
Oh Lord, help me know You are near during those times I am afraid.  I pray that I will trust You when life sweeps me up in its undertow and threatens to harm me.  May I learn to place my life in Your capable and strong hands. 

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 
1)      Submit yourself to the scrutiny of the Lord and ask him to show you the areas of your life that are controlled by fear. 

2)      Write them down and pray over each one, claiming the victory in your life by the power of God over every area.   

More From The Girlfriends
Trust is a big issue for most women.  Whether or not we have been taken advantage of, stepped on, betrayed or belittled, we have a difficult time making ourselves completely vulnerable with others.  We need to take inventory of our soul and make sure we truly believe that God can be trusted with our life.  In order to overcome our fears, we must be willing to relinquish control over the areas that concern us.

For more on this topic, see...

The 7 Hardest Things God Asks a Woman to Do by Kathie Reimer and Lisa Whittle (Shepherd Press, 2007)
Behind Those Eyes: What's Really Going on inside the Souls of Women by Lisa Whittle (Thomas Nelson, 2008)

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 19, 2009
Taming the Evil Yes Monster
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." Luke 10:38-39 (NIV)

Friend To Friend
Have you ever bitten off more than you could chew?  Have you ever said, "Sure, I'll be glad to do that!" when you should have said, "I'm sorry, but I can't commit to that right now?" Has an over-loaded schedule ever added stress to you, your family, or your relationships? I would think you've answered, "yes" to each of the previous questions.  I know I did.

Each New Year, we have the opportunity to reflect on our lives and make positive adjustments. Two areas I constantly evaluate are my calendar and commitments. Trust me, I'm not the boundary queen. I won't even pretend to have all the answers about this topic, because I don't. I bow to the evil "yes monster" more than I care to admit.  I'm in the trenches with you, constantly struggling to find a healthy balance between faith, family, friends, fashion, and ministry.  (Okay, fashion doesn't really belong on that list, though it's terribly fun, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention!) J

Jesus had some friends named Mary and Martha.  Martha was a busy girl who allowed her to-do list to keep her from worship.  Mary just wanted to be with Jesus.

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

This year, let's choose what's better! It's so important that we establish healthy boundaries in our lives to keep us from being too busy to sit at the Lord's feet. Over the years, I've been forced to grow in the area of setting boundaries in order to bless and preserve my faith, family, friendships and ministry. In an article called Setting Boundaries, Dr. Richard J. Krejcir wrote, "A boundary is a fence to ward of potential problems and to protect those in its guardianship."

What does that look like in real life?  How can we possibly spend time with the Lord, keep our homes clean, run errands, go to meetings, serve on committees, change diapers, shower, find missing teddy bears, take Johnny to little league, run Sally to dance practice, and have a hot, healthy dinner on the table by six o'clock? I'm sure it will look different for each of us, but there's one basic parameter that applies across the board, whether you are married, divorced, single, or widowed, or with or without children: make time for God.

Jesus said that the highest call on your life is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Keep the main thing the main thing! Nothing should replace your personal time with God. Set aside time each day for Bible study, prayer, and worship.  Jesus tells us that we must remain in Him. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

And one additional thought: protect your passions.  What do you love to do? Is there time in your life for it?  Make it a priority.  Allow yourself time to refuel and relax by scheduling fun time.  Whether it's taking a hike in the woods, playing the piano, having lunch with a girlfriend, reading a book, or bargain shopping, keep your heart fed with fun.  You'll be a better you for it!

Once you've established faith boundaries that prioritize and protect your time with Jesus, you can freely say "yes" to the opportunities that are in line with your passion and interests. You can also say "no" to the yes monster that tries to rob you of God's best and to dilute your focus.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times when I clutter my life with busyness and fail to put You first.  Help me to discern what is best for my schedule according to Your perfect will, and equip me with the wisdom and courage to make any changes that are needed. I love You and long to know you more with all my heart, mind, and soul.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you relate more with Mary or Martha?

