Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

June 12, 2013
Be Kind
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35, NIV).

Friend to Friend

When bad things happen, we cry out in desperation for someone to care. More people come to Christ during a crisis than at any other time. Kindness is simply compassion at work and love in action.

We need to constantly refocus our success-targeted eyes, crucify each self-promoting heart motive, and look for the needs around us. I often wonder just how amazed we will be when we get to Heaven and find the unlikely and unknown but devoted servants of God rewarded for their quiet and often unseen acts of kindness.

A preacher once described his mother as a woman of great compassion. One day he came home from school to find her sitting at the table with an elderly, homeless man. Apparently, she had gone shopping, met the man on the way, and invited him home for a warm meal. During their conversation, the visitor said, "I wish there were more people in the world like you." The woman said quickly, "Oh there are! You just have to look for them!" The old man simply shook his head and smiled, "But lady, I didn't need to look for you. You looked for me!"

Needs constantly parade before us day every day, but we don't see them. We are too busy to notice the broken lambs the Good Shepherd sends our way. We view them as intrusions or annoying interruptions in our very important schedule. These uninvited and unscheduled guests may very well be divine appointments sent by God.

The warning of Hebrews 13:2 is a haunting one. "Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it." How many angels have we missed because we were too busy? Or maybe the problem is simply that we don't care enough.

A mother sent her young daughter on an errand. The little girl was gone far too long, so when she returned, her mother demanded an explanation. The child said that on her way to the store, she met a friend who was crying because she had broken her doll. "Oh," said the mother, "then you stopped to help her fix her doll?" "Oh, no!" replied the little girl. "I stopped to help her cry!"

Jesus says that if we really love God, we will really love each other. We are never more like our Father than when we choose to weather relationship storms with kindness and love. Kindness and compassion are directly related to the health of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:20 "If people say, 'I love God,' but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen."

We can be very religious and not care enough. Kindness does not look for reasons. Compassion doesn't ask for limitations. It searches for opportunity.

Let's Pray

Father, I come to You today, asking You to break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me the eyes to see those around me who are in pain. Show me how to encourage them and love them with Your love. Fill my heart with Your compassion, and give me the strength and courage to share that compassion with others.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Galatians 5:14 says, "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

How do you share the love you have for yourself with others?

How do you practically love your neighbor as yourself?

How have others shown the love of God to you?

I would love to hear your story ... and you can bless others by sharing what God is doing in your life. Email me or post it on my Facebook page.

More from the Girlfriends

Learn practical steps that will help you learn how to be and find true friendship in Mary's message, I Need a Friend. And be sure to check out Mary's NEW weekly Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle, beginning July 8. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons.

[Judy Harder]

June 13, 2013
Eating Crow
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever, (1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV).                                             

Friend to Friend

Sometimes we like what life serves up—and sometimes we don't. But most of the time, it simply depends on the attitude of the person holding the spoon. Such was the case one evening when I went to dinner with friends to the Sanitary Fish Market. I know that is a strange name for a seafood restaurant, but it was a great place that everyone frequented in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Because the food was good, I guess it was an added perk to know that it was sanitary as well.

When I was 18, I had dinner at the Sanitary with some friends. Three of us were Christians and usually took a moment to ask a blessing before we ate a meal, but we had not eaten in a restaurant with Larry before. Larry was a macho man who claimed to be in control of his own destiny. He didn't need God. So when we bowed our heads to pray, Larry held his head high as if to say, "I might be at the same table with these people, but I'm not one of them."

We all ordered clam chowder as an appetizer. We had the same waitress and same chowder from the same pot. We three Holy Rollers (the name we acquired because of a ten-second prayer) dipped our spoons into our bowls and tasted chowder full of tender clams and steamy potatoes.

Then proud Larry dipped in his spoon to retrieve only broth. "Why is your chowder full of clams and potatoes," he demanded, "and all I have is broth?"

Larry was about to call the waitress over to complain when I looked up and said, "Well, maybe it's because we asked God to bless ours and you didn't."

Larry didn't complain to the fine people at the Sanitary but ate crow instead.

Just as we listen to God day-by-day, He is listening to us. And nothing warms His heart like a grateful and thankful heart. What is He hearing from you today?

