Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

November 2, 2010 

Treasures of Darkness

Mary Southerland 


Today's Truth
Isaiah 45:3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."

Friend to Friend
I love a great movie. To me, a movie is only great - no matter what any movie critic says or how many stars the film is granted - when good wins over evil, the right guy gets the right girl, nobody gets hurt and everyone lives happily ever after. A bit naive, I know, but I have decided that there is enough harsh reality traipsing through my daily life without paying to see more on a movie screen. When I sit down in that cushy theatre seat, popcorn and soda in hand, I want happy endings.

With these criteria in mind, I went to see the movie, "Sea Biscuit." God has a way of wrapping remarkable truths in unremarkable circumstances. There I was; munching and sipping away, minding my own business and enjoying my brief respite from the real world, when his words echoed through the movie theatre and slammed into my soul.

"You don't throw a whole life away just because it's a little banged up," he said. I was done. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the movie but those simple words were written just for me and lingered long after the movie's credits scrolled across the movie screen. We are all "banged up a little" by life. I know what it feels like to be broken and in pain. And I do not like it - a fact that seems meaningless when it comes to facing and dealing with tough experiences in my life. The hits just keep coming. I have a choice to make. I can embrace the pain and brokenness in my life and learn from it or I can surrender to the darkness and hide - and hope it all goes away. Trust me, girlfriend. It doesn't.

In "A Farewell to Arms," Ernest Hemingway writes, "The world breaks everyone and many are strong at the broken places." Jesus says it this way, "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name" (Isaiah 45:3).

Wow! The truth of this verse rocks my world. Don't miss it! God has gone before us and buried a treasure in every problem and stored rich truths in every minute of darkness we will face. The only way we can discover that treasure is to embrace the problem as an opportunity to trust God and uncover a new seed of victory. Some things cannot be learned in the light - they are treasures of the darkness. 

Let's Pray
Father, my heart is broken and it seems very dark. I don't understand what You are doing in my life. The darkness is very real and filled with more questions than answers. And I don't like it! But I love You, Lord, so I choose trust instead of fear and faith instead of doubt. Lord, please fill each broken place in my heart with Your mercy and Your grace. Today, I choose You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

God has changed my life through the truths of Psalm 40:1-3.

Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
       

Read and memorize Psalm 40:1-3.

Write it in your journal.

Circle the action words. Which ones apply to you? Which ones apply to God?

Write this verse in your own words as your prayer to God.

Choose to praise God today as you look for the treasures waiting for you in each trial you are facing. 


More from the Girlfriends
The approaching holidays may be a difficult time for you or for someone in your family that struggles with depression. I encourage you to read my book, Hope in the Midst of Depression. I have been in that dark pit and know what it is like to long for just a sliver of light. The good news is that there really is hope and a way out of that pit. But there are also treasures to be found in the midst of that darkness.

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, When an Ordinary Woman Meets an Extraordinary God. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2010 studies. But hurry! This offer ends soon! Check it out!

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email. Someone needs to hear your story! 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]

November 3, 2010 

Coming Out of the Shadows 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"When Jesus saw her, he called her forward..." (Luke 13:12 NIV).

Friend to Friend
It was another Sabbath day, much like any other.  But as Mariah opened her eyes framed with years of pain and sorrow, she had no idea this would be the day that changed her life.

"I'm getting too old for this," Mariah groaned as she twisted her crooked body to roll her stiff frame out of bed. "I wish I could just stay home today, but it is the Sabbath."

Mariah swung her legs over the edge of the bed and dropped her feet onto the cold hard floor.  Her gaze and feet hit the packed dirt surface simultaneously, where both spent their waking hours. 

"At least in bed I can see the sky through the window, the bird on its perch and the faces of those I love," she moaned.  "But even an old woman like me can't stay in bed all day."

As Mariah stood, if you can call it that, she was in for another day of looking down at the dirt packed floor, dusty gravel roads, and the mud-caked feet of passersby.  For eighteen years she had been crippled, bent over by an evil spirit that taunted her day and night.  It didn't happen all at once, but progressed gradually as if someone were laying bricks on the back of her neck, one-by-one, day-by-day.  Her back began to slowly succumb to the invisible weight and bend like a broken reed.  Now her spine was parallel to the floor and a hump remained where a young girl's strong back had been. 

"Feet, I am so tired of looking at feet," she moaned.  "But at least I can see.  I can hear.  I can speak.  I do have much to be thankful for.  So today, I go to the synagogue to worship."

Mariah ran a comb through her gnarled grey hair, covered her head with a veil, and slipped sandals on her winkled feet.  Then her shuffle to the temple began.  Her frame prohibited her from looking up to find the women's section of the synagogue, so she just followed the feminine feet to find her seat ...in the back and at the bottom of the temple's progressive tiers.

