Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

September 17, 2009
Learning to Invest Time
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom" (NLT).

Friend To Friend
Every minute of every day is either wasted or invested. Since the bible contains over 400 verses about time, we can safely assume that time management is important to God and is, in fact, a spiritual discipline.  We not only need to view time as an eternal investment, but as an immediate one as well. One of the most valuable investments we can make is to spend time in solitude. 

I once read an African proverb and prayer, "Lord Jesus, make my heart sit down". Solitude is deliberately and diligently setting aside time to "sit down" at the feet of Jesus.  It's in those still, quiet moments of solitude at his feet that we hear God's voice and gain strength and wisdom for the journey ahead.  In order to practice solitude, we must learn how to budget time. 

It's been said that women must balance their time more carefully than men because women don't have wives. The fact is we're all responsible for how we spend the time God has given us. Time is a precious gift!  Every morning we are credited with 86,400 seconds.  No balance is carried into the next day and every night erases what we fail to use. If we use it in the wrong way, that time is lost forever and cannot be reclaimed.  Un-budgeted time gravitates to our weaknesses, is stolen by others or wasted on the unimportant.  We must budget time, just as Jesus did. 

Luke 2:52 "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (NIV).

At the age of 12, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with his parents for the annual Passover Celebration. When his parents began the long trip home, they didn't miss their son at first and when they did, assumed he was traveling with friends.

Jesus was found in the temple, teaching. My first reaction would probably have been pride in the fact that religious scholars and veteran teachers were actually listening to my young son. I would most likely have encouraged Jesus to continue, basking in the looming recognition and acclaim. Instead, Jesus returned home where, for 18 to 20 years, he simply grew. Luke 2:52 tells us Jesus grew mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. In Luke 3, Jesus begins his ministry, the most powerful ministry ever known.  In other words, Jesus Christ budgeted his time wisely, resulting in a balanced life of fulfilled purpose.  We can live the same kind of life - if our priorities are right.

Set priorities:  Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (NLT).  We either set our life priorities or allow circumstances and other people to set them. 

Schedule priorities:  There is a right time and a right way to carry out right priorities.  Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 warns, "For a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight" (NASB). We must schedule time for solitude.  We must set aside portions of each day to spend with God. 

Stick to priorities: In Ephesians 5:16, the apostle Paul teaches us to "make the most of every opportunity" (NIV).  Every challenge will either wreck or affirm our priorities.  Right priorities stand firm in the face of change.

One day, we will all stand before the Father and give an account of how we invested our time. Today, examine your time management habits in light of eternity. Initiate schedule changes that honor God.  Make a new commitment to invest your time wisely. 

Let's Pray

Father, I recognize my need for time alone with You. I lay down my schedule, my agenda and anything else in my life that would keep me from that time.  Please forgive me for the way I often squander away the minutes, hours and days of my life. Give me the power to invest time wisely and the wisdom to live a balanced life. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn   

Choose to practice solitude - today.   
Select a place to spend time in solitude - today.   
Lay down your agenda.   
Focus on God and listen for His voice.   
Read and memorize Psalm 37:7.   
Ask yourself the following questions and use the answers to shape a plan for regular solitude:
Why am I afraid of silence?

What is the greatest obstacle to solitude in my life?

What steps do I have to take in order to remove those obstacles?

What do I hope to gain from time spent in solitude?

More From The Girlfriends
Light for the Journey is Mary's weekly online bible study and offers practical and powerful tools for daily living.  Check it out!   

Looking for resources to help you grow in Christ?  Visit Mary's online store for a great selection of books, CDs, MP3 downloads, E-Bible Studies and more!

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]

September 18, 2009

Changing the Way We Speak By
Examining the Heart
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Jesus said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean...But things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:11,18 NIV).

Friend To Friend
While it is the Holy Spirit that gives us the power to change the words we speak, the desire to change begins in the heart. The Bible says:

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will condemned" (Matthew 12:33-37).