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for everything! Help me to always have a grateful heart that never ceases to be amazed and awed at Your protection and provision in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Romans 1 is a sobering chapter. Right smack dab in the middle of the description of the perverse nation (which sounds an aweful lot like ours today), there is one line that strikes my heart. What does 1:21 say that the people refused to do?

Read David's prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.

Click over to my blog page and tell me 5 things you are thankful for. You can't say Jesus or your family. I know you are thankful for those two above all else! Tell me 5 more things you are thankful for.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you love a good story? I do! Stories tug at the heart and open the eyes to the truths of Scripture in a way only God can do. I have complied 100 of my favorite stories and devotions into one book titled, Listening to God Day-by-Day. It is the perfect book for a quick pick-me-up before you start your busy day or a sweet dreams closure before you turn off the bedside lamp at night. And here's some good news, this book is specially priced for the month of June. Get one for yourself, and we'll include another free for you to share. It won't show up on your receipt, but we'll make sure it is included in your package.

[Judy Harder]

June 14, 2013
Prayer Power
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Friend To Friend

Over the past few years, my spiritual life has changed dramatically. I've witnessed the LORD move in amazing ways, and have felt His hand guide me like never before.  What's the big secret? Why the big change? Simple: prayer. There is unexplainable power in prayer.

No, prayer isn't new to me. I've prayed ever since I was a child. But even though I love God, I often struggled to remain focused during my quiet time ... or to even carve out a daily quiet time, for that matter. My creative mind has a strong tendency to wander. So a few years back, I began keeping a prayer journal and my faith has really grown as a result.

My journal isn't fancy or expensive, just a notebook that can be picked up anywhere, but it has been a power tool for God's movement in and through my life. By keeping my heart focused in prayer, my journal has fanned the flame of my prayers, and has fueled the fire in my soul to connect with our active and living God who longs to be the center of our attention.

It's not rocket science and there aren't any special tricks. A prayer journal can be an effective tool for spiritual growth, but the power is in the praying. How do I put my power tool to work? I start off by writing the date. I then jot down whom I want to pray for and what I want to pray about. I also love to write out Scripture passages that have spoken to my heart. Then I go to my Father- focused and fearless. God is the source of all power, and prayer is essential to experiencing His power in our lives.

Martin Luther said, "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray." Prayer moves the hand of God, yet, statistically; most Christians spend less than 5 minutes a day in prayer. That's just crazy! Why would we expect God to show His power in our lives if we don't give Him more time than we spend brushing our teeth each day?

Are you experiencing the power of God in your life? Would you like more strength, peace and direction in your days? God wants you to come to Him in prayer: when you are hurting, when you are angry, when you need direction, when you need answers, when you need hope, when you need healing. He wants you to come to Him for forgiveness, courage, strength, confidence, and perspective. Come with praise, adoration, humility, honor, and worship.

So – grab your Bible, a journal, your iPad, a notebook or a piece of paper and focus your heart and thoughts on God. The main thing is to get alone with God. He just wants you to come.

A GIG PLEDGE: Let's commit together to spend more time on our knees! Raise your right hand and say out loud: "Lord, it is my sincere intention to seek you more fervently from this moment on." God assures us, that when we seek Him, we will find Him!

Let's Pray

Holy Father, Thank You for allowing me to come to You in prayer today. I humbly bow before Your throne of grace and ask that You would forgive me for all of the times I have failed to come. I need You more than I know. Please help me experience the fullness of Your life-changing presence in a fresh and powerful way.

For Your glory and In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Consider keeping a prayer journal. Grab a pen and a notebook and get started! If you don't know where to start, use this as a template to begin:

Begin reading the Psalms during your quiet time. Journal what you learn and write down the verses that stir your heart. (There are 150 of them and if you meditate on one or two each day, you could be kept busy for a few months!)

Ready to commit? Click over to my blog and write, "I'm in! I will fervently seek God."

More from the Girlfriends

One morning, as I was reading in the Psalms, I came across a Scripture that moved me to respond in worship. It is Psalm 135:13  "Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations." As I read it over and over, a song came to my heart. Want to hear it?? It will make you get your praise on, girlfriend! JTurn up your speakers and join me on my YouTube page or my Facebook page to listen to "Through All Generations."

