Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

June 15, 2009
What Am I Doing in This Pit?
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
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, about 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).

Friend To Friend
It was the spring of 1995 and Spring Breakaway was just around the corner.  Normally this conference was a highlight of my year.  I always looked forward to teaching at this very special retreat for women in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  But not this year.  This year I didn't even want to go, and I certainly did not want to teach.

I felt completely empty and totally drained.  My energy was gone.  My heart and mind seemed paralyzed. I was exhausted in every way.  But then, I had a right to feel that way.  After all, it had been a nonstop year for me.

My husband, Dan, was the pastor/teacher of Flamingo Road Church, a contemporary, seeker-sensitive ministry in Fort Lauderdale that had exploded in growth that year and begun meeting in multiple services.  I attended every service, going early to welcome newcomers and staying late to smooth any ruffled feathers that came my way.  We were in the process of transitioning from a very traditional church to a very contemporary one.  Change is always hard, but this experience had been a nightmare.  I had never encountered such opposition.  I had never been the target of such criticism.  I had never known such rejection as people I thought were my friends attacked my husband's integrity, heart, and vision.  It seemed as if there was always someone waiting in line to question and criticize what we were doing.  I felt like a walking wound.  I knew we were being obedient to what God had called us to do, but it seemed that many disagreed.  I was hurt and angry, and I did not know what to do with those emotions. 

My ministry as the church pianist had become more of a pain than a joy.  Singing was no longer the overflow of a daughter's full heart, but the hollow performance of a spiritual chore.  I had always loved being a mom, but, lately, even this role felt more like an unwelcome burden.  I was used to being the one who gave help.  I was the one others came to for strength and direction.  I was the great encourager -- the caregiver.  People who knew me well would describe me as a very strong woman.  All of my life, I was driven to excel in everything, and if I couldn't do it perfectly, I didn't do it at all. I was a raging perfectionist.legalistically disciplined...with little sympathy for weak people.  Now I, the strong one, couldn't get out of bed.  The simplest decision sent me into a panic. The great wisdom-giver could not compile a grocery list.  The woman who taught hundreds of women couldn't bring herself to face crowds of any size.  The large tasks of life were out of the question, and even the simplest tasks seemed like huge mountains. 

Meals, housework, and even shopping were all left undone.  If I managed to get out of bed and get dressed by the time my kids got home from school, the day was a success.  All I wanted to do was sleep and to be left alone.  I was paralyzed.  I had fallen into a deep, dark, nameless pit.  I had no idea how I got there.  And even more frightening was the stark reality that I had no idea how to get out. 

I decided I was just tired.  All I needed was some rest, so my family and I escaped the hot, humid flatlands of Florida to enjoy three weeks in the cool mountains of North Carolina, my favorite vacation spot.  That vacation is a complete blur.  My children knew something was terribly wrong.  They had never seen their mom so quiet...so still...and so sad.  Dan listened patiently as I poured out my fear and confusion night after night.  There seemed to be no answers...only questions.  In his eyes, I could see the growing fear that I felt in my own heart.  We had never been here before.  It was a foreign land.  We had no idea how to navigate these unfamiliar waters.  It was very simple.  I was in serious trouble, and I needed help. 

As each day grew darker, Dan and I both realized we had to come up with a plan -- quickly!  We decided I would see a Christian counselor Dan often referred people to and in whom he had great confidence.  My first appointment with Betty was uneventful as far as I could tell - and a total waste of time.  I was furious!  She was supposed to "fix" me in those few hours and had failed miserably.  She did, however, accomplish one thing.  She named my pit.

Clinical depression was a problem I knew little about.  Evidently, it was an enemy that strong, committed Christians were not supposed to encounter, because I had never heard anyone in the church even talk about depression, much less admit they struggled with it.  I recoiled at the thought of such blatant weakness in my life.  I felt ashamed of what was obviously a great failure on my part, but I was very desperate and willing to do whatever it took to climb out of that pit.  I also knew I could not make this journey alone.  Over the next few months, Dan and Betty climbed down into that dark, slimy pit with me and became God with skin on.  They sounded the alarm and gathered the troops. 

Today, I can say with the certainty of an experienced pit dweller that there is a way out.  I have good news for you, my friend.  You are not alone!  I believe that one reason God allowed me to experience the pit of depression is to help others find the way out.  I want to say to those of you who are in that pit -- and to those of you who are peering over the edge of it wondering how to help someone you love -- you do not have to be a prisoner of the dark.  You do not have to stay in your pit.  You do not have to stand helplessly by while a friend or family member drowns in the darkness of depression.  We were meant to dwell in the light.  So lift up your head, open up your heart, and listen for the voice of the One who knows you best and loves you most.  He can and will bring you out of the dark.

Let's Pray
Lord, it seems as if my world has collapsed, hurling me into a deep, dark pit.  I come to you in complete surrender.  I am desperate for you, helpless and afraid.  Please lift me out of this pit and show me the way, Lord.   

