Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

September 6, 2010 

Extravagant Worship 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart" (Psalm 9:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Mary of Bethany shares three scenes in the Bible with her sister Martha.  In her final appearance, we find her once again at a dinner party for Jesus.  As usual, the men are gathered around the table and the women are absent from the scene ... that is until Mary enters the room ...again.  Only this time she is not there to learn.  She is there to teach.

"Mary, don't forget to stir the lamb stew," Martha called from across the room.  "Our guests will be here any minute."

Once again, Martha and Mary were hosting a dinner party for Jesus and His closest friends.  The party was not at their home, but Simon had convinced Martha to be in charge of all the fixings.  After all, there was no one better at hosting a party than Martha.

But this was a special celebration - no ordinary dinner party.  Only months before, Martha and Mary had been mourning their brother, Lazarus' death.  And now?  And now, because of Jesus, Lazarus sat alive and well amongst his friends.  He was laughing and telling jokes like he'd never seen the inside of a darkened tomb for four days.  What a celebration!

How kind of Simon the leper to open his home to us, Mary mused.  Oh, we must do something about his name.  After all, he doesn't have leprosy any longer.  Jesus healed him months ago.  Just look at his skin-as smooth as a newborn babe's.  After all, if he was still Simon the leper, none of us would be here.

As Mary continued to stir the stew, her mind began to stir with memories of Jesus' past three years:  the helpless healed, the demon-possessed delivered, the rotting raised, the rejected restored, and the sinner saved.  But Mary's soaring soul began a gradual descent as she remembered Jesus' words about His eminent death:

"The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  On the third day He will be raised to life!"

I know our time with him is short, she thought.  I can't bear the thought of losing him, and yet, I know that is why he came.  That is what He has taught us all along.  My heart is so heavy.  What can I do to honor Him?

Mary's mind traveled to another incident in Jesus' life.  She had not witnessed it personally, but savored it as one of her most favorite moments in the recounting of Jesus' adventures: the day a sinful woman interrupted another dinner party Jesus attended.  She walked right into the home of a Pharisee, brushed past all the men, knelt at Jesus' side, washed His feet with her tears and anointed them with costly nard.

Suddenly, she knew what she had to do.

"Martha, I'll be right back," Mary called.

Mary ran home and went to the secret place where her most valuable treasure was stored.  She reached on the top shelf and lifted the priceless jar of pure nard - a costly perfume.  Mary had been saving it for her own wedding, but now she wanted to use it for her one true love.  I want to honor Jesus.  He has welcomed me as a disciple, loved me like a sister, taught me as a student, and given my brother back to me from the grave.  It is the least I can do.  I know His time is short.  I want to honor Him now.

Beaming with anticipation, Mary ran back to Simon's home with passion and purpose.  This time, the disciples were not shocked at a woman's entrance into the room of men.  After three years, they had grown accustomed to Jesus' welcoming ways.

Mary carefully moved through the room and hit her mark.  She stopped where Jesus reclined at the table and knelt at his feet.  With a snap, she broke the neck of the alabaster jar and poured its contents on Jesus' head and feet.  Something stirred inside Mary as she anointed Jesus' body.  A knowing.

Then Mary unbound her hair and wiped the excess from Jesus' calloused feet.  The sweet fragrance filled the room and clung to those nearby.  Once they realized where the scent was coming from, a buzz of comments swarmed like the hum of bees.  Some looked on with understanding approval.  Some turned up their noses in pious protest.

"What a waste," one of the disciples complained.  "That perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

Mary's heart sank at the unwelcome comment, but Jesus quickly buoyed her spirit with encouraging words.  "Why are you bothering this woman?" he asked while placing his hand on her head.  "She has done a beautiful thing to me.  You'll always have the poor to take care of, but you will not always have Me here with you.  Don't you get it?  When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.  I tell you the truth," Jesus announced loud enough for all to hear, "wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what Mary has done will also be told."

Mary lifted her eyes to meet his and her heart spilled over with love.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I want to be like Mary.  I want to worship You no matter what anyone thinks.  I want to praise You with all I've got and not be concerned if anyone thinks I am being extravagant or over-the-top.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
When Mary anointed Jesus with perfume, some of the on-lookers didn't approve.  Some thought she was being extravagant and over-the-top.   Has anyone ever ridiculed you because your worship was too demonstrative?

Have you ever looked down on someone else because you felt their worship was too demonstrative or emotional?

When it comes to worship, are you more concerned with what others think, or what God thinks? (I know I'm getting in your business now!)

What do you think God would say about a woman who praises Him with everything she has no matter what anyone else in the room thinks?  We don't have to go any further than this story to get an idea.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's devotion and what worship means to you.  Let's chat at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's new book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered. We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes.  But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs...and yours. Read this book and you'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.

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]

September 7, 2010 

Praise God Anyway! 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Philippians 4:7 (NIV) "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Friend to Friend
I once saw a refrigerator magnet that said, "I know God promises to never give me more than I can handle, but sometimes, I just wish He didn't trust me so much." Can you relate? When trials come and life seems hard, we plead with God to deliver us from the problem when many times; His plan is to deliver us in the problem. Praise does not depend upon an understanding of the circumstance or trial. Praise depends upon an understanding of who God really is and wants to be in our life and our willingness to put our faith in Him.

As humans, we will never fully understand God - this side of heaven. God is holy and without blemish. God is all powerful and omniscient. He is Creator of the universe and yet lives in you and me at our invitation. He is the only true, living God! 

