Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

May 5, 2011

Run!

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths (Proverbs 4:27, NCV).

Friend to Friend
At the close of the sermon, a church member came forward to speak with the pastor. He was very upset because of the sin in his life and his blatant disobedience to God. With tears streaming down his face, the repentant man took the pastor's hand to confess that his life was full of sin, but what came out was, "My sin is full of life." I can relate.

I don't know about you, but my sin is definitely "full of life." I am always amused but also saddened by people who think that just because I am in full time ministry, I am holier than they are, better than they are or don't have to battle sin like they do. Just ask my husband and children. They will blow that theory right out of the water. I'm just thankful our cats can't talk! The fact is, as long as I live in this fallen world and sport this frail humanity, I will wrestle with sin.

However, I have refined several tactics for dealing with my sinful nature. Rationalization is one of my personal favorites. And there is always the handy comparison ploy – measuring my sin against the sin of another. At times, I subscribe to the popular "bury it and hope it will go away" tactic. The reality is that nothing satisfies the payment sin demands except the blood of Jesus Christ and my response to His sacrifice in true, unadulterated repentance - on my face before my Holy God.

When we turn our lives over to God, He sets our feet on the right path. But to stay on that path requires a continual choice to run from sin. With our flawed choices, we take side trips, create detours and wind up on the wrong road headed in the wrong direction. Solomon warns us to stay away from evil paths. "Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths" (Proverbs 4:27, NLT). "Keep away" literally means "to turn aside or drag from." In other words, when we see sin or even the opportunity to sin, we should turn around and run in the opposite direction. We should "drag ourselves" away from sin. What do we do instead? We flirt with sin. We want to be delivered from temptation but would really like to keep in touch. We pray for God to "lead us not into temptation" and then deliberately place ourselves in its path. In our arrogance, we think we can handle sin and the temptation to sin on our own. That very attitude is an open invitation for the enemy, daring him to take his best shot.   

My husband, Dan, was the pastor of Flamingo Road Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for many years. A man of great wisdom, Dan was adamant about the fact that neither he nor his staff should ever put themselves in a situation that flirted with sin or made it easier to sin. Solid wooden office doors were replaced with glass doors. No pastor was allowed to meet with a woman for any reason unless one of the other staff members was present. A staff counselor was hired to handle anyone needing more than one counseling session. The staff often went to lunch following their regular Tuesday morning staff meeting and even though the restaurant was literally across the street from the church, no man was allowed to ride alone with a woman. Sound ridiculous?  Seem absurd? Not at all! Dan simply refused to provide ammunition for the enemy. The bottom line is that it's foolish and dangerous to flirt with sin.

There is no holding pattern for believers nor can we live in a neutral state. We are either going forward or backward. We are either being renewed or consumed. Girlfriend, do not relinquish any more life territory to the enemy. Run from sin!

Let's Pray
Father, forgive me for the sin in my life. Right now, I choose to turn away from that sin. I turn to You, Lord. I know that I am lost and totally helpless without You. Thank You for the unconditional love and unending forgiveness that I find in You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn
Read 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).

Consider the following promises found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. What do they mean to you and how do they apply to your life?

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.
God is faithful.
He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
He will provide a way out.
More from the Girlfriends
While it is true that we all face many temptations every single day, it is just as true that God will strengthen us to withstand each one. Need help? Mary's E-Book Bible Study, Winning the War with Temptation, offers five steps you can take to help you resist temptation and live a life of victory.

If you need help dealing with the pain in your life, enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study,How to Handle Hurt, and learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. 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]

May 6, 2011

Springs of Living Water

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love..." (Joel 2:12-13)

Friend to Friend
Jeremiah was just a youngster when he came to know God and began to work for Him as a prophet. He endured year after year of hard times, frustrating people and complicated disappointments. His message was one that called the people of Jerusalem - God's chosen people - to turn away from the idols that they had been worshiping and back toward the one, true God.

Let me say it straight: God was miffed at the nation of Israel and He sent Jeremiah to let them know. He had every reason to be angry! He had given the children of Abraham a sacred covenant, a promised future, delivery from oppression, and His "tabernacled" presence, yet they turned their backs on Him. Continually. They doubted His exclusivity and they set their attentions and affections on things other than God. They worshiped idols made of wood and stone. Powerless and worthless. In Jeremiah 2:13, God said of his people: "They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Pastor Greg Laurie describes it this way: "A cistern is a large well or pool carved in a rock. A broken cistern has sprung a leak and can't hold water. God is saying, "If you go out there to the world and drink from that well, it is not going to satisfy you."

It sets my mind to wonder.

Why would anyone place her trust in the unstable, un-powerful, unfulfilling things of earth when she can place her trust in a stable, powerful, satisfying God? Seems like such a no-brainer – yet, don't you and I do that all the time?

Sure we do.

We dig our own cisterns, broken cisterns, and expect them to satisfy our thirst and bring us contentment. We drink from the broken cisterns of materialism, position, wealth, popularity, stuff, relationships, rules and religion. We have faulty expectations that our kids, spouses and friends are meant to satisfy our heart-needs. The ultimate broken cistern, however, is our pursuit of purpose in life via things of this earth.

We were created to pursue God.
We were created to know God – to be satisfied in Him and Him alone.
To worship Him and Him alone.

