Girlfriends in God

Started by Judy Harder, August 20, 2008, 06:47:00 AM

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Judy Harder

August 19, 2011
Are You Free?
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)

Friend To Friend
I've loved God since I was just a kid.  I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior in Mr. Dunn's Sunday school class when I was just nine years old.  As a teenager, I served God and grew in faith.  I said "no" to the crowd and "yes" to the cross. I was a girl with convictions, a girl of strong disciplines, and a girl of high moral standards who walked the straight and narrow. Then...I went away to college and entered a veiled season of compromise.

I never meant to stray from my values. It was a new chapter in my life, and I naively thought I could handle it on my own. My rebellion was a subtle, gradual thing.  I was still the same Gwen, just a compromised version of me.

During that time, secrets and compromise became comfortable to me. I wore them like a pair of faded jeans. My friends considered me to be a good Christian girl, and I wasn't about to burst their bubble with the truth that I was sliding into sinful ways. Oh, how my plastic smile served me well in those days! I could turn on the fake charm like water from a faucet.

Eventually, the compromises and choices that I'd made caught up with me and resulted in great brokenness.  I couldn't reconcile what I had done with who I was, or with who I was supposed to be. My heart was broken. I felt hopeless and was horribly ashamed.

The dark days turned into weeks, which turned into months. All the while, the voice of the Accuser screamed loudly in my head. "You've messed up too much this time! You're not a Christian. God would never want someone like you. He can't forgive what you've done!" At the same time, the Holy Spirit whispered to my soul, "You are God's daughter. He's waiting for you to come home. Turn back! He loves you! Call on Jesus. Confess your sins. Forgiveness and grace await."

God chased me with His love. He caught me when I wept bitterly at His feet in raw repentance and collapsed into arms of mercy. Then, as the psalmist experienced, "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 40:2-3)  Although I didn't deserve His mercy, Jesus forgave me.  My forgiveness was immediate and complete, but the healing took time.  And He sure did give me a new song.

I've been forgiven and transformed by the unconditional love of God.  I was dead in my sins, but am now alive in Christ! I am free and it is my privilege to encourage you toward that same freedom in Christ.

Are you free?  Free of guilt?  Free of shame? Free from past mistakes?

Jesus came that we would have life abundantly. (John 10:10)  Not because of anything that we've done to deserve it, but because of what He has done.  His grace is sufficient. The guilt, pain, and shame of our past tell us that we are disqualified to move on, to serve God, to be free, and to know peace. But to believe this lie is to believe that your sin is outside the scope of God's grace. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have purpose in this life. And though you may have gone through a season of hurt, rejection, or pain, God can and will pick you up and place you back on track.  I'm living proof!

"Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:5

There is no condemnation for those in Christ. While the enemy loves to cast false guilt, our Lord loves to extend grace and forgiveness, which is the remedy that restores all your broken pieces. He longs for you to experience His freedom today. Don't hold onto those pieces of brokenness. Don't hide them behind a plastic smile. Bring them into the light, lay them at the feet of Jesus, and let go.  God delights in transforming lives ... even your own.

Let's Pray
Holy Father, today I come to You with the broken pieces in my life that I have been hesitant to deal with.  Take my hand and lead as I walk past my fears and doubts to the refuge of Your forgiving arms. Please take what is broken and transform it into beautiful.  Please free me from lies that shackle.  Help me to trust that You can redeem and restore every area of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Now It's Your Turn
I co-wrote a song called "Broken Into Beautiful" that ultimately is my testimony in a song. Please take a moment right now to watch the music video to "Broken into Beautiful" that is posted on my Facebook page and allow it to minister to your heart and spur you on toward His:  www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

The Bible assures us that our hope has never been about what we have done; it has always been about what Christ has done! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Take a few moments right now to thank God for sending Jesus to reconcile your heart to His.

More From The Girlfriends
Friend, I know that when we talk about hurts and secrets of our pasts, fresh wounds can surface ...especially if the pain and shame has not been dealt with.  I also know that the burden of carrying old wounds is a very heavy load.  I've been there.  Sharon and Mary have, too.  Allow today to become your personal "freedom day" by taking your troubles to the heart of God in prayer.  He loves you perfectly and completely...no matter what. Forgiveness awaits you.  Freedom awaits you!  Go now.

Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. To orderBroken Into Beautiful, go to Amazonor, for a signed copy, visit Gwen's website: www.gwensmith.net.

Gwen's song "Broken Into Beautiful" is featured on both her Because CD and her  Unsearchable Live CD. Both can be ordered from her website or downloaded from iTunes.

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

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

Monday, August 22, 2011     

Girlfriends in God
     
August 22, 2011
Using our Words Wisely – Learning from the Best
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).

Friend To Friend
This month, I've been examining the power of our words.  So today, let's take a look at how Jesus used his words with his friends and let's learn from the best.

Jesus was the Master of believing the best in others and encouraging them to reach beyond their own limited view of their abilities. His disciples had witnessed Jesus command a lame man to walk, restore rotting skin to a leprous outcast, remove fever from Peter's mother with a touch, calm the raging storm, deliver a man from demons, and raise a little girl from the dead.  But Jesus wanted more for his friends than to remain spectators in the gospel.  He longed for them to be participants and partakers.

