Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2010 

Making Wise Investments 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Ecclesiastes 11:1(NCV) "Invest what you have, because after a while you will get a return."

Friend To Friend
The recent earthquake in Haiti has left millions of people homeless and without hope. Entire families have been wiped out and thousands of children have been left with no parents or family. Lifeless bodies line the streets as a devastated people desperately try to survive

The investments that we make in life determine the level of contentment that we gain from life.  We come into this world as self-centered beings, concerned solely with our needs and wants. Only a personal relationship with Christ can truly change that egotistical human bent. Even unbelievers attempting to soothe a troubled and unfulfilled heart invest their time and resources in charities or service organizations. They are trying to gain life from dead things. It is simply not possible. Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus Christ have not yet learned the spiritual principle that you cannot "out-give" God!  We falsely assume ownership of the gifts God has given us to manage on His behalf. 

The story is told of a little boy who lived in a ghetto. Because of his strong belief in God, the little boy was constantly teased by his friends. They taunted him saying, "If God loves you, why doesn't he take care of you? Why doesn't God tell someone to bring you shoes or send someone with a warm coat?  Where is the good food you've been asking God for?" The little boy faced his critics, thought for a moment and with tears in his eyes, softly said, "I guess He does tell somebody but somebody forgets."

We forget!  We forget the wonder of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross and how He served and now calls us to serve.  And because of that precious gift, that eternal investment of love made by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, you and I are redeemed from Hell itself.  In response to God's love, the apostle Paul gave his life in service to God, finding his greatest joy in simply doing what God told him to do. Before he encountered Christ, Paul had been a man of great influence and power but as a follower of Jesus Christ the highest title he ever gave himself was "servant." 

It is important to note that Paul was first a servant - then an apostle set apart for the gospel. The people he served became his family and in turn served him by praying for him, encouraging him and meeting his physical needs. Service is not an option for the Christian. It is a command - a holy calling and the ultimate joy. The most contented people I know are the ones who serve the most. They have found an outlet for giving, have discovered their God given gifts and are using them to serve God. It is a paradox in the Christian life that the more we give the more we receive and the greater our level of contentment. When we turn inward and become focused on self, discontentment creeps in and takes up residence.

The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea are made of the same water that flows from Mt. Hermon. The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful place, lush and green, because it has an outlet as it gathers in its riches then pours them out again to fertilize the Jordan plain. It gives. On the other hand, the Dead Sea, with the same water creates destruction because it has no outlet. It keeps. 

The highest purpose in life is to be used by God to impact the lives of others. We often think that God reserves service for those called "ministers." Every follower of God is called to be a minister. Your mission field is your home - your office - your neighborhood and your world.  If you want to discover the secret of contentment, look for opportunities to make investments in others by giving yourself away. Every act of service is a deposit in eternity and a wise investment.

Let's Pray
Lord, I recognize You as my source of contentment.  I love You and want to serve You.  Today, I will look for opportunities to make eternal Kingdom investments.  Thank You for loving me and giving me the privilege of serving You. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Consider the following questions:

·         Who has made eternal investments in my life?

·         What is my perception of service?

·         What are my spiritual gifts?

·         How can I use those gifts to serve others?

·         What are the benefits of serving God and others?

Contentment is found when I invest myself in others.  There are "mission fields" in my life where I can serve Him by serving others. I choose today to become a "giver" instead of a "keeper."

Memorize the two following verses:

Matthew 20:28 (NLT) "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." 

Galatians 5:13 (NCV) "My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love."

More From The Girlfriends
Need help learning how to make eternal investments? Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and join women from across the world as we study God's Word together.

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter and browse through the online store for books, CDs, E-Bible Studies, MP3s and other resources that will help and encourage you.

We can also connect through e-mail or on Facebook! Join the discussion on how to deal with the sandpaper people in your life. 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 19, 2010 

GPS 

Connie Kovach 

We 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",
Connie Kovach.

Today's Truth
Psalm 139:2-7 (NLT) "You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence!"

Friend To Friend
My family and I just returned from our first vacation in nine years.  My husband, our four children, and I left Ohio and began our journey to Myrtle Beach, SC.  After a few days, we then headed to North Carolina to meet some old friends.  We really enjoyed our trip, aside from the hundreds of stops, and kids fighting in the car ... good times.  About a week before we left, we prepared for the trip by packing and planning and borrowing a GPS system from my sister and brother-in-law. I have used one before but never really thought about how amazing they are.

A GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a navigational system involving satellites and computers that can determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth by computing the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver. In other words, the GPS receives signals from satellites that let the GPS know where they are and where they need to go, to get to where they need to be.

Ok, now that I have that figured out, on with my story. Usually, when we take a trip, we plan our route by using an atlas. My job is to intently watch the map and pinpoint the signs on the side of the road to make sure we are heading the correct way.  However, this trip was different.   