Oh, you and I are such a thirsty gaggle of girlfriends, aren't we? Even as believers, we deal with emptiness and bow to idols other than God. We place our faith in the economy, in our financial situations, in our health, in our employment status, marital status, and our relationships. When they fail or fumble we fall apart ... and no wonder! They are all broken cisterns and were never meant to be our source of hope or satisfaction!

Friend, we need to turn away from our broken cisterns and turn toward the springs of living water. From stagnant waters to the Living Water. The Bible tells us that confession is the path to the spring of living water. When we eliminate the things that clutter our faith – the broken things we trust in – and place our faith in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, God's heart swells with mercy, compassion and grace toward us. He forgives and strengthens us.

Who or what are you trusting in today?
Where are you soul-drinking from: broken cisterns or springs of living water?

When Jeremiah was preparing to take God's message of repentance to Jerusalem, God spoke confidence and promise to his shaking heart. Let these words speak confidence to your heart today, friend. God's promise to Jeremiah is valid to you and me when we turn away from the broken cisterns of this world and place our trust in Him. "I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:19b).

Jesus Christ is the Living Water our souls are parched for (John 4:13-14). "Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them"(John 7:37-38).

Say with the psalmist: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." (Psalm 42:1-2a).

Go to Him today. Confess. Believe. Drink. Be satisfied.

Let's Pray
Lord, I'm so thirsty for You! Please forgive me for the times that I have drunk from broken cisterns instead of from Your springs of Living Water! Thank You for Your compassionate grace and ever-flowing love. In a world that is constantly changing, I choose right now – once again – to place my trust in You as my unchanging God. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Now it's your turn

Today we talked about placing our trust in things other than God. Broken cisterns. We all struggle with this to some degree. How has this affected you in the past?
How does it affect you in the present?
And to go Dr. Phil on you, "How's that working for you?" Spend time in prayer about this today. Ask God to reveal the broken cisterns you've been trying to drink from. Repent of this and commit to a deeper trust-level today.
More from the Girlfriends
To be honest, there are a million times that I feel like screaming instead of praising. What a battle! Yet, I know the best response is to trust God and choose to praise Him...in and through it all. Music really helps me. My new CD, Uncluttered is purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. We are running a great CD Special now at http://gwensmith.net/store/specials.htm.

NEED PRAYER? Let's meet as GiGs to pray for each other on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

May 9, 2011

A Mighty Warrior

Sharon Jaynes         

(In honor of Mother's Day, Sharon's devotion will focus on motherhood.)

Today's Truth
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth (3 John 1:4 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Proverbs 31 introduces us to the mother whose children rise up and call her blessed, as a "wife of noble character" (NIV), "an excellent wife" (NAS) and "a capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman." (AMPLIFIED VERSION)   The actual Hebrew word for excellent or virtuous is chayil and is sometimes interpreted as "virtuous, boldly courageous, powerful, mighty warrior."  The mother whose children rise up and call her blessed is a warrior who battles in prayer for the hearts, minds, and souls of her children. She prays a hedge of protection around them and stands in the gap when they don't know how to pray for themselves. She meets the enemy head on, dressed in the armor of God with the sword of the spirit (the word of God) drawn and ready for action. We may never know the many times that the enemy's schemes against our children were thwarted by the power of a mother's prayers.

As a mother, you may feel at times that your burden for you child seems more than you can bear. Peter tells us to "cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). He cares for your children, too. No matter how much you love your children, God loves them more.

In my Bible, I keep a 4 x 6 laminated card with prayers for Steven that are my defense against the enemy's attacks. You, too, can pray that your children will:

Know Christ as Savior early in life. (Psalm 63:1, 2 Timothy 3:15)
Have a hatred for sin. (Psalm 97:10)
Be caught when guilty. (Psalm 119:71)
Be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, and physical (John 17:15)
Have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships (Daniel 6:3)
Respect those in authority over them. (Romans 13:1)
Desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. (Proverbs 1:10-11)
Be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
Be kept pure until marriage (as well as the one they marry). (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
Learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all things. (James 4:7)
Be single-hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)
Be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them. (Hosea 2:6)
A mother wears many hats during the years of raising her children. And while we take off those hats one-by-one as they grow and mature, there is one that will always remain – the hat of a mother who prays.

Let's Pray
Dear God, thank You for the privilege of being a mom. I agree with John who wrote, "I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth."  That is my prayer today ... that my child will walk in Your truth.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn
Perhaps you have certain concerns or desires for your child.  If so, find a good concordance and look up Scriptural promises to pray.

Consider joining with another mother and becoming prayer partners for your children. You can use the list from this devotion as a springboard for praying Scripture over your children.

Let's pray for each other and our children.  Log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes, share your prayer request, and then pray for the person above and below your entry.

If you need a bit of encouragement in the motherhood department, click on this video message I recorded for moms. You can find it on my homepage at www.sharonjaynes.com. You might want to share this with a friend who is feeling a bit discouraged.  It's sure to lift her spirits!

More from the Girlfriends
Being a mom is the most difficult and rewarding job in life! If you would like more encouragement in this important calling from God, see Sharon's book, Being a Great Mom, Raising Great Kids!

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


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

[Judy Harder]

May 10, 2011

How to Enjoy Your Family

Part 1

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm. A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (Proverbs 31:11-12, 30, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Family means different things to different people. What is a family? Well, I can tell you that it is not what it used to be. Family is no longer simple. It is complex, constantly changing and a blend of different relationships.