We may understand some of His ways and comprehend the reasoning behind some of His plans. We may even come to the place of knowing Him on what I call an intimate level, but a full understanding of God is reserved for heaven. Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight. We praise Him in the darkness, knowing that the light is just ahead. We trust Him for things we cannot see and rest in Him in the valleys. Honestly, the thought of serving and relying on a God I can understand is not a reassuring thought. 

Most people who know me well would describe me as a strong person, someone who can usually handle what life holds. I thought the same thing until I found myself a powerless, prisoner of the darkness as I battled severe clinical depression. It took me two long years to climb out of that pit and not a day goes by that I am not reminded of that wonderful, horrible time. God used that first experience with the darkness in so many ways. He taught me new truths as He stripped away wrong attitudes and destructive thought patterns. I began to see myself as He sees me - loved, planned and wanted.

One of the many lessons I learned from my "pit experience" was that I cannot depend upon my own strength or my fickle emotions. God often asked me to praise Him when, as far as I could tell, there wasn't a whole lot to praise him for. I didn't feel like praising Him. 

I began to understand that praise is not a feeling. Praise is a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial. Praise focuses on God, not the circumstance, and fixes its gaze upon God's truth and God's character instead of the trial at hand or just ahead. That is why we can celebrate the battle before it begins. The outcome is neither our responsibility nor our goal. Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and integrity of God ... and that never changes. 

No matter what lies ahead, God is faithful. 

No matter how hot the fiery trial may be, God will deliver us in it or from it and surely be with us as we go through it.

No matter what man says or does, God loves and accepts us. 

So praise God! 

Thank Him today for every victory tomorrow holds.

Celebrate - knowing that the battle belongs to God and because of that single truth, victory is certain. 

Let's Pray
Father, I praise You today for all that You have done in my life. You are faithful even when I am faithless. Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. Lord, teach me to praise You. Help me to see and understand the power of praising You in my life. I want to bring You pleasure, Father. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me. Your presence in my life changes everything, empowering me to live each moment of every day, content in knowing You are in control. As I face today, Lord, remind me that no matter what happens, I can praise You! 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and answer the following questions:

When you hear the word "praise," what comes to your mind? 
Do you really believe your life can bring God pleasure? 
Read Psalm 139. According to this psalm, how does God see you? 
What are the sources of discouragement in your life?   
What steps do you need to take to eliminate those sources?

Begin your "Joy Journal" by recording the daily blessings He gives you each day this week. Remember to add the "small" miracles as well as the "large" ones. At the end of the week, have a private praise service - just you and God. Thank Him for His presence and power at work in your life.

More from the Girlfriends
Isn't it easy to get into the mental habit of looking for what is wrong in life instead of what is right? Maybe it is time to change the filter through which we view our circumstances and relationships. What would happen if you and I began to make praise the norm instead of the exception in our attitudes, words and actions?

Need help? I can't believe I am even writing these words, but the holidays are just around the corner! I can already feel the stress that is just around that same corner. If you want to find God's answer for stress, check out my book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for steps you can take to help you live in peace.

Check out Mary's FREE MPs or visit her online store for great deals on books, CDs,

E-Bible Studies and her DVD, Strength for the Storm.

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Sandpaper People is the current series and will help you discover ten ways to deal with the "sandpaper people" in your life - you know - the ones that rub you the wrong way. When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies. Check it out!

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email. I love hearing what God is doing in your life! Tell me how praising God has made a difference in your life. Let's talk about it, girlfriend!

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]

September 8, 2010   

The Hidden Key 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (Psalm 32:3 NIV).

Friend to Friend
When I was a teenager, my high school was just a few miles from my home.  Lunch break was a mere thirty-five minutes, but I enjoyed driving home and taking a respite from the hustle and bustle of the crowded hallways.

Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was a sleepy little town with a railroad track that ran down the middle of downtown dividing it into two counties.  It had a fledgling minor league baseball team whose housing Sports Illustrated ranked worst in the league, and a Hardees fast food restaurant on every corner reminding us that the corporate office for the chain was just down the street.  As a child, we slept with our windows open and our doors unlocked.  We rode our bicycles all over town without a hint of reservation.

But times changed in the late sixties and early seventies.  We began to keep our windows closed at night, our doors locked even during the day, and kids stayed much closer to home.  At our house, we kept an extra key in the mailbox just inside the garage.  The only people who knew it was there was our family, and the mailman.

In high school, when I went home for lunch at 12:10 every day, I simply reached in the mailbox to retrieve the key, and then placed it back in the box until I came home again at 3:15.

One day, I came home after school at the usual time, used the hidden key, and let myself in.  Before grabbing a snack, I made a bee-line to the television to turn on my favorite program.  When I opened the television cabinet door, I saw the TV was missing.

I didn't know that anything was wrong with the TV, I thought.  Mom must have taken it into the shop for repairs.

I called mom at her craft store. 


"Hello, Bee N' Beetle, can I help you," my mom said.

"Hey Mom, this is Sharon.  Did you take the TV in for repair?"

"No.  I didn't.  Why?" she asked.

"Well, because it isn't here," I replied.

"What do you mean, it isn't there?" she questioned.

"It's not here.  The cabinet is empty," I answered.

"Is anything else missing?" she asked with a hint of fear in her voice.

"I don't know.  Let me check."

I didn't have to look far to see that a few other items were gone.  When I came back to the phone to report, mom said, "Sharon, quick!  Get out of there!"

