Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

April 16, 2010 

Mirage 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21 NIV emphasis added).

Friend To Friend
Flutter.  Flutter.  Bang!  Flutter. Flutter. Bang!  Momma and Papa Bluebird danced in front of our sunroom windows, trying frantically to break through the glass barrier.  Time and time again, they banged their feathered heads against the panes.  What were they pursuing?  Where were they trying to go?  What had caught their eye?  Why were they so persistent?  I wanted desperately to help them solve their dilemma, but I could not figure out what the dilemma was.

After three days of this featherbrained, frenzied activity, I decided to put myself in their position, get a bird's eye view, and examine the situation from their perspective.  I stepped out onto the patio, stood in front of the windows, and there it was.  In the reflection of the glass was mirrored their birdhouse, some thirty feet behind me.

Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird's lovely cedar shingled home with a decorative finial sat on a tall pole nestled under the protective branches of an old oak tree.  Their bed and breakfast came equipped with an adjoining spa - a concrete birdbath surrounded by fragrant rose bushes, bursting with red blossoms and a carpet of white annuals.  Instead of being satisfied with their high-rise estate, they were banging their heads against the pane, striving for a mirage, a mere reflection.

Amazingly, a few times they turned around, soared to their home, and crawled through its opening for a reprieve.  But before long, they were dive bombing into the glass again, trying to gain entrance into an illusion of something better.

This made me think of my own life and the many times I go flutter, flutter, bang, flutter, flutter, bang, striving for something that is just a cheap imitation of God's perfect provision for my life.   Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have for you, to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope." 

And yet I argue, "Yeah, I know that God.  I know You've provided me with this home and this job and with these particular gifts.  But, well, I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything, but I reaaaaly would be happy if You'd give me a house like Mary's over there. And you know Beth, well I reaaaaly would be happy if you made me a Bible teacher like she is.  And you know Teresa?  If I could just be as sweet as she is, I'd be satisfied.  Then there's Laura.  Now God, she has the prettiest blond silky hair.  Could I just have hair like hers?  Don't get me wrong, Lord.  I do appreciate what You have given me, but if I could just have ..."   

Well, you get the picture.

Flutter. Flutter. Bang! Flutter. Flutter. Bang!

The banging birds may have knocked themselves silly, but they also knocked some sense into my hard head.  God has provided me with everything I need.  As David, the psalmist wrote, The Lord is my Shepherd, I don't need anything!  I can flutter about looking at the mirage of happiness in other people's windows, or I can nestle down in contentment and not get my feathers ruffled trying to get more.  The way to keep from fluttering around from one mirage of happiness to the other is to stay close to home and be satisfied with my own nest, feathers, and chicks.  I've learned that I'm most content when I'm at home in the Father's will, nestled in His protective branches, perched on the pole of His standard, nurtured by the Living water of His fountain, cleansed in the laver of the Holy Spirit, and beautified by the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon.  And as Dorothy of Kansas once said, "There's no place like home."

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me when I complain about what I don't have and when I am not thankful for what I do have.  Help me not to be like the people mentioned in Romans chapter one who "did not give thanks."  I do thank You for all the blessings You have poured out in my life.  I love You so much.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
How thankful are you today for the blessings and provisions of God?

Consider writing Him a thank-you note.  Let me get you started.

Dear God,

            I want to thank You for ...

More From The Girlfriends
Don't you just love how God speaks to us through nature?  If you would like to learn more about how to listen to God's still small voice in your daily life, see Becoming a Woman who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes.  And if you would like a book filled with inspirational stories, check out Sharon's daily devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God.

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]

April 19, 2010 

TICDAABGC 

Winning over Worry 

Part 1 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Friend To Friend
I can be so arrogant when it comes to the control of my life. I set my agenda and then ask God to put His stamp of approval on it. I face difficult circumstances with the attitude that I am capable of handling them on my own. In reality, I am desperate for God. There are so many things I can't do anything about - but God can.

I read about a young woman whose battle with worry prompted her to create a sign that read, "Things I Can't Do Anything About But God Can." Underneath those words, she listed anything in her life that tempted her to worry instead of trusting God.

In 1995, I went through a devastating two-year battle with clinical depression.  While sitting at the bottom of that deep, dark pit, I discovered that the pit of depression is always filled with waters swimming with worry.

I worried about how I got into the pit and how I would or even if I could get out. I worried that my depression would hurt my family and our ministry. I worried about what people would think of me when they saw my weakness and failure. In the darkness, worry made everything seem bigger and uglier than it really was. Worry helped usher me into the pit and worry was now one of the prisons guards. I desperately wanted to trust God, exchanging my worry for His peace. I read countless books on the subject, described in detail my favorite worries to those who would listen and constantly begged God to take away the anxiety and fear. Nothing worked. I was losing the battle with worry while sinking lower into the grip of darkness. There had to be a way to win over worry.

The journey began with a strong, clear look at the affects of worry in my life.  It was not a pretty picture. Worry permeates every area of life, invading peace, warping perspectives and affecting physical and emotional health.

Worry is wasted energy. It is consuming, draining and unhealthy. Worry fits this world but it certainly does not fit the picture of a joy-filled life, the life that Jesus came to give us. Nothing will rob you of joy quicker than worry. God came so that we would not have to worry and yet we continue to do so. During those dark years, I sat at His feet dumping each fear and worry into His capable hands, resting and waiting for deliverance. It came.

