Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

November 28, 2011
Refinished and Restored
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
( 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)             

Friend to Friend
Junk. That's what my family and friends thought of most of my purchases. But to me, they were treasures waiting to be revealed.

When I was in my late teens, I had an unusual fetish for beat-up antique furniture. While most of my friends were at the mall shopping for clothes, I was at estate sales, flea markets, yard sales, and auctions hunting for antiques. Often, when I brought my purchases home, my family would roll their eyes and say, "I can't believe you paid money for that old piece of junk." But I never saw my purchases as junk. They just needed a little work...okay, sometimes a lot of work.

At one estate sale I spied a little drop leaf kitchen table with three spindle-back chairs. I could just imagine a sweet little older lady spending many years sitting at that very table drinking her morning coffee or perhaps her afternoon tea. I could almost hear the faint whispers of thousands of conversations from generations past. The set was painted a hospital green, but I saw that it had great potential. Obviously the other bidders didn't recognize a treasure when they saw one, because ten minutes and $35 later, the set was mine.

I brought the dinette set home, all excited about my great buy, and couldn't understand why no one else shared my enthusiasm.                                                   

"Sharon, do you realize how much time and energy it is going to take to make that old green rickety table look even slightly presentable?" they asked. At that point in my life, I had a lot more time than money, so the time wasn't a problem.

Refinishing furniture is a dirty, grueling task. First, I stripped off the paint with paint remover and discovered that not only had the table been green, it had also been blue, and before that white. But underneath it all was pure walnut.

The paint remover raised the grain of the wood, so I had to go back and sand it smooth. If the sanding isn't done well, the finished product will always be a little rough. A few joints were loose from wear and tear, so I glued them back together. Then I applied a warm walnut stain which deepened its color and made the beautiful pattern of the wood grain stand out. Finally, I applied a polyurethane coat to seal and protect the piece.

As I worked I began to think of the old broken table as a symbol of my own life. I was also on the auction block, and God had purchased me with His Son's precious blood. I had layers and layers of my old self that had to be stripped away to reveal the beauty hidden beneath. This raised my grain, but God sanded me with life experiences and trials to remove the rough edges. He glued my loose joints and mended my broken pieces, for He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Then He put a sealer not only on me but in me—the Holy Spirit—who brought out the beauty of who God created me to be.

After I finished refurbishing the old table and chairs, I sat in the garage thinking about all that God had done in my life. My mom opened the door, looked at the old table, and said, "I never thought something so ugly could turn out to be so beautiful."

I said, "Amen."

Where are you in the refinishing process? It's never really over, this side of heaven. But as we listen to God day by day, He will show us what needs to be stripped off, sanded away, and polished smooth to be all that He has created us to be.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I was such a mess before You transformed me. Thank You for restoring my soul, renewing my spirit, and redeeming my life to become Your treasured possession...a true work of art.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever refinished a piece of furniture?  If so, consider writing your own story of how the process resembles how God changed you.

Even if you haven't, make a list of all the old layers of self that God has stripped away from your life so far. (It is amazing how they just keep coming!)

If you want to see the old table I refinished over 30 years ago, log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynesand take a peak.

More from the Girlfriends
Do you find yourself longing to hear God's voice – not as a once-in-a-lifetime experience but on a daily basis?  If so, Sharon's new 15-Minute Devotional book, Listening to God Day-by-Day,will help you do just that. It is an expanded version of the smaller book, Extraordinary Moments with God. In it you will find 100 devotions to help you become a woman who detects God's still small voice in all of life. This is a warm, fun, tender look at recognizing some of the wonderful and unexpected ways God reaches out to us in the middle of our busy days. And for more on how God refinishes and refines, see Becoming Spiritually Beautiful.

[Judy Harder]

November 29, 2011
No Room
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I make room for things that are important to me. I eat two or three meals every day and sleep several hours each night even though my "to do" list is not much shorter today than it was yesterday. I will choose to play with a grandchild over cleaning the house any day of the week. I manage to find a place for that great piece of furniture I don't really need – but really like. After all, it was on sale. I like watches. Don't ask me why because I simply don't know. I only need one watch, but I own several inexpensive ones. I will have lunch with a friend instead of running errands. And there is always room for chocolate! Silly examples – right? I wonder. I wonder what the innkeeper thought as he turned away the young man and his very pregnant wife that holy night so long ago. He had no room – it was that simple. Do we?