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Pour out your heart to your God, asking Him to uncover the dark places in your life.  As He does, record them in your journal using simple, honest words. 
Each day, read Psalm 40:1-3 and claim it as a certain hope from God's heart to yours.   
Up until now, what has been your typical response to the dark times in life?  Does that response line up with Psalm 40:1-3?   
Do you really believe that if you cry out to God that He will hear your cry?  What does that mean to you?   
Are you willing to face and deal with the darkness in your life?   
Ask a friend to be your prayer partner this week as you begin this journey to the Light!

More From The Girls
I do not like pits -- in cherries or in life.  I pray that my journey out of the pit of clinical depression will encourage you or someone you love and bring hope instead of despair.  It is a long, hard road, but through God's power, grace and love, you can do it!  If God can deliver me, He can deliver you, friend.

You can read Mary's complete journey from darkness to light in her book, Hope in the Midst of Depression.  (Coming Out of the Dark is also available on CD or as an MP3 download.) Mary also has a weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey.  Check it out!

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]

June 16, 2009
The Consequence of Sin
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned ..." (Romans 5:12 NIV).

Friend To Friend
After Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they realized that they were naked and were ashamed. So they hid.

In the cool of the day, when God came to stroll with His friends, they were nowhere to be seen. Of course, He knew where they were.  He always does.  But He called out anyway, "Where are you?"  It was the first question in the Bible -- the question He still asks of us today.

Adam and Eve appeared from behind the bushes, clothed in fig leaves and a downcast countenance.  They admitted what they had done ...sort of.  Adam blamed the disobedience on Eve, Eve blamed her actions on Satan, and Satan; and well, I imagine he just grinned from pointy ear to pointy ear.

God cursed the serpent and predicted that One would come to crush his head.  Eve was cursed with increased pain in childbearing, a desire to control her husband, and his new position to rule over her.  Adam was cursed by working the ground with little result, but the most painful punishment of all was separation from God and spiritual death.

Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  Cherubim with flaming swords flashing back and forth were placed at the entrance to keep them out.  I can almost hear Eve as she walked away from her home.  How did this happen?  What have I done?  How could I have been so foolish?  Tell me, haven't you wondered the same after you've bought into the enemy's lies and succumbed to his suggestions? 

Do you think God knew this would happen?  I don't know for sure, but upon close inspection, Genesis 1:29 does not say "for if you eat of it you will surely die."  It reads "for when you eat of it you will surely die."

I can picture Eve walking out of the garden down the path of failure and defeat.  Just yesterday, she had it all.  It was a time of firsts.  "In the beginning" quickly shone the spotlight of Eve: the first woman, the first wife, the first to believe the enemy's lies ...oh yes, she was a woman of many firsts, but she would not be the last.

Join me tomorrow as we get...the rest of the story! 

But I just can't wait to give you tomorrow's truth to ponder ..."For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17 NIV).

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, two of my favorite words in the Bible are "but God."  Thank You so much for Your plan of salvation for mankind.  You could have left us eternally separated from You because of our sin, but chose to give Your Son as a sacrifice once and for all, to pay the penalty for us.  Thank You for making a way for me to be eternally joined with You.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Let's look at these words in today's devotion: How did this happen?  What have I done?  How could I have been so foolish?  Tell me, haven't you wondered the same after you've bought into the enemy's lies and succumbed to his suggestions? 

Think of a time when you uttered those same words.

Now picture God calling out to you, "Where are you?"

Now picture God making the ultimate sacrifice in order to wipe away your mistake.

Write out your own prayer of gratitude for God's incredible gift for you.  Write out your own, "But God" story today.

More From The Girlfriends
If you'd like to comment on today's devotion, visit Sharon's blog at http://sharonjaynes.com/blog/

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]

June 17, 2009
The Savior's Plan
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Yesterday, we looked at the consequences of sin.  Today, let's look at God's plan of redemption.

Dear friend, I have gone into great detail concerning what we lost in the Garden of Eden and what we gained in the Garden of Gethsemane in the book, Experience the Ultimate Makeover.  I want to encourage you to read that step-by-step explanation of the incredible transformation that occurred in you the moment you believed. 

In a nutshell, the problem was this: God created man in His image.  Satan deceived man with the lie that he could be like God. Man traded the truth for the lie, and while his body lived for a time; and his soul lived for eternity, his spirit died totally and completely at the very moment of disobedience.  Every man born since that time has been born with a live body and soul but a dead spirit (Romans 5; 12. See also Ephesians 2:1; 1 and Corinthians 15:21-22).  But just as soon as Eve's teeth sank into the forbidden fruit, the shadow of the cross appeared on the horizon.  All of the Old Testament points to that defining moment on the hill of Calvary when Jesus broke the chains of hell that had man bound, and set us free from the penalty of sin. 

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and make Him Lord of our lives, we experience new birth -- become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Not only do we receive the promise of heaven for all eternity, we receive a new identity that day!

When we understand who we are in Christ, where we are in Christ, and what we have in Christ, we walk in victory through the storms of life, in abundance through the desert days, and in freedom in the confines of earth. 

But friend, Satan does not give up on you when you become a Christian.  He knows who you are, what you have, and where you are as a child of God.  He knows that you are chosen, accepted, adopted, appointed, valuable, justified, reconciled, redeemed, righteous, and free from condemnation, holy, sealed, complete, and completely forgiven.  His mission is to keep you from walking in the truth of who you are, and he uses the same tactics today that he used with Eve recorded in Genesis chapter three.  That is why it is so important to understand what happened in the Garden.  We must recognize his tactics in order to fight the battle for our minds.