Before we left, we put the hotel information in the GPS and did what the voice told us to do.  At first, we enjoyed just listening to the voice, almost entertained by this little box telling us to turn left off of our street.  It did not take long, however, before we were amazed by the accuracy of this tool.  The directions are so intricately given; it lets you know the amount of feet left until it is time to turn.  It is so sensitive, that it will let you know the speed limit change at the same time you pass the sign on the side of the road.  The voice is so consistent, it never sounds angry or irritated, no matter how many gas stops or potty breaks we took. It just simply said "recalculating" and went on with how to get us back on track. There were times, however, that we got quite irritated with that sweet voice when we just wanted to "be there!" 

We left Myrtle Beach after a few days and headed to Concord, North Carolina, a city near Charlotte. We put the address in the GPS and let it do its thing.  As we got closer, we passed an exit that read the exact city that we were heading toward, on the exact highway that should have taken us directly there. I didn't understand why the GPS didn't have us turn. I opened the map and looked at the route we were taking. I was sure the GPS had finally messed up; it was taking us clear into Charlotte. Not only did we pass the exit to our city, we were going in the wrong direction.  After about twenty minutes of intently watching this system fail us, and adding how much time we are losing with our friends, the road turned and got us right to our hotel, and yes, in the exact time it said we would be there.

What I learned from the GPS is that there is no point in having it if you don't trust it.  I experienced frustration that I did not need to experience. As I laughed at myself and my lack of faith in this system that is so intricately designed, I felt God so clearly asking me why I do the same thing to Him. You see, if we have faith, then why do we constantly question when will this happen or why didn't this go the way I thought it would? Why do we question the route in which God takes us where He wants to take us?  Sometimes we have everything figured out ahead of time, like we are making His job easier, right?  Did you ever look back at a trail of events in your life that lead to something amazing?  I'm sure it did not always go the easiest way or the way we thought would be easiest.

Like on our way to Concord NC, the satellite had its reasons for taking us I85 instead of the highway intended for the city of Concord.  Maybe there was construction or an exit closed.  Maybe if we had gone that way, and that sweet voice just said "recalculating", the ride would have taken twice as long. Just because we think one way is best, doesn't mean it's the way God wants us to go. 

The GPS gets its signals from the satellites in space, as our Holy Spirit get's its coordinates from God the Father. Once He fills us with the Holy Spirit, it's up to us to listen to that sweet voice or to do our own thing, only to hear "recalculating."  I want to listen to that first voice so that I get where He wants me to get, when He wants me to get there. Faith is such a huge part of the Christian walk, yet it's the hardest part.  It is a big decision to make, yet the best one you will ever choose.  May God bless you on all your travels.         

Let's Pray
Lord, thank You for that GPS you have given us called the Holy Spirit. Thank You for guiding us through life. The longer I bow down to disobedience, the longer I wait for Your will for my life.  Lord, I pray that I will recognize that still small voice the first time so I never have to hear "recalculating" from You.  I love You so much Lord, and I thank You for Your unfailing love. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Are you relying on God for directions and guidance?  Name a situation where you are struggling to trust in God's plan. Get quiet with the Lord and tell Him you are sorry for not trusting His plans and timing. Relinquish that situation to Him and enjoy the freedom of not carrying that burden anymore.  Read Isaiah 40:12-14 NLT, write it on a note card and read it each day.

More From The Girlfriends
Praise God that He will recalculate when we are not obedient and make a wrong turn.  Like having an internal GPS, we cannot escape His spirit; we cannot get away from His presence. So why do we constantly try or let the enemy trick us into thinking we know best? The biggest form of freedom is when we can say we are God's and He has it all figured out already. Whew, what a relief!

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 22, 2010 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T 

The One Thing He Can't Do Without 

Sharon Jaynes 


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

Today's Truth
"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 AMP).

Friend To Friend
I've been shut up, shut down, shot down, ridiculed, disregarded, over looked, over- booked, and overwhelmed...I know I was made for a reason.  I know that, in God's eyes, I count.  So, I simply want to find someone who believes in me.

No, these are not the lyrics from the latest country song.  They are the lament from one of the men who answered my surveys of what they were looking for in the woman of their dreams. It seems Aretha Franklin isn't the only one who wants a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t these days.  One area that rated very high when I surveyed hundreds of men was their longing for RESPECT.  Webster defines respect as the special esteem or consideration in which one holds another person or thing, the state or quality of being esteemed, to feel or show consideration to. It's the one thing a happy husband can't do without.

In the Bible, Paul wrote to both men and women about their various roles in marriage.  In the book of Ephesians he wrote, "Each one of you (men) also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" (Ephesians 5:33).    Now, that doesn't mean that husbands don't have to respect their wives or wives don't have to love their husbands. I believe Paul was summing up what was paramount for both men and women.  We want to be loved and cherished just like our husbands want to be honored and respected.

