Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

January 21, 2010 

Give Thanks 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 106:1 (NIV) "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Friend To Friend
The holiday season of 2009 was nothing like holidays of the past for many people. Lonely but committed soldiers covered in the dust of battle patrolled foreign borders, fighting for our freedom while their families back home longed for word of their safety.  The homeless made their way to the nearest soup kitchen, hoping for a warm meal and a smiling face as others celebrated their abundance. An empty place at the table was a painful reminder of the loved one lost not long ago. A worried husband and dad sat at the head of the table, wondering how he was going to tell his family that he just lost his job or a mom broke down in tears as she shared the diagnosis of cancer with her family. The list of wounded hearts and unmet needs around us is endless. 

We convince ourselves that life will be better when we have more money, when we find the right mate, when we get the kids raised or build the right house. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we get that promotion, when we are able to go on our dream vacation or when we retire. We blame our anger and discontent on bad health, difficult relationships and friends who just don't understand! We keep trying to find joy, peace and contentment in lifeless places and things.

Jesus Christ is the only source of life. He is Joy and Love and He took our place on the cross. That's why we can give God praise when it seems as if there is nothing for which to praise Him. 

One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out.  Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!" The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday school, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Yes, we live in a broken world and life is filled with pain, challenges, dark times and trials, but today can still be a day in which we can choose to give God praise because praise has very little to do with a holiday or even our circumstances and everything to do with our inner attitude toward God. It really doesn't matter how much we lose here, my friend. I have read the Book and we win ... for all of eternity!  We just need to take the time to remember ... and give thanks.

Let's Pray
Father, we come to You today, praising You for meeting our needs this year in ways that we may or may not have understood at the time. Looking back, we see Your hand of mercy and love.  We recognize Your presence and your power and we celebrate You ...we celebrate life.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take a few minutes to go back over the major 2009 events in your life. You know - the ones that immediately come to mind.

Grab your journal and make a list of the five toughest trials you went through last year. Now think about the results of each trial. Did God see you through it? Did you learn a new lesson or truth? Can you give God praise for some part of that trial?

What changes do you need to make in 2010 when it comes to dealing with the difficult moments of life? Record them in your journal and review them often, remembering that God is faithful and sufficient for whatever tomorrow holds.

More From The Girlfriends
Choosing the right backdrop for life is so important. If we are not careful, we will hold up each minute of life against the backdrop of financial devastation, economic uncertainty, difficult relationships or health problems. Yes, I know life is filled with pain but this year, I challenge you to join me in the commitment to measure my life against God's presence and provision, His love and forgiveness and the fact that no matter what happens here, we win, girlfriend!

Need help and encouragement?  Check out Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey, as she begins 2010 with the series, "Aim at Nothing ... And You Will Hit It!"  Learn how to set meaningful and powerful life goals as you discover God's unique plan for your life. 

Check out Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, to discover how to manage and control stress instead of allowing stress to manage and control you! 

You can also connect with Mary through e-mail or on FaceBook! Let's talk!

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]

January 22, 2010
Present Tense Believing   

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" (Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV).

Friend To Friend
In Ephesians 1:13 we read: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him, with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."  We believed - past tense - and were saved; sealed, delivered ... we're His!  It was completed in the past, once and for all time.

Now let's read a little further down in Ephesians 1:18. "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."  We received salvation when we believed (past tense).  We have great power when we believe (present tense).

The Greek word for believe that is used in Ephesians 1:18 is a present active participle. That means it is a continuous action verb.  Bible teacher Beth Moore explains: "In other words, the promise given in verses 19-20 is not applied to those 'having believed' as in verse 13 where they had believed to become Christians. Rather, it is applied to those who are presently, actively, and yes, continually believing God."


Maybe you believed in Jesus and experienced salvation.  But do you believe the Word of God by faith and understand that you have the same power working in your life that raised Jesus from the dead?  It is available to you if you believe. 

A sapling planted in the ground does not become more of a tree as it grows, it just becomes stronger and more mature. Writer Neil Anderson compares our spiritual growth to a tree: "The growth stage cannot alter the organism; it can only ensure that the organism reaches its greatest potential." As a tree's roots grow deeper it produces a greater display of leaves, more shade and beauty for others to enjoy, and stronger branches for tire swings and bird's nests, but it's still a tree.  The moment you come to Christ, you are saved and become a saint by calling with a whole new identity. There is nothing you can do to make your identity truer than at the very moment you accept Christ as your Savior, but there is much you can do to have more power in your life as you mature.

It begins by believing the truth.  It is a step of faith.  "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). It is "acting like God tells the truth."

Are you ready to start practicing present tense believing today? Are you ready to experience God's power in your life!  If you answered yes, then buckle up.  God's power is about to be demonstrated in your life in a mighty way!

