Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

July 27, 2009
It's What's on the Inside that Counts
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV).

Friend To Friend
My husband, son, and I had traveled to Cancun, Mexico for a vacation.  It was fun family time, but the trip home was grueling.  The airport was full of hot, sweaty, smelly vacationers anxious to return home.  Unfortunately, because of various delays, the flight was rescheduled for a later time.  Filled to capacity, the darkness of the night could not hide the fact that the aircraft was old, dirty, and decrepit.  It didn't matter that the flight crew spoke little English, because the plane was so loud that we couldn't hear what was said anyway.  My son kept insisting, "Mom, when we walked by the plane to get on, I saw duct tape on the left rear wing!"  When the flight attendant demonstrated the emergency procedures, we all paid very close attention.  As a matter of fact, I don't think I ever remember seeing such an attentive group of passengers. 

After we were finally airborne, the flight attendant announced that because of flight delays, the Charlotte customs office, our final destination, would be closed when we arrived.  So we had to stop over in Florida to go through US customs. 

At midnight, ninety hot, tired, disgruntled passengers disembarked, checked their carryon bags through customs, picked up their luggage at the baggage claim, checked it through customs, and then returned to board the same rickety plane.  This didn't sound too complicated, except for one problem: one of our suitcases, containing my husband and son's dirty clothes, did not make it to baggage claim.  It was missing, probably somewhere back in Mexico.  We were a little upset, but filled out the necessary claim form for lost luggage, hoping for the best.  After all, it was only clothes, and dirty ones at that.

The next day as he settled down for some quiet time with the Lord, my husband reached for his Bible.  But it was nowhere to be found. 

"Honey, have you seen my Bible?" he asked.  "I can't find it anywhere!"  As soon as he finished his sentence, he remembered where he had put it.  His Bible was in the lost suitcase with all the dirty clothes.  Suddenly, the suitcase was no longer unimportant.  This was the Bible that I had given to him on our honeymoon years earlier, the Bible that I had rebound on our tenth anniversary, the Bible with study notes written on every page. We began to pray.  We called and asked others to pray.  We had to get that suitcase back!

As I spoke to the Lord about the suitcase, He spoke to my heart.  Isn't it amazing how the realization of what was inside the suitcase changed its value?  So it is with My people.  You may look at someone and see only filthy rags, but I see a beautiful creation and a possible dwelling place for My Son, and that makes them valuable.

Never again will I look at the dirty and downtrodden the same way.  I realized that day that each person has great value as a possible container of something -- Someone -- very special, Jesus Christ, God's own Son.  He stands at the doors of many who, in our eyes may appear as lost luggage, filled with filthy rags.  But now when I see such a person, I try to imagine, as though I had X-ray vision, a little black Bible hidden somewhere among the clutter, and I can see them as my Heavenly Father sees them --valuable, dearly loved, and precious.

Let's Pray
Dear Father, help me to remember that beautiful treasures are often contained in most unlikely packages.  Help me to view each person in my world as God sees them --as a possible conduit for the Holy Spirit created by God.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you enjoy collecting jewelry or other small items of great value?  You can turn each one of these personal treasures into a prayer and ministry opportunity.  You will need the following:

Ÿ         5-10 of your favorite valuables; and a safe place to put them, yet visible so you don't forget that they have a purpose for this activity.

Ÿ         5-10 names of people you have a desire to begin seeing as God's treasures.  These may be people that have not accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  They may be people who do know Christ, yet you have a difficult time loving or viewing as valuable to God.  There may also be someone you know who has a difficult time loving themselves or seeing their life with value and purpose.

Ÿ         A pen or pencil

Ÿ         A pad of small-sized sticky notes

Ÿ         Write the name of each person, separately, on a sticky-note or label tab.

Ÿ         Then place each sticky-note/label tab on a separate valuable.

Ÿ         Place the valuables where you will see them daily, and commit to pray for each person listed on each object accordingly.

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

PS.  This is for those of you who read to the end J, we did get the suitcase back -- Bible intact.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.  This resource will help anyone who longs to hear God's voice in their daily lives!  You can find it at http://www.sharonjaynes.com/.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

July 28, 2009
The Chosen Woman
Mary Southerland

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

Friend To Friend
After teaching elementary school for several years, I decided that my students would never again play any game that required children to choose teams because, inevitably, the least popular or most athletically challenged children would be left standing alone, on display, easy targets for derogatory labels and ridicule. We began choosing teams on the basis of birthday month, favorite flavor of ice cream or color of clothing worn that day.  The result was that every child was chosen. 

