Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

May 28, 2010 

The Potter and the Clay 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Isaiah 64:8 "But LORD, you are our father.  We are like clay, and you are the potter; your hands made us all" (NCV).

Friend To Friend
When our daughter, Danna, was in pre-school, one of her favorite activities was playing with clay.  She often pulled her little step stool over to the closet where the clay was stored and pulled out the boxes of brightly colored clay.  With great concentration and effort, her little fingers would then pry them open and she would begin to work. 

For hours at a time, Danna would pound, mold, stretch and create her own clay world. Animals, people, flowers and aliens would emerge from the lumps of clay.  Her work done, she called me to "put them up".  That meant it was time to exhibit them for her brother and father to see when they came home. 

Danna's creations would remain on display until they grew hard and brittle.  We would then break them apart, sprinkle them with water and put them back into their containers, allowing the clay to grow soft again. 

When it comes to spiritual matters - God is the Potter, the Creator, and we are the clay.  The world says we should never give up our rights because if we do, we will lose everything!  God says, "Give up your rights and you will gain everything!"  When we surrender, we gain everything that is important. 

In order for God to make us into what He wants us to be, we have to become pliable and willing - like clay.  We must come to Him, placing ourselves in His hands, the Potter's hands.  Total surrender demands that we come with no agenda, no pre-set conditions - giving Him permission to bend us, break us and change us.  We sometimes come to God, with a hardened heart and brittle spirit.  Life has broken and damaged us and the wrong hands have molded us.  Remember, how we come to Him is not nearly as important as the fact that we come.  As we give up control to Him, like a Master Craftsman, He begins to work patiently and lovingly, with a specific plan and one-of-a-kind design in mind.  He works through circumstances as well as people, through joy and pain, victory and defeat.  He filters every part of life through His plan for us and uses it to create a life of worth and meaning. 

Oh, we have tried to live life with our own agenda and plan and have experienced discontentment and frustration. Our soul longs for more and our heart cries out, "Is this all there is?"  The truth is that nothing and no one but God can bring us the peace and joy for which we searching.  Are you ready to become the clay, surrendering your broken life to the Potter's loving and purpose-filled hands?  Today is the day!

Let's Pray
Lord, I am tired of trying to live life in my own power.  Right now, I give up and surrender my life completely to You.  I choose Your plan over mine.  I give You permission to mold me and make me what You want me to be.  I will wait before You and seek Your direction.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What has been the plan - according to you - for your life up to this point?

What kind of results has that plan produced? 

Write a prayer of surrender to God and record it in your journal.  Be sure to include the following steps:

Recognize that you have been trying to live life according to your plan - your agenda.

Admit that your refusal to surrender your life to God has brought only frustration and emptiness.

Right now - surrender to God.

What action do you need to take in order to obey God:

____Join a local church

____Get involved in a small group

____Read the Bible daily

____Pray constantly

____Seek God in everything I do

More From The Girlfriends
I have to admit I am not very good at giving up and even flinch at the very thought of "surrender".  I was taught never to give up; to be strong and to depend on no one but myself.  In fact, the very thought of surrender seems like a weakness to me and is completely opposite to my human strength and will.  Exactly!  Did you know that my name, Mary, literally means bitter, but when broken, sweet? Unless I am in a constant state of surrender to God, I will surely become bitter, brittle and broken.  When it comes to dealing with difficult people, a willingness to surrender to God's viewpoint is essential.  Need help?  Get my book, Sandpaper People to discover ten actions you can take to build healthy relationships.  And be sure to check out my CDs, How to Get Past Your Past and Escaping the Stress Trap.

For more information about how to enjoy family or how to deal with a difficult child, check out the MP3s, How to Enjoy Your Family and Tough Love for Tough Kids in my online store.

Join women from across the world in Bible study by enrolling in my weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey.

And I would love to connect with you through email or on Facebook! Become a friend and leave a message! 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]

May 31, 2010 

Second Chances 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  So they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:24 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Perhaps one of the most memorable and heart touching stories of grace and forgiveness is recorded in Luke chapter fifteen.  It's what we've come to know as the story of the prodigal son.  This young man demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive, spent it all on riotous living, and found himself dirty, destitute, and despairing.  As despicable as pigs were to Jews, this young man took a job taking care of pigs and eating their food just to stay alive.  But then he had an epiphany.  He came to his senses.

"How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death.  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him?  'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'  So he got up and went to his father" (Luke 15:17-20).

And where was his father?  He was panning the horizon, hoping for a sign that his boy might return home.  While "he was still a long way off," the father spotted his son on the horizon.  Filled with compassion, he picked up the edges of his robe and ran.  He didn't wait for his son to come to him, grovel at his feet, and beg for forgiveness.  There were no "I told you so's." No, as soon as the father caught a glimpse of his son, he dashed toward his boy, smothered him with kisses, and welcomed him home. 