The word heart that is used in this passage is the Greek word kardia.  It is not referring to the blood pumping muscle in the chest cavity, but to our thoughts, motives, feelings, our will, and our character.  The kardia is the seat of our emotions and represents the inner person.  The words that escape our lips reveal the condition of the inner man.

Remember the children's song:

I'm a little teapot short and stout,
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up hear me shout,
Just tip me over and pour me out.

Well I don't know about you, but when I get all steamed up, what comes out of my mouth isn't always a cup of tea!  It is in those unguarded moments of frustration, anger, or pain that our mouths tend to spew out what is really inside.  Jesus said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean...But things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:11,18).  Jesus continually pointed out the condition of the Pharisees' hearts.  They clung to outward religious practices. But God desired their hearts, which were hardened and cold.

The book of Proverbs has much to say about how the condition of our heart affects what we say: 
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)   
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10:   
A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly. (Proverbs 12:23)   
An anxious heart weights a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Proverbs 12:25)   
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. (Proverbs 15:14) 
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28 TNIV)
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.  (Proverbs 15:30)
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. (Proverbs 16:31) 
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. (Proverbs 16:23 TNIV)   
One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. (Proverbs 22:11 TNIV)
Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.  (Proverbs 26:23)
Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.  Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. (Proverbs 26:24, 25 TNIV) 
As the water reflects a face, so one's life reflects the heart. (Often that reflection is through spoken words)  (Proverbs 27:18 TNIV)   
So, how's your heart?  The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, Examine my heart today and reveal to me any areas of my life that I need to change.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and restore a right spirit within me.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Turn to Psalm 51 and make that your prayer today.

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

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is taken from Sharon's book The Power of a Woman's Words   In this book, you can explore the power you possess, the people you impact, the potential for change, and the profound possibilities. As you harness this mighty force, you will begin to use words to speak life to those around you. Get one for yourself, or gather a group of girlfriends to learn and grow together.

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]

September 21, 2009
The Promises of Problems
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."  Genesis 50:20

Friend to Friend
If you are like me, you prefer days when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and not a cloud in sight.  Problems tend to irritate me because they make me realize just how frail I am as a human.  But I have come to realize that every problem points to a promise.   

Promise of direction 
God uses problems to show us the way.  We would walk through the wrong door if He didn't close it.  Years ago, I dated a young man I thought I would marry.  We had it all worked out.  He was a preacher and I played the piano and sang.  What could be more perfect?  I began to pray, "Lord, if he is not the one, just close the door!"  The very next conversation I had with this young man ended our relationship and resulted in my taking a church staff position that led me to Dan Southerland.  I look back and thank God for that closed door. 

"Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways."  Proverbs 20:30 

Promise of correction
God uses problems to correct us.  I have come to realize that some lessons can only be learned in the darkness, through pain and failure.  When our daughter was a toddler, she was fascinated with electrical outlets.  Nothing we said or did seemed to deter her...until the day she stuck a safety pin in the outlet.  "Ouch!" she cried, holding up her little red finger for me to kiss. She never played with an outlet again. 

"It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."  Psalm 119:71-72 

Promise of protection
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it keeps you from being hurt by something more serious.  It was so hard for me to take our children to the doctor to get immunization shots.  I would take a healthy child into the doctor's office and come out with a little one who was fussy, sore and running a low grade temperature.  Our pediatrician finally said, "Mary, just think of it like this.  You are allowing your babies to experience a little hurt in order to prevent them from experiencing a bigger hurt.  A tetanus shot is nothing compared to tetanus itself.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."  Genesis 50:20

Promise of perfection
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders.  I recently spoke for a women's conference that used the theme of "Problems into Pearls".  Strands of pearls were everywhere - the center of each table, on the podium from which I spoke, draped across tables - and many of the ladies wore pearls that day.  When the worship leader welcomed me, she said, "We have to get you some pearls!"  Digging in her purse, she produced the most beautiful pearl necklace and placed it around my neck.  As the day went on, I spoke several times, counseled and prayed with numerous women and tried to meet as many women as possible.  When everyone had left, the woman came to retrieve her pearl necklace.  I was embarrassed.  I had worked up quite a sweat with all of that hugging, laughing, talking.  She brushed my apology aside and said, "Sweat is good for pearls.  It helps them keep their luster."

