Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

April 17, 2013

The Circle of Encouragement

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...and we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:11,14)

Friend to Friend

Sand hill cranes are not only interesting creatures but also great illustrations of biblical encouragement. These large birds that fly great distances across continents have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all of the time. Second, they choose leaders who can handle turbulence well. Third, all during the time that one bird is leading, the rest of the birds are honking their affirmation. Now that is biblical encouragement! That is encouragement that works.

First Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another and build each other up." That kind of encouragement demands time, energy, and our availability to the one who needs encouraging. Many times when we are in crisis, we do not want someone to say anything or even do anything. We simply need someone to be with us and walk with us through the darkness. If we spell encouragement differently it will be easier to understand. To encourage is to "in-courage" someone, to literally put courage in someone else.This passage of Scripture specifically mentions four groups of people who need encouragement.

Those Who Are Stuck in Neutral Need Encouragement

Those who are idle tend to be undisciplined. This is someone who is motionless, paralyzed, and unable to move. In other words, they are "stuck" in neutral gear and often do not even want to do the right thing. They need motivation and encouragement to get going again.

Those Who Are Afraid Need Encouragement

Timid people are fearful and plagued with doubt. This is someone who knows what to do but is afraid to do it. They want to do the right thing but are bound by fear. They desperately need courage but have none. The key is to get alongside them long enough for them to get past their fear.

When our children were young, we bought a ski boat for our family. Our daughter was both excited and nervous about skiing. On our first outing on the boat, Danna watched her dad ski and then saw her brother pop up out of the water immediately and ski around the entire lake. I quickly pointed out that the skis and the boat were brand-new, that her dad had been driving a ski boat since childhood, and that if the motor could yank her big brother and dad out of the water, pulling her up would be a cinch. She was really nervous. After several failed attempts, Danna was just about ready to call it quits when Dan turned to her brother and said, "Son, get in the water with her and help her get up." Jered jumped in and began to talk to her, giving her pointers, helping her with her skis, and assuring her that this time she would make it. On the first try, she came up grinning. Dan and I were cheering and hollering every minute of her ride. Today Danna is an excellent skier who cannot believe there was ever a time when she could not ski. When Jered "got alongside" his sister, he lessened her fear by getting under the weight of that fear with her. Then she was able to overcome it. There are times when those who are afraid of the water they are in need us to get in the water with them.

Those Who Are Weak Need Encouragement

Someone who is weak has no strength and is unable to function alone. All of their strength has been drained from them by some circumstance or series of circumstances in life. They want to do the right thing but are just too weak to get up and do it. They need strength and encouragement.

Everyone Needs Encouragement

The last phrase of 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says "be patient with everyone."Every person who has ever walked the earth needs encouragement at some point in life. Even Jesus needed encouragement. We all have moments when we are paralyzed emotionally. We all have moments when we are afraid and simply too weak and too tired to keep going. We try to carry those burdens alone while Galatians 6:2 tells us that we need to "carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." It is a spiritual reality that we need each other. We were created to share the burdens of each other.

I read about a pastor who preached a sermon on bearing each other's burdens. The pastor referred to Matthew 11:29-30 where Jesus tells us to "take my yoke upon you...for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." When he had finished his sermon, one of the church members came up to him and said, "I wish I had known what you were going to preach about. I could have told you something." "Well, my friend," the pastor said, "you can tell me now." The church member asked the pastor, "Do you know why His yoke is light?" The pastor thought a moment and then responded, "Well, because the good Lord helps us to carry it, I suppose." "No, sir," he said, shaking his head. "You see, when I was a boy at home, I used to drive the oxen, and the yoke was never made to balance. Father's yokes were always made heavier on one side than the other. Then we would put a weak ox in alongside a strong bullock. The light end would come on the weak ox and the heavier end on the stronger one. That's why the yoke is easy and the burden is light—because the Lord's yoke is made the same way. The heavy end is upon His shoulder."

Life is filled with burdens that are too heavy for us to carry alone. Jesus came to walk with us, sharing the loads we bear. His strength and love pour encouragement into every step. We need to do the same with the people in our lives.

Let's Pray

Father, thank You for the gift of encouragement You have given me. When I am tired, You give me the strength to go on. When I am discouraged, You give me hope. When I am afraid, You are my peace. Please help me to give away the encouragement You have given me.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Ask God to show you the people in your life who need your encouragement. It may be a friend or a family member who is "stuck in neutral, afraid or weak." Record their names in your journal. Begin praying for them and look for ways to encourage them.

Someone who is stuck in neutral _________________________

Someone who is afraid _________________________

Someone who is weak _________________________

More from the Girlfriends

Encouragement is like a boomerang. When thrown correctly, it will come back to you. Godly encouragement does not wait for an invitation to work. It looks for the opportunity to work. Need help? Check out Mary's E-Bible Study, I Need a Friend.

Do you want to be a success? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Power Up With Proverbs, for Biblical wisdom and practical steps you can take to live a life of victory. Since each lesson stands alone, it's not too late to join and still have access to all of the lessons.

Do you have any difficult relationships in your life? Get Mary's book, Sandpaper People, for practical ways to deal with those people who rub you the wrong way.