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let's have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  So they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:22-24 NIV).

If you remember, not everyone was happy when the prodigal son returned.  His big brother resented the fact that he got another chance.  And you know what? There will be those who resent the fact that we get another chance as well.

Bible teacher, Beth Moore wrote: "Big brother won't mind if you come back as long as you hang your head and wear your shame.  But when God has the audacity to give you a little dignity back and you dare lift your radiant face to heaven in liberated praise, big brother may be appalled!... It's pride that can't celebrate with a prodigal-come-home.  Folks who won't celebrate are still kidding themselves into thinking they did something right to be loved by their Father."

I say, let him be appalled.  Nothing makes some people angrier than grace. Big brother is invited to the party too and it's his decision whether or not he wants to join in the celebration.  I'm just glad he's not the one in charge.

God is a God of second chances.  When we stray, He pans the horizon waiting for our return.  When we do, He runs to embrace us, throws His arms around us, and celebrates with the heavenly host shouting...Welcome home!

Let's Pray
Dear Father, thank You for welcoming me home when I stray.  I pray that I will never be like the older brother who resented the prodigal's return.  Thank You so much for welcoming me with open arms and rejoicing over me with singing.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Who are you more like in this story?

Are you like the prodigal who has walked away from God?

Are you like the older brother who looks down on those who have fallen and feel they need to not be welcomed back so readily?

Are you like the father who longs for the prodigal to return, celebrates when he/she does, and restores him/her to a place of dignity.

More From The Girlfriends
This devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding peace and purpose in the pain of your past.  If you would like to learn more about how to turn pain into purpose, misery into ministry and hurt into hope, this book is for you! 

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]

June 1, 2010 

Will the real enemy please stand up? 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
1 Peter 5:8-9 "Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.  Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith. You know that your Christian family all over the world is having the same kinds of suffering" (NCV).

Friend To Friend
Spiritual ignorance is not bliss - it is dangerous. Many people say it doesn't really matter what you believe as long as you believe something!  I totally disagree! The apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil" (NIV). To deal with sandpaper people (those people who rub us the wrong way), we must be able to discern between truth and lies. 

If the enemy can dupe us into believing his lies, those difficult relationships will eventually damage and even destroy our emotional health, seeping into the broken places, ripping open almost healed wounds inflicted by sandpaper people. Complete honesty must steer every difficult relationship because sandpaper people must always be confronted with sound, solid truth in clear and transparent conversation as well as disciplined behavior. We are in a battle for godly relationships. In order to win that battle we must identify the real enemy.

1 Peter 5:8 "The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat" (NCV).

Sandpaper people are not the enemy. It is sometimes easier to convince ourselves that they are as it would make the attack plan so much simpler and free of guilt. We could simply do everything in our power to eliminate that person from our life when what God really wants is for us to embrace that sandpaper person, celebrating the truth that where and who they are is no surprise to God. 

When our children were in middle school, several of their friends got laser guns for Christmas. One weekend, they brought the guns to our house for a "big, bad laser war." The kids divided into teams and the object of the game was simple, to wipe out the enemy. Wonderful!  What clean, wholesome fun. 

Hours went by to the sound of war hoops, shouts and threats and cries of victory. They had a great time playing with those guns - that is, until it was dark. I stood in the kitchen preparing dinner when I heard the kitchen door open and close - uh, rather slam - and looked up to see my daughter, Danna, red-faced with fury.  I knew it would not be long before I had every morbid detail of whatever injustice she had endured at the hand of "those boys." I was right. "Mom, I need to talk to you - now!" I knew a command when I heard it, dropped my spatula and waited for the story. It was short and not so sweet. "Everybody is mad at me because I keep shooting my own team." So far, I was totally lost. I guess my confusion was evident because I could sense the exasperation that fueled her next words, "Mom!  Are you listening?" I was - it didn't help. With a sigh and in her most patronizing tone, she explained, "I keep shooting my own team because it is so dark. I can't tell who the enemy is." 

We often have the same problem when it comes to dealing with sandpaper people. We identify them as the enemy but they are not the real enemy.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Satan should never be the center of attention in any believer's life. We cannot focus on two things at once and if we focus on Satan, we cannot focus on God. However, Paul clearly warns us that no Christian should ever ignore Satan or take him for granted either because he is a powerful and vicious foe.

Satan is our true enemy and would love to encourage our attack on those people who rub us the wrong way and ignore the hand of God in the matter. Nothing and no one touches our life that does not pass through the Father's hand, with His permission. God, however, takes what the enemy meant for evil and uses it for good in our life - if we let Him.   

