Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

August 11, 2010

Beauty Wounds

Shari Braendel

"God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

Devotion:

A few girlfriends recently confided to me about past wounds that still hurt.  One sweet friend shared how she has worked for over 20 years to heal from the wounds inflicted by harsh words. "My mother always thought I was too heavy and called me her elephant. She was constantly making comparisons between my much smaller sister and me. She even went so far as to accuse me of being bulimic, which was a crushing blow to a 13-year old girl."

My other friend confided, "My mom's friend asked me what it was like to have a sister who was so pretty and then said how difficult it must be growing up with her, so beautiful and tiny, and me not being that way. I wasn't fat; it's just we are built completely different. I remember being surprised that someone would actually say that to me and wondered WHY she would say it. That one comment defined me for many years and still hurts when I think about it today."

Beauty wounds. Every single one of us has them. Some inflict deep pain and others prove to be a little nasty pinch that bothers us from time to time; regardless, all of them hurt.

There are many things that need to take place in order to heal our innermost being and assure we don't get caught in the habit of repeating this behavior with those we love or even those we don't know well.

It is important to extend grace and forgiveness to those who have wounded us. I know this can be easier said than done, but through Christ it is possible.  Often the one who brought us pain has no idea the heartache they have caused.  I often wonder whom I could have hurt without meaning to, and I hope and pray they forgive me for my thoughtless actions.

The Bible tells us words are powerful, but so are our thoughts.  We often give too much value to the destructive dialogue that runs in our head from past wounds.  We listen to the hurtful thoughts that play over and over like a broken record. The moment these thoughts pop up, we need to put an end to them by taking them captive. We need to immediately replace the wounded thinking with something more powerful and loving.

One thing that has helped me is to have scripture verses ready in my mind to shut down those damaging head games.  For instance, when a critical thought about my beauty or my weight comes into my mind, I try to realize it and immediately say, "The king is enthralled by [endif] beauty" (Psalm 45:11,NIV).

I want to encourage you to not allow your heart to dwell on ugly thoughts. God is a big God and He's crazy about you. You are a treasure to Him. He did not make a mistake when He created you! I pray you will believe and stand on that truth my friend. For if I know one thing for sure, it is that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and bind up every one of our wounds, including our beauty wounds.
Dear God, I know You see the deepest places of my heart and know the lies and words that continue to haunt me and hurt me. Will You take that hurt away, please? Heal me and help me to accept and understand that You didn't make a mistake with me. You made me perfectly wonderful. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Enter a national makeover contest with Shari Braendel! Multiple winners will be chosen for additional give-aways including a $500 Visa gift card, a Skype fashion session with Shari, a webcam and more! Find out more at www.fashionmeetsfaith.com/contest .

Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad by Shari Braendel

Visit Shari's blog for more encouragement and some fun fashion tips.

Do you know the One who calls you Beautiful?

Application Steps:

1. Print out Psalm 139:13-14 and post it on your mirror.  Let it be a daily reminder that you belong to God. Read it every day until that is what you hear inside your heart and mind. 

2. Pray and ask God to help you forgive those who have inflicted pain upon you.

3. Choose this day to begin the healing process.

Reflections:

Would you want to be granted the forgiveness that another may need from you if you were in the same situation?

Is there a time you can remember being forgiven whether you deserved it or not?  There is freedom in forgiveness that touches all parties involved.

Power Verses:

Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:9, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty." (NIV)

Psalm 139:13-14, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well." (NASB)

© 2010 by Shari Braendel. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 12, 2010

Do You Have a Dream?

Lysa TerKeurst

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones..."
Luke 16:10 (NLT)

Devotion:

Do you have a dream to do something? In my early twenties, I started and failed at five different jobs before helping start Proverbs 31 Ministries.  Lately, I've been getting many emails asking how I helped start this ministry.  I always wish I could reveal three well defined steps that led me to this place where I'm at today doing what I know I was made to do.  But my journey was not well defined nor were there easy steps.  I stumbled here.

My friend who asked me to join her in getting this ministry off the ground named it.  I was with the ministry for close to four months before it occurred to me that maybe I should read Proverbs chapter 31 in the Bible.  I had never done that. 

I had an argument with God after reading Proverbs 31, telling Him all the reasons He had definitely called the wrong gal to be part of a ministry named after a woman who truly had it all together.