The Christmas season is almost here! Our calendars are already full, our bank accounts are closing in on empty and our hearts and lives are crowded with things we deem important, but have we made room for Jesus?

I simply cannot imagine a world without the presence of God and yet I often live my life as if He does not exist. A crisis hits, and I try to handle it on my own. I don't understand the trials in my life while those who could care less about God seem to prosper. Instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness. Financial stress fuels worry. Instead of turning to God, I rely on what I can see and understand. I settle.

When I do cry out to God, He lovingly fills each dark corner with Light. His love flows over the pain like soothing balm and once again, I experience the manger. Once again, Jesus Christ steps into the smelly, unlikely and very ordinary existence that is mine to change everything – absolutely everything!

Jesus could have come to us in many ways. The simplicity of His birth is extraordinary and sometimes hard to grasp. Jesus could have been born in a mansion. He was, after all, a King. Instead, He came to a dirty smelly manger and His birth was announced by common shepherds instead of Kings -- the greatest of all miracles in the midst of total simplicity. Today, Jesus still wants to meet us in the midst of our simple daily lives. It seems too easy and too good to be true, doesn't it?

It was Christmas Eve, and the family was preparing to attend the special service of their local church. Everyone was going except Dad, who was an honest man, a man who could not seem to wrap his logical mind around the story of God come to earth as a baby in a manger. He didn't want to be a hypocrite, pretending to worship a Savior he wasn't sure even existed, so he stayed home, built a fire to dispel the bitter cold of that winter night and began to read the paper, waiting for his family's return. Hearing a knock at the window, he turned to see a tiny bird trying to reach the warmth of the fire. The man opened the window, but the bird refused to come in.  Grabbing his coat, the man went out to the barn and opened the barn doors wide – but still, the bird refused to come in. The man thought, "If only I could be a bird, for just one minute, I could lead the bird to safety." At that moment, he heard the church bells ring and finally understood why Jesus came to earth as a man -- to become one of us so He could lead us to eternal safety.

The very heart of Christmas is Emanuel, God with us – with me – and withyou. Christmas is not a date on a calendar. Christmas is a way of life that celebrates the presence of God in the simple, ordinary happenings of daily life: where we go and what we do -- the smile we give the harried stranger or the patience we choose in the crowd of impatient shoppers -- the love that prompts the secret gift or the heart that constantly celebrates His birth through every sparkling light, every beautifully wrapped gift, each special meal, every card, phone call and visit. God is with us – if we choose to make room for Him.

Let's Pray
Father, today I celebrate the reality of Your presence in my life. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a tiny baby in a manger. I celebrate the birth of Jesus and the gift of life that He brings. I choose to receive Your gift of love and forgiveness for my sins. I now surrender everything I am or ever hope to be to You. Please take control of my life and direct my paths. I promise to follow.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read John 3:16 once a day and look for ways to share God's love with the people in your life.
Give a gift to someone you don't know.
Invite a needy family into your home for a special "Friends" dinner.
Offer to take an elderly neighbor shopping.
Put your faith into action by making a step-by-step plan to keep Jesus at the heart of your Christmas season.

More from the Girlfriends
I pray that your life is filled with God's peace and joy this holiday season. I know it has been a difficult year for many of you. Remember – God is with you.

Already feeling the stress of the approaching holidays? Get Mary's book, Escaping the Stress Trap, for practical steps to dealing with and managing stress and check out her Christmas MP3 downloads, The Secret of a Merry Christmas and Giving the Perfect Gift.

Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook - or through email. Need help learning how to study the Bible? Join women across the world in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Light for the Journey.

[Judy Harder]

November 30, 2011
She's All Mine
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demon, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NIV).

Friend to Friend
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 trust God with only head knowledge of who He is and wants to be in my life. When that trust settled into my heart and life – well, life became a different journey altogether.

I grew up in a Christian home, attending church every time the doors were open. I sang all the right songs, spoke all the right words and did all 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 and experience His unconditional love.

One Sunday, 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, I was a very active church member, a soloist and pianist for our worship services, and 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. That night, I met Jesus. My problems did not disappear but much of my stress did as I began to trust God, I mean really trust Him. Over the years, I have been taught by some incredible men and women of faith, but none more precious or more powerful than our grandchildren.