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, Thank You for giving me the gift of faith.  Forgive me when I doubt You. Today, I am choosing to believe.  Even if circumstances seem bleak, I know that You are who you say You are and You will do what You say You will do.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What are you believing God for today?  Let's hold each other accountable.

Visit my blog and write it out. (www.sharonjaynes.com/blog) Sometimes writing out what you are believing God for helps to solidify your faith and we can  hold each other accountable!

More From The Girlfriends
Need a "faith lift" today?  Want to learn more about how to practice present tense believing?  Then you'll want to read Sharon's book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes. (This book was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover.)

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]

January 25, 2010 

Salt and Light 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth:
"You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:12,13 NIV).

Friend To Friend

You are the salt of the earth.

Have you ever tasted potatoes without salt added?  They are bland, blasé, and blah.  Likewise, a world without Christians would be very unappealing.

Salt has three primary purposes. It preserves, heals, and gives flavor.  As Christians, one of our privileges is to preserve what is right and good in the world in which we live.  Satan is referred to as a roaring lion.  He prowls around seeking to rip Judeo-Christian values from the government, public schools, entertainment industry, and the very fabric of life.  Christians, on the other hand, serve to preserve the values of our godly heritage. 

Salt is also an effective healing agent. Gargling with salt water helps heal a sore throat, swimming in a salty sea helps heal a skinned knee, and fellowshipping with "salty" Christians helps heal wounded souls by introducing them to spiritual, mental and physical wellness afforded them through a relationship with Jehovah Rapha - the One who heals.

The most common use of salt is to add flavor, and as Christians, we add flavor to our world.  A gourmet cook once told me that salt not only gives food the salty flavor, but it also brings out the natural flavor of the food to which it is added.  As Christians, we should bring out the best in other people as well.

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth."  He also said, "You are the light of the world."

For eighteen years, I worked as a Dental Hygienist.  Fourteen of those years I worked with my husband, Steve, and four to six other Christian women.  When I think back on those days, I see our team as a chandelier of light: individual yet united to shine the light of Christ to our patients. In the reception room, Newsweek, Southern Living, and Better Homes and Gardens were mixed in with Focus on the Family, Guidepost, and Decision magazines. 

Steve and his assistant volleyed ideas about various aspects of the Christian faith back and forth like a tennis ball over a net while they worked on patients.  Talk about a captive audience!  We prayed with patients, sent them books, and listened to their family problems.  Someone once asked, "Aren't you afraid you'll offend someone and lose patients?"

"Someone might leave," I answered.  "But a person can get into heaven with a cavity, but they can't get to heaven without knowing Christ."

In our own simple way, we were being light in a very dark world.

Think for a moment about what light does.  It drives out darkness.  Even the smallest birthday candle in a darkened coliseum will push the darkness aside.  Jesus encourages Christians not to hide their light under a bushel, but to put it on a stand to be seen by all. Jesus said He was the light of the world. He has put that same light in you.  It is part of your new identity.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "When a happy man comes into a room, it is as if another candle has been lighted." How much more does a Christian who has something to be truly happy about light up a room!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I look around and see what the world would be like if all the Christian influences were removed.  Help me to make a difference in my sphere of influence, bring the healing of Jesus Christ with those I come in contact, and encourage the best in others to surface. Help me be salt and light in the world.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn

What do you think this verse means? "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matthew 5:13).

What do you think this verse means? "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house" (Matthew 5:14,15).

I'd love to hear your answers.  Click on www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog and let's chat.

Think of one way that you and your family can be salt and light in the world today.

Try sprinkling a little salt by giving words of encouragement to at least five people today.

More From The Girlfriends
I don't know about you, but I want to be a salty Christian!  If you would like to learn more about your role as salt and light in the world, you'll want to check out Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes.  (This book by Sharon Jaynes was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover). It's sure to make you thirsty for more of the only One who can quench your thirst!

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]

January 26, 2010 

Directions 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
2 Coritntians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Friend To Friend
I am terrible at directions. I can totally understand up, down, left and right and have often wondered why all directions are not limited to those four simple words. Trying to read a map gives me a headache and I would starve to death if I had to make a living as a navigator. My husband has finally quit handing me the atlas to find anything on any trip we take together. That's what billboards and road signs are for - right?

Moving to a new city presents a whole new set of problems for people like me who are directionally challenged but I have learned to cope. I tend to find my way by using landmarks.

When we first moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, I needed directions to the high school our daughter would attend. Instead of whipping out a map, I asked one of the local farmers if he could tell me where the high school was and how I could get there. "Well, you go down this road until you come to the red light just before the one at the big grocery store on the right and the Methodist church on the left. If you get to the church or grocery store, you have gone one light too far. Now, take a right and keep going straight until you pass the goat farm. Turn left on the first street after the goat farm and then follow that street until it quits. Then turn right and the high school is just a hop, skip and a jump away." Now those are what I call directions!

