Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

March 5, 2013

The Love of God

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever" (Psalm 136:2, NIV).

Friend to Friend

The story is told of a young boy who carved a small sailboat from a block of wood. When the boat was finished, he couldn't wait to try it out! Racing to a nearby stream, the boy knelt on the shore, gently slid the boat into the water and let it go. With a quiet reverence, the boy watched his precious boat gather speed as it floated away. He did not realize that there was an undercurrent in the stream until the boat was swept away beyond his reach. His precious boat was gone! The little boy frantically searched until there was no light but could not find his boat. With a heavy heart, the young boy headed home.

Several days later, the little boy was walking down the main street of his small town, when he saw a wooden boat in the toy store window. He couldn't believe his eyes! It was his boat! The boy raced inside and came face-to-face with the owner of the store. "Mister, that's my boat!" he cried. The owner frowned in disbelief and said, "Young man, I just bought that boat. If you want it, you'll have to buy it from me!" Near tears, the boy exclaimed, "Please, sir! I worked so hard on that boat, and then I lost it! It really is mine!" The owner shook his head and said, "Nevertheless, I paid good money for it and you will have to buy it back if you want it."

The little boy raced home, emptied his piggy bank and ran back to the store, his savings clutched tightly in his little hands. He dumped all of his money on the counter and asked, "Is it enough?" The owner smiled and handed him the boat. The little boy cradled the precious boat in his arms and said, "Little boat, you are twice mine. Once because I made you and once because I bought you."

God loves you. He created you. The words of Psalm 139 beautifully express the heart of God toward each one of us: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 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 139:13-16).

A healthy self-image is not one of pride or arrogance, but rather one that coincides with God's viewpoint. It is learning to accept God's evaluation of who we are, learning to see ourselves as God sees us, no more and no less, learning who we are in His eyes and giving Him permission to make us what He designed us to be. In His eyes, every person is valuable. We are all sinful and broken, wounded and sick, and He loves us still. In fact, Jesus is drawn toward brokenness. Broken people are why He came. With tenacity and stubborn love, He pursues those others may only shun – like the woman at the well.

John 4:5-9 "Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans" (NLT).

Little is known about this woman and what we do know is not good. She was immoral and spiritually ignorant, an outcast despised by the Jews and even by her own people.  She was very popular with the men of the village who bought her to satisfy their own physical pleasure and then tossed her aside like a broken, damaged and used doll. I am certain this woman had no illusions about the fact that she meant absolutely nothing to these men. In the beginning, she may have convinced herself that they cared for her and perhaps even loved her, but I imagine that illusion was short-lived. In fact, while studying her life, I have many times wondered if there had ever been a man in her life that she could love or trust. I do not know what drove this woman to such an empty and futile existence, but I do know as far as Jesus was concerned, that old life was over. It did not matter to Him. He looked at this woman through eyes of healing and forgiveness and saw His precious child. He just loved her – right where she was and just as she was. He recognized her worth, her value – and He loved her.

God loves you. He paid for your sin. God defined His unconditional and relentless love for you and for me when He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a baby. And Jesus said, "Yes!" What an amazing gift! The love of God for us compelled Jesus Christ to willingly exchange a throne for a manger, divinity for humanity and Heaven for Earth.

John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God's love changes everything and everyone who receives it. God's love protects and breathes life and purpose into every minute of every day. God's love is a gift beyond measure that surrounds us and covers us when the fire of life rains down.

I know many of you are experiencing those fires of life this year. No job and no prospect of one. Someone you love is very ill or maybe you are the one battling to survive each day. A rebellious child has broken your heart. A secret addiction is slowly destroying your life. Your spouse packed his bags and walked out the front door because he no longer wants to be married.

Do not believe the lies of the enemy when he tells you that your God has forsaken you. God is with you – Emmanuel. He endured the cross, completely and absolutely alone because He loves you. No one can take your place in the Father's heart. God knows your pain and He understands. God created you and paid for your sin for one reason alone – He loves you. Not because you are so lovable, but because He is love.

Let's Pray

God, I need Your love. My life is filled with scars and wounds that can be healed by Your love alone. I celebrate the love You so freely offer. I accept the gift of Your love and thank You for its transforming power in my life. I love You, Father.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read and memorize John 3:16. Record it in your journal.

John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Write the verse in your own words.

Write the verse and make it personal by inserting your name. For example, "For God so loved _________, that He gave His one and only Son, that if ___________ believes in Him, ______________ will have eternal life.

More from the Girlfriends

Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. The first study of 2013 is Power Up With Proverbs, and since each lesson stands alone, it's not too late to join.

Are you stressed out - facing financial problems, health issues, or dealing with difficult relationships? God will be your peace. Get Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, and learn how to transform the promises of the Twenty-third Psalm into easy-to-implement, practical steps that will hand you the keys to stress management.

[Judy Harder]

March 6, 2013

Getting the Joyless You Unstuck

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup..." (Luke 22:19 emphasis added NIV).

