Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

December 28, 2011
Following God's Lead
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
The LORD says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you  (Psalm 32:8 NLT).

Friend to Friend
Several years ago, my husband and I decided to take a few ballroom dance classes. I wanted to be the next Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. So we signed up for a six week class. The first thing we learned was the Fox Trot, which is like making little boxes with your feet. I put my right hand on Steve's left shoulder and my left hand into his right and we began to march in little boxes. Slow, slow, quick, quick.

The teacher explained that Steve was the leader and I needed to learn how to follow his cues. But I had trouble with this. After all, I was the better dancer and felt that if he would just let me lead, then the classes would go a lot quicker.  But that's not how it works. Steve was the leader, and I had to learn how to follow. For the first few weeks, the teacher kept saying, "Sharon, you're leading again."

Here's the thing. Steve was the leader and I needed to learn how to trust him. Did you catch that?  It was really about trusting him. And that's the same way it is with God. When we learn how to trust Him, our walk through life becomes a beautiful dance. God, as the leader, has the hard part. We just have to learn to follow His lead, to trust Him. Then we get to dip and spin and make the fancy moves. He actually makes us look good.J

Steve and I are still no Fred and Ginger, but I have learned how to follow his lead on the dance floor.  And when it comes to my dance with God, I'm learning how to follow His lead as well. And let me tell you, He knows all the right moves.

I want you to think about that today. When you give up control and learn how to trust God, He turns your walk through life into a beautiful dance that's He's choreographed just for you.

Let's Pray
Jesus, today I'm trusting You! I'm giving up control and following Your lead. Help me to follow Your cues...Your gentle nudges throughout the day. Thank You for extending Your hand and inviting me onto the dance floor of life! I think I hear the heavenly host playing our song!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
In your own life, would you say that you tend to take the lead and ask God to join you, or does God have the lead and you join Him?  That's a tough question.  We know what the answer should be, but what is the reality of your life?

What does relinquishing control look like?  How do you relinquish control and yield to God's leading in your life?

I'd love to hear your ideas?  Let's share at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends
It's finally here!Sharon, Gwen and Mary's new 12-week devotion book, Trusting God,is now available. 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 29, 2011
Hope for Tomorrow
Mary Southerland

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

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

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

We stand on the threshold of a new year – a new beginning! If you are like me, you face 2012 with mixed emotions. Personally, I am thrilled that I survived 2011! There were certainly moments when I wondered if I would. I am so excited about a fresh start, a brand new set of days overflowing with new dreams and unmarked possibilities, but I also know this year is crammed full of the unknown as well as a giant or two. If I am brutally honest, I have to admit the unknown fashions a pocket of fear in my heart where questions and doubts thrive.

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

He is the same yesterday, today and forever! The days ahead are saturated with the memory of Goliath's fall and trust in Almighty God, the Giant Killer. So then, girlfriend, I ask you, what is there to fear? Happy New Year!

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You by faith, laying every fear and worry at Your feet. I am not sure what this year holds for me but I do know You are with me every step of the way. When I am tempted to worry, please remind me to trust You. When fear attacks, I choose to pray instead of panic, knowing You are my Lord and my Shepherd. I praise You for Your faithfulness in my life, even when I don't understand and can't see the next step. I praise You, Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take time to review the past year. What giants have you faced? Was your response to these giants right or wrong? What changes do you need to make as you approach a new year? Ask yourself the following questions:

How do I typically handle fear?
What giants will I face today?
What has been my natural response to giants of the past?
How do the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ affect those responses?

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

More from the Girlfriends
Can you believe 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.

[Judy Harder]

December 30, 2011
I Need Rest!
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place" (Mark 6:30-32, NIV).

Friend to Friend
I spin plates. Not real plates. Metaphorical plates. I spin lots of plates at the same time and I multi-task. This is both a blessing and a curse in my life. Sometimes my attention is divided in too many directions, leaving me harried ... while at other times, I'm energized by the amount of things I can get done in a small window of time.  Regardless, there just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get things done or enough hours in the night to give me complete rest.

Being a plate-spinning mom is a challenge. When my kids want me, they don't like to wait for me to spin three more plates before I answer them or give them my attention. When my daughter Kennedy was a toddler, she figured out a way to stop me mid-task, no matter what I was doing. She would place her chubby little hands on my cheeks, look me in the eye, and demand my full attention. Then she would deliver her message or question to me. I became her captive audience.