In today's key passage, Paul gives us the promise of peace. However, there are conditions to be met and actions we must take in order to experience that peace and win over worry.

Action one: Choose joy.

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!"  The Message says it this way: "Celebrate God all day, every day.  I mean, revel in him!"

The author, Paul, is serious about joy, telling us twice in this passage to rejoice. The word "rejoice" means "to practice joy, to take delight in and be glad." Many times life makes it impossible to be happy but we need to understand that happiness is not what Paul is calling us to. Happiness is a cheap imitation of true joy and totally dependent on the circumstances of life. Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control no matter what the circumstances of life may be. Joy is a choice.

Paul's situation, while writing this letter, could make you wonder why he was writing about joy, of all things. He was in prison under Roman house arrest, awaiting trial and almost certain execution because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, he tells us to rejoice!  Don't miss this life-changing truth!  Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances.  In other words, we cannot always find joy in our circumstances but we can always find joy in the Lord of the circumstances.

You have probably discovered that there is absolutely no way in this world to escape pain, but we can avoid joy. The pursuit of joy is a matter of choice.  Our first and most important choice is to come to the only source of true joy - Jesus Christ. We must also choose to rejoice in the midst of every circumstance - good or bad - and keep our focus on God, gladly accepting His plan for our lives. We must choose a joyful perspective. 

A little boy asked his friend, "Wouldn't you hate to wear glasses all the time?"  "No-o-o," the other boy answered slowly, "not if I had the kind grandma wears. She sees how to fix many things. She sees many nice things to do on rainy days and she always sees what you meant to do even if you mess things up. I asked her one day how she could see that way all the time and she said, 'It is the way I choose to look at things.'  So it must be her glasses." When we choose joy, we are choosing against worry.

(Join me tomorrow for Part 2 as we explore more steps that will help us win over worry.)   

Let's Pray
Father, I feel as if worry constantly nips at my heels, trying to steal my joy. Please help me to see life as You see it and to choose Your perspective instead of my own.  I ask You to lead me into Your peace as I learn to trust You wholly. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

·     What role have you allowed worry to play in daily life?   

·     What are some of the ways you have confronted worry in the past?  Were they effective?   

·     What is the first step you need to take in order to win over worry? 

·     Read and memorize the verses of Scripture below. 

Philippians 4:7 "Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus" (NLT).

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you" (NLT).

More From The Girlfriends
We live in uncertain times when worry and fear seem to be familiar companions. God wants us to experience and live in peace. Ask Him to help you surrender each fear to Him and step out in faith - today.

Need help? We all do. Join women from across the world in my weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.

Visit my online store and download the E-Bible study, Getting a Grip on Fear or check out my new DVD - Strength for the Storm.

I would love to connect with you on Facebook! Let's talk!

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]

April 20, 2010 

TICDAABGC 

Winning over Worry 

Part 2 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Friend To Friend
In the key passage, Paul gives us the promise of peace.  However, there are conditions to be met and actions we must take in order to experience that peace and win over worry!

Action one:  Choose joy

Action two:  Be gentle

Philippians 4:5 gives an unusual directive concerning worry when it says we should "let our gentleness be evident to all." "Gentleness" literally means "humility, softness and tenderness" indicating that we must be gentle with everyone. The Living Bible translates "gentle" as "unselfish and considerate."  Any way you look at it, this truth is in direct opposition to the viewpoint of the world in which we live. Power and assertiveness gain respect while gentleness is often viewed as weakness.

In God's eyes, gentleness is harnessed strength, a controlled power. But what does gentleness have to do with eliminating worry? Paul says that the way we treat people affects our peace. Many of us have lives filled with worry because we have relationships filled with conflict. When we are unkind, conflict is the inevitable result.  Worry and anxiety thrive in the atmosphere of conflict.

What does it mean to be gentle in our relationships?

Gentleness is willing to give up control.

James 3:17 "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others." Gentleness can always find a patch of common ground, giving people room to grow and change.  Gentleness does not control but is willing to yield or submit to one another in love.

Gentleness is love in action.

James 3:17b "Gentleness if full of mercy and good deeds."  When gentleness sees a need, it does something about it. It is compelled to take action.

Gentleness forgives.

Colossians 3:13 "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  Gentleness is quick to give and receive forgiveness, always taking the responsibility to initiate forgiveness. 

Gentleness wages peace.

Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people." Gentleness pursues peace - not retaliation. The goal of gentleness is unity. I've read that when thoroughbred horses face attack, they stand in a circle, facing each other, and with their back legs, kick out at the enemy. Donkeys do just the opposite, facing the enemy and kicking each other. We are called to wage peace.

When we practice gentleness and pursue peace in our relationships, there will be less conflict, more unity and fewer footholds for worry.

Action three: Be aware of His presence.

Philippians 4:5 "The Lord is near."

We often pray, asking for God's presence when our prayer should be, "Lord, make me aware of your presence." He is near but many times our lives and hearts are too crowded to see or hear Him. The more we are aware of God's presence the less we will worry. We become aware of His presence through:

His word

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword."

The most powerful weapon against worry is scripture. Immerse your life in it. When worry comes - deflect it with the shield of God's word.