"We can rejoice when we run into problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

God is at work in and around you.  You may not see His hand, hear His voice or even understand His process, but you can rest assured that you can trust His heart.  Remember, every problem points to a promise.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for each problem that points me to You.  Help me to see trials as handles for Your promises and tools for growth in my life.  I choose to accept the lessons You want to teach me in the dark times and celebrate their truth in the light.  Give me the strength and power to trust You completely.

In Jesus' name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn 

What problem are you facing right now? Put it into words and record it in your journal.   
Pray, surrendering that problem to God and ask Him for the promise it holds.   
What good can come out of the problem you are facing?   
What scripture promise do you claim because of this problem?   
Write that promise on a 3 x 5 card and tuck it in your purse.  When the going gets tough, pull out that card and read the verse aloud as a statement of your faith in your Problem-Solving God!

More From The Girlfriends
If I had to choose between problems and peace, I know what I would naturally choose.  Don't you?  But God's ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts and His purpose more complete than our plans.  Trust Him, today, my friend.  He is Lord of the mountain, Shepherd of the valley and He loves you! 

Need help avoiding that pit?  Check out Mary's CD, How to Avoid the Pits and sign up for 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]

September 22, 2009
Never Lost
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isaiah 49:16a

Friend To Friend
Not long ago our family got a bouncy little puppy named Roman. One of the first things we did when Roman became a Smith was head to the pet store for doggie supplies. In addition to purchasing chew toys, a collar, and food, we ordered Roman a nameplate to go on his collar in case he ever gets lost. The cashier sold us two tokens for the tag, and sent us to the other side of the store to the engraving machine.

The kids and I approached the engraving machine with giddy hearts. After we slid the two metal tokens into the coin slot, we looked at our ID options and settled on the blue bone for Roman's collar. Then the engraving machine prompted us to enter Roman's puppy information. Once we were satisfied that all the information was accurate, I gave the command for the computer to begin the engraving.

The machine engraved just one letter at a time. With each stroke of the machine's needle, Roman's name began to appear, along with our address and phone number. When the engraving was finished, we immediately put the tag onto Roman's collar. The blue bone boasts that Roman belongs to the Smith family.

For us, in this world, we have to put our names on things so we don't lose them. We put our names on our luggage, on our pet collars, on our backpacks, and in our Bibles. I even have a "page" button on my cordless phone so it can beep when I lose the phone in my house. I've also been known to lose my keys, my driver's license, my cell phone and my purse. (Scary!) Thankfully, God doesn't have the same problem with losing things. He doesn't need to put His name on anything. What's His is His forever.

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, take comfort in the fact that you can never be lost and that you are never out of God's sight. There might be times when you feel invisible - times when you feel lost - times when you feel alone, but the Bible tells us that your name is engraved on the palms of God's hands, and that nothing can separate you from God's love or snatch you from His hand. Nothing.

"I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." Romans 8:38-39, MSG

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:27-29, ESV

"All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]." John 6:37, AMP

God knows your name. He knows where you live. He's got your number. You're never lost.

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, Thank you for engraving my name on the palms of your hands. Please help me to remember the way home when I get lost, distracted or confused. "Because Your love is better than life, and my lips will glorify you!" (Psalm 63:3, NIV) In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the Message version of Romans chapter 8 today. CLICK HERE to view it online.

How does it make you feel to know that nothing can separate you from God's love?

How committed is your love for Him? Do your daily choices line up with His standard? Take a moment to ask God to search your heart and reveal how your ways could line up better with His standard.

More From The Girlfriends
As a mother, I know what it is to love a child, but as much as I can love my kids - the love I have is stained with imperfections. God loves perfectly...no matter what. Be sure to relish that thought today - and spend a few moments to direct the attention of your heart to His in worship!

