Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

November 12, 2009 

I Choose Love! 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
John 15:12 "Love one another as I have loved you."

Friend To Friend
For many of us, the holidays not only usher in a time of celebration but a season of pain as well. Once again, we must face and deal with the hurt of old relationship wounds inflicted by some sandpaper person in our life. It may be a family member, a friend or even a mate or child that is at the center of the injury. They may even be coming to our house for the holidays! God's command to love one another like He loves us seems impossible to obey. It is - outside the strength and power of God. One of the greatest illustrations of God's unconditional love demonstrated by man is the story of Hosea (Hosea 3:1-5).

Hosea was married to a young woman named Gomer who was definitely a sandpaper person in his life. They had three children and seemed happy until Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea.  Leaving him, she became a prostitute, selfishly clinging to her depraved desires while betraying Hosea's love and breaking the covenant of marriage. Hosea had every right to walk away from Gomer and sever his commitment to her. No one would have blamed him and most would have cheered him but God's love calls us up to higher choices, supernatural choices that demand supernatural action.

The marriage of Hosea and Gomer is meant to be a picture of our relationship with God, illustrating the stubborn and unwavering love of God for His children. It is a love that refuses to give up and will never end. Like Gomer, we have been unfaithful to God.  We have become prostitutes of this world, depending on the wrong people and the wrong things, selling ourselves to unworthy desires and goals. We have run from Him and His love nailed to the cross, straight into the arms of our own inadequacies and selfish desires. We have even worshipped false gods, filling our lives and hearts with the clutter of people and things we reverence instead of worshipping the one true God. We must face the stark reality that anything or anyone standing between God and us is an idol. Like Gomer we have become comfortable in our sin, complacent in a disobedient lifestyle. In fact, we are quick to lavish condemnation on Gomer while we cherish and cling to our own pet sins. Our judgmental and hypocritical attitude is abrasive to the heart and nature of God. 

Just as Hosea loved Gomer, God loves us unconditionally, right in the middle of our sin. Romans 5:8 is our hope and deliverance, "But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners" (NCV). The name "Hosea" means "salvation" and just like Hosea was Gomer's salvation, God is ours. He looks past our rebellious hearts filled with unfaithfulness, and pursues us. Like Hosea, God is eternally committed to us, refusing to give up until He brings us home. I love the words of Paul as he celebrates the security of his relationship with his God, "Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:39 (NLT).

C. S. Lewis says it well: "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change.                    It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, and irredeemable. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell." Mother Teresa said, "Love, to be real must cost!  It must hurt!  It must empty us of self!"  The words of King David reveal the essence of love and forgiveness: "But King David answered, "No, I must pay the full price. I won't take anything that is yours and give it to the Lord. I won't give an offering that costs me nothing" 1 Chronicles 21:24 (ICB).

Hosea could have played it safe. Nowhere in scripture does it suggest that Gomer was ever repentant. Hosea had no guarantee that she would not do the very same thing again.  In fact, he took a huge risk in bringing Gomer home. Can't you just hear his friends and family? "You deserve better, Hosea. I have to tell you that this makes no sense. I don't want to see you get hurt again. Walk away from her, Hosea. Taking her back is a big mistake."

In our relationships, especially with sandpaper people, what passes for true love is often little more than a convenient emotional arrangement. Someone is kind to us so we are kind in return. Someone treats us badly, so we don't get mad, we get even. Sound fair?  Seem reasonable? It is - but only in human terms. God's unfailing love never gives up and goes far beyond human understanding or reasoning, refusing to settle for justice alone. God's love never gives up and insists on granting mercy.

Right now, celebrate the love and forgiveness of God in your life. Set the focus of your mind and heart on Him. Choose to love and forgive the person who has hurt you and then surrender your pain to your Father and let Him bring healing and restoration to your life.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You with a wounded heart knowing only You can offer healing and restoration. I now surrender my pain to You and ask that You replace it with Your unconditional and supernatural love. Help me see the person who has hurt me through Your eyes. Lord, I simply cannot do this on my own but I choose love. I choose forgiveness. This holiday season, I choose to honor You with the gift of obedience.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. 
Evaluate your attitude toward the difficult people in your life using these verses as your standard. How did you measure up? 
Go back over your "emotional books" for any old wound, hurt or pain that you have not really faced. Are you willing to deal with it now? Are you ready to surrender your pain to God and let Him love that difficult person through you? 
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 every day during this holiday season and let the Holy Spirit write its truths upon your heart. Make the choice to love and forgive and God will empower that choice.

