Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

January 11, 2011 

Facing the Giants 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth 

2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV) "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control."

Friend to Friend
A cloud of terror hung over the Valley of Elah as snarling threats and vile promises spewed from his mouth. The intimidator strutted along grassy slopes swinging an enormous club, his mammoth, ironclad feet pawing the ground like an irate bull, ready to attack. The huge, ugly monster was Goliath, a nine foot giant, the pride of Philistia. He wore massive armor; a bronze coat weighing 200 pounds, a solid iron spear, a heavy bronze helmet. The target of his ranting and raving was a frightened, helpless group of Israelites, cowering in their tents. For forty agonizing days, Goliath had come, taunting them, promising certain destruction and doom. The Israelites, paralyzed with fear, had given up all hope of escape, resigned to their tortured fate at the hand of this Philistine monster.

Then came day forty-one!  I am certain, as the sun inched its way over the mountains that morning, that neither Goliath nor the Israelites had any idea just how different this day would be. A young handsome teenager stepped into the valley of fear, fresh from the presence of God. David, the youngest in a family of eight boys could not believe his eyes. Tossing the giant's threats and obvious advantage aside, David refused to accept what he saw. Instead, he chose to believe what he knew in his heart; this giant was going down! With simple but certain faith and unreserved confidence in God, David stepped through the fear, ushering in the mighty presence and power of God. Goliath not only met David that day, He met the Lord of Heaven and Earth. And the giant fell!  Giants always fall in the presence of God!

We stand on the threshold of a new year - a new beginning. If you are like me, you face 2011 with mixed emotions. Personally, I am thrilled that I survived 2010! There were certainly moments when I wondered if I would. I am so excited about a fresh start, a brand new set of days overflowing with new dreams and unmarked possibilities. But I also know that this year is crammed full of the unknown as well as a giant or two.  And if I am brutally honest, I have to admit that the unknown fashions a pocket of fear in my heart where questions and doubts thrive. 

The good news is that what lies ahead is no surprise to God. In fact, He has already been where we are going. That reason alone empowers us to face every tomorrow with hope, knowing that whatever touches us passes through His hands, with His permission. It is not God's plan for us to dwell in fear or for fear to rule our lives.  He has already set in motion the defeat and fall of every giant that we will ever face. Our responsibility is to step through our fear, facing every giant in God's power and with His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide the path of His truth to its destined mark, taking down the giants lurking in each tomorrow. 

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Determine right now to face each day with the memory of Goliath's fall and trust in Almighty God, the Giant Killer. So then, my friend, I ask you, what is there to fear? Happy New Year!

Let's Pray
Father, I want to thank You for Your goodness to me this past year. I confess that there were times when I focused on the storm instead of on You. I allowed fear to overpower my faith. Please help me begin this New Year in faith, with my eyes on You and my glance on the circumstances. I want to face every giant in Your power alone, walking straight through my fear in faith. Right now, Father, I surrender to You and the plan You have for me in 2011. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take time to review the past year and consider the following questions:

What giants have you faced this year?

Was your response to these giants right or wrong?

How do you typically handle fear?

What giants are you facing today?

What has been your natural response to giants of the past?

How do the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ affect those responses?

Read Luke 2:8-14. Examine your life in light of this passage. 


More from the Girlfriends
Can you believe that the clean slate of 2011 is just ahead? A new beginning and a fresh start! However, what did we learn in 2010 that will make a difference in 2011? As the holiday season winds down, I pray that your heart and mind will look ahead to all that this year holds. Guard your heart and mind against darkness. Stand firm in God's power and presence. He is faithful and He is sufficient for whatever tomorrow brings. 

Mary's message, Strength for the Storm, is available in DVD, CD, MP3 and E-Bible Study.

A daily time alone with God in prayer and Bible study will strengthen you to face whatever life throws at you. Check out my weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. The first study of 2011 is How to Handle Hurt and begins January 17.

FREE MP3s on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

Do you or someone you love struggle with depression? Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to get out and stay out of that pit.

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]

January 12, 2011 

Now That I'm a Christian, What's Next? 

Sharon Jaynes
   
Today's Truth
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Imagine standing before a court of law.  You've been arrested on multiple counts and the sentencing is about to begin.  But just before the judge makes his final proclamation that will determine your punishment, someone walks from the back of the courtroom and approaches the bench.

"Judge, I know that this woman is guilty of every crime brought before the court today.  I know that she deserves a life sentence without parole.  But I come before you today, in the presence of these witnesses, and offer to serve in her stead.  My life for her life so that she may go free."

The Judge looks as this man whose eyes are full of compassion and love.  "Very well," he proclaims. He turns to the woman as the man who redeemed her life is lead away in chains.  "Not guilty!  You are free."

When we come to Christ, all our sins, past, present, and future are forgiven - tossed into the deepest of seas. The word "condemnation" is a legal term used only three times in the book of Romans.  It paints a picture of us standing before the Judge in a court of law.  Our record has been expunged, wiped clean, and there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  We are accepted by God and adopted as His child.

