Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

December 4, 2013
Long Walk Part of Gift
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him' (Matthew 2:1, NIV).

Friend to Friend

An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day.

"The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought to the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty.

"Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.

"Why...why, it's gorgeous...wonderful, but you shouldn't have gone all that way to get a gift for me."

His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift."

I just love that story. During this holiday season, I watch as people scurry about swiping those plastic cards through the credit card machines faster than a speeding bullet. And yet, God has already shown us that the most precious gifts cannot be bought or sold.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 niv).

The magi also knew about the joy of giving. While they gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child, they also gave another gift...a long walk. We don't know how far the magi traveled, but we do know that it was a distance that took months, perhaps years. Their long walk was part of the gift.

I wonder how far we are willing to go to worship Jesus...to bring our gifts to Him. I wonder how far out of the way we would go to praise Him...to honor Him. Do we give to Him only when it is convenient or easy? Or do we give what He wants most—our very lives.

I think the little African boy had the right idea. The real gift wasn't the shell; it was the sacrifice he had to make to give it.

Let's Pray

Dear God, thank You for the gift You gave us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray that I will keep gift giving in perspective this holiday season and give gifts from the heart rather than the pocketbook. Help me to see that a "long walk," or a portion of myself, is the greatest gift of all.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn

Describe a time when someone's sacrificial gift meant a lot to you.

Describe the feeling you had when you gave a portion of yourself, such as your time, to someone?

Try to imagine the teacher who received the shell. What thoughts do you think came to her mind when she looked at it year after year? Do you think it was the shell itself, or the heart of the boy who gave it to her, that meant so much?

Now, imagine how God looks at our gifts we give to Him? Do you think He reflects on the gifts themselves or the heart of the child who gives it?

More from the Girlfriends:

It is easy to get caught up in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity and lose focus on what's important. If you would like ways to keep Jesus the focus of your holiday season, you'll love my book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas: Ideas from A-Z.  It's packed with helpful ideas and inspiration. Also, I'm giving out lots of helpful and inspirational ideas over at my blog page, www.sharonjaynes.com. Come on by for a visit!

And what better to give your hubby that the gift of prayer. My book Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer is now available. Click on the title to watch a video or read a sample chapter.

[Judy Harder]

December 5, 2013
Gifts That Matter
Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you (Luke 6:38, NLT).

Friend to Friend

Have you discovered the truth that we simply cannot "out-give" God? The more we give, the more we receive. And that truth does not just apply to financial giving. It is really all about the attitude behind the gift. Do you remember the Christmas gifts you received last year? How about the Christmas gifts you gave? What about the gift you gave Jesus? In my last devotions, we talked about several meaningful gifts you can give. Here are a few more for you to consider.

A gift of care

Christmas is a painful time of empty hopes and fierce loneliness for many people. Every loss is magnified. Every wound is deepened. Pray that the Father will give you His eyes to see the broken lambs, crying out for help. This year, do something real for someone who is hurting:

·         Invite them over for a meal.

·         Meet one need in their life.

·         Include them in your family celebration.

·         Take them shopping with you.

Christmas is always hard for me because it is a time when I especially miss my mother who died many years ago. I don't openly broadcast that fact, but one Christmas, a precious older lady at our church somehow sensed that I was struggling and decided to meet a need in my life. Cards filled my mailbox. Every time I saw her, Miss Marion would hug me and tell me how much she loved me. She invited our children over to bake Christmas cookies and in doing so, became their adopted grandmother. Miss Marion died a few years ago, but her loving care and investment in my life lives on.

A secret gift

Give a gift to someone you know in secret. Dan and I had been married for three years when we first discovered the joy that a "secret gift" can bring. Dan was in seminary, I was teaching elementary school, and we were both serving at a local church. It seemed as if we were always running, always tired, and always broke. At one point, the financial picture was especially bleak. We had ten days of life to go before the next payday - and not a cent to our name. We told no one but God -- and waited. One Sunday night, we pulled up to the mobile home where we were living. In front of the door to our home was a small but heavy package wrapped in brown paper. It was a brick. Taped to each side of the brick was a hundred dollar bill. God had provided for our needs through a truly generous heart, someone who had chosen to give a secret gift. To this day, we still have no idea who "bricked" us, but we often think of them and ask God to bless them for their secret gift.