Are you saying yes to too many things? Protect you and your family from the evil yes monster. Take a few moments to consider if any of your activities could be eliminated.

More From The Girlfriends
Friend, don't be discouraged if your calendar seems off-the-charts crazy.  I know what that's like. This devotion wasn't written to condemn, only to challenge. Let's choose the best together and clear a space everyday to sit and worship at the feet of Jesus. "Through All Generations" is a CD filled with ancient hymns and modern worship songs that was designed to lead you to the transforming presence of God. Order your copy today.

Gwen Smith is a worship artist, songwriter, speaker, and author. You can listen to her music on her My Space.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 20, 2009
Broken Mirrors
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"As [a man] thinks within himself, so he is."  Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

Friend To Friend
Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to believe the lies about who we are rather than God's truth?  Maybe you're not sure what God's truth is?  And where do those lies come from?  Well, it all began in the Garden.

After the sixth day of creation, when God looked at all He made, He pronounced, "It is good."  But something went terribly wrong.  The enemy crept into God's perfect world and deceived His image bearers with lies.  And while God's redemptive plan has restored what the serpent destroyed, the enemy continues to tell us lies even today.  He tells us that we are worthless, powerless, failures who are not good enough, smart enough, or competent enough to succeed.  And it is not the truth. 

When God created the world and stocked the seas with marine life and the skies with winged creatures - when He ignited the stars in the night sky and placed the sun to light the day and the moon to illumine the darkness - He did so with words.  "And God said ... and it came to be" (Genesis 1:3-26).  God spoke and what was not became what is.  "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33:6)

Amazingly, when God created man in His own image, He gave us that same powerful tool.  He didn't entrust words to monkeys, zebras, or elephants.  He gave words to man.  Our words also have creative potential.  In fact, the Bible tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Proverbs 18:21 (NASB) Our words become the mirror in which others see themselves.  Our words impact children, husbands, friends, and the world.  But some of the most powerful words we speak are the ones that no one hears ... the words we speak to ourselves.

We can speak life to ourselves and we can speak death to ourselves.  Our minds think about 130 words per minute and our mouths (women) speak about 25,000 words in a day.  That's a lot of words!  A considerable amount of those words are spoken or thought to ourselves.  Most of this self-talk is harmless, such as what will I fix for dinner? or where did I put my hairbrush?  But some are very destructive.

Saying, "I'm so stupid," "I'm such an idiot," or "I'm never going to be good enough," can create habitual destructive thought patterns that can paralyze a person into inactivity.  Negative self-perceptions repeated over a period will brand themselves into our minds and eventually become our reality. If you repeat an unbelief or lie enough times, you begin to believe it.  "Nobody loves me," "I don't have any friends," or "I'm so ugly" becomes your reality ... even though it is a false reality.  You can become stuck in the house of mirrors looking at a distorted reflection of who you really are. 

The negative destructive lies of the enemy are like a tar baby.  The more you play with it, toy with it, embrace it, the more you get stuck to it.  Each time we speak a lie about ourselves, we become more bound to it.  "As [a man] thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)

When we look into God's mirror, His incredible love letter to us we call the Bible, we discover the truth. God does love you (Colossians 3:12) You have an entire cloud of witnesses cheering for you (Hebrews 12:1). You are God's masterpiece ... a work of beautiful art (Ephesians 2:10).  You are good enough because Christ lives in you (John 14:20).  You are a chosen, holy, dearly loved child of God. That's the truth.  Let's start seeing ourselves as God sees us.

In one of John's letters, he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4).  I believe that God has no greater joy than to know that His children are walking in the truth.   When we are walking in the truth, the lies are exposed.  We can recognize the lie, reject the lie, and replace the lie with truth.  Then, and only then, can we be all that God has created us to be and do all that God has created us to do.  We can experience the abundant life that He planned all along.

I believe that God has great plans for us all – His Word promises that He does. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).  But many of us are not experiencing the abundant life because we don't know who we are.  We have believed the lies that we are not good enough, unloved, unworthy, and unforgivable.  We have been looking in distorted mirrors for far too long.  God wants us to look into the only true mirror that will tell us exactly who we are, what we have, and where we are as a child of God – His Word.  It is the key to living the victorious Christian life.

