Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

September 19, 2013
Under the Juniper Tree
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; for my expectation is from Him (Psalm 62:5, ASB).

Friend to Friend

Elijah is a great example of a man in need of rest. One day he was the conquering hero, the next we find him sitting under a Juniper tree, wallowing in self-pity – and begging God to let him die. The poor man was simply exhausted. True, it was an exhaustion produced by victory, but it was still exhaustion.

Elijah called down fire from heaven, proving the existence of the only true God, destroying idols and idol worshippers. Big stuff! In fact, it is my personal opinion that he should have been celebrating. So why was he so discouraged? It was a woman, Jezebel, who was largely responsible for his discouragement.

Jezebel was the evil and influential wife of Ahab, King of Israel, and widely known as the real power behind her husband's throne. Jezebel did not worship the one true God of Israel. Instead, she was fanatical in her worship of the pagan god, Baal, and tried to impose her beliefs on the people of Israel. One man stood in her way – Elijah. When Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel, God answered Elijah's prayer with a stream of fire from heaven. You would think that a miracle like that would have convinced Ahab and Jezebel to believe in God. It didn't. In fact, Jezebel was furious. When she learned what had happened on Mt. Carmel with the fire and idols, she put a contract out on Elijah. Now stop and think about that for a moment.

Elijah had been in the presence of God. God had heard and answered Elijah's prayer, putting on an impressive fiery display for all to see. Idols had fallen. The prophets of Baal had either fled or been destroyed. And Elijah is worried about one angry woman? Elijah was tired and needed to rest – big time. He found that rest while sitting under a Juniper tree, waiting in silence for God to show up. I know. God had showed up in big ways for Elijah, but this time, Elijah needed a personal, one-on-one encounter with his Father. I've been there, haven't you?

I'm not very good at waiting. I don't like to wait on anyone or anything and often view the waiting rooms of life as missed opportunities and unproductive circumstances to be avoided whenever possible. And as far as silence goes, if there is a word to be spoken, I will gladly speak it. In fact, for much of my life, I have tried my best to avoid silence and solitude. However, I am learning that while the seasons of silence and the waiting rooms of life are different in nature and purpose, they are always for my ultimate good.

Silence sometimes falls like a sweet, gentle and refreshing rain. I don't have to do anything, be anything or seek anything. I am just with Him and He is with me. I crawl up into my Father's lap and wrap my arms around Him and find healing and restoration. I fall in love with Him all over again as He reminds me that His love for me is unchanging and unconditional. The Father gently reassures my frightened heart that He is not going anywhere and that I can count on Him to be with me – no matter what!

But there are also times when waiting in silence feels more like a bottomless pit from which there is no escape. The darkness is filled with fear and unanswered questions threaten my peace. I am lonely and don't understand what God is doing. I am tired of being hurt and disappointed and quitting seems like the easiest way out. My energy is gone and no one seems to understand.

It doesn't really matter what compels us to crave time under the Juniper tree. It only matters that we come. Clinical depression brought me to my knees and drove me to seek God as never before. It was there that His truth pierced my heart and changed the course of my life with the promise found in Psalm 40:1-3:

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

Oh, I had read the book of Psalms many times, but in the silence under my personal Juniper tree, it settled into my soul and really took root. I began to learn how to wait on God. I came to the precious place of desperation and cried out to Him. I made the deliberate choice to trust Him like the helpless child that I am. During those precious moments, we laughed, cried, and talked about the trials that brought me to the pit of darkness. For the first time in my life, I began to realize that anyone or anything that makes me cry out to God can be counted as a blessing.

I am learning to embrace the silent times of waiting as gifts from His hand to my life. So time under the Juniper tree is good. Sometimes I just need to be reminded. How about you?

Let's Pray

Thank You, Lord, for arranging the circumstances of my life so that I must stop and rest and sit at Your feet in quiet solitude. Thank You for the healing I find there. Thank You for the new truth and redefined purpose for my life. Help me apply the truths I find under the Juniper tree and then give me the strength and determination to share Your plan of deliverance with those who need your restoration. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Do you long for times of silence or avoid them whenever possible? Why? I encourage you to find a few minutes each day this week to spend in silence before God. Establish the habit of a silent retreat when possible. Read the Psalms daily and keep your gaze on God.

More from the Girlfriends

We will never be free from stress this side of heaven – so we had better figure out how to deal with it. That's why I wrote the book, Escaping the Stress Trap, a verse-by-verse study of Psalm 23. If you read Psalm 23 every day for a month, I promise you will see a difference in your stress level.

From a Mess to a Miracle is Mary's current Online Bible Study. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

September 20, 2013
The Power of Quiet
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul (Psalm 23:1-3a, NIV).

Friend to Friend
There are times when laundry takes over my house. Piles build up, though I try to stay on top of them. Many of the clothes are clean and even folded, but not put away. That tricky put-away-part is always hard for me.

