Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

July 18, 2012
Lord, Please Turn Down the Storm
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed" - (Psalm 107:29, NIV).

Friend to Friend
We live in Kansas City where summers normally include some pretty fierce thunder storms. Our three-year-old grandson, Justus, is not a fan. The driving rain, loud thunder and often violent lightning frighten him. We have tried to reassure Justus with such logical explanations as the thunder is nothing more than God rearranging the furniture in heaven and lightning is the angels setting off fireworks. I know. He didn't buy our explanations either.

We normally keep Justus one night a week to give his mom and dad a little break and to get our "Justus" fix. He is a little hunk of joy that lights up the world and makes you feel like you are the most important part of that world. After picking him up for our weekly date, we headed home but got caught in a torrential downpour. As the thunder boomed and the lightning cracked, Justus put both hands over his ears, hoping to shut out the frightening sound of the summer storm. Dan and I kept reassuring Justus that the storm would pass. Dan said, "Mimi and Papa are right here with you, Buddy. It's okay!" It was not okay with Justus. In total frustration, he turned to his Papa and exclaimed, "Papa. Do something! Can't you pwease turn down the stowm?"

I have often prayed basically that same prayer. "God, can You please turn down the storm in my life? Can't You make the thunderous chaos go away? And the flashing pain is so hard to handle, Lord. I am scared."

I have a friend who loves to sail. When I asked him if he had ever been caught in a bad storm, he responded, "Many times!" I shook my head in disbelief concluding that my friend was obviously a glutton for punishment.  Of course, I had to ask, "Then why on earth do you keep sailing?" His answer was profound. "Mary, every sailor knows that there will be storms. You just learn what to do when the storm hits. In a severe storm, there is only one thing to do and only one way to survive. You have to put the ship in a certain position and keep her there."

The same is true in our lives. When the fierce storms of life overwhelm us, there is only one thing to do if we want to survive those storms. We must position ourselves in the right place – in the hands of God – and He will keep us there until the storm has passed.

The words of the psalmist are filled with confidence and hope when he writes, "He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed" (Psalm 107:29). We really can trust God to bring peace and to reduce the fiercest storm to a mere whisper. The faithful provision and sustaining comfort of God at work in our life depends on the character and heart of God and our willingness to trust Him.

I love my children with all of my heart. Naturally, there are times when they make me very angry. They make wrong choices and sometimes even disappoint me, but if they are hurt, sick or in trouble, the anger, disappointment and even disobedience is overruled by my love for them and a driving need to comfort them. If my imperfect heart responds to my imperfect children that way, think about how the perfect heart of our heavenly Father responds to us.

Richard Fuller writes: "This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may -- winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers -- no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness and his everlasting love in Christ Jesus."

We can face every storm with confidence, knowing that God will redeem it for good. We can trust few things in this life, but God's faithfulness is one of them. When the hard times come, and the storms roll in, trust God and hold on. He is with you.

Let's Pray
Father, I want to thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Forgive me when I let fear and doubt take over my heart and mind instead of choosing to trust You. Give me eyes to see the treasure buried at the heart of every storm and help me to choose joy -- even when I don't understand what You are doing in my life. Teach me, Lord. Let my life be an illustration of Your strength perfected in my weakness.   
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read Hebrews 12:12 (The Message) "So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs." What does it mean in your life to "take a new grip" and "stand firm" even on shaky legs?

Do you really believe we can experience joy – even in the midst of the fiercest storm?  Explain.

Looking back at the storms in your life, how would you rate your response to those storms? What changes do you need to make in order to experience victory?

Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 and record it in your journal. Share your decision to become a woman of faith with other women who have the same desire.

More from the Girlfriends
Looking for a Bible Study? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Study, Strength for the Storm. It is also available in Videodownload, CD, and MP3. A daily time alone with God in prayer and Bible study will strengthen you to face whatever life throws at you. Check out my weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. Enroll now and have access to all 2012 lessons. FREE MP3s on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
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[Judy Harder]

July 19, 2012
Whose Report are You Going to Believe?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." - (Numbers 13:30 NIV).

Friend to Friend
All through the Bible, God gives us great and wonderful promises about who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and where we are in Christ. Let me remind you of just a few.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)
God...has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:5)
The Bible is packed full of many promises just like those. However, the enemy, Satan, tells us that we are worthless losers with little to no power to live in victory. He tells us we are but "grasshoppers" in the face of our difficulties and struggles. So, who's reports are we going to believe?