Just as you could do nothing to earn your salvation, you can do nothing to lose it. Jesus is able to keep those who are entrusted to him.  "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen" (Jude 1:24).  While you can do nothing to change your state as a child of God, there is much you can do to change the standing - the closeness of the relationship.  Throughout life we ebb and flow in our closeness to God depending on our obedience.  However, God never moves.  We do.

Nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).  But the depth and intimacy of your relationship with God is proportional to the time you spend with Him reading his Word, talking to Him in prayer, and listening to His still, small voice.

Let's say that you met and married the man of your dreams, but soon after you walked the aisle and said "I do," you moved to Texas.  He is still in North Carolina and you call him once a week to tell him what you need.  Oh, let's say you call him on Sundays, except when you're too tired to pick up the phone.  How much intimacy would you expect from such a union?  How well would you know your man?

I hope you catch the parallel there. It is not enough to simply walk the aisle and be joined to your heavenly bridegroom.  In order to have a personal intimate relationship, we must spend time getting to know Him.  If not, we will begin to feel distant.  I've been married over thirty years and I continue making new discoveries about my man.  Likewise, I've been a Christian for over thirty years and I'm still making incredible discoveries about my Lord.

As you begin this New Year, tell God that you are eternally grateful for your eternal salvation. 

Let's Pray
Father, thank You that I just as I could never be good enough to earn my salvation, I could never be good enough to keep it.  Thank You that Jesus has paid the price once and for all.  Oh Father, how I want to know You more.  Show me Your ways.  Help me hear Your voice. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Now It's Your Turn
Think of ways to get to know someone better. Make a list.

Now apply that list to your relationship with God. How is it similar?

What is the most recent truth you have learned about God? How long ago was your latest discovery?

I hope you are discovering new truths about God through the Girlfriends in God devotions. I know I am! 

More from the Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. If you've been believing the enemy's lies that you are not good enough, totally worthless, would be happy if..., etc. and are ready to begin living in victory by believing God's truth, then this book is for you!  It's time to be set free to see yourself as God see you: His holy, chosen, forgiven, and dearly loved child. Now that's a truth worth repeating.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

January 13, 2011 

What is Normal? 

Mary Southerland 


Today's Truth
1 Peter 4:12-13 "Do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith" (ICB).

Friend to Friend
I pray that your New Year is off to a great start. The holidays are wonderful but I am always ready for them to be over so life can get back to normal. Hmmm...that word "normal" can definitely mean different things to different people. I have to admit that "normal" is not a word people commonly use to describe me or my life. I have heard more than one person say, "Mary, you are not a normal pastor's wife!" I smile and thank them for the compliment. Ignorance can definitely be bliss. Several of my closest friends are convinced that I could make millions by doing my own television reality show. "Nobody could make this stuff up!" they proclaim.

Author and speaker, Patsy Clairmont says that "normal" is just a setting on the dryer. I am inclined to agree with her. At birth, the world silently hands us a list of do's and don'ts that we must follow in order to "fit in" and qualify as "normal." I believe God's definition of normal is quite different from the one offered by the world.

As I look back over the lives of those who made the biggest difference in the early Kingdom days, they were anything but normal. A bag of mixed nuts is more like it - quirky men and broken women from all walks of life who were radical in their devotion to God - to the point of placing their lives on the line every day for the cause of Christ. They were normal in that they celebrated their "sameness" with the pagans who were shunned by religious zealots but stubbornly loved by the Father. Yet, they were profoundly abnormal in the love they showed and the depth of their commitment to God and to His cause. 

As I was putting the Christmas decorations away for another year, I ended up in the study where we have a collection of gifts and souvenirs from the various countries where Dan and I have visited on mission trips. Each one brought back memories of precious people we met - people who are persecuted each day because of their faith in Jesus Christ. As far as material possessions are concerned, these saints have very little, but when it comes to joy, contentment and peace ... they are filthy rich! These men and women have chosen to follow Christ in a radical obedience that may very well cost them their lives one day. Is that normal? It should be.

When an ordinary woman meets an extraordinary God, normal life takes on a whole new meaning. Knowing God changes everything. We cannot encounter the living God and be the same. A personal relationship with Him produces a holy discontent with the status quo and compels us to live in such a way that miracles are a daily occurrence.

Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. A woman chooses not to have an abortion. A pastor in Peru lives another day even though his name is first on a list of Christian pastors to be executed. An alcoholic makes it through one more day without a drink. An underground church in Cuba meets to worship God. A husband who has been unemployed for over a year gets a job. Bibles are smuggled into Mexico and distributed to remote mountain tribes. A couple seeks counseling instead of a divorce. Cancer goes into remission. The sun rises and sets. We have food to eat and water to drink. A life is changed in response to what God has done in ours.

People are desperately looking for ordinary women like you and me whose lives have been changed by an extraordinary God - the One who is calling us to be "God with skin on" to those who don't even believe He exists. I want to love every excuse and doubt right out of their minds. I want them to see a power in me that they cannot explain in human terms and a message that shouts of God's mercy and forgiveness. I want to be hungry and thirsty for God as never before. I want my normal life to be abnormally extraordinary because God is alive and well and at work in and around me.