Just like Kennedy used to seek my attention, the Spirit of the Lord often speaks a similar message to my heart: "Don't forget about me, Gwen! I know you have a lot going on, but your attention should be mine. I love you. Come sit with me a while."

Life is busy. Each day we have activities, tasks and distractions that vie for our time and attention. If we aren't careful and deliberate, our relationship with God can suffer as a result. The Lord doesn't want to be an after-thought and He doesn't want to be penciled in to our schedules. He wants us to prioritize Him. Focus our hearts on Him. Worship Him. Be with Him. Rest in Him.

What are your priorities? Where does God fit into your schedule? How vital is it to you that you spend one-on-one time with God each day? Are you experiencing the supernatural rest that's found in His presence?

In Mark 6:30-32, we learn that Jesus and His apostles had been busy working for their heavenly Father. In fact, they had worked with such vigor that they hadn't even gotten a decent meal in their belly. (Boy, do I know what that's like!) In response, Jesus invited them to get away with Him so they could find some rest and rejuvenation in His presence. He said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31, NIV). That same invitation is extended to you and me.

God wants you to pause the plate spinning and be His captive audience in this very moment. He wants you to go with Him to a quiet place: to be still, to gaze into His eyes, to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, to be lost in His glory, and found by His grace - to find rest.

I'd like you to imagine His strong yet gentle hands reaching for your cheeks, lifting your chin, and drawing your eyes to His. Fix your gaze on His beautiful, blazing, mercy-filled eyes. Give the Lord your full attention. He will be your rest.

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all of the times I fail to give You my attention. I shake my head at the very thought that You want to lock gazes with someone like me, yet Scripture clearly tells me that You desire to be sought after and found by me.  I'm here.  You have my full attention, please speak to my heart and help me to be Your captive audience throughout today and every day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

·         I co-wrote a song called "Sacred Place" that is purposed to lead you to His presence.  Please take a moment to listen to "Sacred Place" and personally respond to Him. CLICK HEREto listen to the song on my Facebook page.

Find a solitary place, grab your Bible and read Psalm 103.
Write down your favorite verses from that chapter and journal about what they teach you.
More from the Girlfriends
Do you know that rest, the rest that comes from the heart of God and permeates every fiber of who you are...no matter what you are facing?  God desires for you to know His rest, for you to experience the fullness of His love and His peace. If your soul is in turmoil, lift your gaze to the Father.  Seek His heart. He will meet you at your need and sustain you one day at a time. Spend some sacred quiet time with Him today.

Gwen's song "Sacred Place" is featured on her live worship CD, Unsearchable, which is available on iTunes, Amazonand on Gwen's website.

Portions of today's devotion are found in Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful. God delights to transform lives...even yours! Experience how the unconditional love of Jesus can change your life and then stand back and watch the wonder of grace at work.

[Judy Harder]

January 2, 2012
Be Still and Know
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
In him we live and move and have our being, (Acts 17:28 NIV).

Friend to Friend
I pressed the send button on my latest manuscript, What God Really Thinks about Women. For twelve months I had spent night and day with Jesus and the women he encountered while he walked the earth. I was going to miss them. Miss walking in their sandals. Miss breathing their air. Miss crying their tears. Miss carrying their water jugs. And while I wasn't going to be in their lives and in their business every day, their imagined faces were etched in my mind and they had become part of me for eternity. But it was time to move on.

I grabbed a cup of coffee, snuggled up in my favorite overstuffed den chair, and opened my Bible in my lap. "OK, God," I began, "that project is finished and tied securely with a bow. So what do you want me to do now?"

I wondered if I should get into a Bible study group, take a class at the local seminary, or finally write those magazine articles I had been putting off. Should I start a small group, volunteer at a charity, or start a new book project? I asked the question and waited.

God surprised me. Acts 17:28 came to my mind. I believed He put it there. In him we live and move and have our being. Learn what that means, He seemed to say. Let's just spend time together. No agenda.  No goal. No deadlines. I want to rekindle the romance. Will you let me?

His answer startled me.  I hadn't even realized the fire had died down.  Wasn't I working for Him?  Wasn't I doing God's will?  Wasn't I busy about my Father's business? And then I began to see what He meant. He began turning the lens of my mind's camera and the fuzzy image grew clear. I wondered how I had missed it before. In the middle of all my busyness for God, I had neglected my relationship with God.

I was made for goals, or so I thought. Sitting still wasn't in my nature, and perhaps that was what God was trying to tell me. My "nature" or natural bent of work was standing in the way of worship. My natural bent of activity for God was getting in the way of my communion with God. My daily routine of sanctioned quiet times was getting in the way of divine romance in which He wanted me to engage.

