Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

October 3, 2013
It's Time to Do Something!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I could not tear my eyes away from the television screen as the 33 miners began to emerge from the depths of what could have been their mass grave. The men had been trapped for more than two months in the collapsed Chilean copper mines nearly half a mile underground. Everything I have read or heard about the tragedy is extraordinary.

The miners survived the early days by rationing food and working together as a team. Each man was assigned a job, one of which was to maintain peace and harmony until they were rescued. The selfless mining supervisor who insisted on being the last to leave his underground prison showed the world what it really means to put others first. I was amazed at the selflessness of the rescue worker who became the initial guinea pig for the rescue capsule and then chose to stay behind – alone - while the world celebrated above.

We all know what it is like to be trapped in a pit of some kind. It is probably not a collapsed mine, but pits are all basically the same.

Our world has collapsed under the weight of fear and pain.

No one seems to care. In fact, a lot of people have written us off as a lost cause.

People are too busy to recognize or understand our hopelessness.

Darkness prevails and rescue seems impossible.

We are wounded, sick and tired.

We withdraw from the very people we love and need the most.

Civil war rages in our soul as we struggle to obey God instead of giving in to sin.

I truly believe that every day is filled with divine appointments – opportunities to rescue people who are trapped in some kind of pit. We miss the emptiness reflected in the eyes of the sales clerk, or we simply choose to ignore the homeless man begging for money so he can buy food. After all, we are in a hurry and have more important things to do. The sales clerk would probably be embarrassed if I said anything, and that homeless man would probably just use the money for drugs or alcohol.

The ringing phone is someone in need, but we don't care enough to answer. Our neighbor does not know God. But her life is a mess and we really don't want to get involved. Instead of taking action and doing what we know God wants us to do, we decide that it is enough to pray for that neighbor and leave the messy part of God's work to someone else.

I am so guilty of walking away from someone in need instead of running to them. I am in pain, too, and my pain is more important than theirs. I may not actually say those words, but I don't have to. My actions are blatant illustrations of my own egotism and self-absorption.

I do not want to be like the priest who nonchalantly strolled by the wounded and bleeding man lying on the road. I want to be like the Good Samaritan who stopped and saved the wounded man's life. I want to be "God with skin on."

One day, just as rescue workers descended into that Chilean mine, Jesus Christ will descend into this broken world and rescue us from the pit of human frailty. Until then, let's be His hands and feet. Let's love Him so much that we just have to do something about it.

Let's Pray

Father, I come to You today with a heart of praise for the way You meet every need in my life and how You constantly rescue me from the darkness. I want Your heart, Lord. I want to be Your hands and feet to the people You place in my path. Give me eyes to see their need and the courage to do something about it. Please guard my heart against pride and selfishness. I want to please and honor You alone.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

It is sometimes hard to love someone in need, but God calls us to look beyond the rough exterior and see the pain hidden there.

Read Ephesians 4:2  "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Notice the action words. What would your daily life look like if you took action and lived out this verse?

Is there someone in your life who is hurting? How can you ease their pain?

Is there someone in your life who is wounded? How can you help them heal?

Is there someone in your life who has fallen into some kind of pit? How can you help rescue them?

Make a specific plan to meet a specific need in someone's life today. Then do something about it!

More from the Girlfriends

We are living in tough times. It is easy to get so wrapped up in our own problems that we fail to see the needs of others. Today, I am issuing a challenge to all of us, girlfriends! Look around. Find someone in need and then take action. We are never more like our Father than when we love and serve someone in His name.

I would love to hear your story! How did God use you to meet a need in the life of someone? How did someone meet your need? Just shoot me an email.

Is living a balanced life an impossible dream? Join women across the world in Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and find out. Already feeling the stress of the approaching holidays? You need Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for practical steps to dealing with and managing stress. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

October 4, 2013
The Trumpet Game
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

Friend to Friend

My friend Brad has a little girl named Elizabeth. When Elizabeth was one year old, Brad and his wife taught her some sign language. For the word please, they chose to have her rub her chest. So, as Brad and Jamie taught Elizabeth to say please, they rubbed their own chests and said "please." Simple enough.

Elizabeth had a favorite toy. It's a plastic knobby toy that holds colorful rings. You know the one with the yellow pole and white base that, without the rings, loosely resembles a trumpet. (C'mon, use your imagination!) So, being the fun, creative parents that Brad and Jamie are, they would dump off the rings and playfully hold up Elizabeth's toy and make a trumpet sound.

Elizabeth loved her parent's silliness. She laughed and clapped with delight. It became a favorite game in their household.

One day, when Brad and Elizabeth were playing the trumpet game, Elizabeth excitedly grabbed the toy and handed it back to him to do it again. Brad encouraged her to say "please" and reinforced the instruction by rubbing his chest. To his surprise, Elizabeth made her way over to him and started to rub his chest instead of her own.

Did this please her daddy? You bet it did!