I fumbled my way around Charlotte until our son rescued me. Jered usually has no problems with directions and can actually comprehend the concept of a map very well. From the time Jered could read, Dan placed an atlas in his little hands at the beginning of every family vacation and announced, "Son, you are our navigator." As a teenager and now as an adult, Jered can always reach his destination. However, even Jered had a hard time finding his way around Charlotte - until the day he found an aerial map of the city. "I took one look at Charlotte from the air and it all fell into place, Mom." The same is true in life.

We can seek advice from others about the roads we should take and the turns we should make. We can follow the steps of those who are successful by human standards and we can navigate our way through life by using certain landmarks as our guide. Human triumphs, personal achievements, individual power and earthly wealth all seem like worthy destinations and goals for life, don't they? The problem with that mindset is that they are temporary, lifeless and have no eternal value.

We are lost without God's direction. Fortunately, He has handed us an eternal plan and perspective for our life journey. It is called the Bible. 

Let's Pray
Father, I thank You for the power of prayer and for how it guides my path in the right direction. Help me to listen for Your voice above all others. Give me a hunger and thirst for the Word of God and the discipline to apply it in my life. I yield my plan to You and accept yours in return. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize Jeremiah 29:11. How does this verse apply to your life ... right now?

Read and memorize Proverbs 3:5-6. Identify the five steps you must take in order to see and do God's will for your life.

Set aside some time today to surrender all that you know about you ... to all that you know about God.

More From The Girlfriends
It seems like so many people love me and have a plan for my life. The problem is that they all sound like great plans. But it really does not matter how great those plans sound because the only one that matters is the plan God has for me. His plan is the only plan that guarantees purpose and a meaningful life. The good news is that God longs to show us the plan He has for our life. We just need to keep our gaze on Him, our glance on the circumstances and listen for His voice spoken through the Bible.

Need help?  Check out Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey, as she begins 2010 with the series, "Aim at Nothing ... And You Will Hit It!"  Learn how to set meaningful and powerful goals that can change the entire direction of your life.  Don't settle for anything less that what God has in mind for you.

Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Study, Getting a Grip on Fear. It is a great study for your personal quiet time as well as for a small group.   

You can also connect with Mary through e-mail or on FaceBook! Let's talk!

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]

January 27, 2010
Exchanging the Old for the New
Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Julianna came out of the womb ready to meet every challenge with determination, every celebration with enthusiasm, and every mystery with the passion of discovery.  Her fiery red hair was matched only by her fiery personality.  She never did anything half-way, but with the throttle full speed ahead.  Of the Price's three children, Julianna was the one who frequented the emergency room for stitches due to throwing caution to the wind as she whirled through her childhood.

One day when Julianna was twelve years old, she rushed out her front door on her way to dance class.  She slammed the door behind her as she hurried to catch her ride, but the door closed before all of her fingers followed her body across the threshold.  Now you have probably have slammed your fingers in a door a time or two, and can remember wincing a bit.  But Julianna never does anything half-way.  She jerked to a sudden halt, spun around quickly, and saw her appendages trapped in the closed door.  When she opened the door to remove her hand, she was horrified to discover that all of it was not there.  She had amputated the upper third of her second right finger.

"Help!  Somebody help me!  I've just cut off my finger!"

Fortunately, the woman picking her up for dance class was a nurse.  She rushed to the screaming ballerina.  "Julianna, where's your mom?" she asked.

"She's not here," Julianna answered between sobs.  "Nobody's here but Daniel."

"Quick," the neighbor instructed, "Let's put some pressure on that nub.  Daniel, come help us!" she yelled.

Daniel, Julianna's fifteen-year-old brother, ran down the stairs at the cry for help.

"Julianna's just cut her finger off.  You have to find it.  We've got to put it in ice and take her to the hospital right away."

A pale-faced Daniel went to the scene of the accident.  As he hung his head, he saw the finger lying at his feet.  Trying not to lose his breakfast, Daniel picked up his sister's digit in a towel and handed it over to the nurse.

Well the good news is that they got to the hospital in time.  The skilled doctor put Humpty-Dumpty back together again and told them to pray that the finger would reattach.

"We'll keep our fingers crossed," he said with a grin as he walked out of the treatment room.

A few days later Julianna unwrapped the bandages, afraid of what she might find underneath.  What she saw was not a pretty sight.  Instead of a finger, she saw a black mushroom-like thimble sitting atop her nub.

"Doctor, we took the bandage off today.  It's black and crusty and looks like a mushroom cap," her mom reported.  "It looks dead."

"That's fine," he reassured her.  "Don't worry.  If nature is working properly, and it sounds like it is, the top will turn black, but underneath, nerves and blood vessels are reattaching.  Underneath the thimble, a new finger is forming.  She needs the old part in order for the new part to form underneath. In about three weeks, we'll know if the procedure worked.  Just keep it wrapped and clean."