On a spring day, shortly after the Passover celebration, Jesus retreated to the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.  However, crowds of people quickly pursued this miracle worker to witness his teaching and healing power.  As the sun began to sink to the horizon, his disciples remarked that the people were growing hungry.  He turned to Philip and asked, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (John 6:5)

Jesus was not concerned with a lack of provisions.  Rather He was taking this opportunity to invite the disciples to share in His ministry.  He didn't need their help.  However, he wanted to invite them to participate in a miracle to boost their confidence and faith.  It was a gentle breeze in their sails of courage.

Philip was smart.  In a matter of minutes he had calculated that it would take eight months' wages to feed the ten thousand people gathered on the hill. But Jesus wasn't looking for facts; He was looking for faith.

Andrew was practical.  He canvassed the crowd to see what resources were available...five small barley cakes and two small fish.  But Jesus wasn't looking for practical; he was looking for powerful.

Jesus told the disciples to have the crowd sit down in groups. Then he took the loaves and fish, blessed the food, and gave it to the disciples to distribute.

Did Jesus need the disciples' help?  No.  But He chose to include them in the miracle.  He wanted them to see that He believed in them.

Now, let's fast forward in Jesus' ministry and his relationship with His disciples.  During one of His last moments with the band of brothers, Jesus told them in no uncertain terms the potential He saw in them.  Like a coach who believes in his team, Jesus rallied the twelve: "Go rather  to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:6-8).

Before his ascension he gave them one last pep talk: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).  They had observed, learned, and practiced.  Now it was time to step out into the world and participate in ministry without Jesus' physical presence.  He believed in them and He let them know it.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).  Oh my, did you notice?  Jesus wasn't just talking about the twelve disciples. He was also talking about you!  Jesus believes in you!

Jesus used his words to encourage his friends.  I pray that we can follow His example and do the same.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of words.  Help me to use my words to encourage my friends and family to be all that You have created them to be.  Help me to learn from Jesus' example to expect the best from others and encourage them to participate with You in the ministry You have marked out for them.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Go back and read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 recorded in John 6:1-15.  Look for all the ways Jesus encouraged his disciples.  Remember, he did not need their help but could have miraculously made the bread appear as God made the manna appear for the Israelites.

To comment on today's devotion, visit www.sharonjaynes.com/blog
Here you can read comments from other Girlfriends as well!

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is taken from Sharon's book The Power of a Woman's Words. There is great power in the words we speak and the people we impact.  If you would like to learn more about how to harness this powerful resource and use your words to speak life to others, this book will be a great resource.  Why not get a group of girlfriends together and learn about The Power of a Woman's Words together!

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


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


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


August 23, 2011
Care Enough to Confront
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Proverbs 27:6, NIV).

Friend To Friend
One of the basic needs of every healthy relationship is the art of confrontation. To confront someone is to meet them head-on in the quest for compromise. Confrontation is an emotional tackle for the purpose of resolving conflict while promoting peace. Just as God separates us from our sin, He calls us to do the same with sandpaper people. We must disconnect who they are from what they do, loving the sinner but hating the sin, looking beyond their weaknesses in search of their strengths.

Most people I know hate confrontation and will do anything to avoid it, but in doing so, give the impression that they are content with the status quo. It is important for us to understand that silence is agreement. Confrontation is a gift we bring to every healthy relationship as well as the unhealthy relationships with which we struggle. Confrontation is a spiritual surgery that tends to be painful. But without it, the cancer of contention and discord will remain unfettered, free to grow and spread its deadly relationship poison.

When we have one nerve left and our sandpaper person is romping on it, we tend to confront in anger, from pain and frustration, with little control. The explosion can be heard for miles around.  Healthy confrontation does not involve a weapon of any kind – verbal or non-verbal. We speak honestly but gently. Confrontation that is wrapped in gentle love is powerful!       

When my husband became a pastor, we both struggled with maintaining a balanced schedule.  It was easy for Dan to work six or seven nights a week. The church was exploding in growth and a crisis was always on the agenda. Being the precious and loving wife that I am, I confronted Dan – not in love and not with gentleness. It did not work. I decided to back off and let God work.

One afternoon, while preparing dinner, Dan called to say that one of the church members had just been admitted to the hospital with chest pains. Dan was planning to drop by the hospital, which meant that he would be late – again. He promised to make his hospital visit short and be home as soon as he could. When Danna strolled through the kitchen, checking out the dinner menu, she asked when her dad was coming home. I explained the situation but assured her that Dan would be home as soon as he could. She seemed satisfied with my explanation and headed for the family room. As I set the table, I overheard Danna calling the church office. Then I heard her childlike but powerful words of confrontation, "Dad, please come home. I don't like it when you have to work late. I know that man in the hospital needs you, but there are lots of doctors there. I only have one daddy and it makes me sad when you are not here. I need to see you with my eyes." Dan called one of our deacons who jumped at the chance to visit someone in the hospital and Dan came home.         