Like the men caught on the stormy Sea of Galilee, I felt I had been reeling in the waves for years – never in danger of truly sinking – just reeling from one rolling wave of work and deadlines to the next.  But on this particular morning, I began to see the cast of characters in this Galilean scene in a different light. I was definitely in the scene, but I wasn't in the boat at all. I was the storm.

I love how Eugene Peterson describes Jesus' words to the wind and the waves as his friend stirred him from his sleep to calm the squall: "'Quiet!  Settle down!'" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass."(Mark 4:39 The Message).

What does God really want from me? I've pondered that question since the day I first came to Christ. It was one of the two questions Saul asked when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus: "Who are you? What shall I do?" (Acts 22:8, 10).

I think I've made my relationship with Jesus far too difficult. I have spent so much time striving to get closer to the heart of God. And all the while God has been whispering to me, "Cease striving and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 NASB). "It's not that hard. Settle down. Be quiet."

And that is what Jesus was telling me that frosty January morning. But I realized I didn't really know how to be quiet and settle down. I had never mastered the idea of "be still and know."  I knew that God was God.  It was the "be still" part that stumped me every time.  Now don't get me wrong. I can be still for a few minutes, maybe even an hour if need be. But much longer than that and I'm undone. Restless spirit syndrome begins to shake my soul, and the urge to get up and get moving wrestles me from worship.

So on this January morning, as I share this with you, I'm asking...will you be still and know that He is God with me?  For a moment?

God had a lot to show me in the year that followed that frosty morning. I'll be sharing what I learned from time to time as we go through 2012 together.

So Happy New Year! I look forward to linking arms and hearts in 2012.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Help me to learn what it means to live and move and have my being in You. Thank You for a New Year. I am excited to see what You have in store.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
How good are you at "be still and know that I am God?"

Have you ever felt God say those words to you?

Easy? Hard? What do you think stands in the way?

More from the Girlfriends
Are you ready to see yourself as God sees you this year? You are a chosen, dearly loved, child of God! Transformed! Totally new! To learn more about who you are, what you have, and where you are in Christ, see Sharon's book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful and put on your holy glow!

[Judy Harder]

January 3, 2012
Go for the Gold Part 1
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
2 Corinthians 1:12 "Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace."

Friend to Friend
I always look forward to watching the Winter Olympics and am always amazed by the amount of training the athletes are willing to invest in order to win a gold, silver or bronze medal. If Christians were willing to make the same kind of investment in running the race of life, I believe the world would be a vastly different place. How important you consider a race to be influences how hard you will run it and determines the goals you set in order to win that race. I believe every believer should have clear life goals based on clear spiritual goals which should be the most important goals of all. There is a close connection between spiritual goal-orientation and motivation and fulfillment in your Christian life. This is a big reason why so many Christians are unmotivated in their walks. If you want your relationship with God to be motivating, it has to be making progress, accomplishing something and steadily growing - which involves learning to set meaningful life goals.

In order to set meaningful life goals, it is important to remember that because we are children of God, we walk by faith - not by sight. The world's wisdom is often in direct opposition to the grace of God. In 2 Corinthians 1:12 the apostle Paul reminds us to keep our gaze on God, our glance on our circumstances and our path in His will. One of the most comforting thoughts about setting goals is that God is more concerned about my future than I am. When I stop to think about the fact that God has planned out every day of my life, setting goals becomes the daily quest of discovering that plan and choosing to follow it. I find great hope in the knowledge that even though I do not know every detail concerning my future, God does, and He has already made every provision for that plan. In other words, where God guides - He provides - which is why I can face each day with a confident expectation that God is sufficient and will bless my life as I seek His plan and set my life goals accordingly. Setting goals is the mark of a seeking heart that longs to please God and experience every blessing He has in store.

A friend once shared with me the idea of making life goals "S.M.A.R.T." Over the years, this idea has become a practical and powerful tool in learning how to set meaningful life goals. I hope it is helpful to you.

Specific. Psalm 139:16 "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Life goals must be specific. Determine precisely what your goals are. What have you always wanted to do but have never had the time or money? What would you do if money and time were not an issue? What do you want to accomplish in the next five years? What do you wish you had done in the last five years? What do you think God wants you to do that you are not doing?

Break each goal down into a series of smaller accomplishments that, when completed, would result in achieving your primary goal. When you break your goals into bite-sized pieces they don't seem to be quite as daunting.