The reality is that we all long to be chosen, loved by someone who sees us as we really are and recognizes our worth.  Esther was chosen by God but like many of us, felt unworthy of that choice.  Esther was an orphan, an insignificant and unknown Jewish girl living with her uncle, Mordecai, when she was chosen to be Queen, the wife of Persian King Ahasueras.  Esther reigned for only a short time when Mordecai learned of a plot to assassinate the King.  Mordecai told Esther who told Ahasueras. The guilty men were executed and the king's life was spared but life for the Jewish people became extremely difficult. 

Haman, a very influential but evil officer in the king's court, was promoted to the second highest position in the land.  Haman hated the Jews and convinced the King to issue a law that all people had to bow to the King or they would be executed.  That law would mean certain death for not only Esther and Mordecai, but for every Jew who bowed only to God.  And there was one other small problem.  The King did not know that his new queen was a Jew. As Esther and her people fasted and prayed for God's direction, Esther planned a banquet for the king and Haman.  During the banquet, Esther revealed Haman's plot and the fact that she was a Jew.  The King condemned Haman to die and saved the Jewish nation.  In short, God raised Esther up to save her people.

Esther was a woman just like us, with hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses.  She was imperfect, insecure and also chosen to be queen. 

Esther 4:14 "And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this" (ICB).

Esther was chosen - not just by a King but by God.  God placed Esther in a high position of leadership at a very special time and for a very special reason.  The same is true in your life and in mine. You are no accident and where you are is no surprise to God.  Situational ethics is now being taught in many schools.  One teacher, wanting to illustrate that human reasoning is many times wrong, gave the following situation to a class of students: "How would you advise a mother who was pregnant with her fifth child based on the following facts. Her husband had syphilis. She had tuberculosis. Their first child was born blind, their second child died while their third child was born deaf and the fourth child had tuberculosis.  The mother is considering an abortion. Would you advise her to have one?" Most of the students agreed that she should have an abortion.  The teacher then announced, "If you said 'Yes' you would have just killed the great composer Ludwig von Beethoven!"

You and I were created in response to the loving plan of God.

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

We were created in love ... for love.  God Himself supervised our formation. We were created for a special purpose and with a unique plan for our lives.  In other words, we were created by God for God!

Psalm 100:3 "Know that the LORD is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends" (NCV).

In this verse, "LORD" literally means "Father" or "dearest daddy."  We were not created to be His puppet.  We were created for an intimate relationship with God.  He created us and chose us.  And just as God had a special plan for Esther, He has a special plan for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know what I am planning for you," says the LORD. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future" (NCV).

The best plan for our lives rests solely in the hands of the One who created us.  In the early days of the automobile, a man's Model T Ford stalled in the middle of the road. No matter what he tried, the car wouldn't start.  Finally, a chauffeured limousine pulled up behind him and a wiry, energetic man stepped from the back seat, offering his assistance.  After tinkering for a few moments, the stranger said, "Now try it!" Immediately the engine leaped to life. The well dressed man then identified himself as Henry Ford. "I designed and built these cars," he said, "So I know what to do when something goes wrong."

God is our creator.  When our lives are broken, He can heal them.  When the plan falls apart, He can fix it.  We are wanted, loved and cherished by God.  We belong to Him.  We are chosen.     

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for loving me.  Thank You for the plan You have for my life.  I want to follow You and obey you each day - for Your glory, Lord.  I want others to examine my life and know that the only possible explanation is You.  When I am in trouble, remind me to turn to You first for the answers I need.  Help me to walk in the Light, to doubt my doubts and to celebrate the fact that because I am chosen ... I am blessed.  I love You, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
In your journal, record a word, phrase or sentence that describes your identity in Christ, using the word below: 

            C         _________________________________________   

            H          _________________________________________ 

            O         _________________________________________ 

            S          _________________________________________ 

            E          _________________________________________ 

            N          _________________________________________


More From The Girlfriends
There are still times when I find it difficult to wrap my heart and mind around the unfathomable truth that God chose me -- for anything.  I guess that is the wonder of it all to me.  He loves this unlovable daughter.  He chose this unlikely servant.  The only explanation is grace -- God's amazing grace.  My every breath should be a celebration of that grace, knowing that in Him, I am loved, worthy and chosen.  Join me, my friend, in celebrating our worth in His eyes. 

Need help in your walk with Christ?  Check out Mary's weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey and drop by Mary's online store for MP3s, CDs, books and bible studies that will help you on your 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]

July 29, 2009
Stars
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." (Psalm 147:4, NIV)

Friend To Friend
A few years back, as my kids were playing with Play-Dough at the kitchen table, they enthusiastically called me over to view their creative masterpieces. I noticed that my son Hunter had used a small cookie cutter to make a bunch of blue stars.  As I looked at the work of his small hands, I was reminded of a Bible verse.  So I asked them, "Did you guys know that the Bible talks about stars?"  I continued, "It says that God made all of the stars in the sky and has named each one!"  Without hesitation, my daughter Kennedy, who was five years old at the time, excitedly responded "Like George, Junior, and Kelsey?"