It is time to start believing the truth.  It is time to hear God say, "You are my daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I have believed the lies of the enemy way too long.  This year, I am going to purpose to renew my mind with the truth of Your Word and begin seeing myself as You see me ...Your chosen, holy, and dearly loved child.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you believed the lies of the enemy rather than God's truth?

Do you see yourself as God sees you?

Look up the following verses to discover just a glimpse of who you are as a child of God.

Romans 5:1

1 Corinthians 2:16

Colossians 3:12

2 Peter 1:4

More From The Girlfriends
Are you ready to begin seeing yourself as God sees you?  Are you ready to begin living the abundant life that God planned all along?  Well, let's grab hands and begin the journey of walking in the truth together.  Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, will open your eyes to the truth and set you free from the lies.  Just visit www.sharonjaynes.com and begin the amazing journey.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

January 21, 2009
Climbing Out of the Pit, Part 1
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

Friend To Friend
Children are wonderfully different!  When our son, Jered, was nine months old, he began to pull up on every piece of furniture that would hold his stocky little frame.  For weeks, he maneuvered his way around our home, until one day, he took his first step ... alone!  Now, it was a step of only inches but we celebrated as if he had run a marathon!  Then there is our daughter, Danna, who crawled when she was four months old, before she could even sit up.  We assumed she would be walking within a matter of weeks.  Danna had a different plan.  She never pulled up on a single piece of furniture.  She never took a step, but one day, when she was ten months old, she simply stood up and trotted across the room.  Jered and Danna both walk extremely well today as teenagers, but they both began with tiny steps and with a plan uniquely their own.

Nobody becomes depressed overnight.  Nobody overcomes it overnight.  The journey out of the pit of depression is a process of steps uniquely planned by your Father.  He is the Guide for your journey out of the darkness.

Step One:  Wait for God.
In Psalm 40:1, David writes, "I waited patiently for the LORD."  I had always thought of waiting as passive and even wasteful.  But I began to see that waiting is active and can be a powerful spiritual experience.

To wait means to accept the pit.

Picture yourself falling into a slimy pit.  Your first reaction, like mine, would probably be to frantically claw and struggle, fighting your way out!  Then, when you have used up all energy, you stop struggling and sit down to rest, waiting for help because that is all you can do.  You have no other options.  When hard times come, we immediately begin to beg and bargain for rescue - for a way of escape.  God loves us too much to waste our pain.  It is a shallow love that always rescues easily.  It is a depthless love that always rescues quickly. Sometimes our Father says wait.  So be patient, accept your pit, and know that He is at work. 

To wait means to admit that there is a problem.
We can be so proud and so self-sufficient at times. Admitting that we are helpless and must wait on God is sometimes hard.  In reality, we can learn to celebrate our helplessness.  We can grow to the place of rejoicing in our weakness because our weakness and helplessness are an invitation for the power of God to take up residence and display itself in our life!  Isaiah tells us that "He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak."  (Isaiah 50:29 NLT)

Instead of hiding or trying to rationalize the darkness away, we must be willing to admit that we are struggling with depression. Pride always hinders authenticity.  Emotional health begins at the point of emotional integrity, when we can be truthful enough to say to ourselves and to others "I need help!"  We cannot be right until we choose to be real.

To wait means to practice authenticity. 
When I first began to battle depression, my husband was the pastor/teacher of a large, very visible and fast growing church.  Dan and I had a choice to make.  We could choose to be transparent and real or we could attempt to hide my struggle.  We chose transparency and began to share our pain with the team that God had assembled around us. We then took an even bigger risk by sharing my struggle with the entire church.   