At that point in my life, I had one child who made me cry every day with feelings of being completely overwhelmed and a struggling marriage.

But God.

I love those two words when you put them together.

He makes a way where there is no way.  He loves to use unlikely people so He gets all the credit for any good that comes from their frail and faulty efforts.  I'm convinced He wasn't looking for the most qualified person, He was simply looking for a woman who would dare to say yes to Him.

So, how in the world did God ever grow this ministry from the tiniest seed to where it is today?

I'm convinced my job all along was never to figure out how to grow the ministry or how to run a successful ministry.  My job all along was to simply be obedient to God.  My job was obedience, God's job was results.  That's true no matter what we're pursuing - be it a job, a spouse, a calling or a dream.

I had to be obedient to God in the small things and the big things.  Some days as a woman in ministry my big job was to change diapers with a good attitude and apologize to my husband for acting so stubborn.  Other days it was to have coffee with a woman and simply listen to her heart.  Still other days it was to write an article that would only be read by 35 readers of our small little newsletter at the time.

You see God never let this ministry outgrow my capacity to be obedient to Him.

As I put together a team, I looked for people who had the same passion to say yes to God.  As He found me and my team faithful with the little things, bigger opportunities came.  It hasn't been easy and we certainly have not been found to be obedient every day, but we've been determined to never give up. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries unfolded very, very slowly.  This ministry has been 17 years of waking up each day, lifting up our willingness to be obedient to God that day, and simply following wherever He leads us with a "yes" heart.

If you feel a tug at your heart to pursue some sort of a dream, let it unfold slowly.  And realize you can start today.  Simply ask God to place that one obedience-assignment in front of you today and say yes.  Who knows what could possibly start from there...       

Dear Lord, no matter what the dreams are that You've placed on our hearts, may we be found obedient in the small things first.  And help us to remember our job is to be obedient to You and then You will take care of the results. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's interactive website today for a list of three crucial things every woman following a dream should know...click here.

Lysa is speaking in over 40 cities this year and she'd love to meet you!  To check for a city near you, click here.  Next month Lysa will be in Atlanta at Charles Stanley's church and then at the Fresh Grounded Faith conference in Seattle, WA.  Click here for more information on Atlanta and here for more information on Seattle.

And if you'd like to move from just going through the motions with God to having a thriving relationship with Him, consider getting a copy of Lysa's latest book, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl" by clicking here.

Application Steps: 

If you are following a dream, keep track of the things God teaches you along the way either through a journal or another remembrance marker. 

Reflections: 

What are you hoping to gain by reaching your dream?  If your ultimate goal is a richer relationship with God, you will never be disappointed.

Power Verses:

Proverbs 3:1-3. "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." (NIV)

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 13, 2009

Damaged Goods

By Carol Davis

A She Speaks Graduate

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

Devotion: 

I walked down the aisle of the discount grocery looking for a bargain that I couldn't live without. It's always hit and miss in this store...and I had missed...again.

But, I passed by a bin that caught my eye. "Damaged Goods." It was filled with dented cans and missing labels...no real rhyme or reason, just random items that were not shelf worthy. And suddenly, I knew just how they felt.

Life sometimes delivers the unexpected. Lessons learned in the school of hard knocks bruise us, dent us and remove the label that defines who we are. We feel as if we have been tossed into a bin, no longer worthy of a place on the shelf. Some people substantiate the lie that we are second class failures and all hope is gone.

So, I leaned over and intentionally chose a dented can with no label from the bin. I got it home and placed it on the can opener with anxious anticipation. The whirr of the can opener finally penetrated the metal lid to reveal....peaches!!! I let out a school girl squeal! I love peaches!! What a treat to open this can and be greeted by one of my favorite fruits. The can was damaged but the contents were still good...and sweet.

God must have smiled...because at that moment the sunshine beamed in my kitchen window. I knew in my heart there was a lesson.

I have been damaged. We all have to some degree. I am not living the life that I dreamed about when I was a kid. However, the damage that I have suffered has made the contents of my heart so much sweeter, so much more compassionate, so much more in pursuit of Jesus. I have been looked down upon and judged by many who have seen my label missing and slapped on their own.

I've wanted to say, "Don't judge too quickly. My damage has not defined me...but, it is refining me." I may be at the bottom of the life's bin, but Jesus paid as high a price for those of us at the bottom as He did for those that are proudly displayed on the top shelf.

