Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

June 25, 2010 

Connecting the Dots 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26, NIV)

Friend To Friend
Ever since I was young, I've loved connecting dots. In my childhood, it was dots with numbers on paper that I could connect and color. As I threw my attention to the page and followed the numbered steps, a picture developed. A new creation appeared. It brought joy to my little-girl heart.

My grown-up dot-connecting challenges are far from a kid's fun sheet. There are "life dots" like: parenting dots, faith dots, emotion dots, relationship dots, job dots, and decision dots. I continually struggle to make sense of situations and circumstances and long for a simply numbered life sheet to give me guidance and direction.

Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever wonder how to connect the practical instruction of God's Word to your daily choices and behaviors? Do you struggle to understand how to connect the dots between your questions and God's answers? Between the decisions you need to make and God's wisdom?

If you have a pulse, I'm guessing you deal with this dot-connecting life stuff regularly like I do. The Lord knew we would struggle with this, and He gives each of us the power to connect our life dots according to His plan. How? Through His Holy Spirit.

In Scripture, we see a beautiful promise of God. Before His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that He must die in order to connect the sinful hearts of man to the holy heart of God. He explained that though He was leaving this world, His followers would not be left alone or without power.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth" (John 14:15-17a).

Jesus went on to say, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:25-26).

The Holy Spirit works in and through us to connect the life dots between our heart and God's. He's the connector between our problems and God's solutions. When we go to God in prayer and ask Him to help us take the next step, or make the next decision, or choose the next response, He will faithfully lead us to the next dot with wisdom through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Invite the Holy Spirit to lead your decisions and emotions today. Open your heart to His counsel. Call on His wisdom and listen for the whispers of His truth. When you do, He will connect your life dots in order to bring glory to God the Father. Imagine what our lives, families, churches, and communities would look like if we allowed the Spirit of God within us to connect our life dots each day. The world would see a beautiful faith picture.

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, You are all-knowing and all-powerful. You know every decision I need to make and every challenge I face. Please forgive me for the times that I try to figure this life out on my own. I need You. I need Your Holy Spirit to give me strength, wisdom, and direction, specifically concerning ______________.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
After telling His disciples about the Holy Spirit in John 14, Jesus blessed them with a peace promise: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

Where does this promise find you today?

Whatever you are facing, know that the Holy Spirit is ready to guide and comfort you. Journal your thoughts and ask God to connect the faith dots for you so you can bring Him glory in your circumstances and then experience His peace.

More From The Girlfriends
Hey friend. I know many of you are facing very difficult times. Some of you are trying to sift through the ashes of marriage problems, financial challenges, health issues and emotional torment. God knows right where you are, He loves you and He knows your heart. He has a plan for your life. As you look to Him to connect your life dots, trust His plan and press on to do His will.

Every step of transformation begins with the heart of God. If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be reworked into a picture of God's beauty, order Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration!

GOT FACEBOOK? Visit Gwen's FACEBOOK PAGE. Thousands of GiGs "meet" there daily to connect and spur one another on in faith. Stop by and leave a message on her wall - listen to a few songs - share the page with your FB friends! (She loves that!)

LIKE SAVING MONEY? Check out the SPECIALS on Gwen's website!  When you order more than one CD, you save!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

June 28, 2010 

Fresh Hope for the Journey 

Part 1 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

Friend To Friend
I had almost forgotten what it felt like to wake up at the bottom of that deep, ugly pit called clinical depression. The darkness has been an all too familiar companion for most of my life. Over the years, I tried just about everything to soothe the pain in my heart and mind - things like success in ministry, the approval of others, perfectionism, doing good things, and food - to name a few.

In 1995, the bottom fell out of my life and I spent two long years climbing out of that pit of darkness. I even wrote a book, "Hope in the Midst of Depression" that describes the painful but healing journey that totally and completely changed who I was and what I would become in the years ahead. God absolutely "re-defined" me and gave me a "new song" to sing as He opened doors for me speak to women across the world about how to find hope in the midst of depression. I have often said, "I would go through that pit experience again tomorrow because of what God has done in my life through it." I really meant those words. I just didn't think that "tomorrow" would come. But it has. So what do I do now?

I go back to the place where it all began - to the place of complete brokenness - and remember. Evidently, I have forgotten some of truths God taught me in the darkness. I have surrendered right priorities to the wrong plan and failed to hear God's voice above all others.   

Depression may not be the problem you are facing, but the hard times will come and the darkness will find each one of us. At some point in life, we all will face some kind of pit. It may be a pit that we have dug with our own hands of wrong choices or it could be a pit that has been uniquely designed for us by the enemy. But a pit is a pit - a place of paralyzing fear and numbing doubt that is constantly fed by our human frailty and desperate attempts to escape the darkness.

Over the next two days, we will explore four steps we can take in order to find fresh hope and new freedom from the darkness. Let's get started!

Step 1:  Identify the purpose of the pit.

I recently underwent what I thought was going to be a simple medical procedure, but when I woke up in recovery, I knew I was in trouble. According to the doctor, the surgery went great but she had not expected to find so much scar tissue and repair work to do and I certainly had not expected to experience the level of pain, soreness and inability to function that overwhelmed me. I was basically helpless. I had given myself a whole ten days to recuperate but it was brutally obvious that recuperation was going to be a long time coming. In fact, those ten days I had so generously carved out of my schedule turned into months of painful and slow recovery. I could feel myself sliding into that familiar pit of darkness.