Couples with children
Couples with no children
Single women with children
Single men with children
Grandparents with children
Parents with grown children who have left and then come back home
Close friends living together
Unrelated people living together
And they all are family. Family is a group of persons belonging to or forming a household. More important than the definition of family is the purpose of family. There are no perfect families. There never have been and never will be this side of Heaven. However, the purpose of family here on Earth is to illustrate the nature and character of God. In other words, family is the primary place we learn about God.

A Sunday school class of first-graders was asked to draw a picture of God. When the pastor stopped by to inspect their work, the children were happy to show him their drawings. One had drawn God in the form of a brightly colored rainbow. Another had drawn the face of an old man coming out of billowing clouds and there was one drawing that looked a lot like Superman. Perhaps the best drawing was the one proudly displayed by a girl who said, "I didn't know what God looked like exactly, so I drew my daddy."

Family is important to God. He created it before He created the church and He has a plan for the family to succeed. At the heart of that plan is love. To be part of a family is to be loved. So the real challenge is ... how can we love our family?

I know we all want to be part of a family where we give and receive love. Proverbs 31 tells us how. This chapter, a portrait of a wife and mother, was painted by a King as the kind of woman his mother wanted her son to marry. It is a standard of excellence, not only for women, but for every member of every family. In the life of this woman, we find several ways to love our family.

Build trust.
Proverbs 31:11 tells us that "her husband has full confidence in her."  "Full confidence" literally means to trust, to take refuge in or to lean on. The Proverbs 31 woman spent a lifetime building trust. She trusted God and had a personal relationship with Him. We cannot be trustworthy if we are not trusting, and if we don't trust God, we cannot truly trust others. If we are not "taking refuge" or "leaning on" Jesus Christ, when others take refuge and lean on us, we will crumble and fall. Trust shatters fear.

Psalm 56:3-5 (TLB) "But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?"

Trust is fragile and once broken, very hard to build again. When our son was a little boy, he constantly rode on the trusted shoulders of his dad, and loved it. Then, one day, at a church youth activity, one of the youth was playing around and punched Dan in the stomach. Dan was caught off guard and the youth hit him harder than he meant to. Dan doubled over and Jered tumbled to the ground. The next time Dan tried to put Jered on his shoulders, Jered flatly refused. It took months for Dan to earn Jered's trust again. To enjoy our family, we must first trust God before we can build trust in our family. Our family needs to be able to trust us, no matter what – with no hidden land mines. There will be no joy in our homes if there is not an atmosphere of trust. Family is a "team" idea and nothing is more deadly to the success of a team than a lack of trust. Trust God and then build trust in your family. Tomorrow, we will explore more ways to enjoy your family. Don't miss it!

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for the family You have given me. I want to love them like they need to be loved. Help me to build trust in them as I learn to trust You more. Lord, help me to be trustworthy and to be the woman You want me to be in my family.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn

Make a list of ways your family can trust and depend on you.
Identify any areas where you can build more trust.
Have a family meeting to discuss what it means to be a team. 
Constantly look for ways to foster the mindset that your family is a team.
More from the Girlfriends
Everywhere I look, splintered and broken families abound. Why? I believe that somewhere along the way, trust was broken by an affair, a betrayal or a forgotten vow. What is even more frightening is the casual approach to that broken trust. God is calling us to trust Him and then to build trust in our family. Right now, no matter how many times you have failed, begin again. Need help? Check out Mary's resources on marriage, parenting and difficult relationships.

If you need help dealing with the pain in your life, enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study,How to Handle Hurtand learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. 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]

May 11, 2011

How to Enjoy Your Family

Part 2

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (Proverbs 31:13-15, 20, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Family is important to God. He created it before He created the church and, as with each of His creations, He made a plan for it to succeed. At the heart of that plan is love. To be part of a family is to be loved. Yesterday, we saw that the first step to loving our family is to build trust. The second step is to serve our family with joy.  We are told by many to serve ourselves - not others. The Proverbs 31 woman had every opportunity to live a life of leisure.

She had a prominent husband.
She had a lot of influence.
She was visible and active in the community.
She was in charge of charity events.


But she got up while it was still dark to make breakfast for her family and for those who served her. Proverbs 31:13 tells us she worked with "eager" hands. The literal meaning of "eager" is "in delight or in chosen joy." In other words, she chose to serve with joy, which means we can choose to serve our family with joy as well.  Jesus teaches the truth that service is a natural result of love.

Galatians 5:13 "For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other."

Yet, many of us find it easier to serve everyone in love except our family. When my husband, Dan, was a youth pastor, we saw a variety of family dynamics. At one church, a young man came to us in tears. I will never forget his words, "My parents are getting a divorce because mom has time for everyone in the world except my dad and me!" Service to those we love and call family should not be a burden. In fact, an attitude of service is contagious. The best way to teach your family to serve is to serve them.

From childhood, making the bed was one of my kids' daily chores. I told them that one day a week, I would make their bed for them. It could be a day when they were running late for school, when they were too tired or didn't feel well. Whatever the reason, I would serve them by making their bed one day a week. One morning, I was running behind and in a hurry to visit my husband who was recovering from an emergency appendectomy. I had been at the hospital day and night for a week and was exhausted. I got up very early, took one look at my bed and decided I just didn't want to make it. I went to take a shower, hoping it would wake me up. When I came out, Danna, our eleven-year-old daughter had made my bed. To love our family, we must serve with joy.