After the laughter waned, we had a simple, yet special conversation about God's love for us.  I really enjoy those moments of simplicity ... the times when we pause to think about God's handiwork and His Word as it applies to us.  I can't help but shake my head when I consider this thought: if God directed His attention to the stars and named each and every last one ... how much more does He direct His attention to His children who are made in His image and purposed in His love?

It's not uncommon for me to watch my children play in the backyard.  While I do care what they say to one another, how they behave, and if they're safe, I love to watch them just because they're my kids and because I love them.  Do you know that God delights in you and loves you simply because you are His?  Not because of what you do or don't do, not because of what you say or don't say and not because of what neighborhood you live in or what dress size you wear.  He just -- flat out -- loves you!

Psalm 145:20a says, "The LORD watches over all who love him...." 

I'm so glad that I don't have to perform for God in order to be loved by Him.  Just like the stars in the heavens, we were handmade by the Master of Life.  He watches over us, loves us, and extends mercy to us through Jesus.  I need that mercy daily.  We all do. I hope that today you will intentionally remember, this and look for opportunities to extend that same attention, love, and mercy to the people in your life.

Let's Pray
Dear God, Thank You for loving me just because I'm Yours.  I've spent too many days not relishing that simple truth.  Please open the eyes of my heart to how personal Your love is and give me to strength to extend that love to the people in my life. 

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Tell your child, children, or a special child in your life, that you love them unconditionally regardless of what they do or say.

Have you extended love to a friend recently?  Call someone today with a word of unsolicited encouragement.

Write God a love letter -- thank Him, worship Him and love Him.

More From The Girlfriends
I recorded a modern version of the old hymn "The Love of God" on my Unsearchable CD. In my opinion, this lyric is one of the finest ever written. Please visit my facebook music page to listen to the song for free and to worship along. Here's the lyric:

The Love of God

by Frederick Lehman, Addl. Chorus by Mark Harris

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

And my lips will sing of a steadfast love
For I've been redeemed by the Saviors blood
And my heart is clean, all my sins are gone
I have been set free by the love of God

To purchase Gwen's version of "The Love of God" via iTunes, CLICK HERE.

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]

July 30, 2009
Help! I'm Angry!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
Today, I received an email from one of my long time friends, Sally, asking for prayer.  Sally is one of those moms - you know - the ones who really have their act together when it comes to being creative and efficient.  Sally is also quick to encourage other young moms to "hang in there" when they want to run away from home.  But today, Sally is the one looking for the line where she can go to resign as a mom.  It happens to the best of us, doesn't it?

It is summer and all four kids are home.  During the month of May, Sally spent countless hours on a special summer project for her children - an individual "Fun Box" uniquely designed for each child to pull out during the summer months when boredom threatened.  Let's see, that is four children and three months per child which equals twelve boxes guaranteed to keep her kids happily occupied. 

The good news is that the kids loved the boxes!  The bad news is that those twelve boxes are already gone and according to my friend, so is her sanity.  Furthermore, the kids don't go back to school until mid-August, so she is scrambling for ways to make the rest of the summer an enjoyable time for her family.  Sally's biggest problem at the moment seems to be anger and how to help both her and her kids deal with their anger in a constructive, God-honoring way.  Controlling anger is a subject we all need to address.

Anger is not sin, but the place we give it in our life and the way we respond to it can be.  God created us with emotions, which means He has a plan for controlling and using those emotions for good.  Our children are both grown and now have children of their own, but looking back, I realize that we have all learned a lot about dealing with anger.  While these pointers are specifically directed at moms as they interact with their children, I think we can all benefit from taking a closer look at how we deal with anger.

·         Kids, especially young ones who don't know how to control their emotions may strike out by hitting, biting, pushing  or yelling at another child, or even a parent or caregiver. It's up to parents to teach them the right ways to express their anger and frustration.  Right now, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you God's ways for dealing with anger.

·         Help your child understand that anger is a normal emotion, but one that we must learn to control. 

·         Help children identify their anger.  Some kids yell and scream while others get an upset stomach, headache or even cry without really knowing why. 

·         Identify the real issue behind your child's anger and talk about it.  It may be a response to a new rule or to correct their behavior.

·         Teach cool-down techniques.  For example, counting to 10, taking deep breaths or writing angry thoughts on a piece of paper that you later tear up.  Physical activity, such as relay races, swimming, riding a bike or playing an outside game can help children control emotions and work off emotional energy.