Then there are the socks. Oh, the socks! They burden me so! It causes me to wonder. Does an unseen sock nation exist? Are sock-soldiers are on a secret mission to destroy my testimony and drive me crazy? Divide and conquer. That's what they do! Why can't socks just behave? Why can't they ever stay in pairs, and where am I supposed to put the socks that remain unmatched? Sigh.       

Unmatched socks and folded-but-not-put-away-laundry tie me up in knots. Sometimes days go by before I make the time to put them away. Shameful. I know.         

Is it just me?

I've come to realize that my days can be a lot like my laundry situation. At times they get piled up with busy. Sabbath gets squeezed out. Now, when I say Sabbath, I mean the priority of sitting before the Lord just to sit with Him... quietly... expectantly... to listen... to be restored. Though I do include God in my days and breathe prayers throughout, when I don't sit before the Lord and exercise the spiritual discipline of being quiet before God it seems that both old and new burdens can tie my heart into a big frazzled knot.

It had been one of those weeks. Knots. Knots. Knots. Then I finally remembered the power of quiet. I remembered My Restorer. As I sat in the cool still of the morning with a hot mug of coffee in my hand and the warming presence of God in my soul, the burdens of my heart began to drift away. Direction came. Joy resounded. Mercy rained. Peace... deep peace fell.           

The Spirit of God transformed my soul, my thoughts, my goals, and my day. It was as if I had slumbered half the week away. This is where they go. This is where my burdens belong. The old ones that I've written about time and time again in my prayer journal and the new ones that are just beginning to unravel from my heart. This is where they go! I just needed to put my continuous stream of life-burdens away like the unending piles of laundry. Then: order, soul order... peace, compelling peace... joy, divine joy and restoration... it all came.

I sat in wonder.           

Still.         

In His presence.           

Convicted of my failure to remember the power of being quiet before the Lord. Of course this is where they go. I knew that. I knew that. Lord, forgive me. Oh, how I'm thankful for your daily mercy showers. I was met in my mess by the Lord my Restorer.

Each of us is invited to experience God as our Restorer. To know the renewal we long for each day. Jesus invited us personally when he said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).         

When our lives get too busy – when the laundry piles up in our homes and the burdens pile up in our hearts – we often forget the power of quiet. The power of being still before God. The power of listening, expecting, soul-pouring ... receiving rest from our Restorer. His presence sorts souls and never leaves an unmatched burden.     

His presence never leaves an un-lifted burden.           

How great is our God?         

Take some time to power-down and be still before Him right now. Remember the power of quiet as you accept the renewal invitation of Jesus and exchange your burdens and knots for His peace and restoration.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Your mercy is fresh each day, and Your grace piles higher than all my laundry and all my heart-woes. Thank You, Lord! I'm here. Please align my heart to Yours. Quiet me with Your love, direction, and peace today. In Jesus's Name I pray, Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

When is the last time you sat and were still before God – with no music playing, no TV on, etc.?

When we spend purposed time with the Lord, beautiful things happen. Look up Zephaniah 3:17 and fill in the blanks below:

"The LORD your God is _______ _________, he is mighty to save. 
He will take ___________ ______________in you, he will _____________ you with his ______________, he will _____________ over you with ________________."

More from the Girlfriends
Are you up for a personal GiG challenge? I challenge you to add a ten-minute "Sabbath" to your day for the next week. (I recommend you do it as soon as you wake up, but that's your call.) Simply sit before the Lord and let Him know you are there. You might want to start your time by reading a psalm and responding in prayer. Then be still. Just ten minutes a day for a week. Ready for the challenge? Make a public commitment on my blog or Facebook wall. Simply post, "I'm in for the Sabbath Challenge!"

Today's GiG devotion is adapted from Knowing God by Name by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland by permission of Multnomah, division of Random House, Inc. 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 this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

[Judy Harder]

September 23, 2013
God's Calling Out to You
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9 NIV).

Friend to Friend

Eden was full of God's glory—breathtaking beauty with unbroken union and constant communion with God. But as we know, something went terribly wrong, and Adam and Eve found themselves naked and ashamed. And what was the first thing they did when that happened?

They hid.

They hid from God.

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "'Where are you?'" (Genesis 3:8-9). God called out.

God.

Called.

Out.

"Where are you?" God asked. It was the very first question in the Bible, and it was asked by an all-knowing God. He still asks that very question today. Perhaps you've heard it as well. I have.

The real tragedy of Adam and Eve's disobedience was that union between God and man was broken. Shattered. Destroyed. But as soon as Eve sank her teeth into the forbidden fruit, the shadow of the cross rose on the horizon and God's redemptive plan to restore all that we had lost was set in motion. All through the rest of the Old Testament, from Genesis 3:9 to Malachi 4:6, we read of God calling humanity back to Himself.