Plan well.
Proverbs 31:15b, 21, 27 (LB) "She plans the day's work. She has no fear of winter for her household, for she has made warm clothes for all of them. She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household."

Planning prevents chaos. The Proverbs 31 woman was in control of her home and her life. The control came from good planning. She mastered the skill of homemaking before she ever set foot in the workplace. She set her priorities; then arranged her life around them. She didn't allow others to set priorities for her and she did what was important, not just urgent. Have you noticed that the urgent things in life barge in demanding attention while the important things wait to be chosen? We can spend a lifetime on the urgent and miss the most important things God has for us. We must set family priorities because if we don't, the world will.

The Proverbs 31 woman knew what needed to be done and made sure that it was done first and in the right way. She didn't fear winter or the hard times because she was prepared. Family should provide the most satisfying earthly relationships. If it doesn't, the problem may be with our planning. Here are some practical tips for planning:

Budget your time. 
Choose one day a week to plan.
Eliminate. Have an "elimination" meeting once a month with your family. Eliminate the things that hurt your family.
Learn to leave the "lesser" things undone.
Delegate. Include everyone in the family in the work as well as the playing.
Simplify. Give up on perfection. It's for heaven - not earth.
Plan well. It demonstrates your love for your family.
Work hard.
Proverbs 31:16-18 (LB) "She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her own hands she plants a vineyard. She is a hard worker. She works far into the night."

There is nothing lazy about this woman. Laziness should not be part of our character as women of God. The Proverbs 31 woman was busy, but not too busy ...and she was not busy doing the wrong things. Busyness does not always equal productivity. I believe a woman can have it all - a career, a family. I'm just not sure she can have it all at the same time. This woman has a strong sense of who she is and what God created her to be.  She has a clear plan for life. And notice she doesn't do all of the work herself. (By the way, this is your Scriptural justification for a maid or as I tell my children,"Why do you think God made kids?") Working together builds a sense of family. In a nationwide survey, thousands of school children were asked, "What makes a happy family?" The most-mentioned key to happiness was "doing things together." Plan family projects and family work days. At the end of the day, order a pizza and rent a movie as a reward. You can build some of your greatest family traditions and memories around work. When our kids were younger, we bought our Christmas tree and put up our Christmas lights every Thanksgiving weekend.  While it is a lot of work, it is also a family tradition.               

A woman who loves her family is willing to work hard for them and with them, planning well and building trust.

Let's Pray
Father, family is so important to You and I want it to be that important to me as well. Thank You for the family You have given me. I love each one of them and want them to be sure of my love. Please help me love them in ways they can understand. I pray that our family will be filled with trust and become a haven for each family member. Be glorified in our home and in our family.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn

Identify areas of your family life that need to be more structured.
Establish a weekly family meeting to plan and connect as a family. 
Use the principles in step three to become a better planner.
Establish a new family tradition that invites every family member to participate.
More from the Girlfriends
I once heard someone say, "Home is the place you go where they have to take you in." I love that statement. And it really is true. Tomorrow, we conclude this study on how to enjoy your family. I pray that it is making a difference in your life and in your family. Remember, your home and family is the best place for God to show up and demonstrate Who He really is. Need help? Check out Mary's resources on marriage, parenting and difficult relationships. If you need help dealing with the pain in your life, enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study,How to Handle Hurtand learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. 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]

May 12, 2011

How to Enjoy Your Family

Part 3

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says (Proverbs 31:26, TLB).

Friend to Friend
Family is important to God. He created it before He created the church and, as with each of His creations, He made a plan for it to succeed. At the heart of that plan is love. To be part of a family is to be loved. Over the last two days, we have examined the first steps to loving your family; to build trust, to serve them with joy, to plan well and to work hard.  We can also love and enjoy our family by guarding our tongue.

Control your tongue.
The power of the spoken word is great. Words are like seeds. What we plant will grow.  If we plant negative, critical words, we will reap a family that is negative and critical.  Look for the good in your family then speak it. Be a cheerleader for your family because everyone needs a cheerleader.

A little girl was eating breakfast with her Daddy. They were on a "date," spending special time together. He was telling her how wonderful she was and how proud he was to have her as a daughter. When he had done what he thought was a sufficient job, he picked up his fork and began to eat. His daughter put her hand on his arm and stopped him with these words, "Longer, Daddy, longer." He didn't eat much food that day but a little girl's hungry heart was fed. Do have any hearts like that in your family?

CBS released a movie about Karen Carpenter, the great singer who rose to stardom singing with her brother, Richard. At the age of 32, she died unexpectedly of heart failure due to many years of abuse caused by Anorexia. What brought on Karen's fatal obsession with weight control? It seems that a reporter once called her "Richard's chubby sister."

Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD: keep watch over the door of my lips."

Before speaking, ask yourself the following questions.

   T       is it true
   H      Is it helpful
    I       is it inspiring
   N      is it necessary
   K       is it kind

Think before you speak. Use the five to one ratio when correcting - five positive remarks to one negative comment. The harder the truth, the more love we should use in saying it. It is our responsibility to use our words to train and instruct our family about the daily things in life, but more importantly, to instruct them about the eternal things. We are very concerned about providing for our children when we need to be more concerned about caring for our children. The greatest care we can give is to disciple them by speaking words of truth. Guard your tongue.

Take care of yourself.
The Proverbs 31 woman certainly did. "She is energetic. Her own clothing is beautifully made--a purple gown of pure linen. She is a woman of strength and dignity and has no fear of old age" (Proverbs 31:17; 22; 25).