GOT BEAUTY? 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 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.

To listen to Gwen's music, stop by Gwen's Facebook Music Page at www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. While you're there, be sure to leave a message on her wall and add her as a friend!

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]

September 23, 2009
The Contact Lens and the Ant
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

Friend To Friend
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the enormous granite cliff when she stopped for a well-deserved breather. Standing on a narrow ledge, she measured how far she had come and reveled in the excitement of her first rock climb.  As she rested there, the safety rope suddenly snapped against her eye, knocking out her contact lens. "Great!" she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow the contact lens had landed on the ledge, but it simply was not there.  As panic began to set in, Brenda immediately prayed for peace and help in finding her contact lens. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her climb.

When she got to the top, a friend closely examined Brenda's eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Brenda was now calm because she had reached the top, but was also sad because she could not clearly see the beauty of the mountain range around her. A bible verse suddenly popped into her mind, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."  Brenda smiled as she thought, "Lord, You can see all of these mountains. You know every stone and leaf and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me find it." 

Later, when Brenda and her group of friends had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff, they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"  Well, that would be startling enough, but do you know why the climber happened to see the lens?  He had noticed an ant that was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying the contact lens.

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy, but if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

Just this week, I have repeatedly asked God why I have to carry one of the current burdens in my life. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely nothing good in it and the weight of that burden seems to get heavier with each passing day. Then yesterday, I received an email from a friend who thought I might need to hear this story of the ant and the contact lens. God has such a great sense of humor, doesn't He?  I got the message and am now praying, "Lord, if you want me to carry this load, I will."

I may never understand the purpose of this particular burden but remember ... human understanding is not necessary for spiritual obedience. That's where faith comes in.

Are you carrying a burden that seems to grow heavier with each step you take?  Does the load you carry seem pointless and hard to understand?  Trust God.  He will supply all the strength and power you need for every burden that comes your way.

Let's Pray
Father, please forgive me when I complain about the burdens and problems that come my way.  I want to face each one with joy and peace.  Give me the faith to trust You and to daily surrender to Your plan - even when I don't understand it.  Help me to stand firm when I want to give up and remind me that You are working all things together in my life for my good and Your glory.  Today, I choose faith over fear.  I choose Jesus.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn


Grab your bible, a piece of paper, a pen or pencil and find a quiet place to get alone with God.   
Make a list of the burdens you are carrying today. Be specific. 
Read the verses listed below and commit them to memory. Pray them and claim them for each burden in your life.   
Beside each burden you listed, write one of the following verses. Surrender that burden to Him and leave it at His feet.
      Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

      Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

      Galatians 5:1"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

More From The Girlfriends
It seems like everywhere I turn, I find people who are burdened, facing each day with a sense of hopelessness. God does not want us to be victims of the burdens in our life.  He came so we could live in freedom, relying totally on Him for strength and power to live each day.  If you are like me, it is easy to get caught up in the trap of trying to "fix" our problems or eliminate our burdens instead of appropriating God's power and promises to sustain us.  Pride keeps me from admitting my helplessness and arrogance convinces me that I can handle it on my own.  Wrong!  I encourage you to celebrate your weaknesses, knowing God delights in transforming each weakness into a vessel through which His power and glory can shine! 

Need help?  Join Mary's online bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to plug God's truth into your daily life.  The current topic is "The Seven Habits of a Powerful Life."  Need more resources?  Check out Mary's books, CDs, MP3s and E-Book Bible Studies.   

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]

September 24, 2009
Fact or Fiction?
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)

Friend to Friend
There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain to me something."

"Well, what is it? I don't know that I can explain anything to a preacher."

"What is the reason for the difference between you and me?" The preacher asked. "You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all."

Macready's answer was this: "This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction."