Friend to Friend

When we live a life of intentional gratitude, we begin to frame how we see our circumstances. I put my favorite photos in frames so I can see them often. They bring me joy as I pass through the room. A smiling five-year-old Steven with his brand-new Golden Retriever puppy. A strong man-child dressed in a graduation cap and gown. A passel of sun-kissed nieces and nephews standing on the beach with arms on shoulders, windblown hair, and laughing faces. My husband and son wading in the lake at sunset ready to be baptized together. These are pictures that say...remember.

Gratitude has been called the "memory of the heart." Praise and gratitude bring up pictures in our minds that say, "Remember."

Isn't that what Jesus did in the last twelve hours of His life as He broke the bread and passed the cup? "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup..." (Luke 22:19). Remember. Give thanks.

Glory moments will come and go, sometimes, most times, rather quickly. We must grab hold, savor the moment in the moment, and then remember.

David invites us, "O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3 NASB). When we praise and thank God, we magnify Him--make Him easier to see. A thankful heart opens the windows of heaven that allow us to peek at glory moments all around. Glimpses. Foretastes of our heavenly home that revive our hope and make us hungry for more of Him.

Why does God want us to give thanks and punctuate all of life with gratitude? He knows that gratitude gives birth to joy. Again, it is not what God wants from us, but what God wants for us. Joy. Thanksgiving in "all things" squeezes difficult circumstances until joy oozes out of us. Fruit, if it had a say in the matter, would not like the squeezing, but it is the only way to get the sweet juice past the tough dimpled skin to the outside.  Otherwise it would stay locked away until the fruit shriveled up and died.

Perhaps your relationship with God has come to the plateau of routine, passionless religion—as if your faith is stuck on the sandbar of mediocrity when it is truly meant to sail the seas of the joyful life. So what will lift your boat? What will get the joyless you "unstuck?" I suggest the language of a grateful heart will swell the tide to lift your soul from the sandbar and loosen you from the hold of the sucking muck below. Give it a try. As Jonah showed us, the way out of the belly of the whale is praise.

When I feel distant from God, gratitude and praise is often the ramp to get me back on the right road. When I have strayed from acknowledging His presence, when I have forgotten in him we live and move and have our being, when I have made me big and God small, gratitude leads me back to right relationship with Him. And then I wonder why I ever would be so careless as to drift away in the first place.

In previous devotions, I mentioned starting your own Sudden Glory journal. In that journal, you can list all that you are grateful for on any given day. After all, realizing and recognizing what God has provided are some of the most resplendent moments of sudden glory you'll see. Then, on the gray days, when you find yourself in a grumpy mood (come on, I know it happens), pull out your Sudden Glory journal and review all the reasons you have to be thankful! I guarantee it will change your perspective and brighten your day.

Let's Pray

Thank You, Jesus. Thank you for the many ways You have made Your presence and working know to me. Thank you for waking me up this morning. For legs that stand, feet that walk, eyes that see, a heart that beats, fingers that grasp, eye lids that blink, wrinkly skinned knees that bend, crow's feet that show I've smiled at life, brown spots that prove I've loved the sun, calluses that show I've worked with my hands in delight.

Thank you, Jesus.

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read Psalm 136 and note the Psalmist's Sudden Glory entry. Use this Psalm as a pattern and write your own entry today!

More from the Girlfriends

Seeing God through the lens of gratitude and grace is one of the themes of my book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. It's a great book to help you experience God's presence on a daily basis. But if you have trouble with grumbling, complaining, and controlling your tongue, I'd suggest delving into my book, The Power of a Woman's Words.You can find them both on my website at www.sharonjaynes.com.

[Judy Harder]

March 7, 2013

Check the Label

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, 'Woman, you are set free from your infirmity' " (Luke 13:12).

Friend to Friend

Have you ever wondered if God even knows your name? Have you doubted His awareness or even His concern about what you are going through? Have there been times when you felt totally alone and worthless? I have. I can really relate to the woman described in Luke 13. Oh, our problems may not be exactly the same, but the feelings and emotions are – and so is the answer.

Jesus knew this woman. He knew she had been sick for 18 long years and that she had tried everything to be healed. He knew – but He looked past her pain and saw who she really was, and all she was created to be. He could have called her by name, but instead He said, "Woman." Jesus included her whole identity in that name; everything she was at that moment, everything she had been in the past, everything she hoped to be in the future. He knew every detail of her life, and He loved her. And just as He loved this broken woman, He loves you.

Truth: Your identity was established before the world began, in the heart and mind of God.

This woman had been assigned an identity by the relentless illness that plagued her body. Anyone who knew her identified her by that illness. Her heart must have been filled with feelings of unworthiness. I imagine she felt unwanted and unloved. She must have felt like a nobody. But when Jesus saw her, He looked at her through different eyes and called her to Himself. With one word from Him, everything changed and would never be the same again. All of a sudden, she was somebody.

There she stood, sick and in pain to the point that she was completely doubled over. Imagine what she felt when she realized that Jesus was talking to her. He was calling her - an outcast. And when she heard His voice, she heard something she hadn't heard for a very long time, if ever. She heard the unfamiliar but longed-for voice of love.