When the police came, we discovered that someone had indeed broken into our house and taken many things.  And how did he get in?  Why, he used the hidden key!

Apparently, someone had been watching me.  He knew that I came home at 12:10 and left again at 12:45.  He also knew that I came home from school around 3:15.  So between 12:45 and 3:15, he simply took the key from the mailbox, let himself in, and helped himself to whatever he so desired among our belongings.  Then, when he had what he wanted, the thief simply locked the door behind him and put the key back in the mailbox for "safe keeping."

Looking back on the incident, I see that is exactly what Satan does when we have things hidden in our hearts.  He knows where the key is hidden and he takes it out to steal from us at just the opportune time.  He wants to rob us of our peace and our purpose.  As long as that key is hidden, he knows exactly where to look.

The Bible tells us that Satan is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  Sometimes the hidden parts of our hearts, the ones that we have not given to God, are where Satan wants to sink his teeth.  As long as we have that key hidden, Satan can get to it.

There's only one solution.  Don't hide the key.  Give the key to God.  No more hiding.  No more shame.  Give God every compartment of your heart ... your whole heart. 

Now It's Your Turn
Today I am going to flip-flop our prayer and response.  I'd like for us to reflect before we pray together...

Is there something that you've been "hiding" from God?

Are there hidden areas of your life that are locked up like an old storage closet that Satan continues to open from time to time?

Are you willing to give that key to God so that Satan can never use it against you again?  If so, pray with me ...

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, for too long I've been clinging to this one area of my life.  (Say what that area is).   I've kept it shut tight and hidden the key from You.  Unfortunately, Satan has used the key many times to rob me of my peace and my joy.  He's reminded me of my sin and shame.  Today, I give that key to You.  I give You my whole heart ... every single bit of my life.   

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, I'd love to pray for you!

Visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and let me know!

More from the Girlfriends
Satan would like nothing better than to keep reminding you of your past mistakes.  If you are ready to get rid of the shame once and for all, then Sharon's book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of your Past, can help.  Sister, it's time to get free and stop letting the thief rob you of the joy God intends.

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]

September 9, 2010 

Just Say "Yes" 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others."

Friend to Friend
Many of our summer meals are created on our outdoor grill. Hamburgers are a regular item on the Southerland summer menu for several reasons. They are inexpensive, easy to prepare and scrumptious. However, I have never considered hamburgers to be health hazards until a few weeks ago.

We live in Kansas where the summer heat can be brutal. Why add to the rising temperature outside by turning on an oven inside? Does that seem logical to you? I didn't think so. It was definitely a hamburger kind of night.

My husband offered to do the grilling but he had just gotten home from work and looked like he needed a nap more than he needed to help prepare dinner. Being the wonderful wife that I am, I said, "Honey, why don't you take a quick nap while I grill the hamburgers?" Being the wonderful husband that he is, Dan responded, "I will be glad to do that for you. It really is hot outside." I should have taken him up on his offer.

I didn't want to be in the scorching heat one minute longer than I had to be, so I quickly seasoned the hamburger patties, slapped them on the grill and quickly headed back into the house to set the table. About that time, our daughter walked in with our youngest grandson in her arms. When Justus saw me, he smiled and stretched out his chubby little arms for me to hold him. I immediately accepted his invitation and promptly forgot about the hamburgers sizzling on the grill. When Danna asked what we were having for dinner, visions of charred hamburger patties danced through my head as I jumped up and made a mad dash to rescue our meal.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the hamburgers were still edible - barely - but a little charcoal is a healthy addition to any diet - right? I quickly transferred the hamburgers to a plate, closed the lid on the grill and turned to head inside. My foot caught on the leg of a patio chair and I stumbled and juggled the plate of meat in my hand. I was not about to give up those hamburgers without a fight. Instinctively, I reached out for something to break my fall ... and found the grill - with three fingers.

Have you ever had an accident that seemed to happen in slow motion? I could feel the searing heat followed by the temporary numbness that accompanies second and third degree burns. Ice! I needed ice and water! I raced into the house, dropped the plate of burgers on the dinner table and said, "Let's eat!" Leaning over the kitchen sink, I turned the cold water on full blast, hoping it would ease the growing pain. It didn't. We tried every pain reliever we had in the house and finally resorted to soaking the injured fingers in a small bowl of ice water - which really did help for awhile - but when the large blisters began to appear, Dan and I headed to the Urgent Care near our home.

The doctor prescribed a cream that she promised would work wonders on the burns. "Will it stop the pain?" I asked because they had taken my bowl of ice water away and I could not believe how much pain three little burned fingers could cause. "It won't help with the pain as much as it will help the burns heal and prevent infection, but you will need a pretty powerful painkiller for the next couple of days," she replied as she wrote a prescription and handed to me. I was surprised to see that it was the same pain medication I had once taken after major surgery. Now, I am not a doctor, but taking pain medication that affects the whole body seems like overkill and almost absurd when only three fingers are in pain. But as the hours passed, I was very thankful for each little pill.

Honestly, I am pretty strong when it comes to dealing with pain but I have to tell you that every part of my body seemed to be screaming, "Pay attention to the fingers! We hurt!"

The Body of Christ should function the same way.

When someone hurts, we should respond to their pain. When one of us is weak, another should be strong. Those who stumble and fall should be able to count on someone to pick them up and finish the race. Instead, we often shoot our wounded and leave them lying in the dirt to find help on their own.