Another reason I believe that Paul admonishes wives to respect their husbands is because he knew that after years of mistakes, poor choices, wrong decisions,  and smelly socks, respect may not come naturally for a wife.  It may well take an act of the will empowered by the Holy Spirit within.

But how do you respect someone who vegetates watching TV all the time?  How do you respect someone who sits around waiting for the right job to come along when you're working yourself to death trying to keep food on the table? (You may need to stop and quietly put that responsibility back where it belongs.) How do you respect someone who apparently has no respect for himself?  It may seem impossible, but as the angel asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14).  The same God who parted the sea for the Israelites to walk across on dry land, who caused the walls of Jericho to fall with a shout, who kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from even a hint of smoke as they exited the fiery furnace, who caused flesh to reappear on the rotted hands of lepers, who made a man blind from birth see, and who raised Lazarus from the dead - that same God can give you the power to respect your husband.  It all begins with prayer and follows with obedience close behind. "There is incomparable great power available to those who believe" (Ephesians 1:19).

In the Bible power always follows obedience.  As soon as the high priests crossing the Jordan placed their feet in the water, the river parted (Joshua 3:15).  As soon as the rotting lepers turned toward Jerusalem to tell the priests they were healed, their skin began to heal (Luke 17:14).  As soon as Namaan dipped into the river seven times as the prophet Elijah had commanded, his leprosy began to disappear (2 Kings 5:14).  The miracle didn't come before they obeyed, but after they obeyed. Do you want to see a miracle unfold before your eyes like a multi-petaled rose unfurling?  Obey God.  An amazing thing happens when we begin to show respect to our husbands.  They begin to act respectable.

Let's go back to Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I love how the amplified version expounds on Ephesians 5:33.  "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."  What a power-packed verse!

Friend and fellow author, Carol Ladd, said, "Respect is wrapped up in the beautiful paper of kind and gentle words and tied with the enormous ribbons of a loving spirit."  It is one of the most beautiful gifts a wife can give.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for my husband.  Help me, in all areas of my life, to be the wife that he needs.  Help me to respect, revere, regard, honor, prefer and esteem him greatly.  Not only that, but help me to show it in my words and actions so that there is no doubt in his mind just how much I love him.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
During the reign of King David, he brought the once-captured Ark of the Covenant back to Israel.  It was one of the grandest moments in his life.  Read the account recorded in 2 Samuel 6 and answer the following questions:

How did David's wife, Michal, react to his outward demonstration of praise to God (6:16-20)?

What was David's response to her? (6:21)

What was the outcome of her disrespect? (6:23)

What can we learn from her lack of respect?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.  I know this is a highly charged topic among women.  Log on to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com/blog and tell me your thoughts.

More From The Girlfriends
February is the month of love and a wonderful time to contemplate our marriages.  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 Becoming the Woman of His Dreams by Sharon Jaynes for an insightful look at the wonderful, unique, and God-ordained role only you have in your husband's 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]

February 23, 2010 

Refining Love 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
John 13:34 "Love one another as I have loved you."

Friend To Friend
Everywhere I go, I seem to be surrounded by red hearts, roses, pink ceramic dishes, boxes of chocolate and brightly decorated cards that sing mushy love songs and even let you record your very own words and thoughts of affection. February is the month of love but if we are honest, some people are harder to love than others. I call those people "sandpaper people" because they can be irritating, abrasive and tend to rub me the wrong way.

I can also be a sandpaper person. We all can. Our only hope is God's love at work in and through us. God calls us to love the unlovable and to reach out to those people we would rather avoid. God calls us to love each other just like He has loved us. In fact, God uses those difficult people to refine us and make us more like Him.

In the late 1800's, a group of women enrolled in a Bible study came across Malachi 3:3, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Since no one understood the verse, they commissioned one of their members to explore the process of refining silver and report back to them at their next study. The woman called a silversmith, making an appointment to watch him work and ask a few questions.

On the appointed day, she saw him hold a piece of silver over the fire, letting it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, a silversmith needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest, so that all impurities would burn away. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled. "Oh, that's easy. The refining process is complete when I see my image in it."

Difficult relationships can sometimes make us feel like we are being dangled over a fire of unreasonable expectations, can't they? It seems easier to simply give up and walk away from all of the emotional stress of trying to make the relationship work. When we make the choice to love a sandpaper person, we are inviting God to work in us and through us to bring about change - to create His image in us so we can then see His image in others. Difficult relationships and combative interactions do not hold up well in an atmosphere of love, because it is through love that stubborn wills are compelled to yield. Under the influence of God's love in our lives, winning no longer seems important to us, as we recognize the value and worth of a soul.