[Judy Harder]

April 18, 2013
The Perfect Wedding
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth." (Isaiah 54:5 NIV)

Friend to Friend
I was five-years-old, just a wisp of a little girl living in a dream world all my own. On one particular afternoon, I gathered my supplies and prepared for the big day. First, I wrapped a long white sheet around my slender body and draped the excess over my shoulder and down my back. Then I draped a bath-sized towel over the crown of my head like a veil and clutched a bouquet of plastic flowers to my chest. I stood at the end of my home's long hallway and the processional began. I could almost hear the organ playing "Here comes the bride," as I sashayed down the "aisle" with imaginary friends and family looking on.

Little girls and big girls dream about the day they will become a bride. And for many, that dream doesn't always turn out the way they had hoped. But here is some good news...some great news; no matter what your marital status this side of heaven - never married, once married, happily married, widowed or divorced, God is your holy Husband who longs to protect you, provide for you, and cherish you through all the ups and downs of life. His name is Ish – Husband.

We first see God's name as Ish or Husband in the book of Isaiah:  "For your Maker is your husband — the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth."

In the New Testament, Jesus is also referred to as the husband for his bride – the Church.

I asked my husband what visual image forms in his mind when he reads that he is part of the "Bride of Christ."

"Nothing really," he replied.

Granted, I can't picture Steve walking down the aisle in a pearl studded wedding gown. But oh sister, I can see myself waltzing down the aisle to meet my Jesus. Can't you? What a blessing God has given His female image-bearers as the Bride of Christ, and He our husband!

In the Old Testament Jewish tradition, the father chose a bride for his son. If the woman accepted the proposal of marriage, the groom paid a "bride price" to her family of a few cows, a couple of sheep, or perhaps some gold trinkets. The couple drank from a cup of wine to seal the marriage covenant between them, and would not drink of it again until the day of the wedding ceremony. Then the groom left his betrothed and went back to his father's house to build a home for her. Once the home was competed to the father's satisfaction, the young man returned to whisk away his bride. Usually this took place in the middle of the night with torch toting groomsmen whooping and hollering to let her know they were on their way. Her responsibility was to be prepared – to be ready at all times.

And so it is with your groom. God has chosen you to be the bride for his Son (Ephesians 1:4).  Jesus paid the ultimate bride price for you when He gave His very life on the cross (1 Corinthians 6:20).  At the last supper, after Jesus and his disciples had broken the bread and drank the wine, He explained to them, "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:29).

And where is Jesus right now? He is preparing your home. "My Father's house has many rooms," Jesus said, "if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). And when his Father says it is time, Jesus will come back like a "thief in the night" to whisk away his bride (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).

Doesn't that just give you chills!

Whether you are divorced with a heart broken by betrayal, widowed with a bed chilled by loneliness, single with still no promise of a ring on your finger, or happily joined to the man of your dreams, Jesus longs to take you in his arms, not simply "for as long as you both shall live," but for all eternity.

Let's Pray

Yahweh Ish, Thank You for caring for me as a husband cares for his bride. Thank You for Your protection, provision, and never-ending love. I rest in the knowledge that You are my sacred Ish, not simply "til' death do us part," but for all eternity.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Look up the following verses and note how Jesus referred to himself:

Hosea 2:16, 19-20

Matthew 9:15

Revelation 19:6-9

What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus as the groom and you as the Bride? Share your answer on my blog page in the comment box.

More from the Girlfriends

I don't know about you, but for most of us, life doesn't usually turn out the way we had hoped. Broken dreams litter life. But here's the good news! God has a purpose and a plan. HE has a more amazing plan for you than you ever imagined. If you have lost sight of your dreams, grab onto God's hand and travel to a place you thought you'd never find. The dreams God had planned for you all along.  I'm offering a special offer to my blog readers for the month of April.  Buy 1 copy of Dreams of a Woman: God's Plan for Fulfilling Your Dreams and get one free. When you purchase 1 copy, we'll ship you 2. It won't show up on your receipt, but 2 will show up in your package. This is only for the month of April.  Only for my blog readers.

[Judy Harder]

April 19, 2013
Who Defines Your Worth?
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"You are precious and honored in my sight..." (Isaiah 43:4a, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Years ago, I bought my daughter a really cute jacket at the mall. It was a hoodie made of a cuddly fabric with cream, lavender, and mint green horizontal stripes. The jacket zipped up in the front and was well crafted, stylish, and simply adorable.

When I bought it, I felt like the price on the tag was a fair one, so I gladly pulled out my wallet and paid the retail amount. I was a kid in a candy store on the way home - fully anticipating a shriek of happiness from my little bag-of-beans when I gave it to her.

Delightfully, I wasn't disappointed. Kennedy loved her new coat, and I was pleased with my purchase. Happy dances all around... until a week later, when I saw the same jacket in the same store at a greatly reduced price. Are you tensing up with me? Suddenly, I felt schnookered! Ripped off. Taken advantage of. As soon as I saw the red line on the price tag of the unsold coats, everything changed in my mind – Kennedy's jacket wasn't worth what I paid for it.

When we speak of the worth of something, we often consider it to be a relative term. One that has shifting factors. For example, the jacket I bought was thirty-nine dollars, and a week later it was nineteen ninety-nine. The jacket didn't change, but its perceived worth did.

Now, consider the worth of a woman. Are the factors that determine her value based upon variable and shifting factors or are they based upon fixed factors? Seems to be a silly question, doesn't it? Fixed, of course! But, if the answer is so glaringly obvious, why do we struggle so much as women with feelings of worthlessness? Why do we walk around feeling like that red lined jacket? I think it's because we often allow variable earthly factors to define our worth.