Even though Elizabeth mixed up the signals, she communicated with her daddy. Brad was filled with love and joy by her effort. He was pleased that she came to him. Not because she did or didn't do something right, but just because she is his daughter and he loves her. He adores her.

God adores you too. Just because you are His child. His sweet daughter. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1a).

Have you considered that perhaps God isn't longing for you to come to Him with perfect, polished prayers that have fifty-cent words and flowery language? Have you thought about the pleasure God experiences when you simply approach him just as you are, warts and all, because He loves you? He delights in your attention. He takes pleasure when you go to Him simply because you are His.

I love how the psalmist responded to God's love:

Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

(Psalm 103:1-5)

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, Thanks for this reminder of Your love for me. Thanks for seeing me as precious and special. I'm amazed by Your love. I'm overwhelmed with thankfulness that You made a way for me to know You through Jesus Christ.  Help me to come to You as I am each day...without pretenses, pride, or perfection, but simply with Your permission to just be me...because You love me.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read Zephaniah 3:17 again silently
Now read it again aloud
Now read it aloud three more times and insert your name after each 'you' –
"The LORD your God is with you (insert name here), He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you (name), He will quiet you (name) with His love, He will rejoice over you (name) with singing."Zephaniah 3:17(NIV)

More from the Girlfriends

When Brad shared this story with me, it melted my heart and blessed my soul. I hope you were moved, too. That's really what being a GiG is all about...sharing things that move us and spur us on toward our extravagant Lord! Glad we are doing life together! I'd love to hear what has moved you lately...come to my blog or my facebook page to take the conversation deeper – or to simply say, "I love being loved!"

Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. Love is a core message of faith. I know that many of you might have had to read this through tear-filled eyes because you long for this type of pure love. I pray that you will allow God to sift through the disappointments of your heart and replace your tears of pain with tears of joy because of His perfect love. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration! To order the book, go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen's website: www.gwensmith.net.

[Judy Harder]

October 7, 2013
Establishing Boundaries – Setting Priorities, Part 2
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

Friend to Friend

In my last GiG devotion, I invited you to sit by the seven pools at Wiamoku Falls in Maui. I mentioned that the seven waterfalls reminded me of my priorities and how I need to start at the top with my relationship with God for all the other areas to flow properly.

When I start at the top and allow God to fill me to the brim, His love flows down to my second priority – my husband. When that pool is full and in order, God's love spills over to my third priority, then my fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh – just like seven waterfalls that spill from one to the other all the way down a mountain of tasks I have to do every day.

Interestingly, the first seven chapters in the book of John all mentioned water. Let's look at the first chapter. John actually takes us back to another first chapter – Genesis chapter one. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

When we look at Genesis 1, where do we find Jesus? We find him "moving over the surface of the waters" (verse 2). Even in the beginning of time, Jesus had a strong connection with water.

Just as we have established the need to know Jesus Christ before we can flow in the other areas of our lives, John also establishes that we need to know Him as well.  Verses 1-18 are like an overture to a symphony of Scripture. An overture in a symphony acts as a teaser, making the listener eager to hear more of the theme music as it's played throughout the presentation. John's explanation of who Jesus is sets the tone for the entire book. The first eighteen verses of John 1 stir my heart to want to know him more.

Later in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John, we come face-to-face with Jesus at the Jordan River in Bethany. His cousin, John the Baptist, was a remarkable young preacher who drew great crowds with a message of repentance of sin and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. He baptized believers as an outward symbol of their inward confession and repentance. Even though Jesus needed neither, because He is the sinless Son of God, John baptized Him in the Jordan as an act of obedience - Jesus obeying His Father and John the Baptist obeying His Messiah. Jesus' emergence from the water signaled the beginning of His public ministry.

Baptism symbolizes identification with someone or something. Baptizing a person "in the name of" someone (Acts 8:16) indicates that the baptized person is closely bound to or has become the property of the one in whose name he was baptized.

As we sit by the first pool, considering our number one priority in life, we have to ask ourselves a few questions.

Have I identified myself with Jesus Christ?

Is my heart bound to His?

Have I given myself over to His Lordship in my life?

Oh, my precious sister, if you haven't, I pray that you will get up from the water's edge and stand under the first waterfall. Ask Jesus to save you, fill you, and use you. Let His love rain down on you, cleanse you, and make you new.

If you have not accepted Jesus as Your Lord and Savior, and would like to do that today, please pray the following:

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I confess that I'm a sinner and that sin has separated me from You. I think You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for my sin. I'm asking now that Jesus Christ reside in my heart and become the Lord of my life. Your Word promises that if I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, I will be saved. Thank You, God, for saving me and making me Your child.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

If you prayed that prayer for the first time today, I'd love to know! Please click over to my facebook page, or email me privately at Sharon@sharonjaynes.com

I hope your relationship with God is your number one priority. If not, what do you need to do to change that and make it so?

[Judy Harder]

October 8, 2013
Touching the Untouchables
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Go to the lost, confused people ... touch the untouchables. You have been treated generously, so live generously (Matthew 10:5, The Message).