Many of us feel unwanted and unloved, but we can be assured that God knows us and loves us just as we are and right where we are, in the midst of our mess and sickness. One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Your identity was established before the world began, in the heart and mind of God. Before you were wanted or not wanted by human hearts, before you were planned or not planned by human minds, you were wanted and planned in the heart and mind of God. Created by God...for God. Wow! That makes you important. You are valuable—and the simple but almost unbelievable reason is that God created you. You can judge a product's worth and value by looking at the one who made it.

Years ago, I had a garage sale to get rid of our old stuff so we could buy some new stuff. We especially needed a new sofa. Our old one was truly pathetic. I made just enough money from the garage sale to buy a new sofa, and headed for the furniture outlet. I walked in with a certain amount of money to spend and a definite idea of what I wanted, so I avoided the salesmen and began my search. I narrowed the choice down to two sofas. Both were in my price range - cheap - and both would work in my living room. I saw a salesman making a beeline for me, sensing a sale in the air. Before he could say a word, I whirled around and asked, "If I were your wife, which one of these would you tell me to buy?" Without the slightest hesitation he pointed to one of the sofas. Curious, I said, "Why did you choose that one?" He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Easy. That one is a trusted brand name you will recognize and is made with quality. The other one is just a cheap imitation. You should always check the label."

Take a look at your label found in Psalm 139:13-16: For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. 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.

Grab hold of the truth that God knows you, loves you and is for you. And that is all you need to face whatever life brings your way.

Let's Pray

Father, I want to thank You for loving me just as I am. Right now, I accept Your love as the priceless gift it is. Help me see myself through Your eyes. Teach me to understand the truth that my worth and value rest in You alone – not in the eyes of man. Today, I choose to step out in faith to become the woman You created me to be.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read Matthew 10:30  How does this verse help you understand how special you are to God? Record your thoughts in your journal.

Read Psalm 139:13-16. How do these verses prove God planned you, chose you and loves you? Record your thoughts in your journal.

Write a letter to God, giving Him thanks for what He has done in your life and celebrating His love that is your perfect provision.

More from the Girlfriends

Since each lesson stands alone, it is not too late to join Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. When you join, you have access to all of the 2013 lessons. The current study is Power Up With Proverbs.

[Judy Harder]

March 8, 2013

Let's Run Away

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

And don't let us yield to temptation.(Matthew 6:13, NLT)

Friend to Friend

It was a windy winter day. Our three dogs needed to stretch their legs and get a bit of outside playtime, so I let them out to roam freely in our fenced-in back yard. An hour later, my husband asked me where the dogs were.

"Out back," I replied.

"Honey, the wind blew that gate wide open and only Rocky is on the deck! How long ago did you let them out?" He asked.

"An hour ago!" I exclaimed, as feelings of unease crept into my heart.

Grabbing our jackets and our shoes, Brad and I bolted outside and began to scour the neighborhood looking for our two runaway dogs.

"Roman! Steeler! Come!" We yelled endlessly into the biting wind.

After covering several blocks of our neighborhood, having seen no traces of our dogs, I ran home to get my car. While Brad continued to search on foot, I began to drive around and call out for Roman and Steeler from my car. My stomach was in knots, my heart was gripped with ache, and my mind swirled with longing and prayers for our very-much-loved pets to come home. Please, be safe doggies! Please, Lord, help us find our dogs.

We searched and searched. No dogs.

Our phone number is on their I.D. tags! I thought. Maybe someone saw them wandering and took them into their home to call us.

I drove home quickly to check our voicemail. No voicemail.

I decided to stay by the phone in case someone called. Brad continued to search by driving through our development and the surrounding neighborhoods. After a long while, he returned... without Roman and Steeler. We were crushed. Though we had been praying for the Lord to help us find our dogs the whole time, with heavy hearts we prayed some more.

And we waited.

More than three long hours after the dogs had run away, our phone rang. Hope sprang to my heart as I heard the question from the other end of the line, "Do you have two missing dogs?"

"Yes, ma'am! Their names are Roman and Steeler! We've looked everywhere for them! Are they with you?"

"Yes they are. I saw them playing outside by the street and thought that they must belong to somebody, so I called them over. They ran right to me and I've got them in my house. They are both a good bit dirty and a little bit scared, and the small one is limping slightly... but they are safe," she said.

The skies parted and angels appeared in the clouds singing, "Hallelujah!" as I jumped up to grab a pen to write down her address. They were safe! Thank You, Lord!

Roman and Steeler had wandered over a mile away from our home.

Over a mile!

We scooped them up from the kind woman's house as fast as we could and rejoiced in their homecoming. They needed to be cleaned, cared for, and held. And that's exactly what we did: cleaned them, cared for them and held them. Oh, how we held them! And as I spoke with gentle, reassuring words to my small, limping dog it wasn't lost on me... the parallels between them and me. Between them and all of us wanderers.

God has established boundaries in His Word. They are beautiful boundaries surrounding wide-open spaces of His blessing, purposed to bring Him glory, allowing us to thrive in life and to keep us safe from harm. Yet we wander. Oh, how we wander... through so many different gates of temptation.