A gift of forgiveness   

The Christmas holidays have a way of resurrecting past hurts. The greatest gift we can give ourselves for Christmas is the gift of forgiveness, because in choosing to forgive someone else, we set ourselves free. Every 60 seconds of anger displaces 60 seconds of joy. Let go of the hurts. Forgive the wrongs and find healing.

Dan sold one of our old cars to a man who worked in the church maintenance department. A payment plan was created, the title was transferred, and the man drove away, never to pay a cent. For months, I was furious, thinking of the man who had stolen our car. To make matters worse, the man then left the church to work at the grocery store -- my grocery store. Every time I bought groceries, he was there and he was smiling. Just the sight of him drove my blood pressure higher as my stomach knotted up with anger. Dan finally decided to give him the car. I decided not to give him the car until I realized that I was the only person being hurt in the deal. The next time I bought groceries, I walked up to the man and said, "I hope you like the car. Dan and I have decided to just give it to you as a gift." I walked away, a free woman, while he stood, open-mouthed and in shock, now holding his own guilt in his hands.

A gift of teaching   

What skill, ability or talent has God given you? Each one is from His hand - to be given away in service to others. Is there a young believer in your life you can mentor? What better time to share your gifts and abilities than at Christmas? You may be able to sew or play the piano, cook gourmet meals or beautifully decorate your home. Each talent and ability is a potential gift. In high school, my choral director gave me a free voice lesson each week. Consequently, I attended college on an academic and music scholarship because one woman chose to share her gift with me.

Get creative! Give a gift from the heart this year. And may this be a Christmas filled with the joy of the Lord as you celebrate His birth and life.   

Let's Pray

May God grant you the light in Christmas which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth and the all of Christmas, which is Christ.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Grab your Christmas list and set aside some time to pray for each person on that list this week. Do you need to rethink some of the gifts you are giving this year? It is not too late! Ask God how you can best honor His birth by the gifts you give to others.

More from the Girlfriends

No matter what your circumstances may be, you can celebrate the Christmas holidays because God is with you, girlfriend.

[Judy Harder]

December 6, 2013
A Love That Breathes, Bridges, and Brings Beauty
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:19, NIV)

Friend to Friend

The story of Christmas is familiar. Many of us can recite verses and sing choruses that recap the holy day without so much as a second thought. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt – so I wonder. I wonder and I search my heart.

When I sit and search, long enough to listen to God's still small voice, I grapple with the familiar and I groan for the fresh... and I wonder. Have I shopped, cleaned and baked away the season without being consumed by a fresh and compelling awe of my Savior? Have I decorated my home, but failed to focus my heart that is overflowing with arrogant, commercialized earthly distractions?

The story of Christmas – the story of the birth of Jesus – is the story of life, of hope, of freedom. The beautiful and mysterious intersection of humanity's depravity and Divinity's provision. A complex invasion of darkness by light. By love. By a love that breathes and bridges and brings beauty.

A LOVE THAT BREATHES

In the beginning, Love breathed life into the made-from-dust lungs of Adam. Life-giving love. The perfect and complete love of a holy, triune, eternal God who spoke words and created new galaxies – new wonders – new worshipers. All was made so that He might be glorified. We, however, made in His image, are different from all other creation in that we are made to know Him. Personally. To know Love. True, pure, white-as-snow love.

Then, stains of rebellion brought separation. Rebellion of God's plan – of His spoken word, of His will. Our wants and desires rose to rule – our own wills were done instead of God's: in the Garden... in my life... in yours.

Rebellion demands death (Romans 3:23); an eternal chasm separating man from God. Dark. Painful. Full of sting.

But God.