Let's Pray
Father, I praise You for the truth that You have already conquered Satan. Please help me remember that while Satan is powerful, he is also defeated. Give me the discernment to recognize his evil tactics and plans to use difficult people in my life to help me fail and fall. I want to walk in the light of Your eternal victory over sin and live in the strength of Your power over the grave and the powers of the darkness. Teach me how to love the sinner but hate the sin. Keep me broken over my own sin and always be ready to offer the grace, mercy and forgiveness You have given me.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Fighting the unknown is always more difficult than fighting the known. Getting along with people who rub us the wrong way is dependent on understanding that Satan is at work around us wielding weapons of strife, anger, frustration and misunderstanding. Victory is ours unless we hand it over to the enemy. Ignoring him is foolish but by identifying him and exposing his malignant tactics, we rob him of power and negate his ability to control and manipulate relationships. Read the following verses and then fill in the blanks to identify the different characteristics of Satan's personality:


Satan is a ______________________. 
            John 8:44 "Satan is a liar and the father of lies." 


Satan is a ______________________. 
            1 John 5:19 "We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one." 



Satan is an _____________________.
            2 Corinthians 11:14 "Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light."



Satan is a ______________________. 
            Revelation 20:10 "Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire." 

More From The Girlfriends
I believe we waste a lot of time and energy fighting the wrong enemy. Satan is good at disguising himself as a difficult person, a painful trial or hurtful situation. He is already defeated, girlfriend! I have read the end of the Book - and we win! Do not let your focus stray from God, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Become grounded in the Word. Pray about everything and spend time with other followers of Christ so that when the storms of life come, you are not alone in that rocking boat! Sharon, Gwen and I began this ministry out of that very desire - to do life with you - through the good and bad times. We all have them but we do not have to go through them alone. We are here for you - but most importantly, God is with us all! Blessings!

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies that you can download for your personal use and/or for a small group study. She has a study that has just been released, Winning the War with Temptation that may be just what you need to live a life of victory instead of defeat. 

I Need a Friend is Mary's new CD based on the lives of Ruth and Naomi and offers eight keys to finding true friendship and learning how to be a true friend. 

Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, is a great bible study tool as well. Check it out! A new study topic, How to Avoid the Pits in Life, begins June 7.

DON'T MISS the great sale going on this week in Mary's online store!


Connect with Mary on Face book or through email. She loves hearing what God is doing in your 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]

June 2, 2010
A Father's Strong Arm
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Isaiah 59:1 (NIV) "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."

Friend To Friend
I was just a wisp of a girl - a six-year-old, forty pound monkey with gangly arms and legs who vowed she could do anything her eleven-year-old mischievous brother, Stewart, could do.  Standing on the glistening sand of Bogue Inlet Beach, N.C., I hungrily watched as Stewart and his friend, Jeffery, plunged into the briny waters at the end of the island where the Atlantic Ocean merged with the Intracostal Waterway. Steward and Jeffery had one goal: to swim across the treacherous waters to a beckoning sandbar some 100 feet away.

This was the spot at the end of the island where waves gave way to calm, salt water gave way to fresh, and sand gave way to soil.  What looked like tranquil water on the surface was in reality a strong undercurrent that sucked the ocean away from its home. Like a lovesick puppy mourning its master's absence, I watched as the boys plunged into the water and swam away from shore.

"I want to go too!" I called out after them.

"You're just a kid!" Stewart yelled back. "You stay there! You can't come!"

"It's not fair," I stormed.  "He gets to do everything!"

"You stay here with us," my dad instructed. "You're too little. It's not safe."

My dad's remarks only made me more determined to prove them all wrong. "If he can do it, I can do it," I mumbled. "I always get left behind."

When my dad turned his back to talk to a friend, I saw my chance and dove into the water. My thin limbs were no match for the sucking force of the undertow and the pull of the current. Very quickly, my lithe body was swept away along with the ocean's salt, sand and silt into the fresh water. My salty tears mixed with the briny water and my small cries for help went unheard. The strong ropes of current continued to pull me away from my family as they grew smaller.

Dad turned from his conversation to see the boys had almost hit their mark. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed small splashes to his far right. "Oh no," he cried. "That's Sharon out there!"

My father dove into the water and cut through the menacing current. Propelled by panic, he reached me in a matter of moments. Like a fisherman's hook, dad reached out and grabbed my flailing body and reeled me to his side. With one arm, he fought the current once again and pulled us safely to shore. My dad had rescued me.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? Perhaps you've jumped into deep waters, into strong currents that appeared benignly calm on the surface. Perhaps you envied others who were headed in a certain direction and felt you were missing all the fun.