What is your open gate of temptation? Is it worry, fear, or doubt? Is it food, alcohol, shopping, money, or a good-looking guy who needs to be off your radar? Everybody faces temptations, and while being tempted isn't a sin, giving into temptation is. Jesus himself faced temptation and He demonstrated that we are to ask God for help. "And don't let us yield to temptation." (Matthew 6:13, NLT)

Promise of Deliverance

What should we do when we face temptation? We should call out to God. He promises to give us a way out of any temptation. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Because he himself (Jesus) suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(Hebrews 2:18)

The wind had blown hard on the day of our doggie drama. Our two furry friends had been allured by the temptations of an open gate. They gave in – disregarding the boundaries that had been established for their safety and wellbeing – and ventured out into dangerous territory where cars wisped by and other dangers loomed. Thankfully, they made it home safe. We are fully aware that the outcome of their rebellion could've ended horribly.

Friend, we need to be on high alert. Gates are going to fly open. Temptations are going to come and we need to be ready to run from them. God will give us the strength to resist each one - if we will only ask for His help.

SO... Let's run away today! Not from the fence of God's protection, but rather from the gate of temptation.

Let's run away from any gate that flies open. And let's pray that the Lord will keep us from yielding to temptation.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for the times that I've wandered from Your plan for me and given into temptation. Teach me Your ways. Lead me to make choices that bring You glory and that allow me to experience the life You intended for me to live. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What are your gates of temptation?

What is God's best for you concerning these temptations?

Do you trust that God's boundaries are for your good? Why or why not?

More From the Girlfriends

I've posted a photo of Roman and Steeler on my blog and on my facebook page today. Swing by to put the doggy faces to the names! While you're there, please let me know if the Lord used today's devotion to stir your awareness of a personal temptation.

Ready to run away with God on a whole new level? Order a copy of our GiG book, Trusting God, A Girlfriends in God Faith Adventure. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, free on-line video intros, and an index of trust-building Scriptures, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

[Judy Harder]

March 11, 2013

Forgiving Yourself

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness," (1 John 1:9, NIV)

Friend to Friend

An email comes to me hundreds of times every year. The names are different, the situations are varied, but the underlying theme is the same...I can't forgive myself. Grace just doesn't make sense. I don't deserve to be forgiven.

And these women are right...grace doesn't make earthly sense. We don't deserve it. We keep reliving the Garden story with ingratitude and believing Satan's lie, and then grace shows up with an outstretched hand. "I don't deserve it," we cry. And we're right. Grace, by its very definition, is unmerited favor from God or a gift we don't deserve. But until we accept God's grace and forgiveness, Satan will hold us in the vise grip of guilt, and we will miss moments of sudden glory as we hide in Eden's bushes of shame.

After King David's affair with Bathsheba, he was held in the shackles of guilt, unsure if he could ever be set free. But mercy came with the key of forgiveness and flung the prison door open wide. David then had to take the necessary steps to walk out of the prison and into the kingdom of grace.

No matter what you have done, God has made a way for you to be set free—a very costly toll has been paid for the road to your restoration. Jesus gave His life that you might have not only eternal life after physical death, but life filled with moments of sudden glory beginning at your spiritual birth.

I in no way want to diminish the seriousness of sin. Neither do I want to lessen the truth of grace. Refusal of the Christian to repent and dogged determination to continue a lifestyle of sin spits in the face of what Christ did on the cross. Unconfessed sin draws the shade on God's glory. Confession with repentance raises the curtain once again for God's glory to shine through.

When we say, "I don't feel forgiven," that is like saying that what Jesus did on the cross is not enough. Why should we require more from ourselves than our Creator requires of us? "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...." (Romans 8:1). None. God's grace river washes away the devil dams of shame and condemnation that block the flow of the glory life.

If you are feeling condemnation for past sins that you have already asked God to forgive, that condemnation is not coming from God. Once you have repented and asked God to forgive you, it is finished, over and done with, wiped away. If feelings of condemnation persist, they are a result of listening to the accusations of the enemy as he tries to keep you behind those bushes and away from union and communion with God. Believe the truth. Walk in the truth, and it will lead you to moments of sudden glory all around. Without accepting God's grace gift, in Him we live and move and have our being will be nigh to impossible to become a reality in your life. A life saturated in grace makes it so.

Satan knows that the slightest whisper of guilt is easily received by a fragile heart plundered by life. Do not let him convince you to remain in hiding. If you have been crouching in Eden's bushes of shame, listen closely. That sound you hear is God walking your way. Whispering your name. Do you hear it? Singing love songs of grace. Inviting you to stroll with Him in the garden of your heart where He has taken up permanent residence.

Where are you? I want to commune with you. I want to show you glimpses of my glory. Where are you?

I hope you will say with me... "Here I am Lord. 'Come, Thou Fount of ev'ry blessing. Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.'"

Let's Pray

If you are having trouble forgiving yourself, then pray this prayer...