Look around you. Is there someone in your life, your family or your church that you consider "damaged goods"? Don't miss an opportunity to reach out to them, to love them. You just might find a friendship that is good...and sweet.
                                                                                                                                         
Dear Lord, my life hasn't turned out exactly turned out like I thought it would. But, I know that You can still use me. Please forgive me for labeling others and judging them by their outside circumstances instead of the work that You are doing in their heart. Help me realize that we all have dents but that's what keeps us desperate for a Savior.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Treasured: Knowing God by the Thing He Keeps by Leigh McLeroy
Thin Places by Mary E. DeMuth
When a Woman Meets Jesus: Finding the Love Every Woman Longs For by Dorothy Valcarcel


Connect with Carol on her blog.

Application Steps: 

Write down all the life circumstances that have 'dented' your heart. Ask God to use your dents and scratches for His glory.

Reflections: 

Is there someone you are judging unfairly? By their circumstance? Or life situation?

What can you do to reach out to that person today?

Have you been judged unfairly? How did that make you feel?

Power Verses:

Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (NIV)

Isaiah 61:1, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." (NIV)

© 2010 by Carol Davis. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

August 16, 2010

Shoot High in Prayer

Glynnis Whitwer

"'I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.'

And he worshiped the LORD there." I Samuel 1:27-28 (NIV)

Devotion:

As a mother of five teenagers, I find my prayers for them have a resounding similarity:  "Father, please protect (insert child's name) at (insert location)."  I usually elaborate on why that particular child needs protection, and move on to the next request for help. 

You might call me a worrier.  Statistics don't help to curb my worry. I know that if 99% of people don't get hurt walking to McDonalds, there is 1% that do.  And, you guessed it, I'm certain someone I love will be in that 1%. 

Over the years, God has addressed this issue in my life, and revealed my lack of faith in His ability to protect. God has also brought miraculous healing over paralyzing fear.  Nevertheless, I still found my prayers focusing on keeping my children safe.  Until I heard a pastor challenge parents to shoot high for their children in prayer. 

It didn't take a detailed self-assessment to realize I'd reduced my prayers to the common denominator of safety.  While that is critically important, I realized I had replaced my vision for their futures with worry about their presents.  I've been caring for the needs of children for 18 years, and I find myself consumed at times with just making it through the day. 

While I know I should be praying for more than that, I sometimes find it hard to rise above the daily needs and routines, and cast a vision for the future.  Thankfully, the Bible tells the story of one mother who had a wonderful vision for her child's future.  Her name was Hannah.

Hannah's story is told in First Samuel.  She was the beloved wife of Elkanah, but she could not conceive a child.  Hannah prayed for God to give her a child, and promised to give her child back to the Lord all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11).  God heard that prayer and promise, and blessed Hannah with a son, whom she named Samuel. 

Hannah kept true to her oath to offer her son to the Lord, and after she had weaned him, she took Samuel to Eli the priest for training.  Hannah continued to bless her son's calling, and every year made him a linen ephod (robe) and took it to him when she and her husband offered sacrifices.

Hannah could have stopped her prayers at the gift of a baby. Anyone who has ever struggled with infertility knows that it can be all consuming.   Yet Hannah wanted more than a baby to treasure and love.  Her plan wasn't for a child she could keep to herself.  Hannah had a vision for a child who would serve the Lord all the days of his life.  God heard and answered that prayer.

Praying like Hannah pushes me out of my routine. Most nights as I fall into bed, I'm thankful my children have made it through another day.  I've lost a niece in a car accident, and so I'm particularly grateful for every breath.  And yet, I'm missing a powerful opportunity to partner with God for their futures when I stop my prayers at protection. 

As we start a new school year, I'm challenged to expand my prayers for my children.  I want to re-dedicate my three sons and two daughters to God for His service. I'm committing to pray boldly for God to use them in a mighty way, and for them to be lights in the darkness.  Oh, I'll continue to pray for their safety.  But I won't stop there. Once I've taken the limits off my prayers, there's no telling what God will do.
                                                                                                                                                                       
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting me to approach You in prayer.  Sometimes I forget that You are willing and longing to do more in my life and the lives of my children.  Help me to remove the limits I've put on my prayers and to allow Your Spirit to lead and guide me.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

When Your Child is Hurting by Glynnis Whitwer.  This is a great resource for ideas on areas in your child's life that need prayer. 