Let's Pray
Father, I thank You for loving me even though I can be abrasive and difficult to love. I want to love like You love and be a vessel through which Your love can flow to others. Please help me to love others the way You love them and help me see those sandpaper people through Your eyes of mercy and grace. Refine me, Lord, and make me more like You. Conform me to Your image, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Because we are the work of God, it is a spiritual discipline and step of obedience to see ourselves through God's eyes - as someone of worth and value. Sandpaper people often lack this perspective. Before we can love the difficult people in our lives, we must first love God and ourselves.

Read Psalm 8:3-5. Evaluate the way you see yourself by the standards in this passage. What difference could this verse make in the life of a sandpaper person?

Read Jeremiah 1:5. Look back over your life. Identify the "special work" for which God has set you apart. How has He prepared you for that work?

How has God changed your life? List the ways God has transformed your life. Praise Him for each one. List ways God could transform the life of your sandpaper person. Pray for each one.

More From The Girlfriends
I find it fairly easy to get along with people who think like I think. Can you relate? Thankfully, God does not see it that way. That sandpaper person is not in your life by accident. God has a plan for both of you that will refine you and make you more like Him.

The Bible will help you deal with those difficult people God has given you to love.  Need help? Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and join women from across the world as we study God's Word together.

If you need help dealing with the difficult relationships in life, you might want to pick up my book, Sandpaper People. It also comes in CD and MP3 format.

We can also connect through e-mail or on Facebook! Join the discussion on how to deal with the sandpaper people in your life. 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 24, 2010 

Never Forget 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" (Psalm 77:11 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Sometimes it is easy to read about Adam and Eve's failure in the garden and wonder how they could have been so disobedient.  But in reality, this is not Adam and Eve's story alone.  It is our story as well.  We make decisions daily that dishonor God or honor God.  We disobey, take charge of our own lives, and become Lord of our own ring.  Then like Eve, we try to cover up our shame and even attempt to hide from God.

Do you know the first question God asked in the Bible? After Adam and Eve cowered in the bushes, hiding from God, He asked - Where are you?  God knew exactly where they were, what they had done, and how the enemy had tricked them.  However, He decided to remain in relationship with them and begin the process of restoration which was completed on Calvary's cross.  He asks us the same question today when we attempt to hide ... Where are you?

I think "but God" are two of most beautiful words in Scripture.  The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:.  When did we become sinners?  The first time we sinned?  No, we were born sinners and that sin is what separated us from God.  While we were yet sinners, He became the perfect sacrifice for us, not to cover our sin, but to cleanse us forever - once and for all.  Salvation Army Officer, John Allen once said, "I deserved to be damned in hell, but God interfered." God interfered, intervened, and intercepted our death sentence. He sent His Son, who paid the penalty for our sin and all we have to do to receive the pardon is to accept His wonderful gift.

How do we receive the gift? "If you confess with your mouth 'Jesus as Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).  When you accept Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you are freed from the penalty of sin (spiritual death and eternal separation from God) and He gives you a new living spirit. Someone once said, "Salvation is moving from living death to deathless life."

"All this is from God who reconciled us [joined us back together] to himself through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:18 AMP).  Once there was a Christian group who sang a song with a line that said, "There's a bridge to cross the great divide." However, when they were recording, someone sang, "There's a cross to bridge the great divide."  Suddenly, they realized that they had not made a mistake at all.  We were separated from God because of sin, but He sent His Son to die on Calvary's cross to bridge the great divide. 

Why did God do this for us? "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 NIV). The Greeks had three words for life: bios (life of the body), psyche (life of the soul), and zoe (life of the spirit).  Guess which word for life is in John 3:16?  Zoe - life of the spirit!  When you become a Christian, your spirit is reborn and you become a brand new creation. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).  We were crucified with Christ and now we no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 5:20 NIV).

What about those glaring needs that cropped up as a result of Adam and Eve's sin in the garden? What about feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy that so many struggle with today?  Here's what the Bible says: "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so, through one act of righteousness, there resulted justification of life to all men" (Romans 5:18, 19 NASB). All were condemned because of Adam's disobedience and all who accept Jesus are freed because of Christ's obedience.  At the moment of your salvation, everything mankind lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden was returned to you in Jesus Christ. Once again you have:

     Significance because of who you are in Christ.

     Safety and security because of what you have in Christ. 

     A sense of belonging because of where you are in Christ.

Your glaring needs have been fulfilled and transformed into your glowing attributes.  The question is, why don't we act like our needs have been fulfilled?  Why do we continue to struggle with feelings of shame, fear, loneliness, and rejection?  Why do we continue to try to get our needs met by our own means? Because even though our spirits are changed in an instant, our minds must be renewed, our wills must come under the control of the Holy Spirit, and our emotions must be reprogrammed.