Every relationship in life improves with confrontation done the right way. In fact, the harder the truth, the more love we must use in sharing it, especially when it comes to sharing truth with sandpaper people. Here are some simple tips for effective confrontation done the right way:

1.    Always begin confrontation with affirmation. Encouraging words set the stage and prepare the heart to hear words of correction.

2.    Be willing to take your part of the blame. I have lived long enough to know that no conflict is ever totally one-sided. Taking your share of the blame often diffuses anger.

3.    Express hurt...not hostility. It is important to keep emotions under control during confrontation. Volume negates listening. Raised voices and angry words slam the door shut on any possible good that can come from confrontation. Sandpaper people rarely realize the depth of the pain they inflict.

4.    Make clear, direct statements. When facing confrontation, I will often write down what I plan to say; then read it aloud. I can then go back and eliminate unnecessary comments, inflammatory words or vengeful statements. Stick to the facts.

5.    Avoid using words like "never" and "always." These words are untrue and accomplish little in a confrontation. For some reason, they tend to stir up emotions and fan emotional fires.

6.    Listen. One of my favorite tactics in confrontations is to use the time the other person is speaking to formulate my next point. As a result, I don't listen because I assume I already know what will be said. Difficult conversations require total attention. Listening validates people and invites them into your life. Refusing to listen is arrogant and self-centered.

7.    Be solution centered. Make the decision beforehand to stay at the table of confrontation until a solution is found and some measure of restoration is achieved. It is so easy to go for the "let's get this over with" conversation instead of getting to the heart of the problem.       

The sandpaper people in your life are likely to be confronted on a regular basis. But because that confrontation usually comes from an unclean heart and an angry spirit, it can easily become just another notch in that sandpaper person's belt, giving them one more reason to be who they are – difficult. When love and gentleness deliver correction, it is much more likely to be received and acted upon. We can be caring and confronting at the same time. Most sandpaper people are controllers and manipulators, intimidating their way into other people's lives, because it is the only way they know to get in. Confrontation is a spiritual exercise and an act of obedience to God that changes lives and builds healthy relationships.

Let's Pray
Father, please forgive me when I confront someone in anger or with a bitter heart. I really do want my relationships to reflect Your love. Teach me how to control the words I say and the attitude with which I say them. Forgive me for the pride that fuels a spirit of revenge when I should be seeking healing and restoration. Be glorified in all of my relationships, Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn     
Read Matthew 7:2-6. Compare "sawdust" with "plank." In your journal, describe the requirement Matthew explains in this passage of Scripture.

Gentleness is not weakness. It is controlled strength. Apply this truth to the art of confrontation. Why is gentle confrontation so important?

Review the seven elements of confrontation listed in today's devotion. Which one of these elements do you need to work on first? Why?

More From The Girlfriends
One of the most powerful illustrations of God's love and forgiveness is found in the lives of Hosea and Gomer. Learn about their story in Mary's MP3 download, Love That Never Fails.

Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study.

Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study: Stress Management 101. Enroll now and have access to all 2011 lessons. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor 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

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

August 24, 2011
A Place to Belong
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12, NIV).

Friend To Friend
Advertisers are well aware of the need human beings have to belong.  They are banking on it.  How many times have my eyes filled with tears over a television commercial?  A credit card commercial shows a grown daughter taking her elderly mother back to Italy to discover her roots..."The cost? Priceless." (I cry.)  A horse-drawn carriage glides through the snow on its way to a cozy cottage nestled in the trees with smoke swirling in the sky..."Home for the holidays." (I cry).  A young man dressed in a military uniform drops his duffle bag on his unknowing parent's den floor in the wee hours of the morning and starts the coffee maker.  His mother, smelling the aroma, hurries down the stairs and clutches her heart as tears stream down her cheeks at the sight of her soldier home from war. (I cry.)

The tears that form in my eyes prove that the advertisers have tapped into my need to belong.  They would have us believe that if we buy their particular product, we will have that warm fuzzy feeling of euphoria or ecstatic joy.

But we know the truth.  True joy will not be found on the grocery store shelf, the cars sales lot, or the department store window.  It cannot be bought with the swipe of a credit card or cold hard cash. People want to feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves and that there is more to this life than accumulating wealth and accomplishments.

God tells us that when we come to Christ, we become part of His family.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God' children.   Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16, 17).

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1).

We have lots of brothers and sisters.  Not only that, we have girlfriends in God who love each other, care for each other, and sometimes correct each other.  I'm so glad that God has given us a place to belong.  Aren't you?

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me into Your family.  I am so thankful that I belong to You.  Today, help me to find comfort in the fact that no matter who rejects me or excludes me, You will always love me and accept me just the way I am.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever teared-up at a TV commercial?  If so, which one?

What about the commercial touched your heart?

Have you ever teared-up over a Bible passage?  If so, which one?

John 17:20-26 is one passage that always touches my heart.  Just to think that Jesus was praying for me on the day before He went to the cross makes my heart swell.  Read those words and remember that Jesus is praying for you, even today.

More From The Girlfriends
Because God is your Father, He has dreams for His little girl...you.  To learn more about the incredible dreams that God has for you, see Dreams of a Woman: God's Plans for Fulfilling Your Dreams by Sharon Jaynes.  And hold on to your hats...He's got great plans for 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
:angel:




Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

August 25, 2011
I Need a Friend
Part 1
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
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 (Ruth 1:16-18, NIV).