A few weeks after the accident, Julianna came to spend the night with us while she was attending a dance camp in my hometown.  I had the pleasure of her company and the displeasure of changing her bandage.  Her description was accurate.

Four weeks after Julianna had returned home, she wrote me a thank-you note for having her in our home.  She ended by saying, "P.S.  Guess what?  My crusty thimble fell off and I have a new finger!"

Now don't ask me how this happened.  It is a mystery to me.  But scripture tells of another mystery that is just as amazing.  Another grafting process that is just as miraculous.   When God warned Adam and Eve not to eat of fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, He told them that their punishment for disobedience would be death.  They did eat - and immediately their spirits died- their zoe life was taken away and they were cut off from God.   As a result, every person after that time has been born with a dead spirit, including you and me. 

But God didn't leave us that way.  God demonstrated His love toward us, that while we were still a sinner (cut off, dead, rotten to the core), Christ died for us and made it possible for us to be grafted onto the living root - Himself (Romans 5:8, Romans 11:17).   At the very moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we receive a new living spirit (zoe life) to replace our old dead spirit.  In the twinkling of an eye - in the time it takes for us to say, "I believe," we become a spiritually new creation.  However, God's process of shaping and molding us into the image of Christ, takes a lifetime.  That process is how to become spiritually beautiful.

Paul tells us: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).  Reflecting the Lord's glory!  I know of no other beauty treatment that will make a woman truly beautiful.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I know I became a new creation in Christ when I became a Christian.  But sometimes, I just feel like the same old me.  Please help me to become more conformed to the image of Christ today.  Take away whatever needs to be taken away to reveal the beauty of You that is in my heart. Help me to be spiritually beautiful today and always.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
How would you describe "spiritual beauty?"

Who do you know that exemplifies what "spiritual beauty" looks and acts like?

What do you think makes that person reflect the beauty of Christ?

I'd love to hear your responses.  Let's chat.  Go to www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and tell me what you think makes a woman spiritually beautiful!

More From The Girlfriends
Have you ever felt this way: "If I'm a new creation, then why don't I feel like one and why don't I act like one?"  If so, then perhaps you need to read  Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes.  (This book by Sharon Jaynes was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover.)  In this book you'll discover the secrets to spiritual beauty and to becoming a radiant Christian woman.  It also comes with a Bible Study guide for those who want to spend extra time at God's spa!

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]

January 28, 2010 

Dare to Discipline 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Friend To Friend
I rarely watch television but occasionally flip through channels, in search of a few minutes of mindless entertainment.  I especially enjoy shows featuring children in candid conversations because kids really do say the funniest things!  The Bill Cosby Show is one of my favorites, especially the shows in which he dialogues with children - one on one. I recently watched an episode where Cosby was talking with one of Rudy's friends, a bright seven-year-old boy. "Do you have any pets?" Cosby asked.  The little boy thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, I don't have any pets now, but I used to have some goldfish." Sensing a story, Cosby responded, "Tell me about the goldfish. What happened?" "Well," the boy began, "my science teacher said that our water is too hard for goldfish to live in but my mom puts stuff in the washer to make our clothes soft." Moans rumbled through the audience as the little boy continued, "So ... I got me some of that stuff and put it in the aquarium ... but Rudy said I put too much soft stuff in, 'cause the goldfish softened to death." A lack of Godly discipline in our lives renders us "soft" to the things of God.  When we surrender our lives to Him, He sets our feet on the right road.  To stay on that road demands Godly discipline. 

I am constantly amazed at the arrogance of which I am capable, daring to think I have the power within myself to intimidate Satan or thwart his efforts in my life.  I have no power apart from God. I am weak without His strength, vulnerable to sin and a prime target for temptation.  I can easily get caught up in human affirmation, my own sense of self-importance or the flattery of others.  The result is always spiritual arrogance.  The solution is always godly discipline.  Godly discipline is not only a hedge of protection in our lives; it is a catalyst for spiritual growth.  James Dobson says, "If one examines the secret behind a championship football team, a magnificent orchestra, or successful business, the principle ingredient is discipline." 

Now, I know the very word, "discipline", evokes distasteful images of pain, deprivation, sacrifice and surrender when, in fact, true discipline is simply a wholehearted "yes" to God.  True discipline neither barters with God for control nor attempts to supersede His plan.  Discipline does not make us worthy but is the result of understanding that we are already worthy in God's eyes and living life as a response to that love. We are chosen, loved, bought and purchased by God who has a sacred blueprint for each one of us. Discipline accepts that blueprint, following it with an eager obedience wrapped in sweet abandonment and absolute trust in the architect of the master plan - God. Godly discipline allows us to rest within the framework of God's sovereignty.

When our son, Jered, was seven-years-old, he fell while skateboarding, cut his chin and needed stitches. We raced to the nearest emergency clinic where we were greeted by a young doctor, who at first glance, seemed friendly enough. Jered, however, took one look at the strange man in white and panicked in the midst of his first experience with stitches. 

