Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

November 30, 2010 

A Father Who Loves Me 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  This then is how you should pray:  'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...'" (Matthew 6:6-9NIV).

Friend to Friend
One thing that makes the New Testament distinctively different from the Old Testament is that Jehovah God, the creator of the Universe and all it contains, invites us to call Him daddy.  It is the name of God that Jesus referred to more than any other. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  This then is how you should pray:  'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...' (Matthew 6:6-9).

If you are a parent, you can imagine how discouraging it would be if your children only talked to you when they wanted something.  Quite the contrary, we talk to our children to discipline, instruct, nurture, train, comfort, encourage, guide, and teach.  Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is much the same.  We are called children of God and He longs to gather us under His wing like a mother hen and speak to us in the quietness of prayer.  Our heavenly Father is always available and attentive, compassionate and caring, and interested and involved.

Sometimes, God wants to speak to us in our times of prayer simply to tell us how deeply He loves us.  I will never forget a time of prayer I spent with a group of women just before I was to speak at an event.  I had flown to Tennessee and moments before I went out to minister to the women who had gathered at the church, the leadership team held hands and prayed together.  As one woman prayed, she said, "Sharon, God showed me today, just how precious you are to Him."

God's love washed over me and tears began to spill down my face.  God loved me!  He loved me!  See, that's the message that I was going to share with the women at the conference, but in the hustle and bustle of preparation, God wanted to remind me that He loved me, too.

Today, how about talking to your heavenly daddy - not because you need anything - but just because you love Him.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You today as a little child.  I love You so much.  Thank You for loving me and accepting me just the way I am.  Thank You for being my heavenly Father Who loves me, cares for me, protects me, takes an interest in me, has dreams for me, watches over me, and provides for me.  How blessed I am to have a daddy like You! 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

How would you describe the perfect parent?

When you pray, how do you picture God?

God is the great I AM and cannot be confined to one particular image.  However, today as you pray, picture Him as your Daddy.

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Dreams of a Woman. For just a few more days, this book is being offered at a closeout price...and then it's gone!  In February, the revised addition with a brand new cover will arrive.


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]

December 1, 2010 

No Room 

Mary Southerland
 
Today's Truth
John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son." 

Friend to Friend
I make room for things that are important to me. I eat two or three meals every day and sleep several hours each night even though my "to do" list is not much shorter today than it was yesterday. I will choose to play with a grandchild over cleaning the house any day of the week. I manage to find a place for that great piece of furniture I don't really need - but really like. After all, it was on sale. I like watches. Don't ask me why because I simply don't know. I only need one watch, but I own several. I will have lunch with a friend instead of running errands. And there is always room for chocolate! Silly examples - right? I wonder. I wonder what the innkeeper thought as he turned away the young man and his very pregnant wife that holy night so long ago. He had no room - it was that simple. Do we?

The Christmas season is here! Our calendars are already full, our bank accounts are closing in on empty and our hearts and lives are crowded with things we deem important, but have we made room for Jesus?

I simply cannot imagine a world without the presence of God and yet I often live my life as if He does not exist. A crisis hits and I try to handle it on my own. I don't understand the trials in my life while those who could care less about God seem to prosper. Instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness. Financial stress fuels worry. Instead of turning to God, I rely on what I can see and understand. I settle.

When I do cry out to God, He lovingly fills each dark corner with Light. His love flows over the pain like a soothing balm and once again, I experience the manger. Once again, Jesus Christ steps into the smelly, unlikely and very ordinary existence that is mine to change everything - absolutely everything!

Jesus could have come to us in many ways. The simplicity of His birth is extraordinary and sometimes hard to grasp. Jesus could have been born in a mansion. He was, after all, a King. Instead, He came to a dirty smelly manger and His birth was announced by common shepherds instead of Kings - the greatest of all miracles in the midst of total simplicity. Today, Jesus still wants to meet us in the midst of our simple daily lives. It seems too easy and too good to be true, doesn't it? 