We read of cycles of humanity's fellowship with God, followed by humanity's rebellion against God, followed by God's wooing humanity back in the midst of difficult circumstances, followed by humanity's repentance, followed by humanity's fellowship with God, followed by humanity's rebellion against God, followed by God's wooing humanity back in the midst of difficult situations, followed by humanity's repentance, followed by humanity's fellowship with God, followed by....

And all along God continues His passionate pursuit of the human heart as He relentlessly romances us, His image bearers, and calls out to us first one way, then another.

Interestingly, the Hebrew word for Bible is mikra, and means the calling out of God. And isn't that what the Bible really is? It is the calling out of God to draw mankind back to Himself? To restore our original glory through the finished work of Jesus Christ? He begins with calling out that very first question: "Where are you?" He ends it the same "I stand at the door and knock," (Revelation 3:20).

The Bible tells us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).There is not one of us who is completely and perfectly living the life that God had intended in the Garden. But the good news is that Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:24-27).It is through that union that glory moments occur. Without Christ in us, we are not even able to detect or reflect God's glory at all. And yet, that was God's original intent for us "in the beginning."

Most people would agree that we are born with an inherent inner nagging that there has to be something more than what we see. Solomon wrote: "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). No matter how humanity has tried to satisfy the hunger, quench the thirst, or mask the reality of God's existence, eternity still pulls at the heart. A longing to experience God persists. The glory ache is a chronic throb.

But here is the good news! Aren't you ready for some good news? This is not our final home! We are merely passing through this thing called life. And until those who know Christ leave this earth and enter God's glory once and for all, until we inhale eternity, He gives us glimpses of glory right here on earth! Moments of sudden glory abound, if we will but take the time to recognize them, to embrace them, to enjoy them ... to taste and see that the Lord is good!

Let's Pray

Here I am, Lord. I'm right here in Your presence. Thank You for not leaving me hiding in shame, but calling me out of hiding to join You in relationship. In Jesus's Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Have you ever felt like you were hiding from God?

Have you ever felt that He was calling out to you?

God still calls out. Jesus still knocks. Look for Him. Listen for Him.

I'd love to hear how God showed Himself to you today!  Let's share at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you long to experience God on a daily basis? Do you hunger to feel closer to Him? Do you want something more in your relationship with Him? The good news is, "something more" does not mean "doing more." God is not waiting for you to get your spiritual life "right." He wants to be with you right where you are. To learn more about how to experience God's presence in all of life, see my book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. It also includes a study guide in the back.

[Judy Harder]

September 24, 2013
I want to love you – my way!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Grandchildren often remind me how to find joy in the simple things of life. Not long ago, I took Lelia and Jaydan, our two-year-old twin grandchildren, on a little shopping trip. When Mimi comes for a visit, there is always a shopping trip on the agenda. Lelia and Jaydan piled into the car and we headed to the store. I think I was more excited than they were. That's how grandmothers are.

Once we were inside the store, we grabbed a shopping cart and off we went in search of treasures. In other words, we needed toys! As we headed to the toy section of the store, we passed the pharmacy - which reminded me that I needed to pick up some vitamins. The twins were very patient as I searched the pharmacy shelves and found what I needed. I tossed the box of vitamins in the cart and said, "Let's go! The toys are just ahead!" 

When we reached the first aisle of the toy section, I reminded Lelia and Jaydan that they could each pick one very special toy for Mimi to buy. Jaydan headed straight for the "crucks" and cars. No surprise there! But Lelia didn't seem very interested in looking at much of anything. Now that was surprising!

As I tried to figure out what the problem could possibly be, I spotted something pink out of the corner of my eye. A closer look revealed a small pink box of Hello Kitty Band-Aids clutched tightly in Lelia's little hands. Judging from the slightly crumpled box, I knew she had been holding her treasure for quite some time. The vitamin aisle! Evidently, Lelia had done a little looking on her own while I was searching for my vitamins; and had come up with a box of Band-Aids. But Mimi did not travel all the way from Kansas to North Carolina to buy her precious little granddaughter a paltry box of Band-Aids!

When I tried to persuade Lelia to pick something else - something a little more exciting than Band-Aids - she politely refused. Lelia was happy, but Mimi was not. I wanted to buy her a "real" toy, but what Lelia really wanted was a box of Hello Kitty Band-Aids.

We often treat irritating people the same way. Have you noticed that sandpaper people are usually needy people? I have discovered that irritating behavior is often nothing more than a plea for help in disguise. True love - God's love - looks beyond abrasive behavior to see and meet the real needs of a difficult person.

Meeting a need in the life of a sandpaper person can be messy and usually demands a sacrifice of some kind on our part. It is easier to simply placate or avoid difficult people than it is to love them the way they need to be loved. It makes our life easier. For example, when we see that sandpaper person coming, we turn around and head in the opposite direction. When the caller ID indentifies our sandpaper person as the caller, we do not answer. Hurried conversations replace a listening heart. We offer tolerance instead of acceptance. And God is not pleased. He is committed to our character - not to our comfort.