By the way, celebrate each time you achieve one of your goals. Sharon Jaynes is a good friend and awesome partner in ministry. I will never forget the day Sharon walked into the office where we both worked, holding what looked like a new baby wrapped in a blanket. Since Sharon's son was in college at the time, you can say I was a little surprised - until she unfolded the blanket and said, "I just gave birth." Her "bundle" was actually the first copy of her new book and she was celebrating. I joined her in praising God for the goal she had set and met! Praise and celebration can help motivate you to achieve the next goal on your list.

Measurable. Luke 11:28"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Can you tangibly show you met the goal? Goals must be specific to have life-changing value and you must be able to tell whether or not you have reached each goal. What specifically do you want to accomplish, and within what time frame? It is so easy to set ambiguous life goals. "I want to get more involved in my church" instead of "I will attend the 10:30 worship service each week." I once set the goal of improving my prayer life but the first question that popped into my mind was, "How?" A better goal would have been to pray each morning for 10 minutes or recruit a prayer partner to pray with once a week.

Once a goal has been met, review the process of meeting that goal and determine what mistakes you could have avoided and what changes you should have made along the way. Ask God for wisdom as you plan and set specific goals. Involve Him every step of the way and be sure to chart your progress. Don't be afraid to make mid-course corrections as needed. We sometimes allow sin to influence the goals we set but if we submit each goal to God, He will guide us back onto the right path and lead us to re-evaluate each goal

Join me Thursday for the "rest of the story" on setting goals.

Let's Pray
I come to You today with a heart filled with praise and wonder. To think You created me in response to Your plan is an amazing thought, Lord. But I choose to believe it and celebrate it in my life today. Help me learn how to set life goals that will lead me in Your ways and help me fulfill the purpose for which I was created. Thank You, Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize Jeremiah 29:11. With that promise in your heart, begin to evaluate your life goals. Are they specific? Are they measurable? What changes do you need to make in order to set and meet the goals God has for your life? Record those changes below.

Specific goals. Psalm 139:16 "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." _______________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Measurable goals. Luke 11:28"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

More from the Girlfriends
Need help getting the Word of God into your life? Check out Mary's Weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is When I Am Afraid. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor through email.

[Judy Harder]

January 4, 2012
The Glory Ache
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full, (John 10:10 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Most of us come to Christ with a certain"inloveness"—a stirring of emotion mixed with an inexplicable knowing that we've discovered our reason for being. But some years into our spiritual journey, the wonder that swelled during the early years ebbs into routine religion laced with busyness. And we secretly question the point of it all. There has to be more than this, we muse. There has to be something more. What am I missing? What's wrong with me? I'm doing all the right things, but God seems so far away. I'm trying as hard as I can, but it never seems to be enough. What does God really want from me anyway?         

For decades, as I have had the privilege of ministering to women, I have heard the same heart-cry from those who desire to have a deep, intimate, exuberant relationship with Christ but don't know how to find it.

Perhaps you can relate. You long to feel close to God but sense there's just something lacking, that you've missed the mysterious formula to make it happen. I call this a "glory ache" —a persistent longing to experience God's presence on a daily basis. Perhaps like most women, you've tried desperately to balance the montage of mundane demands and somehow slip God into the white spaces that are few and far between. You long to spend time in the sacred with God, but find the desire crowded out by the responsibilities of the secular—the daily demands—that lay claim to your attention. You yearn to experience God's presence, but feel far away from Him as you reach to click off the bedside lamp and collapse exhausted once again. Maybe tomorrow, you sigh.

Sound familiar? If so, you are not alone.

The travesty is that we allow the busyness of life to crowd out the Source of life. As the Psalmist wrote, "We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing" (Psalm 39:6 NLT). Ann Voskamp echoes that lament: "In a world addicted to speed, I blur the moments into one unholy smear."

And in that unholy smear, that blur of the world passing quickly by, we know something's not quite right. So we strike out to make it all better. And most of us are quick to think 'something more' means 'doing more.' We ramp it up and gun the engines—sign up for a new committee, volunteer for a new cause, bake one more casserole to feed the sick. We attempt to silence the hunger pains of the heart by feeding it the bread and water of duty. And at the end of the day, while we might feel a self-induced sense of well-being, the hollowness in our soul that can only be satisfied with God echoes with the grumblings of hunger still.