What kind of variable factors?

There are so many reasons why women feel worthless:

Because they've been abused (raped, molested, physically abused, verbally abused...)
Because they've been told that they're worthless (by a parent, spouse, sibling, teenage child, or another...)
Because of choices they've made or that have been made for them (divorce, infidelity, abortion, promiscuity, eating disorders, addictions, uncontrolled anger...)
Because they've been cheated on (infidelity, internet affair, pornography...)
Because they're co-dependent (conclude their value based upon other people – "If my husband isn't okay, I'm not okay.")
Because they don't collect a paycheck (stay at home moms that have left the work force, laid off employees, displaced employees, those on disability...)
Because they've battled an illness (unable to care for family, perform basic home duties, participate in ministry or Bible study like they once did, can't drive, cook...)
Unfortunately, the variable factors that we use to define our worth are endless. Many of us feel worthless. Why? We've felt ignored, invisible, insignificant, useless, undesired, ugly, unloved, or forgotten. We girls are emotional; broken in many ways. Great portions of our identity and of our personal value are wrapped into combustible packages of emotion - how we feel about this or that. The truth is, our worth has nothing to do with our feelings.

Trust me, I'm not going to try to convince you that I know everything there is to know about feeling like a woman of worth. Or about being a woman of worth. I am in the trenches with you. I struggle with normal feminine emotions and daily challenges. I don't live a fancy schmancy, rose-colored wonder-life. I hit the snooze button several times each morning. I pack lunches for my kids. I spend countless hours of my life each year sitting in the car pool line. It's a never-ending struggle for me to keep the laundry done and my kids often have to fish for a matching pair of socks in the clean-clothes basket. My husband is my soul mate, but is far from perfect. For that matter, Brad should win a lifetime achievement award for enduring the drama of me! Seriously. And my kids bring me both great joy and great frustration on a daily basis.

Is this sounding at all familiar to you?

See – I'm just like you, and I'm walking this faith journey right beside you. In fact, the more I know God, the less inclined I am to pretend to have life or faith figured out. Amen? I'm constantly tempted to define my worth with activities, emotions, and accomplishments. I've come to realize, however, that way of thinking is a spiritual dead end road. Scripture tells us that anything we do in our own strength or of our own goodness is of no value to God. "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6a).

What I do know is this: because of Jesus Christ, I'm a woman of highest worth. Not because of anything else. I'm a grace girl. Not perfect by a long stretch. I've been changed by the unconditional love of God and restored to perfect beauty through the shed blood of Jesus. Because of love, we are His daughters, precious in His sight. In light of this, we need to set aside feelings that diminish our value, and embrace our proper identity: Child of the King of Kings.

Hear this, friend: feelings of worthlessness are from Satan himself. It burns me up that the enemy has such a strong grip on God's daughters in this area. We need to associate the word worthless with the word lie. That's exactly what it is, a big, fat lie! I talk to women all the time who bend a knee to negative feelings and live defeated lives because they don't quite know how to overcome their sense of worthlessness. God wants every one of us to experience healing and have an appropriate sense of self-worth.

So let's go back to Kennedy's new coat for just a moment. Imagine walking into God's department store. There on the rack, you spy a coat that is just plain fabulous – I mean stop-you-in-your-tracks fabulous! One-size fits all, the tag reads. Yeah, right, you whisper under your breath. Then you flip over the price tag and it's crazy expensive – way beyond what you could ever dream of paying. Like, if you added up every dollar that ever passed through your hands – then multiplied that by ten thousand – that kind of expensive. Then imagine the storeowner walking over to you, slipping the coat off the rack and onto your shoulders.

"It's a perfect fit," He smiles.

"Sir," you manage with a whisper, "I could never afford such a coat. This is meant for royalty and I'm, well, just an ordinary girl."

"Oh precious woman, this coat is made especially for you, and the price has already been paid in full."

As the owner straightens the sleeves on your arms and adjusts the collar around your neck, you notice his hands - nail pierced hands. And suddenly you realize that this is the covering you were meant to wear all along.

You see, the Bible tells us that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be clothed with the "robe of righteousness." The apostle Paul tells us that when we are reconciled to God, we become His righteousness. "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). There's no way we could ever afford or earn such a robe but Jesus gave His life for us - He earned it for us.  He paid the price and we receive the gift.  Why?  Because you're worth it. You are precious and highly valuable in the eyes of the One who sees. And you never, never, never have to worry about being on anyone's bargain rack again.

Let's Pray

Holy Father, I'm humbled to be viewed as precious in Your eyes. Thank You for taking on my sin so that I could take on your righteousness. Please help me to see myself as You see me. Help me to thrive in Your beauty as a woman of worth!

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What came to your mind as you read today's devotion? Are you held captive by feelings of worthlessness? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask God to reveal truth to your heart about how He sees you.

Ready to put your emotions in their proper place? Click over to my blog and leave this comment of God-confidence: "I am a woman of worth!"

Print or write out this verse: "I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:15-16, NASB). Set it to memory and allow it to serve as a reminder that you are precious to God.

More from the Girlfriends

I wish I could reach through my computer screen, grab your hands, and pray with you right now. I don't know what you are going through, but our loving Father is keenly aware of your circumstances, your feelings, and your needs. Please take heart in knowing that Mary, Sharon, and I are praying for you.