God wants us to love each other in the same way that He loves – unconditionally. In fact, God wants us to love in such a way that the people around us will know we are fully devoted followers of Christ. I wonder what our relationships would look like if we did. Who knows? That sandpaper person may very well turn into a velvet person.

Let's Pray

Father, Thank You for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs in my sandpaper person's life and show me how to meet those needs in a way that pleases You. I pray that others will see Your love working in and through my life. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Nowhere in the Bible will you find the words, "When you feel like it, love others." Nope! It is not in there. The Bible tells us to practice love. Love is a choice – not an emotion or a feeling. Loving sandpaper people usually requires a deliberate choice on our part. I challenge you to step out in faith today and choose to love that difficult person in your life. Read the following commitment and fill in the blanks with the name of your sandpaper person. Be sure to sign and date your commitment.

Father, I choose to love _____________________ as a step of obedience to You.

I will show Your love to _____________________ by sending her a note of encouragement. I will pray for _____________________, remembering that she is made in Your image, and that You love her just as much as You love me.



Sign____________________________ Date _____________________________

More from the Girlfriends

I know it is hard to love someone who is constantly on your nerves. In fact, it is impossible without the power of God in your life. Sharon, Gwen and I understand how hard it is to love difficult people, so we hold each other accountable. I encourage you to recruit a girlfriend who is willing to do the same for you.

Need help understanding the Bible?Check out Mary's online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and join women across the world in learning how to apply God's truths to your daily life in her current study, From a Mess to a Miracle. Enroll today and have access to all of the 2013 lessons. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

September 25, 2013
Do You Want to Be Pursued?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

My lover spoke and said to me, 'Arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me'(Song of Songs 2:10, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I was in college when I first eyed my husband. He was sitting on the floor at a friend's Bible study gathering with his back against the wall, dressed in scruffy jeans and a red flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up his muscular forearms. His thick brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes left me weak in the knees. And the best part was that this handsome hunk of a man had a tattered Bible in his lap. He laughed easily, prayed humbly, and read intently. I was smitten from the first time I laid eyes on Steve.

After a few weeks, he finally asked me out on a date. We continued seeing each other over the next several weeks, but I was still accepting invitations from others as well. One night, Steve asked me to a college football game, and I agreed to go. Then he said, "Can I just ask you? Will you go with me to all of the football games for the rest of the year?"

"I'm not going to answer that question," I replied. "You'll just have to ask me each week."

Looking back on those early days, what I was really saying was that I wanted to be pursued. None of this blanket invitation for the entire fall business. I wanted to be wooed and won. Even though he had me the moment I saw him sitting on the shag carpet floor, I didn't want him to know that. I wanted him to show me I was worth putting forth the effort to capture my heart. Isn't that the desire of every woman's heart?

And nobody does it better than God.

I love what Simon Tugwell once said: "So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart.  But it is the other way about. He is looking for us."

Oh friend, God has pursued and continues to pursue you every day. A sunset. A dandelion growing through a crack in a concrete sidewalk. A favorite song on the radio. He is pursuing you like a love-struck beau. Pay attention and enjoy His advances as He pursues you today.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I swoon thinking of how you pursue me. Me, one so unworthy of Your advances. Help me to recognize Your love notes throughout the day. I am my beloved's and He is mine.

In Jesus's Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Today, consider reading the story of the Samaritan woman that Jesus met at the well (John 4:1-26, 39-42).  Look at the great lengths He went to pursue her heart.

Remember, this was a time in history when men did not speak to women in public. Jews did not enter Samaria. Women were not allowed to study under a rabbi's teaching. And here's another tidbit. This was the first person that Jesus told that He was the Messiah.

How has Jesus pursued you? Let's share at  www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends

We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes. But when we understand how oppressive the culture into which Jesus stepped was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours. My book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encounteredis an insightful look at every encounter Jesus had with women while here on earth. Visit my website to order this life-changing book, download a free sample chapter, or watch a free video. You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.

[Judy Harder]

September 26, 2013
Patience Pays Off
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Patience is not one of my greatest strengths. In fact, I tend to live each day with a schedule in mind, an agenda by which to live that day, and several goals I need to meet before the day's end. God does have a sense of humor. I can't tell you how many times my schedule falls apart, the agenda is completely forgotten, and I have to move today's goals to tomorrow. I am learning that when God wants to build a certain quality in my life, He puts me in the opposite circumstance. For example, if God wants me to be more patient, He arranges the hours and minutes of my day in ways that demand patience.

What is patience? To be patient is to have the ability to endure, but it doesn't stop there. Patience must also have the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate. In other words, patience is love persevering and love waiting. We are not only to be patient in the way we face difficult situations, but in our relationships as well.  That just about covers life, doesn't it?