Admittedly, the problem is not always that we are unwilling to help someone in pain. Sometimes we are simply blind to the fact that they exist. We overlook hurting people because we are in a hurry or maybe we just don't want to deal with the mess of a broken life.

Jesus Christ willingly left His throne in Heaven and came to Earth as a man. He felt every pain we have ever felt or will feel. He was afraid and lonely and often had no place to "lay His head." Jesus was misunderstood and slandered and then crucified to pay for our sin. It must break the heart of God when we so easily toss aside what cost Him so much, the life of His only Son, Jesus.

Look around you, girlfriend. Someone needs you to acknowledge their pain and be willing to do something about it. Just say "yes" and God will show you the next step.

Let's Pray
Father, forgive me for the times I could have made a difference in the life of someone who was hurting, but didn't because I was too busy or just didn't care enough. Break my heart so that I will see the needs of people around me and teach me to recognize the wounded hearts You send my way. Lord, I want to serve You by serving others. Right now, I say "yes" to whatever You have for me to do, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read Matthew 28:19-20. These verses are commonly referred to as "The Great Commission." What would it look like if you really applied these truths to your life?

Take a look at the list below. Which ones have a need you can meet? Now make a step-by-step plan to meet that need.

___Spouse

___Child

___Parent

___Friend

___Neighbor

___Co-worker

___Boss

Are you up for a challenge?

I am challenging every GiG to put hands and feet to this devotion and then share what God does through your willing heart. My husband recently gave up his seat on a flight so that a family could fly home together. The ticket agent was so impressed that she gave Dan the last seat on the plane so he could get home as well. When I posted that experience on Facebook, the huge response surprised me. Looking for and meeting the needs of others should be our "normal" way of life - not the exception.

Go for it, girlfriend! Then tell me about it on Facebook or through email. I love hearing what God is doing in your life!

Need help dealing with stress? Check out Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for steps that will help you manage stress.   

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Sandpaper People is the current series and will help you discover ten ways to deal with the "sandpaper people" in your life - you know - the ones that rub you the wrong way. When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies. Check it out!

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]

September 10, 2010   

Get in the Game 

Lori Fairchild   


We hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions.  We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of the women who have blessed our lives as girlfriends. 

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," Lori Fairchild.

Today's Truth
James 1:22-25 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man, who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."

Friend to Friend
My then 6-year-old daughter announced one day in the spring of 2009 that she wanted to play ice hockey.  You need to know that we live in Kansas City, not exactly the hockey hotbed of the world, so we looked at her, said "that's nice, dear," and went on living our lives.  In August, she looked at me and said, "When are you going to sign me up for hockey?"

Sitting in a cold arena watching my daughter play ice hockey is not what I had in mind when the doctor told us we'd had a second daughter.  (Having a frozen piece of rubber fly at her pretty face still gives me pause.)  But she seemed serious, so I started looking into it.  In my mind, I thought, "We'll find her a nice girls' team to play on."  As I mentioned before, we don't live in a hockey-crazed city.  You'd be lucky to find five people in 100 here who can even tell you what a face-off is.  So, it turns out there are no girls teams, and to play on the "co-ed" teams (which means there might be one girl for every 60 boys) you have to pass five six-week sessions of the learn-to-play hockey program.  Yes, that's 30 weeks of classes before they let you play on a team.  For four of those sessions, you don't even get a stick.

My daughter spent from August to May simply learning to skate and stop.  We went to hockey class at least once a week for eight months (she had to take a couple of the sessions twice), and she wasn't even playing hockey.  But, boy was she learning how to skate.  And she can now spray snow with the best of them when she stops.

Even though she had become a really good skater, she wasn't a hockey player.  She didn't have a stick.  She had all the knowledge to be a hockey player, but until they put that stick (hers has blue and purple polka dots on it) in her hands, she couldn't call herself a hockey player.  The point of hockey is to put the puck in the net, but my daughter couldn't even touch the puck without a stick.  She couldn't tell you how to stick-handle the puck or how to shoot it.  Until she got in the game, she couldn't use all her skating knowledge for anything except to skate in circles.

Our Christian walk often follows the same path as my daughter's hockey progression.  When we're brand-new Christ followers, we want to soak up all the knowledge we can get.  We're so excited about Christ that we dig in and learn all that we can.  As we become more mature Christ followers, the Bible tells us that we should put what we know to work.  James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word ... Do what it says."

We can sit in all the Bible studies and read all the devotionals that we want, but if we aren't living out what we have learned, then all that studying is in vain.  As Christ-followers, we study the Bible to become more like Christ.  Christ's ministry is marked by action—Christ taught, He healed, He fed the hungry.  And He commanded His followers to do the same.  In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells his disciples to GO and make disciples of all nations.  He didn't say, stay here and exchange knowledge with each other.  He said GO and put into practice all that I have taught you.

The command for Christians today has not changed.  God still says GO.  Whether He is sending you to be the face of Christ to your neighbors or to be the face of Christ to a small tribe in the Amazon, the command is the same - GO and DO.  So stop skating in circles, pick up your stick and get in the game.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to get in the game for You.  Show me what You want me to do to reach people for You.  Help me to not be afraid to step outside my comfort zone to do Your work.  Let me be the face of Christ to whomever You put in my path today.  Let me do Your work, equipped with the knowledge of Your word.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read James 2:14-17.  Examine your life in light of these verses.  Are you doing the work God asks of you?

Make a list of ways you think God is calling you to live out your faith today.  What actions does He require of you?