Parenting Your Teen and Loving It by Suzie Davis

Visit Glynnis' blog where she shares some ways to pray for our children at the start of school. 

Application Steps: 

Take a moment and dream about the future for a child you know.  It could be your own, a neighbor or someone at church.  Don't let "reality" hinder your dream.  Now pray for that child, asking God to use him or her.

Reflections: 

What limits you from praying bold prayers for others? Or for yourself?

What are some specific things you could begin to pray for a child you know?

Power Verses:

Matthew 6:27, 33, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) 

Psalm 103:17-18, "But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts." (NIV)

© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 17, 2010

A Place of True Belonging

Amy Carroll

"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you -- better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

Proverbs 27:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

As we sat around the table with the sun setting behind us, I breathed a deep sigh of contentment.  The faces of my dear friends glowed in the fading light, and our voices were low and intimate.  The conversation had turned to matters buried deep in our hearts; laughter pealed, tears were shed and our faces reflected concern and caring as the conversation ebbed and flowed.  With darkness deepening around us, we reluctantly stood, said our good-byes and returned to our waiting families and beds.

Pulling the quilt up to my chin that night, I thought, "There's nothing on Facebook as good as that."   

Please don't get me wrong.  I love the social networking craze as much as anyone.  I've enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, staying connected to friends I meet as I travel and connecting to my children in new and fun ways.  It's entertaining and enjoyable.  It's fascinating and engaging.  It's educational and inspiring.  It's not a place that I intend to abandon, but it's a place that I need to recognize for what it is and what it isn't.  One thing that it's not is a place of true belonging.

Facebook is just one vehicle for social networking, but since it's my favorite, I decided to do a little investigating.  From its inception in 2004, Facebook has grown from 1 million users to an astounding 103 million US users by the beginning of 2010.  During 2009 alone, it had a growth rate of a whopping 145%!  And it's not just for kids any more.  The 35-54 years old demographic is now the largest population of users with women leading the pack.  Amazingly, it's the 55+ group that is growing the fastest at a rate of 923% growth in 2009.

Wow!  I've been wondering about the cause of the overwhelming growth in social networking.  I haven't studied it in-depth, but I have some ideas of my own.  Our culture has become increasingly insulating over time.  Everything from industrialization when families began to move away from family farms, to air conditioning which drives us off our front porches and inside our cool homes, has made it more challenging to find a place of true belonging.  Instead of joining churches for a lifetime, we're either moving to another town or another church.  Instead of walking next door to ask our grandmothers for parenting advice, we're turning on our TVs or opening a book.  Instead of meals around tables in our home, we're driving thru and eating on the way to the next activity.

If this sounds scathing, please excuse me.  I'm writing with a broken heart out of my own experience.  I am that woman.  I'm a woman who has turned inward and turned on my computer instead of outward with open arms and an open life.  I'm a woman who has settled for "friending" instead of friends because of some recent hurts.  It's easier "out there" instead of close by, isn't it?

I was reflecting one day about the time and space into which Jesus was born.  God could have sent Jesus into any time of His choosing.  Why didn't He send Jesus during our day?  Surely using television and internet would have been a more effective way to get the Word out. I confess that I don't know exactly why God sent Jesus into a day and age with no telephones, television or internet, but maybe, just maybe, His choice of time sends us a message.  Jesus chose deep relationships as the way to transmit His message forward in time until He comes again. 

He was the one who created us in His own image with an inescapable need for face-to-face, heart-to-heart relationship.  Maybe a place of true belonging with God and others is the only way to satisfy the longings of our souls.

Dear Lord, I know that in You I will find a place of true belonging.  Help me to build that relationship with others too. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

A Life That Says Welcome, Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others by Karen Ehman
Visit Amy's blog

The Friends We Keep: A Woman's Quest for the Soul of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis
Check out this moving devotion, God's Design for Community, for more inspiration
Application Steps: 

Examine how you spend your time.  Is the majority of your time being invested in face-to-face relationship with friends and family?

Pay attention to your true feelings after interactions on the computer or in person.  In the end, is the interaction fulfilling or hollow?

Reflections: 

Where do I find my place of belonging?