More From The Girlfriends   

We all have sandpaper people in our life but they seem a bit more abrasive during the holidays. Get ready now! Mary's book Sandpaper People offers ten principles for dealing with the difficult people in your life. They are practical ... and they work because they are straight from God's Word. (Also available in CD and MP3 download)

Don't miss the Holiday Sales Event going on right now in Mary's online store. You will also find new E-Book Bible Studies and MP3 downloads just out!

Want to get on track in your daily bible study? Take a look at Mary's weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 13, 2009
What Dwelling?
Bonnie Schulte

I hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions.  We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends.  From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry.  We call them our "Friday Friends."  So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend", Bonnie Schulte.

Today's Truth
Psalm 91:1 (NIV) "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Friend to Friend
Having placed the box of Christmas decorations on a recently built shelving unit, I turned off the storage room light switch and walked up the flight of stairs leading into our kitchen. As I approached the top landing, I unexpectedly met my husband.

"Hey, hon." I greeted with a smile. "You're home early today."

His response floored me.

"Well, I guess I'm going to be home for a while. I just lost my job," he replied as he set his brief case on the floor.

Not again! We were barely out of the boxes from our most recent move just seven months earlier. It was almost impossible to comprehend what had happened. A reorganization in one department led to a realignment in another. Bottom line, we were left without a job.

Throughout the last fifteen years, I experienced the effects of changes in my husband's career. Because of promotions, downsizing, firing, and restructuring, we moved six times to six different states. You would think by now I wouldn't be fazed by what I just heard. But I was dumbfounded.

At a loss for words and with tenderness in his eyes, my husband gathered me in his arms. We embraced in absolute silence. At the same time, I clung tightly to the promises of our Most High God.

I became frustrated many times during the next months. I fought nagging fears about my family's future. Psalm 91 became my source of encouragement and assurance.

When we sold one house and purchased another, I thanked God for His provision. Yet, I craved stability. "Dwelling? What dwelling?" I called out to God. I was weary of living in a perpetual state of "temporary." Worn out from picking up, packing up and starting over, my heart of gratitude collided with a longing for permanence as I laid my worry before Him.

It's been said that worry is like a rocking chair. It gives us something to do, but it doesn't get us anywhere. In fact, according to one statistic, we can't do anything about 70 percent of our worries.

40% are things that will never happen

30% are about the past—which can't be changed

12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% are about health, which gets worse with stress

8% are about real problems that can be solved

When my thoughts became uneasy, I recited the words of Psalm 91. Filled with an abundance of beautiful descriptions of how God cares for us, the psalmist assures us God is concerned for our physical safety, as well as our spiritual protection.

He delivers us from every type of danger. Nothing can touch those whom He protects. We find rest when we dwell in the Almighty's shadow and protection from harm and disaster when we make the Lord our dwelling.

It's been eighteen months since my husband lost his job. He has a new position and we're getting settled into a new physical location.

I'm becoming familiar with our new community and working through the inevitable details of moving, including getting a new driver's license, transferring auto insurance plans, and locating a new doctor and dentist. A hairstylist? Aaahh, now that one can take a bit longer. Fortunately, I've adapted a fresh philosophy where my hair is concerned—it eventually grows back, even after a bad cut.

Spiritually, I'm staying firmly entrenched under God's shadow, in His Word, and in His promises.

I know life isn't all roses. If it were, Psalm 91:15 would have no meaning, "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

Let's Pray
Almighty Lord, when I get scared I become frustrated. As I think about all the "what ifs," worries begin to consume me. I'm sorry for not trusting You. Please help me dwell in Your presence and find sweet rest in Your shadow.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
There is a difference between legitimate concern and excessive worry. Look up Matthew 6:25-34. What does Jesus say about worry?

Read Philippians 4:4-9. What does Paul say are three steps to victory over worry?