The Israelites faced the same situation. They had been freed from Egyptian slavery and then headed into the desert. Then God signaled it was time to enter the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. He said, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan which I am giving the Israelites."

At God's command, Moses sent in twelve men to spy out the land. Ten came back with this report:

We went into the land which you sent us and it does flow with milk and honey! But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large (Numbers 13:27,28).  The men went on to say they were like grasshoppers compared to the giants who lived in Canaan.

However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, believed God. This was their report:  We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it (13:30).

Guess who the people believed? They believed the ten who said, "we can't," rather than the two who said, "God already has." Why? Lack of faith and an abundance of fear. I have an acronym for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. They saw only the giants, but failed to see Almighty God. God had already given them the land, the people simply needed to walk in and take possession of it. But instead of moving into the Promised Land, they wandered in the desert for forty years because of their unbelief. The entire generation, except for Caleb and Joshua, died in their unbelief. Caleb and Joshua marched in and took possession of what God had already promised and provided.

Oswald Chambers notes, "Human frailty is another thing that gets between God's words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be non-existent. But remember God's assurance to us – "I will never...forsake you."  Have we learned to sing after hearing God's keynote?  Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, 'The Lord is my Helper,' or are we yielding to fear?"

I don't want to be like those Israelites who didn't believe God told the truth. Do you? Let me ask you a few questions:  Are you going to move into the land flowing with milk and honey - take the promises found in the Bible and make them yours? Or, are you going to believe the evil report and continue wandering around in the desert – free from slavery, but missing the Promised Land? Who's report are you going to believe?

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank you that you have called me to walk in victory. Help me to realize when I am listening to Satan's lies, "to the evil report," and not to You. Even if I am the only person who believes in Your promises today, even if everyone around me says I'm crazy for doing so, I'm believing You! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Think back over your life for the past few months. Have you been believing what your eyes see or what God promises in His word? Make a list of promises of God that mean the most to you and practice believing the truth!

Look back over the promises of God listed above in the devotion. How might these verses help you defeat that "grasshopper" feeling in your life?

Can you think of a time where you believed God's report instead of the border bullies, naysayers, and gloom and doomers? What was the result?

Here's a final word. I want you to say it out loud. "I might be a grasshopper in the world's eyes, but I'm a mighty warrior in God's. Woo Hoo! If you'll stand up and say that with me, click over to my blog page, look for today's devo/blog, and write in the comment box...I'm no grasshopper!

More from the Girlfriends
Girlfriend, let's start taking our own personal Promised Land.  If you'd like to learn more about claiming what is already yours, check out my book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful. Don't let the title fool you, this is no fluff. Victory is only a belief away!

[Judy Harder]

July 20, 2012
Don't Say No
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father (John 14:13, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I was on my way home from running errands. As I approached our neighborhood, my cell phone rang. The call was from my tween-aged daughter. The conversation went like this:

"Hi Mom. It's Kennedy. Where are you?"

"Hey baby! I ran some errands and will be home in just a few minutes. What's up?"

"Well, I wanted to see if you and I could go shopping for a new bathing suit this afternoon, and – don't say no – I'd like to get a feather in my hair. Can we, Mom?"

Oh. No. She. Didn't!

"Honey, we are several weeks away from swim season. I'm not sure that today is a good day for all of this. And by the way, you're free to share your heart with me and tell me your desires, but you do not get to tell me what I can and can't say no to. I'm pulling into the neighborhood now and will see you in a minute."

Wow. I was a bit taken back by the bold expectations of my daughter.

Don't say 'no'?I thought. Really? C'mon girl. I'm the parent. You're the child. Get a grip.

As I considered her angle – the way she positioned her request - my heart leapt with conviction. How often do I approach God with a request and stubbornly tell Him not to tell me no?

Jesus told his disciples that they could ask for anything. He even said that when we ask in His name that what we ask for would be given to us. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, 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. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:11-14).

Let's consider the context here. When Jesus said this, it wasn't an open invitation for the will of man to reign. It was an invitation for man to participate in the will of God through prayer.  It was about us asking for things that will bring glory to God the Father. It's all about the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven – not the whim of man.

Then what about the "Name-it-and-claim-it" theology? Is God obligated to answer our prayers in the way we want Him to? No. He's Not. Does God want you to have a million-dollar home and drive a Hummer? Does God want you to be healed of that diagnoses, disease or physical challenge? I don't know. What I do know is this: God is a good God. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast forever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:7-8).