LOVE TO WORSHIP? Worshiping with music is a great way to begin your personal time with God. Download some of Gwen's music from iTunes, or order her CDs from her website.

[Judy Harder]

June 17, 2013
When I Fall Down
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)

Friend to Friend

I had forgotten just how amazing the process of learning to walk really is until our youngest grandchild recently reminded me. Justus was a speed crawler who could scoot along the floor almost as fast as I could walk and seemed content to explore the bottom of tables and chairs, play with doorstops or inspect flecks of lint, food crumbs and the floor at close range. For the first twelve months of his life, that was enough.

However, the day came when he was no longer satisfied to explore his world from the vantage point of his two little hands and knees and began pulling up on various pieces of furniture. Evidently he liked what he saw because he soon grew tired of just being upright and quickly graduated to the "One Step" method of walking.

Throughout the day, Justus repeatedly and carefully pulled himself up on the living room sofa. Next came the toddler shuffle as he tentatively positioned his stout and very determined little thirteen-month-old body between the sofa and loveseat. Pausing to catch his breath and gather his courage, Justus longingly stared at his goal, the armrest of the loveseat. His big brown eyes seemed to measure the size of the step he would have to take in order to reach his final destination and thus, master that long-held toddler tradition of cruising the furniture.

Eventually, he would let go of the sofa cushion, take "a step" and quickly grab hold of the loveseat. Most of the time, this brave little man then looked over his shoulder at whoever happened to be watching, a huge grin lighting up his face and the room. That was the cue for applause. And believe me, we always applauded. Yes, the "One Step" method of walking served Justus well - until he decided that what he wanted was not anywhere near the sofa or loveseat - and a new strategy was required.

I can imagine his little heart beating with excitement and fear as he realized the profound ramifications of his next move. He had to completely let go of that sofa and loveseat and walk where he had never been - into thin air - with no safety net.

And then it happened. Justus let go and took a step ... then another and another! We held our breath as we watched this special little boy actually walk for the very first time in his life. When he wobbled and fell to the floor, our daughter instinctively reached out to catch her precious child. He didn't see her at first, but when he looked up ... there she was. She had been nearby, watching the whole time. Justus looked into her eyes. Danna squealed with joy, grabbed Justus in a fierce hug and twirled him around the room, laughing and yelling, "Good job! You did it! You walked, honey!" My husband and I joined in the celebration, clapping and cheering along with our daughter. Justus decided that his accomplishment must be worthy of praise and he began to clap as well. In fact, he was so excited that he fell to the floor, kicking, laughing and clapping.  It was both hilarious and profound.

Have you ever felt like you have taken the step God wanted you to take only to find yourself dangling in thin air with no safety net in sight? I have. I don't like it. I want to know what is just ahead and see what is around the next corner of life. It frightens me to take risks. I wonder if God will really be there and come through for me the way He says He will in the Bible. Can I really do what God is asking me to do? Will He be pleased by my seemingly insignificant step of faith? And what happens if I fall? Falling is painful and something I try to avoid whenever possible.

I have great news for you, girlfriend! God is near. His eyes are set on you and His heart delights in your very existence as His daughter. If you listen carefully, you just might hear Him applauding that one tiny step of faith you were willing to take as you walked straight through your fear. God is fully aware of where you are and what you need. Heaven is not in a panic. And when you fall, you can rest assured your Father will be there to hold you in His arms of love and strengthen you for every step of your journey.

Let's Pray

Lord Jesus, I want to see and know You as the loving and caring Father that You are. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I praise You for Your unconditional love that gives me hope when life looks hopeless. Thank You for never leaving me to live in my own strength. Today, I celebrate the truth that I am Your child and when I fall, You will be there.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What step of faith do you need to take today? Create an acrostic using the word, trust. For example:

T  tearing down walls of fear and doubt

R  remembering God is able

U  using His strength

S  stepping out in faith

T  trusting Him

Email your acrostic to me or post it on my Facebook page as an encouragement to others.

More from the Girlfriends

Need help finding God's plan for your life? Check out Mary's new E-Book Bible Study, It's Never Too Late to Be Great. And be sure to check out Mary's NEW weekly Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle, beginning July 8. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons.