My grandchildren call me Mimi ... and words are pitifully inadequate when trying to express just how much I love being a grandmother. I have experienced a new and deeper level of love with the birth of each grandchild. Watching one of my grandchildren is kind of like watching my heart walk around on the outside of my body.

I have a good friend, Lisa, who is a teacher at the school where my four-year-old grandson, Jaydan, attends pre-school classes three mornings each week. One day, Lisa happened to be on the playground when Jaydan's class came out to play. She teasingly asked, "Jaydan, I don't have a Mimi. Can I have yours?" Jaydan immediately whirled around, placed his hands on his hips and firmly responded, "No way!" Lisa smiled and said, "But Jaydan, don't you want to share your Mimi with me?" Jaydan adamantly replied, "I can't! She's mine ... all mine!" 

Wow! As I listened to Lisa tell me this story, I have to admit my heart doubled in size. And then I immediately thought about the way God loves me ... and the way He loves you. God's love for us is unconditional, boundless and fierce.

1 John 4: 8-10 (The Message) "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins."

Trusting God begins and ends with the fierce love of God. Trusting God really is all about wrapping our hearts and minds and lives around the reality of God's love. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins so we can have an abundant life – now and eternally.

You may find yourself in a frightening place filled with darkness and doubt. Your fragile heart may be wondering if God knows where you are of if He even cares. He does.

You think that because you cannot see the hand of God or sense His presence it means He is not working. Nothing could be further from the truth, girlfriend. We may not understand or even like His process but let me assure you that God is always at work in our lives.

He will always love you. He will come through for you and you really can trust Him. Him

Let's Pray
Father, I want to know You and trust You with my whole heart and life. Thank You for loving me even when I doubt Your love. I praise You for being faithful even when my faith is small. Teach me how to walk by faith and not by sight.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read the following verses of Scripture and answer the questions listed below.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

How does this verse emphasize the fact that you and I were created in response to God's plan, not as an afterthought or as an accident?
Psalm 8:3-5 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."

How do these verses line up with the way you see yourself right now? What one immediate change do you need to make in order to see yourself the way God sees you?
Read and memorize Isaiah 43:4 and make it one of your life verses. "You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you."

More from the Girlfriends
Can you believe 2012 is just ahead, like a clean slate filled with new beginnings and fresh starts? However, what did we learn in 2011 that will make a difference in 2012? As the holiday season winds down, I pray 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.

Need help getting the Word of God into your life? Check out Mary's Weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. And be sure to get your copy of our new 12-week devotion book, Trusting God. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, free on-line video intros, and an index of trust-building Scriptures...this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

[Judy Harder]

December 1, 2011
Don't Miss Christmas!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16, NIV).

Friend to Friend
The Christmas rush is on! I know many of you are still looking for the perfect gift, wrapping presents, baking your famous sugar cookies, packing the car for a long trip and wrestling with overly excited children. Ho! Ho!  Ho!

Stop right where you are! Take a deep breath and travel back with me to a time when there was no hope and no celebration. I can't imagine a world without Jesus and yet, many times I live my life as if He doesn't even exist. A trial comes and I try to handle it on my own. Loneliness floods my heart and instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness.

He then interrupts my life and fills each black corner with Light. His love flows over the pain like a soothing balm and once again, I experience the manger. Once again, He steps into the smelly, unlikely and very ordinary existence that is mine to change everything – everything! He could have come to us in many ways but He chose to interrupt the very ordinary with the most extraordinary. He could have chosen to be born in a palace. After all, He was a King. Yet His life on earth began in a manger housed in what amounted to little more than a dirty, smelly barn. The simplicity of His birth is one of His most precious gifts to me and one of my most profound life lessons.

I often wish I had been there that holy night when Jesus was born but then He reminds me I have my own manger; my own holy moment when God became a reality to me, and I worship Him!

Every year I am reminded of the very heart of Christmas -- Emanuel, God with us. God wants to be involved in the simple, ordinary happenings of daily life:  where we go and what we do, the smile we give the harried stranger and the patience we wear in the crowd of impatient shoppers, the love that prompts the secret gift and the heart that constantly celebrates His birth through every sparkling light, every beautifully wrapped gift, each special meal, every card, phone call and visit.