More From The Girlfriends
Leaving behind the familiar and facing the unknown is hard. Today's devotion was taken from Nomad Wife - Lessons Learned Unpacking Boxes. Grab a box and join Bonnie Schulte, as together with Jesus Christ, you pick up, pack up, and move on.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 16, 2009   

Valued   

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Mark 5:32 (NIV) "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Friend To Friend
If you have ever felt worthless, this woman knows how you feel.  For twelve years she suffered from bleeding, and no one could find a cure. The more money she spent on treatment, the worse her condition grew. Her money was gone ... her heart was spent. In Jesus' day, a woman was considered 'unclean' during her monthly cycle. This woman had been considered 'unclean' for twelve years. Untouchable. Unacceptable. Worthless.

But she had heard about this Jesus. "He heals the sick. He raises the dead. He restores sight to the blind." Perhaps he could heal me, she hoped.

Can you see her? Her head was covered. Her eyes were downcast, hoping no one would recognize her as she scurried through the crowd.

If I could just touch the hem of his garment, she mused. I know I am not supposed to be out in public, but I have nowhere else to turn. There he is! I see Him!

Thinking that she could "steal" a healing, the woman reached through the crowd and touched the corner of Jesus' robe. Immediately, the flow of blood ceased.

But what happened next was even more miraculous than the physical healing she received. Jesus stopped the caravan of followers to recognize one who felt worthless in the world's eyes.

As soon as the healing power of Jesus left his body, he knew it. Jesus spun around and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

The disciples thought that was a strange question. Hundreds of people were pressing in all around him. How could he ask, "Who touched my clothes?" But Jesus always knows the intentions of our hearts and he distinguished the touch of faith from the touch of followers.

The woman could have easily snuck away with her healing. But Jesus was interested in her total restoration not simply her physical health. With fear and trembling, she fell at her Healer's feet.

"It was me," she cried. "I know that I am not worthy to wipe the dust from your feet, but I have had an issue of blood for these twelve years. You were my only hope. Forgive me, Lord."

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (Mark 5:34).

Yes, Jesus was on his way to an important official's home. Jairus' daughter was dying and Jesus was about to make an important house call. And yet, this daughter of Abraham was also important to Him. He stopped his journey, turned around, and restored her physically, emotionally and spiritually. She was worth it. So are you.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I am so grateful that in Your eyes, I have great worth. I am so thankful that Jesus took the time to heal this broken woman and that He takes the time to take care of me as well.  As I go about my day, help me to reach out to those who feel worthless and share the love of Christ.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever felt worthless?

What do you learn about Jesus' attitude toward women as He stopped to heal this woman?

What do you learn through Jesus' actions about stopping to encourage those who feel worthless? 

Go back and look at Today's Truth. How do you think it made the woman feel when Jesus called her "daughter?"

Want to comment on today's devotion? Visit www.sharonjaynes.com/blog.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough and other Lies Women Tell Themselves.  To learn more, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 17, 2009

Who Defines Your Worth? 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
Isaiah 43:4a (NIV) "You are precious and honored in my sight..."

Friend to Friend
Last winter, I bought my daughter a really cute jacket at the mall. It's a hoodie that's made of a cuddly fabric with cream, lavender, and mint green horizontal stripes. The jacket zips up in the front and is well crafted, stylish, and simply adorable.

When I bought it, I felt like the price on the tag was a fair one, so I gladly pulled out my wallet and paid the retail amount. I was a kid in a candy store on the way home. I fully anticipated a shriek of happiness from my little bag of beans when I gave it to her. Delightfully, I wasn't disappointed. Kennedy loved her new coat, and I was pleased with my purchase. Happy dances all around - until a week later, when I saw the same jacket in the same store at a greatly reduced price. Are you tensing up with me? Suddenly, I felt schnookered! Ripped off. Taken advantage of. As soon as I saw the red line on the price tag of the unsold coats, everything changed - Kennedy's jacket wasn't worth what I paid for it.

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

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

What kind of variable factors?

There are so many reasons why women feel worthless:

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

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

Is this sounding at all familiar to you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You see, the Bible tells us that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be clothed with the "robe of righteousness." The apostle Paul tells us that when we are reconciled to God, we become His righteousness. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). There's no way we could ever afford or earn such a robe but Jesus gave His life for us - He earned it for us.  He paid the price and we receive the gift.  Why?  Because you're worth it. You are precious and highly valuable in the eyes of the One who sees. And you never, never, never have to worry about being on anyone's bargain rack again.