She couldn't see his face, but she knew the person who stood to speak was not the usual teacher of the Law.  As soon as he approached the podium, whispers stirred like a hive of bees.  "It's Jesus," they began. "The teacher and healer everyone is talking about."  "It's Jesus!  It's Jesus!"

Ignoring the buzz, Jesus began to teach.  Unlike any other man she had ever heard before, Jesus spoke with authority and compassion.  For the first time in her life, someone explained the Scriptures in a way that made sense to her.  He explained spiritual truths with everyday examples that made his teaching come alive.

"Oh I wish I could see his face," she silently prayed.

No sooner had the words raced across her mind, when Jesus stopped.  She could not see him, but he could see her.

A hush fell over the room.

"Woman, come forward," he instructed.

Mariah strained to lean back on her bench in order to see to whom he was speaking.  "He's talking to you," her neighbor whispered.  "He's looking right at you."

Mariah wasn't exactly sure what she should do.  Jesus was asking her to leave the women's section of the synagogue and walk up the steps that separated the women from the men.  He was calling her into forbidden territory.  After a few moments of internal struggle, faith overcame fear and Mariah was out of her seat.  She couldn't see their faces, but she knew all eyes were on her slow, dragging gait forward.

Women gasped at her courage.  Men glared at her audacity.  Both parted as Mariah passed through.

After many long moments of painful struggle, Mariah finally arrived at the front of the crowd - center stage.  Jesus bent down, placed his hand on the mountain that had become Mariah's back and leveled the land.  She felt warmth surge through her frozen muscles as years of stiffness melted away.  Like a marionette in the hands of a puppeteer, Jesus pulled her to full attention.  For the first time in eighteen years, her crooked spine stood like a tall cedar.  The physical malady that had defined her was gone and she rose to look into the eyes of the One who had set her free.

"Woman," he spoke, "You are free from your infirmity."

Tears of joy coursed down her weathered cheeks, and the words of the Psalmist coursed through her veins. "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head" (Psalm 3:3 KJV).

"Thank you, Jesus!" she cried.  "Thank you, Jesus!"  She twirled around and raised her hands in praise to God.  She laughed with lightness and others rejoiced with her.  No longer did she feel like the dirt she was forced to stare at day in and day out.  She was free!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I cry every time I read this story. Thank You for calling women out of the shadows to receive healing!  Thank You for noticing me, loving me, calling me, and using me to bring glory to Your Name.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my re-telling of the woman with the crippled back who was healed by Jesus.  No, we don't know her name, but I wanted to paint a picture of a real woman to make it come alive for you.  Now with that said, let's think about this:

Can you imagine what it would be like if you were not allowed to worship with the men at church, or if you were kept behind a partition out of sight? Describe how that would make you feel.

Now, describe how you think this woman must have felt as Jesus took notice of her and called her forward? 

That's how I want you to feel today!

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's latest 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 toward 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.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com  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]

November 4, 2010 

Everything Will Be Okay 

Mary Southerland   

Today's Truth
Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

Friend to Friend
I am an avid reader. In fact, reading is one of my favorite ways to escape the sometimes chaotic pace of daily life. I also enjoy browsing through bookstores, especially the ones that provide cushy chairs where customers can sit quietly and read without being disturbed.

It is easy to tune out your surroundings and lose yourself in the pages of a good book. I was doing just that when I heard a familiar voice. Looking up, I spotted one of my friends, Carol, who was asking an employee where she could find a new suspense novel that had just been released. The young man quickly handed Carol the book from his personal stash behind the counter and went back to work. I watched a smile spread across Carol's face as she examined her new treasure while gently turning the book over in her hands and flipping through pages. Carol then did something I absolutely could not believe. She turned to the last several pages of the book and began reading.

It was time for an intervention. I was ready for the task.

I quickly put the book I had been reading back on the shelf. I needed to focus on the obvious needs of my friend. With a quick wave, I got Carol's attention and made my approach. After a quick hug, I said, "It is so good to see you. How have you been?" We spent a few minutes catching up on what was happening in our lives.

I could not help myself. "Are you buying that book?" I asked. It was an honest question because, for the life of me, I could not understand why anyone would want to buy a suspense novel when they already knew how it ended. Excitement danced in her eyes as she responded, "Yes, I am. I can't wait to read it. The ending is awesome!"

Now I can understand reading the first few pages or scanning the table of contents before buying a book. I can even comprehend reading a few paragraphs here and there to get an idea of the story line. That makes sense to me. Carol's perspective did not. "Okay. I have to confess that I saw you reading the last few pages of the book. Why in the world did you read the ending? Won't that spoil the story for you?" I asked.