You see, I have a problem with pride. It has always been extremely hard for me to accept help. I was raised to be strong and independent. When anyone asked what they could do to help out during my recovery, I automatically responded with, "I am fine. I will let you know if I need anything." Fortunately, my family and friends ignored that absurd assertion and stepped right over my pride as they brought meals, cleaned house, did laundry, assumed my teaching and speaking responsibilities and kept our infant grandson while our daughter attended school three days a week. I could not even get out of bed or go downstairs without help - and I did not like it one bit! In fact, I was furious!

Just like a tiny flame can turn into a raging fire, unresolved anger can turn into depression. As I began to work through my own anger and frustration, one purpose of this particular pit quickly emerged as God reminded me of a truth I often share but fail to practice.  We were created to need God and each other. It is so easy to slide into a pattern of thinking much like the prideful toddler who announces, "I do it myself!"

We can't! And the good news is that we don't have to! Lay down your pride, girlfriend, and let fresh hope fill your life.

Let's Pray
Father, I cannot deal with the darkness and climb out of this pit in my own strength. I recognize my human frailty. I am desperate without You and I choose to trust You and rest in Your sufficiency. Make me more like Jesus and teach me the truths You have for me in this pit.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Pits can bring life to a screeching halt, demanding that we change our perspective of living and examine our priorities in light of that new perspective. Read 1 Peter 1:6. Compare your perspective to the one described in this verse.

Pits make us face and admit our weaknesses and come to the conclusion that we cannot live life in our own strength. Read 2 Corinthians 12:10. Make a list of your weaknesses and struggles and thank God for each one. Celebrate the power of God's grace in your life.

Pits can strengthen our faith if we allow them to. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9. How has God's power helped you face and deal with the darkness?

More From The Girlfriends
One of the reasons that "Girlfriends in God" exists is because Sharon, Gwen and I recognize our desperate need for God and for the friendships of other women who are seeking Him as well. We really do want to be "God with skin on" in your life.

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies that you can download for your personal use and/or for a small group study. Mary's latest study is Winning the War with Temptation and may be just what you need to live a life of victory instead of defeat. 

Summer can be a stress-filled time. Find ways to manage stress in Mary's new book, Escaping the Stress Trap.

Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, is a great Bible study tool as well. Check it out! The current topic is How to Avoid the Pits in Life.

Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Face book or through email. She loves hearing what God is doing in your life!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

June 29, 2010 

Fresh Hope for the Journey 

Part 2 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

Friend To Friend
Hard times will come and the darkness will find each one of us. At some point in life, we all will face some kind of pit. It may be a pit that we have dug with our own hands of wrong choices or it could be a pit that has been uniquely designed for us by the enemy. What can we do to find hope in the midst of the darkness?   

Step 1: Identify the purpose of the pit.

Step 2: Choose a response to the pit.   

We have several choices about how to deal with the pain and darkness in life. We can become bitter and blame God for the pain or we can give up and wallow in the mire and mud of that slimy pit. I am guilty of plastering a smile on my face, gritting my teeth and denying that the pit even exists. However, the choice we should make is to trust God, knowing He will deliver us in and from the pit. The Apostle Paul was an expert when it came to squeezing a seed of victory and truth out of every tough circumstance.   

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "So that I would not become too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me, a painful physical problem was given to me. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you.'"

Paul was not sinning by asking God to remove his affliction. Paul may not have understood what God was doing, but he chose to accept it because he knew God's heart. Paul may not have understood God's process but he trusted God.   

Step 3: Embrace the power of the pit.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.' So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me."

God was sending Paul a message of hope. It is important to note the tense of the verb in this verse, "But he said to me" can be translated "He (God) has once-for-all said to me." It is an eternal promise.

The story is told of a business man who was selling warehouse property that had been empty for months. Since vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows and left garbage, the building needed expensive repairs. As the owner showed a prospective buyer the property, he was quick to explain that he would make any repairs needed. The buyer said, "Forget the repairs. When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building - just the site."

God's grace turns defeat into victory, tragedy into triumph and weakness into strength by providing real power over circumstances. People without Christ can muster up enough courage and human strength to get through a trial. God will not only enable us to survive the hard times, He wants us to thrive in and because of them. Paul used his pain and chose to make that pit work for him - and God's power was unleashed in Paul's life.

Step 4: Find joy in the pit.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me."

Joy is not an earthly treasure but a heavenly gift from our loving Father who is committed to the joy of His children. I am convinced that God entrusts the greatest trials to those who will respond to them in the right way. Some of the most joyful people I know have suffered the most because they have learned not to live on explanations but on promises - the promises of God.

I love the story of the little girl who misquoted her favorite Bible verse, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-laughing life." Jesus wants to give us a life of joy, pits and all. We need to remember that joy is the deeply-rooted confidence that God is in control and that our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outer circumstances. We can find joy in the pit.

Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book, Man's Search for Meaning, was imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II because he was a Jew. His wife, children and parents were killed in the Holocaust. As the Gestapo stripped away his clothes and cut off his wedding band, Victor said to himself, "You can take away my family and destroy everything I possess, but there is one thing that no person can ever take from me - my freedom to choose how I react to what happens to me."