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

NEED PRAYER? Visit Gwen's facebook page at www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. Today Gwen will designate her Facebook wall to prayer, so swing by and post a prayer need, then while you are there, pray for the needs posted by other GiGs.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

April 22, 2013
First Class Living
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"Jesus said, 'My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.'" (John 10:10 NLT)

Friend to Friend

I will never forget the first time I flew first class. Dan and I were on our way to North Carolina for a few days of much needed vacation. We were both exhausted, having just returned from a wonderful but grueling mission trip to Peru. I couldn't wait to get on that plane, grab a pillow and blanket, and sleep my way to North Carolina.

When I spotted an abnormally long line of people and realized it was the check-in line for our gate, my attitude took a nosedive. I was tired. I was hungry. We had missed both breakfast and lunch in order to make our flight, and that tiny little pouch of honey-roasted peanuts waiting for me on board the plane was just not going to cut it! Oh, and did I mention how much I hate to wait – for anyone or anything? Patience is definitely not one of my strongest qualities.

Suddenly, a man dressed in a pilot's uniform stepped up to the ticket counter. "He looks familiar," I thought to myself, but since Dan was the pastor of a large church in town, we often ran into people who attended one of the five weekend services. My husband is great at remembering names and faces, but me – not so much. The fact that the pilot looked familiar did not register as pertinent information – until he waved in our direction and said, "Please step forward."

Wait! Was he talking to us?

"Pastor Dan and Mary, will you please step up to the counter?" the pilot repeated. Dan immediately recognized him as John Littleton, a new believer who was attending the church.

"I knew you were a pilot, John, but I didn't realize that you worked for this airline," Dan said. Things were definitely looking up. Maybe I could score two pouches of peanuts.   

"Where are you headed?" my new best friend asked. When we told him, John promptly moved us from coach to first class and escorted us past all of the other waiting - and now glaring - passengers. I was a little uncomfortable "cutting" in line, but any hesitation on my part quickly faded as John showed us to our seats, and firmly instructed the stewardess to take good care of his "pastors." I love that man!

I soon discovered that I was a real person in first class, assigned to a spacious and extremely comfortable leather recliner where I actually had room to move and breathe without assaulting the person next to me. My meal was not wrapped in paper, and they actually trusted me with real eating utensils. I was presented with cloth napkins, hot food, good movies, current magazines and a stewardess who seemed totally committed to my comfort.

I immediately decided that I was born to fly first class! The only problem with that decision is that I simply cannot afford to purchase a first class airline ticket. Someone will have to buy it for me.

You and I were created to live a full and abundant life – a first class kind of life. In John 10:10, Jesus said, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." 

The good news is that Jesus has already paid the price, not only for our "ticket" to heaven, but He also gave us with a life of purpose and power here on earth. We cannot begin to understand all that God's "fullness" holds, but I do know that what He wants for me far exceeds anything I could possibly imagine. And I can imagine a lot.

God is calling you to follow Him. He is asking for 100% commitment and, in return, He will fill your life, now and eternally, with the fullness that only comes through knowing and serving the Master. Don't settle for anything less than living life – first class.

Let's Pray

Father, my heart hungers for Your power to flow through my life. I choose to obey You. I will seek You with my whole heart and I will follow You wherever You lead me. I know that Your plan for my life is amazing and I don't want to miss any of it. Today, I choose to set aside my agenda and rest in the abundant life only You can give.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

If you could choose one word to describe your life journey so far, what would it be?  Explain.
Explain the statement that God is your source. What does that really mean in your life? What other "sources" have you counted on? Did they lead to success or failure?
What "wants" have been a hindrance to the abundant and full life God has for you?  What steps of obedience are you willing to take in order to control those "wants"? 
More from the Girlfriends

It is easy to live an entire life – just doing the next thing on the list. God has so much more for you! Surrender! Give Him permission to capture your heart. Yield to God's abundant plan and experience what it is like to live – first class.

Do you want to be a success? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Power Up With Proverbs, for Biblical wisdom and practical steps you can take to live a life of victory. Since each lesson stands alone, it's not too late to join and still have access to all of the lessons.

Do you have any difficult relationships in your life? Get Mary's book, Sandpaper People, for practical ways to deal with those people who rub you the wrong way.

And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

April 23, 2013

A Daddy Who Loves Me

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

[God said] "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV).

Friend to Friend

When I was a little girl, my father spent most of his waking hours working at his building supply company, observing construction sites, and socializing with his colleagues and associates. Even though his place of business was only a few blocks from our home, his heart was miles away in a place I could not find.

My father didn't drink alcohol every day, but when he did, it consumed him. Dad was filled with a rage that always seemed to be hiding just beneath the surface of his tough skin. And when he drank, that rage spewed out like hot lava onto those around him. Unfortunately, my mother was the most common target. As a child, many nights I crawled into bed, pulled the covers tightly under my chin or even over my head, and prayed that I would quickly fall asleep to shut out the noise of my parents yelling, fighting, and hitting.

I was afraid of my father. Even when he was sober, I kept my distance. At the same time, I observed how other daddies cherished their little girls. I saw them cuddle their daughters in their laps, hold their hands while walking in the park, or kiss their cheeks as they dropped them off at school in the mornings. And while I wasn't fatherless, I felt as though I was.  Deep in my heart, I had a dream. I dreamed that one day I would have a daddy who loved me—not because I was pretty or made good grades or could play the piano well, but just because I was his.