If we think that God can't say no to us, then we've put ourselves on the throne and not God. Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want him to do – it is about releasing God's will on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). It doesn't change His mind and He's not a genie in a bottle whose wish is our command. God is God.

I love my daughter. I mean... I really, really, really love my daughter. But just because she asks me for something doesn't mean that I'm going to grant her request. I love her too much for that. God is our heavenly Father. Our parent. He wants mature, wise children. Not spoiled children. He loves us too much for that.

He even told his own son "no" for the greater good. While in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, on the night he was betrayed, Jesus was distraught to the point of sweating blood. Crying out to God, He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done' (Luke 22:41-42, ESV).

God said no to Jesus because it wasn't His will... and because God said no, we can experience grace, forgiveness, peace and salvation. In order for God to be glorified in his life, Jesus had to submit to the will of the Father. In order for God to be glorified in our lives, we, too, must submit to the will of the Father - and His will is always what's best for us.

This is a toughy. No doubt. But God knows more than we know and His ways are not like our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). So no matter what we pray for or desire, we can trust that whether His answer is "No," or "Yes," His ways are always best.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, You are my Father and I know that you have a plan for me. Please bind me to Your will and teach me to desire Your heart above all else.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Where does all this find you today?
What have you been praying for?
Have you been praying for the Lord to answer according to His will or yours?
Pause to think on this and then spend some time in prayer and journaling.

More From The Girlfriends
God delights in our worship of Him. He loves when we get past our selves and our schedules... and prioritize adoration, contemplation and exaltation. My most recent CD, Uncluttered, is 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. You can download songs on iTunes or Amazon– or order CDs on www.GwenSmith.net.

[Judy Harder]

July 23, 2012
In His Eyes
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be - (Psalm 139:14-15, NIV).

Friend to Friend
It was my first day of teaching second grade. While standing at the classroom door, greeting parents and children, I felt a tug on my skirt. I looked down into the beautiful blue eyes of Sammy, one of my new students.  His mother, who was standing beside Sammy, looked at me and said, "I guess you've heard about Sammy.  Good luck!" As she walked away, Sammy said, "She's right. I'm dumb and mean and can't read or write."

Lisa was a tall, blonde and beautiful young woman with zero self-confidence. Lisa was the family joke because she was always dropping things or falling on the stairs. "Klutz" became her nickname at home and quickly caught on in the youth group and church where her father was the pastor.

A young wife and mother sobbed out her confession that she had just ended an affair, "He made me feel important and special." A talented singer and pianist, she vowed to never again sing or play because she was damaged goods.

I often hear and see the same prison described by women living in the grip of failure and defeat for one reason or another. I want to share some good news with you. God can set you free to be all He created you to be. A healthy self-image is not rooted in pride, and it does not exalt self above others. In Romans 12:3, Paul clearly says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Be realistic in your opinion of yourself. Success comes when we learn to accept God's evaluation instead of our own, when we give Him permission to make us what He created us to be and when we begin to understand who we are in His eyes. How? Let's look at six steps we can take to understand who we are in the eyes of God.

Step one:  Check the label.
I love a good sale, don't you? In fact, I am tempted to think that a 75% off tag may very well be a sign from God. However, I have learned that you can save money in the long run if you check the label. Let me explain. We needed a new sofa. It had to be a certain color and style and cost a certain amount. I headed for the nearest furniture outlet, where I narrowed my selection down to two sofas. Both were on sale and both would work in our home. I saw the salesman coming. Before he could say a word, I asked, "Which one of these sofas would you tell your wife to buy?" The man immediately pointed to one of the sofas and said, "Definitely that one." When I asked why he had chosen that particular sofa, he replied, "Check the label. The one I chose was made by a company known for its quality work. The other sofa is a cheap imitation."

We can judge a product's potential and value by looking at the one who created it. You are valuable simply because you were created by the hand of God. His design of you and His plan for your life is second to none.  To cower or crawl in inferiority is to say to God, "You made a mistake when you made me." God doesn't make mistakes, girlfriend. He never has to say "Oops!" You were created in His likeness. You are valuable to God.  God knows your name and loves you. You are His masterpiece and have been validated by God Himself.

Step two:  Embrace the plan.
While painting in the city park, an artist spotted a beggar sitting across the path from where he was working. Thinking of God's handiwork in every human being, the artist painted the man as he imagined he could be and then called the beggar to see the painting. "Is that me?' the beggar asked. "That is the way I see you," replied the artist. The beggar stared at the painting. With tears in his eyes he said, "If that's the man you see in me, then that's the man I will be!" God created you in response to a unique plan He has for your life. As you read the Bible and obey His truth, that plan will unfold.