More from the Girlfriends
I love to study and teach the Bible, but I often find myself getting caught up in the detail and missing the big picture.  I love all the historical detail and root word meanings that you can dig up when studying the Bible, but I have to be careful that I don't miss God's message to me when I'm looking at the detail.  All of that stuff is good, but it's nothing but noise if we miss the point.  Be careful not to treat your Bible study time as an academic exercise.  Look for God to speak to you through His word, and be ready to do what He asks.

Want insights into sharing God's word with your children? Check out Lori's blog, Everyday Truth, at www.everydaytruth66.blogspot.com.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

September 13, 2010 

One Last Name 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers.  We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.  He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin.  So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.  Take the mercy, accept the help" (Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG).

Friend to Friend
For almost forty years, Margaret lived with word-inflicted wounds that nearly destroyed her life.  From the first day she attended her one room schoolhouse, she and her teacher, Ms. Garner, didn't get along.  Ms. Garner was harsh, bitter, and cruel, and could not tolerate Margaret's childish idiosyncrasies.  For years, the tension between the two built up pressure.

Margaret was nine-years-old when the cataclysmic day occurred - the one that ripped her world apart.  It happened after recess when she frantically raced into class, late again. As she burst through the doors, she faced her peers jeering at her maliciously.

"Margaret!" Ms. Garner shouted.  "We have been waiting for you!  Get up here to the front of the class, right now!"

Margaret walked slowly to the teacher's desk, was told to face the class, and then the nightmare began.

Ms. Garner ranted, "Boys and girls, Margaret has been a bad girl.  I have tried to help her to be responsible.  But, apparently, she doesn't want to learn.  So we must teach her a lesson.  We must force her to face what a selfish person she has become.  I want each of you to come to the front of the room, take a piece of chalk, and write something bad about Margaret on the blackboard.  Maybe this experience will motivate her to become a better person!"

Margaret stood frozen next to Ms. Garner.  One by one, the students began a silent procession to the blackboard.  One by one, the students wrote their life-smothering words, slowly extinguishing the light in Margaret's soul.  "Margaret is stupid!  Margaret is selfish!  Margaret is fat!  Margaret is a dummy!"  On and on they wrote until twenty-five terrible scribblings of Margaret's "badness" filled the chalkboard.

The venomous accusations taunted Margaret in what felt like the longest day of her life.  After walking home with each caustic word indelibly written on her heart, she crawled into her bed, claimed sickness, and tried to cry the pain away.  But the pain never left, and forty years later she slumped in the waiting room of a psychologist's office, still cringing in the shadow of those twenty-five sentences. 

Jesus understands what it feels like to have people call you names.  People called him a blasphemer (Matthew 9:3), the prince of demons (Matthew 9:34), an evil spirit (Mark 3:30), and a law breaker (Mark 2:24).  His own family said that he was crazy (Mark 3:21). Yes, He knows what it feels like to have a broken heart - both figuratively and physically. 

Jesus understands our hurt because He experienced it for Himself.  Eugene Peterson, in his work, The Message wrote: "Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers.  We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.  He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin.  So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.  Take the mercy, accept the help" (Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG).

Let's go back to Margaret for a moment.  After decades of depression and anxiety, she had finally sought help from a psychologist.  Two long years of weekly counseling helped Margaret to finally extricate herself from her past.  It had been a long and difficult road, but she smiled at her counselor (how long it had been since she'd smiled!) as they talked about her readiness to move on.

"Well, Margaret," the counselor said softly, "I guess its graduation day for you.  How are you feeling?"

After a long silence, Margaret spoke. "I...I'm okay."

The counselor hesitated. "Margaret, I know this will be difficult, but just to make sure you're ready to move on, I am going to ask you to do something.  I want to go back to your schoolroom and detail the events of that day.  Take your time.  Describe each of the children as they approached the blackboard; remember what they wrote and how you felt - all twenty-five students."

In a way, this would be easy for Margaret.  For forty years she had remembered every detail.  And yet, to go through the nightmare one more time would take every bit of strength she had.  After a long silence, she began the painful description.  One by one, she described each of the students vividly, as though she had just seen them, stopping periodically to regain her composure, forcing herself to face each of those students one more time.

Finally, she was finished, and the tears would not stop, could not stop.  Margaret cried a long time before she realized someone was whispering her name.  "Margaret.  Margaret.  Margaret."  She looked up to see her counselor staring into her eyes, saying her name over and over again.  Margaret stopped crying for a moment.

"Margaret.  You...you left out one person."

"I certainly did not!  I have lived with this story for forty years.  I know every student by heart."

"No, Margaret, you did forget someone.  See, he's sitting in the back of the classroom.  He's standing up, walking toward your teacher, Ms. Garner.  She is handing him a piece of chalk and he's taking it, Margaret, he's taking it!  Now he's walking over to the blackboard and picking up an eraser.  He is erasing every one of the sentences the students wrote.  They are gone!  Margaret, they are gone!  Now he's turning and looking at you, Margaret.  Do you recognize him yet?  Yes, his name is Jesus.  Look, he's writing new sentences on the board. 'Margaret is loved.  Margaret is beautiful.  Margaret is gentle and kind.  Margaret is strong.  Margaret has great courage.'"

And Margaret began to weep.  But very quickly, the weeping turned into a smile, and then into laughter, and then into tears of joy." (This story of Margaret was taken from Ron Lee's book, Mistreated).