Let's Pray
Father, thank You that You are my strength and my joy at a time when I feel so weak, trapped in a pit of despair. By faith, I turn to You and seek Your forgiveness for the pride that blinds me to the hope I can find in You. Please help me to see Your hand at work in my life and even when I can't, give me the power to walk by faith and not by sight.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize Psalm 40:1-3.

Record these verses in your journal.

When the darkness comes, remember each promise and count on God's grace.   

More From The Girlfriends
I really hope and pray that these devotions have met a need in your life. We are living in difficult and dark times for so many people. If you are one of them, we want you to realize that you are not alone. Maybe God wants to use you to encourage someone else battling the darkness. Know that we are praying for you and walking with you - over every mountain - through every valley - girlfriends in God. Blessings.

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies that you can download for your personal use and/or for a small group study.

Are you having trouble dealing with stress? You can't eliminate stress, but you can learn to control stress before it controls you. Mary's book Escaping the Stress Trap transforms the promises of the Twenty-third Psalm into easy-to-implement, practical steps that will hand you the keys to stress management. Check it out!

Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, is a great bible study tool as well. Check it out! The current study topic is How to Avoid the Pits in Life.

Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Face book or through email. She loves hearing what God is doing in your life!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

June 30, 2010 

Stark Contrast 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be" (James 3:9-10 NIV).

Friend To Friend
The summer heat can be unbearable.  North Carolina is by no means a place of cool summers.  To the contrary, we Tar Heel residents expect to have our air conditioning units running almost round the clock. But the heat we've experienced this year has been uncommonly sweltering.  At times, it's been so balmy that my sweat drops had sweat drops! Now, you can call it global warming, or you can call it chance, but I just call it plain old hot!

On one of those crazy-hot summer days, I spent time at our local library.  I sat on the lower level, which is the coolest area in the building.  The vigilante AC unit worked aggressively to protect us book-reading occupants from the external heat wave.  I was on the chilly lower level for the better part of two hours, and gradually turned to a human icicle.  My fingers were completely numb as I signed out a Hardy Boys book for my son and turned to exit the building. 

As I opened the door to leave, a forceful wave of heat swept over me.  In that moment, I thought, "Wow!  That sure is a stark contrast!  What a temperature change!"  From one extreme to the other, the heat pendulum had swung.  Hot to cold, and then hot again.  As I considered the contrast, it occurred to me that the temperature of my life might sometimes look the same.  It gave me reason to pray.

Have you ever gotten up early and had a sweet time with the LORD, only to turn into an unreasonable, raging screamer hours later?  Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or children on the way to church, only to cross the threshold of the lobby with blessings and kindness on your tongue?  Have you ever driven in traffic with worship music on the dash and praise on your lips when suddenly, someone cut you off and the praises on your tongue turned to cursing?  If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, welcome to the Sinner's Club.  All humans have an automatic membership that activates at birth and is irrevocable until we accept forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and see His face on the other side of glory.

The Bible calls us to a higher, more consistent temperature of living.  We must be careful not to praise and curse with the same tongue.  Are you swinging the pendulum of your responses, or are they swinging you?  We are accountable for our behavior.  We are accountable for the way we respond to circumstances.  Our responses reflect the core of who we are.  They reflect our faith ... good or bad. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

As we go through today, let's center the thermometer of our hearts on Christ so we are less likely to respond in stark contrast to His perfect example of love.  Let's heed the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:3:  "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

Let's Pray
Lord, please forgive me for the times when my responses are unkind.  Please forgive me for the times when I over-react and under-love.  I need the power of the Holy Spirit to moderate the temperature of my heart and my responses. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you over reacted or responded harshly to a family member, friend or co-worker lately?

Have you been trying to be the thermostat instead of the mercury?

More From The Girlfriends
Okay - this is hard!  Trust me, as I was stepping on your toes with this message, I was trampling all over mine, too.  Let's go in grace today, and pray that God will be strong in our weakness.  We are continually being transformed into a greater likeness of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit ... one day at a time ... thank You, Jesus!

Every step of transformation begins with the heart of God. If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be reworked into a picture of God's beauty, order Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration!

GOT FACEBOOK? Visit Gwen's FACEBOOK PAGE. Thousands of GiGs "meet" there daily to connect and spur one another on in faith. Stop by and leave a message on her wall - listen to a few songs - share the page with your FB friends! (She loves that!)

LIKE SAVING MONEY? Check out the SPECIALS on Gwen's website!  When you order more than one CD, you save!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

July 1, 2010 

Stop! In the Name of Love 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering," (Mark 5:34 NIV).

Friend To Friend
"Gone.  All gone."

For twelve long years, she had been bleeding.  Over 4,380 days.  Lydia had gone from doctor to doctor to try and stop the flow, but as the years progressed she only worsened.  Each day was a reminder of the emptiness she felt as her very life ebbed from her body.

"I've lost my family, my friends, my energy and now all my money.  My very womanhood, the ability to conceive and suckle a child at my breast flows out of my body and leaves me a barren wasteland.  And the pain?  The constant cramping feels as though my womb is being squeezed by an invisible hand.

"'Unclean.' That's what the priests say I am.  No one is supposed to even touch me unless they are willing to go through a cleansing process afterwards.  The house I live in, the chair I sit in, the utensils I cook with - all ceremonially unclean.  Oh how I long for a human touch.  A hug.  A kiss.  A pat on the back.  A baby's cheek against my own."