[Judy Harder]

When You Feel Like the Caboose
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"...when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).                                                         

Friend to Friend

My hands were clammy. Beads of sweat formed on my brow. A familiar knot in the pit of my stomach threatened to push me toward the restroom, and my dry tongue began cleave to the roof of my mouth. It was 10:25 a.m. In just five more minutes the dreaded event would begin.         

When I was in the first grade, the one academic exercise I feared more than any other was the spelling train. It was sheer torture—at least for me.

"Okay, students," Mrs. March would say. "Everyone pick up your chairs and move them over to the chalk board. It's time for the spelling train."

Twenty first graders slipped their munchkin-sized chairs from their desks to form a semi-circle around our chief engineer. I always put mine at the end.

"Now remember the rules," she explained. "I am going to hold up a flash card. If you read the word correctly, you get to go to the front of the train. If you miss it, you have to go to the caboose."

She held up the cards one by one, and the class chugged along at a quick pace. Dog. Sally. Bob. Spot. Red. Blue. Mother. Stop. Run. Then it was my turn.

"Sharon, what is this word?"

Pause. Giggles.

Well, more often than not I had no idea. And when that happened, I would either guess wrong or sit in silence. I spent most of my time in the first grade spelling train in the caboose.

As the year progressed, I did move up into the passenger cars a few times, but usually I didn't stay there long enough to keep the seat warm. There was one particular word that kept me from ever visiting the engine: T-h-e. So Mrs. March decided she was going to help me. For two weeks, she made me wear a name tag that read "THE" plastered on my chest like the scarlet letter. I can still remember kids coming up to me on the playground, pointing at THE on my chest, and saying, "Hey, what's that? Why are you wearing that? Is your name The? Are you stupid?"

Eventually I did learn how to spell the word t-h-e, but that's not all I learned. I learned that I was stupid; not as smart as everybody else; and just not good enough. But you know what? That wasn't true. Those were lies from the enemy. And it took many years for God to hold me by the hand and help me see myself as He sees me: a uniquely created, dearly loved, completely forgiven, and totally accepted child of God who is capable of doing everything He has called me to do by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That was more than forty years ago, and now I have found joy in stringing written words together. I've noticed that life has many unusual twists and turns when God is at the helm. He takes our greatest weaknesses and turns them into our grandest strengths. That's what happens when we turn our lives over to Him—we get out of the caboose and get to ride up with the chief engineer to places we never imagined possible. When we are weak, then He is strong.

Where are you in the train of life right now? If you're hiding in the back, listen closely and you just might hear God calling you up front where you belong.

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, it's amazing to think of all You have done in my life. You have taken my greatest weaknesses and turned them into my greatest strengths. When I am weak, through the power of the Holy Spirit I am strong. Thank You for working in me and through me. And help me never to believe the lies of the enemy that say I'm not enough again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Do you ever feel like you are in life's caboose? Always at the back? f so, click over to my free living life resources and read the list of Your New Identity in Christ.

Now pick three of those and tell me which ones mean the most to you on my blog page.

For extra encouragement on seeing yourself as God sees you, read 2 Corinthians 11:1–12:10.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you love a good story? I do! Stories tug at the heart and open the eyes to the truths of Scripture in a way only God can do. I have complied 100 of my favorite stories and devotions into one book titled, Listening to God Day-by-Day. It is the perfect book for a quick pick-me-up before you start your busy day or a sweet dreams closure before you turn off the bedside lamp at night. And here's some good news, this book is specially priced for the month of June. Get one for yourself, and we'll include another free for you to share. It won't show up on your receipt, but we'll make sure it is included in your package.

And if you're struggling with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy, check out my book Becoming Spiritually Beautiful to learn how I overcame those inhibiting emotions in my own life.

[Judy Harder]

June 19, 2013
How to Get Past Your Past
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead (Philippians 3:13, NIV).

Friend to Friend

When some of us think of the past, we remember the good old days when everything was better, simpler, cheaper and easier. Some people would like to erase their past while others long to revisit it. I believe memory is one of God's best gifts to us. Someone once said, "Memory can be a wonderful treasure chest for those who know how to pack it."