Prayer

1 Peter 5:7 "Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."

Prayer is simply conversation with God and a powerful weapon against worry. I read of a widow who had successfully raised a large family of eighteen children, twelve of whom were adopted. Yet, she never seemed to worry. During an interview, a reporter asked the secret of her peace and confidence.  She said, "I'm not alone. I'm in a partnership with God. Years ago, I said "Lord, I'll do the work and you do the worrying!  I have had peace ever since!" 

Other believers

Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

When you share your fears with others, they grow smaller because someone has gotten under the load with you. A shared load is a lighter load. We tend to hide our fears in darkness where they grow and strengthen, instead of bringing them out into the light where they will die. When we try to be "lone-ranger Christians" and handle our fears on our own, we are susceptible to attacks that will defeat us.  When we stand together, our strength is multiplied and we are not easily beaten.   

Experience

James 1:17 "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow."

The more we know Him the more we will understand that He really is who He says He is and that He is willing and able to work in our lives. So much worry is buried in the unknown. The "known" victories of yesterday can destroy the fear of today's "unknown" circumstances because He is always the same. When you are tempted to worry, stop and go back over the books, remembering the victories and celebrating them once again. The God who delivered you yesterday will deliver you today and tomorrow!  The experiences of life prove Him true and underline His presence within.

(Join me tomorrow for the conclusion of this series on how to win over worry.)

Let's Pray
Father, help me learn how to handle the relationships in my life with gentleness. When there is conflict give me the strength to confront it in Your love. Give me a heart for restoration instead of retaliation. Guard my words and my thoughts, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Memorize these names of God and call on Him when doubt and worry come:

Jehovah Shammah:"I am there."

Jehovah Shalom: "I am your peace."

Jehovah Jireh:"I am your provider."

Emmanuel: "God with us."

Read Psalm 56:8 "Lord, you have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded every one in your book." In your journal, write this verse in your own words as a prayer of thanksgiving for God's unfailing love.

More From The Girlfriends
The voice of worry and fear will be drowned out when we choose to listen to God's voice above all others. Need help? We all do, friend. Join women from across the world as we study the Word of God in my weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.

Visit my online store and download the E-Bible study, Getting a Grip on Fear and be sure to check out my new DVD - Strength for the Storm.

I would love to connect with you through email or on Facebook! Let's talk!

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]

April 21, 2010 

TICDAABGC 

Winning Over Worry 

Part 3 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Friend To Friend
In the key passage, Paul gives us the promise of peace.  However, there are conditions to be met and actions we must take in order to experience that peace and win over worry!

Action one:    Choose joy

Action two:     Be gentle

Action three:  Be aware of His presence

Action four:   Choose to trust

It is possible not to worry.  It must be.  God never asks us to do anything that He doesn't empower us to do!  In today's key passage, the Apostle Paul challenges us, "Do not be anxious about anything."

"Anxious" literally means, "to be pulled in different directions" and is based on the old English root from which we get our word "worry" meaning "to strangle."  Worry can strangle us but trust breaks the hold of worry in our life. The Comanche Indians tortured and killed their enemies by staking them to the ground. They would take a wet leather strap and place it around the neck of their prisoner. As the strap dried, it would gradually cut off the air supply, choking the victim to death. This is the perfect picture of what worry can do to us. 

Worry is a control issue. Its opposite is trust. Choose to trust and you will not worry.  Choose to worry and you will not trust. What a great promise is found in Isaiah 26:3, "You, LORD, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you."  Be brutally honest for a moment. Who is God in your life? I ask that question because I have discovered that playing God is the root of worry. When we play God, we are trusting in our own sufficiency. God commands us to give Him first place and live - totally depending upon Him.  Every opportunity to worry is also an opportunity to trust God. 

Action Five: Pray about everything.

Philippians 4:6b "But in everything, by prayer and petition...present your requests to God."

"Prayer" is simply conversation with God. "Petition" means to earnestly plea with or implore. To "present your requests" is simply to "make known" or "tell" God specifically what it is that you need. Praying about everything shuts out worry because prayer invites God to be involved in every area of life. And when He is involved, we have nothing to fear.

I am not sure why we have a portable phone because I can never find it. While searching for the roving phone, I walked into the living room to find Danna on the couch with the missing phone in one hand and the television remote control in the other. "Are you talking to Amanda?" I asked. Danna and Amanda were best friends and constantly on the phone. "Yes," she said. "We are watching T.V. together." When came back later, I found the phone on the sofa beside Danna. I asked if I could please use the phone but heard, "Mom, Amanda will be right back.  She is eating dinner but I want to keep the line open." That is the idea of praying without ceasing - the idea of keeping the line open. I have heard it said that "when your knees knock, kneel on them!" Prayer eliminates worry.

Action Six:  Practice the attitude of gratitude.

Ephesians 5:20 "Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When our hearts and lives are filled with praise and thanksgiving, worry is a weed that will die from lack of attention. Praise and thanksgiving are powerful weapons against worry, freeing God to work in our lives because when we praise Him, we trust Him blindly.