·         Help children make a list of good choices they can make and good things they can do the next time they are angry. 

·         Make sure your child has a healthy diet and gets plenty of rest.

·         Limit exposure to violence on TV, on the internet or in electronic games.

·         Help your child handle stress by instituting a "quiet time" each day during which they listen to praise music and just rest.

·         Pray with your children, asking God to help them control their anger.  Encourage your child to pray for the people who make them angry.

·         Encourage your child to ask for and give forgiveness when their anger has caused hurt feelings.

·         Model anger management in your own life and diligently guard the emotional setting of your home. 

·         Choose verses from the bible about how to control emotions such as anger.  Memorize these verses with your children.  Keep them posted on the refrigerator door, bathroom mirror or dashboard of your car as a constant reminder that God will help us when we are angry. 

Anger flourishes in uncertain times, is highly contagious and can destroy everything in its path.  Don't let it.  Instead, choose now to control anger instead of allowing it to control you. 

Let's Pray
Father, forgive me for the times when I have allowed my anger to spill out on others, causing hurt and harm.  Teach me how to control my emotions through the power of the Holy Spirit and the discipline of Your Word.  Help me to model Your heart before my family and friends as I choose against anger and wage peace. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize five verses dealing with anger management.  Record them in your journal.

Think back to the last time you lost your temper.  What were the consequences?

If you could go back and change anything about that experience, what would it be?

What one hedge of protection can you place in your life today that will help you control anger tomorrow?

More From The Girlfriends
We can learn to diffuse anger in and around us.  God's Word is clear and powerful when it comes to dealing with emotions that can spiral out of control.  Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Study Anger Management 911 and learn how to control anger.  Download one of Mary's most popular life stories, The Mad Board.

Be sure to visit Mary's online store and check out her 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
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

June 31, 2009
Beauty & Worth
Angela L. Craig

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


Today's Truth
Song of Songs 4:7 (NIV) "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

Friend To Friend
Beauty and worth - these two concepts seem to be the ones we as women struggle with most. Would you agree?

It is not hard to figure out how this has happened. Turn on any television or open any magazine and you are faced with the female "expectation." In the eighties, we saw the commercial, "I can bring home the bacon...fry it up in a pan...and never let you forget you're a man." Now in 2009, we have American Idol's "Bikini Girl." Fabulous!

The report, Beauty at any Cost, noted U.S. women spent some $7 billion a year on cosmetics and beauty products. Friends, just think of the time and money we invest in an attempt to look better. Society has us convinced that the pursuit of beauty will reward us with approval and happiness, but honestly, do we feel any better about ourselves? Do we feel more beautiful or more valued?

A few nights ago, I was reading Eugene Peterson's book, Run with the Horses-The Quest for Life at Its Best in which the author tells the story of the Prophet Jeremiah from Jeremiah, Chapter 13. The words absolutely jumped off the page! I actually screamed so loud that my poor husband thought I was on fire. In reality, it was the gift of God giving me a big "aha moment" through this narrative. I pray that you hear His voice as you read these words too!

One day in the bazaar, he [Jeremiah] had bought a fine linen garment, the kind worn for a wedding ceremony or a religious festival. I always imagine Jeremiah making a production out of the purchase, spending most of the afternoon bargaining with the shopkeeper (not in itself an unusual practice in the Middle East) so that a lot of people would know of the purchase. The word would get around: "What is Jeremiah buying that fine linen garment for? What special event is coming up? What was he invited to that we weren't?"

Then Jeremiah made a show of wadding up this beautiful piece of clothing and sticking it in a rock crevice to keep it safe until the time that he was going to wear it. Later he went back to retrieve it, as if to wear it for the special occasion. It was rotten, in tatters because of exposure to the elements and the insects.

The people got the message: Israel was the fine garment that God wanted to wear, but she wasn't ready yet to be used for His purposes. She wanted to live an ordinary life first, so she wadded herself up and stuffed herself into the secure routines, separating herself from what God had at great cost purchased her for, but when that day comes, it will turn out that she is good for nothing. The beautiful moral life that she set aside for a more convenient day will turn out, when she picks it up, to be mildewed and moth-eaten.1

When I read that excerpt, I felt like the writer made a mistake. He really meant to put my name in the place of Israel. It should have read: Angela got the message. Angela was the fine garment that God wanted to wear, but she wasn't ready yet to be used for His purposes. She wanted to live an ordinary life first, so she wadded herself up and stuffed herself into the secure routines, separating herself from what God had at great cost purchased her for.

You see ladies, we have no idea that we are the finest linen, bought at the highest price, loved and cherished by the King of all kings! If we did, we would quit trying so hard to be everything that the world expects us to be. Instead of stuffing ourselves into a crevice to be destroyed by mildew and moths, we would live as God-made, gifted women, like the beautiful garment He created us to be.