How about you? Are you ready to step out in faith? Are you willing to live a normal life filled with people and circumstances that can only be explained by the extraordinary power and presence of God? Let's do it, girlfriend!

Let's Pray
Father, I am so tired of playing it safe, of bowing to the wrong crowd and listening to the wrong voices. I lay down my pride and surrender to You and Your plan for my life in this New Year. Stretch my faith. Give me Your eyes to see those in need. Fill me with Your power and strength so that others will be drawn to You. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
In what way have you played it safe when it comes to your faith in God? 

Are you willing to be a radical follower of Jesus Christ - no matter the cost?

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How do these verses apply to an abnormal walk with God?

What first step do you need to take in order to walk by faith - not by sight?

More from the Girlfriends
The first time my husband, Dan and I visited Cuba, my eyes were opened to a whole new level of faith I had never seen or experienced. I watched believers live under the scrutiny of a godless government. Pastors and their families lived in poverty because they chose to worship God alone. Yet, there was no fear - only faith. They celebrated what they had instead of complaining about what they didn't have. We were humbled to be in their presence and challenged to live as they lived - in radical obedience to God.  That same challenge is before us all today. Are you ready?

A daily time alone with God in prayer and Bible study will strengthen you to face whatever life throws at you. Check out my weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God's Word. The first study of 2011 is How to Handle Hurt and begins January 17.

FREE MP3s on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

Do you or someone you love struggle with depression? Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to get out and stay out of that pit.

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]

January 14, 2011 

"When There Is Nothing There" 

Gwen Smith 


Today's Truth
"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea" (1 Kings 18:43-44, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I have a Christian girlfriend who is caught between faith and a hard place. Though she is a committed Christ-follower she struggles to believe God's promises and feels helpless to the circumstances of her trial. She prays - but wonders if God no longer listens to her. She daily looks for the light at the end of the trial-tunnel, yet sees none.

Have you been there? Are you, or is someone you love, there now? God's ways and timing are mysterious - no doubt. At times, His ways can even seem frustrating. But He is good. He graciously provides strength and hope when we call on Him ... but waiting on God can be such a difficult spiritual discipline.

Time and time again in Scripture we are shown beautiful pictures of God's faithfulness to those who wait on Him and call on Him. Snapshots of God's faithfulness displayed in the life of Elijah are simply fascinating. (Pause to read chapters 17 and 18 of 1 Kings now.) Elijah was the most dramatic and famous of all Israel's prophets. God worked in and through him powerfully and miraculously, but even Elijah went through seasons of waiting and wondering - just like my friend. Just like each of us.

For years, Ahab (king of Israel) and his wife, Jezebel, had done evil in the eyes of the Lord. They worshiped Baal - an idol - instead of the one true God, which provoked the Lord to anger. Then God called Elijah to the scene. Elijah told Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve; there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word" (1 Kings 17:1). As you can imagine, Ahab wasn't too happy about that 'word' and, in his fury, he wanted Elijah dead. God had other plans though. He directed and protected Elijah and provided for all his needs throughout the time of the drought.

In the third year, the Lord sent Elijah back to king Ahab, and a showdown of showdowns went down on Mount Carmel. Like a celestial boxing match with Baal and his false prophets in one corner and God and Elijah in the other, a battle began. The prophets of Baal took the first swing. They made a sacrifice to their god and cried out to him for hours to consume their offering with fire. Baal was silent and unresponsive because he was not real. Duh.

Elijah knew he served a powerful, living, and responsive God, so he advanced to the center of the ring and took his swings with confidence. He repaired the altar of God, prepared the sacrifice, and then prayed for God to reveal His deity by consuming the offering. God flexed His divine muscles and answered Elijah's prayers instantly with an all-consuming fire. Knock out!

After the showdown was over, God told Elijah to deliver a new message to King Ahab. "And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there I the sound of a heavy rain" (1 Kings 18:41). So Ahab went to eat and Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel to look for evidence of God's rain-miracle.

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

"There is nothing there," he said.

Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."

The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea" (1 Kings 18:43-44).

What struck me as I studied this passage is the fact that Elijah didn't get his miracle right away this time. Could God have opened up the sky and poured out a storm immediately? You bet. Did He? No. Elijah had to wait. His servant had to look for the miracle...and look...and look...and look. Seven times.

Hallelujah! You and I aren't the only ones who have to wait, friend!! God's will is God's will. It bends for no man. Yet ours can bend to His and, as a result, we will find strength and peace - even in the waiting.

"Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose; a heavy rain came on ..." (1 Kings 18:45a)

God moved. Once again, He was faithful. He can be no other way.

Now think about this. God used Elijah in really big ways. Elijah spoke on God's behalf, was God's front-line man in raising a dead child back to life in order to bless a widowed mother, and he was the lead character in a miraculous God-show that brought fire from heaven ... consuming an offering and connecting the hearts of wandering people back to the heart of God. We're talking big God-stuff! Yet even Elijah experienced difficult situations and was forced to wait on God.