Friend to Friend

The heat was brutal. My back was killing me. I was exhausted from a nearly sleepless night, and I had a pounding headache. Every muscle rebelled against the long flights and relentless van rides it had taken to arrive at this rural village in India. I longed for a relaxing, hot bath, but what I had was a bucket of cold water and a plastic cup with which to bathe.

My outer appearance certainly denied my inner attitude. I plastered what I thought must surely be a spiritual kind of smile on my face in an effort to portray the mercy and love I wanted to share. My husband and I were on a 19-day whirlwind trip to South Africa, India and Thailand to see the work our church is doing in those areas. I really wanted to think and feel the right things, but I could not seem to get past myself – a familiar struggle for me. Honestly, all I wanted to do was head back inside and take a nap. Instead, I was sitting before a crowd of over 200 people who had come to hear a message of hope.

Lepers came. Men, women and children of all ages with AIDS came, staring up at me from haunting eyes that mirrored more pain and heartache than I will ever know. A young mother who had just buried her baby wept quietly, comforted by another woman with no fingers and toes, a victim of leprosy. An older man with no feet made his way through the crowd in a crudely built cart pulled by another leper and friend.

Oh, I have been on many mission trips over the years and seen a great deal of poverty, but I had never seen more destitute and broken people or worse living conditions. Cows, chickens, sheep and goats roamed the dirty, rugged roads in front of thatched roof shacks these people called home. No water. No electricity. Sickness and hunger a natural part of their day. I cried out to the Father, "What in the world am I doing here, Lord? How can I possibly help these people?" Then I saw him.

Slowly he made his way through the crowd. The man could not walk because he had no legs. Only stubs remained where his hands had once been, but still he came, swinging his mangled body forward on arms and elbows scarred by what must have been a long battle with leprosy.

I thought surely he would stop at the edge of the crowd and rest, satisfied to have simply made it in time for the meeting, but still he came. I could not take my eyes off him as he inched his way toward me as if I had called his name. Brilliant blue eyes met mine and seemed to ask, "Will you touch me? Will you love me?" In that moment, my heart shattered, and I promptly fell in love. I saw him as he really was - one of God's precious broken lambs - loved, cherished, planned and wanted; created by God for God - just like me.

I suddenly reached out and enveloped his mangled body in a fierce hug.

I just had to.

I loved him and I had to do something about it.

As his blue eyes flashed in surprise, a childlike smile captured his face, and he hugged me right back. In that moment, my life changed.

I have been in ministry forever. I have traveled across the United States and the world, speaking for various conferences, retreats, women's events – you name it. I have directed various women's ministries and been part of many mission trips to dangerous countries. I have written books, articles and devotions about loving the unlovable and touching the untouchable, but in a moment, in the course of one hug, God dissected and scrutinized my spiritual authenticity and integrity – and found it lacking. It was not only lacking in India, but in my every day life and the ministry God has given me in the place I call home.

I had come to give hope and joy. I had come to love. I had come to love the unlovable and touch the untouchables. Instead, I had come face-to-face with my own desperate need of God's love, mercy and forgiveness in my own life. And I am not alone.

Untouchables are everywhere – crippled by sin, broken and lonely, spiritually destitute and emotionally desperate, facing a death sentence of eternal separation from God.  Others are men and women in ministry who have crashed and burned in a sea of moral failure or human indictment. Friends and family members stumble along in crudely made carts of greed and discontent. Instead of reaching out to those who so desperately need to be reminded of and to experience God's grace and mercy, we have relegated them to a place of judgment with no hope of restoration. I can assure you that no such place exists in the Kingdom or God. God is all about restoration and healing.

If we are brutally honest, there are times when we do not want to see the untouchables.  We do not want to touch them or get involved in their nasty lives. We are weary and exhausted. After all, it takes a lot of energy to wear the right mask for the right audience in the right place and at the right time. Our hearts are scarred and callused from fighting the wrong enemy. All we really want to do is slip into a numbing but deadly sleep, hoping that when we wake, someone will have cleaned up the mess so we won't have to. I have been clearly reminded that the old saying really is true. If there is no mess, there is no ministry, and if there is no ministry, there is no mess.

I pray God uses us all to look for and reach out to those who seem to be unlovable, and then ask God to use us to touch those broken people who wait, longing for hope and healing.   

Let's Pray

Father, I am so guilty of looking away when I see someone in need. Please forgive me when I am too busy or just don't care enough to reach out and care. Give me Your heart of mercy and compassion. Use me to love others in Your name.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:31-37. What two truths did God give you about touching the untouchables in your life? What one step can you take today to respond to those truths?

[Judy Harder]

October 9, 2013
Setting Priorities, Part 3
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed, (Mark 1:35, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I've been pondering my priorities this month, so I thought I'd stop and make some very practical applications. (If you missed parts one and two, please visit our archives at www.girlfriendsinGod.com). These are things that God and I had a pow-wow about over 15 years ago, and He's asking me to think about them again.