Join me in this quest to celebrate Him and His birth in everything we do. Have a birthday party for Jesus. Bake Him a huge cake and invite neighbors to join in the celebration. Adopt a family in need. Reach out to the lonely. Look for Him in the crowd. Emanuel, God with us! Wow!

Let's Pray
Father, today I celebrate the reality of Your presence in my life. I celebrate Your birth, Your life, Your death and Your resurrection. And as I celebrate, Lord, help me to be "God with skin on" to those in need around me. Open my eyes and let me see them as You see them!  I love You. Happy Birthday, Jesus!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Put your faith in action by making a step-by-step plan to keep Jesus at the heart of your Christmas season.  Give a gift to someone you don't know. Invite a needy family into your home for a special "Friends" dinner. Go through your closet and give the clothes you don't wear to those who have no clothes.

More from the Girlfriends
I pray that your life is filled with God's peace this Christmas. Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy. Guard your heart and mind and keep your focus on the birth of Jesus as you begin to prepare for the Christmas holidays. No matter what your circumstances may be, you can celebrate the Christmas holidays because God is with you, girlfriend. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook - or through email.

Don't miss the biggest sale of the year going on in Mary's online store December 1 – 15! Great savings on Books, CDs, MP3 downloads, E-Bible Studies and Video downloads. Every order is also an automatic entry to win one of three copies of Girlfriends in God's first devotional book, Trusting God. Winners will be announced on December 15.

[Judy Harder]

December 2, 2011
"Don't Miss the Beautiful"
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I recently went on a trip to minister in Tennessee at a women's event and, to my delight, my daughter Kennedy was able to join me. The two of us are all about "mommy-daughter time" so we were giddy with happy as we started off on the three and a half hour drive.

Prior to the trip, I had given Kennedy permission to use my iPad to watch a movie. So once we hit the highway, she got cozy with her pillow, her headphones went on, and her attention became fixed on the rectangular screen in front of her. Random giggles floated in the air from the movie-watcher as I drove and prayed through the talk that I was to give later that afternoon.

Just off the Northern parts of the Carolina highway – past the congestion of traffic and the hullaballoo of the suburbs – I was freshly smitten by the splendor of God through traces of red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves that were dancing in the breeze under brilliant blue skies. The trees continued to boast of more and more glory as I neared Virginia... and then they were joined by the mountains. Oh, the mountains! They puffed their chests with the majesty of color and power! My heart was captured by the glory of it all, so I tapped Kennedy and pointed out the window, encouraging her to look around... to lift her eyes and soak in the wonder.

"Don't miss the beautiful!" I urged.

"Don't miss the beautiful!"

She paused her movie and joined the beauty moment, agreeing that God was indeed showing off with His creation. Minutes later, she went back to watching her movie as I drove on undone. Wrung out by glory. Overwhelmed by the sacred sanctuary I'd stumbled upon. I stayed in the moment and celebrated the beautiful as the psalmist did in Psalm 96:

1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.

Worship poured from my heart. I thanked God for the beauty show. As praise and adoration continued to rise a God-thought settled on my heart. "Tell them, Gwen."

"Tell them what, Lord?" I wondered.

"Tell the women what you told Kennedy. Tell them not to miss the beautiful."

Ahhhh, yes! I would tell them, and I would chew on that challenge for days to come. Convicted by questions like:  How often do I drive right through the busyness of my days and miss the beautiful? How many moments of glory do I not even see because my eyes are on the mundane? Do I even look for it?

As we head into this busy holiday season and dance between the days of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years - as we decorate the doors and the hearths of our homes and communities, let's be intentional to decorate the doors and the hearths of our hearts with ribbons of God's grace. Let's live with eyes lifted to the Gift of gifts, Jesus Christ.

When we face the stresses of our lists, and our tasks, and our activities, and our heart burdens, let's commit to remembering that the best present is His presence. He's our Hope, our Peace, our Joy... our Beautiful.

Don't miss the beautiful.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, You are glorious and worthy of all praise! Please help me to fix my eyes on You each day so I can walk in your hope, peace, joy and beauty.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Additional Scripture reading: Colossians 3:1-17

Have you paused to spend time with God one-on-one yet today? This week? Prioritize prayer. Spend time in personal worship. Just you and Him. Then click to my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic) and allow the songs that I've posted today lead you in further adoration and praise!