After several attempts to gain Jered's trust and cooperation, the doctor grew impatient and threatened, "Son, this won't hurt.  If you cannot be still we will have to put you in restraints." This man obviously did not know who Jered was - mine - nor did he understand that he was now dealing with the wrath of Mary, something too horrible to describe.  However, I was more than willing to enlighten him.  I could see the warning in Dan's eyes, but chose to ignore it. 

I had two major problems with the doctor's statements.  First, no restraints were going to be placed on my son. Secondly, of course the stitches would hurt. Glaring at the doctor I firmly explained, "If you will just tell Jered the truth and explain what you are doing he will be still for you." The doctor looked up at me as if I had just arrived from another planet and then, with an edge of sarcasm, spit out, "Right, lady.  I know how to handle this."  So did I - but before I could rip off his head, Dan intervened, telling the doctor that we did indeed have a plan!  I knew what my plan was but thought it wise to consider Dan's plan. 

Gently holding Jered's head in his "daddy-sized" hands, Dan softly explained what the doctor would do, how he would do it and sweetly instructed our son to fix his eyes on me while I told him a story. It worked! Jered calmed down and the stitches were done in a matter of minutes. The doctor even offered a sheepish apology, thanking us for teaching him a lesson in working with children.  I decided to let him live. 

Even though Jered did not fully understand the process or trust the doctor, Jered did fully understand and trust his father. Godly discipline is the basis for trust and is found at the feet of Jesus where we will come to know Him better, love Him more and find the discipline we so desperately crave.   

Let's Pray
Father, I need You desperately in my life. I need Your discipline as a hedge of protection. I want my life to count, Lord, and I want to be Your fully devoted follower. Help me to see and do Your plan. Today, I submit my life goals to You and choose to line them up with Your purpose for my life.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Tucked away in my notes are the following words:  "The road to success is not straight.  There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family.  You will have flats called Jobs.  But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith and a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success!"

How would you define success?  The world defines success in so many ways and most of them are wrong. I believe that a successful life is totally surrendered to God and fully devoted to discovering and doing God's plan for our life. Purpose in life produces success in life.

What are your life goals?

What will you be doing in two years or in five years?

Read and memorize Jeremiah 29:11.

Read and memorize Philippians 4:14.

More From The Girlfriends
We all want to be successful and live according to the purpose and plan God has for us. Setting meaningful life goals is an important step in that process. Should Christians have life goals? I believe learning how to set life goals that are submitted to God and line up with His will is a Godly discipline. Need help? Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and get in on the current series, If You Aim at Nothing ... You Will Hit It!

You can also connect with Mary through e-mail or on FaceBook! Let's talk!

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]

January 29, 2010
Debbie's Acceptance of Her New Identity
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 6:10 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Debbie's paternal grandparents had both a housekeeper and groundskeeper who lived in their basement apartment.  Silas and Nina were like part of the family and had lived with the grandparents for as long as Debbie could remember.  On many occasions, when Debbie's parents and grandparents went out to dinner, she and her older sister were left in the care of Silas and Nina. The girls' parents had no idea that Silas was molesting their precious children time and time again.

From the time Debbie and Beth were three- and six-years-old, until they were ten and thirteen, Silas fondled and sexually molested the girls in the basement apartment lit only by the black and white television blinking in the background.  While Silas ravaged Debbie's body, her sister held her face in her hands and told her stories. Together, the girls escaped to a land faraway while the worse nightmare imaginable was played out before them. 

Silas warned them," If you tell anybody, I'll hurt your brother."  So the girls suffered in silence.

When Debbie was ten-years-old, she and her sister spent the night with her maternal grandmother while her parents were away on a business trip.  The elderly grandmother paused at the opened door to watch her precious granddaughters kneeling beside their bed.  With arms wrapped around each other they began to say their prayers.

What began as a tranquil picture of innocence transformed into a nimbus cloud of horrible darkness.  Their grandmother clutched her heart as she heard the two little girls pray.

"Dear God, thank you for mommy and daddy and Kevin, and Grandma and Grandpa Wilson, and Grandma James.  We pray that you will protect us from Silas and keep him from hurting us and touching us in private places.  We pray..." 

The rest was a blur.

The sobbing grandmother rushed to the girls and held them to her breast.  A few hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, their parents came back from their business trip...two days early.  The girls could hear their parents crying in the next room, but nothing was ever mentioned about Silas.  All they knew was that the next time they went to Grandma and Grandpa Wilson's house, Silas and Nina were gone.

Years passed with little mention of the years of abuse by Silas.  Like old war veterans who never mention the horrors of battle, the girls never mentioned the molestation again.  However, the chronic pain of the past was an undercurrent to their total existence.  Debbie felt dirty, used, and cheap.  She felt like damaged goods.