It was Christmas Eve and the family was preparing to attend the special service of their local church. Everyone was going except Dad, who was an honest man, a man who could not seem to wrap his logical mind around the story of God come to earth as a baby in a manger. He didn't want to be a hypocrite, pretending to worship a Savior he wasn't sure even existed, so he stayed home, built a fire to dispel the bitter cold of that winter night and began to read the paper, waiting for his family's return. Hearing a knock at the window, he turned to see a tiny bird trying to reach the warmth of the fire. The man opened the window but the bird refused to come in.  Grabbing his coat, the man went out to the barn and opened the barn doors wide - but still, the bird refused to come in. The man thought, "If only I could be a bird, for just one minute, I could lead the bird to safety." At that moment, he heard the church bells ring and finally understood why Jesus came to earth as a man - to become one of us so He could lead us to eternal safety.

The very heart of Christmas is Emanuel, God with us - with me - and with you. Christmas is not a date on a calendar. Christmas is a way of life that celebrates the presence of God in the simple, ordinary happenings of daily life: where we go and what we do - the smile we give the harried stranger or the patience we choose in the crowd of impatient shoppers - the love that prompts the secret gift or the heart that constantly celebrates His birth through every sparkling light, every beautifully wrapped gift, each special meal, every card, phone call and visit. God is with us - if we choose to make room for Him.

Let's Pray
Father, today I celebrate the reality of Your presence in my life. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a tiny baby in a manger. I celebrate the birth of Jesus and the gift of life that He brings. I choose to receive Your gift of love and forgiveness for my sins. I now surrender everything I am or ever hope to be to You. Please take control of my life and direct my paths. I promise to follow. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read John 3:16 once a day and then look for ways to share God's love with the people in your life.

Give a gift to someone you don't know.

Invite a needy family into your home for a special "Friends" dinner.

Offer to take an elderly neighbor shopping.

Put your faith into action by making a step-by-step plan to keep Jesus at the heart of your Christmas season. 

More from the Girlfriends
I pray that your life is filled with God's peace and joy this holiday season. I know it has been a difficult year for many of you. Remember - God is with you.

Check out these two new resources now available in Mary's online store:

NEW E-Bible Study:  Take This Job and Love It!

NEW CD:  Divine Surprises

Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and will help you manage holiday stress. It is the perfect Christmas gift from you ... to you!

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Don't miss her new study beginning today, The Secret of a Merry Christmas. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2010 studies. But hurry! This offer ends December 15. 

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email.

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]

December 2, 2010 

Eating Crow 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing "(Philippians 2:14-16 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Sometimes we like what life serves up to us, and sometimes we don't, but most of the time it simply depends on the attitude of the person holding the spoon. Such was the case one evening when I went out to dinner with friends to the Sanitary Fish Market. I know that is a strange name for a seafood restaurant, but it was a great place that everyone frequented in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Since the food was good, I guess it was a nice plus to know that it was sanitary as well.

One evening, when I was eighteen-years-old, I went out to dinner with three friends.  Three of us were Christians and the fourth was not. Larry was very macho and preferred the, "I'm in control of my destiny" approach to life. But we loved him anyway.

The three of us Christians usually took a moment to ask a blessing before we had a meal, but we had not eaten in a restaurant with Larry before. He was surprised and embarrassed when we bowed our heads to pray. Larry held his head high and proud as if to say, "I might be at the same table with these people, but I'm not one of them."

All four of us ordered clam chowder as an appetizer. We had the same waitress and same chowder, from the same pot. We three "holy rollers" (we acquired this name because of a 10-second prayer) dipped our spoons into our bowls and tasted chowder full of tender clams and steamy potatoes.

Then proud Larry dipped in his spoon to retrieve only broth. "Why is your chowder full of clams and potatoes," he demanded, "and all I've got is broth?"

Larry was about to call the waitress over and complain when I looked up and said, "Well, maybe it's because we asked God to bless ours and you didn't."

Larry didn't complain to the fine people at the Sanitary, but ate "crow" instead. It is amazing how God takes a grateful heart and fills it even more! Feeling empty today? Stop and praise God for His goodness. Feeling lonely today? Stop and thank God for His presence. Feeling anxious today? Stop and thank God for His provision. 

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, so many times I am quick to complain when I haven't even asked You to bless my day. Help me to have an attitude of gratitude and become a woman who talks to You regularly, thanks You consistently, and praises You throughout the day.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Keep a list of all the times you complain today.

Keep a list of all the times you compliment or encourage someone today.