His love pursues with purifying power. This Love that came from heaven to earth, purposed to speak life to death through the incarnate Grace that was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a humble manger – in spite of our rebellion.

A LOVE THAT BRIDGES

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18

A LOVE THAT BRINGS BEAUTY

Jesus came upon the no-vacancy scene in Bethlehem to annihilate death – so that we, who are hopeless without Him, could experience love, forgiveness and freedom. Full life. Abundant life. Beauty-from-ashes life.

Childhood gave way to manhood, and at the age of thirty, Jesus Christ made his love mission known.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:14-21

The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus. The story of captives being set free, of the blind gaining sight and of our stains of rebellion being washed white in his blood. The story of Christmas is the story of life.

Today, as we move and meander in the mundane, I pray that you would join me in being gripped by a fresh and compelling awe for this perfect Love that breathes, bridges and brings beauty to our brokenness. 

Let's Pray

Holy LORD, incarnate Grace, You are beyond amazing! My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for Your love. Help me to live in responsive awareness of Your grace.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Have you paused to spend time with God one-on-one yet today? This week? Prioritize prayer. Spend time in personal worship. Just you and Him. Then click to my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic) and allow the songs that I've posted today lead you in further adoration and praise!

More from the Girlfriends

Are you struggling to trust that God's love can bring beauty to your life?Learn how God wants to bring you beyond your past heart-wounds and your present challenges to His wholeness, strength and beauty. Broken into Beautiful is a book filled with stories – real stories ... gritty and honest, not cleaned up and phony. It's also filled with Scripture that will inspire you toward the life-changing grace of Jesus. To order the book, go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen's website.

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
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[Judy Harder]

December 9, 2013
The Women of Christmas
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1, NIV).

Friend to Friend

When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so's, they usually listened men's names. It was very uncommon to see a woman's name, even though there were a few.

But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand-new way. Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one we see four women in addition to Mary in the list! For that time in history, that was quite radical!

Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick? I'd probably include Mrs. Noah. She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah's wild ideas.

Or perhaps I'd pick Mrs. Moses. Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the desert for all those years. And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.

Or perhaps I'd pick Sarah. After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.

But no. Those are not the women God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He chose Rahab, who had been a prostitute before she was embraced into the Israelites' fold.

He chose Tamar, who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law.

He chose Bathsheba, who had an adulterous affair with King David.

And He chose Ruth, who was a woman from a cursed nation.

Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women God chose to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Through these women we see that there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory.

His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable. That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me. That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that You choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise. I am one of those "weak things" and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory. Praise You, Lord.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Over the next few days, go back and read the stories of the women listed in Jesus' genealogy and see what you can learn about their lives.

Rahab: Joshua 2

Tamar: Genesis 38:1-30

Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11

Ruth: The entire book.

What do their stories tell you about the people that God can use for His glory?

More from the Girlfriends

This is not your typical fluffy Christmas message—but it is why Jesus came: to save the lost, heal the sick, and use the redeemed. If you would like to learn more about God's transforming power, check out my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Pain of your Past.  And for more ways to keep Jesus the focus of the holiday season, see my book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas: Ideas from A- And just in time to start the New Year off right, my book Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer is now available. Click on the title to watch a video or read a sample chapter.

[Judy Harder]

December 10, 2013
Ho! Ho! Ho! Help!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told (Luke 2:16-20, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Are you ready for the holidays? For some people, that question spurs exciting thoughts of beautifully decorated tables filled with scrumptious meals, festive shopping trips, extended family time, brightly wrapped gifts under a tree ... the "Walton" kind of holiday. For others, the holiday season is a very difficult and dark time that is to be endured rather than enjoyed.

According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress-related causes each week. During the holiday season, another one million people battle what experts refer to as the "holiday blues." I am very familiar with depression and the pain it holds and must constantly battle to stay out of that pit. 

Depression is an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual disorder. Something is out of balance. We have buried some pain instead of confronting it or we have misplaced our trust and sought help from impotent sources. In order to deal with depression, we must first come to a place of total and complete surrender to God and His plan of healing, even if we cannot see or do not understand that plan. The bottom line of God's heart toward His children is always restoration and healing.   