Dr. Kevin Leman, in his book, Bonders, noted, "Getting your priorities straight and sticking to them is one of the most difficult tasks in life." I heartily agree. It is difficult.

And here's something else to consider when setting priorities...they change. My priorities today are different than they were 15 years ago. My son is now a grown man. And while I love him to smacking pieces, mothering him is not in the same priority slot that it was 15 years ago. (I'm sure he would like for me to move it a little further down the list.)

So how do we do it? How do we set priorities and stick to them? Back in the 1990s there was an anti-drug campaign with the slogan, "Just say no"? I think that's a great place to start.

Sometimes it's hard to say "no." People get mad at you. They may even say they are "disappointed" in you. (That's always a ticket to a guilt trip. I'd suggest you not go there.) Setting priorities and sticking to them requires much time in prayer, asking God exactly what He wants you to do and when He wants you to do it.

One day I was talking to an overwhelmed friend via email. She told me about how her life was spinning out of control as she served on several different committees at her children's school (the bazaar, the wrapping paper fund raiser, homecoming etc.), sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, participated on the pastor search committee, carted three children from one extracurricular event to the other, etc. The previous week, she had been out of the house every single night.

"Cynthia," I wrote, "I want you to write down everything you've done over the past two months. Then take that list and go into your prayer closet and pray. Ask God to show you what items on your list someone else could have done. Yes, I know, another person may not have done it as well as you, but that's okay. Place a mark on the list by things that only you could have done."

She told me she would do this, as soon as she found the time.

Women today are too busy being busy. And much of what we do has no eternal value.

One of my dear friends, Liz Curtis Higgs, taught me to ask the following questions before saying "yes" to a new task. These were particularly helpful when I was raising my son.

Will this activity matter one week from today? One month? One year?
Is there someone who does this task better than I do, to whom I might delegate?
Does it satisfy a heart need for me or someone I love very much?
What are the ramifications if I don't do it?
What are the outcomes if I do?
Let me give you an example of how I used those questions in my life. One day a church called and asked me to speak to their women's group on "Giving the Gift of Encouragement." It was a dinner meeting, scheduled on February 4, my son's birthday.  So I had to ask myself the questions.

Will celebrating Steven's birthday at dinner matter one week from today? One month? One year? Yes, it would.
Is there someone who could plan the celebration and make him feel special and loved better than I could? No, there's not.
Does it satisfy a heart need for me to say no to the speaking engagement and celebrate his birthday instead? Yes, it does.
What are the ramifications if I don't do it? If I don't speak to the women, they will get another speaker and be blessed by her. If I don't stay home and celebrate Steven's birthday, he may think ministry is more important to me than he is.
What is the outcome if I do it? If I stay home, Steven will feel special and dearly loved.
After evaluating my priorities, I stayed home and gave the gift of encouragement to my son instead of to the women at the church. When turning down opportunities, sometimes they will swing back around at a later time. Sometimes they won't. The church didn't call back. But guess what? My son did.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, help me to get my priorities straight. Show me when to say "yes" and when to say "no." Help me to remember that "the need is not the call." Help me not feel guilty when I say "no," and confident when I say "yes."

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Jesus had priorities! Read Mark 1:35-40 to discover the following:

How did Jesus determine his priorities for the day? What was he doing in v.35?

What did his friends want Him to do? Note where He had been the day before.

What was Jesus' answer? What was His priority?

How did He know how to answer the disciples' request?

Would it have been a "good" thing for Jesus to go back and heal more people?

Why didn't He do that?

This was a real eye-opener for me. I hope you'll ponder these verses today.

Hey, let's ponder them together. Click over to my facebook page and join me by praying for our priorities. Simply leave a comment that says, "I'm praying for my priorities today!"

More from the Girlfriends

If you need a little help in the priorities department, Lysa TerKeurst and I wrote a book that might be just what you need. This is a toughie. That's why it took two of us to write it! Check out A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life on my site, and while you're there, sign up for my blog for more inspiration and encouragement.

[Judy Harder]

October 10, 2013
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11, NIV).

Friend to Friend

As a little girl, I really did have a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow. I can remember the day my mother showed me the lamb and explained that she did not have a bottle with which to feed the stray lamb. I did. I agreed to let the lamb have my bottle if I could have the lamb. I have been fascinated by the unique relationship between sheep and their shepherd ever since.

Shepherds live with their sheep, finding places for them to eat and drink, providing shelter from the storms and protection from the heat. Sheep must eat the right amount of the right kinds of grass at the right times...or they will die. If the sheep eat too little one day and too much the next day, some of the bacteria that live in the stomach of the sheep will reproduce abnormal levels, creating toxins which cause sudden death. This problem was even more complicated for the shepherds of the Bible.