A man in the Arizona desert came upon a diamondback rattlesnake.  With a hoe in the back of his trunk, he killed the rattler and cut off his head.  Amazingly, the headless snake continued to shake his rattle and lunge at him.  "What's worse," the man said, "was the fact that even though I knew its head was cut off and that he was dead, I still flinched."

Satan's head has been cut off.  He has already lost the battle but continues to shake his rattle to draw our attention away from the truth of his defeat.  And while he has been defeated, he wants us to think that he is still in control.

Yes, God has a plan for you.  It all starts with new life in Christ.  If you have never prayed to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please click on the button at the bottom of this devotion to learn more.  If you do pray to receive Jesus today, we'd love to hear about it and pray for you in this new journey!

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I was a lost sinner, until You embraced me as Your child.  Thank You for providing eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Thank You for His sacrifice on the cross for me.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
The Bible promises that "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 19:9, 10 NIV).

Do you remember the day you prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior?

Today, tell someone your story.  Not only will you bless someone else, you'll be reminding yourself of the wonderful gift of God in your life.

More From The Girlfriends
New life!  In the twinkling of an eye, in the time it takes to say, "I believe," God moves us from spiritual death to abundant eternal life!  If you would like to learn more about all that God has for you because of who you are, what you have, and where you are in Christ, then you'll want to see Sharon's book, Experience the Ultimate Makeover -- Discovering God's Transforming Power.  Begin your spiritual beauty regimen today!

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]

June18, 2009
It's Time to Grow Up!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I d Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
I have recently begun working out with weights.  Since I am a novice in this area of fitness, I asked my son, Jered, to help me get started.  A rugged football player as well as a carpenter who is well acquainted with the fundamentals of weight training, he graciously volunteered to be my personal trainer.  Little did he know the challenge that lay before him.

When I first started a regular exercise program, I naturally experienced some soreness. I was just not prepared for every muscle in my entire body to scream out in painful protest!  Honestly, my initial reaction was to stop.  I wanted to do what was easy, comfortable and painless but still attain the toned body of a professional weight lifter.  Right!

Jered had no mercy.  He was absolutely committed to my physical success and long-term health.  He drove me onward, constantly encouraging me to keep working those muscles even through the pain and discomfort.  One glorious day, he pointed out that those once painful muscles were no longer sore and much stronger as well.  He even suggested it was time to increase the weight I was lifting because that beginning workout had become too easy.  I had indeed come a long way, baby!  I want to accomplish the same thing in my journey with God!

I want to be spiritually fit and mature.  When I was a child, I spoke, I thought and reasoned as a child, but as I grew, my thought life and heart desires naturally matured as well. Our thought processes illustrate themselves in our desires.  A mature believer has mature desires.  A "baby" believer naturally has childish desires. It is sad and unnatural for a longtime believer to have new believer traits, habits and desires.  Proverbs 3:7 warns "You should not be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil" (NLT).

When we come to the place where we are willing to give Him everything, a wonderful process begins. He trains our immature desires to line up with His perfect ones. When we begin to seek His will by laying our desires and plans at His feet - yielding to Him - He shapes our will until it becomes His will.

The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a Spiritual Trainer of sorts.  He will lead us in the right spiritual exercises of life that will make us stronger and more mature.  Many of those exercises involve the submission of our will and the yielding of our desires to God.  As we allow the pain and stress of daily living to "stretch" us spiritually, we will grow and mature until one day we will realize that His desires and our desires are the same.  Mature desires - Godly desires - desires that are in line with His will are the desires of a believer who is growing in Christ.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (NIV).

"Delight" literally means to enjoy.  We can come to God with an attitude of joy, knowing that He is a Father of love who wants what is best for His child. His plan is absolutely the best one we could possibly imagine or accept.  We can delight in His love, trust in His goodness and enjoy a growing love relationship with Him.  A heart fully and joyfully submitted to God will produce mature desires.

High in the Alps is a monument raised in honor of a faithful guide who died while ascending a peak to rescue a stranded tourist. Inscribed on that memorial stone are the words, "He died climbing!" A maturing, growing Christian should evoke the same attitude and desire. The apostle Paul tells us that it is time to "put away" childish things.  As our children grow older, we train them to pick up their toys, to put away things that are not needed, to obey house rules and to leave behind what is childish, straining toward what is ahead.  Right now, you have the same choice to make.  To "put away" indicates an understanding of what needs to be left behind but also a willingness and commitment to do so.  The question is, are you ready to grow up in Christ?

Let's Pray
Lord, I am so tired of being a "baby" Christian.  I want to honor and please You with my life, my attitudes and my habits.  Please reveal every childish way in me and then help me to do something about it!  Please give me a hunger, thirst for Your word, and teach me how to apply it.  I really do want to grow up in You! 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Identify and make a list of the childish areas in your life.  Surrender this list to God in prayer. Taking one area at a time, ask Him to help you "grow up."  Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I truly understand that God wants me to "grow up" in Him?   
Am I willing to give the Holy Spirit free reign in my life?   
Am I willing to seek Him daily through His Word and through prayer?   
How can my desires become His desires?   
Read Ephesians 4:11-19.  As you read this passage of scripture, think about the benefits of maturing and growing in Christ. 
More From The Girls
I can be such a spiritual baby.  I am battling attitudes and habits today that I battled years ago.  Even as I wrote this devotional, God said to me, "Mary, it is time for you to grow up in these areas."  Therefore, I wrote every word you just read to me as well.  My prayer is that we grow in Him ... together!