When discouragement sets in and you feel unheard - when you are forced to wait on God - when you find yourself caught between faith and a hard place - when there is nothing there ... no evidence of God's miracle on the horizon - remember that God is faithful, powerful, and responsive. He has seen you through trials in the past and He will see you through trials in the future. Even in the challenges you face now, you are seen, you are heard, and He is able. "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always" (Psalm 105:4).

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I worship You, the One, true God! You are mighty and powerful; full of never-ending compassion and love. Please help me to see you when I face trials and to trust Your heart when circumstances discourage me."

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Write this verse out: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always." (Psalm 105:4) Keep it handy. Read it out loud. Memorize it.

Is there someone in your life who is in a period of waiting? Do something to encourage them today. If she is in a financial bind, consider writing a note and sending it with a gift card. If she is struggling with a strained marriage, a complicated job frustration, or a difficult parenting situation, reach out to her. Pray for her. If you know a single mom, consider helping her with her children. Allow God to encourage someone through you today.

More from the Girlfriends
Girlfriend - God placed a burden on my heart to encourage you today. I know this was very personal and timely for some of you. Let's meet on my facebook page to talk about it and pray through it together. www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic

Know someone who NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT? In her book, Broken into Beautiful, Gwen Smith invites you to hear her own beautifully broken story and the stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls ... and of the loving heavenly Father who makes them beautiful 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]

January 17, 2011 

What if I Don't Feel Saved? 

Sharon Jaynes
 


Today's Truth
"I know whom I believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" (2 Timothy 1:12 NIV).

Friend To Friend
Anna grew up in the church.  It wasn't a church that used the word "salvation" or "saved" very often and there was never a decisive moment she could recall "giving her life to Jesus," as she heard her more evangelical friends recount.  There was no "born again" experience that she could recall.  But she did love Jesus.  She'd loved Him for as long as she could remember.  But, she was not sure if she was actually saved.

Beth remembers walking down the red carpeted aisle of her church when she was twelve-years-old.  She filled out a membership card, signed up for the next baptism service and attended the catechism class for new believers.  She still remembers the feeling when she knew that she was a sinner who needed a Savior, and she wanted to follow Jesus more than anything.  Several years later, Beth packed her bags to go to college and entered the world of liberal teaching, wild sorority parties, and free flowing alcohol.  One night, in drunken confusion, Beth gave away her most valuable treasure to a boy she barely knew. In five minutes or less, her virginity vanished.  "How have I gotten so far away from God," she cried.  "I thought I was saved, but I guess I'm not."

Sarah had been attending a neighborhood Bible study for two years.  Most of the women there had no idea she wasn't a Christian.  "I put on a happy face, do my homework, and use the right lingo," she explains.  "I am really hungry to know God and I've asked Jesus to come in my heart dozens of times, but I just don't feel saved.  Why can't I get saved?"

Can you see how each one of these women has believed the lie that they have to earn their way to heaven? Why? Because they are depending on their feelings rather than the truth. 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Having believed, you were saved. Totally accepted. Past tense, finished, complete. 

In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul teaches us to put on the full armor of God.  The very first piece of armor is the "helmet of salvation." We've got to know that we have moved from rejection to acceptance, from guilty to forgiven, from condemned to saved.  If Satan can cause you to doubt your salvation, he will gain a strong foothold into your conquered territory.  Once you are saved, he can't do anything about the reality of your salvation.  You are signed, sealed, delivered...you're God's: signed by God with the blood of Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit for all eternity, and delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.  Amen!

What does Paul mean when he tells the Ephesians to "put on the helmet of salvation?"  A helmet is designed to protect a soldier's head, and the helmet of salvation is designed to protect a Christian soldier's mind.  In order to have victory in the spiritual battle that we face every day, we must make sure that the helmet of salvation is seated securely on our minds and strapped snuggly in place.         

Once you accept Jesus as your Savior, Satan can't do anything about your position in Christ.  However, he can do much to try and confuse you or cause you to doubt your salvation.  Remember, he is the father of lies.  It's what he does.  It's who he is.  There may be days when you don't feel saved.  Well, rain on your feelings.  They are not the truth.  "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

You may not feel that you are saved, but you can know that you are saved.  Timothy wrote, "I know whom I believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."  Timothy had the chin strap of the helmet of salvation strapped snuggly in place and he knew he was saved no matter how he felt.  That's what faith is all about - believing God regardless of, or in spite of, our feelings.

So where's your helmet today?  Is it strapped firmly in place? 

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, once again, I thank You for saving me.  Sometimes I don't feel like I'm any different than I was before I said "yes" to You.  But I believe by faith, regardless of how I feel.  I stand firm in the knowledge of my salvation, my eternal inheritance, and my identity as a child of God.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Now It's Your Turn
OK, here's the test.  You mess up.  Really mess up.  The devil says to you...how can you call yourself a Christian?  You must not be a Christian after all?  What are you going to tell him?