While I am not a big fan of television, I do enjoy watching a few select home improvement shows. On a recent program, an interior decorator and homeowner were discussing a list of changes that needed to be made in order to update the home. "First, we have to do something about those windows," the decorator announced. I was surprised that she had listed this task first – until I saw the house. The existing glass was not only an ugly shade of gold, but it was thick and chunky as well. The windows let in no light and made it virtually impossible to see in or out. The result was a dark, isolated home. The distressed homeowner protested, "But I like my privacy. And if I thought anyone could see in, I would feel totally exposed." When it comes to dealing with depression, many people feel the same way. 

We construct walls over which no one can climb because the cost of friendship is too high. We fill the windows of our soul with emotional excuses in order to avoid dealing with pain. The result is darkness, loneliness and missed opportunities for restoration. We don't want to understand depression or find the treasures of that darkness; we simply want to be rid of it.

Many people try to understand and deal with depression on a surface level – refusing to face painful experiences, difficult relationships and, in general, the broken places where darkness lives. We look for the nearest exit, hoping to bypass transparency because the price is just too much to pay.

Emotional integrity is an essential step to recognizing, understanding and dealing with depression. We must be real before we can be right, and until we are willing to risk being transparent, we can neither understand nor effectively deal with depression during the holidays or any other time of the year.   

The holidays seem to tug at the masks we carefully hold in place or push the emotional buttons we desperately try to hide. The arrival of certain family members can resurrect painful issues that have never really been resolved. Financial pressure opens up like a sinkhole, waiting to steal our joy and destroy our peace. Schedules demand every ounce of energy, and false expectations leave us empty and hollow. The dark, slimy pit waits for us to fall in. It is not supposed to be that way, girlfriend!

Make this Christmas season a time of praise. Choose to focus on the victories and joys you have experienced during the year, and then find ways to share that victory and joy with others. Christmas can be a true celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings if we choose to focus on a tiny baby born in a manger, come to save us and give us true life. The darkness can be destroyed if we choose to face and deal with whatever it holds.

Right now, choose an attitude of joy by focusing your mind on the things of heaven – not earth, and by fixing your heart on Jesus Christ. 

Let's Pray

Father, I want this holiday season to one that is filled with light instead of darkness. Please help me discard my emotional masks and be real before You as well as with my family and friends. Give me the courage to be obedient to You in every holiday setting. Give me eyes to see those You bring into my life that need my encouragement because they are on the same journey. Father, prepare and enable me to make this holiday season an offering of praise to You. 

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read Luke 2:1-16. Answer the following questions after reading the Christmas story.

What was the attitude of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem?
How did the shepherds react to the news of Jesus' birth? What did they do?
How would you describe the emotions and thoughts of Mary?
How can your choice to "ponder" the miracles of Jesus' birth change your perspective of the holidays?
Write a letter of commitment to Jesus, asking Him to empower the choices you have made. Make a plan or a list of "dos" and "don'ts" that will help you experience the best holiday season of your life. Include your family in making this plan, and make the commitment to hold each other accountable.

More from the Girlfriends

Take a few moments to re-visit last year's holiday season. What was the best part of those holidays for you? What changes do you need to make this year so that the way you celebrate Christmas honors God? 

Looking for a Bible Study to start the New Year? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Don't miss the new study, How to Tame the Tongue, beginning January 20, 2014. Enroll before December 15 and have access to all 2013 lessons.

Do you want to revolutionize your prayer life? Check out Chair Time, a new E-Book written by Mary's husband, Dan. It not only will teach you how to hear from God – it will change your life! And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

December 11, 2013
Blessed is She Who...
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said' (Luke 1:38, NIV)

Friend to Friend

Sometimes it is easy to read the Bible and forget that the women in the stories are just like you and me. Of course, they lived during a different time in history, practiced different customs, and ate different foods. But they had the same heart struggles, same soul longings, and same emotional ups and downs as you and me.