Keep a list of all the reasons you have to be thankful today.

More from the Girlfriends
Don't you love reading stories of God's fingerprints on the pages of everyday life!  Sharon's gift book, Extraordinary Moments with God is full of them.  It's the perfect Christmas gift for someone you know who needs an extra dose of heavenly inspiration...and that person may even be you!

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


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

[Judy Harder]

December 3, 2010 

Holding Fast to the Faithful One 

Gwen Smith 


Today's Truth
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Friend to Friend
My husband and I were in a waiting period. His company had gone through a merger and was collapsing positions and territories, which left his employment in jeopardy. For months we didn't know if Brad would keep his job or if he would need to look for another one. During that time, God bid us to trust Him.

Choosing to trust God is so daily, isn't it? When I only looked at the "what-ifs" of Brad's job situation - the possible unemployment, the grueling process of job-hunting, the financial strain unemployment would bring, and the uncertainty of the economy - my faith and God-confidence shook and waned. Fear and doubt knocked on my heart, suitcases in hand, wanting to move in and take up residence. On the other hand, when I fixed my eyes on God, looked at His character and at the ways He had brought us through hard times in the past, my faith was strengthened. Courage, confidence and joy knocked on my heart! They are much better residents!

The Old Testament book of Ruth features the heart-warming story of Ruth and Naomi: two women who faced difficult circumstances and an uncertain future. Following the death of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to move back to her homeland of Israel. Though she freed her daughters-in-law to stay in their home country of Moab and re-marry, Ruth refused to leave Naomi's side.

Determined and loyal, Ruth held tightly to the mother-in-law she loved deeply and to the God of Israel whom she now called her own. Though our natural tendency in hard times is often to try to go it alone, I've learned from Ruth, and from my own experience, that in turbulent times it's vital that we hold fast to our faithful God and to the ones we love.

"Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her" (vv. 15-18).

God breathed hope into the souls of Naomi and Ruth through their kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. The book of Ruth goes on to tell a fascinating account of how God lovingly cared for and blessed Naomi as He used the faithful friendship and kindness of Ruth to "renew her life and sustain her" (4:15). She traveled back to Bethlehem as a broken, depressed and hopeless widow but was comforted and restored by the loving hand of God.

Like Naomi, when I experience difficult times - like the one Brad and I were facing last fall - I must choose to trust God. Some days I choose well. Some days I don't. Choosing to trust is essential.

How can we choose to trust God? I've found that my courage to trust is bolstered by playing praise music, meditating on God's goodness, reading Scripture, and praying. Those things collectively renew my mind and strengthen my faith.

No matter what challenges you face today, take comfort that God knows every issue on your heart and is able to shoulder your burdens. Hold fast to the faithful One. Your challenges do not fall outside the scope of God's ability to intervene. God is mysterious, He's powerful, and He's able! When you lift your eyes from your situation and fix them on your Savior - when you choose to trust Him - you will find peace in the pain and strength in the struggle.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Let's Pray
Holy Father, You know exactly where I am right now and You know the circumstance of my life.  Please give me the courage to be gracious in my relationships, and help me to trust You today.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Go back and read the book of Ruth. (It's only 4 chapters!)

Look for the ways that Ruth and Naomi held fast to God and to each other through trying circumstances.

List three difficult times that God has brought you through.

Examine your heart to see if there is any fear or doubt hanging around. Then choose to trust God as you lay each situation down before the Faithful One.

More from the Girlfriends
CHRISTMAS is right around the corner! If you still have people on your list to shop for, my new CD, Uncluttered, is now available exclusively on my website. (It won't be in stores for a few more months!) I've never been more excited about a CD project! The songs of Uncluttered are purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. We have a low-priced bundle SPECIAL available too! For more information, go to http://www.gwensmith.net/store/specials.htm.

A portion of 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. A perfect stocking stuffer or gift of encouragement!

Got FACEBOOK?? Let's meet there and do life together on a whole new level: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic 

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]

December 6, 2010 

On Our Way Home 

Mary Southerland 

Today's Truth
Hebrews 13:14 (NLT) "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come."                   