The type of shepherding referred to in the Bible is not the farming of fenced pasturelands. It is nomadic grazing. The shepherd must carefully plan the path and lead the way so that the sheep have neither too little nor too much grazing and are able to get to the water hole on time. Pastures are often lost to extreme heat which means the shepherd has to scour the countryside in search of green grass. Several flocks of sheep are gathered together at night in a sheltered place so that shepherds can share the watches of the night, protecting the sheep from wild animals and thieves. Good shepherds are always willing to risk their lives to save their flocks from any harm, any enemy, and even from themselves.

Sheep are dumb, can never be left alone, and often stray, requiring the shepherd to find and rescue them. A shepherd never pushes his sheep but rather leads his sheep, going before them, making sure they are not walking into danger. The needs of sheep, compared to the needs of other animals, are greater because of their instinct to be afraid and when faced with a fearful situation, to run. Without a shepherd to care for the sheep, they will not last long.

Personally, I definitely fit the profile of a sheep. I can't count the number of times I have stubbornly stuck to my plan, foolishly thinking that it was better than His plan, only to end up in some pit somewhere, calling for help. Psalm 40:1-3 has become my life maxim – with one exception. I rarely wait patiently! Remember, I am a sheep.

Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD" (NIV).

I sometimes allow fear to drive me to a place where I am trapped by doubts and darkness...until He rescues me. I try to satisfy my hunger by eating the wrong things found in the wrong places at the wrong times. The result is always the same; my soul remains ravenous for what is good while stuffing my heart and mind with what is bad.

Like every sheep, I don't like to be pushed. Good shepherds do not push, no matter how great the temptation. A good shepherd stands in front of his sheep, gently calling their names, leading them to a place where he has already been, positioning himself between danger and his sheep. When I am tired and ready to give up, I tend to withdraw from the other sheep and even from my Shepherd. Many of us have somehow bought into the lie that they can make it on their own or that the rules, the commandments of God, do not necessarily apply to them...just those other sheep. The longer I serve God, the more I realize just how much we need each other and how much we need Him. When will I learn that I cannot do life on my own – as a sheep or as a shepherd?

A good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for his sheep, just as Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and for me. I am so glad He was willing to lay down His life for every single sheep – the cute, fluffy ones as well as the dirty, broken lambs like me. Maybe it is time for us all to stop, listen for His voice, seek His plan, and remember that we are indeed needy sheep who are called to love and lead other needy sheep to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Let's Pray

Lord, I am so thankful that You are my Shepherd and that no matter how deep the valley or dark the pit, You have gone before me and made a way. Help me understand that Your ways are higher than mine. Forgive me when I complain that the way You have made for me is harder than I want it to be. I surrender my life to you, Lord, my God and my Shepherd.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Here is a challenge for every Girlfriend in God. Read Psalm 23 once a day for one month. Record it in your journal. Let every word soak into your heart, mind and soul. When fear comes, turn to God. When you are in need, trust the Shepherd. When confusion surrounds you, trust God to make the crooked paths straight. Rejoice daily in the fact that you are His lamb and He is your Shepherd.

More from the Girlfriends

I truly believe that most of our stress in life is rooted in our refusal to trust God as our Shepherd. Escaping the Stress Trap is not just a book I wrote. It is based on Psalm 23 and is my story of learning to understand that I am His sheep and He is my Shepherd. Check it out! And join women from across the world by enrolling in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, A Balanced Life: the Impossible Dream. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

October 11, 2013
Practice Makes Progress
Gwen Smith


Today's Truth
In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.
(Psalm 119:55-57)

Friend to Friend
I'm a sporty girl – always have been. I love to power walk and keep fit. I grew up playing lots of different athletic games – from basketball to softball – but volleyball has always been my sport of choice. I just love the game. I love the quick pace, the strength and agility demands, and the team component of the matches.
           
In college, I had the opportunity to play volleyball, and now that I'm a mom I coach my daughter's team. I've been around this game for more than twenty-five years and I've spent more time on the court, on the sand, and on the grass playing and practicing than most people ever will. You'd think that after all the hours invested I'd have the game perfected by now, right? Not hardly.       
           
There are still times when I shank a pass – when it flies off my arms wildly in the wrong direction. I still have spike attempts that send the ballinto the net instead of over the net. There are still times when I miss a serve. Each mistake frustrates me. Seriously. I'm competitive and I hate to lose. I hate to make mistakes and I almost always think I should've played better than I actually did. No matter how much I've grown as a player since I first picked up a volleyball, I've come to realize that when I step on the court there will always be frustrating shanked passes that fly off my arms and there will always be opportunities for me to grow and progress in my skills. Simple as that.
           
And you know what? I've found the same to be true in my prayer life.
           
Do you remember that old saying "practice makes perfect?" Well, I think it's a bunch of beans! I recently heard a phrase that better represents the reality of growth and development: practice makes progress. Whether we're talking about our development as athletes, as students, as a wives, as employees, or simply as women of faith – specifically, as women of prayer – we are all purposed for growth until we die.
           
The truth that the apostle Paul wrote about in Romans 7 still remains: we don't do what we should do and we do what we shouldn't. Whew! I can so relate. Prayer, I'm afraid, is one of the "don't dos" for many of us. We all seem to know how important it is to trust God with our burdens, but many of us neglect this important discipline.
           