"Oh, God," Lydia prayed.  "There is nothing else for me to do.  I've tried everything.  Only a miracle will set me free from this life of isolation."

God smiled down at his daughter of Abraham and noticed her name on Jesus' celestial day-timer.  Today was the day.

Sitting all alone in a darkened room, she heard a ruckus outside her window.

"It's Jesus!"  Someone shouted.  "Jesus is coming!" 

"Jesus," she whispered to herself.  "Maybe he could heal me.  I know I'm not supposed to go out in public.  Certainly I cannot speak to this man or any man on the street.  What can I do?"

Quickly, she devised a plan.  She wrapped a veil around her face with only enough of an opening for her eyes to peer out.  She snuck out of her home and merged with the throng of people trying to catch a glimpse of the much-acclaimed healer and teacher.  Gathering all the courage she could muster, she pushed her way through the crowd in hopes of getting close enough just to touch the hem of his robe.

"Jesus!" a man called from the crowd.  Like the parting of the sea, the multitude gave way for the synagogue ruler to pass.  Everyone knew Jarius.   He was important.   

Jesus turned as Jarius fell at his feet and begged.  "My little daughter is dying," he began.  "Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live."

The woman looked on as Jesus extended his hand to this distraught father, compassionately helped him to his feet, and apparently changed course to go with him.  It was then that she made her move.

Shoring up courage and confidence, Lydia began muttering to her self, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.  I know it.  I just know it.  I can't let this opportunity slip away."  While unsure of herself, she was confident in Him.  Her faith overcame her fear and she pressed forward.

Like a runner stretching for the finish line, the woman reached through the crowd and brushed her fingers against the hem of his garment.  Just as her faith reached out to touch Jesus, God's healing power reached down to touch her.  Immediately, she felt a surge of power flow through her body and the flow of blood come to a halt.

She knew it.  She felt it.  The flow stopped ... and then Jesus stopped.

"Who just touched my clothes?" he asked.

The woman kept her eyes fixed to the ground as a jumble of thoughts scrambled through her mind.   I'm unclean and not supposed to be out in public.  I'm not supposed to touch anyone.  What am I going to do?  If I remove my veil people with recognize me. I'm not supposed to talk to a man in public.  She wanted to run, but her feet were suddenly rooted to the ground.

"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'"

Jesus ignored the disciples' comments and continued to pan the crowd in search of the person who had purposely touched his robe.  He felt the power flow from his body like a current.  He knew what had happened.  Jesus can always sense the difference between the press of the curious and the touch of the faithful.

Silence hung like a cloud.  No one said a word.

Finally, she couldn't hold it in any longer.  She turned to Jesus and fell at his feet.  With trembling voice, a geyser of gratitude and confession gushed forth.

"Master, I have had an issue of blood for over twelve years.  I have gone from doctor to doctor and no one has been able to help me.  I've lost my family, my friends and my finances.  But when I heard that you were passing through, I just knew that you, O Lord, that you could heal me.  I know I'm not supposed to touch anyone.  I know that I am unclean in all regards.  Please forgive me for the intrusion.  But Jesus, what I have to tell you is this!  I am healed!  As soon as I touched the hem of your robe, the blood ceased to flow!  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, Jesus."

While others began to back away from her "uncleanness," Jesus reached forward and embraced her faith.

"Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when I feel alone and forgotten, You see me.  Thank you for sending Jesus my way.  Even though others may desert me, You always draw me near.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Today's devotion is a retelling of Jesus healing the woman with the twelve year bleeding in Mark 5:21-34. I encourage you to go back and read it from the Bible.

How do you think you would you feel if you had been bleeding for 12 years?

Have you ever felt forgotten?

How would you feel if Jesus stopped right in the middle of what He was doing to speak to you and take care of your needs?

Sister, He has.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's new book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.  We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes.  But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again. 

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

July 2, 2010 

Not Forgotten 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering,'" (Mark 5:34 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Oh how I love the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood recorded in Mark 5:21-34.  In my last devotion, we looked at the overall story.  Today, let's take a closer look.

I can so relate to this woman.  What woman among us hasn't felt the wretchedness of rejection, the shame of suffering, and the humility of hopelessness?  What woman hasn't wondered, would God care about the likes of me?  And here we have a story of just how much God values and esteems His female image bearers.  He singles out one lone woman from a multitude of curious followers, heals her of her affliction with but a touch, and then shines the heavenly spotlight center stage for her to testify of the miraculous transformation. 

The woman we meet in Mark, chapter five, has been called, "the woman with the issue of blood."  She was defined by what was wrong with her.  For twelve long years, this woman had been bleeding; we can assume it was vaginally.  When we meet her, she is physically, financially, socially and spiritually drained - bankrupt in every way.

In Biblical days, certain situations and conditions rendered a person ceremonially unclean.  Leprous people were separated from society and had to shout, "Unclean! Unclean!" when they walked among common folk.  Anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean.  And women were considered unclean during their monthly period.

For seven days, considered the time of a normal female period, a woman was secluded.  A woman hemorrhaging for twelve years would be considered permanently unclean.  If unmarried, she would not be able to marry.  If married, her condition would be grounds for divorce.  She would be expelled from her home, cut off from her family, and ostracized by her community.