The story is told of a young hippie who was sitting on a park bench reading his Bible.  Suddenly he began to shout!  "Praise the Lord!  What a miracle!" An older, very distinguished man walking by stopped and asked why he was so excited. The young man replied, "I was just reading how God parted the Red Sea and the whole nation of Israel walked on dry ground!"  The older man sneered, "Don't you know? That wasn't a real sea at all. It was just a few inches of water." The unbeliever turned to walk away, leaving the young man confused and discouraged - for a moment - until his shouts once again filled the air. The angry cynic returned asking, "What are you shouting about now?" "Well, sir, I just read how God drowned the whole Egyptian army in just a few inches of water."  Don't let anyone keep you from praising God. Don't let any circumstance deny you the joy of praise.  If you want to win over worry, praise Him!

A final thought: 

Paul has shown us the actions we must take to win over worry: 

Choose joy   

Be gentle 

Be aware of His presence   

Choose to trust 

Pray about everything 

Practice the attitude of gratitude

Six conditions for one promise; "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  "Peace" can be defined as "a state of untroubled, undisturbed well-being." Paul says this kind of peace is beyond our understanding and our ability to comprehend. The world cannot grasp it but would pay any price to have it. We cannot create peace on our own because peace is a supernatural gift from God, given as a hedge of protection that will "guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." "Guard" is a military term, meaning "a garrison or stationed guard."  When we have met His conditions, God stations peace at the doorway of our life with the assignment, "Protect my child!"

What fear is gripping your heart today? What are you worrying about? Give it up. Exchange your worries for God's gift of peace. Remember, you can't do anything about it ... but God can! 

Let's Pray
Father, today I choose to face my fears with prayer and praise. I surrender my doubts to You and choose to walk by faith - not by sight. Fill my heart and life with Your peace and help me face these uncertain times in Your strength and power. And those things I can't do anything about, Lord, are Yours.  Thank You for being Peace in my life. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Ask a friend to be your prayer partner. Meet regularly to pray and praise God for answered prayer. Keep a prayer and praise journal. At the end of each week, review your journal to see God's hand at work.

What circumstance in your life is the result of worry? What affect does praise have on that fearful circumstance?

Read and memorize Deuteronomy 31:6. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you"(NASV).

More From The Girlfriends
I pray that this series of devotionals has been a blessing to you. Choose to take your gaze off of your uncertainties and fix your gaze on your certain God. He is with you and will be your peace.

Need help? We all do, friend. Join women from across the world in my weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.

Visit my online store and download the E-Bible study, Getting a Grip on Fear or check out my new DVD - Strength for the Storm.

I would love to connect with you on Facebook! Let's talk!

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]

April 21, 2010
Who's Talking?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"This is my son, whom I love.  Listen to him!" (Mark 9:7 NIV)

Friend To Friend
Fourteen exhausted, sweaty teenage boys plopped down on the bottom step of the gymnasium bleachers - my son being one of them.  The assistant Junior Varsity basketball coach paced back and forth, lecturing them on the error of their ways.  In the style of Sergeant Carter addressing Gomer Pyle, he yelled, "Who's talking?"

The boys, in practiced unison shouted back, "You are, sir!"

"OK then, listen up!" he barked.

For the next twenty minutes, they did just that.

Unfortunately for the merry band of athletes, school is not simply a place where sports are played, but also an institution for academic advancement.  The next day it was time to see just how much advancement had taken place in the first four months of school via the dreaded semester exams.

Six of the basketball players sat nervously with their peers on the edge of their seats.  Each grasped pencils in hand, ready to attack the twenty-page social studies test.  Apparently someone broke the total silence code with a whisper.  The six foot five, two hundred and fifty pound teacher jumped to attention and yelled, "Who's talking?"

Automatically, without even thinking, Chris Crutchfield, one of the basketball teammates, shot back, "You are, sir!"

The high school freshman social studies class erupted with laughter.  Everyone was tickled, except the teacher and the terrified Chris.

"So, you want to be smart, do you?"  Mr. Thompson asked.  "Who else in here wants to be smart?"

Over half of the class (mostly boys overcome with mischief, my son included) raised their hands.  "I want to be smart," they answered back.

Things were not going well for Mr. Thompson, or for Chris Crutchfield.  After school detention was crowded that week.

It was an innocent mistake - an automatic response - a reflex reaction.  But it made Chris a hero for the day among his buddies.  And in a way, he was my hero as well.

When my Heavenly Teacher speaks to me, when He whispers in my ear, gives me direction, directs my path - when He tries to get my attention and says, "Who's talking?"  I pray my response will be just as automatic as Chris's.  "You are, Sir!"  And when He says "Well listen up, then," that's exactly what I plan to do.

What about you? Are you listening to God today?  Do you know how to detect that still small voice?  Pay attention.  He's longing to talk to you!

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, speak to me today, for I am listening.  Help me to recognize Your gentle nudges and Your still small voice. 

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
I hope today's devotion made you smile.  It made me laugh all over again just remembering the scene.  Now, let me ask a few questions.

When was the last time you sensed God speaking to you?

What was the outcome of that conversation?

I'd love to hear your response?  Let's share our stories.  Log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and tell how God has spoken to you!

More From The Girlfriends
If you would like to learn more about how to hear God's still small voice in your daily life, see Becoming a Woman who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes.  And if you would like a book filled with inspirational stories, check out Sharon's daily devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God.