Dear Lord, I come before You today, confessing______________. I am truly repentant and sorry for my sin against You.  I ask that You forgive me and cleanse me.  Right now, I receive Your grace and forgiveness.  I believe that You have forgiven me and will no longer hold my sin against me.  I accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for my sin and thank You that my debt has been paid in full.  Thank You God for forgiving me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now, dear one, I want you to picture your sin nailed to the cross. It is finished. Don't let Satan try to convince you otherwise. And believe me, he will. Satan is called "the accuser" who accuses Christians day and night (Revelations 12:10). I picture him walking back and forth with our mug shots before the throne of God, saying "look at her! She's guilty as sin!" And in response our Heavenly Father says, "I know her. She's my precious child whom I love! Her sentence has already been taken care of. She's forever forgiven and  free."

Now It's Your Turn

I don't want to give you any extra work today. You've got a lot to think about. But I do want you to write down Jesus' last words on the cross (John 19:30) and say them often throughout the day.

If you prayed the above prayer for yourself today, I want you to let me know. Click over to my blog page at www.sharonjaynes.com or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and say, "It is finished."

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion came from my book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More.God wants to commune with you, but sometimes we hide in shame like Adam and Eve in the bushes. God asks... "Where are you?" He knows what you've done and He still pursues a relationship with you. Are you ready to come out of hiding? Perhaps reading A Sudden Glory is a great place to start.

[Judy Harder]

March 12, 2013

Promises from the Pit

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light" (Psalm 18:28, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Have you ever received a gift that you wanted to return but couldn't? I certainly felt that way about the pit of depression when I first experienced it. I wanted to take this nasty black hole to the nearest "Pit Store" and exchange it for a tall mountain of victory. But I have come to the place where I thank God for what He has done in my life through the pit of depression. Anything that makes us cry out to God can be counted as a blessing.

We all have a pit of some kind in our lives. Your pit may not be depression. It may be an addiction that you find hard to conquer. Your pit may be a difficult relationship or a life plan gone wrong. It may be a diagnosis of cancer or a chronic physical disease that keeps your broken, wondering if God even cares. He does. I know because I am what you might call a seasoned "pit dweller." Let me share some truths I have learned through my struggle with the pit of depression.

Pits are a certainty. Hard times will come. Darkness will find us. We will, at some point in our lives, find ourselves in a pit. It may be a pit of wrong choices and foolish decisions we have dug with our own hands. It may be a customized pit prepared for us by the enemy himself. But a pit is a pit! And all pits are basically the same—dark, lonely, and filled with the ugliness of life.

Pits have a purpose. Every pit has a purpose and comes to us for a reason. Pits have an amazing way of bringing balance to life: a balance between sorrow and joy, between darkness and light, between faith and doubt, between weakness and strength. Life is like a prescription. The individual ingredients may seem harmful, but when they are blended and balanced, they bring health. Pits are part of the prescription of life.

Pits demand that we change our perspective. They make us stop and scrutinize priorities, eliminating the trivial and focusing on the important. Pits give us new eyes and a heavenly focus.

Pits come to strengthen us. Our struggle to escape the darkness forces us to admit our insufficiency and search for power outside of our own.

You can get out of the pit. If there is one central message of this devotion, it is hope. I made it out of the pit and so can you! The path may seem endless and even cruel at times, but remember that you did not slip into that pit overnight and you will not climb out overnight. The journey out of the pit begins and ends with one small step. Walk straight ahead through your fear. And with each step, moment-by-moment, the darkness will slowly begin to lift.

You can return to the pit. When it comes to pits, there is bad news and good news. The bad news is that those who struggle with depression may struggle with it for a lifetime. The good news is that the things that got you out of the pit will keep you out of the pit. I often step to the edge of that familiar black hole because I want to remember how I got there. Then I throw a party in my soul and rejoice in the journey out of the pit!

You can learn to stay out of the pit. Hedges of protection must be planted around the pit of depression. Priorities must be set. Balance must be kept. Habits must be cultivated. Accountability must be sought. Lessons must be learned. These hedges must be constantly tended in order to provide constant protection. In other words, keep doing what you know to do.

God will use your pit. From the depths of every pit comes a message of hope...a message of power...a message of grace. It is a message for us to share. God does not want us to just endure the pits of life. People without Christ can muster up enough courage—enough human strength—to get through a trial, but God has a better plan. He does not want us to just survive the pain. He wants us to rise above it—to celebrate it and use it!

On the other side of the pit you will find that you can minister to others who are in the grip of darkness. You understand their fear. You know the reality of their despair and the depth of their pain. Hurting people will listen to you when they will listen to no one else. Why? Because you were once like them...a pit dweller.

When you begin to share your journey—when you make the choice to help others find their way to the light—God will strengthen you and keep you out of the pit. The choice to use your pit will unleash God's power in your life as never before.

Life is sweeter on the other side of the pit. We cannot really know just how bright the light is until we have spent time in the darkness. On the other side of the pit, the sun is brighter. The sky is bluer. Every day is filled with the discovery of fresh hope and new joy. Relationships grow deeper and fuller. Peace settles around you like an old familiar friend. The intimate and faithful presence of a loving Father becomes the reality you once dreamed of knowing.

A beekeeper once told F.B. Meyer how some of the young bees are nurtured to ensure their healthy development. The queen lays each egg in a six-sided cell, which is filled with enough pollen and honey to nourish the egg until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The top is then sealed with a capsule of wax.