If we want victory today and hope for tomorrow, we must learn how to deal with our past, because it is unchangeable. While we cannot go back and change our past, we can change our response to our past.

When our daughter, Danna, was a little girl, she was very much like me in many ways, particularly in her approach to morning. We both hated it! And that has not changed! I was always coming up with some way to lure her out of bed each morning. It was not an easy task. One of my staple temptations was Peanut Butter Captain Crunch Cereal. It was her favorite.

One morning, Danna was moving very slowly and my patience was quickly growing thin. In my most cheerful voice, I called, "Danna, it's time to eat." I poured the cereal into her favorite bowl and was adding the milk when I heard her call from her bedroom, "Mom, don't pour the milk yet." Too late! Maybe she wouldn't notice.

A minute later, Danna bounced into the kitchen, a smile on her face. She took one look at the cereal, turned around, and announced, "I cannot eat that!" With as much calm as I could muster, I asked, "What is wrong with this cereal?" Danna slowly turned and slowly said, "Mama, when you pour the milk too early, Captain Cwunch gets soggy. And you can't get the cwunch back!"

The past is much the same. We cannot change it - no matter how hard we try to bury, ignore or wish it away. We are left with a choice to make. We can either allow the past to defeat us, or we can learn how to harness it and use it for good in our lives today. How? For the answer to that question, let's take a look at one of my favorite people in the Bible - David.

David was a man with quite a past. David was the golden boy. He was a shepherd boy, a giant killer and a general and a king. He was also a singer, a poet and author, a husband and father, and a very religious man. David was special to God.

At first glance, David doesn't sound like a man who could be guilty of adultery, murder, hypocrisy, or lust ... and the ugly list goes on. A man who is special to God would more likely be described as proper, cautious, discreet and very godly.

David first spotted Bathsheba while she was taking a bath on the roof of her home. David forgot who he was and whose he was ... and slept with Bathsheba. It gets worse. He sent her husband to the front lines where David knew he would be killed, and then David moved in with Bathsheba. They had kids and pretended that everything was wonderful. Inside, David was dying.

David lost weight, groaned in pain and was always exhausted (Psalm 32). Then God told on him. Everyone found out what David had done, and his life fell apart. David's people no longer trusted him. One child died. His son turned against him, pushed him off the throne and took over. Then this son, Absalom, was killed ... and David was done. He cried out to God in total repentance, "Lord, I have sinned." David then confessed his sin to everyone involved and turned away from that sin.

God forgave him, his health returned, and David was given back his throne. While David lost some things forever, restoration came to his life, and after all of this, God says David "is a man after my own heart."

Frankly, the first time I read the story of David, I was amazed. After all David had done, how could he find favor with God?

God is drawn to broken people. God always works best through broken people. He entrusts His deepest truths to the most wounded and desperate people as those truths fall through the broken places, finding a place to rest and grow.

A Bible teacher was teaching through the book of Deuteronomy when she came to Deuteronomy 6:6  "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." One student asked, "Why does this verse tell us to put God's promises "upon" our hearts instead of "in" our hearts?" The wise teacher responded, "It is not within our own power to place God's truth in our hearts. We must simply place that truth on our heart until it is broken. Then the truths can fall through the broken places, take root and grow."

The desire of God's heart is never condemnation. It is always restoration. David learned how to get past his past. So can we.

Let's Pray

Father, I now surrender my past to You. Please heal the broken places and bring restoration to my life. I now lay down the sin I have cherished for so long and accept Your forgiveness. Help me harness the power of my past to live for You.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Ask God to show you anything in your past that has become a foothold of darkness in your life today. Face it. Deal with it, and let it go.

Read Romans 8:28  What good things has God brought out of the pain in your past? Is your faith stronger? Have you been able to encourage others who have experienced that same pain? I would love to hear your story. E-mail me or connect with me on Facebook.

More from the Girlfriends

Need help dealing with your past? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Study, How to Get Past Your Past. And be sure to check out Mary's NEW weekly Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle, beginning July 8. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons.

[Judy Harder]

June 20, 2013
If Today Was Your Last Day
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live," (Psalm 104:33 NIV).

Friend to Friend

What would you do today if you knew you only had a few months to live?