Friend to Friend
It had been a wonderful evening with our daughter, Danna, and her sixteen-month-old son, Justus. We ate dinner at one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate Danna's graduation from school and the fact that we had all survived. Since our daughter is basically a party looking for a place to happen and really knows how to tell a story, we laughed until we cried as Danna described her encounter that day with a teacher who seemed to be preoccupied with blue cornbread. I am not kidding! Justus may not have understood what his mom was saying, but he joined in the family celebration with gusto - laughing and clapping his little hands. After a delicious meal, we climbed into the car and headed home.

When we pulled into our neighborhood, Justus began clapping and pointing ... at something. We were clueless until we pulled into the driveway - and our sweet little man laughed and bounced with excitement in his car seat. Justus was glad to be home.

At that precise moment, a line from one of my favorite movies, Apollo 13, popped into my mind. "Houston, we have a problem" may very well be one of the greatest understatements of all time. The astronauts faced seemingly impossible odds of getting back to earth but refused to give up the fight until they splashed down in the waters of - home.

We all long for a safe place - home - when life brutally thrusts us into a world of fear and uncertainty. Shaky circumstances rattle our faith. Relief seems like a remote possibility and that light at the end of the tunnel really is the headlight of another trial headed our way. The hits just keep coming and we wonder if our world will ever be right again.

I have discovered a truth that surfaces in my heart every Christmas. We all come into this world with a sense of being lost. Tucked into the corner of our souls is a feeling of restlessness ... a longing for home, for something or someone eternal. That longing will never be satisfied outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He holds each today and every tomorrow in His hands. Nothing and no one but Jesus Christ can fill that "God-shaped" hole in our heart. 

I have come to cherish that desperate cry of my heart that drives me to my knees and into the arms of God, my Father. Each and every time I come to Him, He whispers, "It will be all right. You are not home - yet." 

No, this broken world is not my final home because I know God and He knows me. I have surrendered my life to Him and can face tomorrow because Jesus Christ lives. Yes, this world is just the beginning of the eternity for which I was created. I am just passing through, but while I am here, I have a God-sized job to do, an extraordinary mission to complete and a wonderful purpose to fulfill. So do you! It doesn't get any better than that, girlfriend.   

As you dive into your hectic holiday schedule, remember that one day, we will be home - with Him - but until then, let's celebrate here! Guard your hearts and mind by filling them with God's Word. Hold fast to the true meaning of Christmas and don't let go! Look for ways to share the message of the manger, embracing that longing for home as a sweet reminder that one day we will celebrate the birth of Jesus in Heaven. What a Christmas that will be! We are on our way home!

Let's Pray
Father, I love You and am so thankful for the hope that life holds because I know You. I praise You and celebrate the truth that I am not alone, nor will I ever be. I will lack nothing because You are my Provider. I can sing in the midst of every storm because You are sufficient. I praise You and long for Home, but until then, help me to be all that You created me to be. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Have you ever experienced loneliness or a sense of loss during or after the Christmas season? I encourage you to prepare for it beforehand. The best way to get ready for a difficult time is to stay ready for a difficult time.  In other words, now is the time to prepare your heart and mind for the holidays.

Make time each day to be alone with God.

Pour out your dreams and desperation to Him.

Read Psalm 23 once a day.

Invest at least 15 minutes in solitude each day, allowing your soul to "catch up."

Make a list of the top five joy thieves in your life and make a plan to eliminate them.

Prayerfully choose five verses of Scripture about peace. Write these verses on a 3X5 card and carry it with you through the holidays, referring to it while you wait in line, while you are stuck in traffic, at every meal, etc. Consider making this idea a family project.

After the holidays are over, evaluate the difference this preparation made in your Christmas celebration.


More from the Girlfriends

I love this time of year - mostly. I have to be careful that in the midst of the birthday celebration, I don't miss the birthday child - Jesus. Join me in a commitment to keep Him at the heart of this holiday season.

Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and will help you manage holiday stress. It is the perfect Christmas gift from you - to you!

Check out these two new resources now available in Mary's online store:

NEW E-Bible Study:  Take This Job and Love It!

NEW CD:  Divine Surprises

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Don't miss her new study beginning today, The Secret of a Merry Christmas. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2010 studies. But hurry! This offer ends December 15. 

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email. 