Zinger, huh? Sure does challenge my faith-o-meter. J This story both motivates and cautions me. Frankly, Christians embarrass the cause of Christ all the time. It's vital that we be confident in the message of hope we cling to as believers in Jesus, but it's equally vital that we be prepared to share truth in love - share Scripture in proper context - share our hearts with meekness and fear for the purpose of attracting others to the restoring love of Christ. We don't need to be Bible scholars with capital letters following our names...but we do need to be Bible girls!

I don't need to harp on the fact that there's a great moral decline in the world. We see that coming and going! As Girlfriends In God (GiGs), let's commit ourselves to making a difference in the lives of others, in our homes, among our friends, in our communities, and in this world! To do this, we need to know our Bibles. To think through current issues. We must be prepared to share how we've been changed by the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's the great commission, and it's for each of us...not for the perfect among us. People around us need to know that God is still in the restoration business - and that He longs to bring His peace, hope and love to every life.

Look at the apostle Paul. He was prepared to speak about Christ wherever he went. In the New Testament book of Acts, we learn that, "from morning 'til evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (Acts 28:23b, NIV)

The life-changing, peace-giving, truth we know needs to be presented to the world as life-changing, peace-giving truth! Get in His Word - get in His presence - and look for opportunities to share God's love as truth with confidence!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Please forgive me for the times when I doubt your truth, or fear speaking it. Help me to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope I have...to speak of Your unfailing love and unchanging truth to those around me so that they might be drawn to Your heart. Draw me to Your Word and teach me Your ways.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read 2 Timothy 1:12: "Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed..." Can you say that and mean that?

Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope you have?

Have you been changed by God's grace? Held by His love? Grab your journal and write a paragraph or two that describes how God has worked in your life.

More from the Girlfriends
As you are in your home and about town in your car, play some worship music!!  Why wait?  Listen to some now!!  Download Gwen's live worship CD, Unsearchable, from iTunes, or order the CD from the store on her website. If you don't have the resources to invest in your worship library right now, listen to Gwen's music FREE on her MUSIC FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

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 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.   

Gwen Smith is a worship artist, songwriter, speaker, and author. For more information, visit her website at: http://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]

September 25, 2009
Changing the Way We Speak By Renewing the Mind
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me - put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9 TNIV).

Friend To Friend
Have you ever been to a rodeo and watched a lassoing contest?  The little calf bursts from the stall and then the cowboy and his steed follow close behind.  With his lasso in hand, the cowboy swings the rope in the air and attempts to lasso the little heifer before she escapes out the corral door at the opposite side of the arena.  That is a vivid picture of what we must do with the words that attempt to escape the gate, the mouth...we must rein them in.

The Bible teaches us to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Once we lasso a thought (take it captive) we can decide which words leave the gate and which words need to be tied up and secured. Studies show that we speak at about 120 to 180 words a minute.  It seems like we need to do a bit more lassoing and a lot less running on.

Let's take a look at this little heifer: our words, and how to rein them in. First, a thought bursts forth from the stall called the brain. It runs across the mind headed for the door called the mouth. In a split second, we must determine if that thought is of God or if it is against the knowledge of God.  If we determine that the words are not of God, then we lasso the thought with the Word of Truth and it never makes its way out of the gate (the mouth). If it passes the God-test, we allow it to go free.

What is the lasso?  It is the Word of God-the Word of Truth.  That can seem a bit overwhelming, so let's just pick one verse as our lasso. Philippians 4:8, 9 is a great place to start. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me - put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you" (TNIV).

Before we speak, we can sift the words through a mental sieve.  Is what I'm about to say: 

·         True 

·         Noble 

·         Right 

·         Pure 

·         Lovely

·         Admirable 

If the words don't fit this description, lasso them and don't let them go!  If they do pass the test, let them trot out of the gate and bless the world!