Is the belonging that I feel true or artificial?

Power Verses:

Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (NIV) 

Romans 12:5, "...so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (NIV)

© 2010 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G,Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 18, 2010

Move Over Myrtle

Lynn Cowell

"Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." Isaiah 55:13 (NIV)

Devotion:

I could never figure out why my crape myrtle trees didn't look like "that."

When I drove my kids to school on those hot back-to-school days, I would see gorgeous myrtles all over the neighborhood, heavy laden with puffy flowers in hot pink, deep purple or pure white...but my myrtles never looked that.

One friend said they needed heavy pruning in the winter. So when the temperature dropped and all the leaves fell, I drug out my loppers and chopped away. There! That should do it! I thought. Summer came; summer went. No flowers.

Crape myrtles are not one of those trees that still look great without flowers. In fact, I grew tired of them in my front garden where they gawked at me, flowerless, day after day.

So, I called in a professional gardener. He informed me that crape myrtles need sunlight, so it didn't really matter what I did to those trees; they were not going to bloom in my cool, shaded yard. My choices were: put up with the lack of beautiful blooms, or pull them out. I opted for change.

Life can be a lot like my myrtles. Sometimes, we are just not blooming. We might try the recommendations of friends. You need a hobby. You need a different job. You need a man. Wait until this season is over and then make a change. Often, though, what we really need is Sonlight. The Professional Gardener will tell you getting in the Son is the only thing that is going to bring beauty.

In Isaiah 55:13 the prophet says that instead of briers, the myrtle will grow. Do you have any briers that need to be exchanged for myrtles in your life? Are you effective and are you living what the Bible refers to as an abundant life in Christ? Just as other trees in my yard cast too much shade for my myrtles, is there something in your life that is casting a shadow, blocking your Sonlight? If so, it is time to make the move into the Son.

Getting into the Sonlight, like moving a tree, is no easy task. It often involves change; sometimes a dramatic change. A change in habits, a ridding of addictions, a move in friendships, a laying down of dreams, or a picking up of one that you have feared. Part of soaking up the Son also includes spending consistent time with Jesus in prayer and reading His Word each day.

Don't be afraid of change, friend. The Psalmist said that pain comes in the night, but joy comes in the morning. In the end, the blooms that follow will tell the tale of the power of life in the Son.

Powerful Jesus, that is what I need You to be today. Powerful Jesus. I see the shadow on my life and often I fear that it will overtake me. You have promised that in You, with You, all things are possible. Show me where to move today Jesus, so that I position myself in Your Sonlight. Give me the discipline to study Your words so that my life will be for Your renown and an everlasting sign to others of life in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley
Have you ever had to move in order to get more light from Jesus? Stop by Lynn's blog today and be encouraged by others who have done the same!
An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than my Fears by Micca Campbell
Intimacy with God: Establishing a Vibrant Quiet Time and Prayer Time by Tara Furman

Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps:

Go to BibleGateway and do a word search on your greatest struggle - jealousy, envy, conflict, etc. Write out one of the verses regarding this difficulty that speaks to you and read it several times a day until you know it well.

Visit our Everyday Life section to read how other woman are finding victory in the areas that are casting shadows in your life.

Reflections: 

What areas in your life do you currently feel are blocking out Jesus' truth?

Do you have a friend that you could ask to pray for you on a regular basis in your struggle for victory in this area? Honesty is a powerful weapon in breaking the power of Satan in our lives.

Power Verses:

Isaiah 55:6-9, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)

© 2010 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 19, 2010

Mean Mom, Kind Mom

Lysa TerKeurst

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Devotion:
Yesterday we were driving back from the joy called the beach vacation. All total we logged over 20 hours in the car. It was family bonding at its finest.

So, this is what I hear from the backseat:

Ashley: "Mom, Brooke just licked my hash brown! Ewwwwww!"

Me: "Brooke, why would you lick your sister's hash brown for heaven's sake?"

Brooke: "Because my arm hurts."

Me: "Oh. Well that just makes complete sense."

There may have been 127 other instances where the soundtrack of my life was, "Mom...she poked me and she is on my side and she just spilled her drink and she took my book."

My kids were getting on the last good nerve I had and I could feel an emotional eruption bubbling to the surface.

Do you ever struggle with the mean mom trying to come out? Or the mean girl? Or the mean sister? Or the mean wife?