We long for a sense of closeness with God, but we have a hard time putting our finger on exactly what that closeness would look like. It's just something more. Something different. A flavor we have yet to taste. A country we have yet to visit. A sunset we have yet to experience. A lover we have yet to embrace. There has to be something more, we cry! And we are quite right. We are craving the closeness that comes with an intimate relationship with Jesus.

We try so harder. We go to Bible studies, attend church, say our prayers, and read our devotions. Check, check, check. And yet, we constantly feel that we are somehow letting God down. With the last amen of the day, we sigh, What more does God want from me?

I want to suggest that we're asking the wrong question. It is not what God wants from you.  It is what God wants for you. John 10:10 gives you a hint.

So today, ask God THAT question. You might be surprised.

Let's Pray
God, I don't know quite what to do with this longing for something more...with this glory ache that pulls at my heart. Will you give me glimpses of Your glory today? Help me to see You?  To Hear You? I'm expectantly waiting!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever felt that "glory ache" I mentioned?

How did the following describe their glory ache? Isaiah 26:9Psalm 42:12, 63:1, 84:2

How did Jeremiah describe anything we go to other than God to satisfy the glory ache? Jeremiah 2:11-13

What does Jesus invite us to do? John 7:37-38

Let's talk about this...Have you tried to fill your ache for God with something on this earth, and came up hungry still?  If so, what was it? What did you learn? Let's share on www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes. Your honesty will help someone else.  I'm sure of it.

More from the Girlfriends
Do you need a tune-up when it comes to tuning-in to God? Do you want to know how to hear that still small voice? If so, check out Sharon's book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to Godand sharpen your spiritual listening skills! And don't forget to check out our new Girlfriends in God devotion book, Trusting God.

[Judy Harder]

January 5, 2012
Go for the Gold Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Someone once said that if God showed us every detail of our lives - all at one time - we would sit down and refuse to face another day. We were not created to be omniscient like God. He reveals our future to us in portions we can digest - like loving parents feeding their child only the type and amount of food that the child can handle.

Watching our daughter introduce solid foods to our six-month-old grandson was an intriguing process to watch. I'm not sure if it was the texture or taste that surprised Justus, but the faces he made when that new food was first placed in his little mouth were hilarious. When he liked the new food, his eyes got big and he grinned and made a big smacking sound as if to say, "Where have you been keeping this stuff?" However, a few foods elicited a very different reaction. He scrunched up his face, turned his head and promptly spat out the offending food. Danna quickly learned the art of mixing foods in a single bite and also learned the same food Justus refused to eat on Thursday was often consumed the next time she tried. God only reveals what we can understand, perceive, apply and digest at the time.

Attainable. Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

If you have seen the movie, "Miss Congeniality," you will remember when each contestant was asked about life goals. "I want to achieve world peace" was the popular answer. World peace is a great goal but not attainable by one person. Perhaps a better individual goal would be to make peace with your neighbor. I sometimes think we set life goals that are lofty and unattainable because then we really can't do anything to reach that goal. Reaching a life goal requires action. We are called by God to not only hear His Word but then to put it into practice - to do something about it through setting goals.

A goal should not be set to authenticate what you have already been doing or want to do. God created us to mature, to grow and change, not to stand on the sidelines of life. God wants us in the game and on the field of life. Godly goals will push us beyond where we are and what we are capable of. If no effort is required to reach the desired outcome, then it really isn't a goal. When I was in college, I sensed God leading me to take organ lessons. I had played the piano for years but, for some reason, suddenly wanted to play the organ as well. After a few months of lessons, I was asked to play the organ for a countywide crusade to be held at the convention center of the small town where I grew up. Hundreds of people would attend the crusade, and the guest speakers were well-known across the state. I was terrified but began to practice the organ every spare minute of every day. By the time the crusade came, I was able to play each song that was handed to me. It was definitely "a God-thing."

Sidebar: Ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable in each area where you want to improve, grow, or achieve. This should be a same-sexed friend from whom you can easily take criticism and who will feel comfortably pushing you a little when you aren't following through on your goals. When we involve others, we tend to feel a greater sense of responsibility and accountability. Run your plans and goals past other people. You don't want to do this with every goal and at every step along the way, but you should with big and important plans, especially if they impact other people.

Realistic. Hebrews 11:6 "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."

It is easy to establish a goal that is totally unrealistic. In doing so, we are setting ourselves up to fail. I once set a goal to read and memorize at least two chapters of the Bible each week. Yes, it was a great goal but unrealistic for that season of my life. I had two small children and was directing the women's ministry of the church where my husband was the lead pastor, teaching a community Bible study, teaching 20 voice and piano students each week and had begun traveling and speaking for women's events. When I did not reach that goal, I beat myself up with guilt and God was not honored. A more realistic goal would have been to memorize a few verses each week.