Each doctor's visit brought a surge of hope and expectation, only to be swept away when the red flow of despair reappeared.  The joy of tender youth was now a vague memory, crushed by life's hardness and the weight of disappointment.  The hammer of rejection drove the nails of isolation into the coffin of her tightly secured heart.

Unlike the lame man who was lowered through the roof by four friends and placed at Jesus' feet, this woman had no one to intercede for her.  There was no father pleading for his daughter. There was no husband praying for his wife.  There was no master employing Jesus' help to heal a servant.  When we meet this woman, she is fearful and forgotten.  She is all alone - or so it seemed to her.

Sometimes we can feel the same: abandoned by friends, deserted by a spouse, forgotten by family, unseen by society.  But she was not forgotten.  She was not alone.  This Daughter of Abraham was close to God's heart and foremost on His mind.  So God the Father orchestrated His Son's journey to pass her way.

This woman understood that Jesus was radically different in his approach and appreciation of women.  She knew full well that she was overstepping cultural and religious boundaries set out by pious men of her day, but it was a risk she was willing to take.

Two things happened when she touched Jesus.  First she was healed.  It was measurable.  She felt the flow of blood had ceased.  Jesus felt the power of God released.  Secondly, she was revealed. Her courage was cloaked in anonymity trembling in the fear of exposure, but Jesus was not going to allow her to "steal" her healing.  He wanted to do more than stop the flow of blood.  He wanted to start the flow of ministry.  He called her forward to testify, to tell what had just happened to her so that others would believe.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. (Mark 5:34).

A Rabbi did not speak to a woman in public, but once again, Jesus, the liberator, broke the man-made rules for the God-made woman.  He did not call her out to embarrass or shame her in any way.  He called her center stage to honor her honesty, to commend her courage, and to validate her valor.  He did not reprimand her for breaking the religious rules, but praised her great faith.

Once again, Jesus called a woman out from the shadows and placed her center stage.  No longer was she a woman in need of a healing touch, but now a believer who had received it and was called on to tell about it.   

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I am so thankful that Jesus didn't let this woman slip away with her healing, but called her out to tell what happened.  Help me to speak up about the wonderful things You have done, and are doing in my life, so others may hear and believe.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to the woman after her healing.  What do you think happened to her?  What do you think she did with the rest of her life?

How do you think the crowd responded to her healing?

What does Revelation 12:11 tell us about the power of our personal testimonies?

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's new book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.  We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes.  But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free.  He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

July 5, 2010 

Free at Last

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"So Christ has really set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law" Galatians 5:1 (NLT).

Friend To Friend
The story is told of an Indian village that held an annual bazaar where villagers came to sell the crafts and wares they had made during the year as well as the animals they had raised.  One year, a man brought a covey of quail to sell.  In order to display the birds, he tied one end of a piece of string to one of their legs and the other end to a stake in the ground.

All day long, shoppers passed by watching the birds walk in a circle around the stake.  No one seemed interested in buying them until a religious man approached and asked how much the merchant wanted for them.  The merchant named an exorbitant price, which the religious man quickly paid, immediately instructing the merchant to set the birds free.  When the merchant asked why he was willing to pay so much for the birds and then let them go, the religious man simply responded, "Because they were created to be free."

The merchant didn't understand but shrugged his shoulders and cut the strings, setting the birds free.  The quail continued marching in a circle around the stake.  The buyer stepped into the middle of the circle, scattering the birds, which flew a few yards, landed and once again began to march in a circle.  The quail were free - but did not know it. 

We all seek freedom.  With our very first breath, we come into this world kicking and screaming for freedom.  The desire to be free was tucked into our very soul by God Himself as He formed us in the womb.  Because freedom is a God-given need our Father promised to provide a right way for that need to be met and the longing for freedom to be filled. 

Freedom comes through truth. 

In John 8:32 we find the promise, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (NIV).  To know truth we must know God because He is truth.  John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me."  When we come to Jesus Christ in a personal relationship, we will experience true freedom for the first time - freedom from sin - freedom from condemnation and death and freedom to really live.  Without truth, there can be no freedom.

Freedom comes through obedience.

Obedience calls us to challenge and lay aside anything that hinders our walk with God.  Instead, we refuse to forsake cherished sin, allowing wrong attitudes to take root and prosper while harmful habits hold us prisoner. The writer of Hebrews offers compelling direction for the captured soul longing to be free.  "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).  Obedience brings freedom.

Freedom comes through understanding.

Until we understand who we are in His eyes, we will never truly be free.  Our value and worth rest solely in the fact that we were created, chosen and pursued by God - for God. We belong to Him.  His unconditional love sets us free to become all He created us to be and more than we ever dreamed we could be.  In Romans 5:8, the words of Paul celebrate our identity in Him, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners."  Recognizing our worth and value to God sets us free from the chains of human expectations and earthly demands.  Understanding brings freedom.

Christ really has set us free.  The question is - are we living in that freedom.  Don't live another day chained to the old ways.  Seek His truth, walk in obedience and celebrate your God-created identity! Free - free at last! 

Let's Pray 
Father, I long to be set free in you but I have to admit that total freedom in you frightens me.  I am not sure what it will require.  I have allowed old habits, sins and attitudes to keep me in bondage.  I know that is not your will or your plan.  Right now, I lay down everything that keeps me from being free in you.  Help me to walk in that freedom. 

In Jesus name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Are there any areas in your life that seem like a deep, dark pit from which there is no escape? 