"Not at all," Carol quickly responded. "Before I buy a book, I always read the ending to make sure I really want that particular book," she explained. It was worse than I thought. Seeing the look of disbelief on my face, she laughed and admitted, "I know. It sounds crazy, but I have to know that everything turns out okay before I commit to reading the book."

The more I thought about Carol's words, the more I realized that as followers of God, we need to do the same. Billy Graham once said, "I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right."

When we focus only on what we can see and understand or explain, we will worry. Fear and doubt will become familiar companions if we live each day against the backdrop of this broken world. Our only hope is God. And it is not enough to just know about Him. We must know Him. A personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ assures us that no matter what the world throws our way, it's all going to be okay.   

Let's Pray
Father, I am tempted to worry about so many things. Our world is a mess! Forgive me for focusing on anything or anyone but You. Thank You for the Bible that equips and empowers me to live each day. Right now, I declare that You are my only Hope. Please help me to remember that You really are in control.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Read and memorize Isaiah 43:2: "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

Make a list of your fears. Surrender each one to the loving control of God as you pray through Psalm 23. Then destroy the list as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God's perfect peace enthroned in your life.

More from the Girlfriends
One of my pet peeves is a broken promise. As frail humans, we tend to over-promise and under-deliver. Not God! He is faithful to fulfill every promise and deliver more than we ever dreamed possible! You really can trust Him!

FREE MPs when you visit the Freebies section of Mary's website.

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, When an Ordinary Woman Meets an Extraordinary God. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2010 studies. Check it out!

Need a friend? Connect with me on Facebook or through email.


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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 5, 2010 

Fact or Fiction? 

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

Friend to Friend
There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain something to me."

"Well, what is it? I don't know that I can explain anything to a preacher."

"What is the reason for the difference between you and me?" The preacher asked. "You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all."

Macready's answer was this: "This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction."

Zinger, huh? Sure does challenge my faith-o-meter. J This story both motivates and cautions me. Frankly, Christians embarrass the cause of Christ all the time. It's vital that we be confident in the message of hope we cling to as believers in Jesus, but it's equally vital that we be prepared to share truth in love, share Scripture in proper context and share our hearts with meekness and fear for the purpose of attracting others to the restoring love of Christ. We don't need to be Bible scholars with capital letters following our names ... but we do need to be Bible girls!

I don't need to harp on the fact that there's a great moral decline in the world. We see that coming and going. As Girlfriends in God (GiGs), let's commit ourselves to making a difference in the lives of others, in our homes, among our friends, in our communities, and in this world! To do this, we need to know the Bible. We need to think through current issues. We must be prepared to share how we've been changed by the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's the great commission, and it's for each of us...not for the perfect among us. People around us need to know that God is still in the restoration business - and that He longs to bring His peace, hope and love to every life.

Look at the apostle Paul. He was prepared to speak about Christ wherever he went. In New Testament book of Acts, we learn that, "from morning 'til evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets" (Acts 28:23b, NIV).

The life-changing, peace-giving, truth we know needs to be presented to the world as life-changing, peace-giving truth! Get in His Word - get in His presence - and look for opportunities to share God's love as truth with confidence! Imagine what our homes, relationships, neighborhoods and communities will look like if we take the commission of Christ seriously and prioritize loving God and loving others above all else. Lives will be changed. Broken relationships will be restored. Communities will experience a great awakening to the saving love of Jesus Christ!

Focus your heart and mind on Him today, friend. Remember the commission on your life, and determine to keep growing in truth and love.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Please forgive me for the times when I doubt Your truth, or fear speaking it. Help me to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope I have, to speak of Your unfailing love and unchanging truth to those around me so that they might be drawn to Your heart. Draw me to Your Word and teach me Your ways.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Read 2 Timothy 1:12: "Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed..." Can you say that and mean it?

Are prepared to give an answer for the hope you have?

Have you been changed by God's grace? Held by His love? Grab your journal and write a paragraph or two that describes how God has worked in your life.

More from the Girlfriends
GiGs, I've got an EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! My new CD, Uncluttered, will be released to the general market place in a few short months, but my record label has given me permission to offer you a chance to get the CD NOW!! To get your signed copy of Uncluttered today, go to http://www.gwensmith.net/.

NEED HEALING for some heart wounds? Got a friend going through a difficult time? Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful, takes the reader by the hand and shows her how God delights to transform lives. To order the book, go to Amazon or visit Gwen's website: www.gwensmith.net.

GOT FACEBOOK? Stop by Gwen's Facebook Music Page at www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. While you're there, be sure to listen to a few songs, leave a message on her wall, and add her as a friend!

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 8, 2010
Are You Spiritually Crippled?
Sharon Jaynes   

Today's Truth
"Woman, you are released (set free) from your infirmity! (Luke 13:12 Amplified, note added).