"Don't go there," your Heavenly Father warns. "It's not safe."

"But why do they get to have all the fun," you whine. "I always get left behind."

Then, when you think God isn't looking, in you jump! Before you know it you are being swept away in the current of poor choices, sucked down by the undertow of self-centeredness, and pulled away as your family grows strangely small.

Oh friend, my earthly father pulled me safely to shore that day when I was six, but my Heavenly Father has pulled me safely to shore more times than I can count. When we ignore our Father's warnings we forfeit the safety of His shore and plunge into the ocean of harm's way: the undertow of over-commitment, the current of wrong choices, and the rising tide of moral danger. Perhaps that's where you are right now. If so, there is hope. You only have to call out to God for help and He will pull you safely to shore. David cried out, "Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me" (Psalm 31:2). "Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters..." (Psalm 144:7).

"But Sharon," you might say, "You don't know how far I've fallen. You don't know what a mess I've made of my life." You are right. I don't know. But God does and there is no place that you can go where His arm is too short to reach down and save you. That's a promise.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I am so glad that Your arm is never too short to save me - to pull me out of the difficult places of life. Forgive me for ignoring the Holy Spirit's warnings and jumping into treacherous waters that I should have avoided. Give me the strength to walk away when I feel that check in my spirit that says ... don't go there. I love You, Lord, and thank You for being my Rescuer, my Rock, and my Redeemer.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever found yourself in rough water because of a poor decision you have made? Perhaps that's where you are right now. If so, I encourage you to call out to God for help. Write your own prayer for rescue today.

If you have found yourself in an undertow because of a poor decision, and you have cried out to God for help, and He has rescued you, I'd love to hear about it. Did you know that your testimony might be just the story someone needs to hear in order to hope again? I encourage you to go to my public Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and tell your story.

More From The Girlfriends
Sharon has a brand new book hot off the press!  What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered. If you have ever wondered just what God thinks about women, you can discover it through the radical messages, miracles, and ministry of Jesus. This eye-opening book will change the way you see yourself as a co-image bearer of God and co-heir with Christ! Jesus went to great lengths for you to understand just how valuable you are. Don't miss it!

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]

June 3, 2010 

The Real Deal 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 11:7 (NCV) "The LORD does what is right, and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face."

Friend To Friend
Worship is a word we often use but something we rarely experience. Oh, we say that we are going to a worship service each Sunday but do we really encounter the living God or merely endure another weekly religious gathering? When was the last time you walked away from a worship service - changed forever - because God met you there? We misunderstand what true worship is and fail to recognize the requirements of worship. 

A preacher, out for a walk, noticed a group of boys standing around a small stray dog.  "What are you doing, boys?" he asked. "Telling lies," one young man explained. "The one who tells the biggest lie gets the dog." The minister was shocked and said, "Why, when I was your age I never even thought about telling a lie." The boys looked at each other and their faces fell in disappointment. Finally, one young man shrugged and said, "I guess he wins the dog." 

To worship God is to see Him - truly and honestly. No, we cannot actually see His face but we can understand who He is, recognize His power and acknowledge His sovereignty. True worship takes place in an honest heart. Honesty is a rapidly disappearing attribute. Truth is hedged and masked. Integrity is compromised. "Mom isn't here" our children say when we want to avoid the caller. We silently pocket the incorrectly counted change received in the drive-through lane. Untruths we label as "small white lies" punctuate our character until authenticity is forfeited. A life of integrity demands honesty. So does worship.

Worship is all about seeking the face of God. Seeking God with our whole heart is the first step in experiencing authentic worship. We cannot truly seek Him until we are willing to come before Him in absolute abandonment, completely and totally honest before Him. 

In the gospel of Luke, we find a woman who came to dinner at the home of Simon Peter. This woman came for one reason alone - she had heard that Jesus would be there. It was common knowledge that she was a prostitute with a terrible reputation. Everyone at the party - including Simon, the host - knew exactly who she was and what she had done. Simon would never have allowed - much less invited this kind of woman to enter his home. However, it was also common knowledge that when a Rabbi was invited to someone's house, others could stop by and listen to the conversation. A desperate woman, she came knowing that everyone at the party would recognize and judge her.  But her desire to meet Jesus was greater than her pride.

She came openly - hiding nothing. She came just like she was, a sinful woman. In other words, as my daughter would say, she was the "real deal." No pretense. No hypocrisy. Just authenticity. She came with an honest heart and Jesus met her at that point of brutal honesty. As a matter of fact, He was waiting for her to come. He is waiting for us to come as well. The fact is that we will never experience the full power of true worship until we are ready to honestly confront and deal with the sin in our lives. An honest heart pleases God and is invited to worship Him.