You can read Mary's complete journey from darkness to light in her book, Hope in the Midst of Depression.  (Coming Out of the Dark is also available on CD or as an MP3 download.) Mary also has a weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey as well as E-Book Bible Studies on managing fear, dealing with stress, learning how to control anger and how to weather the storms of life.  Check it out!

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]

June 19, 2009
A Daddy Who Loves Me
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV).

Friend To Friend
One of my favorite retreat topics is from my book, Dreams of a Woman -- God's Plans for Fulfilling Your Dreams.  In this book, I talk about five dreams every little girl has: to have a daddy who loves her, to be a bride, to be a mommy, to be beautiful, and to have a best friend.

In talking to women all across the country, I have seen eyes fill with tears when I talk about the dream of having a daddy who loves me, but the tears are not for me.  They reveal the longing in their own hearts.  Butterfly Kisses, a song by Bob Carlisle that climbed the charts in 2000, received international recognition in both the Christian and secular music industries.  The song was about the tender love between a father and his daughter, starting from her birth to her wedding day.  Mr. Carlisle said, "I get a lot of mail from young girls who try to get me to marry their moms.  That used to be a real chuckle because it's so cute, but then I realized they didn't want romance for mom.  They want the father that is in that song, and that just kills me."

In the Old Testament, God has many names.  He is Elohim -- the Creator, El Elyon -- God Most High, El Roi -- the God who sees, El Shaddai -- the All-Sufficient One, Adonai -- the Lord, Jehovah -- the Self-Existent One, Jehovah-Jireh --the Lord Will Provide, Jehovah -- Rapha -- the Lord that heals, Jehovah--Shalom -- the Lord is peace, Jehovah-Raah -- the Lord my Shepherd, and many more.  His covenant name with the people of Israel was I AM. J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing God, said, "He is: and it is because He is what He is that everything else is as it is." 

In the New Testament, Jesus introduced a new name for God -- Father.  It is the name that Jesus referred to more than any other and the name that He invites us to use to address the Creator of the Universe.  Just stop and think about that for a moment.  The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth, who always has been and always will be, who is all knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere at once -- that same God invites you to call Him Daddy!

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  This, then, is how you should pray:

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name....' (Matthews 6:6-9 NIV).

Packer went on to say: "For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God."  All other religions demand followers to worship created beings (Mohammad, Buddha),  but Jehovah the Creator, the great I AM, invites us to crawl up in His lap, become His child, and call Him Abba, Daddy.  He said, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18NIV).

This Father's Day, no matter what your situation may be with your earthly dad, always remember that you have a heavenly Father who loves you dearly and has your name written on the palm of His hand.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for being a father who loves me as His precious child.  How amazing to think that the God who created the universe and all it contains, invites me to be His child and call Him Abba, Father.  I do not take this invitation lightly, but cherish it with all my heart.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Make a list of your idea of a perfect Father.  Now put a check mark by the ones you have experienced in God as His child.

What does God promise in 2 Corinthians 6:18?

Describe how God, our Father, is depicted in Hosea 11:3-4.

What do you learn about the love of God in Ephesians 3:18-19?

What do you learn about the Fatherhood of God in 1 Corinthians 8:6?

To comment on today's devotion, visit http://www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Dreams of a Woman. Can you risk the hope that God still has dreams for your life?  That He hasn't forgotten you?  Place your hand firmly in His.  Take a deep breath and begin the exciting journey to a place you thought you'd never find: the dream God planned for you all along.  You'll find out how in Dreams of a Woman God's Plans for Fulfilling Your Dream.

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

[Judy Harder]

June 22, 2009
I Love a Good Plan!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
When our children became teenagers, we realized that a new plan for their allowances was needed.  Dan and I were tired of being asked for money by two teenagers who enjoyed the privilege of a regular and generous allowance.  There seemed to be confusion about what their allowances should cover as opposed to those expenses that would fall under the responsibility of parental funding.  For example, our son, Jered, would fill up his truck with gas and then drive my car.  Our daughter, Danna, would buy a new pair of shoes and then need money for a movie.  It was obvious to Dan and to me that a new plan was obviously needed. 

Even though Jered and Danna seemed content with the old plan in place, we sat down with each one to make a list of what their allowances would cover, encouraging them to budget their money while setting aside part of each allowance for the special things they wanted to buy.  The result was a clear plan of how much money they would receive and an exact list of what it was to cover.  The confusion and frustration disappeared because the right plan was in place. 