Friend to Friend
I was riding down the crowded streets of Mexico City in a cab when I saw her.  She measured about four feet high, backed curved, bent at the waist at a ninety-degree angle, and fingers gnarled and twisted shut.  Like an upside down chair, her face was parallel to the dirty sidewalk.  Feet, dirt, trash.  That was her view of the world.  She shuffled alongside our car as we inched through the congested traffic.  I saw her, but she did not see me.  She could not see me.  She just saw feet.

Sharon, look at my daughter, God seemed to say.  When you read about the woman with the crippled back, never again see her as a character in a story.  See her as you see this woman now.  Flesh and blood.  Real and relevant.  My daughter.  Your sister.

God reminded me once again that the women we read about in the Bible were real people - just like you and me.  We must never forget that.  Today, let's look again at the woman with the crippled back in Luke 13:10-17.  And while we might not be able to relate to being crippled physically, most of us can relate to being crippled emotionally.  We see feet...people passing by going about their busy lives.  We see dirt...the mistakes we've made through the years.  We see trash...the pain inflicted on us by others and many times by our own poor decisions. 

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). Rest for our souls - isn't that what we all want? 

Like the woman with the crippled back, we may have "a spirit of infirmity," a sickness of the soul. That is an interesting way to explain her illness.  More than just a crippled back, her spirit was crippled as well.

Linda Hollies, in her book, Jesus and Those Bodacious Women brings this point home.

"There are many spirits that can cause you to walk around in a bent-over state.  They might be your color, your gender, your age, your marital state, your family, or they could be abuse, injustice, resentment, oppression, despair, loneliness, your economic state, or even a physical challenge.  It makes no difference what has hurt you in the past.  It makes no difference how old you were when the trauma affected your life, and it makes no difference what your wealth, position, or status is.  For the evil one comes to steal, kill, and destroy and each one of us is a candidate for being bent and bowed."


Bent and bowed.  The weight of the world on our shoulders.  Little by little.  Day by day.  Heaviness too difficult to bear.  A spirit of infirmity.  Crippled by shame, fear, pain, disappointment, depression, poverty, insecurity, inferiority, inadequacy, broken dreams.  Satan, the one who orchestrates the spirit of infirmity, wants to cripple us into inactivity so that our walk becomes a shuffle.  Our voice becomes a whisper.  Our vision becomes a blur.

Who put the chains on her in the first place?  Jesus said Satan had her bound (Luke 13:16).  In reality, all sickness was ushered into the world when Adam and Eve believed Satan's lie over God's truth and ate the forbidden fruit.  For the thirty-three years that Jesus walked the earth, he was in a life-and-death struggle with evil.  John tells us that the reason Jesus came was to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:.  The battleground is the world and humans are the pawns of the evil one.  Note the language, "locked up" and "set free."  This is about much more than physical healing. It is about spiritual freedom.  And when Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished," it was.  Now, because of Jesus' victory over the enemy through his death and resurrection, we are more than conquerors through faith in Him.

Don't miss this.  Jesus said, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."  There are those words again - set free.  The words paint a picture of chains and manacles that are falling from a prisoner's shackled body.  Another translation says it this way, "Woman, you are released from your infirmity!"(Luke 12:13 Amplified). The irons of oppression that held her prisoner to this crippled frame gave way and fell at Jesus' feet as He unlocked the chains that had her bound.

Jesus came to set us free and that freedom comes in many forms.  Whatever Satan is using to bind you, Jesus came to free you.  Free from...and free to.  I can't say that enough.  For far too long we've looked at freedom only in terms of what we are free from.  But freedom encompasses so much more than a shedding of chains.  Jesus set us free to live the abundant life by being all He has created us to be and accomplishing all that He has planned for us to do. Setting her straight (literally) was only the beginning for the crippled woman.

Let's Pray
Dear Jesus, Thank You for setting me free! Today, I choose to walk in that freedom and never be held captive by emotional chains again!

In Your Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Have you ever been emotionally crippled?

Perhaps you feel that way today.  If so, I'd love to pray for you and so would your GiG sisters.  Log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes, share your request, and let's pray for each other.

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's latest 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 toward 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.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com.  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]

November 9, 2010 

It's Time to Do Something! 

Mary Southerland   


Today's Truth 

1 John 4:11 "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Friend to Friend
I could not tear my eyes away from the television screen as the 33 miners began to emerge from the depths of what could have been their mass grave. The men had been trapped for more than two months in the collapsed Chilean copper mines nearly half a mile underground. Everything I have read or heard about the tragedy is extraordinary.