It is time to stop the masquerade.  It is through God's eyes -- not the world's - that we need to view and capture our true beauty and worth.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you" (Song of Songs 4: 7 NIV).

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I need to see my beauty and worth through Your eyes, not the opinions of the world. Help me. Bring my mind into alignment with what the Bible says about me and my purpose on earth. Surround me with encouraging people of faith that will build me up and not tear me down. Thank You for making me a woman of beauty and worth!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It Is Your Turn

1) You are beautiful and you have immeasurable worth.  Meditate on Psalm 139. If you do not have a Bible, you can look up this passage online at: www.crosswalk.com under the heading "Search the Bible" on the right side of the home page.

2)  Self-care is important but sometimes beauty can become an obsession and negative self-talk can become destructive. Evaluate how much time, money, or negative self-talk you spend on outer beauty. Is there anything that leaves you feeling mildewed or moth-eaten? Ask God to help spotlight areas which may be hidden to you. A trusted friend can be helpful at seeing these areas as well.

3) Connecting with others by enrolling in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.

1 Peterson, Eugene. Run With The Horses -- The Quest for Life at Its Best. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books (1983) Page 140.
`

[Judy Harder]

August 3, 2009
Messenger from Heaven
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Katie lay in her bed trying not to think about the pain in her abdomen.  For years she had taken care of many patients as she nursed the sick back to health.  But now she was the patient.  Just four weeks had passed since her doctor said those words that kept echoing in her mind.

"Katie, it isn't an ulcer, like we originally thought.  It's cancer - pancreatic cancer.  And it has already spread to your liver and your lungs."

"How long do I have?" she questioned. 

"I'd say about three to six months," he replied.

Three to six months.  She replayed her past fifty years on the stage of her mind.  Her thoughts were filled with frantic questions.   "How did this happen?  What went wrong?  How did I get to this point?" 

Katie had accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was a young child.  But that seemed like a lifetime ago, and in a way it was.  Now her thoughts were filled with shame, regret, and guilt.  The verses of the woman at the well came to mind.  Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman and said, "Woman, where is your husband?"

She answered and said, "I have no husband."

Jesus replied, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' for you have had five husbands and the one who you now have is not your husband."

"Lord, you know all that I've done," Katie prayed.  "How I've fallen away from following You.  I've been married twice and the man I'm living with now is not my husband.  Is that why this is happening to me?  Am I being punished?  People have told me that You still love me, but I feel so alone.  Have you left me too, like all the other men in my life?"

Katie reached for her Bible and it fell open to Luke 3 where John baptized Jesus.  "And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven saying. 'Thou art my beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.'"

Tears ran down Katie's dry cheeks like streams in the desert.  "Where are you Lord?  Please don't desert me."

Katie turned her head to look out at the sun glistening over the tranquil lake in her backyard.  Suddenly, as though he emerged from the pages of Luke 3, a dove fluttered to her window sill and perched on its ledge.

Katie hugged her Bible to her chest as she and the dove locked eyes.  He seemed to say, "Yes Katie.  I do love you.  You may have strayed away from the path that I had marked out for you, but that hasn't changed My love.  I never left you and I'll stay right here by your side until the day I come to take you home."

The dove stayed on the window sill for quite some time, and Katie thanked the Lord for sending this messenger like the one from long ago.  Indescribable warmth fell over Katie's body as she realized that God did indeed still love her.

Three months later, that dove came again to my friend Katie.  Only this time, when he soared back toward heaven, Katie's spirit went with him.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that there is no sin so great that Your grace will not forgive, no place so far that Your love cannot reach, no heart so cold that Your mercy cannot melt.  Thank You for saving me -- for taking my filthy rags and giving me a robe of righteousness, for taking my sinful nature and making me into a new creation, for taking my sorrow and giving me Your joy.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Write down any sin in your life that is greater than God's grace.

Write down any sin in your life that God cannot forgive.

Write down any sin in your life where what Christ did on the cross is not enough.

Dear sister, I do hope that your paper is blank.

Can you relate to Katie in this devotion?  If so, how?

What would you have said to Katie had you been by her bedside during her last days?

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon daily devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God.  To learn more about this resource, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  While you're there, check out the summer resource special -- Building and Effective Women's Ministry.

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]

August 4, 2009
I Surrender!
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
1 Peter 3:10-11 "Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here's what you do: say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth" (MSG).