Having a plan does not guarantee success but having the right plan is a great start.  We can work almost any plan and experience some level of success, but to be all that we can be, we must find and follow the right plan -- God's plan.  The story is told of a man whose Model T Ford broke down on the side of a country road.  He opened the hood and was attempting to find and solve the problem -- with no success -- when another car pulled up behind him.  A well-dressed, distinguished man got out of the car and asked if he could be of any service.  Within minutes, he had the car running smoothly.  The owner of the car was amazed and said, "Thank you for your help.  How in the world did you find the problem and fix it?"  With a smile, Henry Ford replied, "Well, I made this car, so I should be able to repair it."  The same is true when it comes to our lives.  God created us in response to a perfect plan and purpose so when we stumble and fall or have no clue what the next step is, it only makes sense to turn to the One who created us.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, God promises to "make our paths straight" when we do three things:

1.      Trust God.  The word "trust" means to "to have confidence in" and to do so with an attitude of anticipation.  In other words, when we choose to trust God and seek His plan, He will fill our heart with peace.  God is not the author of confusion.  More than we want to know His plan ... He wants us to know His plan. 

2.      Depend on God.  When we depend wholly on God, we must abandon everything we are to everything He is.  To depend on God is to recognize Him as our source ... for everything. 

3.      Obey God.  Obedience to God is the result of always keeping a "yes" in your heart when it comes to His truth and His plan at work in our life.  An applied truth is a learned truth. 

Before the Southerland family takes a trip, my husband, Dan, makes the plan.  He makes reservations, books hotels, plans stops and makes it happen.  We have come to trust his plans because we know he makes every choice in that plan for the good of his family.  God's plan for your life is good.  Don't miss it! 

Let's Pray
Father, please help me become more dependent on You each day, seeking Your plan above my own.  I want what You want for my life even though I don't always understand the way You are working it out.  I want to walk by faith -- not by sight.  I want to rest in You -- instead of in my own strength and power.  Today, I choose You and celebrate Your perfect and good plan for my life.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take a few minutes to look back over your life.

Can you remember a time when God's plan seemed impossible to you?  Why? 
How did you respond to God's plan?  What was the outcome?   
Read and memorize Jeremiah 29:11.   
Choose right now to trust God's heart even when you don't understand His hand at work in your life.

More From The Girls
Ouch!  Surrendering to God's plan is often difficult for me.  I am so human!  At times, I honestly act on some ridiculous premise that my plan is absolutely the right plan for my life.  Looking back over the years, I now see so many times when my plan resulted in destruction and chaos.  I also see that God's plan has always led to peace and a clear purpose. Join me today in a new commitment to seek and do God's plan.  Blessings!

Need help discerning God's plan for your life?  Check out Mary's online bible study, Light for the Journey, for a bible study that is practical and applicable for you ... right where you are.

Visit Mary's online store and pick up a book, CD or download an MP3 for summer travel.  Mary also has several E-Book Bible Studies that are perfect for your daily quiet time or even a small group bible study. Check it out!

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]

June 23, 2009
I Need Patience ... Now!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
1 Thessalonians 5:13-14 "Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
Our daughter, who is expecting our third grandchild in July, has begun to battle back pain since her "little man" began kicking. (Yes, it is a boy and I think soccer is definitely in his future.) In frustration, she recently complained, "Mom, he is sitting on my nerve!"  My response was not particularly encouraging, "Honey, believe me when I say that it won't be the last time."   

Sandpaper people can definitely get on our last nerve, which is why God's plan for dealing with these difficult people includes setting aside part of our emotional energy to cover their faults and allow for their weaknesses. In other words, we must learn and choose to be patient. 

The apostle Paul is clear in his explanation of how we should treat others, even those people who rub us the wrong way, the sandpaper people.  We are called to "admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with all men" 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NAS).

Sandpaper people are often unruly, meaning that they are frequently careless or out of line in their behavior.  The word, "unruly" applies to soldiers who refuse to follow orders, insisting on doing things their own way.  Sound familiar?  It is the motto of every respectable sandpaper person.  Patience lovingly corrects and points out the right way but sandpaper people tend to give up easily, feeding the failure that has become a familiar companion, training their feeble hearts to despair while persuading their fragile spirits to quit.  Patience comforts these hard to love people, refusing to give up on them when everyone else has walked away.  The "weak" ones are those who are weak in their faith -- the baby Christians.  New believers awkwardly stumble through their first steps into the world of Christianity and are often perceived to be "rough around the edges."  Patience not only reassures these frightened little lambs that they belong, but also offers to walk with them until they grow stronger and their path is sure. 

His name was Sam.  I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.  I was standing at the door of my second grade classroom, anxiously waiting to greet the thirty students who had been assigned to me for nine months.  Though Sam was smaller than the other children, he walked with the earned confidence of one who has seen more than he should have seen at such a young age. What he lacked in size, he more than made up for in personality and attitude.  He was a blatant flirt, and I was a goner as soon as he gazed up at me with strikingly blue eyes that tripped my heart.  When he flashed two cavernous dimples, I was a goner.  I will never forget his words.  They broke my heart.  "My name is Sam.  I am dumb and stupid and I can't do anything right.  I get mad real easy and like to break things.  I just thought you should know." 