The miners survived the early days by rationing food and working together as a team. Each man was assigned a job, one of which was to maintain peace and harmony until they were rescued. The selfless mining supervisor who insisted on being the last to leave his underground prison showed the world what it really means to put others first. I was amazed at the selflessness of the rescue worker who became the initial guinea pig for the rescue capsule and then chose to stay behind - alone - while the world celebrated above.

I wonder how long it will take us to forget. How long will we remember that the world came together to save a group of strangers? Will the powerful lessons of their rescue make any difference in the way we treat each other?

We all know what it is like to be trapped in a pit of some kind. It is probably not a collapsed mine, but pits are all basically the same.

Our world has collapsed under the weight of fear and pain.

No one seems to care. In fact, a lot of people have written us off as a lost cause.

People are too busy to recognize or understand our hopelessness.

Darkness prevails and rescue seems impossible.

We are wounded, sick and tired.

Civil war rages in our soul as we struggle to obey God instead of giving in to sin.

I truly believe that every day is filled with divine appointments - opportunities to rescue people who are trapped in some kind of pit. We miss the emptiness reflected in the eyes of the sales clerk or simply choose to ignore the homeless man begging for money so that he can buy food. After all, we are in a hurry and have more important things to do. The sales clerk would probably be embarrassed if I said anything and that homeless man would probably just use the money I give him for drugs or alcohol.

The ringing phone is someone in need but we don't care enough to answer. Our neighbor does not know God but her life is a mess and we really don't want to get involved. Instead of taking action and doing what we know God wants us to do, we decide that it is enough to pray for that neighbor and leave the messy part of God's work to someone else.

I am so guilty of walking away from someone in need instead of running to their rescue. I am in pain, too, and my pain is more important than theirs. I may not actually say those words but I don't have to. My actions are blatant illustrations of my own egotism and self-absorption.

I do not want to be like the priest who nonchalantly strolled by the wounded and bleeding man lying on the road. I want to be like the Good Samaritan who stopped and saved the wounded man's life. I want to be "God with skin on."

One day, just as rescue workers descended into that Chilean mine, Jesus Christ will descend into this broken world and rescue us from the pit of human frailty. Until then, let's be His hands and feet. Let's love Him so much that we just have to do something about it.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You today with a heart of praise for the way You meet every need in my life and how You constantly rescue me from the darkness. I want Your heart, Lord. I want to be Your hands and feet to the people You place in my path. Give me eyes to see their need and the courage to do something about it. Please guard my heart against pride and selfishness. I want to please and honor You alone.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
It is sometimes hard to love someone in need, but God calls us to look beyond their rough exterior and see the pain hidden there.

Read Ephesians 4:2. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Notice the action words. What would your daily life look like if you took action and lived out this verse?

Is there someone in your life who is hurting? How can you ease their pain?

Is there someone in your life who is wounded? How can you help them heal?

Is there someone in your life who has fallen into some kind of pit? How can you help rescue them?

Make a specific plan to meet a specific need in someone's life today. Then do something about it!

More from the Girlfriends
We are living in tough times. It is easy to get so wrapped up in our own problems that we fail to see the needs of others. Today, I am issuing a challenge to all of us, girlfriends! Look around. Find someone in need and then take action. We are never more like our Father than when we love and serve someone in His name.

I would love to hear your story! How did God use you to meet a need in the life of someone? How did someone meet your need?

What happens when an ordinary woman meets an extraordinary God? Join women across the world in Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, and find out.

Already feeling the stress of the approaching holidays? You need Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for practical steps to dealing with and managing stress.

Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email. 

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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 10, 2010 

Stand Up Straight, Girlfriend! 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God" (Luke 13:13 NIV).

Friend to Friend
When my brother was a teenager, my mother used to threaten him when he hunched over at the dinner table.  "If you don't sit up," she'd say, "I'm going to buy you a back brace from Sears." Now I don't even know if Sears made back braces back then, but it sounded like a pretty good threat to me.

Then I had a son who grew to six feet seemingly overnight.  He didn't know what to do with all that height, so he slumped.  I tried my best not to say, "If you don't sit up, I'm going to buy you a back brace from Sears." 

Then one night, my father-in-law took care of it for me.  We were measuring and marking various family members' height on the dining room doorframe.  (Yes, you read that correctly-the dining room.  Some battles are just not worth fighting).  My seventy-seven-year-old father-in-law, who stood at about 5'10", stood with the back of his head against the doorframe.  Then he took a deep breath and extended his curved back to its fullest upright position.  We marked him at 6'3".

I watched Steven's eyes grow wider as Papa grew taller.  He saw firsthand the difference it made to stand up straight.  Papa was huge, but his bent over frame hid his once strong healthy stature.  Steven caught a glimpse of the strappingly strong frame that we once knew.  From that day on, Steve stood straight and tall.  Never once have I seen him slump since. 