The King James translation of 2 Corinthians 10: 5 says it this way: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  I like that picture of casting down.  See, once the cowboy slips the lasso around the calf's neck, he throws her to the ground and whips that rope around her kicking legs to make sure she's not going anywhere.  Likewise, we need to "cast down" those thoughts back to the dirt where they came from and make sure they aren't going anywhere.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, sometimes I just can't believe what comes out of my mouth.  Help me to think before I speak.  If the words that are about to come out of my mouth are not pleasing to You or edifying to others, help me to rein them in and keep them from escaping my lips.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Make a list of Paul's litmus test for our words found in today's truth. At the end of the day, evaluate the words you spoke to others and see how you did.

Were there some words that you should have kept in the stall?

Where there some words of encouragement that you should have spoken but didn't?

I'm so glad that you are joining me on this journey to improve the words we speak.  Don't get discouraged.  Changing the way we speak takes prayer and practice, prayer and practice!

If you would like to comment on today's devotion, visit www.sharonjaynes.com/blog .

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is taken from Sharon's book, The Power of a Woman's Words. In this book, you can explore the power you possess, the people you impact, the potential for change, and the profound possibilities. As you harness this mighty force, you will begin to use words to speak life to those around you. Get one for yourself, or gather a group of girlfriends to learn and grow together.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

September 28, 2009
Avoiding the Pits of Life
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Proverbs 4:26-27 "Look straight ahead to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do what is right. Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths" (NCV).

Friend To Friend
Life is filled with pits that come in all shapes and sizes, formed in many different ways by a variety of life circumstances.  While a crisis or trial may very well be the covering of a pit in waiting, pits can also be shelter from a raging storm. In the past, my first reaction to a threatening pit was usually fear, anger, whining or questioning the very presence of that pit.  But I must confess that it was at the bottom of the deepest, darkest pit of my life where I met Holy God on His terms and was forever changed, my being totally redefined. Honestly, I would climb back down into that slimy, dark pit today because of what God accomplished through it.  Some pits should not be avoided but embraced as evidence of God at work. 

However, pits can also be the result of sin - a sin we refuse to relinquish, a wrong habit we cherish and love more than we love God.  We should and can avoid these pits by making right choices.  One of those choices is to guard our thoughts.

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life."  Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)

Our thoughts dictate the direction of our lives. The greatest battlefield of life is the mind and we are constantly at war for its control!  If we want to live right, we must think right because how we think affects how we live.  Since everything we do or say originates with a single thought, minds filled with truth will produce lives filled with truth.

If our mind is not filled with truth, the enemy will pollute it with lies.  John warns us that Satan is the King of Lies and the Prince of Pollution!  "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."  (John 8:44 NIV) But what a great promise we find in Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (NLT)  "Fixed" literally means "loyal or faithful" and portrays the idea of faithfulness, the same kind of faithfulness found in marriage. In order to guard our thoughts, we must make the commitment of being married to the truth of God. The result and reward of faithfulness to the truth of God is the peace every mind craves and for which our desperate heart longs.     

Polluted minds produce polluted lives. What we allow to dwell in our minds will work its way out in our lives. However, pollution of the mind can only happen with our permission. The best way to prevent mind pollution is to run each thought through God's purification system.  The word of God, our main weapon in mental warfare, reprograms the brain, trains the mind and filters input.  We must set our minds and then guard that setting.  It is the idea of placing a sentry at the entrance of the mind, empowering him to determine what comes in and what doesn't. It is giving up the control of our thinking processes to God. 

We are quick to give the custody of our minds away to lesser things, to unworthy goals or desires and thoughts. If it is going on in the mind, it is real and often the first step toward the edge of a very dangerous cliff. 

The story is told of an eagle perched on a block of ice just above Niagara Falls. The swift current carried the ice and the great eagle closer to the edge of the falls. Ignoring the warning cries of other birds and animals, the eagle boasted, "I have great and powerful wings.  I can fly from my perch at any time. I can handle it."

Suddenly the edge of the falls was only a few feet away. The torrent of water carried the block of ice over the great falls. The eagle spread his powerful wings to mount up over the impending doom only to discover that it was too late.  His claws had become frozen to the cake of ice.