More from the Girlfriends
Friend, don't be discouraged if your calendar seems off-the-charts crazy.  I know what that's like. Let's choose the best together and clear a space every day to sit and worship at the feet of Jesus. Uncluttered is a CD filled with songs that sweep you away from excess 'life-noise', this music focuses your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. Order your copy today from iTunesor from www.GwenSmith.net.

[Judy Harder]

December 5, 2011
Forgive Us our Christmases
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).                                                 

Friend to Friend
Once upon a time, a little girl named Mary Beth found herself caught in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity, all of which seemed to be coming to a head on Christmas Eve. Her dad was always scurrying about, loaded down with bundles and burdens. Her mom, under the pressure of getting ready for the great occasion, had succumbed to tears several times during the day. The little girl tried to help her weary parents, but always found that she was in the way.

"Not now, Mary Beth!  Can't you see I'm busy!" her parents would say.

Finally, near tears herself, she was hustled off to bed.  There kneeling to pray the Lord's Prayer, her heart and tongue became intertwined, "Forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us."

Perhaps Mary Beth's prayer was not such a great mistake after all. Many times we leave Christ out of Christmas. Many times our Christmas spirit is not of good will but of exhaustion, causing us to trample on our loved ones' feelings. And many times we are so busy planning the birthday celebration that we forget to invite the guest of honor.

Imagine for a moment, that you have never heard the Christmas story and you visit a shopping mall on December 22. You listen to the music being played over the intercom system and eavesdrop on a few shoppers' conversations. Next, you stop by a greeting card shop and browse through the rows and rows of red and green envelopes with cards sporting colorful and comical messages. Window displays grab your attention, enticing you with promises of low prices for the last minute shoppers. Stress laden faces rush by carrying stacks of boxes in various shapes and sizes.  What conclusions would you draw about the event that culminates on December 25?

Much has changed since the God of the universe decorated the night sky with the star of Bethlehem and directed the choir of angels in a chorus announcing the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. But the commercialism doesn't have to rule in our hearts and homes. This year, let's focus on the Christ Child and remember the true meaning of the holiday season. As we turn our eyes to the Babe in the manger, we will not view Christmas as a dreaded obligation or a major retail event. It will be a time of joyous celebration, honoring the One Who came to give us eternal life and worshipping our Heavenly Father.

Let's focus on celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas!

Let's Pray
Dear God, sometimes I get too caught in the Christmas commercialism. OK, a lot of times. Today, I'm going to refocus my heart and remember why I'm celebrating this wonderful day in the first place. I'm celebrating Jesus today...and every day!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What stirs in your heart when you see how retailers are trying to cash in on Christmas?

What do you think Jesus would say about all that?

What are some ways that you keep Jesus the focus of your holiday season?  Let's share some ideas.  Log onto www.facebook.com/sharonjaynesand share your ideas.

More from the Girlfriends
It is hard not to get caught up in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity and lose focus on what's important.  If you would like ways to keep Jesus the focus of your holiday season, you'll love Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmasby Sharon Jaynes.  It's packed with helpful ideas and inspiration.

[Judy Harder]

December 6, 2011
How to Have a Joy-Filled Christmas Part 1
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Christmas! My favorite time of the year!

·         Brightly wrapped presents
·         Houses draped in sparkling lights
·         The smell of cinnamon and pine
·         Secret shopping trips
·         Children whispering and giggling
·         Old movies that make me laugh and cry
·         Phone calls from old friends
·         Chocolate covered cherries
·         Carolers

It is obvious that some thing important is happening. The literal meaning of "Christmas" is "Christ's Mass" and is the celebration of Christ. Oh, how far we have gotten from the wonder and awe of that first Christmas so long ago. I believe we all want a joy-filled Christmas that truly does celebrate Christ. Yet, so often, the holiday season leaves us with very little joy and an elusive emptiness we find hard to explain. Suicide rates soar during the Christmas holidays as depression and exhaustion become constant companions. Something is very wrong.  How can we experience a joy-filled Christmas?

I believe the secret to a holy and joy-filled celebration of Christmas is found in giving. It always has been. Are we giving the wrong gifts to the wrong people? Maybe we are not receiving the right gifts with the right attitude. Over the next few days, we will examine several truths about Christmas that will lead us once again to the manger where we will worship the Christ child and experience a Christmas holiday filled with love, peace and joy.