Friend To Friend
"I'm done with it! This battle just isn't worth fighting!  I'm tired.  It's hopeless."  As I listened to my girlfriend verbally bleed from her wounded heart, I silently lifted up a prayer and asked God for wisdom.  Her pain was real.  Her troubles were not imaginary.  She was desperate.  She wanted a way out of the maze of disappointment and betrayal she had gotten lost in.  Out of the strong undertow of angst that had swept away her hope.  Out of the darkness that had covered her life and taken her captive. 

No easy answers flooded my mind.  I had no slick, three-point "sermonette" to offer her. I'm not a therapist.  I don't even play one on TV.  I'm just a Christian girl who tries to be there for her friends.  So, I didn't feel wise or brilliant that day as I gently, but confidently said: "I think the only way to win this battle is to surrender." 

Not to the problem, but to the solution.  Not to the conflict, but to the resolution.  Both the solution and the resolution are found in the same nail scarred hands.  In order to win in any earthly struggle or relationship battle, we must put away the weapons of our wounding words, and set aside the arsenal of our angry actions.  Then with knees to the earth, we must raise a white flag in surrender...to the King.

What do we need to surrender?  Our pride and expectations...our gripes and lamentations...our calculated manipulations...our righteous indignation...everything.

In order to live victoriously and win the battles we face in life, we've just got to surrender our flesh to the Spirit. 

"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless--that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing"
(1 Peter 3: 8-9) MSG.

On the battlefield of war, when we raise the white flag of surrender, we lose.  But on the battlefield of life, when we surrender, we win -- if, and only if we surrender to God and not to our circumstances.  We cannot control the variables beyond our own responses, but God will surely bless the woman that walks in obedience to Him.

In a public address titled "Absolute Surrender," Andrew Murray said: "God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him. The condition for obtaining God's full blessing is absolute surrender to Him."

Are you ready to wave that white flag?  Blessings await you, friend.

Let's Pray
Lord, This is such a tough one!  My life is complicated.  It is very hard for me to relinquish control, yet I know that You are calling me to do just that.  Help me to surrender my life into Your hands.  Please dissolve my resentment, anger, fears and frustrations.  Help me to choose Your ways, so that I can obtain the full blessings of absolute surrender. 

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take a moment to thoughtfully consider what barriers exist in your heart that keep you from being willing to surrender.

Pray that God would crush those barriers for His purposes.

Meditate on the lyric of this famous classic hymn as you lift your heart in surrendered worship:

I SURRENDER ALL

Words by: J.W. Van Deventer and Music by: W.S. Weeden

All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live 

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now

All to Jesus, I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine

All to Jesus, I surrender
Lord, I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessing fall on me

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

More From The Girlfriends
Friend, God can work miracles in any and every situation!  No matter what you face, you can choose how you respond to your circumstances.  The more I dive into His Word, the more I understand that God's power is made strong through our weakness.  Surrender your weakness to Him today and find God's strength.

God delights to transform lives...including your own.  In her book, Broken Into Beautiful, Gwen Smith invites you to experience how the unconditional love of Jesus can change your life and to then stand back and watch the wonder of grace at work.  He is willing to eternally forgive and forget and to transform your life into something beautiful.

Into FaceBook? Check out Gwen's MUSIC PAGE on FaceBook - leave a message on her wall -- listen to a few songs -- share the page with your FB friends! (Listen to her song, "Take My Heart Captive" while you are there. It relates to today's devotion!)

Gwen Smith is a worship artist, songwriter, speaker, and author. For more information, visit her website at: www.gwensmith.net.

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]

August 5, 2009
A Contrite Heart
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 NIV).

Friend To Friend
In the Old Testament, there is an interesting account of two kings, two sins, two convictions, and two responses.  What makes it interesting is that one king's sin doesn't seem so bad, but his kingdom was taken away, and yet the other king, who committed a heinous act, is referred to as a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's take a look at these two stories.

King Saul was "elected" the first King of Israel, mainly because he was tall, dark, and handsome.  He would have looked great on TV, if there had been such a thing back then.  Oh, he didn't really want to be king at first and hid when the people began chanting his name.  But, he sheepishly accepted the kingship, and God anointed him with the Holy Spirit.  Things went pretty well for King Saul at first.  He won a few battles, gained the respect of his followers, and gathered the booty from the conquered foes.

As a matter of fact, Saul became so confident that he decided being a King wasn't so hard after all.  He decided he didn't need God or the prophet Samuel who was appointed over him.  After each battle, Saul was supposed to wait for the prophet Samuel to come and offer sacrifices to the Lord.  But Saul disobeyed God, and offered the sacrifice himself -- basically making himself a prophet.  Samuel arrived just as Saul was putting the finishing touches on the sacrifice.

"What have you done?" Samuel exclaimed.

Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.  So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering" (1 Samuel 13:11-12).

Oh, I could quote Saul word for word, but let me sum it up for you.  Instead of repenting of his sin and asking for forgiveness, Saul...