Do you ever go the phone before you go to the throne? Yeah – me too. There are times when I fail to trust God with my prayers. And though I've been faith-walking with Him a long time, there are still a million ways that I need to grow. There will always be ways for us to grow and there will always be mistakes for us to work through.
           
Our relationship with God will grow as we continually turn to Him in prayer. Similarly, our trust in God grows as our relationship with Him grows. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you," (John 15:15). Jesus counts us as his "friends". How many of us would talk to our close friends as infrequently as we talk to Jesus, our Creator and Redeemer?   
           
Of course, it's not like we can ignore the world around us and pray 24/7. Right? We are still going to go to work, have playtime, time with friends and family, but in the midst of it all, Scripture instructs us to: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you," (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Our practice of this continual praying life will increase our progress in faith and in trusting God. This can translate into prayers of thankfulness and petition during our power walks, our time in the carpool line, while we wash our laundry and our lunch breaks. We can redeem these times to thank God for and pray for our children, our careers, our futures, our marriages, our trials and our challenges. When we "do life" with God – when we exercise this spiritual discipline of continuous prayer – our faith grows. It helps us to trust Him more.
           
Jesus was the only perfect man and He turned to our Father continually. He gave thanks for food when He prayed over the loaves and fishes that became a miracle (Matthew 14:16-21), He took his sorrows to God in the garden before His massacre (Matthew 26:39), He prayed for His friends (John 17:6-19), for Himself (John 17:1-5) and for future believers (John 17:20-26). Jesus also modeled how we should pray (Luke 11:1-13), and taught about prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). If Jesus, the God of the Universe, saw prayer as such an important part of the Christian life, why do we sometimes overlook the importance of it? We need to make time to turn to Him and trust Him with our daily concerns, big and small.
           
A strong volleyball team is one that relies on each other in the game. As Christians, we have the advantage. We have God on our team. And with God on our team, we cannot fail. Seriously. If God is for us, who can stand against us? We just need to talk to Him and trust him, rather than trying to play the game of life on our own. We have to remember that practice makes progress! We will learn to trust as we practice trusting the Lord through prayer.

Let's Pray
Dear God, That You would choose to call me friend is simply amazing! Thank you that though I'm not perfect, your grace allows me to progress in faith! Please forgive me for the times when I go about my day and "do life" without You. Help me to continuously pray and to trust You with my burdens.

In Jesus's Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn

How would you rate your prayer life on a scale from 1-10?

Where would you like your prayer life to rank on that same scale?

Are you willing to do anything about it? If so, what? If not, why?

Add 10 GiG Challenge: For one week, I challenge you to add 10 minutes of prayer each day to your normal prayer routine? Will you do it? Yes? Make it public! Leave a comment/commitment on my blog or my Facebook page saying, "I'm in for plus ten!"

More from the Girlfriends
C.S. Lewis said this of prayer, "Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine." As you embark to progress in this prayer discipline, I encourage you to move from confession, to adoration, to thanksgiving and end with your petitions (personal prayer needs).

NEED SOME SOUL REST? Download Gwen's CD, Uncluttered. The songs of Uncluttered will remind your soul to breathe worship as they focus your heart on Jesus. You can download the songs from iTunes or Amazon– or order the CD on www.GwenSmith.net.

Today's GiG devotion is an excerpt from Trusting God, A Girlfriends in God Faith Adventureby Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith and Mary Southerland. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, free on-line video intros, and this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

[Judy Harder]

October 14, 2013
How Much is Enough?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: "Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God." (2 Kings 19:15-16, NIV)

Friend to Friend

Howard was rich...very rich. His father made a fortune by designing a drill bit that could drill through hard rock, allowing oil drillers to reach large pockets of oil never before accessible. His tool company held the patent for the new drill bit, manufactured the bit, and leased it to oil companies who used it.         

All through his childhood, Howard didn't do well in conventional schools, but preferred learning by tinkering with mechanical things. When his mother forbade him to buy a motorcycle, he built a motor and attached it to his bicycle. Problem solved.

When Howard was just a teenager, both parents passed away, leaving him the million dollar estate. The teen was a loner and had very few friends. At age 19, Howard married Ella Rice and moved to Hollywood where he tried his hand at movie making with great success. Then in the mid-1930's he gave up his obsession for film and delved into aviation. He bought several airplanes, hired numerous engineers and designers, and was determined to make faster, quicker, better planes. In 1944, Howard's company designed a large flying boat that could carry both people and supplies to the war in Europe. The "Spruce Goose," the largest plane ever constructed, was flown once in 1947 and then never flew again.

Howard was a billionaire when the idea of a millionaire was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. While he was very successful in the world's eyes, it was the "world's eye" that he wanted to avoid. He withdrew from human contact, moved into Las Vegas' Desert Inn Hotel, and rarely left his suite. When the hotel threatened to evict him, he bought the entire establishment, and then proceeded to buy up multiple Las Vegas establishments to extend his perimeter of control. For the next several years, not a single person laid eyes on the billionaire hermit.