Let's Pray
Holy Father, I'm humbled at the very thought that I could be viewed as precious in Your eyes. Thank You for taking on my sin so that I could take on your righteousness. Please help me to see myself as You see me. Help me to thrive in Your beauty!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What came to your mind as you read today's devotion? Grab your journal and write about it.

Are you held captive by feelings of worthlessness? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask God to reveal truth to your heart about how He sees you.

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

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

NEED ENCOURAGEMENT and INSPIRATION? Today's devotion is taken from Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful.  Order Broken Into Beautiful today.

LOVE TO WORSHIP? Download Gwen's live worship CD, Unsearchable, from iTunes, or order the CD from the store on her website.

If you don't have the resources to invest in your worship library right now, listen to Gwen's music FREE on her MUSIC FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 18, 2009 

God Confidence 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
John 15:5 (NIV) "Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing."

Friend To Friend
Paul said that he "put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).  In other words, he didn't think that he was good enough because of any particular talent or ability that he had on his own.  But his confidence came from his understanding of who he was as a child of God. Someone once said, "A man wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package." But a man, or woman, wrapped up in God is an amazing sight to behold.

I believe we can change our inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy into unshakable confidence by understanding who we are, what we have, and where we are as a child of God. However, I am not advocating confidence in self, but confidence in God - confidence in who you are because of what Jesus has done for you and what the Holy Spirit can do through you. Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, 6 TNIV). Connected to the vine you can do everything God calls you to do (Philippians 4:13).

Paul knew what he could accomplish on his own ... nothing. Oh, he could be busy. We all can do that but bearing "fruit that will remain" is another story. This paraphrase shows how he viewed his own personal weaknesses: 


"I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.  Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees.  No danger then of walking around high and mighty!  At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it.  Three times I did that, and then he told me,   


            'My grace is enough; it's all you need.   

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.'   


Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen.  I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.  It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.  Now that I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.  I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The Message).

 


Paul had great confidence. The prefix, "con" means "with" and the root "fid" means faith."  So a confident person is one who walks in faith. We walk in faith that we are holy, chosen, redeemed, dearly loved children of God who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, equipped by our Maker, and enveloped by Jesus Christ. Now that's real God-confidence.

Let's Pray
Dear God, I know that I can do nothing of any true lasting value apart from You. However, when I abide in Christ and He works through me, I can accomplish anything You have called me to do. Help me to understand the power that is within me and to have unshakable confidence in Christ today.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

Take a look at what you have been trying to accomplish in your own life. Are you working in your own strength or are you depending on Jesus working through you? 
What do you think Jesus meant when He said, "Apart from me you can do nothing?" 
I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can share them at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. If you need a confidence booster, then this book is for you! Begin seeing yourself as God sees you and discover the amazing potential you have to live the victorious Christian life! 

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 19, 2009 

Strength for the Storm 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
James 1:2-3 "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" (NLT).

Friend To Friend
When golf balls were first manufactured, their covers were smooth. Golfers soon discovered that after a ball had been roughed up a bit they were able to get more distance out of it. Manufacturers then began producing golf balls with dimpled covers.  Life is a lot like that. It takes some rough spots to make us go our farthest.  It takes some storms to teach us that God is faithful and will provide the strength to stand firm. 

The Apostle Paul knew all about storms. As a fully devoted follower of Christ, Paul was despised, slandered, mistreated, abused and poor. He had every right to be angry and distressed but instead chose joy. "We own nothing, and yet we have everything" (2 Corinthians 6:8-10 NLT).

I never fully understood the amazing truth behind Paul's words because I had never really lived their truth - until 1995 - when I found myself sitting at the bottom of a deep, dark pit. Clinical depression, the psychologists and physicians called it. The name was irrelevant to me. All I knew was that it was the most hellish place I had ever been and I had absolutely no idea how to escape. I was paralyzed and totally helpless - the perfect setting for a miracle! Sitting at the feet of Jesus, stripped of my human efforts and impotent plans, I discovered the life changing truth that He did not come to eliminate the storms in my life. He came to fill those storms with His presence. I was not delivered from that pit until I was first delivered in that pit. 