Let's Pray
Father, I confess that I do not truly understand what it means to worship You in the way that You desire, but I want to worship You. I want to come into your presence with complete honesty and transparency. My heart desire is to sit at Your feet. I lay down my pride and arrogance, confessing that without You, I am nothing. I praise You and love You, Father. Teach me how to truly worship You. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

Examine your life in the light of honesty.
Come before Him wrapped in that spiritual honesty.
Know that He always responds to an honest heart.
Refuse to fall back into old habits that would corrupt your newfound authenticity.
Ask yourself the following questions:

What sin(s) have I been hiding and refusing to face?
What action(s) will it take for me to deal with those sins honestly?
How does sin affect my ability to worship God?
Define honesty. Does your definition line up with God's? 
More From The Girlfriends
I don't know about you, but I am so tired of lugging my collection of masks around. I am no longer willing to waste energy trying to be someone God did not create me to be. I really do want to be "the real deal." Let's pray for each other to become a woman that pleases God.

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies that you can download for your personal use and/or for a small group study. She has a study that has just been released, Winning the War with Temptation that may be just what you need to live a life of victory instead of defeat. 

I Need a Friend is Mary's new CD based on the lives of Ruth and Naomi and offers eight keys to finding true friendship and learning how to be a true friend. 

Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, is a great bible study tool as well. Check it out! A new study topic, How to Avoid the Pits in Life, begins June 7.


DON'T MISS the great sale going on this week in Mary's online store!

Connect with Mary on Face book or through email. She loves hearing what God is doing in your 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]

June 4, 2010 

Resurrection of Hope 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Jeremiah 20:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Friend To Friend
Beth is one of my dearest friends.  She had been married for 24 years when her husband walked away from their marriage.  Beth is a very strong Christian and for five years put on a happy face telling everyone, including herself, "That's OK.  Jesus is enough."  She has two absolutely incredible children who love the Lord and both serve in some facet of ministry.  And yet, I wondered if she had been the first person I had ever known who had skipped the grieving process that follows the devastation of divorce.

She was not.

Five years after the divorce, Beth and I were talking about some struggles she was facing in a new relationship.

"Beth, I don't think you ever allowed yourself to grieve over your loss.  I know your first husband betrayed you at the very core of what a marriage is supposed to be, but there is still a loss.  There is grieving the loss that your children do not have the father they deserve, the loss of investing twenty-four years with a man who betrayed you, and the loss of the dream of what marriage could and should be like - what God intended from the beginning of time."

Beth is just now beginning to grieve the many losses that accompanied her divorce and she - and her two grown children - are in the process of breaking free.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, in her book, On Death and Dying, notes five stages of grief: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.  But for us who have the hope of Jesus Christ, there is a sixth stage: resurrection.

Grief is part of the healing process.  I grieved that I did not grow up being the apple of my daddy's eye, that I was not unconditionally loved, and that I did not get to hold my second child in my arms. Grieving the loss helped me to let it go.  But after a time, I had to stop lamenting what was not, and rejoice in the blessing of what is.  God had new plans for my life!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV).

Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He can raise our broken dreams.  Acceptance is not the end of the grieving process for those of us who know Jesus Christ. 

Resurrection is the end of grief and the beginning of a dream, a new life, and a glorious future.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, thank You that for me, as a Christian, I don't have to stop at mere acceptance when it comes to grief.  There is more than acceptance ...there is resurrection.  You take the broken pieces of our lives and make a beautiful mosaic.  Thank You for resurrecting my hopes and dreams and making my life much better than I had ever imagined.  I look forward to the day when my earthly body will be resurrected to spend eternity in heaven with You. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Is there any area of your life where you have settled for acceptance?

How do you think God could resurrect a forgotten dream?

Compare the Moses who lost his dream when he was 40 (Exodus 2) with the Moses whose dream was restored when he was 80 (Exodus 3). What made the difference?  Who was in control in chapter 3?  Who was in control in chapter 4?

More From The Girlfriends
Today's Devotion was taken from Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding peace and purpose in the pain of your past.  If you would like to learn more about how to turn your pain into purpose, misery into ministry and hurt into hope, this book is for you!  Don't waste your sorrows!  God wants to use them for an amazing purpose.

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]

June 7, 2010   

Holy Adonai 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" Isaiah 6:5 (Amplified Bible)

Friend To Friend
Have you ever been 'undone' before the LORD?  Have you shaken your head in awe at the mere thought of being accepted as holy in His sight? The prophet Isaiah experienced God in His splendor, through a vision that left him flat-out speechless.

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty" (Isaiah 6:1-5).