At this point, it is good to brutally examine motives. Are the goals we are setting from God or from our own selfish desires? Do I want my relationship with God to grow or do I want others to think I am Godly? Consciously decide in light of Scripture which goals you will prioritize, or you will most likely end up surrendering to the "tyranny of the urgent" or just doing the next and easiest thing.

Timely. Ephesians 5:15-16"Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

I have to have deadlines to achieve goals. When someone books me to speak for an event, I always ask them to give me a deadline for submitting handouts and slides, shipping resources, etc. I then record those deadlines on my personal calendar. If I don't, I often find myself scrambling to get books shipped in time for the event and end up paying extra postage or have to download slides onto a memory stick to take with me to the event. If you give yourself a deadline, you will get more done.

Write out a list of things that would need to change in your life in order for your goals to come true. Sometimes the only reason we don't accomplish our goals is that we don't have a written plan of what needs to be done. Without having the ability to review the goals regularly, we tend to lose our focus. Before we know it, a month or two has gone by, there is no progress, and we are frustrated that we are no closer to the realization of our goals.

Pray! Ask God to give you direction to create goals and help you to reach them. He has plans and purposes for our lives. Success and purpose come when we find out what they are and go after them wholeheartedly. Surround your goals and plans with prayer and ask the Lord to bless you as you work toward each one. We need to order our lives in a more conscious way. Set forward-focused, spiritually sound goals, and be delivered from the futility of a life with no purpose.

Let's Pray
Father, I want to follow Your plan for my life. Please lead me and guide me in Your ways. Give me Your wisdom and truth and show me the purpose for which I was created. I will seek You first in my life. I will trust You with my whole heart and do whatever You ask me to do.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Read and memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Record these verses in your journal.
Circle each action word.
In your own words, define the action words you circled.
How can you apply each directive to your daily life?

More from the Girlfriends
Need help getting the Word of God into your life? Check out Mary's Weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is When I Am Afraid. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebookor through email.

And be sure to get your copy of our new 12-week devotion book, Trusting 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]

January 6, 2012
Wow Him!
Pam Farrel

We hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions.

We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends.

From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry.  We call them our "Friday Friends."  So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend," Pam Farrel.

Today's Truth
Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Friend to Friend
My husband, Bill, loves his coffee. But along with his love of coffee, Bill also has a habit that can be very annoying - his aversion to getting the coffee mugs into the dishwasher. I find coffee cups every place imaginable: in the garage, in the car, in the truck, in the closet, on the sidewalk, on the deck and patio, in the shop, in the office, on the stairwell, in the bathroom—you name it, and I have probably found a coffee cup there. It is a good thing we are authors and speakers because we love collecting the coffee mugs from all the churches where we speak and all the TV and radio shows on which we appear —and we need every one of those mugs!

I am not a coffee drinker really. I might drink a nonfat latte, but for the most part, coffee makes my heart race, and I prefer that only Bill makes my heart skip a beat! Bill says I am naturally caffeinated by God and it takes Bill drinking three cups of coffee just to keep up with my energy. On the other hand, Bill has an internal homing device that helps him spot a Starbucks green awning!

How did I handle the mugs issue?

Appreciate the Difference: Coffee is a part of what makes Bill - well, Bill! One day, as we were preparing to move homes, I was doing that "last load of dishes" and I realized it was all coffee mugs - 47 of them to be exact! It made me smile because years ago, I decided to pray for Bill every time I saw one of his empty displaced mugs. I was seeking to apply the principle "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:. I have embraced the ever-reappearing-dirty coffee mug with fond affection because it reminds me of my hard workin' man who requires caffeine to do all the wonderful acts of service that benefit so many – including me.

Celebrate the Difference: We celebrated Bill's 50th birthday by having Bill select and then roast his own brand of coffee. It took one whole afternoon to visit a coffee farm, select the beans, roast them to perfection and then design the label. I knew I had a winning date as Bill sat and lingered a moment to savor the aroma of his Farrel Family blend of Mountain Thunder Vienna roast. He took a sip. I then watched a big grin appear on my husband's well-caffeinated soul.

Let's Pray
God, if anyone I love has something that is driving me crazy, please help me look for the upside, the flipside of that thing so I can see my family and friends the way You see them. Help me desire to bless them. Give me creative ways to express my love when I am irritated.
In Jesus's Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Today, take that thing that is driving you crazy about your husband (sibling, parent, roommate or coworker) and pray about it. Then look for a way to celebrate them. If you are married, step out and create a date to WOW him!