For forty years Margaret had limped through life with the pain of a broken heart.  But finally she allowed Jesus, the Healer, the Comforter, and the Great Physician, to bind up the broken heart and allow it to heal.

What is Jesus writing on the chalkboard about you?

            You are chosen.

            You are dearly loved.

            You are holy.

            You are beautiful.

            You are pure.

            You are my bride.

            I have your name engraved on the palm of my hand.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, thank You that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.  I can almost picture You walking to the front of the room and writing my new identity in Christ on the board.  Help me to see myself as you see me and never believe the lies that tell me otherwise. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Do you see yourself as God sees you? Holy? Chosen? Dearly loved? Pure? Righteous? Having the mind of Christ?

Go back up the list and ponder how God sees you.  Are there any names that you need to erase from the chalkboard of your mind?

I'd love to hear which aspect of your new identity means the most to you.  Let's chat.  Let me know at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

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 Hurts of Your Past.  If you have painful memories that need the healing touch of Jesus, it is only a prayer away.  If you need help getting there, join Sharon in this book as she takes you by the hand and you walk the journey to wholeness together.

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

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

[Judy Harder]

September 14, 2010 

Strong in the Broken Places 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) "We are God's workmanship."

Friend to Friend
Sandpaper people, the people who rub us the wrong way, are not only a reality of life but a gift from God.  How?  God has used these difficult relationships as catalysts in my life through which He has lovingly upset my comfortable plans and purposefully redirected my self-ordered steps. The results have often been chaotic and unsettling, but always life changing.

Our son, Jered, played football all the way through college. Over the years, he endured several injuries, but as a junior in high school, Jered experienced his first surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. The orthopedic doctor explained exactly what he would do during surgery. "First of all, I will remove the scar tissue that has formed around the break. I will then insert a metal screw to connect the broken bones." As he spoke, I was comforted by my mind's depiction of a shiny thin and smooth metal screw resting gently in my son's foot. There are times when ignorance is a blessing. 

The surgery went well and after two weeks, I took Jered in for a follow-up visit during which his foot was once again x-rayed to make sure it was healing properly. The doctor walked in, smiling and waving an x-ray in his hand. "Your foot is healing beautifully," he announced with great pride. Curious, I asked the doctor if we could see the x-ray. When he slapped it up against the light board, I was horrified to see a thick, long metal bolt. In fact, on closer examination, I was certain the beginnings of rust could be seen on that barbaric screw jammed up into my son's precious bone.

Seeing the look on my face, the doctor assured me that everything was fine. I was far from convinced and had a few questions that needed answering - immediately. "Is that screw supposed to look like that or did you put the wrong screw in my son's foot?  Will he be able to play football?  Will his foot hurt when it rains?  Will that enormous screw set off airport security detectors?  Will Jered's foot ever be as strong as it was before the surgery?" I asked. The doctor listened patiently, smiled and said, "Well, now that you mention it, I need to be honest and tell you Jered's foot will not be as strong as it was before."  The evil doctor then grinned and said, "It will actually be stronger." 

I find it interesting that all through life, the greatest strength is forged in broken places. The same is true in dealing with difficult people. God is not committed to our comfort. God is committed to creating His character within us. One way He accomplishes that goal is through the abrasive and coarse work of sandpaper people as they grind off and sand away our rough edges, even to the point of breaking. Suffering comes in many ways, but always with the purpose of making us strong enough to endure pain and weak enough to rely upon God.

Many times, it is through difficult relationships that we experience the most pain. Peter writes that God will "make everything right" which indicates the promise that He will take our circumstances and relationships, adjust them and make the broken pieces fit together in order to equip us for service. "Making everything right" can also be translated in the original language as "mending nets." A fisherman's net was a vital part of his livelihood and a broken net meant no fish. Even one broken net affected the fisherman's ability to make a living and provide for his family. It was imperative for the fisherman to keep his nets in working condition, constantly mending the broken places.

Every time we are broken but allow God to do the mending, we become stronger and new life is provided.  Paul was certainly no stranger to trials, pain and broken nets. "We know that these troubles produce patience.  And patience produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4 NCV) I must admit I have been known to insert the name of my current sandpaper person into that verse so that it reads, "I know that my sandpaper person produces patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope." What an amazing progression, from a difficult relationship to Godly character and then on to hope. Hope follows pain because pain forces us to trust God and rely upon His power to mend a broken life. It is in that abandonment to God that we find hope. 

Difficult relationships and the brokenness they bring can make us either bitter or better. It is our choice. We can insist on comfort and forfeit character or we can embrace the brokenness, knowing that God will use it for our good. Sandpaper people are grindstones. Whether they grind us down or polish us up depends on what we are made of.  Harry Truman said:  "Fame is a vapor, popularity is an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today may curse tomorrow and only one thing endures - character."

I believe sandpaper people voice the silent prayer that someone will be strong enough to stop their vicious cycle of offensive behavior. God calls us to be that strong someone. I also believe God allows difficult relationships to form within the realm of our daily walk in order to strengthen us for the very task of life. 

Let's Pray
Lord, please fill my heart with Your love for the sandpaper people in my life. Please let me see them as You see them. Use them, Father; to refine me to the place that I am the woman You created me to be. I choose to thank You for the difficult relationships in my life, knowing that through these abrasive people, Your work is accomplished in me. 

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 

·         Write down the name of a sandpaper person in your life and list five reasons you consider that person abrasive. 


·         Pray for that sandpaper person. 