I shudder to think how often I approach this awesome, powerful, holy LORD without the reverence that is due Him. I confess that every fiber of my being should fall before Him and shout, "I am undone!" so much more than I actually do. Isaiah's response takes us to the place we should be ...face down before our holy, royal, heavenly King.

As a worship leader, I often find myself torn between feeling called and feeling unworthy of the call. The fact of the matter is - I am unworthy of the call. I screw up on a regular basis. I battle enemies like selfishness, anger, indifference, and pride. I struggle to honor my husband at times and wrestle with shame and guilt more than I'd care to admit. BUT GOD, through His only Son Jesus Christ, made a way for me to be holy and acceptable in His sight. 

With the weight of this in mind, I was inspired to write a worship song called "Holy Adonai." Adonai is a Hebrew name for God meaning "Master, Lord, LORD, or owner."

** Please take a moment to listen to and worship along with Gwen's song Holy Adonai. Turn up your speakers and CLICK HERE TO GO TO HER FACEBOOK PAGE where you can hear the song ... then come back to the devotion so we can pray together and go a bit deeper. **

My dear friend, I can't help but join the heavenly creatures as I shout from my home in North Carolina to you across the globe: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."  As you read this devotion in Maine, Florida, Texas, Idaho, California, Indiana, Brazil, Guatemala, Germany, India, Uganda, Croatia, Australia, China or Norway. In whatever city, whatever state, whatever country you reside, would you join heaven's song and lift the name of the LORD high today as a united body of sisters? Let us be 'undone' together and bow before our King with a renewed awe of His greatness. He is worthy!

Let's Pray
Most Holy Father, Adonai, I pray that You would forgive me for all the times that I have come into Your presence lacking reverence. You are worthy of all praise! May You become greater in my life and may I become less. Empower me to live a life that points to your glorious splendor.

In the matchless name of my risen Savior Jesus Christ,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read Psalm 103.

Take a few moments to hum or sing a favorite worship song that focuses on the awesomeness of God. (Here are some suggestions:  "I Exalt Thee" - "Heart of Worship" - "How Great Is Our God" - "How Great Thou Art" - "Fairest Lord Jesus" - "Doxology")

Do you feel unworthy to approach God's throne this morning? His love is unconditional and His grace extends beyond anything you have done because of Jesus. He is waiting with open arms to embrace you right now. Go to Him!

More From The Girlfriends
Hey friend. I hope you were spurred on to greater thoughts of God through this devotion. To worship at home with the song "Holy Adonai," get a copy of Gwen's BECAUSE CD. 

Like saving money? Check out the SPECIALS on Gwen's website!  When you order more than one CD, you save!!

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]

June 8, 2010 

A Simple Gesture 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today..." (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)

Friend To Friend
My husband, Steve, was pumping gas.  It seemed like he was always pumping gas.  Living out in the country and driving into town each day required gas, and a lot of it.  As he stood holding the nozzle and watching the numbers rapidly roll by higher and higher, he noticed an old 1992 grey Honda Civic pull up to the pump behind him.  The car had seen better days: rusted roof, missing hubcaps, faded paint, and dented bumper.

Out of the corner of his eye, he observed a young woman who appeared to be in her late 20's get out of the car.  She was dressed in medical scrubs and looked about as tired as her Civic.  Methodically, she swiped her card, placed the nozzle in the tank, and squeezed the handle. Within one minute of beginning, she stopped squeezing.  She then placed the nozzle back in the pump and began screwing the cap back on her tank.

That couldn't have been more than a couple of gallons, Steve thought.

"Is that all the gas you're getting?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, well, you know. Trying to space it out," she replied.

Steve placed his nozzle back on in its holder, walked over to her pump, and swiped his card.  "Let's fill it up today."

"No, no.  You can't do that," she protested.

"I already did," he smiled.  "It's already done. See. The card's approved.  Fill it up."

"Tears welled up in her eyes.  "Thank you," she said.

"Now you have a good day," he replied.  "God bless."  And off he drove.

I just love that man.

As I thought about Steve's act of kindness, I was challenged to pay closer attention to those around me throughout my busy days.  I was stirred to look for someone who needed a kind word, a bill paid, a burden carried.

Throughout Jesus' thirty-three years he walked this earth, he noticed people who crossed his path during his busy day.  He noticed a small man in a tree straining to catch a glimpse as he passed by (Luke 19:1-8).  He noticed a woman with a bent-over back sitting in the women's section of the synagogue straining to hear (Luke 13).  He noticed a 38-year-old lame man sitting by a pool (John 5).  He noticed a grieving mother mourning the loss of her only son (Luke 7).  He noticed the hunger of the crowd after a long day of teaching on the hillside (Mark 6).  He noticed ... and he did something about it.