Debbie accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was a small child, but had a difficult time believing Jesus could accept her.  She didn't see herself as a precious holy child of God dressed in robes of righteousness.  She saw herself as a dirty orphan dressed in tattered rags. Then one day, she went to a Bible study and heard for the first time about her identity as a child of God.

"I didn't feel like a holy child of God, but that's who the Bible said I was," she explained.  "I read and reread that list of who I am in Christ.  The more I studied about my new identity and the truth that sets us free, the more I began to accept it as true. I began to realize it was Satan who held up the picture of Silas and what he had done to me - to remind me of who he wanted me to believe I was.  But that was a lie. God took the truth and massaged it into my broken heart like a healing ointment. He placed a princess's crown of beauty on my head and washed away the ashes.  He gave me the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and dressed me in a garment of praise instead of despair. No longer was my identity determined by what happened to me as a child.  My identity is determined by what happened in me through Jesus Christ."

Debbie accepted her new identity.  It was there all along, like a cloak waiting to be placed on the princess's regal shoulders.  She received the robe of righteousness and now walks with the confidence of a dearly loved child of the King.  To me, she looks like a Queen.  Debbie is one of my heroes.

This devotion may have been difficult for you to read, but it is very important. No matter what you have been through, if you know Jesus as Savior and Lord, you are a child of the King. Have you accepted your new identity?  Are you ready to start believing the truth?  Are you ready to put off the ragged robes of shame and put on the robe of righteousness that Jesus purchased just for you with His own life?  He's holding it open for you right now.  Slip it on.  It's just your size.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father who loves me, I come to you with a heart humbled by Your tender love for me.  I thank You that You have removed the filthy rags of this world from my life and clothed me with the righteousness of Christ.  Help me to hold my head high as a child of the King.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Is there anything in your life that Satan has held up as a distorted mirror of who you are?

What do you need to tell the enemy when he taunts you with the past?

What did Jesus do in the wilderness when the enemy taunted him?  If you're not sure, check it out in Matthew chapter 4.  The same weapon Jesus used is available to each of us.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Let's chat.  Visit my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog or www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes

More From The Girlfriends
This story was taken from Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes. (This book by Sharon Jaynes was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover.)

If it has touched your heart, you might want to read the entire book to get a firm grip on your new identity in Christ.  Also, if you would like a daily reminder of your true identity in Christ, Sharon has a laminated card filled with Scripture that tucks securely in your Bible.  Just 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]

February 1, 2010 

AAA Club of Marriage 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"And let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband-that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly" (Ephesians 5:33 Amplified).

Friend To Friend
Are you a member of the Triple A Club of Marriage?  You didn't know there was such a thing?  Well, there's not an official one that you can call if your marriage breaks down, but I have one that I keep in the back of my mind.  It stands for adoration, admiration, and appreciation.  Did you know that big tough man of yours longs to be admired?  He desires for someone to think he's brave and brilliant, loving and logical, tough and tender, handsome and humorous, masculine and magical. That's the stuff of your man's dreams.   

What does it mean to adore your husband?  Basically, it means to love him with all your heart...and let him know about it. Someone once said, "I like not only to be loved, but to be told I am loved."   Do you want to see your husband's face light up like a full moon?  Tell him you are amazed that he knows how to ________ or that you are impressed by his _______, then sit back and watch him glow.

When the TV cameras pan the sidelines of a college football game, my heart always melts in a pool of butter when a young man waves his hand and says those precious two words: "Hi Mom."  It's almost like he's saying, "Look at me! Look at me!"  The truth is men want to be admired by the woman of their dreams.  It starts with mom, and then continues with the Misses.

Where does your husband go for adoration, admiration and appreciation?  He goes somewhere.  All men do.  Does he go to work in hopes of hearing "job well done"?  Does he go to the ball field in hopes of hearing "way to go man"?  Does he go back home to mother to hear "I'm so proud of you son"?  Does he work late in hopes of a few compliments from the gals in the office? Does he feast on compliments from patients or clients? Does he hang out at the gym flexing and building his biceps?  Tell me, where does your man go to be admired?

Dr. Willard Harley says, "When a woman tells a man she thinks he's wonderful, that inspires him to achieve more.  He sees himself as capable of handling new responsibilities and perfecting skills far above those of his present level.  That inspiration helps him prepare for the responsibilities of life.  Admiration not only motivates, it also rewards the husband's existing achievements.  When she tells him that she appreciates him for what he has done, it gives him more satisfaction than he receives from his paycheck.  A woman needs to appreciate her husband for what he already is, not for what he could become, if he lived up to her standards.  For some men - those with fragile self-images - admiration also helps them believe in themselves.  Without it these men seem inherently more defensive about their shortcomings....While criticism causes men to become defensive, admiration energizes and motivates them.  A man expects - and needs - his wife to be his most enthusiastic fan.  He draws confidence from her support and can usually achieve far more with her." (Dr. Willard Harley, His Needs Her Needs (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1986) p151.)