When I was newly married, I attended a social club meeting of women whose husbands shared the same profession. There was nothing wrong with the gathering. The food was good. Smiles were warm. Conversations were light. But I walked away feeling as though I'd wasted a precious gift—a morning of my life.

The next month I opted not to attend. Instead, I went to a nursery to pick out some flowers to plant in my garden. While musing among the impatiens and begonias, I spotted Carol, a woman whose husband was also in the same profession as mine. Two little girls followed after her as she carefully chose blue, pink, and yellow perennials that would bloom year after year. Carol had cancer and had been given only a few months to live.

Suddenly God spoke to my heart. Sharon, if you knew you had only a few months to live, would you be at the social club meeting or buying flowers with your children? How would you spend your day?

It was a poignant moment as I was reminded of the brevity of life. We never know how much or how little time we have on this earth. I resolved at that moment to spend each day as if it were my last - to make each day count.

Even today I think of the flowers still blooming in Carol's yard year after year. My hope and prayer is that the seeds I plant along life's journey will continue to bloom years after I'm gone.

So let's go back to my original question: What would you do today if you knew you only had a few months to live?

Let's Pray

Dear God, thank You for the gift of this day. Help me to live today and every day as if it could be my last. Help me to make each moment count.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

I wonder how you answered that question. I'm still pondering it myself.

Is there anything that you have longed to do but have been putting off? Writing a friend a letter? Planting a rose garden? Calling an elderly relative? Sharing the gospel with someone? Taking a Bible class.

Click over to my blog page and tell me in one word what this devotion stirred in your heart.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you love a good story? I do! Stories tug at the heart and open the eyes to the truths of Scripture in a way only God can do. I have complied 100 of my favorite stories and devotions into one book titled, Listening to God Day-by-Day. It is the perfect book for a quick pick-me-up before you start your busy day or a sweet dreams closure before you turn off the bedside lamp at night. And here's some good news, this book is specially priced for the month of June. Get one for yourself, and we'll include another free for you to share. It won't show up on your receipt, but we'll make sure it is included in your package.

[Judy Harder]

June 21, 2013
A Soul Poured Out
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"I am a woman who is deeply troubled...I was pouring out my soul to the LORD."

(1 Samuel 1:15, NIV).

Friend to Friend

The Old Testament book of Samuel introduces us to Hannah: a godly woman who had some serious problems.  Her problems weren't brief and they weren't simple.  They were year after year problems.  Challenges that made her feel empty and frustrated. Have you got a few of those in your life?  Sure you do.  We all do.  Each of us go through trials and face pain.         

Hannah experienced infertility and she also had a disturbing rival-wife problem that was miserably complicated. Yes, cringe with me, I said rival-wife.  She was one of two wives to her husband... a cultural norm at the time... but terribly difficult no matter how you slice it. (Read 1 Samuel 1-2 for the full story of Hannah.)  Refreshingly enough, in her pain Hannah didn't pretend to be okay.  She openly admitted, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled" (1 Samuel 1:15).           

There are many lessons we can learn from Hannah, but today I'd like us to look at her response to the problems that burdened her heart.  Hanna took her problems to God.  She cried out to the Lord.  "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD." (1 Samuel 1:10).  She took her burdens directly to God.           

Now, I don't know about you, but all too many times I go to the phone before I go to the throne! Who do you cry to when you are deeply troubled? Do you pour out your soul to the LORD, or just pepper Him with vague prayer requests?  Hannah didn't just briefly bend a knee here, she poured out her soul!  She poured out her sorrow, her disappointments, her frustrations, her depression, her confusion, her anger, her embarrassments, her anguish and her grief.         

She poured out her emptiness!       

And guess what happened?  God filled her with the fullness of His peace!  Before she spent time with the Lord, Hannah had lost her appetite and was filled with despair. After she poured out her soul to God, the Bible shows us that her appetite returned and her countenance had changed.  "Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast" (1 Samuel 1:18, emphasis mine). Hannah was "no longer downcast" because she experienced the One and Only life-changing God in the chamber of His presence.       

God is faithful.  He longs to fill our souls with peace regardless of the circumstances we face.  Hannah was changed in the presence of the almighty LORD, but realize this:  Hannah didn't just do a "drive thru" prayer time with God.  She parked there for a while and did some serious business with Him.       