More from the Girlfriends
Many times when something irritates us we allow it to fester or grow into a slow burn. We allow our mind to tell us the person is doing it on purpose—just to be irritating. Usually, that is far from the truth. Put yourself in the irritating person's shoes. How do you want others to treat you when some habit, some personality trait, some quirky behavior is bugging them? Before you lose your cool, shoot up a prayer, "God, make me a blessing." Take a breath and then respond with the words or actions God will give you. In my new book, 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband, I share how to make this year the best year of your man's life.

Bill and Pam Farrel are international speakers, authors of over 35 books including best selling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti. Free relationship articles and other books and resources like Pam's newest 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband can be found at www.Love-Wise.com.

[Judy Harder]

January 9, 2012
Where Are You Going?
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life, (John3:16, NASB).

Friend to Friend
I was traveling to Canada to speak at a women's conference. As I approached the passport checker, I held out my little book like a seasoned traveler.

"Are you here for business or pleasure," the guard asked?

"Well, I'm not sure what to call it.  I'm here for ministry. I'm speaking at a women's event and it is my pleasure to be here."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not sure where the event is, "I answered. "They have someone picking me up."

"Where are you staying?" she continued.

"You know, I have no idea," I answered with a smile.

"Excuse me, ma'am. Will you please set aside and follow me?"

"Of course."

I followed what looked like a police officer as she led me to a little room.  All of a sudden, a twinge of fear rose up in my throat, and I realized I might not have answered her questions with the best answers. I was entering a foreign country and I couldn't tell them where I was going or where I was staying. I sat in the plastic chair and noticed a security camera in the corner.

In quick order, another man came in the room with an official looking note pad. He asked me a battery of questions. I quickly learned that when those border patrol people ask you where you are going and where you are staying, you'd better have a ready answer. You do not want to be ushered into the little white room with the camera recording your every move.

Thankfully, they let me in the country, and I spoke at the women's retreat.  But I can assure you, every other time I've crossed the border, whether north, south, east or west, I've had a ready answer to the questions that I know will be coming my way.

That brings me to a couple of questions we're all going to have to answer one day. Do you know where you are going?  Do you know where you are staying? Not tomorrow or the next day, but for eternity? If you were to die today, do you know where you're headed?  If you're not sure, Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the assurance of heaven as your final destination.

Let's Pray
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me so that I can have eternal life in heaven. I know that I could never earn my salvation...that I could never be good enough. But You were good enough for me. Because of Your finished work on the cross, God has made a way for everyone to believe on You, confess your Name, and be saved.
In Your Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Picture yourself at the customs counter trying to get into heaven. What about your passport would make the agent let you in?

Do you know where you're going?

Do you know where you're staying?

More from the Girlfriends
Once I became a Christian, I knew I was going to heaven, but I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do until I got there. I had no idea who I was as a child of God, so I lived in continual defeat. It wasn't until I learned who I was and what I had as a child of God that I began living the victorious life. I want that for you!  To learn more about how to live in victory because of who you are, what you have, and where you are in Christ, see my book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful and get ready to put on your holy glow!

[Judy Harder]

January 10, 2012
Coming Out of the Dark Part 1
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD (Psalm 40:1-3, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Florida is famous for its sinkholes. I personally find them fascinating since I grew up in Texas where most holes are made intentionally. As I studied these overnight wonders, an interesting explanation emerged. Scientists assert that sinkholes occur when the underground resources gradually dry up, causing the surface soil to lose its underlying support. Everything simply caves in -- forming an ugly pit.

Depression and sinkholes have a lot in common. Depression seems to overwhelm with a vicious suddenness when it is actually the result of a malignant and constant process. Inner resources are slowly depleted until one day there is nothing left. The world caves in and darkness reigns.

Depression is America's number one health problem. Someone once called it "a dark tunnel without a ray of light" while cartoonists portray it as a "little black cloud hovering overhead." I have a friend who says, "Some days you're the bug. Some days you're the windshield." Many believe depression is simply a spiritual problem while others insist it is an emotional and physical disorder. I think they are all right. Studies indicate that over half of all women and one out of three men struggle with depression on a regular basis. Because no one is immune to the darkness, we must learn to face it honestly, with emotional integrity.