Tomorrow, we will look at four more steps we can take to understand who we are in Christ as we learn to recognize our value in His eyes. Don't miss it!

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for life and the special plan You have for me. Honestly, it is hard for me to understand and really believe that I am special to You. To think that You know me and love me just as I am really rocks my world, but I do want to see myself through Your eyes – no more and no less. Please help me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the verses of Scripture and answer the questions listed below.

Ephesians 2:10. How does this verse of Scripture emphasize the fact that you and I were created in response to God's plan, not as an afterthought or as an accident?

Psalm 8:3-5. How do these verses line up with the way you see yourself right now? What one immediate change do you need to make in order to see yourself the way God sees you?

Jeremiah 29:11. Are you living a life plan that gives you hope and a future? Is it the right plan?

More from the Girlfriends
I have struggled with my identity and value for a big part of my life. Fear of failure once kept me from dreaming new dreams. No more! My dreams seem to get bigger with every year of life that passes, and I really believe it is because my new perspective of who I am is more accurate than it has ever been. I am a daughter of the King. I belong to God and He loves me. No one can take my place in the Father's heart, and I am indispensable to no one but Him. That is my prayer for you, girlfriend, that you will know and live out the truth that in God's eyes, you are special.

Need more help? Get Mary's MP3 download: In His Eyes. Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Enroll now and have access to all 2012 lessons. Connect with Mary on Facebookor through email.

[Judy Harder]

July 24, 2012
Don't Give Up!
Sharon Jaynes                                                         

Today's Truth
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" - (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).

Friend to Friend
It was the first swim meet of the year for our newly formed Middle School Aquatics team. The atmosphere on the three hour bus ride was electric with anticipation as the band of forty-eight adolescents thought of nothing but victory. However, the electricity turned into shock as our minnows filed off the bus and stared in disbelief at their muscle clad, Neptune-like opponents.

The coach checked the schedule. "Surely there's been a mistake," he thought. But the schedule only confirmed that, yes, this was the right place and the right time.

The two teams formed a line on the side of the pool. Whistles blew, races were begun, and races were lost. Halfway through the meet, Coach Huey realized that he had no participants for one of the events.

"OK team, who wants to swim the 500 yard free style?" the coach asked.

Several hands shot up, including Justin's. "I'll race coach!"

The coach looked down at the freckle faced youth and said, "Justin, this race is twenty lengths of the pool. I've only seen you swim eight."

"Oh, I can do it coach. Let me try. What's twelve more laps."

The coach reluctantly conceded. "After all," he thought, "It's not the winning but the trying that builds character."

The whistle blew and the opponents torpedoed through the water and finished the race in a mere four minutes and fifty seconds. The winners gathered on the sidelines to socialize while our group struggled to finish. After four more long minutes, the last exhausted members of our team emerged from the water. The last except for Justin.

Justin was stealing breaths as his hands slapped against the water and pushed it aside to propel his thin body forward. It appeared that he would go under at any minute, yet something seemed to keep pushing him onward.

"Why doesn't the coach stop this child?" the parents whispered among themselves. "He looks like he's about to drown and the race was won four minutes ago."

But what the parents did not realize was that the real race, the race of a boy becoming a man, was just beginning.

The coach walked over to the young swimmer, knelt down and quietly spoke.

Relieved parents thought, "Oh, he's finally going to pull that boy out before he kills himself."

But to their surprise, the coach rose from the concrete, stepped back from the pool's edge, and the young man continued to swim.

One teammate, inspired by his brave friend, went to the side of the pool and walked the lane as Justin pressed on. "Come on Justin, you can do it!  You can do it! Keep going! Don't give up!"

He was joined by another, then another, until the entire team was walking the length of the pool rooting for and encouraging their fellow swimmer to finish the race set before him.

The opposing team saw what was happening and joined the chant. The students' contagious chorus sent a chill through the room and soon the once concerned parents were on their feet cheering, shouting, and praying. The room was pulsating with energy and excitement as teammates and opponents alike pumped courage into one small swimmer.

Twelve long minutes after the starting whistle had blown, an exhausted, but smiling, Justin Rigsbee swam his final lap and struggled to pull himself out of the pool. The crowd had applauded the first swimmer, as he crossed the line, first place. But they gave Justin the greater cheer, for finishing the race.