Have you done any serious business with God lately?           

Got any problems?           

Are you dealing with any difficult people?           

Are you faced with any seemingly impossible situations?         

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:19). When you get serious with God...when you get real honest and pour out your soul to Him, He will faithfully replace your empty with the fullness of His peace, whether he removes your burdens or allows them to remain.           

Don't doubt it for a minute, friend.           

Jesus himself said, "All things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).  Let's each take courage and approach God with confidence today, knowing that He loves us and is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we can ask for or imagine. Spend some time pouring out your soul to Him right now.         

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, I come to You today and humbly ask Your forgiveness for all of the times that I've taken my burdens to others instead of bringing them to You.  Help me to turn to You first when problems come my way. Please blanket my heart with your peace and give me strength for today.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Pause to reflect on the challenges you are currently facing.  Make a list of the top concerns on your heart, and then spend time pouring your soul out to the Lord.

Read Psalm 34, then write out your favorite verses and commit them to memory.

Swing by my blog to share a prayer need, a verse that leapt to your heart or to simply state, "I poured my soul out to Him!"

More from the Girlfriends

I know that many of you are in the trenches of seemingly impossible situations, bearing the weight of very heavy burdens. God cares about your struggles. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Spend some time quieting your soul beside the Living waters of Jesus today.  Turn up your speakers and CLICK HERE to hear my new song "Quiet Me."

Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. 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: www.gwensmith.net.

Seeking God?

[Judy Harder]

June 24, 2013
May She Rest in Peace
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on you. You give peace to those who trust you. So, trust the Lord always. Trust the Lord because he is our Rock forever (Isaiah 26:3-4, ICB).

Friend to Friend

We often associate the phrase "rest in peace" with death and the loss of a loved one. In fact, these words of comfort are often spoken at some point in most funerals I attend or are included in the inscription on many headstones.

Today, I want us to associate the words "rest in peace" with life instead of death.

Yes, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sin so that we can rest in peace when we die, but God also gave His one and only Son so that we can rest in peace every minute of every day. Does that sound like your life? Are you quick to trust God instead of worry? Would the people who know you best describe you as a peaceful person? As I ask myself that question, the words "not so much" come to mind.

The Mayo Clinic once stated that the illnesses in 80 to 85% of their caseload were caused by stress. An article in a leading medical journal entitled "Is Stress the Cause of All Disease?" said that until the beginning of the century, bacteria were the leading cause of illness. Not anymore. Stress is.   

We all long for an inner calm, especially in the valleys of life. We all want, pray for and pursue peace. At the point of desperation, some people pursue peace by numbing their pain with alcohol, drugs, sex ... food ... success ... the list is endless. Remember the old country song that says we look for love in all the wrong places and on the wrong faces? The same can be said about peace.

Some people tend to believe that peace is simply the absence of problems, valleys and trials. Not so! Peace is a calm confidence that the Lord of the mountains is still on the throne - no matter how deep the valley may be. Peace recognizes Jesus walking on the water as He calms the crashing waves and stills the howling winds in your life. Trials become opportunities to trust God when peace reigns in a heart. That kind of peace can only be found in God.

Notice that I did not say we find peace in church membership, in doing good things, in giving large sums of money to a charity or ministry, or even in being a really good person. Peace is a gift. When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we enter into true peace.

Romans 5:1 (NCV) "Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We cannot bargain for or earn peace, girlfriend, but we will experience peace when we are willing to move away from our sin and turn to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, will we find rest in Him. Do you long for just one minute of peace? Don't settle. God offers a lifetime of peace if we are willing to trust Him.

I know the list of trials and storms is long. I honestly do not know how some people get out of bed each morning to face the trials and hard times in their life. I understand that the problems we deal with every single day can weigh us down; but I also know that every problem can be given to God. When we surrender the weight of our trials and pain to Him, we will experience peace. As we allow God to carry the weight of our worry, the burden of our anxiety and the penalty of every sin in our life, peace will reign and leave no room for the deadly trap of stress. Today, girlfriend, I pray that you will trust God and rest in Peace.