How is it I can be marching along to the sweetest tune and then veer off so suddenly into a bad attitude?

I wish there was one simple fix-it plan where if we follow three steps all tendencies toward emotional eruptions would vanish. But that's not reality. If all we needed to follow was a plan, we'd have no need to follow Jesus.

And ultimately isn't that what life is supposed to show us - that we need to follow Jesus? So what does Jesus say about this? He says we must do three things. But these aren't three easy steps. They are three attitude shifts of the heart.

He says we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).

Deny myself...

I have to look beyond the emotions begging to erupt and use self-control. I have to deny myself the momentary satisfaction of the quick comeback, the rude response, and the full out yelling.

Deny myself. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

Then I must take up my cross...

My cross. Stop the blaming and finger pointing and wishing everyone else would change...and see my sinful reaction as a negative contribution to the problem at hand. I must take my issues to His cross and see my sin for what it is - sin. And I must be disgusted enough by my sin to truly want to do something about it.

Take up my cross. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

Finally, I must follow Him...

Really follow Him. Follow who He is and how He is. I must close my mouth, pause long enough to let Him interrupt my eruption, and let His Spirit redirect me. Yes, my children need to be corrected but I can let the consequences scream so I don't have to. Only a calm mama can think of rational, reasonable consequences that instruct.

Follow who He is and how He is. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

It's amazing how quickly my mean mom vanishes when I deny myself, admit my sin, and choose to let Jesus interrupt me.

Just don't be messin' with my hash brown if your arm starts hurting. Okay? I have to draw the line somewhere you know.

Dear Lord, please interrupt my natural flesh pattern today. I desire to change. I need to change. I realize and admit that I need You, Lord. Help me to stop the blaming and finger pointing once and for all. Help me to follow in Your footsteps today. I want to seek You with all of my heart. For I know that those who seek You will find You. Thank You for this promise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's interactive website today for an article every mom should read, plus a chance to win a free book!

Lysa is speaking in over 40 cities this year and she'd love to meet you! Next month she'll be in Atlanta at Charles Stanley's church and in Seattle with Jennifer Rothschild at Fresh Grounded Faith.

And if you'd like to transform the mean girl inside you, consider getting a copy of Lysa's Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl.

The accompanying Bible Study workbook and DVD teaching series, which contains six sessions 15-20 minutes each, are perfect for your Bible Study group or Book Club.

Application Steps: 

Do you struggle with your mean girl trying to come out? Ask a faithful friend to hold you accountable to change. It may be difficult to share this personal struggle, but having this honest accountability can make all the difference in the world.

Pray and record verses of God's promises and truths.

Reflections: 

How do you deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him? Begin each day admitting to the Lord that you are dependent on Him. Ask Him to help you guide your words, your thoughts and your reactions in a way that would be pleasing to Him.

How do you begin to shift the attitude in your heart? The Lord promises to help those whose hearts are seeking Him. Are you seeking Him?

Power Verses:

Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, "Remember him - before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (NIV)

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 20, 2010

Superman

Luann Prater

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

"He's really big and tall," she said.

This six year-old had never heard of Superman before visiting the towering blue and red 200 foot figure in Metropolis, Illinois. She didn't know that he was an action hero; he just looked like a rigid statue to her. She didn't know that millions before her had watched him rescue Lois Lane again and again. She didn't know he was from the planet Krypton and could fly. The tall, rigid statue was her reality of Superman.

Then it hit me - we often view God through the same limited vision. Even though His Word tells us He is:

El Elyon - God Most High

El - The Strong One

Jehovah - I AM

Jehovah-Rapha - The Lord Who Heals

El Shaddai - the All Sufficient One

...we often just imagine Him as a statue. If we have never trusted Him to supply our needs, heal us, or be our strength, we just don't get it. We see one angle of Him, but not the whole picture.

I pulled up a photograph of the Superman statue on Google and stared at it for several minutes. I saw a family standing at the base of this larger-than-life monument. Have you ever looked at God as a cold, uncaring statue? Wondering if He even notices you're down here? I have.

There is nothing cold or sterile about our God. He is multi-faceted! As today's verse says, He is my strength, my song, my salvation, my God and so much more! Just because we may not have experienced His healing, doesn't make Him any less the Healer. Just because we may not have sensed Him shower peace on our turmoil, doesn't make Him any less the Prince of peace. As we trust Him, obey Him and seek His face, He will reveal more and more of Himself to us.