The highest joy will come through the greatest pain. The greater the pain, the more we are forced to search for and cling to the hand of God! That only happens when we choose the right attitude toward pain. Here it is: "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" (James 1:2-3 NLT).

When was the last time you threw a party to celebrate the trials and storms in your life?  Hurricane parties are common practice in South Florida where we lived for many years.  Knowing that the loss of electricity was likely, we would empty our refrigerator, inviting neighbors and friends to join us in celebrating the fact that the storm had come and gone and we were still standing. God's ways are higher than our ways and most human reactions are in direct opposition to the paradoxical ways of God. Honestly, there are times when what He has asked me to do simply does not make sense - to me - and there we find the problem. Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic. At the heart of every storm is victory, just waiting to be claimed. The words of James offer the perfect perspective for every life storm. 

As I mentioned earlier, I can't sew a straight seam, so when my sister began doing needlepoint, I was duly impressed. One day, she pulled out her latest project, a small Christmas pillow. It was beautiful! "Turn it over," she said. The back was a mess of knots and mismatched thread going in every direction. Then the thought hit me. We question God, asking why life is such a mess, railing against every emotional "knot" and questioning the circumstances that don't seem to match our lives. I can almost hear Him say, "Yes, but you should see it from my point of view. It is beautiful!" 

As women and daughters of the King, we have a different point of view for every life experience. It is a manger, a cruel cross, an empty tomb and eternity itself. That viewpoint changes everything. It makes our hearts sing and our souls dance with the truth that we can always count on His joy in us to face the storms around us! It is the reason we do what we do. 

What storm is raging in your life? What step do you need to take in order to exchange your strength for His? Your Father stands ready to meet you in your darkest hour. He longs to wrap His arms around you until the winds die down and the waves are stilled.  Surrender. Yield to His presence and power. Celebrate the storm that dashed your battered life on the shores of His unyielding love and praise Him. He really does provide the strength and power to endure every storm.

Let's Pray
Father, my life is such a mess! I am tired and frustrated and can feel the edge of the darkness closing in. I'm desperate for You, Lord. I'm lost without You. I feel like a piece of taffy, being pulled in a thousand different directions. No one seems to understand, Lord, but You. So I come to You right now with my broken heart, hands open and holding nothing back. I sit at Your feet and wait for the storm to pass. I love you, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

Read and memorize Psalm 46:1"God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble" (NRSV). Every time you face a storm today, remember where your strength is found.
Describe your greatest life storm. What was your response to that storm?  What truth did the storm yield?
Examine the following list of character traits. How have your life storms encouraged growth in each area?  Explain. 

      Purity_____   

      Love _____

      Power _____

      Patience _____

      Kindness _____

      Understanding _____

More From The Girlfriends
Storms are a reality of life. It is not a matter of if a storm will come - but when it will come. We can try running from storms or pretending they don't exist but the only effective way to deal with the storms of life is to make sure God is in the midst of each storm with you. Turn to Him. Invite Him to take up residence in your storm. He will still the waves and calm the seas ... and be with you.

Be sure to visit Mary's online store where you will find books, CDs, new E-Book Bible Studies and MP3 downloads just out!

Want to get on track in your daily bible study? Take a look at Mary's weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 20, 2009 
Exposed by the Light 

Leslie Nease

I hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions. We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends. From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry. We call them our "Friday Friends." So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend",
Leslie Nease.

Today's Truth 
1 John 1:6-7 "So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing truth. But if we are living in the Light, as God is in the Light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (NLT).

Friend To Friend
While speaking at a women's retreat in the mountains, my friend Linda and I were about to go to bed and were chatting in our room at the retreat center. I began to fluff my pillow to make it a little more "comfy" and as I pounded it, apparently Linda could see dust flying everywhere around me. She said "Stop! You're completely surrounded by dust!" After carefully placing my pillow on the bed, I asked her if it was gone yet and she said "No, but I'll just turn out the light so I don't have to see it." She reached over, flipped off the light and said, "Oh, yeah, that's better."

We both giggled as we realized that the dust wasn't really gone, but as long as we couldn't see it, we felt better about it. While speaking to the ladies the next morning, I was reading from John 3:19 where Jesus says "God's light came into the world but people loved the darkness more than the light for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear that their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God really wants." 