Let's Pray

Father, this valley seems so deep and so dark but by faith, I choose to trust You as my Shepherd. I am so tired, Father. Please carry me. I cannot see what is ahead. Will You guide me? I am discouraged and ready to quit. Will You be my strength? I love You and want to please You with my life. Empower me to be all You created me to be.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Memorize Hebrews 13:6 and ask the Holy Spirit to let the truths of this verse sink into every corner of your heart and soul:

Hebrews 13:6 (NIV) "So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

As you spend time with God today, read and affirm the following commitment in your heart and life:

I recognize God as the only source of true peace.
I now completely surrender my valley to God.
I confess any known sin and turn from it.
I choose to rest in Him.
Let's go a little deeper today.Complete the statements below as you make a new commitment to God. Record it in your journal. Date it and sign it. When the next trial comes – and it will come – go back and read the decision you made today, and while your circumstances may have changed, God is the same.

I have tried to find peace in_____________________________.

The valley I am facing today is __________________________.

Until today, my response to this valley has been to _________________________.

I now turn it all over to God and choose to rest in Him, the Shepherd of my every valley.

[Judy Harder]

June 25, 2013
When You Can't Breathe, Buddy Breathe
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"All Scripture is God-breathed," (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV).

Friend to Friend

"Let's go scuba diving!" a friend exclaimed one hot summer day.

"That sounds great," I said. "But I don't know how."

"Just leave it to me," he said.

I was 17 when I decided to go scuba diving with some friends. I had no training and should not have been in deep water, but I was young and threw caution to the wind. The friend who took me below the surface of the deep strapped an oxygen tank on his back, a mask on his face, and flippers on his feet. I only had a mask and flippers.

"Where's my oxygen?" I asked.

"I have it," he answered as he patted the tank on his back. "What we're going to do is jump into the water. I'm going to take a breath through the mouthpiece and then pass it to you. You'll take a breath and pass it back to me. It's called buddy breathing."

So into the ocean we jumped. He put his arm around my waist like I was a sack of potatoes and down we went. John drew oxygen from the tank and then passed the breathing apparatus to me. We took turns breathing. It then occurred to me that I was totally dependent on this young friend to keep me alive.

This was not a very smart idea, but it did leave me with a great life lesson. At various times we will all find ourselves in deep waters. We may feel as though we are drowning with no help in sight. And then a friend comes along and hands us the breathing apparatus. We take a breath and rise quickly to the surface.

Words of my friends have been like oxygen when I feel as though I'm drowning. Even today I have a mental scrapbook of encouraging words passed along to me in the ocean of despair. God has sent friends my way who have strapped on the Word of God and passed the life-giving words to me when I've needed them most.

Buddy breathing. That's what we can do for each other when a friend forgets how to draw in the air she needs. That's what God does for us each time we open the pages of His Word and listen to Him. That's what we long to do here at Girlfriends in God.

Today, inhale a deep breath of God's love. Go ahead. Do it right now. Feel His love fill your lungs. Ah. Now that feels good.

Can I just say right now that I am thankful for you? I am thankful that you have allowed us to come into your life for just a moment, to breathe God's word into your life. You, my friend, have breathed life into ours.

Let's Pray

Lord, thank You for friends who breathe life into me when I feel as though I can't go on. Show me someone who needs a tender touch, a winning word, or a strong shoulder to lean on today. And, Lord, thank You for being that friend for me.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17 to put today's truth in context.

Think of one friend who has breathed life into you when you felt like you were drowning.

Now click over to my blog page and tell me her name. I am going to randomly pick 3 names and send them a free copy of this month's featured book, Listening to God Day-by-Day.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you love a good story? I do! Stories tug at the heart and open the eyes to the truths of Scripture in a way only God can do. I have complied 100 of my favorite stories and devotions into one book titled, Listening to God Day-by-Day. It is the perfect book for a quick pick-me-up before you start your busy day or a sweet dreams closure before you turn off the bedside lamp at night. And here's some good news, this book is specially priced for the month of June. Get one for yourself, and we'll include another free for you to share. It won't show up on your receipt, but we'll make sure it is included in your package.

And if you want to learn more about how to use your words to speak life into those around you - how to encourage and not discourage - see my book The Power of a Woman's Words.