You become the mirror in which your husband sees himself.  So if he's looking sort of glum lately, maybe you need to renew your membership into the AAA Club of marriage and try a little adoration, admiration and appreciation around your home. 

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I pray that I will be my husband's biggest fan.  Please help me restrain my critical tongue.  Help me to see him as You see Him...a child of the King.  I do so love my husband; help me to make sure that he knows just how much.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
If you have been withholding admiring words from your husband, it may feel strange to begin giving them.  First and foremost, be authentic - be real.  If you contrive admiring words, he will be able to tell.  Start with one compliment or word of appreciation.  It may be as simple as "thank you." Soon the admiration will begin to flow...hopefully both ways.  Here are some ideas to get you started:


Place an "I love you sign in a public place." (I put a sign outside of my husband's office window to surprise him on Valentine's Day.  The fact that all his patients saw it was an extra boost!) 
Write him a love letter. 
Write an acrostic from A-Z of reasons you adore, admire, and appreciate him. 
Leave an "I love you" message on his voice mail. 
Write him a thank you note for something specific he did for you.

More From The Girlfriends 

Do you want to become the woman of your husband's dreams?  The woman who makes him sorry to leave in the morning and eager to come home at night?  Then you'll want to read Sharon's book, Becoming the Woman of His Dreams...Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For. To read an excerpt or watch an interview on the book, visit http://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]

February 2, 2010

Let it Go! 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) "He (God) is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven."

Friend To Friend
Our grandson is now six-months old and does something new every day.  It seems like just yesterday when Justus was an infant, content to be held and cuddled.  Not so much anymore.  He has discovered a whole new world of exciting things and wants to grab each one and put it in his mouth.  He is one knee away from crawling and is teething two teeth.  I hate to admit it, but he is growing up - fast!

One of the first signs of maturing was when Justus started to open his little hands.  For the first few weeks of his life, his fingers tightly curled into a tiny fist and stayed that way.  However, the day soon came when he extended his little fingers and began to grab anything he could touch.  We had to change our perspective and make sure that anything within his reach was helpful - not harmful - to his growth.   

Our spiritual maturity is much the same.  As we grow in Christ, our faith slowly unfolds in daily obedience as God guides and encourages us to let go of the "old things" and reach for the "new things" he has planned for our lives. However, it is not always easy to let go of those old things.

One of the key factors in my ongoing battle with clinical depression is dealing with and letting go of past sin and pain. The shadows of yesterday can so easily become the dark clouds of today. In order to deal with depression and the darkness life can hold, we must deal with sin - first, in a personal relationship with Christ and then on a daily basis as a believer.

Every believer has two problems when it comes to dealing with sin.  First, we must confess sin.  I know it sounds simple but so many of us have lost our sensitivity to sin because we are aligned with the world instead of with God.  The mark of a believer growing in grace is sensitivity to sin.  When I was a little girl, I rarely wore shoes.  But when the first day of summer came along, I would kick off my shoes and store them in my closet - wearing them only when absolutely necessary.  Even now, I can remember the painful sensations of playing on the gravel road beside our house.  The sharp rocks cut and bruised my tender feet - at first - but by summer's end, my feet were rough and calloused.  I could run, jump and play for hours on the rocks that had once caused so much pain. 

Sin is much the same. The first time we commit a sin, it breaks our heart, but the next time we commit that same sin, it doesn't seem quite as bad.  Our heart becomes calloused to that sin we repeatedly commit and a foothold is formed, making a place for depression and darkness to reside. We must confess sin completely, confidently and continually.  Jesus is faithful and will keep His promise to forgive and to cleanse us from all sin. 

Psalm 103:12 (NIV) "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

The second problem we have with sin is forgetting forgiven sin.  Is it even possible to experience true forgiveness?  While we can't totally blot out a memory, we can make sure it's no longer a live issue in our lives.  God's way seems too easy - to just ask for and receive.  We act as if the Holy Spirit needs our help or as if what Jesus did on the cross was not enough.  We feel like we must make additional payments for our sin by doing something when Micah 7:19 is clear about God's attitude toward our sin, "Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean" (NLT). The problem comes when we revisit confessed sin, when we "go fishing" in the waters of our past. 

Sometimes, the darkness in life is the result of sin we have never acknowledged or dealt with. Guilt and shame surround each transgression and since condemnation seems like the logical solution, we allow the darkness to consume us as payment for each sin.  If we want to walk in victory, we must make the deliberate choice to face and deal with sin - and then let it go!         

Let's Pray
Father, I am so tired of trying to live today while carrying the baggage of my past.  Please give me the courage to face the sins I have tried so hard to bury.  Help me to turn away from each one, leaving it in Your hands.  Thank You, Lord, for Your grace, Your mercy and Your love.  Please fill my heart with the light of Your forgiveness. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen. 