Friend To Friend
Friendship is the catalyst for every other love and the foundation of every healthy relationship.  In his book, "The Broken Heart", Dr. James J. Lynch shows that lonely people live significantly shorter lives than the general population. In other words, God created us to need each other.  We need friends.

I know what you are thinking. Everyone knows that having close friends is risky business. While attending seminary, one of my professors told me that, as a pastor's wife, I would never be able to have close friends in the church. I didn't believe him then. And I don't believe him now.

I have been a woman in ministry for many years and my best friends have always been with women in the church where I ministered. Have I been burned? Yes. Have I been betrayed and disappointed? Yes. Has it been worth it? Absolutely! It is my prayer that over the next few weeks, we will catch God's plan and purpose for the friendships in our lives. But before launching into this study, there are three friendship facts we must first understand and accept.

Fact 1:  Friendships have many different levels. There are friends we see occasionally and then there are soul-mates with whom we share everything. There is a place for both in our lives.

Fact 2:  Friendships may change with the seasons of life. We are naturally drawn to women who face the same problems and share the same dreams.

Fact 3:  We all need friends. Friendship is part of God's plan for our lives.

Jesus placed great value on relationships. The Bible tells us that He spent much of His time deepening relationships with a few - not the crowds. His teachings are filled with practical suggestions on how to be a friend and how to have healthy relationships. One of the most beautiful portraits of friendship is found in the book of Ruth. It is the story of Naomi, a godly woman, a wife and the mother of two married sons.

Naomi's husband and sons died, leaving three women alone, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Because they had neither food nor money and no certainty of what the future might hold, Naomi chose to return to Bethlehem, her homeland. On the way, Naomi suddenly stopped to tell Ruth and Orpah that they should return to their homes in Moab because there, they would have the chance to marry again. Both Ruth and Orpah protested but Naomi was insistent. Finally, Orpah gave in and returned home, but Ruth would not leave Naomi, her mother-in-law and friend. Noami was amazed at the loyalty Ruth offered and together, they made the trip to Bethlehem. Interestingly, it was there that Ruth met and married Boaz. They had a son named Obed, who later became the grandfather of King David. Ruth, a gentile from Moab, became part of the family line of Jesus. Why? Ruth was a loyal friend. Wouldn't you like to have a friend like that? Wouldn't you like to be a friend like that? The lives of Ruth and Naomi offer nine keys to healthy and vital friendships. 

First Key: Time
Ruth says, "Where you go I will go. Where you stay I will stay." Ruth was willing to commit her life and time in friendship. Friendship doesn't just happen. True friendship takes consistent investments of time. Time spent together in friendship creates a memory bank from which we can make withdrawals when tough times come and we need encouragement. Time is a priceless gift and one of the most powerful communicators of love. When we are willing to give 30 minutes of time, we are actually giving 30 minutes of life. Ruth was willing to sacrifice her entire life agenda for the sake of her friendship with Naomi.

We live in a "quick-fix" world that often fails to understand or address the relationship truth that it takes time to build a friendship. It is so easy for women to fill every time slot of every day with activity, leaving little or no room for friends. The waters of daily life are often difficult to navigate.  True friends are willing to get in the boat and ride out the storm with us.

We tend to spend time instead of investing it. The depth of the friendship depends upon the investment of time we can make or the investment of time we are willing to make. I have a friend, Michelle Johnson, who is the perfect example of a friend who was willing to invest time in our relationship. Michelle and I first met at a church where she and her husband were small group teachers while Dan was the youth pastor. We were not especially close because our paths rarely crossed. But when Dan was called to be the pastor of a nearby church, Michelle and her family joined us in ministry. Our children were in school together and we were both involved in women's ministry. As our paths crossed more frequently, we became friends. Then, during a two-year battle with clinical depression, we moved into the neighborhood where Michelle and Jay lived. Michelle made a choice. She chose to invest large chunks of time, walking with me through those dark years. As a result, her friendship is beyond measure in my life. Friendships take time.

Let's Pray
Father, I want to thank You for being the ultimate Friend. You have never let me down or turned away from me – even when I have turned away from You. Please help me be the kind of friend You want me to be so that Your love can flow through me in my relationships. Teach me how to invest time wisely so that each friendship is a living illustration of Your love.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

·         What is the greatest hindrance to friendship in your life?

What has been the greatest reward of friendship in your life? 
Are you willing to take the risk of cultivating intimate friendships and of being a true friend? Explain. 
Make a list of your closest friends and then picture life without them. What would that picture look like? 
Make a specific plan this week to invest time in the life of a friend. 
More From The Girlfriends
Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study. I Need a Friendis available in Bible Study format.

Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study: Stress Management 101. Enroll now and have access to all 2011 lessons. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor 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

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

August 26, 2011
Masterpiece in the Making
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you (Philippians 1:6, AMP).

Friend To Friend
It took four years of fresco painting for the Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, to finish the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Commonly known as Michelangelo, his time painting was mostly spent alone, on his back, lying on scaffolding. (How painful!) The painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most remarkable in the history of Western art. One thing is for sure: the process that altered a ceiling from plain to fabulous required a lot of time, great discipline, and the hand of a master artist. The same is true for us. The journey from broken into beautiful is a lifelong transformation that requires both discipline and a Master Artist.