In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (NIV). On some days, when the swimming or running grows difficult – on those days when I want to quit, I long for friends and family who will walk the course with me cheering me on.  "Come on Sharon, you can do it!"  "Don't give up!  You're almost there!"

But there are days when I look around and there seems to be no one there to cheer me on. That's when I need to look a bit closer, listen a bit more intently, and hear the still small voice of my Heavenly Father. He's always there to pick me up when I fall, hold me when I cry, hug me when I'm feeling alone, cheer for me when I'm victorious, and love me when I'm just me. And He's there for you too.

Our Heavenly Parent is cheering for you, my friend. He's saying, "Keep going!  Don't give up! You are precious to Me! You're not alone! You can do it!"

Today, feel God's embrace and listen closely as He speaks to your heart. I think I hear Him now...

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I feel like I'm not going to make it. Thank You for friends that come alongside me and cheer me on when I feel like I'm about to go under. Most of all, thank You for always being with me and cheering me on in the great race of life. I love You!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Can you identify with Justin?  Have you ever felt like you have bitten off more than you can chew?

What helps you most in times like these?

Can you think of a friend who is struggling today who might need a word of encouragement?  You might be just the person God has chosen you to cheer her own. Why not give her a call, shoot her an e-mail, or write her a note of cheer.

Let's honor a person who has been an encourager to you. Click over to my blog page,find today's devo/blog, and leave the name of one person who has encouraged you in the comment box. Then tell her about it!

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from my book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God. Sometimes listening to Him means simply paying attention to the times He whispers just how much He loves you and is for you. If you would like to sharpen your listening-to-God skills, then check out Becoming a Woman who Listens to God. It is not a matter of whether or not He speaks to us. It is a matter of whether or not we will listen.

[Judy Harder]

July 25, 2012
In His Eyes Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be - (Psalm 139:14-15, NIV).

Friend to Friend
God can set you free to be all He created you to be. A healthy self-image is not rooted in pride, and it does not exalt self above others. Success comes when we learn to accept God's evaluation instead of our own and when we give Him permission to make us what He created us to be. Yesterday, we examined the first two steps we can take to understand who we are in His eyes. Today, we will look at four more steps.

Step three: Be yourself.
We should always be looking for something new to learn, an area where we can grow and changes that need to be made. Sit down with your mate or close friend and ask for a realistic evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. Constantly search for gifts and abilities on which you can work. Don't be afraid of change. It is a sign of life and growth. Change what needs to be changed, accept what you cannot change and quit whining about it! Don't waste another minute trying to be someone you were never created to be. Stop questioning God's design for your life. When an old man from the mountains of North Carolina was asked how he created such extraordinary wooden carvings of dogs, he replied, "Well, I just take my knife and a piece of wood and carve away everything that doesn't look like a dog." Learning to see your-self through the eyes of God is like "carving away" everything that is not part of the original design – God's plan – and then learning how to accept what remains.

Step four: Guard your mind.
We are bombarded on all sides by the media, family and friends, co-workers and even enemies who have a certain identity they want to assign to us. We have a choice. No one makes us feel inferior without our permission. We will become what we allow our heart and mind to dwell on. An old adage says it well: "You can't keep a bird from flying over your head but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair." It is impossible to avoid destructive thinking entirely. We will be tempted. We will have negative thoughts and temptations, but we do not have to allow them to dwell in our minds. God has given us a "garbage disposal" for the mind.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

We once lived in Miami, Florida, a place where ships come from all over world. However, before a ship is allowed to dock, an inspection team goes aboard with one assignment.  Find every bit of contamination on board that ship. If contamination of any kind is found, the ship must be quarantined until it is cleaned up and inspected again. The ship is then allowed to dock. We need to control our thought life in the same way.

Step five: Control your tongue.
Our words either build up or tear down. Scripture tells us not to curse others because they are made in the image of God. So are we. As a mom, I constantly warned our children about the danger of critical words. I wanted them to learn how to encourage others with their words as well as have a healthy picture of who they are. One day, while standing in front my bathroom mirror, I began berating myself for something I had done. I didn't see our son who was quietly standing in our bedroom door where he could hear every word I said. "Mom, who are you talking to?" he asked. I sheepishly replied, "I was talking to myself."  He thought for a moment and then offered a convicting observation, "Boy, if I talked like that, I'd be in big trouble!" I was immediately reminded of the words in Psalm 141:3: "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."

Words are like seeds. What we plant will grow. If we sow destructive, critical words, we will reap a life that is negative and critical, but if we sow words of truth, we will reap a life of peace and purpose, knowing who we are in His eyes.