·         Thank God for bringing that difficult person into your life. What do you believe God wants to accomplish through this sandpaper person? Are you willing to trust Him enough to praise Him for that person?

More from the Girlfriends
Loving the unlovable is impossible - outside of God's power at work in us. Pray that God will give you His eyes to see the hurting and wounded He brings your way. And remember, hurt people ... hurt people. Proceed with love.

Need help dealing with stress? Check out Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for steps that will help you manage stress. 

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Sandpaper People is the current series and will help you discover ten ways to deal with the "sandpaper people" in your life - you know - the ones that rub you the wrong way. When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies. Check it out! 

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

[Judy Harder]

September 15, 2010 

Slow Down and Pay Attention 

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17 TNIV).

Friend to Friend
One summer I went to a very famous art museum. I walked up and down the aisles, quickly glancing at first one masterpiece and then another.  Finally, I decided to stop and look at one particular painting.  I don't even remember which one it was.  The more I looked at the painting, the more I began to see.  It was dark on one side and grew lighter on the other.  I noticed the expressions on the faces, the longing of a child, the pain of a man, the approaching cloud in the sky, the hues of the clothes, a bare foot, a torn robe, a clenched fist.  A story began to unfold before my eyes and it was if I were beginning to see into the heart of the artist.

This reminded me of how we sometimes read the Bible - like perusing through an art gallery and never really stopping to see what the artist intended in the great masterpieces lining the majestic walls.  Like walking briskly through an art gallery, we grab the Bible and read a few verses before running out the door in the morning or closing our eyes at night.

But God's Word is a masterpiece and He speaks through every stroke of the writer's pen.  Oh the treasures stored on each page just waiting to be discovered! 

The Hebrew word for Bible is mikra, which means "the calling out of God."  He calls out to us from the pages and speaks to us through the words.  The Bible is amazingly profound and yet simple enough for a child to understand.  The more time we spend in the Scriptures, the more God will reveal the truths within.

The Bible tells us that the Scriptures are alive. John calls Scripture "the word of life" (I John 1:1).  Peter calls Scripture the "living and enduring word of God" (I Peter 1:23).  "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  No matter how long we live, no matter how many times we read through the Bible, God will continue to speak to us through the pages of His Word.  His Words are living and bring us life!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I pray that You will "give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know him better and so that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" (Ephesians 1:17-19).  I pray that the eyes of our hearts will be open to see God through the pages of the Bible and hear His voice in each and every word.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Over the next few days, read the book of Esther in one sitting.  Then ponder the story just as if you were looking at the story of a painting.

Who are the main characters?

Who are the villain and the hero?

What is the conflict?

What is the lesson learned from the story?

Even though God's name is not mentioned in the story, where do you see Him in the masterpiece?

I'd love to hear how God has been speaking to you through the Scriptures lately.  Let me know at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends
God has so much to say to His children.  And yet, so few will take the time to truly listen.  If you would like to learn more about how to hear God's voice, then see Sharon's book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.

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]

September 16, 2010   

Do You Love Being Loved? 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

Friend to Friend
Every once in a while one of my children surprises me with unexpected sweetness. Like most children, my kids are sweet on a regular basis, but I'm talking about a special, take-my-breath-away sweetness that creates a time capsule moment for my mommy heart, a moment that I'll remember forever. 

I had one of those special conversations recently with my nine year-old son, Hunter. It was bedtime. Teeth were brushed. Jammies were on. Prayers had been prayed. The smell of Pantene lingered from his freshly showered head as I brushed a stray hair from his eye. That's when he initiated "project: unexpected sweetness" with an innocent question: "Mommy, do you know what I love?"

"What do you love, Hunter?" I asked quietly.

"I love being loved," he said. "Yep. I really love being loved."

As I lay beside him in the dark room I could scarcely process the vast paradox of his statement.  It was the simplest of thoughts, delightfully honest, yet one of the most profound and insightful statements I've ever heard come from his heart.

When he spoke those four little words, "I love being loved," he communicated several things to me:

He knew he was loved. 
His love tank was being re-filled as I tucked him in. 
His greatest need is love.

Like Hunter, our greatest need is also to be loved. To feel safe, adored, and content in love.

I don't know where this devotion finds you this morning, but I sense God nudging me to tell you that He loves you. Completely. Perfectly. Eternally. (Yes, I'm talking to you!) He knows your name. He knows your heart. He knows your circumstances and He hears your prayers. He loves you and desires for you to rest in His love.

God's love is not based on performance or beauty. It's not based on position or abilities. Many times, we mistakenly think that if we could just do this or that better - that God would love us more or that if we just hadn't done this or that - God would love us more. The truth is this: God will never love you more or less...no matter what. His love is complete and you are the object of His heart. Savor the special sweetness of God's love for you today. Linger on thoughts of His affection for you.

The Bible tells us "...that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

No matter what you've believed in the past, choose by faith to believe that you are valued, priceless, and adored by God. "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).

When you embrace the deep love of Christ as a personal reality, you gain traction for powerful, meaningful living that begins with forgiveness and continues on in truth and grace. Go in His love today. Be assured of it. Share it. Be changed by it and let it flow through you to others.

Let's Pray
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:16-21).

Amen!

Now It's Your Turn

Do you know that you're loved? I'm sure that you're familiar with the famous Bible verse found in John 3:16. "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." Read it again, but this time, insert your name in replacement of "the world."

            "For God so loved _______________ that he gave his one and only Son, that        whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."