After you've written down your answer, check out my answer at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. If you've been believing the enemy's lies that you are not good enough, totally worthless, would be happy if..., etc. and are ready to begin living in victory by believing God's truth, then this book is for you!  It's time to be set free to see yourself as God sees you: His holy, chosen, forgiven, and dearly loved child. Now that's a truth worth repeating.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

January 18, 2011 

You're Just Like Your Father 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Malachi 3:3 "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (NIV).

Friend To Friend
The story is told of a group of women who met each week to study the Bible, hoping to learn more about the nature and character of God and how He works in our life. The women were puzzled and even a little troubled by the description of God they found in Malachi 3:3, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One of the women offered to do a little research on the subject and report back to the group at their next meeting. The woman found a local silversmith and made an appointment to observe him at work, explaining that she was particularly interested in the process of refining silver. She watched as the craftsman carefully selected a piece of silver for his demonstration. She thought the piece of silver was already beautiful but evidently the silversmith saw something that she could not see. As he held the silver over the furnace, the craftsman explained that in refining silver, the silver had to be placed in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so all of the impurities would be burned away.

The woman was silent for a moment as her thoughts drifted to the fiery trials she was facing in her own life. Honestly, she did not get it. Why would a loving God allow His children to suffer when He could so easily deliver them? In fact, why does God even allow bad things to happen to people who are seeking Him and really trying to live for Him?

The woman asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. "Oh, yes!" he replied. "I cannot take my eyes off the silver. If it is left in the furnace even a moment too long, it will be destroyed." The woman suddenly understood the beauty and comfort of Malachi 3:3, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Yes, there are times when it seems as if we will be swallowed whole by the fires of Hell itself. The pain seems too hard to bear. The fear is paralyzing. The doubt is overwhelming and questions flood our heart and mind.

Is God really who He says He is?

Will He really do what He says He will do?

Will He really keep His promises?

Our trials are not random persecutions. Heaven is not in a panic and where we are and what we are going through is no surprise to God. We may be knocked down and kicked around by life, but if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we will not be destroyed.

Our lives are filled with excess baggage and waste - a cherished sin we refuse to relinquish or an addiction to which we are enslaved. What about the emotional garbage that weighs us down or our unforgiving spirit that holds us prisoner? Fiery trials come to burn away the guilt of sin and then purify our heart. From those ashes of freedom, the Father then creates a work of beauty.

I believe the words I just wrote. I know and accept the truth that trials and hard times make me stronger and strengthen my faith, but there are times when I want it all to stop. I find myself asking, "How much is enough, Lord? How many trials do I have to endure? When will the pain and trouble end?"

"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" the woman asked. The silversmith smiled and answered, "Oh, that's easy. The refining process is complete when I can see my image reflected in the silver."

God is not committed to our comfort. He is committed to our character. Only God can exchange the ashes of our sin for the beauty of His forgiveness and grace. God alone can replace our despair with His peace that passes all understanding. Hope can only be found in Him. Our purpose in life is to know and become more like Jesus ... and act just like our Father.   

Let's Pray
Father, I want to be more like You. Give me the strength to withstand the trials in my life. Help me love the people who are hard to love and forgive the people who have hurt and even abused me. Burn away the sin in my life and empower me to live for You. Create a clean heart in me, Lord, and teach me how to live for You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Journaling is a powerful spiritual discipline and habit that I encourage you to cultivate this year. A journal can be a spiral notebook or leather bound book. You may write in your journal every day or once a week. Your entry can fill an entire page or one line. How you journal is not nearly as important as the fact that you journal.

Record new truths and insights God gives you as you read and study the Bible. Write your prayers and thoughts. Create a section in your journal where you can record the promises God gives you. Below are a few entries from my journal.

God will direct my steps. Isaiah 48:10 "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction" (NIV).

God will never leave me. Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (NIV). 

God will always make a way for me. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (NIV).

More From The Girlfriends 
I know many of you are facing fiery trials. You may be wondering how you can make it through the day or find the strength to face tomorrow. God is with you. He is working in your life. Choose right now to believe Him and walk by faith ... not by sight.

Need help? Enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Handle Hurt. Trials are part of life. We will experience pain and hurt. That is reality this side of heaven ... but we can learn how to handle the hurt in a way that honors God and assures a life of victory. We can harness the power of our pain and use it for good. We can choose to examine every broken part of life and compel it to give us a "seed" of victory. Join women across the world in this powerful and practical online Bible Study by Mary Southerland.

FREE MP3s available on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

Do you or someone you love struggle with depression? Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to get out and stay out of that pit.

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]

January 19, 2011
Give God a Round of Applause! 

Sharon Jaynes 


Today's Truth
"Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy" (Psalm 47:1 Amplified Version). 