Step six: Be Patient
Weeds spring up overnight but it takes years for a mighty oak to grow. Today, you can take the first step toward gaining a new perspective of who you are in Christ. Our Father says it this way in Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns."

Let's Pray
Lord, I want to know You more and learn to see myself as You see me. Please help me recognize and guard against anything or anyone who would chip away at Your truth working in my life. I believe You love me and cherish me as Your daughter. Help me to walk in that value and worth and then lead others to do the same. I praise You for validating my very existence as part of Your heart's plan. I love You, Father.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Here is your assignment for the week. Read Psalm 139 at least one time every day. In your journal, write each verse in your own words. At the end of the week, set aside time to celebrate who you are in Christ. Have a praise party – just you and God – or invite a few girlfriends to join you in celebrating how special you are to Him.   

More from the Girlfriends
I pray that these devotions have helped you catch a new glimpse of just how precious you are to God. If you were never wanted or planned by human heart and mind, rest assured that you were wanted and planned by God Himself. He is with you and for you, girlfriend. He believes in you and has a plan that will prosper you and give you hope. Turn to Him. Trust Him. You are special in His eyes.

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, Light for the Journey. Enroll now and have access to all 2012 lessons. Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

July 26, 2012
Listening to God in the Little Things
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back" (Isaiah 50:4-5 NIV).

Friend to Friend
One of my favorite devotion books My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.  On October tenth, he wrote, "All God's revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open them through philosophy or thinking.  But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately. ...Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up...God will never reveal more truth about himself until you have obeyed what you already know."

We must never fall into the trap of thinking that God will always give us "big" things to do.  Jesus...took a towel and ...began to wash the disciples' feet..." (John 13:3-5). Through his act of servant leadership, he demonstrated the obedience we should have on a daily basis in the mundane activities of everyday life. Yes, he raised the dead, but he also washed the feet.

One evening Steve and I were on our way to dinner. Just before we arrived, I saw three teenage girls walking into another restaurant in the same area where we were going to eat.  One of the girls had been in a small group I had led for two years. I felt God nudging me to go into the restaurant and pay for their dinners.

"Steve, there's Christine," I said. "I believe God wants me to pay for those girls' dinners."

Steve, being a man who listens to God, whipped the car around and headed toward the door.

"Hi girls," I said as I walked up to them in line.

"Hi  Mrs. Jaynes. What are you doing here?"           

"May I take your order?" the cashier interrupted.

"Go ahead girls," I urged. "You go first."

Each girl ordered and then the cashier turned to me.  "And you ma'am.

"Oh, I'm not having anything. I just came in to pay for these girls' dinners."

The threesome were very surprised and very appreciative. I ran back out to our car, feeling a warm sense of listening and obeying.

The next day, Christine called. "Mrs. Jaynes," she said "thank you so much for paying for our dinners last night. My friends were so touched. No one has ever done anything like that for any of us before. See, last night, they wanted to go out to dinner, but I told them I couldn't afford it.  So they were going to pay for mine. Then you came in and well...thanks.

Obeying God only cost me $19.95, but the lesson to Christine, and her two friends was invaluable. Jesus said, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).           

Obeying God begins with heeding the simply nudges. Don't be afraid! Many people are afraid to obey those nudges because they aren't absolutely sure it is God's voice. I've decided that if the inner prompting lines up with Scripture and is consistent with God's character and ways, then I'd rather err on the side of obedience that the side of caution.

"We all have those times when there are no flashes of light and no apparent thrill to life, where we experience nothing but the daily routine with its common everyday tasks....Don't always expect God to give you His thrilling moments, but learn to live in those common times of the drudgery of life by the power of God....I must realize that my obedience even in the smallest detail of life has all the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it" (O. Chambers June 15). "If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God" (O. Chambers November 2).

My prayer is that I will be able to say like the prophet Isaiah, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back" (Isaiah 50:4-5).

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I'm listening. Speak to me. Nudge me. I will not be rebellious. I will not draw back.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Today, I encourage you to pay attention to any way that God might be nudging you to be His hands and feet.

Then join me on my blog page, look for this devotion's entry, and tell me what happened. I can hardly wait. Don't feel uncomfortable telling me. Don't feel like you're tooting your own horn. I just want to toot my party horn in celebration of your obedience!

More from the Girlfriends
One of my greatest passions is to become a woman who listens to God. If you would like to sharpen your God-listening skills, check out my book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.It is not a matter of whether or not God speaks. It is a matter of whether or not we will listen.