·                     In your journal, write down the first area that came to mind. 

·                     Turn in your Bible to Psalm 40:1-3.  Read this passage several times, claiming it as God's promise to you .... because it is! 

·                     Now look at the area of bondage you wrote down.  Ask God to show you the steps you must take in order to be free from that bondage. 

·                     Write out a prayer of commitment to do what God shows you.  Date it and sign it. 

More From The Girls
Are you ready to accept the truth that you were created to live in freedom?  Great!  But that's not enough.  Are you willing to give God permission to work in your life in order to experience His freedom?  Sometimes, I think it is easier to stay in the darkness, to be content in a familiar prison.  It becomes our identity...and we are not sure if there will be a new identity waiting for us in the light.  Friend, do not listen to the lies of the enemy!  He wants you to stay where you are, settling for so little when God wants to offer you everything!  Don't wait another minute.  Cry out to God and take your first step out of bondage into freedom.

Join women across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. It's Never Too Late to be Great is the current series and is based on the fascinating lives of Samson and Delilah.  Do you think you have made too many mistakes and had too many failures for God to love, forgive and work through you?  No matter where you have been or where you are now - it is not too late!  Don't miss this study!  When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies we have done so far. Check it out!

Going through a tough time?  Get Mary's new DVD, Strength for the Storm and find new hope that will strengthen you for the hard times you are facing.

Need a friend?  Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.  She loves hearing what God is doing in your life!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

[Judy Harder]

July 6, 2010   

When the Soul Bleeds 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6b NIV).

Friend to Friend
When we read the story of Jesus healing the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, it is hard for us twenty-first century women to imagine such a condition lasting for so long.  Medical science has progressed far beyond the rudimentary knowledge of Jesus' day. It is simply unthinkable today.

But I suggest there are still many women with chronic bleeding of a different sort.  We bleed from the heart. 

From the time Sarah was six-years-old, her father crept into her bedroom in the dark of night and violated her little body.  Now, as an adult, her heart bleeds.

When Beth was walking to her dorm room from the college library, a man jumped from behind the bushes, and dragged her to a nearby shed and raped her at knife-point.  Now, ten years later, her heart bleeds.

After twenty-years of marriage, Lucy accidentally stumbled upon an in-town hotel receipt in her husband's wallet.  Suspecting the worse, she uncovered past e-mails, supposed meetings that never occurred and a trail of deceit.  When presented with the evidence, her husband admitted having a three-year long affair.  And her heart bleeds.

Margaret's routine physical reveals that she has AIDS.  She had only been with one man her entire life - her husband.  And her heart bleeds.         

Laura was laid off from her job and her mother's words re-emerge like sewage leakage from an underground septic tank.  "You're no good.  You'll never amount to anything.  You're a loser just like your father."  And because of the lies, her heart bleeds.


Melissa holds her newborn little girl in her arms and coos her to sleep.  Interrupting the sweetness of the wee hours of the morning, she hears her aborted child crying from the grave. Guilt presses down as the ever-present weight deflates her joy.  And her heart bleeds.

Women - hoping the pain will go away; awakening each day with a memory that cuts a fresh wound.  Women - longing to hear the words "Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

The woman with the issue of blood was no different from you and me.  While her apparent illness was physical, her inward suffering ruled her life.  But in one radical moment, with one momentous decision, she reached out to Jesus and grabbed hold of her healing.

Mark used specific words to describe our friend with the issue of blood.  She "suffered greatly" and she was "afflicted."  These are the same words that were used of Jesus during his last days on earth (Mark 8:32, 9:12).  The same words Isaiah spoke when he prophesied of Jesus' death (Isaiah 53:7).  Jesus understood her suffering more than she knew.  As the blood flowed from her body and rendered her unclean, Jesus knew the blood that would soon flow from his body to cleanse us all.

He wants to set us free from our suffering, but he will not push us out of the cell.  He unlocks the jail cell, but we must walk out the door.  We can choose to bleed.  We can choose to remain in our suffering and pick at the scabs of the past, but hear me dear friend - it is a choice.  Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10).  That's what he wants for each of us.  But we have to embrace the truth and, like the woman with the twelve-year-bleeding, reach for our healing.

In John, chapter five, Jesus encounters a lame man sitting by a pool of water where the paralyzed, blind, and afflicted gathered.  They believed that when the waters were stirred by supposed angels, the first one in the pool would be healed.  For thirty-eight years this man sat in his sickness.

Then Jesus walked up to him and asked a strange question, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6b).

Perhaps it was not such a strange question after all.  Many times we get used to being sick and wear it like a shroud. motionally we are the walking wounded - victims who pick as scabs - not allowing them to heal.

Jesus said to the woman, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."  That is the same healing he offers to you and to me.

Let's Pray
Dear God, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I reach forward today, touch the hem of Your garment, and receive my healing.  Yes, I want to get well.  Give me the faith to walk in freedom and victory.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Is there pain in your life that you have refused to let go of? 

Do you want to get well?

That is a risky question.  It took a lot for the man to get up off of that pallet.  He had to learn how to walk, get a job, and learn to live like a healthy person.  That's a big change after 38 years.  But you can do it!  You can let go of the past and begin to live in victory and freedom!  Let's start today!

How has this devotion ministered to you?  Let's chat.  Visit www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and share your comments with your Girlfriends in God all around the world.