One of the most powerful Bible passages on patience and perseverance is found in the book of James.  "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

Do you want to be blessed? Stand firm in your trial. Do you want to be rewarded? Stand firm in that tough circumstance. Be patient – because patience really does pay off. God promises blessings and rewards to those who persevere and stand firm in hard times. We can stand firm because God loves us unconditionally and promises to walk with us through every dark moment life will bring. Nothing touches us that does not pass through God's hand, with His permission.

Remember the Bible story of the man named Job? Job was a faithful servant of God, strong in his faith and unwavering in his obedience to God. Satan didn't like it. In fact, he went to God and asked permission to test Job. I love it! The devil had to go to God like an errand boy in order to get permission to touch His child, Job. Satan was convinced that if Job lost everything God had given him, his health, his family, and his possessions, Job would curse God and follow Satan. God told the serpent to give it his best shot, convinced that Job would persevere. Satan stripped Job of his health, his possessions, his wealth and his family – everything Job held dear. Job stood firm.

Every trial must come through God's love, but every trial has a purpose. Every pain has a purpose, every ordeal contains a seed of victory, and there is a promise for every problem you and I will ever face. The psalmist writes, "The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy" (Psalm 28:7).

Patience pays off in many ways, but one of the greatest rewards of patience is joy, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Warren Wiersbe writes, "When God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat!"

God will never let us face more than we can handle with His help. Hebrews 12:12 says, "So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs." I have been there, done that and can relate to a weary heart and shaky legs.

An evangelist told the story of his friend who, during the depression, lost a job, a fortune, a wife and a home, but he held onto his faith. One day, the friend stopped to watch some men building a stone church. One of the workers was chiseling a triangular piece of rock. "What are you going to do with that?" asked the friend. The workman said, "Do you see that little opening way up there near the spire? Well, I'm shaping this down here so that it will fit up there." Tears filled the eyes of the broken man as he walked away. It seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain the trials of his life." God is using the trials here on earth to refine and purify us. In Colossians 1:11, the apostle Paul writes, "God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient!"

No matter where you are today, where you have been, or what you are facing tomorrow, be patient, knowing your God will strengthen you to stand firm.

Let's Pray

Father, please forgive me when I am impatient. Help me to see You at work in the trial and choose to depend on Your strength instead of my own. Help me to see Your purpose and plan, but even if I can't understand it all, help me to stand firm in faith. Lord, make me more patient so that others will see You in me. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Now It Is Your Turn

Read Romans 12:12 "Be patient when trouble comes." What trouble in your life today requires patience? Are you willing to choose faith and obedience by trusting God with that trouble? 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "Be patient with everyone." What relationship in your life demands patience from you? What one thing do you need to change in order to choose obedience to God as you relate to this person?

Read Ephesians 4:2 "Always be humble, gentle and patient." Notice that patience is listed along with two other important qualities God wants to see in us. How do you think patience relates to humility and gentleness?

More from the Girlfriends

The only thing worse than learning from experience is not learning from experience. I am with you, friend. I encourage you to check out my book, Sandpaper People, as a resource for those difficult relationships in your life. You can also download an MP3 file of "Patience Pays Off" by visiting the online store of my website.

[Judy Harder]

September 27, 2013
When God Does a New Thing
Gwen Smith


Today's Truth
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Friend to Friend
I admit, I'm a sucker for the makeover shows. It doesn't matter what kind... home makeovers, fashion makeovers... or even the shows that take a person from drab or flab to fab. I just love to see an amazing transformation! Don't you?

Last summer we "transformed" our family a bit when we added a bouncy little puppy to the mix. Fun, right? Mostly, yes, but there is a bit more to the story...

Let's just say that it took a good while for our precious new addition to get the hang of potty training and healthy chewing patterns. Our little, little dog caused us big, big problems when he chewed up and stained our family room carpet.

It. Looked. Awful.

For months!

Eventually, when he grew into his bladder and better doggy habits, I was ready for a makeover of a carpet-kind in my munched-on, stained-up family room. So we went to the home improvement store, ordered new carpet and waited with excitement for installation day.

When the day finally came around, I watched the installers painstakingly remove the old flooring layer by layer. First they pulled back and removed the stained, chewed up carpet. Then they tore out the worn down old pad and put all the nasty, soiled carpet and padding in their van to take to the dump.

Next they cleared away the remaining debris – cleaned the entire area – and installed the fresh flooring. A fluffy new foundation of padding and carpet! Hallelujah! It was a beautiful transformation!

God is all about beautiful transformations. He is an active, deeply personal, infinitely caring God who restores us on a heart level with a makeover of a masterful kind. When we turn to Him in repentance, He takes the broken, stained areas of our lives away and replaces our mess with a beauty that is far beyond ourselves – the beauty of Christ.