First truth:  We must receive God's gift to us.

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) "There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them; and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

God gave the greatest gift of all when He gave Jesus. The very heart of Christmas can be found in a very familiar verse, a verse not often associated with the Christmas holidays.

John 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (NIV).

Christmas is not a date on the calendar. Christmas is a way of life. Like the innkeeper, we have posted a sign that reads, "No room!" No room in our schedules...no room in our homes...no room in our hearts and minds...no room in our lives for Jesus. We can participate in the festivities of the Christmas season but until we truly receive the gift of Jesus we will never truly experience Christmas. To have a joy-filled Christmas, we must not only recognize Him as the center of a season, but as the center of our lives. Jesus could have easily been born in a palace. His first home on earth could certainly have been a mansion. But He came to an ordinary manger and His birth was announced by commonplace shepherds instead of Kings - the greatest of all miracles in the midst of total simplicity. Today, He waits, longing to come to us in the midst of our ordinary, simplistic and commonplace lives.

Hebrews 2:17 (NLT) "Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people."

My friend, wherever you are today, He has been there and He understands. I truly believe that into the very heart of Christmas, God has tucked a unique longing. It is a longing for home, for something and someone eternal, a longing that can never be satisfied outside of a personal, vital and growing relationship with God.  That is why Jesus came, choosing to dwell in us. To have a joy-filled Christmas, we must receive God's gift to us...the gift of His one and only son, Jesus.

Let's Pray
Father, please help me truly celebrate Your birth this Christmas in a way that pleases and honors You. Right now, I choose to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. May the joy of knowing You direct every part of this Christmas season in the life of my family and friends. Be glorified in the way we celebrate Your birth. 
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
I encourage you to read the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20. Pray and ask God to show you how to celebrate Christmas this year. Have a family meeting during which you determine what it means to have a joy-filled Christmas and then make a plan to do just that.

More from the Girlfriends
No matter what your circumstances may be, you can celebrate the Christmas holidays because God is with you, girlfriend. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook - or through email.

Don't miss the biggest sale of the year going on in Mary's online store December 1 – 15! Great savings on Books, CDs, MP3 downloads, E-Bible Studies and Video downloads. Every order is also an automatic entry to win one of three copies of Girlfriends in God's first devotional book, Trusting God. Winners will be announced on December 15.

Seeking God?

[Judy Harder]

December 7, 2011
Ready for Christmas?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 3:2, NIV).

Friend to Friend
It seems like everywhere you go during the month of December people ask the same question.  At the grocery checkout counter - "Are you ready for Christmas?" At the bank drive-through window - "Are you ready for Christmas?" At the doctor's office - "Are you ready for Christmas?"

I think the answer to that question depends on how you define "ready." Let me ask you this question:  "Are you ready for Jesus?" Now that puts the idea of being ready in a whole different Christmas light, doesn't it?

John the Baptist was sent by God to get the people ready to meet Jesus. Here's what Matthew had to say about him:

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

            "A voice of one calling in the desert,
            'Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for him.'

"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River." Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6).

The world is not very fond of the words "repent" or "repentance." But they are good words. They mean "to make a radical change in one's life, to turn and go in the opposite direction from sin toward God."  Repentance involves an element of grief over the way we have lived apart from God and a decision to run toward God. That was God's idea of the way to prepare for Christ's arrival in the book of Matthew, and it is still God's idea of Christ's arrival today.

Let's reflect for a moment on the words to this poem and then answer the question, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high...
Then wearily sat for a moment and read,
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father!  Forgive me, I see what You mean!
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin."
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I want to be ready for Jesus today and every day.  I come to You and repent for my sins: my sin of selfishness, stubbornness, and rebellion.  I turn from my self-centeredness today and commit to keep my focus on You. God, I cannot do this on my own. I am not able. So I ask that You fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit Who empowers me to obey. Thank You that You have given me everything I need for a life of godliness and truth. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What do you think it means to be "ready for Christmas?"

What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

Go back and read the parable of the ten virgins in Matthews 25:1-13. Notice the difference between the five who were ready and the five who were not. Which group more resembles your readiness for Christ?