As Michelangelo was working, I'm sure that lots of people came through the corridors of the chapel and stood in amazement. As they looked up at the beauty of his work, I bet they said things like, "That is the most fantastic work of art I have ever seen!" or "Extraordinary!" To which he might have said, "It's not done!" But did the unfinished state of the project negate that parts of the ceiling were beautiful? No! The parts that were complete were still extravagant and breathtaking.

Maybe this is the way God and others see our lives. It's common for people to notice the work God has done in us and comment on the beauty. And even though compliments are nice to hear, I've been known to resist them. (Admit it, you probably have too.) It's not so much a humility thing as it is an "I-don't-see-myself-as-beautiful" thing. From my limited perspective, I can see only the unfinished work. But in truth, my vantage point doesn't negate the beauty of the work God has done and is doing in my life.

Real beauty isn't about a finished or flawless product. It can't be. It's not possible on this side of eternity to have completed beauty. Our restoration will be complete in the presence of God when we see Him face to face.

Now, you might be saying, "But Gwen, I can't be beautiful!  You don't know what I've done...or what I've been through...or what I'm going through!"

Friend, God knows where you have been, what you have been through, and where you are now. He knows what your flaws are and loves you in spite of your imperfections. His tender love is far-reaching and complete.

Your past sins do not define you.

Your painful scars do not define you.

Your present sufferings do not define you.

They are just shards of brokenness that God will use to lovingly refine your beauty. The transformation from broken into beautiful is neither easy nor instantaneous. It demands a yielded heart and can be quite painful, but it comes with great reward. God will need your broken pieces—your scars, shame, insecurities, disappointments, betrayals, and failures.

Do you have some of those?

Are they tucked away in a safe, do-not-enter part of your heart?

You might find it hard to hand over hurts. I get that. It's hard for me too. But difficult as it may be, it's time to hand them over and let our masterful Lord create a stunning work of beauty in you. And He's going to need all of your broken pieces to complete the restoration.

Let's Pray
Holy Father, I am humbled by Your willingness to love and forgive someone like me.  Please take the broken pieces of my life and don't allow me to have them back.  I surrender to Your healing.  Mold me and shape me into a beautiful reflection of Your glory.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read Isaiah 64:8, "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Meditate on this verse.  Read it again and personalize it in a prayerful response to God:  "Yet, O LORD, you are MY Father. I AM the clay, you are the potter; I AM the work of your hand."

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is from Gwen's book, Broken into Beautiful. Gwen's full testimony is featured in her book, along with Scriptural truths and stories of how God has brought restoration the hearts of many other women who had painful life wounds. God delights to transform lives ... including your own. Experience God's healing and hope in your life today as you read Broken Into Beautiful! To order the book, go to Amazonor, for a signed copy, order from Gwen's website: www.gwensmith.net.

LOVE MUSIC? Check out Gwen's new CD, Uncluttered.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.


GOT FACEBOOK? Visit Gwen's FACEBOOK PAGE. Thousands of GiGs "meet" there daily to connect and spur one another on in faith. Stop by!

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

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder



August 29, 2011
Woe is You.  Woe is Me!
Sharon Jaynes

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

Friend To Friend
All through the Bible we have accounts of God sending men and women out into the world with a message.  Whether it is a message of repentance, judgment, deliverance or hope, God made sure the messengers were placed in strategic moments in time to make an impact on those around them. But God doesn't send the messenger out unprepared.  He trains them as only He can do...and it usually has something to do with their words.

Let's look at two messengers and how God prepared them to impact the world: Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Isaiah was called to prophesy to Jerusalem 740 years before Christ.  In the first five chapters, the overriding theme is impending judgment. "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field...Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks...Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit and wickedness as with cart ropes...Woe to those who call evil good and good evil...Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight...Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and champions at mixing drinks..."  But then something happens to Isaiah as he sees his own life reflected in God's magnificent glory.

Isaiah had a vision.

I saw the Lord seated on a throne high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and threshold shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

"Woe to me!" I cried.  "I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (Isaiah 6:1-5)

I imagine Isaiah was feeling pretty good about himself, being called by God to prophesy to this irksome people.  But just when he got out the sixth woe, God decided to hold up the mirror of His holiness in which Isaiah saw his own sin.  And where did the sin manifest itself?  His words.

God doesn't convict us of our sin to condemn us.  He reveals our sin to bring us to repentance and change.  Just as Isaiah was lamenting his own foul tongue, a seraph (brightly shimmering heavenly beings whose name means' burning ones') picked up a live coal with tongs from the altar of atonement and touched it to the prophet's lips.  Just as God sent the Holy Spirit to the believers at Pentecost in the form of flaming tongues, He sent a coal to set Isaiah's tongue afire with cleansing power.  The seraph touched Isaiah's tongue with the burning coal and then announced that his guilt was taken away.

Now Isaiah was ready to go out into the world and proclaim God's message to His people and his "woe is me" was transformed into "Here am I send me."