Friend to Friend
Steve and I boarded a Cog Train for a scenic ride to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  It is the most visited mountain in North American - a hiker's paradise.  But since going up and down my stairs at home is about as much hiking as I like to do, we opted for the train to chug us to the top.  This stately mountain stands as a majestic backdrop to Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods rock formations.  As we clicked along the 8.9 miles of railway, a tour guide pointed out various areas of interest and wildlife along the way.  Suddenly, the train slowed to a crawl and a chorus of ooohs and aaahs rumbled through the boxcars.  In hushed silence, we gazed at a herd of Big Horned sheep congregating to our right.

The six-foot male grayish-brown rams with white fluffy rumps gathered in a circle like spectators at a boxing match.  Two males stood head-to-head in the center of the ring, eyeing each other with studied determination.  Smaller female rams with diminutive spiked horns grazed nonplussed over to the side.  It seems it was mating season and the males were vying for the ladies' attention.

A crack filled the air as the two males ran toward each other and furiously butted heads.  With front feet leaving the ground, the hefty rams twisted and turned interlocking horns until one retreated from battle.  The sound of cameras clicking mixed with cracking rams horns as we dared not interfere with the ritual of thousands of years.  Time and time again the males butted heads with one thing on their minds - the right to spawn with the seemingly disinterested females grazing nearby and trot away with the spoils. (Oh, we ladies can be so coy at times).

After viewing this incredible display of God's creation, the train continued its trek up the mountain and the onlookers broke out in cheers.  The tour guide enthusiastically shouted, "Folks, I want you to give yourself a big hand!  I've never seen such a display on any of my trips up the mountain.  Give yourselves a round of applause for seeing this magnificent sight today!"   The entire coach broke out in wild cheers, applause, and congratulatory back slaps.  Well not the entire coach. 

I looked at Steve and said, "Why in the world would we give ourselves applause? Why are these people clapping?  We had absolutely nothing to do with it.  God placed that in front of us for our enjoyment. He allowed a sneak peek at His divine creation.  All we did was decide to get on the train."

Then I heard God speak to my heart.  Happens all the time.

O dear friend.  God has given us an incredible gift of salvation.  We neither earned it, merited it, nor deserved it. If we could, it would not be referred to as a gift.  Salvation is not something that we need to congratulate ourselves for.  We actually have nothing to do with it.  All we did was decide to get on the train. But praise God, He has promised us the ride of our lives filled with incredible displays of His splendor. We don't have to earn it.  We simply have to accept it.

As we begin this New Year, let's give God the round of applause He deserves each and every day!

Let's Pray
(As you pray today, consider standing to your feet and giving God a hearty round of applause.  The Bible calls this a praise offering!  Clap your hands all you people!)

Dear Lord, I am speechless because of Your goodness to me.  So today, I stand, lift my hands, and offer up a rip-roaring round of praise-clapping hands to You! In Jesus' Name!  Amen!

Now It's Your Turn
When was the last time you took credit for something God did in your life?  Boy, that was a personal question, wasn't it?  I'm asking myself that very question too.

As you go throughout the day, make a list of all the reasons God deserves applause.

If you have children, ask them to do the same.  Then at mealtime, share your lists.  Consider giving God a round of applause as a family!

More From The Girlfriends
Today's devotion was adapted from Sharon's book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. If you've been believing the enemy's lies that you are not good enough, totally worthless, would be happy if..., etc. and are ready to begin living in victory by believing God's truth, then this book is for you!  It's time to be set free to see yourself as God sees you: His holy, chosen, forgiven, and dearly loved child. Now that's a truth worth repeating.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

January 20, 2011 

Just Ask 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (1 John 3:21-23, NIV).

Friend To Friend
Christmas morning is serious business at the Southerland home and is steeped in tradition that is not to be tampered with. We open stockings first. Then comes breakfast - during which the Christmas story is read - followed by the grand finale of opening the gifts under the Christmas tree. I could hardly wait for our eighteen-month-old grandson to open the presents we had so carefully chosen, purchased and wrapped for him this year. Justus quickly got the hang of opening gifts as he happily ripped off the brightly colored paper covering his new fire truck. And then it happened. Justus immediately sat down and began to play with the truck - which is the whole point - right? No! There were more gifts for him under the tree. In fact, the fire truck was the smallest and least expensive toy we had purchased. It didn't matter. Justus was happy with one gift. He had no idea what was waiting for him under that tree. In fact, he did not even open all of his gifts on Christmas morning. His very wise mother said, "Let's save a couple of gifts for him to open later this week." What? Was she kidding me? Nope! Those unopened boxes sat under the tree for days. It just about drove me crazy! I knew what was in each box. I also knew Justus was going to love each gift. But he is just a baby. He didn't realize that all he had to do was ask and those gifts would be opened in a flash.

One morning, as I walked by the Christmas tree and saw the unopened gifts, the Father whispered, "Mary, you know I want to bless you. Why won't you ask?" My thoughts immediately went to a story I often tell when I speak at conferences.