Howard spent the rest of his life trying to avoid germs. His obsessive-compulsive behavior caused him lie naked in bed in darkened hotel rooms in what he considered a germ-free zone. He wore tissue boxes on his feet to protect them and never touched anything unless he was holding a paper towel.

In 1970, Howard left the hotel and travelled from one country to another. He ended up neglecting his own hygiene and living in squalid filth. He believed that germs came from the outside, but not from him self. He died in 1976 from heart failure. His 6'4" ninety-pound frame was covered in filth, his hair and beard were tangled and rancid, and his fingernails looked like claws. He had become such a hermit in his last years, no one was really sure it was him. The Treasury Department had to use fingerprints to confirm that the deceased man was indeed the billionaire, Howard Hughes.

Howard Hughes' life screams a warning to us all. The golden calves man creates; the idols man worships; the false gods of a materialistic culture, will not lead to true happiness and joy in this life. They are mere "things." It is only through a personal relationship with the Living God that you or I will experience abundant life on earth and eternal life thereafter.

Howard Hughes discovered just how ineffective the gods of people, possessions and power can be. He was one of the wealthiest men in history. He was one of the most miserable men in history. His 2.5 billion dollar estate was powerless to win the battle he faced every day.

Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10 NIV).

Abundant life. Overflowing life. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6 NIV).

And He is enough.

Let's Pray

O Living God, please forgive me for the false gods I have tucked in the recesses of my heart. I know that You are the only One who can fill my empty spaces and mend my broken places. You are El Chay, The Living God who always has been and always will be. You are the God Who hears, Who sees and Who stand ready to work Your wonders in my life.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Do you have any idols in your life?

Let me ask that a different way. Is there anything or any person that you tend to place ahead of God in your life? (I did have to go and make this practical, didn't I?)

My toes are hurting too! Leave me a comment on my facebook page and let me know what people in general tend to put above God in their lives.

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was adapted from our new Girlfriends in God book, Knowing God by Name. Throughout Scripture, God reveals His complex character by identifying Himself by different names—names that shed light on Who He is and how we should relate to Him. We invite you to join us in Knowing God by Name as we take an in-depth look at 40 different names that shed light on 40 different reasons you can trust Him, depend on Him, and know that He loves you. Click here to learn more and download a free sample chapter.

Also, if you haven't already, I'd love for you to sign up for my blog for more inspiration, encouragement, and fun give-aways. (Content does not duplicate GiG devotions.)

[Judy Harder]

October 15, 2013
When You Praise Him
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

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).

Friend to Friend

I love the story of the woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today. She did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." She did and she had a great day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "Yes!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!" Now that's what I call having a good attitude.

Attitude can transform anything and everything – thoughts, habits, and perspectives. We can literally change our lives by changing the way we think. In Isaiah 26:3 (NLT), we find the promise, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You." A mind filled with thoughts fixed on God will produce a heart filled with praise – and praise is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal.

Praise brings healing to our spirit. When we honestly express our trust in God and then choose to give thanks, healing begins. Praise provides a highway upon which the Father conveys deliverance and blessing. Praise invites God to take up residence in the midst of our messy lives and becomes a free-flowing conduit of God's very presence and power at work in us. God funnels infinite blessings into a life that praises Him. Stress and anxiety fade as peace floods the heart that is filled with praise.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts. (Psalm 68:4, ICB)

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3, NKJV)

Don't miss the life changing truth that we can enthrone God in every situation of our lives by praising Him. Praise converts our everyday surroundings into His dwelling place. It is from that throne of praise that God dispenses victory. Praise tunes us into His sovereignty and allows us to experience the reality and power of His presence.

Praise strengthens our prayer life. Prayer is not only a remarkable privilege that we often fail to recognize or understand, it is also part of our worship to God. There is the asking side of prayer when we seek forgiveness, lay needs before God, and intercede on behalf of others. Then there is the appreciating side of prayer when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is and what He has done. Our relationship with God is strengthened through prayer and praise.

Now here is my favorite truth about praise. Are you ready? Praise devastates Satan and his forces. Yes! I love it! In fact, Psalm 20:5 (NIV) promises, "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God." Satan is well aware of just how powerful praise is, and I suspect he absolutely hates it ... and that absolutely delights me! I can almost sense his fury when I choose to praise God instead of questioning Him. Satan hates it when I walk by faith, setting aside feelings and emotions while focusing on God's Word and His faithfulness in my life.

Through continual prayer, through the power of God's Word, and through faithful praise, we declare our trust in God to deliver us. Praise lifts up the shield of faith in spiritual warfare.  Praise makes a frontal attack on doubt and fear. Even in the midst of Satan's best efforts, we can find victory when we praise Him.

Let's Pray

When you can't seem to find the right words to pray – go to the Word of God and pray Scripture. Join me in a prayer of praise found in Psalm 150.