Now It's Your Turn
What are you holding onto that is keeping God from filling your life with purpose and power?

Choose to confront that sin.

Deal with it and destroy any paths that might lead you back to that same sin.

Let it go and praise God for the forgiveness He offers.

Read and memorize John 3:16.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion can and will change your life if you apply it personally. You don't have to understand it all to have it all, girlfriend.  Accept His love.  Surrender the pain and sin of your past to His forgiveness and healing power.  Come to Him just as you are. 

I believe that we all want to be successful and live according to the purpose and plan God has for us. Setting meaningful life goals is an important step in that process. Should Christians have life goals? I believe learning how to set life goals that are submitted to God and line up with His will is a Godly discipline. Need help? Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and get in on the current series, If You Aim at Nothing ... You Will Hit It!

Struggling with depression?  I have been there, friend, and if God can deliver me, He can and will deliver you. Read how God brought me out of the pit in my book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, and be encouraged.

We can also connect through e-mail or on Facebook! Let's talk!

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]

February 3, 2010   

Then God Created a Helper
Sharon Jaynes   


(In honor of Valentine's Day, Sharon's devotions will focus on marriage during the month of February.)

Today's Truth
"And the Lord God said, 'It isn't good for man to be alone.  I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs'" (Genesis 2:18 TLB).

Friend To Friend
Do you remember the story of Creation recorded in Genesis?  I never cease to be amazed at that marvelous beginning of the Book I have grown to love..."In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  Before the creation of the world, there was nothing.  Try to think of...nothing. It's hard to do. Then God molded the earth in His hands, decorated the sky with the sun, moon, and stars, scattered seed of every kind in the soil, released flocks of birds into the sky, swarms of insects into the air, and schools of fish into the sea. Then, on the sixth day, God created all the creeping animals and He created man in His own image.  After each masterpiece was completed, God said, "It is good."  The only time God said "It is not good," was when He said, "It is not good for man to be alone."


But for Adam no suitable helper was found.  So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.  Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of man, and he brought her to the man (Genesis 2:20-22).

The New American Standard Bible says God "fashioned" Eve.  He took extra special care when He created you.  As a matter-of-fact, woman was God's grand finale! 

Up to this point in the Genesis recording of creation, Adam had remained silent.  However, when he saw the fair Eve, I imagine he said, "Whoa! Now this is good!"  We don't know for sure, but we do know that his first recorded words were after laying eyes on God's magnificent gift to him.  "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man" (Genesis 2:23).

Eve was created to complete man like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together.  The word complete means to fill up; that which is required to supply a deficiency; one or two mutually completing parts.  While each translation of the Bible uses a different combination of words to describe Eve, they each contain the word helper.  The man was not better than the woman (he was lacking without her).  The woman was not better than the man (she was lacking without him).  Paul wrote, "However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman" (I Corinthians 11:11).  We were designed to depend on and compliment each other. The NIV commentary says this: "Just as the rib is found at the side of the man and is attached to him, even so the good wife, the rib of her husband, stands at his side to be his helper-counterpart, and her soul is bound up with his." (Kenneth L. Barker & John R. Kohlenberger, III, Zondervan NIV Commentary of Old Testament, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), p.8.

While some may bristle at the thought of being called a mere helper, we need only to look at the pages of Scripture to see that helper is a place of great honor.  The word helper that is used for woman (ezer) is derived from the Hebrew word used of God and the Holy Spirit (azar) (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987) 478). Both mean helper - one who comes alongside to aid, assist, or rescue.

King David wrote, "O Lord, be Thou my helper" (Psalm 30:10).  "The LORD is with me; he is my helper" (Psalm 118:7). Moses said of God, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of the Pharaoh" (Exodus 18:2).  In the New Testament, Jesus told the disciples that when He ascended to heaven, His Father would send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).  When we consider that the same word is used for "woman" we should feel honored!

Today, think about your relationship with your husband.  Are you a completer or a competitor?  Are you a helper or a hindrance?  Determine in your heart to be all that God intended you to be as a wife to your man.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I am constantly amazed that You saw fit to bring me and my husband together.  I admit that sometimes I am more of a hindrance to him than a helper, more of a competitor than a completer.  Help me to look for ways that I can be a partner with him to complete him.  I do want to be the wife that You created me to be.  Help me to listen to Your still small voice when You convict me that I am not. 

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What comes to mind when you read in the Bible that you were created to be a "helper?"

What are some ways that you can be a helper to your husband this week?

What are some ways that you can be his completer?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and let's chat.  While you're there, sign up so we can visit often!

More From The Girlfriends
Marriage can be difficult at times. If you would like to learn more about how to have the marriage you've always hoped for, see Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For.  for by Sharon Jaynes.  In it, you'll read actual comments from men all around the world and discover what men long for.

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