Then one day, the dream came true. I discovered that I did have a Father who loved me...and so do you. God is your Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally, provides for you unreservedly, and protects you unceasingly.

In the New Testament, Jesus called God by the name Father more than any other name. He also invites us to do the same. Think about that for a moment. The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth; who always has been and always will be; who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere at once—that same God invites you to call Him Abba, Father!

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:

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

My friend, Gayle has a granddaughter named Carlie. One day Carlie and her best friend were sitting in the back seat of Gayle's car.  Carlie and this little friend were born on the same day, and their moms were in hospital rooms right beside each other.  Not only that, the two girls lived in the same apartment complex.  One difference was that Carlie's friend never knew her father.  Her mom had boyfriends that came and went through the years, but never a real dad.

When Gayle kept Carlie on the weekends, sometimes her best friend came along.  One day, Gayle had both girls in the back seat when she was running an errand.  They were about five-years-old at the time.  And just out of the blue, Carlie's little friend said, "I wish I had a daddy like you have a daddy."

And Carlie said, "Oh you do have a daddy."

"No I don't.  I want a daddy like you have a daddy.  I wish I had a daddy."

"But you do have a daddy," Carlie answered back.  "We all have a daddy. God is our daddy.  He's everybody's daddy."

Gayle looked in her rearview mirror and saw Carlie's friend hold up her hands in exasperation.

"Why has nobody every told me this!"

How precious!  I have a daddy.  You have a daddy.  God is your Father and He loves you more than you could ever know. You, my friend, are the apple of Your Daddy's eye (Psalm 17:8 NIV).

Let's Pray

Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family. How blessed I am to have a Father who loves me unconditionally, cares for me unceasingly, and  provides for me lavishly. I love You.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Look up the following verses and note what you learn about being a child of God.

John 12:1-2

Philippians 2:15

Describe the difference between the actions and emotions of an orphan and a child of a King.

Which reflects your life the most?

More from the Girlfriends

I don't know about you, but for most of us, life doesn't usually turn out the way we had hoped. Broken dreams litter life. But here's the good news! God has a purpose and a plan. HE has a more amazing plan for you than you ever imagined. If you have lost sight of your dreams, grab onto God's hand and travel to a place you thought you'd never find. The dreams God had planned for you all along.  I'm offering a special offer to my blog readers for the month of April.  Buy 1 copy of Dreams of a Woman: God's Plan for Fulfilling Your Dreams and get one free. When you purchase 1 copy, we'll ship you 2. It won't show up on your receipt, but 2 will show up in your package. This is only for the month of April.  Only for my blog readers.

[Judy Harder]

April 24, 2013

Resource Inventory

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1 NIV)

Friend to Friend

When it comes to the resources that we need for life, this promise from the 23rd Psalm is staggeringly important to remember because it holds the promise of contentment in our lives. A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he was asked to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause. The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied, "I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."

When we know Him, we have everything that we need. An amazing strength and unshakable contentment comes from a source that is not our own. It comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Knowing God makes all of His resources available to us – resources like wisdom, guidance, power, peace, love, patience and self-control. In other words, knowing God provides strength for every area of life. Strength is fertile soil for peace and will bring a harvest of contentment. God did not come to give us human strength. He came to give us His strength.

Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace."

Isaiah 12: 2 The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

When we count on His resources instead of our own, we will experience true contentment. I read a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hand and knees, in great fear that he thought might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, totally exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly sitting on a sled loaded with iron weights.  How like us! We live each day, crawling through life, settling for our meager strength and our pitifully limited resources, afraid that His promises will break under the weight of our circumstances.

Listen, girlfriend. There is no limit to His power and there is no end to His strength. In fact, our weakness is the perfect showcase for His strength. According to the American Holistic Health Federation, people who are not satisfied with their lives and seem to have no contentment increase their risk of premature death by at least ten percent. Hudson Taylor once noted, "God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." Paul writes in another letter to the church at Corinth, "My power works best in your weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:19)  Today, right now, exchange your weak resources for His by giving up your rights, your plans and solutions.  Lay them at His feet and choose His plan instead. Then you will find contentment.

Let's Pray

Father, it seems that a seed of discontent has taken root in my life. I have tried so many things, hoping they would fill that "hole" in my soul. I have looked to so many people to make me happy. I now realize the only source of contentment is You. Right now, I lay down every lifeless resource and submit to You, Your plan and Your perfect provision in my life. Thank You, Lord, for being everything I need.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What resources have you been counting on for contentment? Have those resources disappointed you? How?  What steps do you need to take in order to experience His contentment in your life? Try these:

Admit that you have been counting on your resources instead of God's.
Recognize that those resources have not brought contentment to your life.
Choose to allow the Holy Spirit to create God's resources in you.
Commit to follow His plan and count on His resources for that plan.
Thank Him for the contentment that you know, by faith, will flood your life.
More from the Girlfriends

If you are like me, I find it very easy to get caught up in acquiring "stuff." Several years ago, we moved to a much smaller house, and needed to eliminate a lot of "treasures" we had moved over the course of many years and many moves. At first, it was hard to let go of each item...but it got easier and easier as the days went by. Now, I can't remember most of the things I gave away. Join me in a commitment to loosely hold on to the things of this world.

Do you want to be a success? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Power Up With Proverbs, for Biblical wisdom and practical steps you can take to live a life of victory. Since each lesson stands alone, it's not too late to join and still have access to all of the lessons.