When the food is gone, it is time for the tiny creature to be released. The wax is so hard to penetrate that the bee can make only a very narrow opening. It is so narrow that in the agony of exit, the bee rubs off the membrane that encases its wings. When it finally does emerge, it is able to fly!

The man telling the story said that one time a moth got into the hive and devoured the wax capsules. As a result the young bees crawled out without any effort or trouble. But they could not fly.

Remember, my friend, it is through the struggle of the trial—the journey out of the pit that the very best part of us takes flight. One day soon, you will look around to see that you are coming out of the dark.

Let's Pray

Father, I come to You – helpless and alone. The darkness is overwhelming and no one seems to understand. I am desperate for You and the healing that I know can only be found in You. Lead me, Lord. Teach me, Father. Right now, I surrender to You and the plan You have for my life. By faith, I thank You for the pit in my life that makes me cry out to You.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

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

·         Record Psalm 40:1-3 in your journal. Circle each action word such as "waited."

·         What actions does God ask you to take to get out of your pit?

·         What does God promise to do in your life when you take those actions?

·         Are you ready to step out in faith and trust God to deliver you from the pit of darkness in your life?

More from the Girlfriends

Since each lesson stands alone, it is not too late to join Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. When you join, you have access to all of the 2013 lessons. The current study is Power Up With Proverbs.

If you or someone you love struggles with depression, Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to experience God's deliverance from that pit and live a life of victory. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

March 13, 2013

Believing God Knows Best

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"In all their distress he too was distressed," (Isaiah 63:9 NIV).

Friend to Friend

When bad things happen we may never understand the why. God tells us, "'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'" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Dr. James Dobson said: "Trying to analyze His omnipotence is like an amoeba attempting to comprehend the behavior of man."  It's simply not possible. But there is one thing we can be sure of. "All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful," (Psalm 25:10) whether we understand them or not.

When we encounter difficulties, it is easy to jump to conclusions. We may think God is mad at us or punishing us. We wonder if God is not blessing us because we've disappointed Him in some way. But all through the Bible we see that some of God's closest friends experienced the darkest nights.

Joseph suffered. David suffered. The disciples suffered. Elizabeth suffered. Mary suffered. Martha suffered. Mary (Jesus' mother) suffered. Paul suffered. Jesus suffered. And each one of these men and women were smack dab in the middle of God's will. The ordinary pabulum of popular religion, of health and prosperity, just doesn't line up with the suffering we see among some of the most godly men and women in Scripture. The abundant life that Jesus came to give does not come without struggle any more than a butterfly can soar without a struggle from its cocoon. We would never slice open a cocoon and expect to find a butterfly ready to fly. Without the struggle, the butterfly could not grow strong enough to take flight.

Jesus warned us that we would have struggles in this life, and yet struggles always seem to catch me by surprise. "Consider it all joy," James said, "when you encounter various trials..." (James 1:2, NASB). Notice James said when and not if. Honestly, I wish there were some other way.

Come to think of it, Jesus wished the same. "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will," (Matthew 26:39). The cross. There was no other way.

Take a look at the names given to the Holy Spirit: Intercessor, Helper, Counselor, and Comforter. The very nature of those names lets us know that we are going to have difficulties this side of heaven, and thankfully God did not leave us to struggle alone. Jesus wept. The Holy Spirit groans. And God's heart aches. In one beautiful sentence, we catch a glimpse into the heart of God as we go through tough times: "In all their distress he too was distressed," (Isaiah 63:9). We may not see God's face during the difficult days of pain, but you can be sure He is there, and many times His face is streaked with tears.

Sometimes life is tough. As we practice Acts 17:28, In Him we live and move and have our being, it does not mean that we will walk a down path void of treacherous twists and turns. It does mean that no matter where the road may lead, we are not alone.

So many times I've cried out with King David, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" only to discover that He was right there with me all the time. None of us knows what the future holds. Sometimes we just need to put our hand in God's and walk around the next corner with Him—even when we don't understand. In that journey of the unknown, we're apt to experience moments of sudden glory in well-placed nuggets of gold.

Let's Pray

Father, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, which is about the scariest place I could ever walk, I will fear no evil...because You are with me.  I am placing my hand in Yours and walking around the next corner with You. I don't know what is around that corner, but You do, and that's enough for me.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read John 14:15-27 and 16:5-16 and list everything you learn about the person and the work of Holy Spirit.

From everything you have learned, what one name or characteristic of the Holy Spirit means the most to you? Click over to my blog page and share your answer. www.sharonjaynes.com

More from the Girlfriends

Sometimes it is hard to trust God, isn't it? Gwen, Mary and I have written a wonderful book titled Trusting God.It's is a 12-week devotion book dedicated to that one single topic. If you enjoy our devotions, you will LOVE our book, Trusting God. And we even have free videos on-line to go with each of the 12 weeks. So gather some girlfriends and learn about how to trust God together.

[Judy Harder]

God's Money-Back Guarantee

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name" (Psalm 138:2, NLT).