Families are hard work. In order to make our family relationships replenishing, we must be replenished. Psalm 46:10 instructs us to "Be still, and know that I am God."  Let'sapply this verse specifically.

Be still, MY MUSCLES, and know God's RELAXATION.

Be still, MY NERVES, and know God's REST.

Be still, MY HEART, and know God's QUIETNESS.

Be still, MY BODY, and know God's RENEWAL.

Be still, MY MIND, and know God's PEACE.

In order to be all that we can be to our families, we must be all that we can be mentally,             physically, spiritually and emotionally. We must be balanced. The Proverbs 31 woman was energetic and hard working for the tasks she was gifted and called to do. Proverbs 31:25 tells us this woman could laugh "at the days to come." The picture here is of a woman who enjoyed her life. She worked hard, but she knew how to stop and plant a vineyard. She liked to shop and watched for bargains. She liked to look beautiful, dressing in purple fine linen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."

We cannot give our heart to God and keep our body for ourselves. When you take care of yourself, you are honoring God and loving your family.

Remember your audience.
The final way to enjoy and love your family is to remember who your audience should be.

Proverbs 31:28-31 "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

It is easy to run the race of life for the wrong audience. Our audience should be God, our mate, our children and then others. One day we will stand before God as keeper of the family He has loaned to us for a short time. Will He be pleased? Will He say "Well done?" Will our family stand and bless us? Will others say this woman loved and enjoyed her family?

Let's Pray
"Lord, you know my inadequacies. You know my weaknesses, not only in parenting, but in every area of my life. As you broke the fishes and the loaves to feed the five thousand, now take my meager effort and use it to bless my family.

Please make up for the things I did wrong. Satisfy the needs that I have not satisfied.  Wrap your great arms around my family and draw them close to you.

And be there when they stand at the great crossroads between right and wrong. All I can give is my best, and I, today, choose to do that. Therefore, I submit to you my family and myself and the job I have done and will do as a wife and mother. The outcome belongs to you." (Author unknown)

Now it's your turn
How would you define "family" in your life?

Which one of the steps covered in this series of devotionals do you need to take in order to have the family God wants you to have?

Set aside time to pray for each family member.

More from the Girlfriends
I truly believe our greatest opportunity to impact the world is the way we love and enjoy family. I pray that you have been blessed by this study. I encourage you to examine your family in light of these principles. Identify one that needs some work and get started. It is never too late to start and it is always too early to give up, girlfriend. And know that Gwen, Sharon and I are right there with you on this journey.

Be sure to check out Mary's resources on marriage, parenting and difficult relationships. If you need help dealing with the pain in your life, enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study,How to Handle Hurtand learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. 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]

May 13, 2011

Practice Makes Progress

Gwen Smith


Today's Truth
In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.
(Psalm 119:55-57)

Friend to Friend
I'm a sporty girl – always have been. I love to power walk and keep fit. I grew up playing lots of different athletic games – from basketball to softball – but volleyball has always been my sport of choice. I just love the game. I love the quick pace, the strength and agility demands, and the team component of the matches.

In college, I had the opportunity to play volleyball, and now that I'm a mom I coach my daughter's team. I've been around this game for more than twenty-five years and I've spent more time on the court, on the sand, and on the grass playing and practicing than most people ever will. You'd think that after all the hours invested I'd have the game perfected by now, right? Not hardly.   

There are still times when I shank a pass – when it flies off my arms wildly in the wrong direction. I still have spike attempts that send the ballinto the net instead of over the net. There are still times when I miss a serve. Each mistake frustrates me. Seriously. I'm competitive and I hate to lose. I hate to make mistakes and I almost always think I should've played better than I actually did. No matter how much I've grown as a player since I first picked up a volleyball, I've come to realize that when I step on the court there will always be frustrating shanked passes that fly off my arms and there will always be opportunities for me to grow and progress in my skills. Simple as that.

And you know what? I've found the same to be true in my prayer life.

Do you remember that old saying "practice makes perfect?" Well, I think it's a bunch of beans! I recently heard a phrase that better represents the reality of growth and development: practice makes progress. Whether we're talking about our development as athletes, as students, as a wives, as employees, or simply as women of faith – specifically, as women of prayer – we are all purposed for growth until we die.

The truth that the apostle Paul wrote about in Romans 7 still remains: we don't do what we should do and we do what we shouldn't. Whew! I can so relate. Prayer, I'm afraid, is one of the "don't dos" for many of us. We all seem to know how important it is to trust God with our burdens, but many of us neglect this important discipline.

Do you ever go the phone before you go to the throne? Yeah – me too. There are times when I fail to trust God with my prayers. And though I've been faith-walking with Him a long time, there are still a million ways that I need to grow. There will always be ways for us to grow and there will always be mistakes for us to work through.

Our relationship with God will grow as we continually turn to Him in prayer. Similarly, our trust in God grows as our relationship with Him grows. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you," (John 15:15). Jesus counts us as his "friends". How many of us would talk to our close friends as infrequently as we talk to Jesus, our Creator and Redeemer?     