How do you get your heart ready for Christmas.  Log onto www.facebook.comand share your ideas!  It might be just the thing to help one of your GiGs to keep her heart focused on Jesus.

More from the Girlfriends:
It is hard not to get caught up in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity and lose focus on what's important.  If you would like ways to keep Jesus the focus of your holiday season, you'll love Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmasby Sharon Jaynes.  It's packed with helpful ideas and inspiration that will get you ready for Christmas!

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]

December 8, 2011
How to Have a Joy-Filled Christmas Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I believe the secret to a holy and joy-filled celebration of Christmas is found in giving. It always has been. Are we giving the wrong gifts to the wrong people? Maybe we are not receiving the right gifts with the right attitude. Over the next few days, we will examine several truths about Christmas that will lead us once again to the manger, where we will worship the Christ child and experience a Christmas holiday filled with love, peace and joy.

First truth:  We must receive God's gift to us.

Luke 2:8-12"There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them; and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (NIV)

Second truth: We must give the right gifts to Him.

Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. Yet, we celebrate His birthday by giving gifts to everyone but Him.  What gifts does He want from us? What gifts are fit for the King? To answer that question, let's go back to that first Christmas and see what gifts He received that first Christmas night.

·      The gift of trust

The gift of trust was given to Jesus by Mary, a teenage girl who was engaged to Joseph. I can only imagine what thoughts raced through her mind when an angel appeared to Mary announcing she would give birth to a son named Jesus. I am certain she could not have possibly understood what the angel told her, but she knew the one who sent the angel, and that was enough for Mary. I can almost guarantee you it would not have been enough for me if I had been in her place. After all, she was a virgin and last time I checked, virgins cannot be pregnant. What would Joseph think? Trust shines best in the darkness. Trust is a gift fit for the King.

Proverbs 3:5-6"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (NASB).

·      The gift of obedience

Joseph gave Jesus the gift of obedience. He was betrothed to Mary, and in Jesus' day, a betrothal was legally binding. While engaged, Mary becomes pregnant. Joseph knows he is not the father of this baby because he has never slept with Mary. His first reaction was to divorce Mary quietly, but an angel comes to him and explains that Joseph is to keep her but not sleep with her. Joseph's response could have been many things but he responded with obedience.

John 14:15(NIV) "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Obedience is not just an outward action, but an inner attitude. I love the story of the small child who was riding in the front seat of the car. Wanting to be close to his dad, the youngster stood to his feet. Dad said, "Son, please sit down and put on your seat belt." The little boy said, "But dad, I want to stand by you!" It took several attempts but the boy finally sat down. When his father bragged on his obedience, the little boy responded, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm still standing on the inside." Obedience is a deliberate choice to do what God wants us to do. Obedience is a gift fit for the King.

·      The gift of praise

When the shepherds heard the news, they went to see Jesus for themselves. Afterwards, Scripture tells us they went on their way - praising God. Praise is a continual choice we must make again and again until it becomes a habit. A young hippie was sitting on a park bench, reading his Bible when he suddenly began shouting, "Praise God!  What a miracle!" A cynic walking by stopped to ask the man why he was so excited.  The hippie replied, "I was just reading how God parted the Red Sea and the whole nation of Israel walked on dry ground!" The older man snapped, "That's ridiculous! Don't you know the Red Sea wasn't a real sea at all?  It was only a few inches deep." He then turned and walked away. For a moment, the young man was confused and discouraged but it was only minutes until his shouts again filled the air. The unbeliever returned to ask, "What are you shouting about now?" "Well, I just read how God drowned the entire Egyptian army in only six inches of water!" Don't let anyone keep you from praising God. Don't let any circumstance deny you the joy of praise. Praise keeps us kneeling before the manger and is a gift fit for the King.

Psalm 150:6 (NASB) "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

·      The gift of sacrifice

The wise men came, bringing gifts that required sacrifice on their part because they knew true worship always involves sacrifice. They brought gold, a precious metal, myrrh, an expensive perfume like Mary later used to wash the feet of Jesus, as well as incense, a rare and expensive product used in worship.

1 Chronicles 21:14 (NCV) "I won't offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing."

Sacrifice goes beyond what is required or expected. The best gift, the most expensive and extravagant gift should go to the one whose birthday we celebrate. This year, give a sacrificial gift in His name.