Friend to Friend

I love money-back guarantees. We once bought a car to replace a van that had 125,000 miles on it. Our first vacation in the new car was a disaster. We began having trouble the very first day. On our way home, we stopped in four different cities, trying to find a mechanic who could repair the car. No one could explain or even find the problem. Needless to say, we were not happy campers. But when we returned home and contacted the dealership, we were told that because of the guarantee on the car, we could get our money back or trade it in for another one. Loved it!

Did you know that there is a money-back guarantee on every promise of God? Here it is in Psalm 138:2: "I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name" (nlt).Now if those words are true, why do we find it so hard to experience true peace and contentment in our lives?

I know life can be hard. Some of you are in so much pain that it is hard to breathe. But God knows where you are and what you are going through – and you really can trust Him. The apostle Paul had a firm grip on this truth.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11b-12, NIV).

Paul understood and lived by the truth that God is constantly at work in and around us, monitoring every step we take. Paul examined every circumstance, understanding that it had already passed through His Father's hands with His permission. God came through for Paul, and He will come through for you. To find real security and contentment we must learn to search for the handprints of God in the every day circumstances of life.

Paul had every human right to be angry with God. After all, Paul had been faithful. He had given up much and endured great pain. And yet the undercurrent theme of this passage is gratitude. It is an attitude chosen by Paul. It is a learned perspective. In this verse, "learned" implies that Paul was educated by experience. In other words, Paul is saying that all of his experiences in life, good and bad, have become his tutor in contentment.

The word "content" can best be defined as "contained." Don't miss this. Paul had trained himself to focus on his inner resources, the resources his heart contained rather than the outward circumstances of life. He chose to be grateful. He chose to praise God – period. We hear his determination in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 when he says, "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (nlt).

There is an old poem that captures this idea well:

"I rejoice in knowing that

There is no oil without squeezing the olives,

No wine without pressing the grapes,

No fragrance without crushing the flowers

And no real joy without sorrow." (Author unknown)

Gratitude not only brings contentment, it brings perseverance and produces strength. God entrusts trials to us, giving us the opportunity to choose gratitude. It is easy to practice gratitude when the seas are calm and the skies are clear. The real test of gratitude is in the midst of the greatest storm of our lives.

In Africa there is a fruit called the "taste berry." When eaten it changes a person's taste buds so that everything tastes good and sweet. Gratitude is the "taste berry" in our spiritual lives. When our hearts are filled with gratitude, we will find contentment. Choose to practice gratitude.

Gratitude is wrapped around trust and contains the element of acceptance. Gratitude understands that God is sovereign and that His ways are not our ways. There will be times when we find it impossible to understand His process, but we can always trust His heart. Remember, there is a money-back guarantee on every promise of God.

Let's Pray

Father, I come to You, confessing that I tend to have a heart that is filled with whining and complaining instead of gratitude. Please forgive me. Help me learn to see Your hand at work in my life. I want to trust You even when I don't understand my circumstances. Right now, I choose to praise You, Lord.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

By faith, accept the truth that God is always at work in your life and thank Him for His steadfast provision. Look back over the last few days, weeks and months of your life.  Now praise Him for the things He has done.

Identify the people or things in your life that you tend to think of and rely upon as sources of security and contentment.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What are the steps listed in this passage that – when taken – will produce contentment?

What hedges of protection can you put in place today that will prepare you to face tomorrow with security and contentment?

More from the Girlfriends

Since each lesson stands alone, it is not too late to join Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. When you join, you have access to all of the 2013 lessons. The current study is Power Up With Proverbs.

If you or someone you love struggles with depression, Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to experience God's deliverance from that pit and live a life of victory. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

Through The Veil

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Friend to Friend

Several years ago, my father was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that changed the course of his life. My family and I watched in agony as his health faded away and his future evaporated. He was just days away from dying when a donated organ provided a way for him to live. Dad received the gift of life as a transplant recipient.

Tragically, in order for my dad to live, someone else had to die. While our family rejoiced at this priceless provision, another family mourned the passing of one they loved. It was a bittersweet exchange... an amazing gift... wonderful and horrible at the very same time.

There's no greater gift than life! Now that Easter is around the corner, we have time to consider and celebrate the beautiful brokenness that Jesus endured so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. Full life. Life filled with forgiveness, grace, mercy and the presence of God. The Bible sums it up this way, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Some 2000 years ago, Jesus went to the cross and took on death. Through Him, a new and living way was created for us to be reconciled to the holy heart of God. At the very moment of Christ's death, across the city of Jerusalem – in the temple – the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Most Holy Place was torn from top to bottom...from God to man. Because Jesus laid down his perfect life for our imperfect lives, the barriers between God's presence and us no longer exist. We can be forgiven.

This was the greatest exchange of all time. He died so we could live. Through the curtain, which is the body of Christ, we now have access to the presence of God. In the Old Testament, only the high priests could enter the Holy of Holies (the Most Holy place), and when they did, it was with great trepidation. Because of Christ,we can go to God personally...with confidence of His love for us.

I've heard it said that, "We are far more sinful than we can possibly imagine and far more loved than we can possibly accept."