It took only a few minutes for Sam to begin what I suspected was his usual attempt to prove his words true as he swept through the quickly filling classroom, destruction in his hands.  Papers were ripped and tossed aside. Children shrank away from his now scowling face, fear in their eyes.  When a little girl laughed, Sam thought she was laughing at him and knocked her to the floor.  I had seen enough.  Taking Sam by the arm, I marched him out of the room and down the hall.  He was not surprised or particularly concerned.  It seemed to be very familiar territory - but what came next wasn't.

Looking for a place to sit, I stopped in front of a bench, pulled him into my arms and held onto him for dear life.  "Sam, it is wrong to tell a lie," I whispered.  Stunned, he drew back to ask, "What do you mean?  I didn't tell no lie."  Cupping his freckled face in my hands, I whispered, "Yes, you did.  You said you were dumb and stupid and couldn't do anything right.  That is a lie.  I don't know who told you that and I don't care.  It's not true -- is it, Sam?"  His eyes filled with tears -- and a tiny ray of unfamiliar hope appeared. It was enough. Slowly, he shook his head, a watery smile creeping across his now softening face.  "Nope! I reckon it ain't."  Together, we walked back to the classroom and to a new beginning for one little sandpaper person. 

That year, I taught Sam and he taught me.  I am not certain who learned the most but this I do know - the more we love, the more patience we will have.  And the more patience we have, the more we will love.  I often wonder just how many "Sams" are waiting for someone -- anyone -- who will choose to unleash the power of patience and by doing so, unleash the power of love as well.   

Let's Pray
Father, forgive me for being impatient with others -- especially the ones who rub me the wrong way.  I know You have allowed each one of those sandpaper people to cross my path for a reason.  Please help me see them as You see them, loved and chosen.  I want my actions to point them to You and to an acceptance that can only come from You.  Father, make it clear to my heart when I am the sandpaper person and help me to control my emotions and my words.  Thank You for loving me and for the privilege of loving others through You.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the following verses and record them in your journal. In your own words, explain each verse as it applies to your life. Make a list of three "sandpaper people" in your life and pray these verses for each one.   


Proverbs 14:29  "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."   

Psalm 37:7  "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."
1 Timothy 1:16  "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."

More From The Girls
My prayer for patience usually concludes with something like "and Lord, I need it right now!"  By nature, I am not a very patient person.  I tend to be a perfectionist and expect people to do what they are supposed to do, according to Mary.  The "sandpaper people" concept is one I have dealt with for years.  I can honestly say that I see some growth and progress but it has come with a price.  I am slowly learning to choose love over judgment, grace over retribution and forgiveness over retaliation.  Sometimes it is so hard to say and do the right thing when someone says or does something that drives me crazy or makes me angry.  So I keep praying and keep asking God to guard my mouth and my heart and make me more patient.

Looking for a bible study that is practical and biblically based?  Check out Mary's online bible study, Light for the Journey.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

June 24, 2009
More than a Conqueror
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV).

Friend To Friend
My brother was about four years old when he decided to grab a box of matches and a handful of sparklers to see how they worked.  He had heard that sparklers worked best in the dark, so he went into the darkest place at Grandma's house he could find . her wardrobe closet.

Grandma didn't have any closets in her house, so she kept all of her hang up clothes in the large wooden stand alone closet.  My brother snuck into the darkness, crouched amongst the dresses and coats, and lit the first match.  The sparklers immediately began shooting fiery pops in all directions.  Within moments, Stewart noticed more than just the sparklers were on fire.  Grandma's clothes were up in flames.

I'm happy to say that Stewart wasn't harmed, unless you count the spanking he got from Grandma on his behind.

Friends, we don't have to go into a closet to find the darkness.  It is waiting for us the moment we step out the front door, turn on the television, or listen to the 6:00 o'clock news.  The world is full of darkness at every turn.

What exactly is the world? In the Bible, there are several definitions. One definition refers to all the people on the earth: "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son (John 3:16).  In some instances, the word "world" refers to planet earth itself.

Other times "world" refers to the world systems, values, and morals.   Paul refers to these world systems when he says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world," (Romans 12:2).  Jesus said that the "world" hated him and we shouldn't be surprised if it hates us as well (John 15:18, 19). Both refer to the world systems, values, or ways of thinking. 

The Bible also tells us "that the whole world is under the control of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).  It seems like we are "splitting hairs" here.  But when we consider the power of the enemy and the pull of the world systems, they are almost one in the same.  Right now, the world systems are being heavily influenced by the evil one.

But here's the hope!  Jesus said, "But take heart!  I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). As long as we live in the world, we will feel its pull, but God assures us that we have what it takes to "overcome the world" (1 John 5:4, 5). We have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us and faith in the Victor who works through us. 

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, all around me I see the world trying to pull me away from You.  Through movies, television shows, magazines and billboards, the world tries to pull me into a self-centered existence concerned with fulfilling my own selfish desires.  But praise God!  You have given me the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the world!  I don't have to be drawn in and seduced by the temporary trappings of this world.  I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus and I can keep my mind focused on things of eternal worth! Thank You, Lord.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
What are some ways "the world" tries to pull you away from God?

Are there any areas of your life that you need to change to keep that from happening?  Are there any movies or television programs that leave you feeling distant from God?  Books that you read that leave you feeling yucky inside?  Any activities or relationships that need to come to a halt?