Life is filled with casualties of undisciplined thinking. Satan stands in the shadows, laughing at the fallen children of God whose ravaged lives stand as monuments to the powerful kingdom of darkness. In our arrogance, we foolishly believe we can handle a dangerous, mental flirtation with the base and immoral poison of foul movies, filthy books, depraved web sites or vain imaginings. Satan applauds the absence of accountability in our lives.  He celebrates the flow of our thoughts toward the very sin nature that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. 

It's time to wake up!  Surrender your mind to God, my friend, asking Him to cleanse and purify every part. Then guard each thought as if your life depended on it.  It does. 

Let's Pray
Father, right now, I surrender my mind to You.  Please purify and cleanse my thought life.  Give me a thirst for Your truth and a broken heart when I sin against You in the way I think.  I choose today to saturate my mind with the truth of Your Word. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

For one week, keep track of how many hours you watch television, go to movies, read or surf the web.   
Rate the quality of what you put before your eyes by the standard of Philippians 4:8-9.   
Choose one of these areas and begin submitting it to the holiness of God. When you have victory in that area, move on to the next one. After one month, evaluate your progress.
More From The Girlfriends
This week I have asked myself these questions:  Would I be embarrassed or pleased to have my thought life on display for everyone in my life to see?  What changes should I make?  Up until now, what has been the standard for outside sources affecting my thought life?  Will that standard please God?  Am I really willing to surrender my mind to God?  WOW!  If you think you have some changes to make, girlfriend, join the club!  Through God's power, we will do it together!

Need help and encouragement on your journey?  Join Mary's online bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to plug God's truth into your daily life.  Need more resources?  Check out Mary's books, CDs, MP3s and E-Book Bible Studies.   

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]

September 29, 2009
The One Who Sees Me
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."  Genesis 16:13, NIV

Friend To Friend
Have you ever felt lonely, scared, angry, confused and hurt all at the same time?  Ever felt like running away from a difficult situation?  I have.  There was a time, several years ago, when I wanted to run - hard and fast - from life as I knew it.  I had just birthed three babies in three years.  Then, to everybody's surprise, my husband got a promotion that moved our young family across the country to a place where we knew no one.  I had two babies in diapers and one 'big boy' struggling to say goodbye to his binky.  There was always a diaper to change, a mouth to feed or a mess to clean up.  My days were a blur and my emotions were overloaded. 

In my mind, I knew I wasn't alone - but in my heart, I felt like I was. 

God knew exactly where I was. 

He saw me. 

El Roi was with me each step of the way.  He answered prayers that had never even made it past my lips when he sent me a priceless new friend named Peg.  She was a young mom, too.  We laughed together, cried together, prayed together, watched each other's children and supported one another.  She was a true blessing in that desperate season of my life. 

Hagar was a young Egyptian servant girl who also faced some big challenges.  In the Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 16, we hear of her plight...and of her flight.  When faced with difficult circumstances, she didn't stay - she ran away.  And when she found herself seemingly alone in the desert, God sought her out and called her by name.  Stunned that the God of the universe cared to comfort her, Hagar responded by giving God a new name...El Roi..."The One who sees me."

Below is the lyric to an intimate song that I co-wrote about Hagar...but it's also about me...and it's about you...

The One Who Sees Me
By Gwen Smith and Brad Bailey

No matter where I am, Lord, You see me
No matter where I've been, You've been there, too 

And even in the times I feel abandoned and alone
You hold me like a child and draw me close to You

I lift my eyes to the One who sees me
No matter where I am
No matter where I am
I lift my soul to the One who lifts me
With a loving hand
With a loving hand
No matter where I am I'm turning to
The One who sees me 

No matter what I say, Lord, You hear me
No matter where I go, You're by my side

And even in the times I feel exhausted and unheard
You love me with Your words, passionate and kind

Even my darkest place is illuminated by Your grace
I am so amazed*

To hear "The One Who Sees Me" CLICK HERE and listen on Gwen's Facebook Music Page.