Do you have any difficult relationships in your life? Get Mary's book, Sandpaper People, for practical ways to deal with those people who rub you the wrong way.

And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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


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








 
             
   

[Judy Harder]

Her Story, My Story, Your Story
Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth

[God said ] "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Friend to Friend

Once upon a time, not so very long ago or far away, a baby girl was born to parents who could not keep her. Neither parent was willing to release her for adoption, but neither was able to care for her. So while the legal system shuffled her case back and forth, the baby girl grew into a toddler in a foster home.

Her care was certainly adequate, her physical needs were met, and she never went hungry. Her clothes, though not new, were never dirty. Her toys, though not her own, were always sufficient. This little girl was not mistreated or abused, and yet, in her heart was a hollow space. She desperately wanted what she had never had—a mommy and a daddy of her own.

Only a few doors from the foster home lived a kind couple with a teenage son. The family wanted a little girl, the little girl needed a family, and the details of a trying and lengthy adoption were worked out. And while this little girl received a wonderful mommy and an adoring big brother, her relationship with her daddy was extra special.

Ashley was two-years-old when she entered his life. She was thin, pale, and clingy. By the time the adoption was finally complete, she was almost three. Ashley had never seen the ocean, eaten a Happy Meal, or slept in a bed in a room of her own. A few months after the adoption, Ashley traveled to the beach for her first family reunion. She was overwhelmed with excitement and pride. She had received so much so fast, and it was hard to take it all in. Ashley asked everyone she met if they were part of her family. "Are you my aunt?" "Are you my uncle?" "Are you my cousin?" She ran from person to person showering hugs and kisses on her newly acquired family. "l love you!" she told them. "I love you all!"

When her new daddy took her to McDonald's for the first time, Ashley didn't join the other children on the playground equipment. She was too busy asking important questions: "Do you have a daddy? I have a daddy! See, that's my daddy over there," she exclaimed with excitement and wonder. "Isn't he wonderful?"

"What's your name?" she asked. "My name is Ashley Jordan Ambrose, just like my daddy. I'm named after my daddy!"

Five years later, tanned, transformed, and confident, Ashley returned to the annual family reunion. This time she brought a scrapbook of pictures to share with anyone who would sit still long enough to look and listen.

"This is my story," she would say. "See, this is where I lived before Mommy and Daddy adopted me. They picked me out special. See, this is my room now. It's all my own. And these are my toys and my own clothes, and here's a picture of my kitty and one of my dog and . . ."

Ashley has love overflowing for everyone, but no one is higher on her list than her daddy. He knows how to polish toenails, drip sand castles, tie hair ribbons, hold her in the night—and he calls her his little princess.

I love that story, because you see, I too have been adopted by my Heavenly Father – and He calls me his little princess. And friend, that is also true for you.

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, O how I love You. Thank you for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank You for being my heavenly parent who loves me unconditionally, cares for me unendingly, and provides for all my needs. I am so blessed to be Your child.

In Jesus  Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Look up these verses and note what you learn about being a child of God.

Romans 8:15-17

2 Corinthians 6:18

1 John 3:1

Make a list of characteristics of the perfect father. Now put a check by the ones that you have experienced in God.

Click over to my blog post and tell me 5 of your favorite characteristics of God as Your Heavenly Father.

More from the Girlfriends

I don't know about you, but for most of us, life doesn't usually turn out the way we had hoped. Broken dreams litter life. But here's the good news! God has a purpose and a plan. HE has a more amazing plan for you than you ever imagined. If you have lost sight of your dreams, grab onto God's hand and travel to a place you thought you'd never find. The dreams God had planned for you all along.  I'm offering a special offer to my blog readers for the month of April.  Buy 1 copy of Dreams of a Woman: God's Plan for Fulfilling Your Dreams and get one free. When you purchase 1 copy, we'll ship you 2. It won't show up on your receipt, but 2 will show up in your package. This is only for the month of April.  Only for my blog readers.

[Judy Harder]

April 26, 2013
Who is your Kuleana?
Pam Farrel

From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry. We call them our "Friday Friends." So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend," Pam Farrel. Pam and Bill Farrel are relationship experts and best-selling authors of over 37 books including Men Are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti, and their newest devotional, A Couple's Journey With God. Free resources by the Farrels can be found at www.Love-Wise.com

Today's Truth

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)

Friend to Friend

In our newest book, A Couple's Journey with God devotional, we share how, on a ministry trip to the islands, we learned a vital island phrase. In the Hawaiian language there is a term, "Kuleana," which means your "path" or your "posse," those people for whom and to whom you are responsible. It is your accountability system. We like to call it your successnet. Picture walking the tightrope of life - these are the people who are carrying the net under you in case you fall. They include family who really know you, friends who walk beside you, your children and grandchildren and anyone who looks up to you. Also included are any mentors or leaders who have poured into you. And it definitely includes your spouse.

A smart couple will have a large Kuleana, and a Kuleana with whom they can be real, honest and authentic. Some call this kind of honest fellowship an accountability system. While the Bible doesn't use the exact word "accountability," it does use some words that give the strong idea that God thinks accountability is vital. Fellowship or Koinonia means an association based upon a common bond, with willing participation and sharing. True fellowship involves authenticity, which can involve two key words:

Exhortation: "called alongside to bring out the best in another."