The Bible has a great deal to say about what happens when we turn to God:

"Those who look to him are radiant; they are never covered in shame." Psalm 34:5

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Listen, friend, I am living proof of the scandalous nature of God's grace... of His willingness to forgive and restore ugly, tattered heart places. I don't write from a platform of perfection, but from a foundation of grace that was finished and established by the blood of Jesus Christ.

He came so that you and I could live beyond our pasts – beyond our disappointments – beyond our biggest mistakes and our deepest pains. He came so we could be forgiven and made new. So we could have abundant life.

Full. Life.

I don't know where this finds you right now, but God surely does. He knows and sees everything – and still His love remains.

We all have brokenness that needs fixingand stains that need to be cleaned. We all need a makeover! The good news of the Gospel is simple: when we call out to God and seek His heart and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, He does a new thing! He meets us with mercy, forgives us completely, blesses us with grace and does a masterful, life-changing work of transformation.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I'm so grateful that You love makeovers as much as I do! You know my heart and You know my messes, failures and wounds. Please create a clean heart in me today, Lord. Would You do a new and beautiful thing? In Jesus's Name I pray, Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Are you ready to move forward in God's fresh grace today? Click over to my blog or my Facebook page and leave a comment that says, "I'm ready for a new thing!" While you're there, check out the photo of my precious problematic puppy and take a moment to listen to the song Broken into Beautiful.

Is there someone you know who needs to read this message? Forward this email. Post it on your social media sites. Share the hope of healing.

More from the Girlfriends
My full testimony is featured the book, Broken into Beautiful, along with Scriptural truths and stories of how God has brought restoration the hearts of many other women who had painful life wounds. 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 my website.

[Judy Harder]

September 30, 2013
When God Romances You
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely, (Song of Songs 2:14, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Aren't you glad that God refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ? I asked my husband what pictures come into his mind when he reads God's description of the Church as the Bride of Christ. He gave me a strange look and said, "None, really." I'll admit, I can't picture Steve walking down the aisle in a flowing wedding gown, but oh sister, I can see myself dressed in a satin and lace, pearl-studded gown with a flowing veil, and walking down the aisle of heaven to meet Jesus—my heavenly Bridegroom. Can't you? What glorious imagery God has given to His female image bearers.

Perhaps one of the most romantic books in the Bible is the Song of Songs, or as some translations title it, The Song of Solomon. While it can be read as King Solomon's wooing the Shulammite woman working in the fields, many theologians, including Augustine, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor, and at least one gal from the South, see it as an allegory of Jesus wooing the heart of His Bride.

I have been like the Shulammite woman who questioned God's pursuit. She felt unworthy of her suitor's advances. "Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun," she cried (Song of Songs 1:6). Her hands were stained from tending her brothers' vineyard. Her skin was burnt by the blazing sun. Her feet were calloused from walking bare on hardened ground. But the king looked past all the outward signs of a hard-lived life, and saw only her beauty.

When I first read those words through the lens of Jesus pursuing me, tears filled my eyes. And yet, the tears were not for the Shulammite woman. The tears were for myself.

I grew up in a home riddled with cyclical bursts of physical violence and constant emotional turmoil. My father drank very heavily and my parents fought, both verbally and physically, in front of me. Many nights I went to bed, pulled the covers up around my chin, and prayed that I would hurry up and go to sleep to shut out the noise of the yelling, screaming, and arguing in the next room. My parents were so wrapped up in their own problems, they were unsure how to show love to their children. I lived in a beautiful house and all my physical needs were cared for. But my heart was hungry for something I couldn't define. An undercurrent of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy ran through my entire existence and became the window through which I viewed my little world.

From my earliest remembrance, I felt that I wasn't good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Looking back through my scrapbook of photos, I was actually a cute little girl. However, when someone feels ugly, the mirror on the wall somehow bypasses the reflection in the glass and goes right to the heart. No wonder my daddy doesn't love me, I thought on many occasions.

And yet, the King spied me in the fields and wooed me. Through a two-year courtship, Jesus pursued my adolescent heart until I finally stopped shunning His advances and allowed myself to be caught."I am my Beloved's and His desire is for me." Every girl's dream.

There are many different types of love: motherly love, friendship love, patriotic love, and a host of other shades and varieties. But romantic love brings with it colors and hues that are specific and unique to every other on the spectrum of emotions. Lovers are consumed with ways to make each other happy. They long for together times and feel a sense of loss when apart. Lovers are willing to sacrifice just about anything to be together. They lie awake at night dreaming up ways to make the other happy. An embrace. A kiss. A word. A look. Each of these ordinary movements between friends or acquaintances becomes rapturous between lovers.

How lovely that God has chosen romantic love to describe how He feels about you. And what He really desires is for you to express that love in return in an intimate relationship.

Let's Pray

Jesus, I honestly don't know what you saw in me, but I'm so glad You thought I was worth pursuing. I do love You so. Thank You for pursuing me and catching me in your love net. I am captivated by Your love. In Jesus's Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Look up the following verses in the Song of Songs and envision Jesus saying the words to you!