More From The Girlfriends
Want to learn more about how to be free from your past suffering and walk in victory?  How to stop the bleeding of your soul and use your past pain for present purpose?  Then you'll want to read Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God.

Also, today's devotion was taken from Sharon's new book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.  We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes.  But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free.  He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

July 7, 2010 

How to Avoid Bankruptcy 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
It is not enough to acknowledge the presence of negative emotions or even understand why they exist.  We must take action.  If we don't, negative emotions will take control, a dangerous proposition for any woman.  We must not only be able to manage negative emotions in our own lives, we must be able to react correctly to negative emotions produced by the sometimes abrasive behavior of those we call family and friend.  The seeker watches carefully, curious to see what happens when the pressure is on.   

So many women are imprisoned by feelings of inferiority and the results are always disastrous.  Constructive criticism is perceived as an emotional attack.  Jealousy burgeons as others receive the accolades we desperately crave.  Decisions are made and a course of life is determined so that fragile egos are fed, excluding God's plan and purpose.  Comparison reigns as a false idol attempting to validate worth and success. Inferiority crosses over to pride and sin reigns. 

On the other hand, we can put negative emotions to work in our lives.  Every woman knows that emotions can be like runaway horses.  You are trampled by a friend with a hidden agenda, kicked in the gut by a family member, thrown by the lies of a trusted co-worker or crushed by a lack of integrity and character in those in authority over you.  Emotions can easily stampede out of control and into sin. 

The success of emotional integrity lies in the one who holds the reins.  We must constantly choose to surrender every emotion to the supernatural control of God because when we do, the Holy Spirit empowers that choice, produces control and transforms emotional bondage into emotional freedom.  Learning to control anger is a crucial life lesson and one that we need to master.

The people around us want to see what happens when life pushes our buttons or squeezes our emotions. While God created us with the capacity for emotions, it is our responsibility to control them instead of allowing them to control us.  When Jesus saw money-changers desecrating the temple of God, He was furious!  Yet, He modeled the right way to harness emotions and use them for good.  I have heard many Bible teachers and preachers attempt to soften the response of Jesus, but the truth is - He was irate!  I can almost see His face shrouded in plain old fury as He contemplated His options.  If I had been in His place, I can tell you that those wicked men would have been toast!  But before Jesus faced the intruders, He stepped aside to braid a whip - not because He had completed "Whip Braiding 101", but because He was taking the time to harness His emotions. Jesus then used that harnessed anger to drive the money-changers out of the temple, correcting a wrong.  We choose where to invest every ounce of emotional energy we possess.  Like Jesus, we must learn to invest wisely, in order to reap the benefits of healthy emotions, harnessed and trained by godly discipline. 

Emotional bankruptcy is too often responsible for the destruction of a life.  We must intentionally monitor emotional withdrawals and the impact they will have on our lives.  There are certainly emotional withdrawals that are good, right and ordained by God.  I will never forget the night we found a broken and defeated young pastor standing at our front door.  With tears streaming down his face, John told us that his wife was having an affair and wanted a divorce.  Certain that his ministry was doomed, this precious and gifted servant poured out his pain and defeat.  For months, Dan and I ministered to this stellar young man, loving him, encouraging him, making him part of our family while he tried desperately to save his marriage. 

When it became clear that his wife was determined to leave him, we repeatedly assured John that God would once again use him for Kingdom work. Today, that once broken young man is married to a beautiful, godly woman who adores him and has two incredible children.  The church he now pastors is exploding in growth, changing lives and impacting the world for Jesus Christ!  The time and energy we poured into David was a worthy emotional investment, to say the least, and one of our greatest blessings in ministry.

However, some emotional deposits are not good, right, healthy or God-ordained!  Life is jam-packed with lifeless places in which to invest emotional energy.  There are those who look to us to be their faithful savior or always available crisis manager. That job belongs to God alone!

We all know about bounced checks.  For the life of me, I cannot figure out why banks don't adopt my obviously superior philosophy about checking accounts.  It goes something like this, "As long as there are checks, there is money."  Sadly, my current bank is rather narrow-minded in this area, so the reality is that my checks will bounce when our bank account is overdrawn and out of balance.  The same is true in life. 

We constantly need to check our emotional balance, guarding the emotional withdrawals we allow and diligently making consistent emotional deposits.  Prayer, solitude, Bible study, friendships, service, accountability and a guarded thought life are just a few of the deposits that can make the difference between emotional health and emotional bankruptcy.  Emotional imbalance occurs when we operate in our own strength, doing our "own thing" instead of wholly depending upon God and living in the parameters of His will.  When we abandon all that we are to His strength, purpose and power, the Father deposits everything we need to accomplish every good work He created us to do. 

Let's Pray
Father, I praise You for giving me the gift of emotions.  Help me learn how to manage and control those emotions so that they are assets instead of liabilities.  I want to become a godly woman of discipline but I can't even start that journey without your power.  I choose to spend time in Your Word and in prayer.  I submit my emotions to You and ask that You use them in my life for Your glory.  And may others see and know You are God. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Take a few minutes to make a list of the top five emotional responses common in your life.  What one of these emotions do you experience the most?

Beside each emotion, write one habit you can incorporate into your life that will enable you to control that emotion.

Identify the activities, relationships or habits that drain you instead of replenish you.  Eliminate those that are negative. 