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]

April 23, 2010 

To Snip or Not to Snip 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful"  (John 15:2 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Spring is in the air and I'm already getting excited about gardening!  I wish I could have you over for coffee on my patio sometime around the end of June.  A bed of begonias carpet the area just to the left of the brick patio.  Verdigris pots overflowing with pink petunias, dusty miller, and sky blue ageratum stand guard on each side of the steps leading from the house.  Two wire planters frame a wall fountain that trickles water over sculptured blue birds.  By June, fragrant pink and white begonias and purple petunias spill over the edge of the planters bursting with color.

In May, the sturdy begonias slowly sink their roots deep into the soil before mounds of flowers start to cautiously multiply.  But the petunias rush into summer by parading their bright colors right away.  So by the end of June, the petunias are the pride of the garden.  However, by August, they become "leggy," spindly, and unsightly.   Long, ugly stems protrude in the air with a single purple velvet blossom on the end.  The flowers are pretty, but the lanky stems become so distracting that by mid-August I usually just pull them up and throw them away.  Then the sturdy begonias that took the time to get grounded first simply fill in the empty spaces.

I do have another option other than pulling up and throwing out the spindly petunias.  When they start to show the first sign of "legginess," I could snip them off - prune them.  But that means I have to sacrifice the beautiful flower on the end of the stalk, and for two weeks there is no color.  The result of pruning in June is a healthier, bushier plant in August, but it's hard to snip and wait.

This pruning business is painful, not just in my flower garden, but also in my life.  But the Master Gardner has taught me a few pruning tips along the way.

You must clip away dead flowers or they will keep other buds from blooming. (Are there areas in my life that are not blooming or producing fruit? Are there activities I need to prune in order to produce a more productive, healthy life?) Lesson:  Snip it off.

Remove any sucker shoots because they sap energy from the rest of the plant. (Is there any one area of my life that is out of control and sapping energy from the rest of my life?  Are there any sucker shoots in my life that keep me from flourishing where God wants me to bloom?) Lesson:  Snip if off.

Just because a plant is bearing some blooms does not mean that it should not be pruned.  (Is there something in my life that is somewhat productive but needs to be pruned in order to be more productive?)  Lesson:  Snip it off.

In order for a flower to thrive, it must stay attached to the stalk.  (In order for me to continue to grow and bloom, I must stay attached to the Vine.) Lesson: Stay connected to Christ.

The Master Gardner wields His gardening tools in our lives as He trims, snips, and prunes. And we can rest assured He'll do what is necessary to insure the most beautiful bouquets. 

Let's Pray
Dear LORD and Master Gardener, I don't like pruning.  I resist change.  However, I give me life and my schedule to You today.  Prune away.  Show me what I need to keep and what I need to cut away.  I don't want to be a leggy petunia with an occasional bloom here and there.  I want to be a healthy deep-rooted perennial that blooms time and time again.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Go back up to the four pruning lessons in today's devotion.  Ask yourself those questions and come up with a pruning plan of your own.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's devotion.  Are you a leggy petunia in need of a good pruning or a bushy begonia with deep roots?

More From The Girlfriends
Don't you just love how God speaks to us through nature?  If you would like to learn more about how to listen to God's still small voice in your daily life, see Becoming a Woman who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes.  And if you would like a book filled with inspirational stories, check out Sharon's daily devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God..

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]

April 26, 2010   

Constant Cravings 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14, NIV).

Friend To Friend
A friend of mine is hypoglycemic. Before he was diagnosed, he had one compelling symptom. He was constantly thirsty. Now the crazy thing was, the more water he drank, the thirstier he became. It defies logic. As you live out your faith, you will have a similar insatiable thirst and hunger for God. The more you ask for His daily help, the more you will want it. But know this, friend, you will not be fully satisfied or quenched until you are in His presence.

In his book, Come Thirsty, Max Lucado writes:

            You're acquainted with physical thirst. Stop drinking and see what happens. Coherent thoughts vanish, skin grows clammy, and vital organs shut down. Deprive your body of necessary fluid, and it will tell you. 

            Deprive your soul of spiritual water, and it will tell you. Dehydrated hearts send desperate messages. Snarling tempers. Waves of worry. Growing guilt and fear. Hopelessness. Resentment. Loneliness. Insecurity. 

            But you don't have to live with a dehydrated heart. God invites you to treat your thirsty soul as you would treat your physical thirst. Just visit the WELL and drink deeply.

Here on earth, hunger and thirst never end. Just because you ate breakfast this morning doesn't mean you won't have a grumbling tummy at lunchtime. And when you eat lunch, that doesn't cover you for the next three days. You need to eat again and again.

The spiritual parallels here are as rich as a piece of Ghirardelli cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. (Great restaurant, by the way!) A three-course meal of worship, prayer, and a sermon on Sunday morning doesn't nourish your body with the spiritual calories you need for an entire week. Not by a long stretch. We were designed in the image of God, for God. We were made to worship and to respond to the glory of God; to know Him. Continually. Daily. Without ceasing.

I don't know about you, but hunger affects my judgment. If I dare go to the grocery store while I'm hungry, my cart will usually contain extra food items I wouldn't normally purchase. Are you smellin' what I'm cookin' here? If I'm hungry when I arrive at a dinner party, I'll more than likely eat the mother lode of appetizers (especially if there is dip involved).