That's what I'm hoping for you.  That's why I write devotions and books like I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves and What God Really Thinks about a Women.  My hope is that you will see women who have stood to their full stature and want to do the same.  No more slumping in self-doubt or hunching in half-hearted conviction, but rather standing up to the full stature of a confident woman who knows that she is equipped by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and enveloped in Jesus Christ.

There are many emotions that cause us to slump spiritually and become crippled emotionally.  Worry wears us down.  Regret ruins our confidence.  Hatred hardens our hearts. Unforgiveness uglies our souls.  Bitterness binds our hearts.  Insecurity incapacitates our capabilities.

I was crippled for many years.  Words from my past told me I was "ugly," "not good enough," and "worthless."  Inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy were my three closes companions.  I didn't like these three lurking shadows, but they followed me everywhere I went.  Stalkers, that's what they were.  They stalked me, yelling taunts and accusations that no one heard but me. 

The more I listened to them, the more emotionally crippled I became.  Then one day, Jesus called me up front.  I didn't want to go, mind you.  I had grown comfortable hiding in the back where I felt I belonged.  I could hear just fine from my seat along the wall.  The lighting wasn't as good, but it was enough to get by.

But then Jesus saw me and called me forward.  It wasn't that He hadn't seen me all along.  After all, He is El Roi, the God who sees.  There was never a day when I had not been in His sight.  But now the time had come for Him to set me straight in every way.  So He called me up front where others could see what He was about to do.  Jesus placed his nail-scared hand under my chin and lifted my eyes to meet his.  "Sharon, you are free from your infirmity of self-doubt."

It wasn't long after that, words began to flow.  From pen to paper, God filled me with words that overflowed to encourage and equip other sisters who needed to experience the same liberating freedom in Christ.

You know what?  I'm sure some on-lookers gasped at my courage and glared at my audacity as I stepped out of the shadows onto center stage.  "Who does she think she is?" they might have thought.

And I can answer that question.  I am a crippled woman who Jesus set free.  He calls me a child of God, light of the world, salt of the earth, bride of Christ, redeemed, holy, chosen, ambassador, saint, bride...and that's just for starters.  And friend, if you know Jesus Christ as Savior, then that's exactly what He calls you too!

So here I am today and you are reading one of my devotions.  A previously emotional cripple set straight and shored up by God.

Is there something in your life that is crippling your spirit?  Unforgiveness?  Bitterness? Guilt?  Resentment?  Sorrow?  Worry?  Regret?  Comparison?  If so, cut it loose, cast it off, and throw it away.  God calls us sheep; and sheep are not pack animals.  We are not meant to carry such burdens with these scrawny legs of ours.  If we try, we will only bend under the pressure we were never meant to bear.

Oh friend, He is calling you right now.  Whatever has been holding you back from being all God has called you to be and do all God has fashioned you to do...Jesus has come to set you free!  Stand up straight!  Do you feel the press of His hand on the crook of your back?  Do you feel his index finger under the point of your chin?

There's no doubt in my mind that you are reading this devotion because Jesus is calling you from the shadows to join him center stage.  He sees you, and now is the time.  You've been sitting in the back, in your crippled state far too long.  It is time.  "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 

Set me free from my prison that I might praise your name. Psalm 142:7

Now it's Your Turn

I want to go back and ask you the questions I asked in the devotion.

Is there something in your life that is crippling your spirit?  Unforgiveness?  Bitterness?  Guilt? Resentment?  Sorrow?  Worry?  Regret?  Comparison?  If so, cut it loose, cast it off, and throw it away.

Oh friend, He is calling you right now. Whatever has been holding you back from being all God has called you to be and doing all that God has fashioned you to do...Jesus has come to set you free!  Stand up straight!  Do you feel the press of His hand on the crook of your back?  Do you feel his index finger under the point of your chin?

Let's chat.  Write and tell me how God has set you free! www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's latest 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 toward 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.  To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com. 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]

November 11, 2010 

The Taste Berry 

Mary Southerland 

Today's Truth
Psalm 138:2 "I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name."

Friend to Friend
Alexander Whyte, the Scottish preacher, always began every prayer with praise. One brutally cold Sunday, his people filed into the church, wondering what the preacher could possibly find to praise God for on such a miserable day. Alexander Whyte stood, bowed his head and prayed, "O Lord, we thank Thee that it is not always like this."

Are there times when you don't feel like praising God? Honestly, our feelings are irrelevant when it comes to praising God. Praise is not about us. Praise is all about God. Praise is a deliberate choice and a learned habit that produces contentment and an attitude of gratitude.