We quickly discovered that the sharing of the crisis lessened its grip on our lives.  The response to our transparency and willingness to share our pain with those who had known great pain themselves was overwhelming!  People began to pray.  Cards, letters and Scripture verses came pouring through the mail.  Women would show up at the front door with meals.  At times, others came to clean my house, do my laundry and entertain my children.  Deacons would station themselves at various places in the church building during any worship service that I attended.  If I got "caught" in a difficult situation, all I had to do was turn and nod to them.  They would come, take me by the arm and walk me to my car with a hug and instructions to go home, assuring me that they loved me and were praying for me.

We were created to share our burdens with each other.  Isaiah 35:3-4 is a clear directive!  "Strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those who are afraid, 'Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.'"  We need each other.  A shared load is a lighter load.  Transparency brings healing and authenticity yields restoration!

To wait means to practice solitude.
In the pit, it is so dark that we cannot see.  All we can do is wait, trust and rest.  In the midst of my depression, I began to discover that darkness is a great place for solitude. Distractions are few. When the Light comes, it is easier to see and the silence makes His voice clear and strong!

Psalm 46:10 advises, "Be still and know that I am God."  We cannot know God on the run.  Solitude lets our souls catch up.  In the jungles of Africa, a tourist was taking a safari.  He hired natives from a tribe to carry all of the necessary supplies.  On the first day, they walked rapidly and went far.  The tourist was excited because he wanted to get there quickly.  On the second morning, the tourist woke early, ready to go, but the natives refused to move.  They just sat and rested.  When the tourist questioned them, he was told that they had gone too fast the first day.  Now they were waiting for their souls to catch up!

Stress, hurry, and intense activity can cause us to lose our perspective, to disconnect from ourselves and our purpose in life.  The busier we are, the more we need regular solitude.  I love the Greek motto that says:  "You will break the bow if you keep it always bent."  I broke! One of the main reasons that I broke was that solitude had never been a part of my life.  I was too busy being spiritual.  I was too busy trying to earn God's love and approval and running from the past.  I was too busy trying to be good enough. 

During my two years in the pit of depression, I gave up every role of leadership in order to spend time in solitude, seeking God.  It felt as if I were giving up my whole identity because so much of who I was had been built upon what I did.  Many times, I walked to the front door of our church, stopped and had to turn away in panic.  I just could not make myself go in.  As I struggled with the guilt and self-condemnation of my frailty, the Father taught me an important truth that has revolutionized my life!  He is more concerned with who I am than what I do!  He loves me - warts and all!  If I never do another thing in the Kingdom, He still loves me.  His love for me is not affected by what I do or don't do.  He simply loves me!  That life-changing truth was born out of darkness - in solitude.

The first step out of the pit is to wait.  While we wait we must admit there is a problem, accept the pit, practice transparency and embrace solitude.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You -- weak, tired and broken.  I admit my great need for You, Lord, and choose to rest in You rather than struggle against You.  By faith, I accept the darkness as an opportunity to wait at Your feet, listening for Your voice alone.  Change me, Lord.  Teach me Your ways. Strip away what is not of You and let stand what is. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Not It's Your Turn
·         Set aside 15 minutes every day this week to spend in solitude with God.  Record your thoughts, prayers and needs.  Be brutally honest and transparent as you write.  Then spend a few moments celebrating the fact that His love covers it all. 

·         Why is it so hard to accept the dark times in life?

·         What is keeping me from being transparent? 

·         Would my family and friends describe me as "authentic"? 

·         Am I afraid of solitude?  Why?

More From The Girlfriends
Did you know studies indicate that January 24 is the day when more people are depressed than at any other time of the year?  Family members and holiday guests have gone home, and their visit was not what you had hoped it would be.  Perhaps no one came and you were alone.  The credit card bills from Christmas are starting to come in.  You may have just lost your job and are facing a year of financial uncertainty.  The pit of depression and darkness is filled with paralyzing fear and unanswered questions.  Where do we turn?  Who can deliver us from that pit?  God can, my friend.  For more help, visit my website to find the MP3 download or CD, Coming Out of the Dark or check out my book, Hope in the Midst of Depression.

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
www.girlfriendsingod.com