The night before flashed through my head and I began to relay the story of the dusty pillow and how we had turned off the light so we wouldn't have to see it. Turning off the light didn't make the dust go away, but it sure made us feel better. The dust was still there doing damage we couldn't see. 

Just because we would rather live in darkness and pretend sin isn't an issue doesn't mean it's gone. It's still there. I think we often believe that ignorance is bliss and as long as we are ignoring the sin in our life, we are fine. The truth is that it can only go away when the Light of Christ exposes it and we confess it, deal with it and allow Him to clean us up. Without the Light, how would we know? How gracious He is to shine His beautiful Light on the dusty, dirty sin in our lives.

In John 12:35-36, Jesus said "My Light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the Light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the Light while there is still time; then you will become children of the Light."

Please don't believe the lie that says ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is just plain ignorance! Jesus said His Light will only shine for a little while longer. Eventually, that Light will not be available to us to help us deal with the sin that separates us from a Holy God. 

Today, I pray that the Light of Christ that shows you the sin in your life will not offend you. I pray you will receive it, accept it and allow the Light of Jesus to expose the parts of your life that need cleaning up and then ask Him to clean it up for you. He would like nothing more than to do that for you. We are not capable of cleaning up anything in the darkness ourselves and He graciously exposes and then purifies us so we can walk in the Light with Him forever.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, we pray that we will not live in ignorance when it comes to the sin in our lives.  Please, shine Your Light on our life and expose those areas we need to deal with. Thank You for the mercy You will give us in the process. Forgive us where we have failed You and give us strength to walk forward in Your grace.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take a moment and ask God to reveal any un-confessed or ignored sin in your life. If He brings something to mind, confront it head on and ask Him for the strength to turn away from it.

Do you have someone you can talk with to give you spiritual accountability in your life?  If not, please pray and ask God to help you find a trustworthy, Christian friend who you can talk to about important issues like this.

Are you ready to move forward in your walk with God but you know there is a sin that is hindering you from growth? Ask God to give you the strength to confront and renounce that sin so you can enjoy sweet fellowship with Him and walk in the Light of His presence. 

More From The Girlfriends
We invite you to visit the Girlfriends in God online store where you can purchase resources from Sharon, Gwen and Mary that will help you grow in Christ and will encourage you on your life journey. Blessings!

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

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

[Judy Harder]

November 23, 2009 

Revealing Your Source 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. One of my favorite family traditions is the buying of our Christmas tree. This tradition has changed and evolved over the years as our children have grown and married and now have children of their own, but one of my favorite Christmas memories is the buying of the Christmas tree. Join me in a little Southerland Christmas reflection.

The tree must be purchased on the day after Thanksgiving and it must be purchased from the nice man who runs a tree lot just down the street from our house because he has the best Frasier Firs in town. The whole process is something to see and steeped in Southerland tradition. 

We all pile into "Old Blue", my husband's well-worn truck, and head for the tree lot.  When we arrive, my husband and our children fan out in search of "the tree". Yes, I believe that there is one particular tree just waiting for us to claim it. Over the years, many people have tried to change that opinion, but I'm standing firm. As tradition demands, my husband, Dan, immediately begins muttering, "Bah, humbug" under his breath but just loud enough for us all to hear him. That is the cue for our daughter, Danna, to begin rolling her eyes and correcting her Scrooge father. Our son, Jered, ignores them both and carries out his steady search in quiet contemplation. He usually spots "the tree" first. "Found it!" he will shout, which is another verbal tree-finding tradition. We all gather to inspect Jered's find, immediately dismiss it as unworthy, and spread out once again in search of our tree.

The owners of the tree lot now sense the non-negotiable Southerland step-by-step process and stand back, waiting for the curtain to fall on the tree drama, content in the knowledge that we will eventually buy a tree from them. I consider and dismiss almost every tree on the lot before going back to the first tree Jered picked. Afraid of losing "his" tree to another customer, Jered faithfully stands guard until we all come to our senses and realize that he, once again, has found the perfect tree. After what we consider a respectable search time, we once again gather at Jered's tree, looking for "holes" in the branches, evaluating each side to make sure it will display well and finally, examining the top of the tree to make sure our angel tree-topper will be comfortable there.