We gals may not be Lois Lane, but there is One who can rescue us from any situation. Jesus Christ is His name. And man, is He super!

Dear Lord, thank You for being all we need and so much more! Grow my vision of You Lord to see past my limited knowledge. Open my mind to see beyond my reality. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know My Strength, Song and Salvation?

Hang out with Luann on her radio program, Encouragement Café, and her blog!

Embraced by the Father: Finding Grace in the Names of God by Susanne Scheppmann
When Self-Rescue is Not an Option, a free resource offering more encouragement
Application Steps: 

Ask others to share their testimony with you. Find out how God has shown Himself in their lives.

Ask Him to grow your vision of Him.

Reflections: 

What causes me to put God in a box?

When was the last time I looked at God from a different angle?

How can I trust Him in every area of my life?

Power Verses:

Deuteronomy 10:17, " For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." (NIV)

Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (NIV)

© 2010 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 23, 2010

Faith over Feelings

Tracie Miles

"For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5b (NIV)

Devotion:

I spent months working on it, with big expectations and high hopes. But in the blink of an eye, it was crushed. This reality tore into my heart like a jagged knife, ripping my dream into tiny little shreds. Disappointment was so great; it was difficult to process my feelings. I had worked tirelessly on this project and now I was not only feeling disappointment, but rejection.

Disappointment soon turned to irritation, then resentment. I didn't FEEL it was fair.

Why didn't God answer my prayers? Why had He placed a dream in my heart only to allow it to crumble? Why had He let this happen? Why me?

I knew I needed to have a good attitude and not give up, but I did not FEEL like doing that at all!

Questions continued to pummel my brain. What is the use? Why try again? If God didn't answer my prayer after all this time, why bother to keep trying?

You see, I allowed my feelings to overtake my mind, and let my FAITH take a back seat.

All I could think about was how this disappointment made me feel, instead of what God may be doing that my faith could not see. I felt things weren't fair, without remembering God's ways are best. I felt a longing for immediate results, instead of trusting God's timing is perfect.

I soon realized my feelings were getting in the way of my faith. So I went to Psalm 25 (NIV), and allowed the following verses to wash over my spirit.

Verse 1, "To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;"

I felt discouraged, unworthy, hopeless, rejected. So I poured my feelings and my soul out to God. And He listened.

Verse 2, "...in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me."

God reminded me to trust Him, not a desire or a dream. Not the world's view of things. Not my abilities. Not my timeframe. Not my ideas. Just Him. I prayed about my enemies - intangible feelings such as self doubt, insecurities, frustration, and discouragement.

Verse 3, "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse."

Regardless of whether or not my desires become a reality, I will not be put to shame, because God is my God. If His plans coincide with my dreams, I know He will keep His eternal promises.

Verses 4-5a, "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me,"

These words stopped me in my tracks. I began to think more rationally. Why have I been beating my head against a wall? Why have I been consumed with anxiety and frustration? Am I allowing God to direct my paths? God gently reminded me that He is the teacher; we are the students.

Verse 5b, "...for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

If I put my hope in my own desires and abilities, I simply set myself up for failure. My only hope for joy and fulfillment comes from Christ alone. Hope can only be found in Him, not people, careers, husbands, children, church, financial success, a carefree life, or dreams that come true.

Disappointments will always happen. With God, however, we can turn those disappointments into God's appointments to trust Him. The first step is exercise our faith over our feelings.

Dear Lord, You know the hurt in my heart and the sting of disappointments I have experienced. Please help me trust You, instead of being consumed by feelings. Empower me with a faith that is stronger than my emotions. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Reinventing Your Rainbow by Tracie Miles

An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell
What to do in the W.A.I.T: Finding Contentment in God's Pauses and Plans (CD) by Wendy Pope
Visit Tracie's blog

Love's Perfect Plan, a free Everyday Life article, is a beautiful story of God's faithfulness

Application Steps: 

Consider the disappointments you have experienced recently, and ask God to help your faith be more powerful than your feelings.

Unpack Psalm 25:1-5 and apply it to your situation, with open ears to hear God's voice.

Reflections: 

Am I allowing my feelings to guide my actions, or relying on my faith to help me move forward?