A man died and went to heaven. He was met at the pearly gates by Saint Peter who offered to show him the home God had prepared for him. The man's excitement grew as he and Saint Peter passed a street lined with beautiful mansions - but they did not stop. The man was still enthusiastic as he and Saint Peter walked by a street lined with smaller but still lovely houses, but they did not stop. The man began to wonder just what kind of home was waiting for him when Saint Peter stopped in front of an attractive but tiny house. "This is your home," Peter explained. Even though it was not a spectacular mansion or magnificent house, the man was thrilled. After all, the little house was in Heaven.

The man's excitement faded as he opened the front door of his heavenly home. Instead of beautifully furnished rooms, he saw stacks of unopened boxes. In fact, every room was filled with boxes stacked from the ceiling to the floor. When the man asked Saint Peter what was inside the boxes, Peter smiled sadly and said, "These are the gifts and blessings God had for you on earth" The now very confused man responded, "Why didn't He send them to me?" Saint Peter smiled sadly and said, "Because you never asked."

I want every blessing God has for me. I know you feel the same way. God is not a heavenly vending machine that dispenses blessings simply because we want them. Every promise of God is accompanied by at least one condition we must meet in order to experience the blessing of God. That condition is always rooted in obedience to Him.

1 John 3:21-23 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (NIV).

When we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and seek to obey His commands, we can come before God in confidence, knowing that He wants to pour out His blessings on our life. He is waiting. We just need to ask.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for loving me. Please help me walk in obedience to Your commands and live my life in a way that pleases You. I really do want to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Right now, I surrender all that I am to You and ask for Your blessings in my life.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.   

Now It's Your Turn

·         Read Psalm 51:10. How is a clean heart related to the blessings of God?

·         Focus on the blessings God has already given you and praise Him for each one.

·         Read Proverbs 21:2. "A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart." How does this verse apply to the blessings of God in your life?

More From The Girlfriends
One of my problems with asking God to bless my life is that I don't think I deserve His blessings. I really don't ... and neither do you. God's blessings are not based on who we are or what we deserve. I am so glad! God's blessings are unmerited gifts that are backed by the honor of His name. God loves you and wants to bless your life. Just ask.

Need help? Enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Handle Hurt. Trials are part of life. We will experience pain and hurt. That is reality this side of heaven ... but we can learn how to handle the hurt in a way that honors God and assures a life of victory. We can harness the power of our pain and use it for good. We can choose to examine every broken part of life and compel it to give us a "seed" of victory. Join women across the world in this powerful and practical online Bible Study by Mary Southerland.

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s available on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

Do you or someone you love struggle with depression? Mary's book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to get out and stay out of that pit.

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]

21, 2011 

Come on In! 

Sharon Jaynes   


Today's Truth
Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28, NIV).

Friend To Friend
I recall as a young child, rocking on my grandma's front porch and listening to the ladies from the mission's society gossip about the "heathens" whose church was across the street from theirs. It always puzzled me because the "heathens" seemed like such nice people and their church looked just like Grandma's. As far as I could tell there was no difference. Both believed in Jesus, wore funny hats on Sundays, and sang the same hymns. And both had great pot-luck dinners.

How did the church come up with the notion of the infamous pot-luck supper? As best I can tell, it all began in Matthew chapter 15. The first covered-dish gathering was a great success as Jesus served more than 4,000 men, not to mention a few thousand women and children, and had leftovers to boot. All this came from one little covered dish. Actually, it was a covered basket. This was, after all, before the advent of Corning Ware.

Later the Baptists followed His lead and the next thing you know, all denominations were celebrating a multiplicity of occasions with every variety of casserole known to man. But the twentieth-century church isn't being caught simply serving up fish and chips. We have taken the notion of "breaking bread" and run with it. Not only do we break bread, but we crunch fried chicken, munch fresh veggies, scoop casseroles, slice pies, cut cakes, and sip coffees.  We chew the fat while chewing our food and extend the right hand of fellowship while our left hand extends the serving spoon. I'd say that covered-dish dinners are one of the most cherished rituals in the church today!

Our Sunday school class's annual Christmas party at the McMillians's home entailed such an event. The class consisted of 150 people in a church of 1,600. It's a little difficult to be intimate with 150 congregates on Sunday morning, so the Christmas party was a great time to chat with people you didn't normally have a chance to otherwise. Because people tend to sit in the same seats each week, I never actually got a good look at half of the class.

Marshal and Denise's home was beautifully decorated with holly, spruce and magnolia clippings. It was filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the season as well as the incoming aroma of the many delicious prepared meals. In an effort to provide crowd control and proper traffic flow, our host, Marshall had posted directional signs around the house. One sign read "COATS," with an arrow pointing up the stairs to their daughter's room. Another read "HOT FOOD," with an arrow pointing toward the kitchen.

Marshall was doing a great job at his post as official greeter and traffic police.

"Hello, how are you?" he greeted two ladies and one man as they made their way up the front steps with dishes in hand. "You can take your food into the kitchen and then follow the arrows up the stairs to the coat room."

The obedient threesome followed directions well and then headed to the name tag table. But a warning light was flashing in my mind.

"Marshall," I said, "Who are those people? I don't recognize them."