Isaiah didn't need to change his eating or drinking habits, he didn't need to alter his outward appearance, or take extra classes at the local seminary.  Isaiah needed to have his words purified and fortified so God could be properly glorified.           

If God thought it necessary to deal with Isaiah's tongue before he embarked on his heavenly assignment then we should not think it would be any different for you and for me.  But did you notice it was God who did the cleansing?  It takes more than washing our mouths out with soap to be a woman of clean lips.  It takes the power of the Holy Spirit and the touch of God.  Our part is to cooperate with Him, submit our words to Him, fill our lives with Him, and live our lives through Him.

Now It's Your Turn
Unlike Isaiah, Jeremiah didn't begin prophesying until God touched his mouth first. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the Hebrew nation.  However, he was very reluctant to heed the call. "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child," he argued.  But God reprimanded Jeremiah, "Do not say, 'I am only a child'...Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you."

Then God reached out his hand and touched Jeremiah's mouth and said, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth."  God called this young man to be strong and courageous and assured him that He would be with him wherever he went.

Today, pull out your Bible and read Jeremiah chapter one.  Turn the words into a prayer for your own life and pray that God will use your words and your life to make a positive impact for the gospel today.

More From The Girlfriends
The Bible tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue.  If you would like to learn more about how to use your words to speak life into those around you, you'll want to read The Power of a Woman's Words  by Sharon Jaynes.   And for a more in-depth look at what God's Word has to say about our words, see The Power of a Woman's Words Bible Study Guide.

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

August 30, 2011
I Need a Friend Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
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 (Ruth 1:16-18, NIV).

Friendship is the catalyst for every other love and the foundation of every healthy relationship.  God created us to need each other. We need friends and we need to be a friend. Over the next few days, we will continue to uncover nine keys to healthy friendships.

Key one:  Time
Key two:  Risk

The emotional demands on women are vast. One of the ways God replenishes the emotional drains we experience is through friendships. Many women are convinced that the risk of having close friends outweighs the rewards. I disagree. There is no love without risk. Every friendship must contain the element of risk if it is to grow and mature, reaching its full potential. Ruth was willing to risk her very future for the sake of her friendship with Naomi. John 15:13 says it well. "Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down his life for his friends." When we choose to lay down our life, we automatically take a chance on being hurt, rejected, betrayed or misunderstood.

Anyone who knows me also knows that living foliage is doomed to die a premature death if left in my care for any length of time. I have even been known to kill a plant without touching it. In fact, the only hope any plant of mine has to live past its purchase date is for me to ignore its existence with great diligence. I am certain you can understand why I am in awe of anyone who gardens and is actually capable of growing green things.

I once had a neighbor who was known for her green thumb. In fact, everyone in our small Mississippi town knew that the most beautiful roses were found in Joyce's back yard. It was in that same yard where I learned an important lesson about friendship.

Every afternoon, after their nap time, I took our two children, Jered and Danna, outside to play in our fenced-in back yard. While the kids enjoyed the fresh air, neighborhood friends and their swing set, I enjoyed visiting with Joyce. Most of our conversations took place over the vine-covered fence and her dazzling rose garden. After weeks of watching Joyce plant, prune, water, feed, talk to and even sing to her "Rose Babies." I noticed that Joyce never handled the roses without wearing thick gloves to protect her hands from thorns. One day, our conversation abruptly halted when she yanked her hand into the air and yelled, "Ouch!" When I asked her why she insisted on growing roses instead of some safer and less prickly foliage, her answer was profound. "The beauty of the roses is worth the occasional wound they inflict," she replied.  Joyce had learned to handle the roses with respect and in such a way that her wounds were few. Friendships are much the same.

Friends will hurt you. Friends will wound you. We would be wise to don thick emotional gloves when it comes to handling friendships. It is a fatal mistake to assign the responsibility for our happiness to friends. In reality, depending on a friend to make us happy sets that friend up for failure in the relationship and positions that friendship for inevitable destruction. For example, I have a friend who simply cannot keep a secret. She would do anything in the world for me – except keep her mouth closed. Because I love her and don't want to write her off as a friend, I have simply chosen to be cautious about what I share with her. Every friendship has a price tag of some kind attached. We just need to get to the place where love covers the cost.

The words of 1 Peter 4:8 say it well, "Love covers a multitude of sins." In this verse, "cover" literally means to "hide" or "overlook" the faults. Friendship knows the weaknesses are there, but chooses to love anyway. Friendship is always costly but always well worth the cost.

Key three: Transparency
In verse 16, Ruth offers an amazing display of transparency. "Where you go I will go. Where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God, my God." Openness and honesty nourish friendship. We are naturally drawn to transparent people because transparency produces authenticity. In fact, one of the most winsome aspects of Jesus was the fact that He was so transparent and lived an authentic life. He did not remain aloof from His disciples. He lived among them, sharing every part of their lives. He ate with them, prayed with them, ministered with them, cried with them and laughed with them. Jesus repeatedly opened Himself up to the disciples.

John 15:15 "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father."