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Now It's Your Turn

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.
More from the Girlfriends

Nowhere in God's Word will you find the directive to praise God when you feel like it. I know. I have looked. Praise that is based on emotions is a shallow excuse for the praise that flows from a desperate heart. Don't wait until you understand it all to praise God. Simply give Him praise, knowing that He inhabits the praises of His children.

Need help?Praise is one of the most powerful ways to manage stress. Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and offers a step-by-step plan for stress management.

New E- Bible Study now available: What Am I Doing in This Pit? At some point in life, we will find ourselves in some kind of pit. Instead of looking for the nearest exit or frantically trying to claw our way out of the pit, we need to rest in God, discover the purpose of the pit and trust Him to deliver us. What Am I Doing in This Pit is a four-week Bible Study that will help you lead a life of victory.

Need help balancing your life? Enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, A Balanced Life: the Impossible Dream?" Enroll now and have access to all of the 2013 lessons. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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]

October 16, 2013
Do You Have any Idols in Your Life?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

For he is the living God and he endures forever, (Daniel 6:26, NIV).

Friend to Friend

In our new book, Knowing God by Name, I loved learning about the various names of God. One that tugged at my heart was the name El Chay. Let's delve into God's word and learn about this name today.

King Hezekiah introduces us to the name, El Chay in 2 Kings 19. One day he received a bad piece of mail. You know the kind. The biopsy is positive. The power bill is past due. The application is denied. The kind of mail you want to scribble "Return to Sender" across the top and pretend never came.

The letter was from Sennacherib, the King of Assyria who had crushed forty-six towns in Judah and carried off tens of thousands captive. And now, Sennacherib was coming after Jerusalem and King Hezekiah's people. And even though Hezekiah had rebuilt and fortified the city walls, produced a massive battery of weapons, and tunneled under the city to ensure their water supply would not be cut off; even though he was prepared for war, he was not foolish enough to depend on man's strength and ingenuity for victory. He called out to El Chay, the Living God, for their defense.

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it.Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.  And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: "Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.  Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

"It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God." (2 Kings 19:14-19 NIV)

Hezekiah knew the powerlessness of the lifeless pagan gods made of wood, stone, and precious metal. And he knew the unstoppable powerfulness of the Living God who created all three. So he prayed and he trusted.

That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.  (2 Kings 19:35-36 NIV)

I bet he did. He stayed put and never threatened the Living God or His people again.

When God gave the Ten Commandments, He began with "You shall have no other gods before me." And yet, all through history we see men and women worshipping false gods...depending on false gods. How silly to think that a golden calf, a wooden pole, or a stone studded ornament could be a god that protects, prospers and provides. Silly, right?

And yet, the false gods of our world are really no different than the ones of King Hezekiah's day. We are living in an idol infested world where false gods offer false security to misguided souls.

Emotional enemies such as anger, depression, worry, fear, anxiety, addictions, jealousy are just a few of the Sennacheribs that threaten to take the battering ram and charge the door of our hearts. And what are the idols or false gods that many turn to for comfort?

People. Possessions. Position. A fleet of airplanes. A bulging bank account. A prime piece of real-estate. We eat. We shop. We place children on the throne. We depend on relationships for love and security. Oh yes, idols abound in our culture.

As I mentioned in my last devotion, How Much is Enough (please see our archives if you missed it), Howard Hughes discovered just how ineffective the gods of people, possessions and power can be. He was one of the wealthiest men in history. He was one of the most miserable men in history. His 2.5 billion dollar estate was powerless to win the battle he faced every day.

Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10 NIV).

Abundant life. Overflowing life. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6 NIV).

Let me encourage you today, whatever enemies you face, be they physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual, call out to the Living God. Ask Him to drive them out and fill you up. "For he is the living God and he endures forever," (Daniel 6:26 NIV).

If you believe that today, click over to my facebookpage and say, I'm believing in the living God today!"

Let's Pray

O Living God, I pray what I have prayed before: please forgive me for the false gods I have tucked in the recesses of my heart. I know that You are the only One who can fill my empty spaces and mend my broken places. You are El Chay, The Living God who always has been and always will be. You are the God who hears, who sees, and who stands ready to work Your wonders in my life.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read King Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 19:15-19. What does his prayer reveal about  his understanding of the "living God"?

Hezekiah prayed for deliverance, but what was his ultimate hoped-for outcome?

How can his prayer be a model for your prayers?

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was adapted from our new Girlfriends in God book, Knowing God by Name.Throughout Scripture, God reveals His complex character by identifying Himself by different names—names that shed light on Who He is and how we should relate to Him. We invite you to join us in Knowing God by Name as we take an in-depth look at 40 different names that shed light on 40 different reasons you can trust Him, depend on Him, and know that He loves you. Click here to learn more and download a free sample chapter.

Also, if you haven't already, I'd love for you to sign up for my blog for more inspiration, encouragement, and fun give-aways. (Content does not duplicate GiG devotions.)