Admonish: "to put in mind" and carries the idea of putting the right thoughts into the minds of others

So it seems God wants us all to have a group or a fellowship of people we walk alongside, and who walk alongside us. And while we are journeying together, we are to put the right thoughts into each other's minds.

Many people ask Bill and me what the strength of our relationship is, and we have to say we are Kuleana to each other first. We honestly share when we are struggling with something. Too many people keep hidden sins, negative thoughts, and unresolved feelings from their spouse—sometimes even with good intentions like "I don't want to hurt him or her." While we always think it is wise to talk to God first, then whomever God directs you to get counsel from, often your mate can be one of the best people to use as a sounding board in a struggle because he or she knows you best.

Bill and I are responsible to each other in so many areas: how we spend (or save) money, what we watch on TV or listen to or read, how we raise our children, and all our spiritual disciplines: prayer, Bible study, exercise, using our gifts, worship, and yes, the Koinonia or Kuleana of building a success net together. Because we talk honestly about what God is teaching us, what the Holy Spirit is convicting us to do or say, or how God wants us to better reflect his glory; we are drawn to each other like magnets.

When we were single, our entire Kuleana or Koinonia friendship circle would greet each other with, "Hi! How are you? What's God been teaching you?" Just asking that question was true Kuleana because it meant we were responsible for learning something from God daily in order to have an answer for that question. Bill and I continue this habit in our own private spiritual lives today.

Look for opportunities to have heart-to-heart talks with each person in your Kuleana. Today, take a walk with your mate or best Girlfriend in God, or sit down for some "Kona" coffee and ask, "So what's God been teaching you?" and have some Kuleana.

Let's Pray

Lord, let me be the kind of mom, wife, or friend that is authentic and honest with my Kuleana. Help me be a woman who walks alongside others putting right thoughts into other's hearts and lives.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Who are those people that form your Kulenana? Who are your responsible for? Who are you responsible to? What positive steps can you take today to build into your Kuleana??

More from the Girlfriends

Before we can trust others, we must learn to trust God, and that can sometimes be hard. Need help? 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]

April 29, 2013
Free at Last
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

"So Christ has really set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." (Galatians 5:1 NLT)

Friend to Friend

The story is told of an Indian village that held an annual bazaar where villagers came to sell the crafts and wares they had made during the year as well as the animals they raised. One year a man brought a covey of quail to sell. In order to display the birds, he tied one end of a piece of string to one of their legs and the other end to a stake in the ground.

Shoppers passed by all day long, watching the birds walk in a circle around the stake. No one seemed interested in buying them until a religious man approached and asked how much the merchant wanted for them. The merchant named an exorbitant price, which the religious man quickly paid, immediately instructing the merchant to set the birds free. When the merchant asked why he was willing to pay so much for the birds and then let them go, the religious man simply responded, "Because they were created to be free."

The merchant didn't understand, but shrugged his shoulders and cut the strings, setting the birds free. The quail continued marching in a circle around the stake. The buyer stepped into the middle of the circle, scattering the birds, which flew a few yards, landed and once again began to march in a circle. The quail were free – but did not know it.

We all seek freedom. With our very first breath, we come into this world kicking and screaming for freedom.  The desire to be free was tucked into our very soul by God Himself as He formed us in the womb. Because freedom is a God-given need our Father promised to provide a right way for that need to be met and the longing for freedom to be filled.

Freedom comes with truth. 

In John 8:32 we find the promise, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." To know truth we must know God, because He is truth. John 14:6 tells us Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" and that no one can come to the Father except through Him. When we come to Jesus Christ in a personal relationship, we will experience true freedom for the first time - freedom from sin - freedom from condemnation and death and freedom to really live. Without truth, there can be no freedom.

Freedom comes with obedience.

Obedience calls us to challenge and lay aside anything that hinders our walk with God. Instead, we refuse to forsake cherished sin, allowing wrong attitudes to take root and prosper while harmful habits hold us prisoner. The writer of Hebrews offers compelling direction for the captured soul longing to be free. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) Obedience brings freedom.

Freedom comes with understanding.

Until we understand who we are in His eyes, we will never truly be free. Our value and worth rest solely in the fact that we were created, chosen and pursued by God – for God. We belong to Him. His unconditional love sets us free to become all He created us to be which is more than we ever dreamed we could be. In Romans 5:8  the words of Paul celebrate our identity in Him, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners." Recognizing our worth and value to God sets us free from the chains of human expectations and earthly demands. Understanding brings freedom.

Christ really has set us free. The question is - are we living in that freedom? Don't live another day chained to the old ways. Seek His truth, walk in obedience and celebrate your God-created identity! Free – free at last!

Let's Pray 

Father, I long to be set free in You but I have to admit that total freedom in You frightens me. I am not sure what it will require. I have allowed old habits, sins and attitudes to keep me in bondage. I know that is not Your will or your plan. Right now, I lay down everything that keeps me from being free in You. Help me to walk in that freedom.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Are there any areas in your life that seem like a deep, dark pit from which there is no escape?
In your journal, write down the first area that came to mind.
Turn in your Bible to Psalm 40:1-3. Read this passage several times, claiming it as God's promise to you - because it is!
Now look at the area of bondage you wrote down. Ask God to show you the steps you must take in order to be free from that bondage. 
Write out a prayer of commitment to do what God shows you.  Date it and sign it. 
More from the Girlfriends

Are you ready to accept the truth that you were created to live in freedom? Great! But that's not enough. Are you willing to give God permission to work in your life in order to experience His freedom? Sometimes, I think it is easier to stay in the darkness, to be content in a familiar prison. It becomes our identity, and we are not sure if there will be a new identity waiting for us in the light. Do not listen to the lies of the enemy! He wants you to stay where you are, settling for so little when God wants to offer you everything! Don't wait another minute.  Cry out to God and take your first step out of bondage into freedom.