Today, I want you to use your imagination just a bit. Sit back and let me tell you a story. A story about a young girl named Mary, and the amazing news she received. Let's join her on her way to Bethlehem...

Traveling down the dusty road to Bethlehem on the lumpy corrugated backbone of a donkey was hard enough. But being jostled along nine months pregnant was an arduous task accompanied by troublesome shoots of pain. The two blankets Joseph had placed over the hairy beast did little to cushion the jarring rough ride for his young bride and mother-to-be.

"How are you faring," a concerned Joseph asked.

"I just hope this baby is more comfortable than I am," Mary breathed.  "I don't think he's going to wait much longer to make his grand debut."

Mary's eyes smiled as she thought about the child nestled in her womb. Who would have ever thought the Savior of the World would spend his last few moments before entering the world riding on the back of a donkey? Who would have ever thought the Messiah would be born to such as me?

Mary's thoughts went back to the day the angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced God's redemptive plan.

"Mary," her mother called. "Are you finished with kneading? Don't forget to milk the goat.  And then there's the spindle with the robe half finished. It's seems our work is never done!"

At fifteen, Mary had a full schedule of daily activities simply keeping the home running smoothly. But soon enough, it would no longer be her father's house she served, but her husband's. The marriage had been arranged since she was a child, but that did not diminish the romantic notions of being swept away in the middle of the night by her handsome groom. Their engagement was a legally binding contract and all that remained were the technicalities—the actual wedding celebration.

If all goes well,she mused, I will be married to Joseph, the carpenter, within a year's time. But then, what could go wrong? The contract has been signed, the bride price has been paid, and the huppah, the room connected to his father's house, is almost complete.

As the young maiden continued daydreaming about her new life to come, a golden presence filled the room. The hair on the back of her neck prickled as a gentle breeze brushed past her cheek. The window remained fastened while indescribable stirring filled the room. Looking up from her work, she was startled by the glowing figure standing before her.

A single gasp filled her lungs as Mary clasped her hand over her mouth. Wide eyes tried to make sense of the vision before her. Was it a man? A ghost? An angel? Was she dreaming?

"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Seeing her pale before him, the angel Gabriel continued, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

Mary's fear did not subside with this confusing proclamation. Yet there was something comforting in the tone of this being's voice. While her soul began a calm descent, her mind began to race ahead.

A son? Pregnant? Jesus? Son of the Most High? A jumble of thoughts spilled out all at once as she tried to piece together the information lying like scattered puzzle pieces before her.

"How can this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

Gabriel leaned in and held Mary's gaze. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Sensing her bewildered and troubled heart, the messenger knew she needed a bit more assurance. Perhaps she needed a friend. He leaned back and casually remarked, "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

With that reminder of God's omnipotent power, Mary embraced her calling. "May it be to me as you have said."

Then, just as quickly and quietly as he had appeared, the angel was gone.

Mary stood alone in the room trying to take in all that had happened. Questions buzzed in her mind like a swarm of bees. I've got to get to Elizabeth, Mary whispered.

Right away, Mary packed her things and began her sixty-mile journey from Nazareth to Judea. After several days, she arrived.

As soon as Mary entered the room, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and began prophesying. In a loud voice she proclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, when I think about how little Mary must have felt, my heart swells. Her willingness to be Your servant, her faith to believe the angel, and her trust that You would accomplish what You had planned stirs me to do the same. Lord, I am willing to do whatever You have for me to do. I have faith that nothing is impossible for You. I trust that You will always do what is best for me. May it be said of me, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

As you read this retelling of Mary receiving the news from Gabriel, did God stir something new in your heart?

Did you notice that Elizabeth prophesied over Mary? Yes, she was the first to prophesy in the New Testament. Amazing! A woman!

Here's what I would love for you today. Put your name in the blank. "Blessed is _______ who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." Write it. Say it. Believe it. Then click over to my Facebook page and copy the sentence with YOUR name in it. I can hardly wait to read it!