The moment of truth arrives when Dan, Danna and Jered all look at me and ask the question, "Well, what do you think, mom?  Is this the one?" Savoring the moment, I take my time, circling the tree in quiet appraisal. My husband and children know that, at this point, their only job is to remain silent. Finally, I turn to them and say, "Let's get it!" I am almost certain I hear applause at this moment, from my family, from other customers and certainly from the tree man. My husband writes the check as Jered loads the tree in Old Blue and we head home where the Christmas tree stand is ready and waiting. Jered, the hulk football player, unloads the tree, cuts off an inch of the trunk, places it in the stand and transports the tree to its new home for holidays. 

The smell is delicious. The needles are green and fresh - for about a month, and then, every year, the same sad process begins. Although I faithfully water the tree, the needles grow more brittle with each day that passes, the smell is less powerful and eventually, the limbs begin to wither, dry out and turn brown. Why? The tree has been separated from its source. The same is true in life.   

I am convinced that a great deal of our stress is born in wrong priorities and is fed by inadequate sources. As a result, we are never quite satisfied as we desperately try to squeeze life out of lifeless things. God is our sole provider. Yet, I often find myself afraid to let go, refusing to give back to God what really belongs to Him in the first place. "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want." When it comes to the resources we need for life, this promise from the 23rd Psalm is staggeringly important to remember.

A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he was asked to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause. The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished, but when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he simply replied, "I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd." When we refuse to accept and live out the truth that God is our source, greed ushers jealousy into our lives, fueling it along with selfish ambition and bitter envy. We need to remember that the only cure for greed is to train our heart to reflect the truth that God alone is our provider. He is all we need.  My prayer is that He really is all we want.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for the life and power that comes from knowing You. You alone are my Provider and the Source of everything good in my life. You supply every need and fill my life with purpose. In the midst of the holiday rush, please remind me that it really is all about You.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

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

Admit that you have been depending on your resources instead of God's.
Recognize that those resources have not brought contentment to your life.
Choose to allow the Holy Spirit to create God's resources in you.
Commit to follow His plan and count on His resources for that plan.
Thank God for the contentment that will surely flood your life as you turn your heart toward Him.
More From The Girlfriends
Has the reality hit you that tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and Christmas is only 29 days away? I know. Take a deep breath and let's make a plan. This year, let's really keep it simple. Focus first on God, then focus more on people and less on things. Spend tomorrow simply giving thanks. Thanksgiving Day is a great day to begin your Joy Journal by keeping a running list of God's blessings in your life.

Stressed about money? Tap into your creative side and give more meaningful and thoughtful gifts this year. Need help?  Check out Mary's MP3 download, Giving the Perfect Gift, to discover ten wonderful gifts you can give without spending a dime.

Why not give a subscription to Mary's weekly online bible study Light for the Journey? Or visit Mary's online store for great gift ideas.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 24, 2009   

Grumbling to Grateful
Part 1   

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Grumbling is as old as Methuselah. Actually, it goes way back before him. After Satan enticed Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, there was a whole lot of grumbling going on. 

"The wife You gave me made me do it," Adam complained.

"The serpent You created made me do it," Eve whined.

And the grumbling didn't stop there.  From Genesis to Revelation the grumbling rolls like human thunder.

Perhaps one of the most vivid portraits of grumbling is found in Exodus when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. God's chosen people had been in servitude to the Egyptians for four-hundred years. During that time, they had been "fruitful and multiplied greatly." In other words, they had a lot of babies. They were "exceedingly numerous so that the land was filled with them" (Exodus 1:7). The Egyptian King feared that the Israelites would rebel and attempt to take over the kingdom, so he made them slaves in order to thwart a future uprising.

For four-hundred years the Israelites served under the whip of the Egyptian task masters. Then one day, God took note of their affliction and heard their cries for deliverance. So God chose Moses to be the deliverer of the Hebrew nation. What follows Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush in Midian is one of the most powerful stories in Scripture. Moses did indeed lead over a million Israelites out of Egypt and on toward the Promised Land of Canaan.

But there were many roadblocks along the way, including the Hebrews' grumbling and unbelief.  They grumbled because the drinking water was bitter, so God made it sweet (Exodus 15:23-25).  They grumbled about the lack of food, so God brought forth manna from heaven (Exodus 16).  They grumbled about the lack of meat, so God rained down quail from the sky (Exodus 16). Again, they grumbled because of the lack water, so God sprang up water from a rock. They grumbled about the leadership selection, so God caused Aaron's rod, a dead piece of wood, to bud, bloom and bear fruit (Numbers 17:. 