It's a process and that's why Girlfriends in God even exists. We are learning, growing, and reprogramming our minds together.  And as we do, we grow more and more spiritually beautiful every day.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, all through the Old Testament, the patriarchs told the Israelites to "remember."  Today I stop and remember all that You have done for me.  I remember what I was like before I came to Christ and I remember all that You have done to bring me to Yourself.  Thank you, Father.  Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You, Holy Spirit. May the remembrance of Your mercies be new every morning.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Sometimes, when you have been a Christian for many years, you forget just how amazing the gift of salvation really is. Today, I'm not going to ask you any questions, but I do want you to go back and reflect on the verses in this devotion.  Write out your own prayer of gratitude for all that God has done to bridge the great divide that separated you from Him.

As always, I love to hear from my Girlfriends in God. You can visit my blog (www.sharonjaynes.com/blog ) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.com ) to share your comments.

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  by Sharon Jaynes. (This book 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]

February 25, 2010 

The Beauty of Rest 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Friend To Friend
For most of my adult life, I have wrongly equated being busy with being productive. I'm guilty as charged when it comes to living each day in overdrive. My Day Timer has, at times, been my Bible. The result has always, always been exhaustion, burnout and watered down living.  Everything looked great on the outside - but when I was alone with God, we both knew the façade I had so carefully erected was a spiritual monument to self-promotion and pride-filled goals. The house built upon the sand seemed like very familiar digs. And I was not alone.

We are all masters of rationalizing our way to approval. The problem is that the approval we gain comes from impotent and lifeless sources. I am convinced that if we are willing to surrender our lives to the tyranny of the urgent, the enemy will keep the urgent things in life coming - people who need you immediately, those who clamor for your attention above your family and personal relationship with God, the person who can talk to no one but you, and the list goes on. What ego strokes they offer!  And what futility. 

I have always loved music and began taking piano lessons at the age of five. I will never forget that first piano lesson with Mrs. McKenzie, a very sweet, elderly woman who played the piano beautifully. Her hair was slightly blue, her house smelled like lemon drops and she had clocks that chimed every fifteen minutes. I was so excited and ready to play the piano like my sister who played for our church worship services.  Betty was amazing and I was desperately hoping that same musical ability ran in our family.

"Let's get started," Mrs. McKenzie said.  I climbed up on the piano bench, waiting for her brilliant instruction to begin. She placed a bright, red piano book in front of me and invited me to open it to the first page. I was disappointed to see only little, black pictures.  Where was the music?  Where were the songs?  Mrs. McKenzie smiled as she patiently began to explain the musical symbols pictured in the book before me.  I soon grew restless. "What's wrong, Mary?" she asked. "I want to play the piano, please," I sweetly responded. With a knowing smile, she said, "We'll get to that." I was not happy.

On and on - for what seemed like hours - Mrs. McKenzie pointed to funny-shaped black symbols, named them and explained their meaning.  I was not impressed.  I just wanted to get my hands on that keyboard. Sensing my impatience, Mrs. McKenzie pointed to one of the symbols on the page before me and said, "Mary, this small, black box is called a 'rest' and is one of the most important symbols in music." I simply didn't care. It did nothing but sit on a page in useless and unproductive silence. I wanted music. "Do you know why rests are so important in music?" she persisted.  Obviously, I had no clue until she said something I remember to this day, "The music that comes after the rest is the most beautiful music of all."

At the time, I didn't understand the deeper meaning of those words, but life and time have illustrated their importance and their truth. The best part of life comes after we rest in Him. The most beautiful service follows time spent at His feet.  Rest is a powerful part of our life song. The rest in music prepares the listener for what comes next.  So does rest in life.       

Let's Pray
Father, please forgive me for being too busy to spend time with You. Forgive me when I fail to see the hurting and wounded people who need my love and attention. Lord, I need to rest in You but am not very good at doing so. Teach me, Father, to rest in Your love and Your plan for my life. May the essence of my life be a song of praise to You that others will want to sing.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

More From The Girlfriends
I know what many of you are thinking. You do not have time to rest. However, the spiritual reality is that we need rest the most - when we have the least amount of time to rest. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate you priorities and goals. Are they part of God's plan for your life or does your life reflect the tyranny of the urgent?  Take a deep breath and choose to rest in Him. 

Need help in making Bible study a daily habit?  Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and join women from across the world as we study God's Word together.

Going through some tough times?  Check out my new DVD, Strength for the Storm.

We can also connect through e-mail or on Facebook! Join the discussions on relevant life topics. 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 26, 2010 

Is The Bible Important to You? 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" (NLT).

Friend To Friend
If we really want to know God; if we really want to understand who and whose we are, the Bible must have the highest place in our lives. We don't have to be a Bible scholar or have a firm grip on the Hebrew and Greek languages to know and apply God's principles and promises.  As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will give you understanding and teach you spiritual truth. He will then give you the power you need to follow those teachings and apply each truth.   

A disciple is a follower, a learner and a student.  If we want to follow God and be a learner of Him, a student of His ways, then we have to understand the importance of the Bible, love the Word and spend time in it.  I thought I was doing a fair job of plugging the truth of God's Word into my life until I rammed right into Psalm 119.  Within this passage, I discovered a test for us as believers that will help determine the importance we really place on God's Word in daily life.  Take this test with me to see if God's Word has the place in your life that it should have. 