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]

December 7, 2010 

I Want, I Need, God Wants me to Have 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Mary Elizabeth was strolling down the cookie aisle at Wal-Mart with her three-year-old daughter, Sarah, riding comfortably in the "front seat" of the shopping buggy.  Suddenly, Sarah spied a box of sugar cookies, coated with pink icing and decorated with multi-colored sprinkles.

Her eyes brightened with enthusiasm as she put on her best cherub face.  "Mommy, I want those cookies."

"Oh, Sarah," replied her mom, "we don't need any cookies today.  We have plenty at home.  Maybe another time."

Ten minutes later, as Mary Elizabeth passed through the checkout line, Sarah tried again. "Mommy, I need those cookies."

"No, Sarah, you don't need those cookies.  We have plenty at home, and I'm not buying cookies today."

Finally, as they pulled out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, Sarah gave it one last try.  "Mommy, I think God wants me to have those cookies."

I laughed as my friend told me her story.  It was a nervous laugh.  For just a moment, I saw myself riding through life in a shopping buggy, pointing at first one thing and then another whining, "I want ...I need ...God wants me to have."

Sarah already had learned our mechanism for justifying our whims.  Whether its sugar cookies with sprinkles on top or a new red convertible, given enough time we can justify our wants following that same progression.  For Sarah, she went from I want to I need to God wants me to have in a matter of minutes.  For us, it may take a little longer, but the tendency is still there.

However, God is very clear that He will supply us with everything we need and that can be a far cry from everything we want.

As you enter into the holiday season filled with television commercials, magazine ads, and newspaper flyers enticing your senses, pray that God will help you focus on what's really important ... celebrating the gift of His Son.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me when I act like a child and want more, more, more.  Forgive me when I go from "I want" to "God wants me to have" in the blink of an eye.  I know You desire me to have a thankful heart - a contented heart that wants only one thing ... more of You.  I say with the Psalmist, "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I have everything I need."

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Have you ever justified your wants by saying that God wants you to have them?

Ouch!  That hurts, doesn't it?

Ponder these two verses today.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was taken from Sharon new devotional book, Extraordinary Moments with God.  Come with Sharon as she dusts for God's fingerprints that change ordinary days into extraordinary moments.  As you explore this treasury of stories highlighting "God moments" in the lives of fellow travelers, you too will begin to sense His presence in extraordinary ways. 

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]

December 8, 2010 

Happy Birthday, Jesus! 

Mary Southerland   


Today's Truth
Luke 2:8-12 "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger" (NKJV).

Friend to Friend

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday, dear Jesus!

Happy Birthday to You!

Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. I have always wondered why we typically celebrate His birth by giving gifts to everyone but Him. What gifts does He want from us?  What gifts are fit for the King? To answer that question let's go back to that first Christmas and see what gifts He received that holy night.

The gift of trust


Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was a teenage girl, probably fourteen or fifteen years old, engaged to Joseph when an angel appeared to her with the startling message that she would have a baby, a son named Jesus. Since she was still a virgin, Mary did not understand the message but she knew the One who had sent it - and that was enough.  Trust is a gift fit for the King. 

The gift of obedience


John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Joseph's engagement to Mary was legally binding. Imagine his shock and confusion when he learned that Mary was pregnant. Knowing that he could not possibly be the baby's father, Joseph's first reaction was to divorce Mary quietly. An angel from God appeared and told Joseph to "keep her but do not sleep with her!" Now Joseph's response could have been many things - but he chose obedience. 

A small child riding in the car wanted to stand in the front seat by his father. The dad explained the importance of a seat belt and told the little boy to sit down. He refused, crossing his little arms in defiance. The father physically sat his son down and buckled him into the seat, bragging on the little boy for his obedience. With a defiant glare, his son said, "I may be sitting down on the outside but I'm still standing up on the inside." Obedience is an active choice to do what God wants us to do. Obedience is not just an outward motion - it is also an inward attitude - and a gift fit for the King.

The gift of praise


Psalm 50:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." 

When the shepherds heard the angels' news, they went to see Jesus for themselves. After they saw the baby, they left praising God! Anytime we are in the presence of God, praise will result. Praise is also a continual choice that we make again and again until it becomes a habit. Don't let anyone or any circumstance keep you from praising God!  Praise keeps us kneeling before the manger and is a gift fit for the King.