Song of Songs 1:9,15; 2:2,14; 4:1-7 

More than the love story between a woman who felt unworthy of attention and a man captivated by her beauty—the Song of Songs is a beautiful picture of Jesus wooing and winning His Bride...you.

You have captured Jesus' attention just as surely as the Shulammite maiden captured the young king's who eyed her in the fields.

Click over to my Facebook page and let me know how it makes you feel to know that God has pursued you.

More from the Girlfriends

Have you ever felt like you weren't smart enough, pretty enough, or just not good enough? Well, God thinks differently. If you would like to learn how to have the confidence of a woman who knows she is deeply loved, completely forgiven and powerfully equipped to do all God has called her to do, then my  book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, is the book for you. Begin seeing yourself as God sees you and leave those lies behind.

[Judy Harder]

October 1, 2013
Indiana Jones' School of Faith
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it" (Hebrews 11:1, ICB).

Friend to Friend

I have a love-hate relationship with the movie, "The Last Crusader." The hero, Indiana Jones, is constantly hovering above some bottomless pit, or frantically dodging bullets, flying knives, hoards of sinister enemies, and nasty creatures that are trying to kill him and prevent him from completing his mission. It is exhausting to watch! One part of the movie stands out above the rest as terrifying moments go.

As usual, Indiana is on the run and comes to a chasm he must cross in order to obtain the Holy Grail. No bridge. No net. No ropes or hat tricks - just air, and nothing but air.

At this point in the movie, I am looking for a tangible resolution to Indiana's predicament. Maybe a hidden elevator built into the side of the abyss or an alternate route to the treasure. You know, something you could touch and see and ... well, explain.

Instead, the treasure map dictates a ridiculous solution that makes no sense at all, but demands a huge step of faith. If Indiana will just step over the edge of that bottomless pit ... a bridge, a rock wall will appear. Right! How about that bridge appears and then Indiana traipses across it?

Nope. That is not the plan.

Even though I have seen the movie several times, my stomach still lurches as Indiana closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and cautiously steps out into air and the seemingly bottomless abyss. If the treasure map is wrong and the wall does not appear, Indiana Jones will surely plummet to his death. Fortunately, the clue is correct, the wall does appear, and Indiana Jones races across to safety, resuming his quest, and leaving several powerful lessons of faith for us to consider.

In order to experience the power of God, we have to be willing to step out in faith, even when it seems there is no way and no solution to the problem at hand, and our strength is gone. God will strengthen us as we go.

At the center of every challenge is an opportunity for trust in God to work. Every problem contains a concentrated opportunity and offers the option of stepping out in faith.

The highest truths God has to offer are rarely enclosed in a beautifully wrapped or elegantly presented package and handed to us on a silver platter. I am convinced that our Father takes heaven-sent treasures, buries them at the heart of a huge problem, then watches and applauds when we have what it takes to break that problem apart, finding the wealth hidden there in the darkness. The words of Isaiah say it well. "And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name" (Isaiah 45:3,NLT).

Some things cannot be learned in the light. The greatest treasures are often buried in the deepest pits and require a step of faith to discover.

We all have faith. We go to a doctor we don't really know and are handed a prescription we cannot read. We then take that prescription to a pharmacist, a total stranger, who presents us with a mysterious bottle filled with pills that we swallow – all in faith. Our problem is not so much a lack of faith, but rather where we place that faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (ICB) "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it."

Faith is built upon trust. God wants us to trust Him - even when we do not understand what is happening and cannot explain the circumstances. Even when nothing makes sense and everything seems wrong. It is easy to trust God when the seas are calm and the skies are clear, but the strength of our faith is measured in the midst of a raging storm. A crisis always reveals what is really inside.

What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Faith is a deliberate choice to believe God, to walk through our fear, knowing we really can trust Him. 

Let's Pray

Father, I am tired of living a life that can be explained and understood in human terms. My heart longs to walk by faith, counting on Your strength instead of my own, knowing You orchestrate every step to illustrate Your power made perfect in my weakness. Today, I choose to trust You instead of demanding an explanation for what is happening in my life. Right now, I choose to walk through my fear and step out in faith.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Matthew 17:20 says even a tiny amount of faith pleases God. "I (Jesus) tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

A mustard seed is tiny, but once planted, it grows into a huge tree. Jesus said a little bit of faith can have incredible results. We don't need a lot of faith - just as much as a mustard seed to produce great results. Why? Because our God is an awesome God and our faith depends on Him.

What is the greatest storm in your life today?

What step do you need to take to face that trial with faith instead of fear?

What is keeping you from trusting God and stepping out in faith?