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was taken from my book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance Through the Women Jesus Encountered. This book goes through every encounter Jesus had with a woman in the New Testament, and shows how he broke a rule every time, just to show them they mattered...to show you that you matter. He risked his reputation to save theirs. Read their encounters and see yourself through Jesus' eyes.

And just in time to start the New Year off right, my book Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer is now available. Click on the title to watch a video or read a sample chapter.

[Judy Harder]

December 12, 2013
Making a List... Checking it Twice
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

Friend to Friend

Every year, I make a Christmas list comprised of every person for whom I am buying a gift.  Beside each name, I put a dollar amount, a limit of how much money I will spend for that gift, vowing not to spend one penny more than the set limit. (Somehow, the amount I actually spend rarely coincides with the amount I intended to spend. Can you relate?) With every purchase, I then draw a beautiful red line through that name. Done!

I carry that list everywhere I go because sometimes I find a gift during a random shopping trip but mainly because I can't afford to let it out of my sight. There are evil people lurking in my home who will go to any lengths to find that list. You see, I am the Queen of Surprise when it comes to Christmas, so I must guard my list with my life in order to keep my "Queen-ship" status secure. Consequently, the list is hidden in various and unusual places such as a random file on my computer, in my closet, in an old purse, in a sock drawer, in a flower pot – you get the picture. I know where that Christmas list is at all times because it is my gift-giving plan for the holidays.

I wish I were just as concerned about "God's list" for my life; carrying His life plan for me in my heart and mind as I live each day, constantly making choices and decisions in light of that list, guarding it like the treasure map of eternity that it truly is.

Just knowing the plan God has for me does not guarantee success.

I must actually do the plan. That is where the choice to obey comes in.

An obedient heart is a "fixed" heart and is the gift God wants from us this holiday season.

Psalm 108:1

"O God, my heart is fixed!"

Psalm 40:8

"I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart."

A "fixed" heart is a determined heart, a steadfast heart that is rightly focused on God and His will, His plan. When we choose to follow God's plan, the desires of our heart will line up in obedience to that plan. We will find our greatest joy in pleasing God, in doing His will because that is what we were created to do.

Maybe today is a good time to stop, go back over the list, and review those life lessons we have learned, checking to see where we really are in our walk with God.

Maybe today is the perfect time to revisit the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving Him the gift of obedience.

Let's Pray

Father, I love You. Forgive me for the times when I choose to follow my own will instead of Yours. Teach me how to fix my heart on You and give me the strength to do what You created me to do. I know Your plan is the highest and best plan for me and that I was created in response to that plan. Thank You for the purpose that doing Your will brings to my life. Today, I choose to seek You and obey Your Word.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Can you believe that 2014 is just around the corner? If one of your resolutions for the New Year is to have a daily quiet time, and you need help getting started, Mary has some great resources to help you get started.

[Judy Harder]

December 13, 2013
Don't Miss Christmas!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16, NIV).

Friend to Friend

The Christmas rush is on! I know many of you are still looking for the perfect gift, wrapping presents, baking your famous sugar cookies, packing the car for a long trip and wrestling with overly excited children. Ho! Ho!  Ho!

Stop right where you are! Take a deep breath and travel back with me to a time when there was no hope and no celebration. I can't imagine a world without Jesus and yet, many times I live my life as if He doesn't even exist. A trial comes and I try to handle it on my own. Loneliness floods my heart and instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness.

He then interrupts my life and fills each black corner with Light. His love flows over the pain like a soothing balm and once again, I experience the manger. Once again, He steps into the smelly, unlikely and very ordinary existence that is mine to change everything – everything!

Jesus could have come to us in many ways, but He chose to interrupt the very ordinary with the most extraordinary. He could have chosen to be born in a palace. After all, He was a King. But His life on earth began in a manger housed in what amounted to little more than a dirty, smelly barn. The simplicity of His birth is one of His most precious gifts to me, and one of my most profound life lessons.

I often wish I had been there that holy night when Jesus was born, but then He reminds me that I have my own manger; my own holy moment when God became a reality to me, and I worship Him!