You can do it!  If God calls you to it, He will see you through it!  But He does require participation on your part.

If you'd like to comment on today's devotion, visit Sharon's blog at http://sharonjaynes.com/blog/

More From The Girlfriends
The Bible says our struggle is against the world, the flesh, and the devil.  If you would like to learn more about how to live a life of victory and be an over comer in all three areas, then you'll want to see Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough ...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.

You can go on-line and read an excerpt today!

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]

June 25, 2009
The Battle of the Flesh
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
1 Corinthians 10:13 "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
My devotion yesterday looked at our battle with the influence of an ungodly world.  But there is another enemy in this battle for our minds, and that is the flesh.  From the time we are born, we receive messages about ourselves -- some true, some false.  We go through our lives doing whatever we feel necessary to feel safe, secure, and significant.  Between the time we are born physically and the time we are born spiritually (born again), we form certain habit patterns and thought patterns.  Our unique way of getting our God-given needs met in our own strength and by our own means is our unique version of the flesh.

Like the word world, the word flesh has several meanings in the Bible.  One meaning is simply our bodies - our literal flesh and bones.  The Bible says "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).  Jesus came in bodily form -- flesh and blood.

But there is another use of the word flesh, referring to our sinful thought patterns and actions that have developed over time.  It is our mechanism for getting our needs met apart from God.  Once we become a Christian, the desire to do things our own way and in our own strength apart from God does not simply vanish.  No one pushes the delete button on our old programming.  Now there is a struggle between the flesh with its default button of selfish thought patterns and actions, and the spirit with its desire to please God.

When we come to Jesus Christ, we are born again and have a new spirit birthed within us.  We are saved from the penalty of sin.  However, as long as we walk this earth and live in an earthly body, we will battle with the power of sin.  Our old fleshly desires war against our new spiritual desires.  While we fight battles with the world systems on the outside, we also fight battles with the flesh on the inside - our mind, will, and emotions.

I live on a lake and we are blessed and plagued with various winged foul.  Occasionally, we are invaded by Canadian geese that don't have a visa and need to move back up north where they came from.  Strangely, some of the confused air travelers have stopped mid flight and settled in shopping center parking lots.  For some strange reason, the geese have decided parking lots are fabulous places to start a family.  Momma and papa goose scoop out a nest under a tree and proceed to lay eggs.  Momma does her job of sitting on the eggs and papa does his job of protecting his family.  He squawks and spits at shoppers simply minding their own business, charges curious kids, and struts around like he owns the place.

One day, I watched as a male goose waddled determinedly over to a mini-van and began furiously attacking the rear hubcap.  The confused foul saw his reflection and pecked away at his mirrored image.  The poor thing had no idea he was fighting himself and just about broke his beak.

Now friend, we are learning about how to replace the lies with the truth but sometimes we need to realize that we are pecking at our own reflection.  Sometimes we are fighting against our own poor choices and weaknesses.  Sure Satan notices and takes advantages of those weaknesses.  That's how any opponent makes his conquest, but we have to take responsibility for our fleshly choices; admit our sins, confess our mistakes, and repent - turn and go in the opposite direction.

The world, the flesh, and the devil are so intertwined that they can hardly be separated. Ultimately, Satan is the chief conductor driving the train of lies, and he's driving it right off a cliff.  But remember this; he can never make you do anything.  We always have a choice.  God always provides a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I know that I am a new creation in Christ.  However, I also know that I still battle many patterns of past thinking and ways of getting my needs met apart from Christ.  Help me to see when I am walking in the flesh, and then help me to turn and learn to walk in the Spirit.  Help me to retrain my mind with Your truth and walk in tandem with You.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
It is easy to blame poor behavior and circumstances on the devil, but we can never say, "The devil made me do it."  He might suggest it, but we always have a choice.

Make a list of ways you can safeguard your mind against temptation.

Pray and ask God to reveal any old pre-Christian habit patterns or thought patterns that need to be changed in your life.

If you'd like to comment on today's devotion, visit Sharon's blog at http://sharonjaynes.com/blog/

More From The Girlfriends
One area of our lives that must be reprogrammed once we become a Christian is the way we see ourselves.  The devil tells us that we are not good enough, but God says that we are chosen, holy, and precious, worthy, gifted children of His.  If you need help changing the way you see yourself, then take a look at Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.  Isn't it time you start seeing yourself as God sees you?

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]

June 26, 2009
The Strength of Weakness
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak" (Isaiah 40: 29 NCV).

Friend To Friend
Sandpaper people make me tired -- literally.  Dealing with difficult people drains emotional energy and dulls mental consistency.  Exhaustion hovers over every interaction we have with a sandpaper person while the spiritual questions that arise from that interaction drive us to our knees.  It is a good thing.  Anything or anyone who keeps us broken before God can be counted as a blessing.  He uses those difficult relationships to refine and define the very best in us, calling us to a higher standard in every relationship.  Without the right kind of strength and enough of that strength, we are doomed to failure in getting along with the people who rub us the wrong way. 