When we are spiritually hungry, the same truth applies. We have a tendency to compromise our judgment and set aside our convictions. We grumble and complain about our lives. We look to other people and other stuff to meet our needs. Yadda, yadda...

BEING SPIRITUALLY THIN IS SO NOT IN!

Look around! Spiritually hungry people are everywhere. Just turn on your television, pick up a magazine, or go to an online chat-room. People are desperately trying to fill their hunger ... trying to find happiness and satisfaction in things, status, and people.

Now, if you dare, look even closer to home. Look at your PTA meetings, boardrooms, Little League fields, and malls. And, if you're really brave, look in the mirror. Each one of us sees a hungry woman staring us in the face.

It is really important to turn to the Bread of Life at the first inkling of hunger pains. Go to Him with your needs and give Him your burdens. Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He wants to meet you at the point of your need.

God gave you an open invitation to come to Him when He said through the prophet Isaiah,

"Come, all who are thirsty,
come to the waters; 

and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!"
(Isaiah 55:1a, NIV).

Each time we connect with God throughout the day, our souls are nourished. Sometimes we just need a small spiritual meal. Sometimes our needs are greater. In those moments, we are invited by our compassionate God to sit down to a great big dinner.  How are you handling your constant cravings?

Let's Pray
Dear God, thank You for the invitation to come, eat, drink, and be satisfied in You. You are all that I need, and more than enough. I pray that You will bear the weight of the burdens on my heart today, and I ask that You would fill my soul with Your rest.  Finally, please increase my cravings for You, Lord - so that you can be glorified in and through my life.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Spending time with the Lord through His Word is one great way to feed your soul.  Read and meditate on Psalm 63:1-8.   
Read it silently the first time, then read it again out loud.
When have you witnessed God's power in your life? Thank Him!

More From The Girlfriends

Although your physical cravings might include dark chocolate, coffee, and warm, fresh bread  - your soul constantly craves intimacy with God. Spend some time worshiping Him today. Sing to Him!

Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen Smith's book, Broken into Beautiful. In Broken into Beautiful, Smith invites you to hear the stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls ... and of the loving, holy God who restores their wounded hearts and makes them beautiful in Him.

GOT FACEBOOK? Visit Gwen's FACEBOOK PAGE - leave a message on her wall - listen to a few songs - share the page with your FB friends! (She loves that!)

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]

April 27, 2010 

Take This Job and Love It! 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
John 3:27 (NLT)"God in heaven appoints each person's work."

Friend To Friend
Our son graduated from college with a business degree and the plan to build his own company from the ground up. Jered has been a gifted carpenter since childhood when he built his first "house" in our garage. A 10 x 10 foot clubhouse was the envy of every kid in the neighborhood. When I asked him how he had known what to do, he said, "I just saw it in my mind." I knew then that his life work was to build. Today, he is a master carpenter who recently said, "It is so awesome to get up every morning and love to go to work!"

Do you love to go to work? Many people never experience satisfaction or success in their work because they are in the wrong work. God is the source of all our skills, gifts, abilities and talents and He wants us to use them to the best of our ability. Proverbs 22:6 encourages parents to "train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it" (NIV). "The way he should go" means in the ways of God and in the direction or bent the child was created to go. In other words, we are designed with a natural inclination that naturally draws us toward God and the plan He has for us to live out.

My husband, Dan, has served as a youth pastor in several churches over the years. As I served beside him, I gained a wealth of knowledge as I watched teenagers try on different identities like they tried on new clothes. I will never forget the lesson I learned from Laura, a beautiful, talented girl who had trouble finding work and rarely succeeded at any job she actually landed. I could not understand how such a beautiful girl could be so clueless about herself - until I met her parents. 

It was painfully obvious that Laura's negative opinion of herself was firmly rooted in her parent's negative opinion of their daughter. Her room was a disaster because a clean room was important to her mother. Her grades were disgraceful because good grades were important to her father. She only dated guys who treated her like dirt because ... well, she believed that she was dirt. Laura confided in me that she wanted to graduate from high school, attend a local beauty school to become a hair stylist and maybe one day, open her own beauty shop. I could see her doing just that! Girls flocked to Laura for help with their hair and make-up because she was so good at it. When I asked her what was keeping her from following that dream, tears streamed down her face as she explained, "My Parents think that being a hair stylist is a ridiculous idea. If I choose to attend a beauty school instead of a four-year-college, I have to move out and do it all on my own." When I offered to talk to her parents, she shook her head and said, "It won't do any good." She was right. I did talk with them and nothing changed. But Laura did.

Laura moved out of her home and in with a man who introduced her to drugs and alcohol. Years later, I heard that she was living on the streets to support her habits. I have often wondered what would have happened if Laura's parents had supported the gifts and abilities God had given their daughter instead of holding her hostage until she paid the ransom of bowing to their plan for her life. 

In John 3:27 we find a simple but powerful truth, "God in heaven appoints each person's work" (NLT). John explained that because God had given him his work, he had to continue it until God called him to do something else. Amos raised sheep until God called him to be a prophet proclaiming God's message to others. If you are following God's blueprint for your life, your job is part of your life plan and you are successful. God can and will work through you to do extraordinary things, no matter how "ordinary" your occupation may be in the eyes of man. 