Is God's Word more important than food?
Psalm 119:103 "Your promises are sweet to me, sweeter than honey in my mouth" (NCV).  Here the Bible is described as honey and at other places in the scripture as milk or bread. The Bible is our spiritual food and sustains and strengthens us just as food sustains and strengthens our physical body. Just as malnutrition affects our physical growth, spiritual malnutrition affects our spiritual  growth. I dare say that we rarely miss a meal.  We always find a way to eat. Do we have the same depth of commitment to our spiritual growth and health as we do to satisfying the hunger pains of our human body?   

Is God's Word more important than money?   
Psalm 119:72 "Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver" (NCV).  What the psalmist is saying is that spiritual wealth is more important than human wealth. Do we really live as if that statement were true?  I have a friend who is totally committed to God and to serving Him whole-heartedly. My friend is a garbage collector - a happy garbage collector. I once asked him why he was so happy in his work. "Mary, I collect garbage to pay the bills but my real passion in life is to share Jesus Christ and to serve Him with joy."  He has the right backdrop for life and it is not wealth or money.

Is God's Word more important to you than sleep? 
Psalm 119:147-148 "I wake up early in the morning and cry out. I hope in your word.  I stay awake all night so I can think about your promises." (NCV)  I know. Now God is getting personal!  When we start talking about giving up sleep to read and study the Word of God, we are talking radical obedience. Exactly!  If we want to experience God's power in our lives, we have to saturate our lives with His Word.

How did you do? I will tell you honestly that I failed this test! I have walked with God for over forty years and I still do not have the hunger and thirst for God's Word that I should have. If we would listen carefully, I believe we could hear God say, "If you want to get to know me - really know me - if you want to be intimate with Me, you have to know my Book!"

The truth is that we find a way to do the things in life that are important to us. Have you noticed that we always seem to find the time to eat and sleep? We are driven to work in order to live the good life but we neglect the most important - the only eternal part of our being - our soul. Our soul can only be nourished and fed by the Word of the Living God.  How important is God's Word in your life? 

Let's Pray
Father, I pray that You would give me a hunger and thirst for the Bible. I want to please You with my life through obedience to Your truths. I choose to spend time reading the Bible and praying each day this week. Would You please honor my commitment and empower me to keep it?  When I fail, Lord, I choose now to forgive myself as You forgive me - and begin again.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Set aside one hour this week to re-evaluate your plan for reading and studying the Bible. 
Set new goals for daily Bible study.   
Make the goals realistic for your current lifestyle.   
Next week, add 15 minutes to your study time each day 
Pray and ask the Father to empower this new commitment.   
Set a specific time and place for your Bible study.  Remember to record new truths and insights in a journal.  At the end of the week, go back over your entries and see what changes God has made in your life.   
Praise Him for the power of His Word.   
And when you fail, do not allow the enemy to discourage you or persuade you to give up.  Simply begin again.

Read and memorize 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)  "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

More From The Girlfriends
We live in Shawnee, Kansas where Westar Energy makes a tremendous amount of electricity available to us. With that power, we can light our homes, stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We can enjoy electrically powered appliances that turn, spin, wash, dry and clean.  What a difference that electricity makes in our lives ... when we flip the switch. Unless we use and appropriate the power of available electricity, it is worthless to us. The same is true of the Bible. 

Need help in making Bible study a daily habit?  Enroll in my online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and join women from across the world as we study God's Word together.

Going through some tough times?  Check out my new DVD, Strength for the Storm.

We can also connect through e-mail or on Facebook! Join the discussions on relevant life topics. 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]

March 1, 2010 

Nailing Lies To The Cross 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Friend To Friend
One major blessing of being in women's ministry is the friendships I have with other women in ministry. We are our own little band of sisters. Sisters with a mission! We cheer for one another, cry with one another, laugh with one another, pray for one another, and rejoice with one another.

One sister I have had the opportunity to lock arms with for the journey is Renee. She works for an international women's ministry and is a talented God-fearing, Bible-teaching speaker and writer. A few years back, Renee traveled across the country to speak at a women's retreat. When she got there, a few unexpected circumstances caused her to send out an "SOS, pray-for-me-now" email to her ministry sisters. I got the email and hit my knees.

Early the next week, Renee sent us an email thanking us for praying and telling us what God did in the hearts of women at that retreat. She told us that she spoke about the lies that we believe as women and told personal and biblical stories that illuminated God's truth. Then, at the final session, Renee asked the women to consider what they believed to be true about themselves. Her challenge went something like this: "When you settle your soul long enough to simply be still—when you pause to listen to your heart—what do you hear? Are there lies that linger in your heart knowingly or unknowingly?"