In Philippians 4:11, the Apostle Paul writes, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." In this verse, "learned" means to be "educated by experience" and the word "content" means "contained." Paul's contentment was the result of the resources contained in his heart. In other words, Paul used his circumstances as tutors in the school of praise. He learned how to give God praise even when he was beaten, ridiculed, in prison and facing his own death. Paul's attitude did not reflect his circumstances. Paul made a deliberate choice to praise God - no matter what. Why? Because Paul knew that even when he did not understand God's process, he could trust God's heart.

Let's pretend for just a moment. Suppose I went to my local bank and tried to cash a personal check for a thousand dollars. I can assure you that when I presented that check to the teller, she would have burst out laughing. She knows what I have in my bank account. Now suppose Bill Gates walked into his bank and presented the teller with a personal check for a thousand dollars. I can assure you that the teller would not burst out laughing. In fact, she would promptly cash that check. She knows what Bill Gates has in his bank account.

When we come to Jesus Christ, all of His promises are credited to our spiritual account. And there is a money-back guarantee on every promise of God. That is why we can praise Him - no matter what.

Praise invites God to take up residence in the middle of whatever mess we are facing.

Psalm 22:3 "But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel."

Praise produces trust in God and strengthens our faith.

Psalm 42:11 "But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!"

In Africa, there is a fruit called the "taste berry" that literally changes a person's taste buds so that everything tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the taste berry, becomes sweet and delicious.

Praise is the "taste berry" for every Christian. Praise is more than emotions or spoken words, singing songs or lifting up hands in worship. True praise is the celebration of God, His power, His works and His greatness. Praise is the fruit of a committed heart and the tool of a life completely surrendered to God.

When we are discouraged, praise reminds us that there is hope in God.

When we are afraid, praise reminds us that no matter what happens, God is with us.   

When we are lost, praise reminds us that God has already been where He is leading us. 

When we are confused, praise reminds us that heaven is not in a panic.

Right now, girlfriend, lift up your head and praise your God. He is with you and He is more than enough.

Let's Pray
Father, I praise You for Your love and Your mercy. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I praise You for sending Jesus to die in my place, to pay for my sin. I praise You for the family and friends You have given me. I praise You for this ministry of Girlfriends in God and for every woman who reads each word. Please bless them and fill their hearts with Your presence and Your power as they praise You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Not it's Your Turn
Read the following verses of Scripture and fill in each blank.

I will praise God with ________________.

Psalm34:1 "I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace."

I will praise God with ________________.

Ephesians 5:19 "Speak to one another with psalms."

I will praise God with _____________.

Psalm 69:30 "Then I will praise God with my singing!"

I will praise God with my ____________.

2 Corinthians 5:15 "He died for all so that all who live--having received eternal life from him--might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them."

More from the Girlfriends
I wish I could reach through the computer screen and give you a hug, girlfriend! No matter what you are facing, God is with you and so are we. You are not alone. I pray that God will become more real to you as you praise Him. We would love to pray for you and with you. E-mail your prayer requests to our team of prayer warriors.

Free resources are available on Mary's website.

Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, When an Ordinary Woman Meets an Extraordinary God. If you enroll now, you will 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]

November 12, 2010 

The Bigger the Battle, the Bigger the Blessing 

Pam Farrel

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," Pam Farrel.

Today's Truth
James 1:12 (NLT) "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

Friend to Friend
I [Pam] had one baby and a toddler and was four months pregnant, dressed in a white suit as I carefully stepped out of my house to head to Bible study. A heavy rainstorm had hit the night before, and there was a film of red clay mud all down the front stairs.

With a toddler, diaper bag, and Bible-study bag in tow, I gingerly stepped onto the first stair, holding on to the handrail. Then, I gingerly took step two, only to fall flat on my back, desperately clinging to my baby to keep him from hitting his head. Sliding down the rest of the stairs, I finally plopped in a puddle on the bottom landing.

Shaken, I stood up and checked on baby Brock, who was smiling from the adventurous ride and seemed completely unharmed. Once relief set in that he had survived the fall, I burst into tears. Fear gripped my heart. Lord, what about this baby inside me? A fall like this can cause a mis­carriage. Please protect this little one!

I took inventory of my belongings, spilled across the lawn and the stairs. I would have to take a wet rag to most of the things, but they all seemed intact. Then I looked at myself in the reflection of our bay win­dow. I was one big mud pie, head to toe. I checked my watch. If I took the time to clean up, I would definitely be late to Bible study. Then a thought came: Maybe I should just stay home.

Remembering Ephesians 6:11-13 about life being a spiritual battle, I loudly proclaimed, "Satan, get out of here! If you think a little mud or a tumble is going to keep me from God's Word, you are messing with the wrong woman. I take my stand in Jesus and through His shed blood, I claim the victory. If you're working this hard to discourage me, Satan, then something really great is on the other side, if I persevere. The bigger the battle - the bigger the blessing on the other side!"