Let's lift our eyes and our souls to El Roi right now!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, there have been times when I have felt alone and abandoned.  Thanks for reminding me that You are a God who will never allow me to be beyond Your sight or Your reach.  Help me to face trials with a courage that is firmly routed in your strength and power so others might be drawn to You and know Your grace.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

What can you learn from Hagar's encounter with God in the desert?   
Is there a difficulty in your life that you are tempted to run away from or ignore?   
Are you willing to surrender your pain to El Roi?
More From The Girlfriends
As you are in your home and about town in your car, play some worship music!!  Why wait?  Listen to some now!!  Download Gwen's live worship CD, Unsearchable, from iTunes, or order the CD from the store on her website. If you don't have the resources to invest in your worship library right now, listen to Gwen's music FREE on her MUSIC FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

*© 2005 Audio 31 Music / Sunday Best Music (ASCAP)

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]

September 30, 2009
Resource Inventory
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want."

Friend To Friend
When it comes to the resources that we need for life, this promise from the 23rd Psalm is staggeringly important to remember, because it holds the promise of contentment in our lives.  A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he was asked to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause. The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied "I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."

When we know Him, we have everything that we need.  An amazing strength and unshakable contentment comes from a source that is not our own.  It comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  Knowing God makes all of His resources available to us!  Resources like:

·         wisdom

·         guidance

·         power

·         peace

·         love

·         patience

·         self-control

In other words strength for every area of life!  Strength is fertile soil for peace and will bring a harvest of contentment.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

God did not come to give us human strength.  He came to give us His strength!

Isaiah 12: 2 The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

When we count on His resources instead of our own, we will experience true contentment!  I read a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice.  He was afraid the ice might be thin, so he began to crawl on his hands and knees, afraid that he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, totally exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly sitting on a sled loaded with iron weights.  How like us!  We live each day, crawling through life, settling for our meager strength and our pitifully limited resources, afraid that His promises will break under the weight of our circumstances.

Listen, my friend!  There is no limit to His power and there is no end to His strength. In fact, our weakness is the perfect showcase for His strength!  According to the American Holistic Health Federation, people who are not satisfied with their lives and seem to have no contentment increase their risk of premature death by at least ten percent. Hudson Taylor once noted that "God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." Paul writes in another letter to the church at Corinth, "My power works best in your weakness."   (2 Corinthians 12:9)  Today, right now, exchange your weak resources for His by giving up your rights, your plans and solutions.  Lay them at His feet and choose His plan instead.  Then you will find contentment!

Let's Pray
Father, it seems that a seed of discontent has taken root in my life.  I have tried so many things, hoping they would fill that "hole" in my soul.  I have looked to so many people to make me happy.  I now realize the only source of contentment is You.  Right now, I lay down every lifeless resource and submit to You, Your plan and Your perfect provision in my life.  Thank You, Lord, for being everything I need. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What resources have you been counting on for contentment?  Have those resources disappointed you?  How?  What steps do you need to take in order to experience His contentment in your life?  Try these:

·         Admit that you have been counting on your resources instead of God's.

·         Recognize that those resources have not brought contentment to your life.

·         Choose to allow the Holy Spirit to create God's resources in you.

·         Commit to follow His plan and count on His resources for that plan.

·         Thank Him for the contentment that you know, by faith, will flood your life.

More From The Girls
Where did the summer go? In fact, can you believe that the holidays are just around the corner?  If you are like me, I find it very easy to get caught up in acquiring "stuff" ... especially around the holidays.  Last January, we moved to a much smaller house and had to get rid of a lot of "treasures" we had repeatedly moved over the course of many years and many moves.  At first, it was hard to let go of each item ... but it got easier and easier as the days went by. Now, I can't remember most of the things I gave away. I am determined that this holiday season will be all about Him and not about things.  Make that commitment with me. 

As the holidays approach, consider my two books, "Sandpaper People" and "Escaping the Stress Trap".  And be sure to check out a new MP3 download, "The Secret of a Merry Christmas." It just might help you have the best holiday season you have ever had!  And now is the time to get ready!  Blessings!

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