How did God feel about their grumbling and complaining?

"Now the people complained about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down" (Exodus 11:1).

You would have thought they would learn their lesson from this fiery experience. Unfortunately, while God's wrath burned the camp, it did not brand the message on their hearts. Finally, God had had enough of their grumbling and even Moses' prayers could not stop His wrath. He forbade that generation to enter the Promised Land and they died in the desert because of their unbelief and grumbling.

Have you ever considered the idea that grumbling and complaining could be keeping you out of God's Promised Land for your life?  We're going to stop with the Israelites in the desert and think about that for a bit but join me tomorrow and we'll discover how to remove the roadblock of grumbling and get going again.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I confess that I grumble and complain way too much. Help me to have a grateful heart for all that You have given me. Today, I commit to turn my grumbling into gratefulness and my complaining into contentment.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
You may want to get a roll of quarters for this exercise.

Every time you complain today, stop and take a quarter out of your purse.

Every time you grumble today, stop and take a quarter out of your purse.

At the end of the day, gather those quarters and give them to someone.

If you would like to do this exercise with your children, give each one a roll of nickels. Ask them to give up a nickel every time they grumble or complain.  At the end of the week, they get to keep what they did not have to surrender.

I'd love to hear what happened with you and this exercise.  You can let me know at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog. 

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is taken from Sharon's book, The Power of a Woman's Words. In this book, you can explore the power you possess, the people you impact, the potential for change, and the profound possibilities. As you harness this mighty force, you will begin to use words to speak life to those around you. Get one for yourself, or gather a group of girlfriends to learn and grow together.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 25, 2009 

Grumbling to Grateful 

Part 2 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) "Give thanks in all circumstances."   

Friend To Friend
Yesterday, we looked at how the grumbling Israelites were not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief and grumbling attitude. Now, let's take a look at what happened with the next generation.

The next generation learned from their parents' mistakes. They worshipped the Lord, praised Him for His provisions, and believed His promises.

Here's what the first generation of freed Israelites did not understand. When they grumbled and complained, they were not speaking against Moses. They were speaking against God. "You are not grumbling against us," Moses said, "but against the LORD" (Exodus 16:. God had miraculously delivered them from slavery, parted the Red Sea, provided food from heaven, placed a cloud in the sky to protect them from the scorching sun, provided a fire to warm them in the chill of night, prevented their clothes and shoes from wearing out the entire time they were in the desert ... and yet they grumbled.

Can you imagine such ingratitude? Unfortunately, I can. God provided a sacrifice for our sins and pardon from eternal punishment. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And if that wasn't enough, take a look at these promises:

"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it" (Ephesians 4:7).
God has given us the "Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 5:5).
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (1 Peter 2:1).
"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13).
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true" (1 John 5:20).
...and yet we grumble and complain.

Could it be that when we grumble, we too are complaining, not simply about our circumstances, but about the sovereign God and His provision for our lives?

It all boils down to our attitude and perspective of who is in control.

Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll says this about attitude:


The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home, or an individual. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.

And what is the attitude that changes grumbling into gratefulness?  It is an attitude of gratitude that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances."

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this brand new day. Thank You for eyes to see, ears to hear, a voice to speak, hands to feel and a nose to smell. Thank You for a heart that beats, lungs that breathe, and organs that function to keep my body moving. Thank You for the sun that rose this morning! I am just bubbling over with thanksgiving and praise!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19.

How many men thanked Jesus for what he had done?

What does that tell you about the other nine?

Today, have an attitude of gratitude and thank God for even the little blessings.

While you're at it, thank others for their service and acts of kindness.

If you noticed a change in other people as you showed an attitude of gratitude, I'd love to hear about it. Just log onto www.sharonjaynes.com/blog and let me know.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion is taken from Sharon's book, The Power of a Woman's Words. In this book, you can explore the power you possess, the people you impact, the potential for change, and the profound possibilities. As you harness this mighty force, you will begin to use words to speak life to those around you. Get one for yourself, or gather a group of girlfriends to learn and grow together.

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

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