Over the years, we often talked with our children about a life plan. We encouraged them to discover what they love to do and then find a way to be paid doing it. Life here is short. Do not waste it doing something you were not created to do. Choose your work carefully.     

I know there are days when the will of God seems completely wrong and we do not understand. We are treading water, desperately longing to see Him walking on the treacherous waves toward us, rescue in His hand. It is in those shadowed moments that we must choose to trust the Plan Maker because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. One day, every one of our question marks will be yanked into exclamation points as we see that high plan as He sees it - perfect!

Today, my friend set aside your inadequate agenda. Lay down your limited life arrangement and look for God to meet you at the point of surrender - power and victory in His hands. Now that is a great plan!

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for the gifts and abilities that You have given me. I pray that I will learn to use each one according to Your plan for my life. Please give me discernment as I make career choices. I trust You to guide every step and empower every decision because I am seeking You and just want to do what You want me to do.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
The One who knows us best and loves us most created us. God had a plan in mind and lovingly, purposefully created us in response to that plan. Take a brutally honest inventory of your natural gifts, talents and abilities, knowing that they are from God and are all part of your life plan. Ask those who know you best for their opinions and perspectives. Make career choices based on persistent prayer and daily obedience to God.

More From The Girlfriends
I know we are living in tough economic times and that many people who have lost their job are working wherever they can to put food on the table and pay the bills. God will use every experience in life to refine and define us if we allow Him to.

Need encouragement in your work? Check out my weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. We are beginning a new series, "Take This Job and Love It."   

I know some of you are trying to weather some kind of storm in your life. God is with you! Find new strength for the difficult times in my new DVD, Strength for the Storm.

I would love to connect with you on Facebook or through email.

Need prayer? Email your prayer request to our Prayer Team Director, Ginger Meador.

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

[Judy Harder]

April 28, 2010 

To Snip or Not to Snip 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful"  (John 15:2 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Spring is in the air and I'm already getting excited about gardening!  I wish I could have you over for coffee on my patio sometime around the end of June.  A bed of begonias carpet the area just to the left of the brick patio.  Verdigris pots overflowing with pink petunias, dusty miller, and sky blue ageratum stand guard on each side of the steps leading from the house.  Two wire planters frame a wall fountain that trickles water over sculptured blue birds.  By June, fragrant pink and white begonias and purple petunias spill over the edge of the planters bursting with color.

In May, the sturdy begonias slowly sink their roots deep into the soil before mounds of flowers start to cautiously multiply.  But the petunias rush into summer by parading their bright colors right away.  So by the end of June, the petunias are the pride of the garden.  However, by August, they become "leggy," spindly, and unsightly.   Long, ugly stems protrude in the air with a single purple velvet blossom on the end.  The flowers are pretty, but the lanky stems become so distracting that by mid-August I usually just pull them up and throw them away.  Then the sturdy begonias that took the time to get grounded first simply fill in the empty spaces.

I do have another option other than pulling up and throwing out the spindly petunias.  When they start to show the first sign of "legginess," I could snip them off - prune them.  But that means I have to sacrifice the beautiful flower on the end of the stalk, and for two weeks there is no color.  The result of pruning in June is a healthier, bushier plant in August, but it's hard to snip and wait.

This pruning business is painful, not just in my flower garden, but also in my life.  But the Master Gardner has taught me a few pruning tips along the way.

You must clip away dead flowers or they will keep other buds from blooming. (Are there areas in my life that are not blooming or producing fruit? Are there activities I need to prune in order to produce a more productive, healthy life?) Lesson:  Snip it off.

Remove any sucker shoots because they sap energy from the rest of the plant. (Is there any one area of my life that is out of control and sapping energy from the rest of my life?  Are there any sucker shoots in my life that keep me from flourishing where God wants me to bloom?) Lesson:  Snip if off.

Just because a plant is bearing some blooms does not mean that it should not be pruned.  (Is there something in my life that is somewhat productive but needs to be pruned in order to be more productive?)  Lesson:  Snip it off.

In order for a flower to thrive, it must stay attached to the stalk.  (In order for me to continue to grow and bloom, I must stay attached to the Vine.) Lesson: Stay connected to Christ.

The Master Gardner wields His gardening tools in our lives as He trims, snips, and prunes. And we can rest assured He'll do what is necessary to insure the most beautiful bouquets. 

Let's Pray
Dear LORD and Master Gardener, I don't like pruning.  I resist change.  However, I give me life and my schedule to You today.  Prune away.  Show me what I need to keep and what I need to cut away.  I don't want to be a leggy petunia with an occasional bloom here and there.  I want to be a healthy deep-rooted perennial that blooms time and time again.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Go back up to the four pruning lessons in today's devotion.  Ask yourself those questions and come up with a pruning plan of your own.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's devotion.  Are you a leggy petunia in need of a good pruning or a bushy begonia with deep roots?

More From The Girlfriends
Don't you just love how God speaks to us through nature?  If you would like to learn more about how to listen to God's still small voice in your daily life, see Becoming a Woman who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes.  And if you would like a book filled with inspirational stories, check out Sharon's daily devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God.