That moment came for me in the spring of 1995 when I realized that something was drastically wrong. I was empty and completely exhausted. It seemed as if I had been living in the fast and furious lane forever. Overwhelmed, I mentally listed the demands on my life:

Serving as pastor's wife in a large and fast-growing church
Raising two young children
Maintaining a hectic speaking schedule
Directing the Women's Ministry of our church
Teaching a weekly and monthly Bible study
Counseling women in crisis
Playing the piano for three worship services
Teaching twenty piano and voice students
No wonder I was struggling. I was just plain tired. Being a perfectionist, I had always been very strong, driven to excel with little sympathy for weak people. Now I, the strong one, couldn't get out of bed. Getting dressed by the time my children returned from school meant it was a good day. The simplest decisions sent me into a panic and the thought of facing crowds was overwhelming. Many times, I walked to the front door of the church but couldn't go in. I felt guilty missing services but couldn't handle the sympathetic looks and questioning stares as I stood, weeping uncontrollably. I was paralyzed, imprisoned in a bottomless pit where loneliness and despair reigned, wreaking emotional havoc from their throne of darkness. I had no idea how I had gotten there and what was even more frightening was the fact that I had no idea how to escape. I did the only thing I could do. I cried out to God.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:1-2, NIV)

With that single heart cry, my journey from darkness into light began. The first step was to recognize the factors that can trigger depression; a lack of replenishing relationships, various chemical imbalances, and a poor self-image, just to name a few. One of the most common and deadly factors is failure to deal with the past. The "mire" mentioned in Psalm 40:2 means "sediment at the bottom." When our children were small, we frequented the beach. Wading out into the ocean, they took turns pushing a beach ball under the water and counting to see who could hold the ball down for the longest time. Eventually their arms would tire, or the ball would escape their control, popping to the surface. The "mire" in our lives is like that beach ball. The "sediment" or "junk" that we have never dealt with settles at the bottom of our souls, randomly popping up until we run out of energy to keep it submerged. Eventually, this mire works its way to the surface, spilling ugliness and darkness into every part of life.

"Mire" comes in all shapes and sizes -- buried pain, unresolved anger, hidden sin or a devastating loss. I had never really dealt with my mother's death or faced some very painful parts of my past. As I looked back over my life, a startling realization came -- I had painted a picture in my heart and mind of how I wanted my childhood to be, not how it really was. I had spent my whole life running from the past by filling the present with frenzied activity. In the following weeks and months, the Lord and I sifted through the enormous pile of "mire" that had settled into my spirit and life. Together we faced experiences that I had carefully locked away until they slammed into my heart and mind with breathtaking force and fresh pain; an alcoholic father, the trusted family doctor who molested me, times of loneliness and rejection, haunting failures, unreasonable fears that were never spoken. It seemed as if the flood of polluted memories would never end!

But God is good -- providing a defense mechanism for those experiences that are beyond our ability to face. He gently tucks them away until we are ready. When we bury pain alive, it keeps popping up at unexpected moments. Pain must be dealt with and buried ... dead! Freedom from the pit of darkness demands a confrontation of our past, straining every experience through the truth that "all" things work together for our good. The will of God admits no defeat and penalizes no one. We can allow our past to defeat us or empower us. Harnessing the power of the past is a compelling weapon in the war against darkness.

Let's Pray
Father, I am so tired and so afraid of the darkness in my life. Right now, I cry out to You. Please help me deal with the mud and mire in my past. Heal my heart and soul and mind. I want to trust You, Lord. I am no longer willing to be a prisoner of my past. Show me the sins I need to confess and turn away from. Heal the wounds that have hurt for so long. I lay my past at Your feet and ask You to make it a cornerstone for the new life I can have in You. I choose to believe You will work it all together for Your glory and my good.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Take a few minutes to think back over your life. Make a list of the "mire" that has settled in your heart and soul. Be specific. It may be a sin you need to confess or the pain of a broken relationship that needs to be healed.  Ask God to show you the things in your past that have become footholds of darkness in your life today. Face each one. Deal with it and let it go.

Read Romans 8:28. What good things has God brought out of the pain in your past? Is your faith stronger? Have you been able to encourage others who have experienced that same pain?

More from the Girlfriends
Now is a great time to establish the habit of a daily quiet time. Let us help you get started. Get your copy of the Girlfriends in God new 12-week devotion book, Trusting God. You can use it for your personal study or why not form a GiG group and work through the book together?

Check out Mary's Weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey and learn how to face and deal with fear in Mary's new study, When I Am Afraid, beginning January 16. Need a friend? Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.