The gift of sacrifice


The Wise Men came; bringing gifts that required sacrifice because they knew that true worship always involves sacrifice. Gold, a precious metal, Incense, a rare and expensive product used in worship and Myrrh, an expensive perfume were the gifts they brought to Jesus. Sacrifice goes beyond what is required or expected. The best gift - the most expensive and extravagant gift - should go to the one whose birthday we celebrate.  Gifts of trust, obedience, praise and sacrifice please God and are gifts fit for the King.

In other words, the best gift that we can give God at Christmas is US! May the words of this children's song be the prayer of our hearts this Christmas season:

"I'm gonna wrap up myself for Christmas

And tie me with a big red bow.

That's what I'm giving to Jesus.

It's a present He'll like I know."

Let's Pray                       

Lord, today I celebrate Your birth. Thank You for the gift of life and love I find in knowing You. My Christmas gift to You is everything I am, everything I have, everything I hope to be. I love You, Lord. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Have a birthday party for Jesus. Bake a cake, sing "Happy Birthday" and worship Him by surrendering to His plan and provision for your life. 

Leave one Christmas decoration out this year as a reminder of His birth and what His presence means every single day.

Consider the following questions:

What is the meaning of Christmas in your life?

How can you lead your family to celebrate the birth of Jesus?

What has been the most meaningful part of this Christmas season so far? Why?


More from the Girlfriends

I pray that this Christmas season is a true celebration of Jesus Christ in your life. Carve out time today to spend alone with Him. Praise and worship Him. He is Friend of the wounded heart and the Great Physician. He is our Everything and He is Emmanuel, God with us. 

Don't let stress steal your joy this Christmas! Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and will help you manage holiday stress. It is the perfect Christmas gift from you - to you!

Check out these two new resources now available in Mary's online store:

NEW E-Bible Study: Take This Job and Love It!

NEW CD: Divine Surprises

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Don't miss her new study beginning today, The Secret of a Merry Christmas. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2010 studies. But hurry! This offer ends December 15. 

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email.

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]

December 9, 2010 

The Women of Christmas 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so's, they always listed the males.  Nary a time do you find a woman's name in the list.  But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand new way.  Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one, we see four women in addition to Mary in the list!  For that time in history, that was quite radical!

Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick?  Oh, I'd probably include Mrs. Noah.  She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah's wild ideas.

Or perhaps I'd pick Mrs. Moses.  Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the dessert for all those years.  And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.

Or perhaps I'd pick Sarah.  After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.

But no.  Those are not the women that God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He chose Rahab - a redeemed woman who had been a prostitute before she joined the children of God.  He chose Tamar - who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law.  He chose Bathsheba - who had an affair with King David and bore a son.  And He chose Ruth - a woman from a cursed nation.

Oh friend, do you see it?  I am so glad that these are the women that God chose.  Through these women we see there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory.  His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable.  That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me.  That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that you choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise.  I am one of those "weak things" and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory.  Praise You, Lord.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Over the next few days, go back and read the stories of the women listed in Jesus' genealogy and see what you can learn about their lives. 

Rahab: Joshua 2

Tamar: Genesis 38:1-30

Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11

After reading about them, answer these questions.  What did God take them from?  What did God take them to?

What does this tell you about the people that God can use?

More from the Girlfriends
This is not your typical fluffy Christmas message - but it is why Jesus came.  To save the lost, heal the sick, and use the redeemed.  If you would like to learn more about God's transforming power, see Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Pain of your Past.  And for more ways to keep Jesus the focus of the holiday season, see Sharon's book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas, Ideas from A-Z. 

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]

December 10, 2010 

The Fire Swamps 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:30-31, NIV)

Friend to Friend
There's a scene in the whimsical and quirky film The Princess Bride in which some bad guys were chasing the movie's two main characters, Princess Buttercup and Wesley. In order to escape, Buttercup and Wesley ran into the treacherous Fire Swamp. (Insert scary music and creepy feelings here.) The Fire Swamp has three challenges: fire spurts, quicksand, and the ROUS - rodents of unusual size. (Stay with me...) At one point in the Fire Swamp adventure, Princess Buttercup fell into a pit of dry quicksand, instantly vanishing. Her brave hero, Wesley, quickly grabbed a sturdy vine then plunged in to save his true love. Moments later both characters emerged from the quicksand gasping for breath, stunned by the events that just took place.