It is very easy to go about our busy days with blinders on - focusing on our own little worlds and ignoring the ministry opportunities surrounding us.  But Jesus showed us how to pay attention, lighten a load, bestow a blessing, give a gift, help the hurting, and bind-up the broken. Listen, Jesus was busy! He had a lot to accomplish in 3.5 years of his earthly ministry.  But he was never too busy to pay attention to the needs of the people around him.

Steve was my hero that day.  And I suspect, for one young lady in a beat-up, old gray Honda Civic, he was her hero as well.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, open my eyes today.  Forgive me for being so selfish that I forget to notice the needs all around me.  Show me someone that I can help today.  Show me how I can be Your hands and feet today.  I'm listening.  I'm watching.  I'm paying attention.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
I bet you can guess what I'm going to say now.  Apply today's principle and reach out to help someone in need.  It doesn't have to be big.  It could be as simple as opening the door for a mother with a stroller. And when you do, I want to hear about it!  You won't be bragging.  Don't worry about that.  You'll simply be encouraging each one who reads your post to be blessed as I'm sure you will be blessed when you reach beyond your own needs to touch someone else.

Let's chat. Visit www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes

More From The Girlfriends
God speaks to us all day long; we simply need to learn how to grow accustomed to His gentle nudges, His tender tugs, and His still small voice that speaks to our hearts.  If you would like to learn more about how to sense God's presence in your own life, then you'll want to read Sharon's book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.  And don't forget to check out her latest release, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.   

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]

June 9, 2010 

The Lord is My Shepherd 

Part 1 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends."
(Psalm 100:3 NCV) 

Friend To Friend
Shepherding was one of the oldest callings in Israel, even before farming. Shepherds traveled from place to place, living in tents while driving their flocks from one pasture to another. The sheep and their shepherd lived together every minute of every day. In fact, they were so intimately bound together that individual sheep, even when mixed with other flocks, could recognize the voice of their own shepherd and would come immediately when called by name.

A shepherd owned and marked his sheep. In some cases, the sheep were even branded, although branding is no longer an accepted method of identification because of the damage it does to the wool. Today, the ears of sheep are pierced with identification tags but for thousands of years, shepherds around the world marked their sheep by notching their ears with a sharp knife. Each shepherd had his own distinctive notch that indicated identity and ownership.

When we come to Jesus Christ in complete surrender and begin the journey of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ, we are redeemed by His forgiveness, made whole by his grace and marked with His love through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:13 "You 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."

For years, I desperately struggled to be a Christian with only head knowledge of who God was and wanted to be in my life. The result was a pitifully shallow existence with stress and frustration as my constant companions. I grew up in a Christian home, attending church just about every time the doors were open. I sang all of the right songs, spoke all of the right words and did all of the right things in front of all the right people. I fervently prayed that my works would validate my faith and desperately hoped that by following the rules, I would please the Ruler. It was not until middle school that the authentic life and spiritual integrity of a dynamic youth pastor made me hunger and thirst for something more. I wanted to know God - not only as my Lord and King - but as my Shepherd, the one who would lead me, provide for me and love me like no other. 

During a special Saturday evening revival service at our small country church, I sat in my usual spot, desperately clutching the back of the pew in front of me while wrestling with God over the condition of my soul and my eternal security. After all, I was a very active church member, a soloist and pianist for our worship services, and even directed a children's choir. I never missed a service unless I was deathly ill. I was a leader in our youth group, rarely failed to attend a youth activity and often brought friends who were lost, unlike me, of course, and needed to know God. How embarrassing to walk down that aisle, admitting to everyone that I had been living a lie. I clung to that pew in sheer arrogance and argued that I was a Christian.  I must be.  Look at all of the good things I had done. I looked liked a believer, talked like a believer and even acted like I was fully devoted to God ... but was I?  (Don't miss the answer to that question in tomorrow's devotion!)

Let's Pray
Father, I confess that I have allowed fear and anxiety to fill my mind and heart. I want to trust You above all else. Please give me the faith to believe the promises in Your Word and the strength to take the first step of obedience. Help me remember that I am a sheep, totally dependent upon You, my Shepherd. Thank You for Your perfect provision for my life. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 


Read Psalm 23. 
List three ways that sheep are dependent on the shepherd. 
List three ways that shepherds care for their sheep. 
Compare the two lists. What similarities do you find in your own life?

More From The Girlfriends 

I am such a sheep! My Shepherd is constantly providing my needs while I wander around and look for ways I can take care of myself. I take the wrong path and end up trapped in a dangerous place only to have the Shepherd rescue me. Today, I am reminded to rest in the care of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, instead of frantically trying to "fix" my world. He is God. He is Lord. He is my Shepherd. I encourage you to do the same.  Choose trust over worry. Choose faith over fear. Blessings!

Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and is a step-by-step plan for dealing with stress and learning to manage it before it manages you. (Also available on CD) 

Looking for a Bible Study? Mary's new Bible Study, "Winning the War with Temptation," may be exactly what you need. You can download each lesson on your own computer, print it out and complete it at your own pace. Perfect for both personal and small group study.

Need encouragement? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and learn how to avoid the pits in 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]

June 10, 2010 

The Lord is My Shepherd 

Part 2 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 23 (NIV) "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Friend To Friend
During a special Saturday evening revival service at our small country church, I sat in my usual spot, desperately clutching the back of the pew in front of me while wrestling with God over the condition of my soul and my eternal security. After all, I was a very active church member, a soloist and pianist for our worship services, and even directed a children's choir. I never missed a service unless I was deathly ill. I was a leader in our youth group, rarely failed to attend a youth activity and often brought friends who were lost, unlike me, of course, and needed to know God. How embarrassing to walk down that aisle, admitting to everyone that I had been living a lie. I clung to that pew in sheer arrogance and argued that I was a Christian. I must be. Look at all of the good things I had done. I looked liked a believer, talked like a believer and even acted like I was fully devoted to God ... but was I really a follower of God? 

As I contemplated the answer to that question, a startling certainty hit me like a ton of bricks! I knew all about God - and then the deeper truth of that reality followed closely behind. Yes, I had certainly accumulated a lot of knowledge about God but I did not know Him. It wasn't enough for me or for God.

I have come to realize that God's perfect love settles for nothing less than an intimate and loving relationship with his children. That night, I stood in the darkness, gazing at the star-filled heavens and cried out, "God, if you are who you really say you are, I give everything I know about me to everything I know about you. I surrender." I met Jesus Christ that night.

While the course of my life was changed forever, I quickly discovered that I still had to deal with life on a daily basis and still had to face stressful situations but I also discovered who I really was - a sheep - and being a sheep is awesome! When I am afraid, Jesus Christ is there to bring peace. When my heart is broken, the Holy Spirit comforts and restores me. Even when I found myself in a deep, dark pit of clinical depression, Jesus Christ, my Shepherd, led me from the darkness into the light. 

I began to understand the incredible truth that, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd had planned my very existence, prepared a plan in response to his love for me, and even made provision for the payment of my past, present and future sin. I was wanted, chosen and marked for God. I no longer had to live life on my own because I now had a Shepherd. God's love precedes me, goes before me and surrounds me as I live each day. Knowing that we are loved fosters peace in our hearts, and when our hearts are filled with peace, there is little room for stress. 

Actually, when you think about it, sheep don't come across as stressed-out creatures. In fact, they seem almost oblivious to the dangers of being a sheep. Sheep don't seem to worry about where their next meal is coming from, if they will have a place to sleep each night, when the next enemy or thief will attack, or even what the next day holds. When sheep are sick, they simply turn to their Shepherd, instinctively knowing that He will take care of them and comfort them until healing comes. 

We need to remember and even revisit the fact that we are all sheep; that Jesus Christ really is our Shepherd and that nothing else really matters. 

Let's Pray
I am so needy, Lord. Everywhere I turn, I am inadequate in my own strength, power and abilities. I waste so much time and energy trying to be everything You already are. Help me remember that I don't have to depend upon my sufficiency. I can always and forever depend on Yours alone. I am Your sheep. And You are my Shepherd. Praise God!

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
I encourage you to read Psalm 23 every day for one week. At the end of that week, examine your stress level.  Has it changed? In what ways?

Write Psalm 23 in your journal, on a card or a piece of paper. Tuck a copy in your purse or your bible. In fact, make several copies and place them in prominent places around your house.

Memorize Psalm 23 - one verse at a time. Meditate on each word, each phrase and each truth in each verse. 

More From The Girlfriends
Sometimes the most familiar passages of Scripture are the most overlooked parts of the bible. Psalm 23 is one of those passages. I have often heard this psalm read at funerals or taught in an occasional sermon or Bible class but never saw the truths it contains on dealing with stress. One day, during a particularly stressful time in my life, I automatically turned to this psalm for comfort - only to find God's stress-management plan that would ultimately change my life. I pray it does the same for you. 

Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, is based on Psalm 23 and is a step-by-step plan for dealing with stress and learning to manage it before it manages you. (Also available on CD) 

Looking for a Bible Study? Mary's new Bible Study, "Winning the War with Temptation," may be exactly what you need. You can download each lesson on your own computer, print it out and complete it at your own pace. Perfect for both personal and small group study.

Need encouragement? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and learn how to avoid the pits in 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