Strength is in great demand.  Everywhere we look gyms, fitness centers and health clubs are popping up, all offering "the one and only" fitness program that will enable us to live the good life, all the way to our hundredth birthday and with the looks of Katherine Zeta Jones or Danzelle Washington while doing so.  Billboards and infomercials tell us to lift those weights, run that mile, stretch those muscles and drink that shake.  Kickboxing videos are flying off the shelves and trainers are being hired to be personal "Directors of Pain and Suffering".  It seems as if we are determined to be healthy and strong.  Honestly, I must admit that the human body is an amazing creation. 

Every 24 hours:

Our heart beats 103,689 times.

Our blood travels 168,000,000 miles.

We breathe 23,040 times.

We eat 3 1/2 pounds of food.

We drink 2.9 quarts of liquid.

We speak 4,800 words.

We move 750 muscles.

We exercise 7,000,000 brain cells.

No wonder we are tired! And when it comes to diet, we are told to eat bean sprouts instead of chocolate.  I don't think so.  I prefer Garfield's five-step diet:

1.      No seconds, get it all the first time.

2.      Never start a diet cold turkey, better lasagna or roast beef.

3.      Since vegetables are a must -- try carrot cake, zucchini bread or pumpkin pie.

4.      Try to cut back, leave the cherries off your hot fudge sundaes.

5.      If that doesn't work, hang around people bigger than you.

Diet and exercise are good and right, but physical strength is not what I am after.  I long for an inner strength that plays out in every relationship and makes it possible to deal with and even embrace those people who constantly rub us the wrong way.  Sandpaper people seem to sense weakness and then use it to their advantage. Our slightest emotional waver in stability is their signal for action. 

I want to be strong, but I am interested in the kind of strength far beyond what any weight machine or diet plan can produce.  I am seeking the inner strength only God can give; the lasting strength that is necessary to get along with sandpaper people.  Relationships with sandpaper people are depleting relationships, consuming "emotional black holes" that are capable of draining every ounce of energy we possess. If we are not careful, the difficult relationships will craft our emotional bankruptcy. 

Queen Esther was a strong young woman whose life models the kind of strength we need in dealing with difficult people.  Esther was a very unlikely candidate to be Queen of Persia.  However, God always seems to use the most unlikely servants to do His greatest work.  Esther was an orphan, an ordinary Jewish teenage girl who seemed to be in over her head as the Queen.  I can attest to the fact that sandpaper people are notorious for digging the hole, shoving us in while burying us under a mound of futility.  However, the crisis in Esther's life, brought on by her sandpaper person, strengthened Esther for the calling of God on her life. 

Haman, the King's right-hand man, was a heavy-duty sandpaper person in Esther's life.  He hated all Jews and Esther in particular.  Out of his hatred came a plan that would persuade King Ahasueras to pass a law demanding that all people bow to the king or die.  Knowing the strong faith of the Jewish people, Haman was certain they would refuse to bend a knee to anyone but God.  When Esther heard of the plot, she was terrified because she was a Jew, a fact she had neglected to tell her husband, the King.  Haman's law would mean her death. 

Sensing impending doom, Esther and her people fasted and prayed for God's direction and protection.  Then she did what many women do when faced with a crisis.  She prepared a huge meal.  Esther threw a dinner party -- in honor of her husband and for Haman - a very smart move on her part.  It was during this celebration that Esther revealed Haman's villainous plot along with the juicy little tidbit that she was indeed a Jew.  King Ahasueras was not angry with Esther but he was furious at Haman's plot and condemned him to die.  The Jewish nation was saved through the faith and strength of Esther.

After examining the life of Esther, we see the strength and confidence with which she handled the biggest crisis of her life and the grittiest sandpaper person she had ever encountered.  At first glance, she seems to be a woman of great strength when, in reality, she was terrified and weak, her heart laced and flawed with human frailty -- just like us.  Her weakness was the perfect setting for a miracle because, as Paul writes, God's best work is transforming weakness into strength.  "My power works best in your weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).  When it comes to dealing with people who rub us the wrong way, we need to embrace the truth that while our strength is inadequate, God's strength is more than enough. 

Let's Pray
Father, I am so weak and so desperate for You.  I cannot love the sandpaper people in my life without Your strength and power.  Please help me choose to love these people and to view them as divine opportunities, not just interruptions.  Give me the patience to respond in the right way when they irritate me.  Help me look beyond their sandpaper mask and see the hurt that causes them to act like they do.  Right now, I lay down my human responses to abrasive people and choose against them.  I trust You, Lord, to love these difficult people through me. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn


Read and memorize 2 Corinthians 12:9.   
Identify the emotional buttons most often "pushed" by the sandpaper people in your life.   
What steps can you take to diffuse those buttons and respond to difficult people like Jesus would?   
Is there anyone in your life who needs your forgiveness today?   
Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive?

More From The Girls
I know it is hard to control emotional responses when dealing with difficult people.  Just about the time I think I have this sandpaper people thing down pat, a new sandpaper person pops up in my life and I feel like a beginner when it comes to difficult relationships.  The important decision is never to give up.  Aren't you glad that God never gave up on us?

Mary's book, Sandpaper People, offers 12 practical steps for dealing with the difficult people in your life. A study guide is included and will help you succeed in establishing a habit of bible study and prayer that will equip you to build healthy relationships. 

Would you like a weekly online bible study?  Check out Mary's weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey.

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


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