Jesus made a deliberate choice to be transparent, modeling friendship at its best. He was hurt, betrayed and rejected by those He called friends. Still today, He waits for you and for me, longing to be the most transparent and authentic friend we have. Life can be a very lonely place.  Jesus knows. Friendships are not only an important source of encouragement to us as women, but a valuable source of strength as well. I am convinced that if we built fewer relationship walls, we would have more friends and be a better friend.

Let's Pray
Father, I have to admit that it is sometimes easier to be lonely than it is to be authentic and real with others. Forgive me for letting fear keep me from reaching out to someone in friendship. I am willing to risk being hurt. I am willing to be transparent in order to be a better friend. I lay every friendship at Your feet as an offering of praise for the Friend You are to me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Think of a time when you were hurt by someone you thought was a friend. How did you respond? Answer the following questions in light of that response.

·         Would you change your response if you could? How?
·         Did your response make the friendship stronger or weaker? In what way(s)?
·         Have you let go of the hurt and forgiven the person who hurt you?
·         Read Colossians 1:13-14. How do these verses influence the way you forgive the friends who have hurt you?

More From The Girlfriends
Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study. I Need a Friendis also available in Bible Study format.

Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study: Stress Management 101. Enroll now and have access to all 2011 lessons. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor 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

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder



August 31, 2011
Silent Longings
Sharon Jaynes

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

Friend To Friend
Everyone wants to be noticed, to be cared for, to be loved.  How my heart breaks with David's words, "No one cares for my soul" (Psalm 142:4).  He is crying out during one of the darkest times in his life and felt all alone in his struggle to survive.  We might expect to hear those words from the crowded city streets as men and women scurry about in their power suits off to make the next deal.  We wouldn't be surprised to hear those words from a vagrant huddled under a bridge with all his worldly possessions stuffed in a plastic grocery bag.  But would we expect it from the person sitting beside us in the church pew, the co-worker in the next cubicle, or the mother of three next door?

While flying from the east coast to the west coast, I watched an in flight movie, a cleaned up version of What Women Want staringMel Gibson.  Mr. Marshal (Mel Gibson) worked at an advertising firm with a host of busy men and women bustling about in their own little self-absorbed worlds. In a strange twist of events, Mr. Marshal is "electrically altered" when he slips in the bathroom and falls into the bathtub, along with a hair dryer.  When he regains consciousness after his shocking experience, he has the ability to read women's minds and hear their thoughts.  With his new perceptive powers, he lands a huge Nike advertising account and wins the heart of the leading lady...of course.  But there is one poignant sideline of the movie that grabbed my heart.

In the movie, one young nondescript woman in his office had thoughts that stopped Marshal in his tracks. What if I just jumped out the window?  Would anyone notice?  I could be gone for days and no one would notice...until the files started piling up.  Then they'd say, 'Where's the geek with the glasses who carries the files?'

No one did notice the errand girl who refused to make eye contact with her fellow employees, except  Marshal, who could hear her thoughts.

One day, the young women (who we learn is named Erin), doesn't show up for work?

"Where's Erin?" Marshal asked as he notices a pile of files sitting on her desk.

"I don't know," someone replies.  "She didn't show up for work today."

Fearing the worst, Marshal locates Erin's address and dashes out to stop her from ending her life.

Bursting into her apartment Marshal sees a suicide letter lying on the table and his heart sinks.  A startled Erin walks into the room.

"Mr. Marshal, what are you doing here?"

"I'm glad I got here before you hurt yourself?" he replied.

"What makes you think I was going to hurt myself?"

"I just sensed it," he answered.

"Really?  You sensed it?  That's not good."

Then Marshal brilliantly changes course.  "The real reason I'm here is to offer you a job.  You know we got the Nike account and we were wondering who would be a real spitfire to work on this project..."  Marshal offers Erin a job and rescues her from the despair of feeling unwanted, unloved, and unimportant.

I'm not suggesting that you watch the movie.  After all, it was a cleaned up airline version.  However, I am suggesting that you ponder the situation.  I believe that men and women walk past us every day, just like Erin in this movie, who feel that they have no significant purpose in this world.  Like Erin, I know that there are many who feel that their sudden disappearance would cause little fanfare or concern.  It might be the woman who passes you in the hall at work, the rebellious looking teen who shuffles by you at the mall, or the businessman dashing to his next appointment.  It takes so little to let someone know that they are significant.  We have the ability to give someone hope by offering a simple word of acknowledgement.

Dr. David Jeremiah wrote, "We are shaped by those who love us or refuse to love us, and by those whom we love or refuse to love" (Dr. David Jeremiah, The Power of Encouragement (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah, 1997), p. 13) . It is an amazing opportunity given to each of us as we walk through our day to shape and mold those around us with a simple word of encouragement, acknowledgement, or appreciation.  The world is crying out for love - a positive word, a tender touch, a morsel of praise. Sometimes a simple "hello" can be a boost to someone starving to be noticed.  Many people are so lonely that any token of attention is like a drop of rain on dry parched ground.

Jesus met a woman who felt very insignificant – bone weary and bone dry.  As he talked to her by a well, He said, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13, 14 NIV).   Yes, Jesus is the living water that people need.  Isn't it amazing that He allows us to hold the cup - to offer the only drink that will satisfy.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that you always see me and notice what I'm going through.  You know every hair on my head!  Help me to never loose sight of the fact that I am very significant in Your eyes.  You loved me so much that You gave Your Son, Jesus, so that I might have eternal life with You. I praise Your Holy Name.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Let's go back up to today's truth.  Hagar was a woman who felt ignored and all alone.  But then God showed up.