"I don't recognize them, either," he answered. "But you know our class is so big. Maybe they sit on the opposite side of the room than we do, and we just haven't noticed them before."

They looked like they could have been one of us. They seemed to know the drill. But something was wrong with this picture.

"Marshall, go find out who they are," I urged.

He approached the trio, who were now looking a little bewildered themselves. "Excuse me. You are here for the Sunday school Christmas party, aren't you?"

"Yes," they answered.  However, their "yes" sounded more like a question than an answer. Then they asked, "This is the Sunday school class for First Baptist Church isn't it?"

"No, ma'am," Marshall answered. "This is the party for a different church. You folks are at the wrong party."

The three embarrassed Baptists quickly reclaimed their food, once again followed the arrows to the coat room, and high-tailed it out of the McMillians' house to another Sunday school covered-dish gathering a few doors down.

Won't heaven be an interesting place? One big perpetual celebration of new birth. No covered dish required because He will sit us down at His banquet table which He has prepared for us. One great thing about this party will be that when the Methodists stumble into a room full of Presbyterians, no one will feel out of place. The Episcopalians will be chewing the fat with the Primitive Baptists, the Assemblies of God will be singing with the Lutherans, and the Church of God folks will be dancing with the Congregationalists.

And when each new saint arrives, we'll hear, "Welcome! Come on in. Take your coat off and stay a while - an eternity, for that matter. You're definitely in the right place." 

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Forgive us for how we have separated ourselves as believers. Help us to see each brother and sister in Christ as dearly loved children of God.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Here at Girlfriends in God, we strive to cross generational, racial, and denominational barriers to bring together the Body of Christ. (If you'd like to learn more about our purpose, visit our website at www.girlfriendsingod.com).  With that in mind, let's ponder a few questions.

Do you have prejudice against certain denominations?

If you do, how do you think Jesus feels about that?

What do you think Paul meant by this statement: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified?" (1 Corinthians 2:2, NIV).

More From The Girlfriends
Don't you just love watching God speak through the ordinary moments of life?  He is speaking.  Will we listen?  Sharon's beautiful devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God is filled with stories of God's presence that turn ordinary days into extraordinary treasures.  To learn more, visit  http://www.sharonjaynes.com/

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


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

[Judy Harder]

January 24, 2011 

Stress Happens 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"The Lord is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1, NKJV).

Friend To Friend
Stress happens. I believe much of our stress is the result of a constant and innate quest to love and be loved. The problems come when we look in the wrong places for love. When we know God, we will know love. When we experience His unconditional love, we are then freed and empowered to love ourselves and others. I have personally discovered that it is downright frustrating and completely impossible to live the Christian life when you are not a Christian. I tried.

For years I desperately struggled to be a Christ follower with only head knowledge of who God was and wanted to be in my life. The result was a pitifully shallow existence with stress and frustration as my constant companions.

I grew up in a Christian home, attending church every time the doors were open. I sang all of the right songs, spoke all of the right words and did all of the right things in front of all the right people. I fervently prayed that my works would validate my faith and desperately hoped that by following the rules, I would please the Ruler. It was not until middle school that the spiritual integrity of a dynamic youth pastor made me hunger and thirst for something more. I wanted to know God. I needed to experience the unconditional love of God.

During a special Saturday evening church service, I sat in my usual spot, clutching the back of the pew in front of me while wrestling with God over the condition of my soul and my eternal security. After all, even as a middle school student I was an active church member, a soloist and pianist for our worship services, and I even directed a children's choir. How embarrassing to walk down that aisle, admitting to everyone that I'd been living a lie. My mind argued that I knew all about God - and then the deeper truth of that argument hit me. Yes, I knew about Him, but I didn't know Him.

God's perfect love settles for nothing less than an intimate and loving relationship with His children. That night I met God. I surrendered all that I knew about myself to all that I knew about Him. While the course of my life was changed forever, I quickly discovered that I still had to deal with stressful situations. The difference was that God's love preceded me and surrounded and sustained me as I lived each day. Knowing we are loved fosters contentment and peace in our hearts, and when our hearts are filled with peace, there is little room for stress.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for the peace that comes from knowing You. Help me remember that no matter what comes my way, You are with me. When I am tempted to worry, give me the strength to choose faith over fear. Teach me Your ways, Lord, and empower me to walk in them.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

More From The Girlfriends
I want to challenge you to read Psalm 23 every day for one month and then check the level of stress in your life. The Lord really is your Shepherd. He loves you and He will take care of you. Rest in Him, knowing that His peace will follow you all the days of your life.

Start the New Year right! Enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Handle Hurt. Trials are part of life. We will experience pain and hurt. That is reality this side of heaven ... but we can learn how to handle the hurt in a way that honors God and assures a life of victory. We can harness the power of our pain and use it for good. We can choose to examine every broken part of life and compel it to give us a "seed" of victory. Join women across the world in this powerful and practical online Bible Study by Mary Southerland.

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s available on Mary's website in the Freebies Section!

Need help dealing with stress? Get Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, and learn how to control the stress in your life instead of allowing it to control you.

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