God loves you and takes pleasure when you go to Him. Why? Because you're His. Made in His image. Restored to His heart through Jesus Christ. Allow Him to quiet you with His love today. Spend a few moments in prayer right now. Thank Him for His love. Worship at His feet. Be still before Him.

More from the Girlfriends
Okay. So you know that I'm a worship chick from the word go, right? Well, I think that the perfect ending to our time together today would be to worship. Stop by my Facebook page to listen to a preview of a NEW SONG from my upcoming CD, Uncluttered.  Here's the link: www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

God's love is perfect. He has seen our biggest failures, our greatest places of shame and hurt - and yet, He beckons us to His love, forgiveness, healing, and grace. He has a plan for each life that is far beyond the shattered matters with which we deal. Every step of transformation begins with our surrender to the heart of God. If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be reworked into a picture of God's beauty, order Gwen's book Broken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration.

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

[Judy Harder]

September 17, 2010 

Lord, life scares me! 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Psalm 59:16 (NIV) "But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."

Friend to Friend
I will never forget the first time I took our two-year-old son to the beach. I assumed Jered would take one look at the ocean and make a beeline for the water. We lived in South Florida where many of the people we knew either had a swimming pool or lived on a canal that literally ran through their backyard. Since the tropical climate made it possible for Jered to play outside almost every day of the year, it was not unusual for him to be around water of some kind on a regular basis.

Just to be sure the trip was successful, I did what I thought was a fairly impressive job of preparing Jered for his first beach adventure. We talked and read books about the ocean and watched television shows about going to the beach. We quizzed friends about the best places to go once we got there and, finally, the day came when we actually went to the beach.

I am a list-maker. So, of course, I had compiled an extensive list of things to do and take with us.

Suntan lotion - check.

Picnic basket filled with snacks and drinks - check.

Mickey Mouse sunglasses and hat for Jered - check.

Beach towels, a beach ball and toys for building sand castles - check.

Jered helped me pack the car and scrambled into his car seat yelling, "Go, Mom! Hurry!" I did, and off we went. We sang and laughed all the way and planned what we were going to do once we reached the water. Honestly, it never crossed my mind that Jered would be afraid of the ocean because Jered is afraid of very little in life. Even as a toddler, he approached each task with confidence and the attitude that the only reason he could not do something was because he had not had the opportunity to try.   

As we pulled into an ocean front parking lot, Jered began clapping and cheering. He quickly scrambled out of his car seat, grabbed my hand and promptly froze. Miles of sand and water stretched out before him in every direction. When the waves crashed against the sand, he gripped my hand and asked, "What's that, Mom?" Puzzled, I said, "Why, that is the ocean, honey. Isn't it great?" I watched the color drain out of my son's face as he backed up, pulling me with him. "I don't want beach, Mom!" I couldn't believe it! Obviously a little reassurance was needed. When I pulled Jered into my arms and slowly edged my way toward the water, he promptly burst into tears. "Too big, Mommy! Too big!" he cried. I suddenly realized that Jered did indeed love the water - as long as it was surrounded by cement and filled with chlorine. The ocean was an entirely different matter altogether. It was too big and completely overwhelming.

Are you facing a circumstance that is much too big for you to handle? The deafening waves of doubt may be crashing around you, drowning out the promises of God. The unknown stretches before you and all you can see are the mistakes you have made and the opportunities you have missed. Fear has brought you to your knees and you are more desperate than you have ever been in your life. The questions far outnumber the answers. You cry alone in a darkness that is unlike any you have ever faced. You long to be understood and crave a love that accepts you just as you are in the midst of your fear and doubt.   

I have great news for you, girlfriend! God sees you. He has not been caught off guard by the circumstances you face and where you are is no surprise to Him. In fact, God will take what the enemy means for evil and use it as the perfect setting for a miracle. You don't have to understand God to trust Him. Restoration and peace are His specialty. He will be your refuge and your strength. Right now, quietly turn to Him. He is waiting.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You today with a sense of helplessness. I am desperate for You, Lord. I need Your strength and power to sustain me because everything seems to be falling apart. I want to be a woman of faith and stand strong when trouble bombards my life but I cannot do it alone. Today, I turn to You, God, and celebrate the truth that You will turn to me and be my refuge.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Jered has grown into a wonderful young man who loves the ocean. Swimming, fishing, tubing, snorkeling, water skiing ... he enjoys it all. What once held only fear and uncertainty now brings him joy. God can do the same thing for you.

Look back over your life. When did God take something bad and bring good out of it? Describe that experience. Remember the truth that God is the same yesterday, today and forever and what He did in your past ... He can do today and tomorrow. He is faithful - even when we are faithless.

Read and memorize Today's Truth found in Psalm 59:16. Choose to sing a new song of praise - no matter what happens today. Record this verse on an index card and keep it with you. When fear and doubt come, meet them with this powerful promise from God.

More from the Girlfriends
We are with you, girlfriend! Sharon, Gwen and I want to encourage you with the truth that you are loved. God loves you and so do we!

Need help dealing with stress? Check out Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for practical and powerful steps found in Psalm 23 for managing stress before it manages you.

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Sandpaper People is the current series and will help you discover ten ways to deal with the "sandpaper people" in your life - you know - the ones that rub you the wrong way. When you enroll, you also have access to all of the 2010 studies. Check it out!

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email. I love hearing what God is doing in your life! Tell me how praising God has made a difference in your life. Let's talk about it, girlfriend!

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