Go back and read her amazing story in Genesis 16.

What do You learn about God from this story?

Hagar was not one of God's chosen people, and yet, He cared for her.  The Hebrew name that she gave God was El Roi, the God who Sees.  Remember today that God sees you!

More From The Girlfriends
For most of us, we get to a point in our lives where we realize life has not turned out like we thought it would.  But would you dare to dream again?  God has great plans for you!  Grab His hand and go to the place that He planned all along.  To discover God's amazing plan for your life, see Dreams of a Woman-God's Plans for Fulfilling Your Dreams by Sharon Jaynes and begin to dream again.

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

September 1, 2011
I Need a Friend Part 3
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
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 (Ruth 1:16-18, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Friendship is the catalyst for every other love and the foundation of every healthy relationship.  God created us to need each other.  We need friends and we need to be a friend. Over the next few weeks, we will uncover nine keys to healthy friendships.

Key one:         Time
Key two:         Risk
Key three:      Transparency
Key four:        Touch

Women are such emotional critters. I can almost see Naomi and Ruth hugging each other or holding hands as their friendship was forged through love, sorrow, pain and loss. The earthly ministry of Jesus constantly demonstrated the power of love poured out through His touch. The touch of Jesus brought healing to the sick, sight to the blind and life to the dead. In Matthew, He stretched out his hand and touched the leper (Matthew 8:3). Mark tells us that Jesus took the children in His arms (Mark 10:16). I am always amazed that even though Jesus could have healed the blind and sick with just a word, a breath, a glance or even a thought, He often chose to touch the broken ones in order to make them whole. Physical touch is a powerful communicator of love.

A group of medical students, training in the children's ward of a large metropolitan hospital, learned the power of touch in an unusual way. Day after day, the eager students made their rounds together, all of them visiting the same children, performing the same routine medical procedures. However, it soon became obvious to all that one particular medical student was especially loved by the children. Whenever he walked into the ward, the face of each child lit up. The medical students did not understand why the kids seemed to love this particular student more. Curious, they decided to follow their co-worker, hoping to learn his secret. They did.  Every night, when he made his last rounds, this beloved young student kissed each child good-night and tucked them into bed. In Ephesians 2:14, Paul talks about "breaking down the walls that divide us." Many times, the best way to break down emotional walls is to reach out, in God's love, and offer the healing touch of a pat on a weary back, a quick hug for a lonely heart, or an encouraging hand on a burdened and bent shoulder.

Sidebar:Let me also be honest and open at this point. Rarely a week goes by that my husband and I don't hear of a marriage, family and ministry destroyed because of an affair. That affair began with one inappropriate thought that led to one inappropriate touch. Make no mistake, friend. The enemy wants to destroy you, your family, your home and your life. You can be certain he will attempt to do so – any way that he possibly can.  When he does manage to derail a man or woman, he dances on the ashes of the fallen ones and the Father weeps. This is where correction comes in. Along with the command to demonstrate the love of God in friendships, comes the responsibility of loving accountability and correction.

Key five: Correction

Naomi told Ruth to return to her home land, but Ruth refused to go. Instead, she confronted and corrected her mother-in-law. A brave woman! The results were dramatic. "When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her." Godly friendships have the element of correction. Correction brings authenticity and health to every relationship in life – especially friendships. A true friend puts your good above the risk of anger or rejection. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6). The "wound" is the correction or confrontation for the good of a friend.

Silence is agreement and just as dangerous as holding a friend's hand as he or she walks toward the edge of a steep, deadly cliff. When a warning bell goes off in your mind, when you have a question in your spirit about any part of a friend's life, you are called to confront that friend in love. Failure to do so may very well result in their destruction.

When I married into the Southerland family, I didn't know tent camping was part of the deal. I might have reconsidered (just kidding). I decided I could learn to camp and maybe even enjoy it. My first trip to Lake Greason in the foothills of the Ozarks was quite an experience. It did not take me long to learn the routine.  Every day, Dan's mom would prepare a huge breakfast. The kids did dishes and cleaned up while mom changed into her swim suit, donned her sun glasses, grabbed a towel and headed for the lake. On the shore, she grabbed an inner tube, positioned her towel in just the right spot, turned around and sat down in the tube.  Then she would float blissfully for hours. There was a slight problem with this plan. Lake Greason had a current that carried mom down the lake, around the bend and into the path of ski boats. Several times a day, someone would have to swim after her, pulling her back to the safety of the shore, where she would profusely thank them and go right back to floating. Finally, one of the kids came up with a great idea – a rope! We grabbed a ski rope, tied one end to mom's inner tube and the other end to a wooden stake driven securely into the ground. She could then float until the rope ran out and someone "reeled her in".

Don't miss the Dollar Days Sale going on in Mary's online store! Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study. I Need a Friendis also available in Bible Study format.

Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study: Stress Management 101. Enroll now and have access to all 2011 lessons. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor through email

:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

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