Every year I am reminded of the very heart of Christmas -- Emanuel, God with us. God wants to be involved in the simple, ordinary happenings of daily life: where we go and what we do, the smile we give the harried stranger and the patience we exhibit in the crowd of impatient shoppers, the love that prompts the secret gift and the heart that constantly celebrates His birth through every sparkling light, every beautifully wrapped gift, each special meal, every card, phone call and visit.

Join me in this quest to celebrate Him and His birth in everything we do. Have a birthday party for Jesus. Bake Him a huge cake and invite neighbors to join in the celebration. Adopt a family in need. Reach out to the lonely. Look for Him in the crowd. Emanuel, God with us! Wow!

Let's Pray

Father, today I celebrate the reality of Your presence in my life. I celebrate Your birth, Your life, Your death and Your resurrection. And as I celebrate, Lord, help me to be "God with skin on" to those in need around me. Open my eyes and let me see them as You see them!  I love You. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Put your faith in action by making a step-by-step plan to keep Jesus at the heart of your Christmas season.  Give a gift to someone you don't know. Invite a needy family into your home for a special "Friends" dinner. Go through your closet and give the clothes you don't wear to those who have no clothes.

More from the Girlfriends

I pray that your life is filled with God's peace this Christmas. Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy. Guard your heart and mind, and keep your focus on the birth of Jesus as you begin to prepare for the Christmas holidays. No matter what your circumstances may be, you can celebrate the Christmas holidays because God is with you.

Looking for a Bible Study to start the New Year? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Don't miss the new study, How to Tame the Tongue, beginning January 20, 2014.

Do you want to revolutionize your prayer life? Check out Chair Time, a new E-Book written by Mary's husband, Dan. It not only will teach you how to hear from God – it will change your life! And 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]

December 16, 2013
You are Highly Favored
Sharon Jaynes     

Today's Truth

Greetings, you who are highly favored! (Luke 1:28, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I hope you enjoyed my retelling of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel in my last devotion. I want to continue looking at Mary over the next couple of weeks. We can learn so much what to do when God calls us center stage from this woman who said "yes" to Him.

Gabriel and Mary. What an amazing encounter for a girl so young. God's plan of redemption was held by the thread of a teenage girl from Nazareth.   Who knew it would be so strong.

We don't know exactly how old Mary was at the time of Gabriel's proclamation.   Commentaries have suggested anywhere between thirteen and sixteen—marrying age during those days.

Nazareth was considered an insignificant town, yet God chose it for a significant role.   Likewise, Mary was a seemingly insignificant girl, yet God used her in significant ways. Her selfless surrender serves as an example of the impact obedience to God's call can have on our lives and on the lives of others as well.

Just after Adam and Eve sinned and ate the forbidden fruit, God announced that the offspring of a woman would eventually crush the serpent's head (Satan). All along, it was God's redemptive plan for the Savior of the world to be born of a woman. He certainly didn't have to do it that way, but He chose to use a woman in the unfolding of salvation's plan.

But why Mary? Why that particular girl? What was it about her that caused God to choose her? 

We will never know all the answers to those questions, but we can get a glimpse into God's heart by looking closely at the word "favored."

Gabriel greeted Mary by saying she was "highly favored." When we look at this word,   we realize that the choice had little to do with Mary and everything to do with God. The word "favor" is the Greek word charis which is where we get the word "grace." Grace is unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor from God. It is a gift we don't earn or deserve, but are given simply because God wants to give it.

The Bible says that we are chosen by grace (Romans 11:5-6), saved by grace (Romans 3:24), and given spiritual gifts by grace (Romans 12:6). Paul says that God "lavishes" his grace on us (Ephesians 1:7-8). Don't you just love that! He doesn't dole out a teaspoon here and there, but He pours out his favor on us—bathes us in His grace.