With that, I got up, went inside to change clothes, and then drove to Bible study, where I did receive more encouragement to win the battles of life I was dealing with at that time.

I'm glad I learned that lesson long ago, because during the writing of my LOL with God devotional, I think nearly everything I own broke: my car, my com­puter (it crashed twice), the icemaker, the washing machine, the printers in our office—and more importantly, the hearts of two of my three sons. This mom was carrying their pain on her heart, but I knew I'd receive a blessing, and others would too, if I pressed on through the battle.

Press on! Blessings ahead!

Let's Pray
Lord, help me not to give in to the battle weari­ness I feel. Keep my eyes off the attack and on You, the One who gives victory and blessing. Let me press through the battle until we get to the blessing, together, You and me, God!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Ephesians 6:11-13 tells us to "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. . . .  so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground . . ."

Some steps to help you stand your ground might include:

Go to bed with your iPod playing the Bible or songs of praise so you wake up confident and full of hope.

Speak verses of courage and confidence out loud (a good place to begin is the Psalms).

Place Scriptures and positive affirmations around your mirror where you put on your make up each day.

Take a prayer walk with a friend (this is a 3 for one deal: You will get closer to God, closer to your friend—and thinner!)

Which step could you do right now, or in the next hour, to help you stand firm?

More from the Girlfriends
When my boys were small, I used to read them the children's picture book, Harry and the Terrible Whatzit. In it, Harry, the small boy was frightened by what he thought was a scary monster, so he took a broom and whacked the imaginary thing until it became a tiny little creature who eventually became his friend. I picture God's Word as my "broom" and when I whack away on that fear with the Word of God, the fear grows smaller and smaller and my view of God grows larger and larger. As I wrote LOL with God, I pictured women worldwide picking up their "brooms" (their Bibles) and whacking down their fears. So girlfriend, pick up your broom, that Bible of yours, and let God shrink then sweep away your fears and frustrations today!


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


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

[Judy Harder]

November 15, 2010 

The Velveteen Woman 

Sharon Jaynes
 
Today's Truth
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Most of us have read or heard of the childhood classic, The Velveteen Rabbit.  Perhaps you first heard the story snuggled in your mother's lap or like me, as an adult with a child snuggled in your lap.  For me, The Velveteen Rabbit is a treasure I discovered in motherhood, rather than in my childhood.  And like many children's books, the message carries a profound truth that resonates more with adults than with kids.

The story begins...

"There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid.  He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen.  On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy's stocking, with a spring of holly between his paws, the effect was charming.

"The boy loved the rabbit...for at least two hours, but then he was put on the nursery shelf with all the other toys.  Because he was velveteen, some of the more expensive toys snubbed him.  Some of the toys boasted about being fashioned as smaller models of real things, such as boats and soldiers.  But the rabbit didn't even know that there was such a thing as a real rabbit.  He thought all were just as he was, stuffed with sawdust.  But one night, the rabbit made a fascinating discovery.

"The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others.  He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces.  He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else...

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room.  "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse.  "It's a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.  When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.  "You become real.  It takes a long time.  That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

The Velveteen Rabbit wasn't even sure what a rabbit was supposed to do.  He just knew there had to be more to life than being filled with sawdust and sitting on a shelf. 

Being real.  That's what really matters.  I don't want to wait until most of my hair has fallen out and I've lost my stuffing.  I want to be real right now.  So what if I don't look as shiny as the other toys in the nursery?

Yes, sometimes it is painful to become real.  It takes courage.   But until we do, we'll find our existence sitting on the shelves a dim reflection of the freedom and jubilant dance that God intended in the fields of life. 

Join me next time as we look at a man in the Bible who learned what it meant to be real.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You want me to be real and honest with those around me.  Jesus was.  He never pretended to be something that He was not and He didn't pretend not to be something that He was.  I am Your child with many faults, failures and foibles.  I made mistakes in my past and will make mistakes in my future.  I pray that I will always have the courage to be real with those around me and never participate in religious pretending because of concern over what others may think.  I'm just me: saved, sealed, delivered!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
You might be concerned that today's devotion didn't have more Scripture.  So let's go ahead and prepare our hearts for Thursday's devotion. 

Read Genesis 25: 25:23, 24. Who was Jacob?

How did he trick his brother? (Genesis 25:29-34)

How did he trick his father? (Genesis 27)

Jacob was pretending to be someone he was not.  In the end, it caused much heartache.  But that's not the end of the story.  Stay tuned!

More from the Girlfriends
Being real is one of the themes of Your Scars of Beautiful to God. God doesn't want us to hide our scars.  He wants us to be real and use the scars of our past to impact those in our present!  To learn more, see Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding peace and purpose in the hurts of your past. 

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