Defended himself   
Justified his actions   
Blamed others   
Tried to cover up his sin   
Acted as though nothing had happened   
Was more concerned with looking good to his peers than repenting of his sin (1 Samuel 15:30). 
What was Saul's most heinous sin?  I don't think that it was actually assuming the role of prophet and the offering of the sacrifice.  I believe that was an outgrowth of his sin.  Saul's sin was pride.  And even though he was caught red-handed with the blood of the animal sacrifice still on his hands, Saul did not repent of the sin of pride.  He was an unrepentant, unbroken man.

Now let's look at the second king, with the second sin, and the second response.

King David was Saul's successor.  While Saul was the people's choice as king, David was God's choice.  One day, while the rest of the men were at war, King David was lollygagging around the palace.  While strolling on the roof, he noticed his next door neighbor bathing on her roof.  He saw, he wanted, and he took.  David committed adultery with his neighbor's wife, Bathsheba, and subsequently plotted the murder of her husband to cover it up.  Several months later, when David was confronted by the prophet Nathan, he did not try to defend himself, justify his action, blame others, or cover up his sin.

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13).

David repented before the Lord, mourned before his people, and penned two beautiful psalms humbling himself before generations yet to come.  Yes, he was "a man after God's own heart." 

As we see with these two kings, God is more concerned with the depth of our repentance than the breadth of our sin.  As Martin Luther once said, "God creates out of nothing.  Therefore until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him."

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, forgive me of the sin of pride in my life.  I admit that I have tried to take things into my own hands, have not waited for Your direction, and have thought more highly of myself than I ought. Help me to be more like Jesus, who, "being in the very nature, God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing" (Philippians 2:5,6)  Break my pride, Lord, as a loving master breaks the stubborn will of a wild mare.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you see any areas of pride in your life?

Is there a sin that you have been hiding rather than repenting of?

Are you more concerned about what God thinks of you or what other people think of you?

Does your life reflect the attitude of King Saul or King David?

What is your attitude when confronted about sin in your life?

(Dear friend, these are hard questions.  I do not ask them lightly, but struggle with you to be a woman after God's own heart.)

Write out your own prayer of repentance for any sin that you've been holding on to.

To comment on today's devotion, visit Sharon's blog at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Your Scars are Beautiful to God. To learn more about turning pain into purpose, hurt into hope, and miseries into ministry, check out this life-changing resource.  It also includes a Bible Study guide.

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]

August 6, 2009
The Habit of Forgiving
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (NIV).

Friend to Friend
Several years ago, a family friend showed up at our front door with an electric sander for my husband, Dan, encouraging him to try woodworking as a stress relieving hobby.  Over the next several months, Dan not only developed a love for woodworking but created some beautiful pieces of furniture in the process.  Being a supportive wife and the main benefactor of his newfound hobby, I felt a responsibility to encourage my husband in any way that I could.

For every birthday or special event, I bought him a power tool and strategically distributed a list of specific power tools for friends and family members to consider as a gift choice. Within a year, Dan enjoyed a fairly impressive collection of tools - which he proudly displayed in the garage -- and I had several new pieces of furniture which I proudly displayed in the house.  But by far, the most precious by-product of Dan's new hobby was watching our son, Jered, as he worked beside his daddy. Day after day, they headed out to the garage for some "daddy time."  Dan built a work bench just for Jered beside his own slightly larger work station.  Jered had his own tool box and tool belt just like his Dad's. I could hear them singing, laughing, hammering and buzzing happily away for hours.  Since Dan especially loved working with pine, he kept a good supply on hand, piling leftover or unused pieces in Jered's wood box for his own special projects. There was one problem. Jered was completely fascinated by those power tools and was constantly sneaking into the garage hoping that his dad had left one plugged in for him to use.  We had to come up with a solution -- and fast!

Christmas was just around the corner, so Dan and I went from store to store until we found the ideal gift for Jered and the perfect solution to the power tool dilemma.  It was the cutest workbench with its own set of plastic tools. We wrapped and placed the workbench under the tree, anticipating the look on Jered's face when he opened his "workshop in a box."  Christmas morning came and every gift had been opened but the strangely wrapped bulky one waiting for the resident junior carpenter.  With sheer delight, Jered ripped the paper away, revealing our "perfect" present.  Cautiously picking up the red hammer, he conducted a thorough examination of each and every tool before he turned to us, his face a picture of disappointment and determination.  "These are baby tools. I cannot use them because I am not a baby.  I have to use real tools like Daddy's tools."