Of course, it's not like we can ignore the world around us and pray 24/7. Right? We are still going to go to work, have playtime, time with friends and family, but in the midst of it all, Scripture instructs us to: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you," (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Our practice of this continual praying life will increase our progress in faith and in trusting God. This can translate into prayers of thankfulness and petition during our power walks, our time in the carpool line, while we wash our laundry and our lunch breaks. We can redeem these times to thank God for and pray for our children, our careers, our futures, our marriages, our trials and our challenges. When we "do life" with God – when we exercise this spiritual discipline of continuous prayer – our faith grows. It helps us to trust Him more.

Jesus was the only perfect man and He turned to our Father continually. He gave thanks for food when He prayed over the loaves and fishes that became a miracle (Matthew 14:16-21), He took his sorrows to God in the garden before His massacre (Matthew 26:39), He prayed for His friends (John 17:6-19), for Himself (John 17:1-5) and for future believers (John 17:20-26). Jesus also modeled how we should pray (Luke 11:1-13), and taught about prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). If Jesus, the God of the Universe, saw prayer as such an important part of the Christian life, why do we sometimes overlook the importance of it? We need to make time to turn to Him and trust Him with our daily concerns, big and small.

A strong volleyball team is one that relies on each other in the game. As Christians, we have the advantage. We have God on our team. And with God on our team, we cannot fail. Seriously. If God is for us, who can stand against us? We just need to talk to Him and trust him, rather than trying to play the game of life on our own. We have to remember that practice makes progress! We will learn to trust as we practice trusting the Lord through prayer.

Let's Pray
Dear God, That You would choose to call me friend is simply amazing! Thank you that though I'm not perfect, your grace allows me to progress in faith! Please forgive me for the times when I go about my day and "do life" without You. Help me to continuously pray and to trust You with my burdens.
In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

How would you rate your prayer life on a scale from 1-10?

Where would you like your prayer life to rank on that same scale?

Are you willing to do anything about it? If so, what? If not, why?

Consider connecting with a girlfriend today and ask her to be your prayer/accountability partner. Then connect regularly with each other to share prayer burdens, pray with each other and hold one another accountable.

More from the Girlfriends
C.S. Lewis said this of prayer, "Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine." As you embark to progress in this prayer discipline, I encourage you to move from confession, to adoration, to thanksgiving and end with your petitions (personal prayer needs).

NEED SOME SOUL REST? Check out Gwen's new CD, Uncluttered.The songs of Uncluttered are purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ.

NEED PRAYER? Let's connect with and pray for each other on my facebook page today: www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

May 16, 2011

Resting in the Palm

Sharon Jaynes

In Celebration of Mother's Day, Sharon's devotion will focus on motherhood

Today's Truth
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
A few years ago, I fell in love with a beach cottage named "Barb's Folly."  I adored the designer beach décor of periwinkle blue, yellow stripes and floral patterns, the screened in porch that hugged the back of the house, the inviting dark green rocking chairs, and the weatherworn dock jutting out over the lazy canal. As if imported from England, a six-foot square of grass was nestled in one corner of the yard framed by a white picket fence. The secret garden was complete with fuchsia myrtle bushes in full bloom, a beckoning weathered bench, and a cozy bird house with a half dozen portals. Seemingly out of place, owners had transplanted a palm tree just inches from the second story screened in porch and encircled by the wooden steps that led to the dock.

On our first night at "Barb's Folly" we rocked on the porch and watched fire flies dance on the moonlit canal. As if to light a lone actor on a stage, a moonbeam fell across the palm tree and revealed a gentle stirring in its plume. When I moved closer, I discovered a turtledove had built her nest at the top of the thatched tree trunk, where the palm branches sprouted upward. Because we were on the second story, we were at eye level with Mrs. Turtle Dove. As I moved closer to her, she didn't budge, but sat steadfast in her perch.

Early the next morning, before the rest of the house guests stirred, I went on the porch to spend some time with God. Mrs. Turtle Dove was there to greet me. I watched her. She watched me. Our eyes locked. We both blinked. A few moments later, Mr. Turtle Dove flew in and perched on the nearby railing. The couple exchanged coos and then he flew over to his beloved. When she stood up to welcome him, I noticed two tiny eggs peeking out from under the stubble. It seems this was Mother's Morning Out and Daddy bird was here to watch over the soon to be little ones. The momma bird flew away and daddy took over the incubation and protection of their eggs. After a brief time, the momma bird returned and daddy bird went off to work for the rest of the day.

During our entire vacation, this momma bird did one thing and one thing only, she rested in the palm, warming and protecting her two tiny charges. On the afternoon when a violent storm blew through with loud claps of thunder, crackling flashes of lightening, and pelting sheets of rain, she sat undaunted by the storm and unmoved as the trees bent in the nautical winds. When the children ran up and down the stairs inches from her nest and leaned over the railing to get a better took, she appeared unalarmed by the stir of activity. While other birds such as cranes, pelicans and seagulls performed great feats, swooped gracefully into the water, and strutted about parading their showy display, her feathers were not ruffled but continued undeterred in her calling.

On the last morning of our vacation, I was enjoying a final cup of coffee on the back porch and once again relishing in quiet time with God and His creation. Of course, Mrs. Turtle Dove was there to join me.

"God," I asked, "I know You put this bird here for a reason. What do you want me to learn from watching her this week? I don't want to miss it."

Then God spoke to my heart. It was contentment. I was watching a picture of contentment in fulfilling God's call. She was doing what God had made her to do for this season of her life, and she was intent and content in doing it. Regardless of the storms, regardless of what seemingly showy birds were doing, regardless of the endless stream of activity passing by her nest, regardless of the stares or others, she was unmoved from her task at hand.