She encouraged them to write down on a note card the lies they had accepted as truth, whether lies spoken by a parent, kids in the schoolyard, a friend, a family member, a spouse, a child, a pastor, or a stranger. She told them that some of the lies might never have been spoken at all, just believed.

When they finished she invited them to bring the cards to a wooden cross at the front of the room. Next to the cross, she had placed baskets filled with promises from God's Word, and after each woman nailed her card to the cross, she picked up a truth that would replace her lies.

Tears ran down almost every cheek as the women brought their lies to the cross and embraced God's life-changing Words. Guilt was forgiven, worthless became precious, and sorrow was traded for joy that day. Then a whoop-it-up celebration went down! God, through his Holy Spirit, revealed His heart to those sweet women and shattered the lies of the enemy.

After the retreat was over, Renee looked through the cards that had been nailed to the cross. One card jumped out at her. Written over and over was one word: Worthless!

The woman who wrote that wasn't the only one at that retreat who felt that way. That same word—worthless—was penned on many of the cards that weekend. It represents a lie that has been believed by most every woman at some point in her life. There have been days, weeks, and months that I've believed it myself.

It's one of Satan's favorite words to throw at us, and it is a big, fat, ugly lie.

The Bible clearly shows us that we are valued in the sight of the Lord. When we allow God's Word to flood our lives with the truth we are changed by the height, the depth, and the width of His love for us. "Take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19, MSG).

God loves you with a personal love. He knows your name. He considers you highly valuable. No matter what you've believed in the past, choose by faith to believe this now: you are valued, priceless, and adored by God. When you take God at His Word, and trust Him at His heart, you will experience the deep, life-changing love of your Heavenly Father.

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for holding me safely in Your arms of love. Please help me to recognize any lie that my heart may perceive as truth, and strengthen me to trade in my sorrow for Your joy. 

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What does your heart hear when you are still?

What lies would you write on that card? 


Meditate on the following Psalm (Read it silently; then aloud.)

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:1-5).

Now, spend a few moments prayerfully responding to God.

More From The Girlfriends
NEED HEALING for some heart wounds? Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful. To order the book, please CLICK HERE. 

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

Gwen Smith is a speaker, worship artist, songwriter, and author. For more information about her ministry or schedule, visit her website at http://www.gwensmith.net/.

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]

March 2, 2010 

Renewing Your Mind with the Truth 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2 NIV).

Friend To Friend
I see three emotions blocking women from being all God intends for them to be and from accomplishing all that God intends for them to accomplish - feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. I hear women make comments such as, I can't do that.  I wish I were talented like Sarah.  If people really knew me, they wouldn't like me.  I'm not very smart.  I feel like a failure.  I can't do anything right.  I could never stand up in front of anyone and speak.  I believe the Bible works for her, but I don't believe it would work for me.  I don't fit in anywhere.  Nobody loves me. And friend, I admit I have heard similar comments come out of my own mouth!

Where do those feelings come from?  From the time we are born, we receive messages about ourselves. These messages are programmed into our minds. We may not realize our minds are being programmed, but it happens as surely as I'm typing these words on my computer.   Either we felt esteemed, encouraged, and embraced as a child or we felt unloved, uncared for, and worthless.  Messages were given both intentionally and unintentionally by family, friends, teachers and other significant people who made up our own little world.  They were programmed into our minds and formed a type of filter or grid system. Every thought we have, every piece of information we receive must pass through that filter before it is processed by our minds. Soon, a false filter distorts the truth.

For example, little Mari was told at an early age that she was stupid, ugly, and clumsy.  Her ears looked like wings; her teeth looked like a twenty-car-pileup, and her legs looked like a flamingo's. In the fourth grade, she got coke bottle glasses and kids called her "four-eyes" on the playground when the teachers weren't close enough to hear. One day in geography class, the room erupted with laughter when she incorrectly answered that Philadelphia was our nation's capital.

Seven years later, as a high school junior, Mari's head has grown to catch up with her ears, the orthodontist has done a stellar job of straightening her now perfectly aligned white teeth, and her blue contact lenses accentuated the aqua marine hue of her eyes. She is inducted into the National Honor Society and scores 1420 on her SAT.  Yet, when Mari walks into a room full of people, she feels like that awkward fourth grader with the big ears, skinny legs, and thick glasses who was laughed at in geography class.  Even though she is a beautiful, intelligent young lady, that negative self-degrading filter is still in place, and deception is the glue that holds it there. She does not see herself for who she really is.

Now let's pretend that Mari goes to a church retreat and hears the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time. Let's say she makes a profession of faith, accepts Jesus as her Savior and begins the journey of making Him Lord of every aspect of her life.  What happens to the negative filter covering her mind?  Does it immediately disappear when she becomes a Christian?  No, it does not.  As a matter-of-fact, she probably doesn't even know it is there.  Even though Mari is a child of God, holy and dearly loved, unless she removes the negative filter by renewing her mind, she will most likely continue feeling inferior, insecure and inadequate.  Only now, she may heap guilt on top of it for not feeling more victorious and peaceful in her new Christian faith. 