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]

April 29, 2010
A Willing Heart
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) "So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'"

Friend To Friend
My husband Brad went on a missions trip to Guatemala a few years ago. What he saw and experienced changed his life and increased his faith in a dramatic way. He was an eyewitness to the healing power of God. On that trip he prayed harder, believed more, and expected more from God each passing day—and as a result, God used their medical missions team as a conduit for miracles.

Do you ever find yourself doubting that God wants to move in and through your life? Have you ever felt like you've needed a faith-lift? Are there circumstances in your life that have left you feeling "unqualified" to be the voice of life to others? Do you want to experience God's strength and power in your average, ordinary days?

If so, then lean in, girlfriend, because what I'm about to share with you is a key to increasing the power of God in your life!

Hector, the founder of that Guatemalan ministry that Brad teamed up with on the missions trip, visited North Carolina, and my family and I went to hear him speak. When I heard him testify of the provision and power of God, my heart was stirred and my faith was boosted. But what moved me most was the story of the lesson he learned about his call after God led him to be a medical missionary.

Before he began the medical ministry that he devotes his life to now, Hector's main goal in life was to make lots of money. Back then he didn't even apologize for it. He was a Christian and figured that God could use his money to help others.

What happened to change the course of his life? Back in the late eighties, Hector and his wife joined a medical team on a mission to a mountain village. The team was blown away by what God did through them while they were there. On the four-hour drive back to the city, they worshipped and sang praises to God. As he worshipped and drove, Hector heard the Lord speak to his soul. This is what I've made you for. To medically treat My people, to pray for their healing, and to share the hope of Jesus with the hopeless and the lost.

Hector felt so overwhelmed that he pulled the truck over and told the team of his call from God to be a missionary doctor. They prayed over him, whooped it up in celebration, and then continued down the mountain with an even greater sense of purpose and excitement. Hector thought that God had called him to be a missionary because of his skills as a doctor. Later, he would think otherwise.

A few years into his work, while visiting a remote village, a woman with a large mass on her side came into their makeshift clinic. Her terrible pain was curbed only by her excitement that the medical team had come to help her. One glance at her tumor and Hector had a strong suspicion that it was malignant. Upon examining her further, Hector was convinced that she was terminal. He became very frustrated with God, to the extent that he didn't even want to share the gospel with her because he couldn't do anything to help her physically.

Hector sent up a few prayers of frustration, but felt God nudging him to share the gospel with this woman. So he reluctantly shared the good news of Jesus with her; and, to Hector's surprise, she wanted to pray to receive Christ! And as they sat on the floor of that makeshift med-center, this sweet woman trusted Jesus as her Savior. When they finished praying, the woman had a radiant smile and tears in her eyes. He hugged her and she began to cry.

"What happened?" Hector asked. "Why are you crying?"

"As we were praying," she said, "I felt a warmth that started on my head and spread to the tips of my toes." As she said this, she realized something had changed, and she screamed with delight, "My mass is gone! My pain is gone!"

Hector had her lie back down on his examining table. The tumor that had been there just minutes ago was gone. God had intervened. She was healed, both spiritually and physically!

In the amazing celebration that followed, God spoke clearly to Hector's heart. God told him that He had all the power needed for the work He had called Hector to, and it had nothing to do with his medical training. God impressed on his heart that He didn't need Hector's skills or his knowledge, He had all of that covered. He just wanted him to go in His name.

You and I have that same opportunity every day. We have a chance to be a witness of God's healing love to a world of wounded hearts. Did God need my husband and the other volunteers to heal Guatemalan villagers, treat their physical wounds, and share the hope of Jesus with them? No. Did God move in the lives of the villagers because of their willingness to go in His name? You bet!

One of my favorite sayings is, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." If you are His, then you are called. Not because of who you are or what you can do, but because God can and will do His work through you.

Did God tell Jonah to go to Nineveh because Jonah was a great leader with amazing vision? No! Jonah proved to be quite wimpy. When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh, did God bring a great wave of repentance and restoration because of Jonah's rhetorical gifts? No! God stirred the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of Ninevites because Jonah finally had the courage to speak God's words.

God wants to do something similar through you. He wants you to stop fighting Him on this and be willing to speak for Him so others can know the same healing and hope that you know. He wants to bring beauty up from the ashes of brokenness all around you.

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, I'm so humbled that You would call me to anything. You have all the power needed for every job, yet you ask me to join you. Thank you, Lord. Please make my heart willing to say yes to everything you want me to do.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you have a willing heart? What is God calling you to do for Him? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask God to guide you and strengthen you for the task.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.

More From The Girlfriends
Hey girlfriend! I'm a woman who has hesitated to say yes to God in the past. It took many months of resistance before I conceded to release my testimony into His hands. I just didn't think anything good could come of it. Boy was I wrong! God doesn't waste a hurt, and He has a big plan for your life. Trust His heart... no matter where He's leading you!

GOT BEAUTY? Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen Smith's book, Broken into Beautiful. In Broken into Beautiful, Smith invites you to hear the stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls...and of the loving heavenly Father who makes them beautiful again.

GOT FACEBOOK? Visit Gwen's FACEBOOK PAGE - leave a message on her wall - listen to a few songs - share the page with your FB friends! :-)

EVENTS: Interested in having Gwen speak and sing at your upcoming women's event? Send your Women's Ministry Director to Gwen's website (www.GwenSmith.net) to fill out the booking inquiry form found on her site.

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