"Is that it, Lord?  Is that what You want me to see?"

Just as I prayed those words, Mr. Turtle Dove flew in for his daily visit.  When his lady dove stood up to greet him, I noticed a piece of eggshell attached to her leg. She flew away with much excitement, and then I noticed a change in her nest. There lay two tiny downy hatchlings. The eggs had hatched and it was as if God was saying to me, Yes, Sharon. That's it. This has been my gift to you this week.  Through my creation, you have seen a contented mother and the results of her commitment.  You do what I've called you to do.  Rest in the palm – of My hand. Don't get distracted by the world around you: the storms of life, the endless stream of activity, other seemingly more glamorous "birds."  Be relentless in your call. In due time, I will cause your "eggs to hatch" and all too soon they will leave the nest.

About that time, my six-foot-one teenage son sleepily stumbled out onto the porch. I'm not sure if he saw the tears in my eyes as I looked at his ruffled hair, sleepy eyes, and face that needed a shave.

"Hey Buddy," I said. "Look. The eggs hatched today."

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to us through Your creation.  Just as Jesus taught spiritual lessons through nature's examples, You continue to speak to us through what You have made.  Help us not to miss Your fingerprints on the pages of our lives.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Now it's your turn
If you are a mother of children still in the nest, do you find yourself longing to do what others are doing in ministry, the workplace, the community?

Which do you think is more important?

Ponder this quote today.

No other success in life – not being President, or being wealthy, or going to college, or writing a book, or anything else – comes up to the success of the man or woman who can feel that they have done their duty and that their children and grandchildren rise up and call them blessed. - President Theodore Roosevelt

Has God spoken to you through nature?  I'd love to hear your story!  Log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynesand share it with your girlfriends.

More From the Girlfriends
Being a mom is not an easy task.  If it were, it wouldn't start with something calledlabor!  If you would like a hefty dose of encouragement, just for moms, see Sharon's book, Being a Great Mom-Raising Great Kids.  And if you'd like a collection of Sharon's devotions to jump start your day, you can find them inExtraordinary Moments with God.

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


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

[Judy Harder]

May 17, 2008

The Spiritual Cancer

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6, NIV).

Friend to Friend
C.S. Lewis called pride a "spiritual cancer" that devours love and contentment. Pride is a sign of our own insecurity and feelings of inferiority. Pride and inferiority are actually opposite sides of the same coin and are both sin, a preoccupation with self that leaves little room for God's spirit of humility.

We all struggle with pride and must constantly battle the tendency to measure every circumstance and relationship against the narcissistic viewpoint of "What's in it for me?" Pride has no place in the life of a Christian because pride steps between God and us. To think that God stands in opposition against prideful people is a strong and sobering statement that should send us all running to the place of humility. Because He is a loving Father, God opposes pride, in part, for what it does to His children. "Pride will destroy a person; a proud attitude leads to ruin. It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer than to share stolen property with the proud" (Proverbs 16:18-19). Learning to deal with pride is an important and essential part of spiritual growth.

Pride will prevent us from seeing others as God sees them. Pride will hold us back from laying down our expectations and rights in order to reach out to those who cross our path. Pride will slowly erode the humble spirit God so wants to see in His people and in their relationships. I suspect that a good dose of humility would cure many of our failing marriages, broken family relationships and struggling friendships. Then the question becomes, how can we eliminate pride and prevent it from carving out a destructive stronghold from which relationship problems arise. The answer is found in a passage of scripture written by the apostle Paul and directed to the church in Rome.

Romans 12:3 -6;10 "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Paul certainly understood what it meant to struggle with pride. Before his encounter with Christ, Paul had been a man of great arrogance. After all, he was a power broker in the Roman government as well as a highly regarded and chief persecutor of anyone following Jesus Christ. Little did Paul know what the road to Damascus held for him that day when God interrupted Paul's life with His blinding love and His unparalleled power. Everything changed. Paul became a humble man, the walking definition of a servant, delighting in his new role of striving to be last among the least. Paul understood that he was a trophy of grace; that his heart had been captured by grace and his life completely transformed in the process. God's grace was Paul's starting place and finish line and the very reason Paul was so humble and so powerful. It is such a paradox in God's economy of life that in order to be strong we must choose weakness and in order to be first we must be content with last.

The amazing truth is that grace is ours for the asking. God stands ready to pour His priceless grace into every heart and soul while watching grace work to generate an unexplainable peace, eternal life, unending joy, and freedom from sin through unconditional love. Grace offers us the riches of God, at the expense of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.   

Pride's goal is to make us independent of God, duping us into believing that we are in control of our own fate and are able to call our own shots. What audacity we possess as humans to think we can live life on our own when, whether we admit it or not, we are totally dependent on God and even our very next breath is a gift from His hand. Pride convinces us that we can play God, worshipping ourselves while erecting false idols shrouded in rebellion and sin. Pride is the universal religion of hell and a deadly poison. It's antidote? Grace.

A friend told me about a new product she found listed online. "Disposable Guilt Bags" first appeared in a few select stores to test the market. I could have told the inventor that guilt exists in abundance and that people will go to any lengths to assuage their guilt. My friend explained that you could buy a set of Disposable Guilt Bags, ten ordinary brown bags on which were printed the following instructions: "Place the bag securely over your mouth then take a deep breath and blow out all of your guilt. Close the bag and dispose of immediately." The amazing part of this story is that the Associated Press reported that over 2500 kits had sold immediately at $2.50 per kit.