Keep an emotional diary for 5 days.  Record any emotional outbursts and the reason behind those outbursts.  Surrender each emotion to the power of God. 

More From The Girlfriends
Since God created us with the capacity for emotions, He has a plan for those emotions.  And since God never guides where He cannot provide, our emotional integrity is dependent on our obedience to God's plan.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  Not!  The best way to be ready for emotional struggles is to get ready and stay that way.  Make the choice before you have to.  And know we are right there with you ... walking the same path in pursuit of emotional integrity. 

Need help?  Check out Mary's CD and MP3, Getting Good at Being You and learn how to manage emotions, instead of allowing them to manage you. 

Join other women across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. It's Never Too Late to be Great is the current series and is based on the fascinating lives of Samson and Delilah.  Do you think you have made too many mistakes and had too many failures in your life for God to love, forgive and work through you?  No matter where you have been or where you are now - it is not too late!  Don't miss this study!  When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies we have done so far. Check it out!

Going through a tough time?  Get Mary's new DVD, Strength for the Storm and find new hope that will strengthen you for the hard times you are facing.

Need a friend?  Connect with Mary on Face book or through email.  She loves hearing what God is doing in your life!

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

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

[Judy Harder]

July 8, 2010 

You Go Girl! 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.  Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."  (John 20:17 NIV emphasis added).

Friend To Friend
Jesus knew it was coming.  He tried to warn the disciples.  Death loomed in the air with swirls of bloodthirsty hatred circling the Son of God.  But somehow the disciples didn't understand the eminence of Jesus' crucifixion, and they certainly didn't comprehend the promise of his resurrection.  Mary Magdalene didn't understand it either. However, she was there until the end...and at the new beginning for us all.

After Jesus' arrest, his eleven surprised disciples scattered like church mice when the lights come on - but not Mary Magdalene.  She watched in horror as his beaten body was stripped, nailed to the cruel Roman cross, and displayed before the gawking crowd.  She saw his precious blood drip from his thorn-pierced brow and onto the cursed ground.  Mary watched closely when his lifeless body was lowered from the cross, and she followed quietly when they laid him in the borrowed tomb.  We get no stories of Mary Magdalene running away from the authorities, hiding behind locked doors, or denying her association with Jesus from curious bystanders. 

When it was time to make His big reveal, Jesus had something, or rather someone, very special in mind.  Let's join her crying at the empty tomb.

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying?  Who it is you are looking for?"

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary." (John 20:15-16a)

My heart just skips a beat every time I read these words.  I see myself weeping with Mary as she is down on her knees with gut wrenching sorrow pouring from her soul.  All her dreams - shattered.  They died with Jesus on the cross and were sealed away in the cold stone tomb.  And now?  Like a sweeping tidal wave, the empty tomb erased the most important three years of her life...and then...all that changed with but one word.  "Mary."

As soon as he said her name, Mary knew it was Jesus.

Earlier Jesus taught, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me...My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:14, 27).  When the shepherd spoke her name, this precious lamb recognized him right away.

And what was the first word the risen Savior spoke?  "Woman."  Don't you love it?  Jesus came to set women free from societal and religious oppression of his day.  He honored women.  He respected women.  He appointed women.  His first spoken words after his resurrection were directed to one of us - and in a sense, it was meant for all of us.

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabonni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.  Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17).

What did Mary do when she realized that Jesus was alive?  The same thing I would do if I realized that someone I loved who was presumed dead suddenly appeared.  I'd grab him or her and hang on for dear life!  But Mary needed to let go of Jesus because he was sending her on special assignment.  She had places to go and people to see!  Liz Curtis Higgs wrote: "Just as God chose Mary of Bethlehem to bring the baby Jesus into the world, so God chose Mary of Magdala to bring news of the risen Christ to the world."

During a time in history when women were not allowed to testify in court, when they were considered unreliable witnesses, God appointed Mary Magdalene the primary eye-witness of the most significant event in all of history. 

Jesus' resurrection was the most pivotal point of all time.  And yet, he waited until Peter and John had left the empty tomb before he made his presence known to one lone woman - Mary Magdalene.  Jesus was standing center stage and he extended his hand for Mary Magdalene to join him front and center.  Mary is often referred to as the "disciple to the disciples" or as Augustine described her, the "apostle of the apostles." Not only was she the first to witness Jesus' resurrection, she was also the first to proclaim it. You go, girl!

Let's Pray
Dear God, I don't know why You waited to reveal Jesus' resurrection to Mary Magdalene rather than Peter and John, but I am glad You did.  Thank You for including women in Your redemptive story.  Thank You for giving them leading roles.  Lord, help us all to step forward when called.  Help us to walk with the same courage as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the many other women who stood by Jesus until the end and beyond.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Notice the two words I highlighted in today's truth.  What are they?  What does that mean to you?

Considering that women were not considered reliable or credible witnesses in a court of law during the days of Jesus, what does it mean to you that God chose Mary Magdalene to be the key witness in the most important event in all of history?

Considering the way women were perceived during those days, if the writer of the resurrection story were making up a tale, would he have made Jesus appear to a woman or a man?  Which would have been more logical to those hearing the story?

Don't you just love it when God defies logic!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's devotion.  Does understanding how women were perceived in those days shed light on just how important God's female image-bearers were to Jesus and how He went out of His way to honor them?  Let's chat.  Visit www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes .

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's new book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.  We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes.  But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free.  He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.

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