[Judy Harder]

July 27, 2012
Put Your Faith Where Your Action Is!
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth 

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead - (James 2:17, NIV).

Friend to Friend 

I remember a time, back in 1993, when I was swept up in the whimsical world of wedding planning. Every detail mattered. I was excited to be marrying Brad Smith and I wanted our wedding day to be a magical springboard to a life filled with amazing adventures and deep years of God-centered love. From the cake choices - to the dress choices - to the music choices - to the guest list choices - to the bridal registry choices: I was all about the business of wedding prep!

The bride of Christ is purposed to be all about the Father's business - to prep for eternity by making choices to bring Him glory throughout our days; to intentionally worship the Lord through our service. As daughters of God, we are called to connect our believing to our behaving; our convictions to our conversations; our lip-service to our life-service.

The Biblical mandate for each believer is this: put your faith where your action is. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17).

Hear me out here. Service is not the key to gaining salvation. Salvation comes by faith in Christ alone (Romans 10:9-10). Service is, however, essential for the believer as a response to her salvation. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

No matter who you are or what your platform is in life, the truth remains that whatever you do and say is being watched. Everyone emanates something. A radiant Christian woman - a radiant bride of Christ - emanates the saltiness and light of Jesus through her life; displayed through the things she does and doesn't do. Through things she says or doesn't say.

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16, NIV).

Today, I pray that you are spurred on to be a woman of action for Christ - no matter what the circumstances of your life or the complexities of your relationships may be. From your word choices - to your tone choices - to your television choices - to your music choices - to your service choices - to your activity choices ... be all about your Father's business. Go in His strength, and put your faith where your action is.

Let's Pray 

Holy Father, I pray that You will help my actions to line up with Your perfect will. Help me to be Your hands and feet to those around me. Shine through my actions so others might be drawn to Your healing hope.
In Jesus' Name, 

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

What does your life radiate? What are your actions saying about your faith? Are you salty for Christ in what you do and say? Spend a few moments reflecting on this and then spend some time in prayer.

How can you serve someone today? Perhaps God is leading you to bless someone in your household ... or someone in your church ... or someone in your neighborhood.

Could you reach out to a single mom, a family member, a widow, or a hurting friend? Ask God to direct you to opportunities to put your faith into action in the lives of others.

Got some great ideas about this? I would love to hear about them! Visit my Facebook page and tell me all about it: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

More from the Girlfriends 

Trust me, friend, in no way am I trying to place the burden of "you-must-do-more-things-in-order-to-please-God" on you. I just want to encourage you to make the most of every choice and every action. If you are drained and weary and can't imagine being able to give anyone anything right now, get alone with God. His presence and His Spirit will strengthen you for each moment.

NEED HELP in putting your actions where your faith is? Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful, will take you by the hand and shows you how God delights to transform lives. Yes. Even yours!! To order the book, go to Amazonor visit the store on Gwen's website: www.gwensmith.net.

[Judy Harder]

July 30, 2012
That "Little" Sin
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Matthew 7:3 (NIV) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Friend to Friend
My husband, Dan, was a church pastor in South Florida for several years. One of our favorite traditions at that church was the Thanksgiving Day breakfast. Even our kids got in on the action. We woke while it was still dark and headed to the church to help dozens of volunteers mix and cook mountains of pancakes, stacks of bacon, and, as they say in the south, a heap of eggs and biscuits ... in short, a scrumptious Thanksgiving breakfast. Following the breakfast, we had a time of worship, and Dan shared a brief message after which families headed home to enjoy the rest of their holiday.

Then the cleanup began. We all shifted into high gear, breaking down tables, washing dishes and getting the buildings ready for the weekend services. The kids quickly completed their assigned tasks and promptly disappeared to play until it was time to head home.

I was finishing up in the kitchen when our daughter came running in, crying, holding a paper towel over her eye. "What happened, honey?" I asked. "I don't know, Mom. We were playing and something flew in my eye and it really hurts!" she cried. I looked at our son and his friends for a translation. "We were having a mulch war and Danna got some in her eye." Since I wear contacts, I always carry saline solution and thought that would take care of the problem. I couldn't see anything in Danna's eye, but after washing it out she said it felt better and we headed home. However, as the day wore on, it was obvious that something was in her eye as the pain increased and the eye began to swell. We called a friend who is an optometrist. Since he lived close by, he sweetly agreed to drop by and take a look at Danna's eye. After a quick exam, he said, "She does have something in her eye but I will need to see her in my office to remove it." He applied numbing drops, an eye patch and said he would meet us at his office in the morning. Even though I still couldn't see anything in our daughter's eye, I knew it was there.