Nothing on this earth is powerful enough to erase guilt. We try to "fix" ourselves but fail. The only power that makes it possible to be forgiven is God's grace. "In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death. And so we have forgiveness of sins because of God's rich grace" (Ephesians 1:7). When our lives are lived against the backdrop of grace, pride will die from a lack of attention.

Let's Pray
Lord, please forgive my arrogant heart. I am so sorry for the pride I see in my life. Today, I ask You to search my heart and destroy the strongholds of pride and ego. Help me to recognize prideful thoughts and actions in my life. Give me the discernment to be honest and transparent before You and before others. I, too, am a trophy of grace. Help me to live like one.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's your turn

Read the following verses and answer each question:

Psalm 10:4"In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God" (NIV). How does pride affect our relationship with God? Is this true in your life?
Proverbs 16:5"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished" (NIV). What is God's attitude toward those who are proud? 
Psalm 40:4"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods" (NIV). How does pride encourage idolatry? Do you have any idols in your life? Name them and eliminate them. 
What decision do you need to make today in order to choose grace over pride? What would that look like in your daily life?

More from the Girlfriends
Guilt is one of Satan's favorite ways to discourage us. Enough! We are daughters of the King and children of Grace. Learn who you are in God's eyes through Mary's message, In His Eyes. Mary's weekly online Bible StudyHow to Handle Hurtwill help you learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor 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]

May 26, 2011

If You Want Joy ... Real Joy

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV).

Friend to Friend
Jesus lived and died so that we can experience abundant life, a life exuding joy, a life so full that others crave to know the source of that fullness. Jesus did not come so that we can merely survive life. Pagans can survive life. Jesus came to be our joy.

I came across this quote: "Joy is the flag that flies above the castle of our hearts indicating that the King reigns within." If that is true, then why are so many women living lives with little or no joy? I'm afraid that we have bought the lies of the enemy, allowing him to steal our joy. Discouragement, weariness, disillusionment, shattered dreams and unrealized goals are some of his favorite weapons, but the truth is that the enemy can only use what we allow him to use.

It is time for us to reclaim surrendered ground. Do you sometimes think you are fighting the same old battles you have been fighting for years? I do. Clinging to familiar pain, we find our identity there. Consumed with our own agenda, joy is buried under a mountain of self.

Joy is not the result of outward circumstances. Joy is an inside job, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Every trial or loss, every defeat or victory measured against this confidence can be counted as joy.

The Apostle Paul was a man of great joy. By human terms, he had every right to be angry and even bitter. Persecuted, imprisoned and facing His own death, Paul says, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:12-12, NIV).

The expression, "Have a good day" is a common greeting. I heard about one woman who, when told to have a good day, responded, "Thanks, but I have other plans." Sound familiar? We rise to face each day with a perspective of pending doom instead of the certain joy that is ours through Jesus Christ. God created the world in a process of one day at a time. At the end of each day, He examined his work and announced: "It is good!" We, too, can learn to see the good in each day. We can learn to be joyful. How?

Check your heart.
"My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God" (Psalm 84:2, NAS).

In this verse, "heart" literally means "body and soul" or "whole being." In other words, what's down in the well comes up in the bucket. Real joy is found in and flows from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God's very presence in our lives is His eternal reminder that Jesus died on a cross, rose from the grave and is coming again. Have you turned your heart and life over to Jesus?

Choose to rejoice.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2, NIV).

We cannot avoid pain but we can avoid joy. The pursuit of joy is a matter of choice. Our inward perspective does not have to reflect our outward circumstances. We can choose joy!

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, a baseball cap on his head, ball and bat in hand. He was muttering, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Then he tossed the ball in the air, swung at it and missed. "Strike one!" He picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, "I'm the greatest hitter ever!" He swung at the ball again. "Strike two!" He paused, examined his bat and ball and threw the ball into the air, missing a third time. He cried out, "Wow! I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"

Yes, the pursuit of joy is a matter of choice and perspective. It is also a matter of obedience. As Christians, one of our spiritual priorities should be joy.

"One ship sails east.
One ship sails west.
Regardless of how the winds blow,
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go."
(Author unknown)

Set your sails for joy, girlfriend! Celebrate! Revel in who God is, in what He has done, is doing and will do in your life when you choose joy.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You with praise in my heart and on my lips. Forgive me when I doubt You and what You are doing in my life. Please help me to walk by faith – not by sight. Teach me to see my daily life through Your eyes and show me how to walk in Your joy.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now it's your turn
How would you define joy? Would the people who know you best describe you as a woman of joy?

Read Psalm 16:11. "Being with You will fill me with joy." What does this verse say to you about the connection between God's presence and a life of joy?

What is blocking the flow of God's joy in your life? Is it a sin you need to confess? A relationship you need to make right? A step of obedience you need to take? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what action you need to take to experience the joy of the Lord. 

More from the Girlfriends
You were created for joy. I know that life can be painful but God's plan for an abundant life takes that pain into account. Need help? Check out Mary's CD, Laugh More ... Live Better. Also available in E-Bible Studyand MP3 download.

Don't miss Mary's NEW weekly Online Bible StudyUnder the Influence...of Lovebeginning June 6. Learn five powerful steps you can take to forgive and love your enemies. Enroll now and have access to all 2011 lessons. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor 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