Life clutter can sometimes consume us just as fast and leave us gasping for breath, stunned. When we find ourselves in the fire swamps, we ask question after question: How did this happen? How did I get here? How do I get out of this scary place? Does anyone know I'm in this pit? Who will be my hero?

Falling into the quicksand of situational fire swamps becomes a greater risk when we run on empty. Without a doubt, I'm more vulnerable on the days when my schedule is so full that my God-time is minimized. You probably know what it feels like to have a day filled with activity but a heart filled with empty. I imagine you, too, feel at times as if all you do is work, work, work and give, give, give. You feel lonely among crowds of people and wonder if anyone really sees you or if anyone really cares. At times, you have too many obligations, too much stress, and not enough strength.

In order to survive these pitfalls, we must wait upon God - the One who won't grow tired or weary. He has strength readily available for us and knows where to direct our steps. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:29-31, NIV)

King David said it like this, "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" (Psalm 40:1-3a).

Fire swamps of life come and go. There's really no avoiding them. We can, however, be spiritually prepared to face their challenges. God equips us - strengthens us - as we wait on Him. As we trust in Him. As we dwell with Him.

Have you refueled in His presence lately? Take time to meet with God one-on-one today. As the psalmist wrote, "Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool - arise, O LORD, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might" (Psalm 132:7-8).

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, You are my Strong Tower, my Deliverer, and my Shelter. I'm running to You now. Please renew my strength. Please lead me with Your Holy Spirit and guide my day.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Are there obligations in your life that could be eliminated? Take a few moments to consider your schedule and your circumstances. What needs to stay and what needs to go? Make a list and then make an action plan.

Go to God with your list and lean in to listen to His leading!

More from the Girlfriends
Need some help un-cluttering on a soul level? Uncluttered is the perfect title to Gwen Smith's latest release. An album that sweeps you away from excess 'life-noise', this music focuses your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. CHRISTMAS is right around the corner girlfriend! If you still have people on your list to shop for, Uncluttered would be a great gift. We have a low-priced bundle SPECIAL available too! For more information, go to http://www.gwensmith.net/store/specials.htm.

Got FACEBOOK?? Let's meet there and do life together on a whole new level: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic

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]

December 13, 2010 

Long Walk Part of Gift 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2: 1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day.  "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought to the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty.  "Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found.  When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.

"Why...why, it's gorgeous...wonderful, but you shouldn't have gone all that way to get a gift for me."

His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift."

I just love that story.  During this holiday season, I watch as people scurry about swiping those plastic cards through the credit card machines faster than a speeding bullet.  And yet, God has already shown us that the most precious gifts cannot be bought or sold.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).

The magi also knew about the joy of giving.  While they gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child, they also gave another gift ... a long walk.  We don't know how far the magi traveled, but we do know that it was a distance that took months, perhaps years.  Their long walk was part of the gift.

I wonder how far we are willing to go to worship Jesus ... to bring our gifts to him.  I wonder how far out of the way we will go to praise him.  Do we only give to Him when it is convenient or easy?  Or do we give what He wants most - a portion of ourselves, our very lives.

I think the little African boy had the right idea.  The real gift wasn't the shell; it was the sacrifice he had to make to give it.

Let's Pray
Dear God, thank You for the gift You gave us through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  I pray that I will keep gift-giving in perspective this holiday season and give gifts from the heart rather than the pocketbook.  Help me to see that a "long walk," or a portion of myself, is the greatest gift of all.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Describe a time when someone's sacrificial gift meant a lot to you.

Describe the feeling you had when you gave a portion of yourself, such as your time, to someone.

Try to imagine the teacher who received the shell. What thoughts do you think came to mind when she looked at it year after year?  Do you think it was the shell itself, or the heart of the boy who gave it to her, that meant so much?

Now, imagine how God looks at our gifts we give to Him?  Do you think He reflects on the gifts themselves or the heart of the child who gives it?

More from the Girlfriends:
It is easy to get caught up in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity and lose focus on what's important.  If you would like ways to keep Jesus the focus of your holiday season, you'll love Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas by Sharon Jaynes.  It's packed with helpful ideas and inspiration.

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