When we arrived at the doctor's office, he went to work and within seconds handed me a tiny speck of mulch nestled on a tissue. I could barely see it. But Danna blinked a couple of times and grinned. "It doesn't hurt any more, Mom." I remember wondering how something so small could cause so much pain.

Sin is like that. We may view it as nothing more than a little lie or an insignificant transgression, but it was enough to send Jesus to the cross. If we refuse to deal with sin it will surely cause pain and damage in our lives.1 John 1:9 "But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right.  He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done" (NCV).

This verse was written to believers as an encouragement to deal with sin and as a promise that when we do so, God will be faithful to forgive us and clean up the mess that sin has caused. We are not perfect – just forgiven.  To experience that forgiveness fully we need to keep short books on sin. That means being sensitive to sin and immediately choosing to do something about it. God is serious about sin. We need to be as well.

1.     We must confess sin continually.  "Confess" means to agree with and is a present tense verb meaning that we must confess sin frequently, without stopping.

2.     We must confess sin completely.We commit sins one at a time. We need to confess them one by one as well.

3.     We must confess our sin confidently.Once we confess and repent of our sin, we can put it behind us. God is just and fair – seeking only one payment for sin. Jesus has already made full and complete payment with His death on the cross.

One of Satan's favorite tactics is to resurrect buried sin. Wrapping that confessed transgression in his vain taunts and useless accusations, the enemy hauls it back into focus, hoping that guilt will paralyze and imprison a soul set free. Satan can hold us prisoner if we let him. But how often do we believe his empty lies – and by doing so, grant him access to that which he has no right? To break the hold of sin, we can and must stand against the enemy, trusting not in our feelings but in the facts of God's word. And those facts are unchanging and crystal clear – when we confess sin, God forgives it.

Let's Pray
Father, do not let me ever forget the price You paid for my sin. Thank You for the forgiveness and freedom You purchased with Your death on the cross. Bring swift awareness and conviction when I sin. Give me the strength and power to deal with and turn from the sin in my life.
For Your glory and in Your name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Set aside time each day to pray and study His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of every sin that stands between you and God. Confess that sin. Choose against it and walk on in His power and forgiveness. Ask yourself the following questions:

What sin do I need to confess right now?
Why have I held on to this sin?
What effect has this sin had on my life?
What changes do I need to make in order to "turn" from my sin?
Do I really believe that God can and will forgive this sin? Why? Why not?

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.

Be sure to check out Mary's weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Enroll now and have access to all 2012 lessons. Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

July 31, 2012
When the Soul Bleeds
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
[Jesus said] "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (Mark 5:31-34 NIV).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The woman with the issue of blood was no different from you and me. While her apparent illness was physical, her inward suffering ruled her life. She had lost her family, all her money, and her standing in the community. She was viewed as an unclean, untouchable outcast. But in one radical moment, one momentous decision, she reached out to Jesus and grabbed hold of her healing.

He wants to set you free from your suffering, but he will not push you out of the jail cell or yank the chains off your neck. He unlocks the door, but you must walk out the door. He unlocks the chain, but you must stop wearing them around your neck.

We can choose to bleed. We can choose to remain in our suffering and pick at the scabs of the past. But hear me dear friend, it is a choice. Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). That's what he wants for each of us. But we have to embrace the truth and, like the woman with the twelve-year-bleeding, reach for our healing.

In John, chapter five, Jesus encounters a lame man sitting by a pool of water where the paralyzed, blind, and afflicted gathered. Then Jesus walked up to him and asked a strange question, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6b).

Perhaps it wasn't such a strange question. Many times we get used to being emotionally sick, and we wear the sickness like a shroud. We become walking wounded, picking at emotional scabs – not allowing them to heal.

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

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

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

Do you want to get well?

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

If you are ready to reach out to Jesus and grab a hold of your healing, log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and say, "I'm grabbing hold."

Today's devotion was taken from my book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered. We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes. But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours.

I am so passionate about this book, if you order it this week (the week the devotion is dated), and send me an email, I'll send you the Bible study guide for free. Email me at Sharon@sharonjaynes.com and say, I'm a GiG and I ordered What God Really Thinks about Women this week.

If you are ready to reach out to Jesus and grab a hold of your healing, click over to my blog page and leave a comment that says, "I'm grabbing hold."

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