How does this affect you? How does this pivotal moment in history, this "veil rending" influence the way you live? Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Have you accepted this great exchange personally? Have you asked God to forgive your sins and wipe away the mistakes of your past? The gift of life, through Jesus Christ, is free. Turn to Him now. God is waiting with open arms.  Roman's 10:9 tells us "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Nothing you have ever done is too big for God's forgiveness!

If you are ready to turn to Him now, pray with me:  "Dear God, I confess that I have done many things wrong – the Bible calls it sin and I'm guilty. Would you please forgive me? I believe in my heart that Jesus is Your Son and that He lived, died, and rose again. Would you give me your gift of eternal life and teach me what it means to follow you?  Thank you, Lord.  In Jesus's name, amen."

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, or perhaps re-dedicated your heart to God today, would you please email  and let us know. We would love to pray for you.

Grace deserves a response, friend. Let's go to Him now with worship on our lips and thankfulness on our hearts. In the presence of God we are continually renewed, rejuvenated and refreshed.

While studying the book of Hebrews, the Lord inspired me to write this song. Please read the lyric then click the link below to worship along with me:

Through The Veil

by Gwen Smith

(Hebrews 10:19-23)

Through the veil there's a new and living way

Through the curtain, welcome to the Holy Place

Though we once were separated, we are now invited in

Through the veil, through the blood, come to Him

Through the veil, through the blood, enter in



The Holy Place is open, come and worship

The Lamb for sinners slain is King of all

We praise and glorify the Lord before His mighty throne

Through the veil, through the blood, come to Him

Through the veil, through the blood, enter in

CLICK HERE to hear the song.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, You are amazing! Thank you for offering forgiveness and mercy through the great exchange of Jesus. It is a miracle that I can come to You with a heart that is pure. Your love is extravagant and I cannot say thank you enough. In Jesus' name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Is there an area of your life that needs 'transplanted?'
Do you know that God can forgive anything you have done?
Write a response to God. Thank Him for his love and mercy, and then read it to Him as an act of worship!
Got a grace story? I'd love to hear about it! Swing by my blog or facebook page today and leave a comment.

More from the Girlfriends

LOVE TO WORSHIP? Gwen's song "Through The Veil" is featured on her Unsearchable CD. Download Unsearchable, from iTunes, or order the CD from the store on her website.

NEED HEALING for some heart wounds? STRUGGLING to find PURPOSE in the PAIN? God delights to transform lives...including your own. In her book, Broken Into Beautiful, Gwen Smith invites you to experience how the unconditional love of Jesus can change your life. To order Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful, please CLICK HERE.

[Judy Harder]

Do You Have the Right Credentials?

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John, and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus," (Acts 4:13, emphasis mine).

Friend to Friend

Do you ever feel like you just don't have the right "stuff" to do great things for God? I know I've felt that way many times. And then God jerks a knot in my head with the truth. He has given me everything I need to do whatever He calls me to do. He's given me the power of the Holy Spirit...just for starters.

Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life reminds us of some very unlikely candidates to do great things for God.

"Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive., Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zachaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid. That's quite a group of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you too."

I love this scenario. The religious leaders in Acts were listening to Peter and John preach. They were perplexed, astonished really. They wondered where Peter and John acquired such knowledge and wisdom. "When they saw the courage of Peter and John, and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus," (Acts 4:13, emphasis mine).

Ah, they had been with Jesus. That explained everything.

We tend to look at folks who are talented or who have great resources and think, "If we could win that soul for the Lord, then think of all he could accomplish for the kingdom."  How silly. As if God needs our meager resources to accomplish anything.

When you say "yes" to God, despite your inabilities, then you become a living, breathing, walking display of His glory as you live and move and have your being in Him. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

You are always one step of obedience away from the next great adventure and moments of sudden glory that follow. Are you willing to abandon that which makes you comfortable to embrace that which makes you fulfilled? Are you ready for the fancy footwork of faith?

As you consider joining Jesus on the dance floor of obedience, remember this: The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it," (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Don't worry that you don't know all the right moves. He does. You simply need to follow His lead. In Him we live and move and have our being...the dance of obedience is breathtakingly beautiful.

Let's Pray

Dear Father, forgive me for focusing on my inabilities rather than Your abilities. I don't want to sit and watch others in their divine dance of obedience. I want to join You on the dance floor and follow Your lead!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Did you connect the title of this devotion to the body of the devotion?

If you know Jesus as Savior and Lord, then you do have the right credentials!

I want you to write Today's Truth on an index card and memorize it.

Ponder this: When they saw the courage of your name and realized that she was an unschooled, ordinary woman, they were astonished and they took note that she had been with Jesus."

If you want to take the challenge and memorize this verse with me today, click over to my blog page (www.sharonjaynes.com) and leave a comment: "I'm memorizing it with you!"

More from the Girlfriends

In my new book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, I say that obedience is not what God wants FROM you; it is what He wants FOR you. Obedience is the door behind which the abundant life is stored. If you want to learn about how to experience God's presence in all of life and live in unparallel intimacy with Him, then this book will help you get there. It is only a click away.