Why was Mary chosen? The same reason you and I were chosen to be His children.   Because of His grace. We are not saved because we deserve it. She was not chosen because she deserved it. She was chosen because God's grace was with her.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Thank You for Your grace that gives me blessings I don't deserve, and Your mercy that doesn't give me the punishment I do deserve. Lord, thank You for working through ordinary men and women like me. Help me not to deify mere humans, but always give You the glory for working through them.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

How have you seen God do mighty work through ordinary people? Think of 5 ordinary people in the Bible who were called to extraordinary tasks.

Now think of 5 ordinary people in your life who have been called to extraordinary tasks.

[Judy Harder]

December 17, 2013
Can You Hear Me Now?
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27, ASV).

Friend to Friend
Dan and I had been married one year when we moved to Fort Worth, Texas so he could attend seminary. I desperately wanted to find a school teaching job, but they were scarce. Instead, I was hired to work in an insurance office - definitely not my idea of a dream job - but I had a plan. Every day, on my lunch hour, I called the school district's personnel office to ask, "Do you have a job for me yet?"

After several weeks of these annoying phone calls, a frustrated voice finally responded with the words I had been longing to hear, "Mary, will you teach anything anywhere?" Finally! I jumped at the job offer and made an appointment to visit my new classroom that afternoon. The principal escorted me up a flight of stairs, pointed to a door and said, "That's your classroom. Good luck!" With a knowing smile, he turned and walked away ... very quickly. Hmmm, interesting!

Stepping into the classroom, I froze at the astonishing sight before me. Children were jumping on desks while others crawled under tables, all screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs. Paper and food littered the floor. In the corner sat an obviously frazzled substitute teacher who was desperately trying to gain control of her students ... uh, make that my students. The classroom was in total chaos! My first thought was "What have I gotten myself into?" The next few weeks certainly answered that question.

Each classroom was arranged in learning centers instead of desks. The students moved from center to center as they completed assignments, a plan that naturally invited noise. I learned that because of overcrowding, each teacher had been asked to select two children to form a new classroom and, of course, each teacher had chosen her two most difficult students to populate the new class.

The first few weeks were a nightmarish battle for control. After losing my voice twice, my sister, a veteran first grade teacher, gave me some great advice as she explained, "The louder you are, the louder the children will be. If you want to get their attention, speak softly so they will have to be quiet in order to hear your voice." I put her advice into action the next day.

As the children entered the classroom, I greeted each one with a silent smile. In my hands was a brightly wrapped box. Curious, they asked, "What is that, Mrs. Southerland?" I merely smiled and said nothing until every student was quietly seated. "I have a new plan for our classroom," I began. "Sometime during the day, I will call your name once. If you hear my voice, you may choose one prize from our new prize box. If you don't hear my voice, you'll miss the opportunity to select a prize and I will call another student's name." It worked like a charm! In a matter of days, my students learned to listen for my voice above all others.

It occurs to me that listening for the voice of God when I pray is a lot like that classroom. The children had not been trained to listen for a teacher's voice. The result was chaos and stress - with very little learning happening. I could not teach them anything until I had their attention, so when they began to tune out everyone's voice but mine, the atmosphere of that classroom was transformed into a peaceful, quiet place where students could focus and learn.

The holiday season should be centered on listening for His voice and celebrating His birth. Instead, we often give our time, energy and attention to the very things that distract us from honoring Him in the way we celebrate Christmas.

Is your heart trained to listen for His voice above all others? The only voice that matters is His. Come to Him in prayer. Listen as He speaks to you. He is waiting.

Let's Pray
Father, sometimes it seems as if my head and heart are filled with voices, and each one is telling me something different. Help me learn to hear Your voice, to stop and listen for You above every other voice clamoring for my attention. I will seek You in the Scripture. I will seek You in prayer and in my daily walk. I am listening today for Your voice alone.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Make a list of three "voices" that are frequently heard in your life.
Examine each voice to see if it lines up with God's plan and purpose for your life.
Strengthen your ability to hear God's voice above the others by reading and memorizing Scripture. Below are a few of my favorites:
Psalm 32:8 "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Exodus 14:13 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."