Have I asked God how He can use my disappointments to strengthen my faith in Him?

Have I sought God's direction in my situation?

Power Verses:

Psalm 78:7, "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." (KJV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

August 24, 2010

Letter of Love

T. Suzanne Eller

"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

Devotion:

I have only scraps now. Words penned on paper when I was a teen. I was a new Christian, trying to live my faith in a house of chaos. My mom was broken. My dad hid behind a newspaper, calling out words like "you belong in a loony bin" to my mother, spiraling her deeper into the abyss of rage and hopelessness.

I lived in parallel worlds. One, my very fractured home. And the second, a world of faith where people loved Jesus, and their lives reflected that love. Church was more than a building to me. It was a sanctuary, a shelter, from the roller coaster existence at home. I spent hours in the altar, weeping -- not out of grief, or self-pity -- but because I had discovered the most amazing truth: God is.

Two years after my encounter with Christ, I found a letter on my pillow.

Dear Suzie, I've watched you and I know what you have is real. It's a treasure, and I hope you hang on to it. . .

I sat on the edge of the bed and read through the rest of the letter, amazed. It was penned by my dad. A man who did not know how to express his feelings very well. A man who had faced his own demons growing up, and who believed that love was putting food on the table and going to work every morning at 7 a.m.

I look back now through the mirror of time and I see two adults, younger than I am now, who struggled. My mom with pain. My dad with the inability to know how to help. But that letter was a ray of light. I keep the tattered pieces because it came at a time that I needed it. I was praying often for my family, but came home to the same old mess day after day. I often thought about running away from home, but I ran after Jesus instead, all the while longing for my parents to discover what I had found.

My father never said a word about the letter left on my pillow. But he was baptized the next year. He and my mother started attending church. It was a long, hard road, but over time my mother was healed emotionally. Her smile came back, and it was beautiful.

In the 30 years that have passed, I've been reading another letter from a father -- my Heavenly Father.

The Bible has become an ongoing communication between me and Jesus. I don't know how many times I've sat with the Bible in my hands, and felt an encouraging word or a corrective nudge. A command to overcome, or a promise that I'd never have to do it alone. It's not specifically written to me, but the Holy Spirit marks it with my name as He reveals truth.

Just when I need it. Just when I've been praying for direction. Just when I've felt that my faith was running on empty.

Can I be honest? There are times I have allowed that precious Letter to sit idle. I've pushed it to the side, glancing at it as I passed, knowing I'd "get to it" later. And yet one day I realized the Bible is just as precious and affirming as those tattered pieces from my earthly father. In fact, the words are very much the same. I find in Scripture that Jesus knows what I've been feeling, but He reminds me that He sees me. He affirms that I have discovered real treasure, and encourages me to hang on to it, even in the hard times. Especially in the hard times.

Maybe it's been a long time since you picked up your Letter of Love. I pray that today that you'll pick it back up, hold it in your hands, and read it for the first time all over again.

Dear Father, You know my pressures. You know my shortcomings. Thank You that You know what I need. Restore the joy of my salvation today. Restore my hunger to communicate with You. Thank You for Your letter of love to me. I ask that Your Holy Spirit take Your word and mark my life with it. In Your Loving Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Women's Devotional Bible (NIV)

Making It Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway? by T. Suzanne Eller
Visit Suzie's blog where she will give away a copy of Making It Real and share tips on how to make Bible study more personal.

The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future, by T. Suzanne Eller

Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps: 

It's not about checking off "read your Bible" on your list for the day. It's taking time to communicate with Jesus.

1. Make an appointment, as you would with a friend.

2. Don't worry about a set number of verses or chapters. It's better to study three verses and grow through them, than to read five chapters just because it's on your to-do chart.

3. Read with a pen in hand. Mark verses that speak to you.

4. Keep a journal next to you. Share your thoughts and questions as you read. (It's also great to write down those pesky thoughts like "pay the water bill." Write it down and it's out of your thoughts, so you can go back to hanging out with Jesus.)

Reflections: 

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs to me; it has hands, it lays hold of me." ~ Martin Luther

Power Verses:

Revelation 1:8, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end,'" says the Lord God. "'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come--the Almighty One.'" (NLT)

Revelation 3:20, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." (NLT)

© 2010 by T. Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org