As the Christmas season approaches, I encourage you to examine your heart and life. What gift does Jesus want from you this year? Is it whole-hearted trust? Is the Father waiting on your willingness to obey before revealing the next step on your journey? Do you live in the gear of attitude and praise? Is He asking you to lay everything down as a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto Him? The best gift we can give Him this year is our heart, soul and mind.

Yesterday, I revised my Christmas list from last year and it occurred to me that the name of Jesus is not on that list. To have a joy-filled Christmas, Jesus Christ must be in the backdrop of every gathering...every preparation... every plan and every holiday celebration. May it be so in our lives this Christmas.

Let's Pray
Father, I celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ who is the very reason for the Christmas season. My gift to You this year is me ... every part of my life in full surrender to Your plan and purpose. Please help me keep my eyes firmly fixed on You as I celebrate Christmas this year. May others see the joy and peace only You can give as I honor You on Your birthday.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Consider the following gifts you can give to Jesus this year. Read and memorize the verses listed below. Record them in your journal. When you are tempted to get side-tracked by the world's materialistic view of Christmas, remember the gifts that are fit for the King.

Gift of trust

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB) "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Gift of obedience

John 14:15(NIV) "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Gift of praise

Psalm 150:6 (NASB) "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Gift of sacrifice

1 Chronicles 21:14 (ICB) "I won't give an offering that costs me nothing."

More from the Girlfriends
No matter what your circumstances may be, you can celebrate the Christmas holidays because God is with you, girlfriend. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook - or through email.

Don't miss the biggest sale of the year going on in Mary's online store December 1 – 15! Great savings on Books, CDs, MP3 downloads, E-Bible Studies and Video downloads. Every order is also an automatic entry to win one of three copies of Girlfriends in God's first devotional book, Trusting God. Winners will be announced on December 15.

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]

December 9, 2011
God Make You Mighty, Girlfriend!
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11 NIV).

Friend to Friend
The Family Life Today show on my local Christian radio station once featured an author named Ace Collins who wrote a historical book about Christmas carols.  One traditional carol they talked about was the song, "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen."

Before that day, the first line of that song never made sense to me.  The title, "God rest ye, merry gentlemen," seemed too old-school-English to embrace.  Was it encouraging us to sleep happily?  I just didn't get it.  But, I'm excited to share with you that the scales have fallen from my eyes!  What I learned about this song is really cool, and I think you are going to find it fascinating as well...

Ace explained to the listeners that he had dug through a bunch of English text from the 1500 and 1600s.  One of the first things he learned about this carol was that the comma in our modern day version is actually misplaced in the title.  It's not "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen."  It's supposed to read, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." While that information alone might not seem to make a difference, this next bit of information will bring the main point home.  His research revealed that back in the day this song was written, the word "rest" actually meant "make" or "keep."   And the word "merry" actually meant "mighty" or "great."

So...if we put that all together – in a modern translation – it should sing:

"God make you mighty, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day;
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy."

If you would allow me the freedom, I'd like to translate this even further. Call it the Girlfriends In God Revised Edition.  This is powerful:

"God make you mighty, girlfriend!  Do not be upset, discouraged, or frightened!

Jesus came to earth to take on our brokenness and sin so that we could be made beautiful and whole in Him!  This is great news, which should bring you comfort and joy!  Rejoice!"

Have a mighty Christmas!  Have a powerful Christmas!  Our hope is alive because 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and died for our sin, and defeated death in resurrection.  This is surely "good news of great joy!" (Luke 2:10).

Celebrate Christmas this year in His strength, in His peace, and in His joy. God make you mighty, girlfriend!

Let's Pray
Lord, You are mighty and powerful.  No matter what I face, I want to walk in Your might instead of my weakness.  Help me to remember that Your Word says: "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
What do you need to be mighty in this Christmas season?  Forgiveness?  Grace?  Understanding?  Patience?

Is there something that is causing you to be fearful, discouraged, or upset?  Pray about it right now and ask God for His strength to consume your weakness.

More from the Girlfriends
CHRISTMAS is right around the corner! If you still have people on your list to shop for, my newest CD, Uncluttered, is a great gift idea. 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. We have a low-priced bundle SPECIAL available too! For more information, go to http://www.gwensmith.net/store/specials.htm.