With a sense of finality, Jered headed straight for the garage and certain danger.  His dad followed him outside as I prayed for just the right words of explanation for both father and son.  Kneeling down beside his son, Dan picked up the sander and gently said, "Jered, these tools were made to fit Daddy's hands."  Holding out his big hands and placing Jered's small hands in them, Dan pointed out the difference in size. He went on to explain that in Jered's hands the tools could be destructive and harm him. But in Daddy's hands, they were constructive tools that could build and create.

Revenge was never intended for our hands. It belongs in the hands of God.  Our revenge destroys while God's revenge brings justice and restoration.  Part of true forgiveness is releasing the hurt and letting go of the pain!  Instead, we often hold onto that pain, using its power to fuel the revenge we seek.  It is easy for our hearts to become bent on revenge. But the Apostle Paul issues a strong warning about revenge.  "Do not take revenge, my friends...leave room for God's wrath. 'It is mine to avenge. I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

We must make forgiveness a habit.  The apostle Peter once came to Jesus asking, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seven times seventy.'" The religious priests of Jesus' day taught that an offended person needed to forgive only three times.  Jesus' answer must have shocked Peter. Seventy times seven! Four hundred and ninety times!  How could anyone possibly keep up with that many offenses?

Exactly!  That was the point that Jesus was trying to make.  We are to keep no record of wrongs!  There should be no limit to our forgiveness because there is no limit to God's. When we refuse to forgive, we become a prisoner of our own bitterness, making the person we are unwilling to forgive our jailer!  Forgiveness cannot be conjured or worked up; it is a deliberate choice that we must continually make.  If we make the choice to forgive, God will supply all the forgiveness we need.

Let's Pray
Father, I praise You for the gift of forgiveness.  I don't understand how You could send Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for my sin.  I choose to accept His payment by faith.  Please help me to walk in Your forgiveness and grace.  And Lord, I want to forgive like You have forgiven me. Give me a humble heart and a willing spirit that longs to share Your grace and mercy with others.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize the following verses. In your journal, write each verse in your own words.  Now choose one way you can apply each verse in your life this week:


Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."   
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."   
Romans 10:10 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

More From The Girlfriends
Forgiveness is our greatest need but it is also God's greatest gift. We must choose to let go of pain and hurt, making forgiveness a life-changing habit. Who needs your forgiveness today? Don't waste another minute clinging to your anger or hurt. Forgive that person who has wounded you and set yourself free.

Mary's message, "The Power of Forgiveness" is available as both a CD and MP3 download and be sure to check out her online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.  On August 17, Mary begins a new study, How to Find Your Missing Peace. Don't miss it!

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]

August 7, 2009
Seek Me with Your Whole Heart
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). 

Friend to Friend
God promised, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).  This is more than a casual glance before heading off to work or to the carpool in the morning.  It's more than a hit and run encounter with God.  He desires to speak to us through the pages of our Bible and it requires meditating and seeking God with our whole heart.

Jesus told His followers, "If you abide in my Word then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).  Abide means to continue in, to tarry on, to dwell on, and to remain. It is not reading the Scripture for information, but for transformation.  There are many scholars who have read the Bible for information, but have never entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This reminds me of the difference between the woman who memorizes a menu at a restaurant and a woman who enjoys the food.  Only one gets truly fed.

Let me ask you, who can describe a sunset more accurately -- a blind person who has read all about sunsets (what causes the colors, the time of day they occur, the effect of clouds on the hues) or the person who has seen and experienced the vibrant oranges, blues, pinks and purples painted across the sky as the sun creeps below the horizon and the rays play peek-a-boo behind the scattered clouds?  I dare say the one who has experience the sunset for herself.

When we study God's Word and couple that study with listening to His voice, we will come to know Him on a much more intimate level than a Biblical scholar who has studied the words on the page but never taken the time to converse with the Author Himself.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that You have given me Your Word as a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I pray that as I spend time with You each day, You will open the eyes of my heart to see You more clearly.  I pray that I will be able to hear Your still small voice in the clatter of everyday life.  I love You, Lord, and can't wait to see what You have in store for me today!

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
As you read the Bible today, ask God to show you something that you have never seen before.

As God reveals His truth to you today, write down what you've learned.

As you write down what you learned from God's Word today, also write how you are going to apply it to your life.

How passionate are you about hearing from God through the pages of His Word?

With that in mind, how much opportunity are you giving God to speak to you?  In other words, how much time are you spending abiding in Him?

Remember, abiding in Christ is not necessarily how many verses you read, but how in tune you are with God.

I love to hear about how God speaks to you through the devotions. To comment on today's devotion, visit my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More From the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Becoming a Women who Listens to God.  If you would like to learn more about how to hear God through the Bible, prayer, nature, circumstances and other people, check out this resource.  It also comes with a Bible study guide that is great to use with a group, or on your own.

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
`