When Mari became a Christian, she received a new spirit and a new identity. She just didn't know it.  It reminds me of a story I heard about two boys arguing if a chicken running around the barnyard with his head cut off was dead or alive.  While they were watching this strange phenomenon, an old wise farmer walked up.

"Sir," the boys asked.  "Is that headless chicken running around dead or alive?"

The old farmer scratched his chin and pondered the situation.  Finally, he spoke, "Well, best I figure, that chicken is dead, but he just don't know it yet."

That pretty much describes many Christians.  It described me for about fifteen years of my life after I became a born-again Christian. My old self was dead, but I just didn't know it yet. I had the spirit of Jesus Christ living in and through me; I just didn't know it yet. I was a saint, the salt of the earth, holy and dearly loved; I just didn't know it yet. But when I finally understood who I am in Christ, what I have in Christ, and where I am in Christ, those feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy began to fade away.

How about you?  Do you know who you are?

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to renew my mind with the truth of my new identity.  Help me see the areas when I have been filtering life through the lies of the past.  As I read Your Word, please use it to renew my mind with the truth.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Think of a time in your childhood that shaped how you see yourself today. 

Is it the truth of who you really are or are you allowing the enemy to hold up a false mirror, distorting who God says you really are?

Look up 2 Corinthians 5:17.  Write it down.  What does that mean to you?

I'd love to hear your answers on question #2.  Let's chat.  www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or www.sharonjaynes.com/blog.

More From The Girlfriends
We will never be truly beautiful as long as the dark cloud of past wrong thinking blocks the radiance within. If you would like to learn more about who you truly are and how to renew your mind with God's truth, see Sharon's book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful: Seeing yourself through God's Eyes. 

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]

March 4, 2010 

Unshakable Confidence 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's' Truth
"I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV).

Friend To Friend
She was among an eager group of four-year-old children crowded around my feet as I taught their Sunday school lesson. I was the teacher and they were the students - or at least that is how it started out. The pint-sized audience listened intently as I tried to create a mental image of Jesus and His disciples trapped in a thunderstorm on the Sea of Galilee.

"The winds bleeeeeeew and rocked the little boat back and forth, back and forth. The waves were soooooo big; they splashed over the wooden sides and got the men all wet. Then water started filling up the boat - and do you know what happens when a boat gets full of water?"

"It sinks," they chimed together.

"That's right." I continued with a wrinkled brow and concerned look on my face.  "That's not all. The lightening was sooooo bright; it looked like fire in the sky. And the claps of thunder were sooooo loud; they could feel them vibrate in their chests." 

After painting this picture of impending doom and thinking I would have my "congregation" just a little worried about the fate of these men trapped in a storm, I asked the question.  "Now if you were in a tiny boat like this, caught in a terrible storm like this, would you be afraid?"

Then one precious little girl, confident and unshaken by the entire scenario, shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Not if Jesus was in the boat with me."

I will never forget that answer. I have come to realize that this answer calms all our worries and fears. Just as the disciples had the storm raging all around them, many times the storms of life rage around us. A friend discovers she has cancer, a husband loses his job, and a child is born with birth defects. These are storms with waves of emotions so high that our lifeboat fills with tears and appears that it could sink at any moment.  Waves of fear rock our boat and threaten to spill us into despair without even a life jacket to keep us afloat. Storms cause us to doubt who we are, what we have, and where we are as a child of God. Waves of emotions rock our faith.

"Tell me, would you be afraid?"

"Not if Jesus was in the boat with me."

And guess what.  He is.  God said, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV), and Jesus said, "Surely I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 26:20).  Although the pain may be great, we do not need to be afraid that the storms of life will destroy us, because Jesus is in the boat with us. His power can calm the seas and still the storms of life that threaten to pull us under. 

After the children filed out and scattered to Sunday lunches throughout the city, I sat in the room to digest the words of the real teacher that day.  It was childlike faith in its purest form.  The little girl believed God.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I will admit, sometimes I get so scared when the storms of life rock my boat.  Thank You that You are in the boat with me, that You will never leave me and that You are always right by my side.  That is what You promised.  That is what I know to be true.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Go back and read the story of Jesus calming the storm in Luke 8:19-25. How would you answer the disciples' question in verse 25..."Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

What life situations are rocking your boat today?

Do you have the sense that Jesus is in the boat with you?

What reassurance does that give you?

I would love to hear your answer!  Let's chat at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or www.sharonjaynes.com/blog

More From The Girlfriends
I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need a "faith lift."  If that is where you find yourself today, let's go to God's spa together.  Join me on the journey of a lifetime in Becoming Spiritually Beautiful and discover the inner glow you have always longed 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