Do you want to be a success? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Power Up With Proverbs, for Biblical wisdom and practical steps you can take to live a life of victory. Since each lesson stands alone, it's not too late to join and still have access to all of the lessons.

Do you have any difficult relationships in your life? Get Mary's book, Sandpaper People, for practical ways to deal with those people who rub you the wrong way. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

Seeking God? 

Click hereto find out more about

how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

P.O. Box 725

Matthews, NC 28106

info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

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


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

[Judy Harder]

April 30, 2013
What's In Your Trash Basket?
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'" (John 8:10, NIV)

Friend to Friend

A four-year-old girl was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer, "and forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who pass trash against us." When I first heard that story, I smiled. Then I thought of a conversation I had had recently with a girlfriend.

She is a Christian friend. But though she has "emptied her trash basket" of sin before the Lord in sincere repentance, she has not emptied the trash basket of self-condemnation. Not completely. She won't allow it. She struggles deeply to let go of mistakes she made in her past. She holds the trash basket lid on tightly. To be free of that waste doesn't seem fair in her mind.

She is haunted by shame. Haunted by mistakes that are no longer remembered by a holy God. Haunted by sins that have been cast as far as the east is from the west.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:11-13)

These memories don't live in her past. They live in her now. They haunt her regularly like a spine-chilling horror film monster. And as much as she would like to move forward in forgiveness, she just can't find the courage to scare the monster away.

In the New Testament book of John, chapter 8, we meet a woman caught in the act of adultery. The legalistic teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her before Jesus. They publicly humiliated her in front of all the town's people, saying to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:4-5)

Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger as they continued to question him. Finally, "He straightened up and said to them, '"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'" Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground" (John 8:7-8).

The crowd eventually thinned to nothing. The older, wiser men cleared first. Then the younger ones trickled away. When the adulterous woman and Jesus were the only ones remaining:

"Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:10-12).

My sister, do you see that our holy Lord delights to show us mercy? He does not condemn us as we deserve. Time and time again, Scripture reveals merciful pictures of forgiveness. The woman in this story was guilty when she was brought to face Jesus, but as she left His presence, her guilt was forgiven. Her trash basket was empty.

When we turn to face Jesus with repentant hearts, our guilt is forgiven as well.

TOSS YOUR TRASH

This account of the adulterous woman teaches us about forgiveness and it also teaches us a valuable lesson about judging and condemning others. But what does this lesson teach us about judging ourselves? My friend that I spoke of earlier carried around a trash basket filled with junk she threw in herself. Sure, it was accompanied by trash from other people to, but the lingering condemnation came from memories of decisions she had made, things she had done, places she had been, and brokenness she has experienced because of her own choices. In her heart, she accepts the forgiveness of Jesus, but she can't bear to forgive herself. So many women won't forgive themselves.

I've been that woman.

I know that woman.

I know that self-loathing. I've lived it. I'm not going to sit here and try to tell you that forgiving yourself is easy. It's hard—and, in a lot of ways, it should be! But I can testify that it wasn't until I prayerfully allowed the stubborn, strong, and unconditional love of Jesus to pry my fingers off the lid of my trash basket and empty the condemning contents, that I experienced true freedom and complete forgiveness.

Is there something that you have not been able to forgive yourself for?

My friend, we need to stop beating ourselves up for sins of our past. We need to stop allowing guilt and shame to chain us to unproductive living. Jesus humbled Himself by becoming human, endured an excruciating death, and then defied the grave in His resurrection so that we could be restored to a place of complete healing. Complete healing.

Second Corinthians 5:21 states that "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." If you are in Christ, the Bible says that your guilt was paid for on the cross of Calvary. Jesus carried the sins of the world on His shoulders so that you would not have to carry them on yours.

If you are holding on to un-confessed sin, the time has come for you to release your grip. God's Word promises that, "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).

ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS.

None of us are perfect, just perfectly forgiven in Christ. Take your hand off the lid and allow the Lord to empty your trash basket of every last condemning voice once and for all. Embrace the freedom that Jesus intends for you to live in.

Let's Pray

Holy Father, Your mercy defies logic.  I don't deserve it, and I don't understand how You could possibly forgive me for all that I have done.  Please take my trash basket and empty it.  Forgive me today and help me to forgive myself, and others, so I can live freely in Your amazing grace.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Recite, write, and memorize these verse:  "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)

Prayerfully forward this email to a friend (or friends) who might need to read this message.

Journal what God is teaching you. Praise Him for revealing truth to your heart and for His matchless grace.

Join me for prayer and deeper conversation on my blog.

More from the Girlfriends

Every step of forgiveness begins with the heart of God. If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be transformed into a picture of God's beauty, get a copy of Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration! To order the book, go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit my website: www.gwensmith.net.

Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. Forgiveness is a core message of faith.  I know that many of you might have had to read it through tear-filled eyes.  I pray that you will allow God to sift through the clutter in your heart basket and replace your tears of pain with tears of joy.  There's a song that I would love for you to hear right now (make sure your volume is turned up)... CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.