More from the Girlfriends

Need help? Mary's MP3, E-Bible Study, video download, and CD, Strength for the Storm will help you discover how to appropriate God's power and strengthen your faith. Join women from across the world in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, A Balanced Life: the Impossible Dream. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

October 2, 2013

Establishing Boundaries – Setting Priorities
Part One
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

And God said, 'I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs' (Isaiah 41:18, NIV).

Friend to Friend

To celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary, my husband and I traveled to the enchanting island of Maui, where we decided to explore the rugged terrain and tropical beauty along an infamous road called the Hana Highway. The brochures promised black sandy beaches, a view of Hawaii's largest volcano wreathed in clouds, African tulip trees with orange-red blossoms, exotic plants tucked among bamboo forests, and breath-taking vistas of raucous waves crashing against rocky cliffs.

Instead of being carted up the mountain in the comfort of a cushy air-conditioned tour bus, we decided to rent a car and travel at our own pace. After all, the tour guide from the hotel lobby informed us that it would take three to four hours to travel fifty-two miles to the road's end. Being city dwellers who move at a fairly rapid pace, we surmised that the laid-back Hawaiian was simply planning to take his time puttering up the mountainside. We were sure we could make the trip in one-fourth his time.

Mr. Tour Guide warned us, "The road is very windy and difficult to maneuver."

"It's just a sales ploy," I whispered to Steve. "We don't need a guide. Besides, if he can drive that big bus up the road, surely we can maneuver this little Buick."

I should have had second thoughts as I passed by a T-shirt in the gift shop that read, "I survived the Road to Hana."

The fifty-two mile stretch of highway was anything but a stretch. It was as if a two-year-old had held a fat crayon in his chubby hand and scribble-scrabbled circles on a piece of paper. Then a surveyor, mistaking the twists and turns for a map, designed the road accordingly. One writer noted that calling it a highway was like calling a Volkswagen a limousine.

Yes, there were many spectacular views, but I missed many of them because my motion-sick eyes were closed.

Well, three and one-half nerve wrecking hours, 54 bridges (many which were one lane) and 617 hairpin-turns later, we made it to the crest of the mountain and the end of the Hana Highway. Was it worth the twists and turn, cliff hanging maneuvers, and near head on collisions? Yes.

The sight that I beheld when we reached the top will forever be etched in my mind. A series of seven interconnected pools spilled into one another down the mountain and formed the spectacular Wiamoku Falls. The rains from heaven pour into the first pool at the top. When it is filled, it spills into a majestic waterfall that ends in the second pool several yards down the mountain. The second pool overflows to a third pool, then a fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. Eventually, the seven waterfalls flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Those seven cascades are much like our relationship with God and all the other areas of our lives. When we come to Christ, God pours His blessings into us, filling us with His love, power, and grace. The more time we spend with Him, the more we become full of His love, which spills over to those around us.

The seven pools reminded me of the boundaries and priorities I should have in my life. In our fast-paced, upside-down society, boundaries are blurred, roles are reversed, and priorities perplex us. Looking at the falls, I saw the flow of my priorities, with my relationship with God being at the top, followed by my relationship with my husband, my role as a mom, my ministry to the world, etc.

If I put my child first, and start at pool number three, everything else suffers. If I start at pool number four, where my ministry would be, everything else suffers. I have to start at the top with my relationship with God for the flow to be the most beautiful.

Let me go back to the Wiamoku Falls for just a moment. On some days, the seven falls are more spectacular than others. When there are heavy rains and frequent storms, God fills the pools to bursting and water rushes grandly from one step to the next. The results are spectacular; however, no one likes to get caught in the downpour.

How like our Christian walk. No one enjoys the storms of life. But it seems that it is during those times that God fills us to overflowing and onlookers are inspired and refreshed by the splashes of His grace displayed in our lives.

But dry periods sometime come when the falls are reduced to a mere trickle and appear inconsequential and insignificant. We feel we aren't much to look at, and those watching aren't "oohing" and "aahing." That's when we need to pray that He will shower us with His presence and fill us anew.

No matter how your waterfall looks today, I'm praying that God will fill your pool with mercy, grace, and love so that you will spill over to all those around you.

If you are ready to make God your number one priority, click over to my facebook page and say, "I'm ready to get my life in order!"

Let's Pray

Lord, fill me to the brim so that I can spill your love, mercy, and grace onto those around me. Forgive me for putting other people and priorities ahead of You. Help me to live and move and have my being in You today. Thank You for being with me at all times.

In Jesus's Name,

Amen.

More from the Girlfriends

Draw a picture of those seven waterfalls on a piece of paper. They should look like seven stair steps. Now write what you want your priorities to look like by writing one on each step.

How does what you desire actually match up with your reality?

Need to make any changes?

More from the Girlfriends

If you need a little help in the priorities department, Lysa TerKeurst and I wrote a book that might be just what you need. This is a toughie. That's why it took two of us to write it! Check out A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life on my site, and while you're there, sign up for my blog for more inspiration and encouragement.