Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

February 9, 2008

Hand-Made Heart

Lee Merrill, She Speaks! Graduate

"He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do."

Psalm 33:15 (NLT)
       
Devotion:

I love hand-made gifts. Just knowing that someone loves me enough to take the time to create something just for me touches my "I feel loved" button!

Personally, I can't sew, paint, or do anything remotely crafty. In fact, when I was a high school summer missionary working with underprivileged children in Houston, Texas, I wore a pin every day that said, "I Don't Do Crafts."

One Christmas, as a money-deprived newlywed, I decided I would take on the creative gift-giving task of decoupaging glass platters with decorative tissue paper. The craft show that inspired me turned out these gorgeous serving platters resembling stained glass. Well, mine looked like crumbled up tissue paper glued to the bottom of a glass platter. I can still remember the shame I felt after giving one of those ugly platters to my creative mother-in-law.

My lack of talent in the crafts department gives me a deep appreciation for the skills of others. I love admiring hand-made scrapbooks, cross-stitched wall hangings, hand-painted pottery, and all kinds of other crafty things. The scrapbooks my mother-in-law have given me over the years are some of my most prized possessions. (Glad she didn't hold the ugly platter against me!)

Did you know that our Heavenly Father is a crafter? Psalm 33:15 says that God, "made [our] hearts, so He understands everything [our] do." (NLT)

How does it make you feel to know that the Ultimate Crafter--Almighty God--fashioned your heart individually?! You have a hand-made heart!

God is such an amazing crafter that He doesn't even have to spend countless hours toiling over the task. Psalm 33:9 tells us, "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." (NIV)

I can just picture my loving Lord almost four decades ago thinking to Himself, Hmmm...the 1970's are quickly approaching. It's time to create Lee. I'm going to make her tender-hearted and full of compassion. I know she'll have a leaning toward laziness and inconsistency, but I'll give her victory over that when she's ready. I want to use her to point people to me and to the power of prayer. I want her to be there to lift up the downcast and point the defeated to triumph through My power!

If you are feeling less-than-precious today, pray these words based on Psalm 139:13-14 out loud, and take comfort as you their truth them into your heart and soul:

God, You created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I'll praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The works of Your hands -- including me -- are wonderful, help me know that full well.

Dear Lord, we can be very critical of Your one-of-a-kind creations called "us." Please forgive my lack of thanksgiving for all the beautiful things You hand-fashioned in me. You and I both know I have flaws that need work, but nevertheless, I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the Master Crafter--You. Polish and shape me into exactly who You had in mind when you knit me together in my mother's womb. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Your Creator?

Shaped with Purpose CD and companion Workbook by Renee Swope

His Princess, Love Letters from Your King by Sherri Rose Shepherd

She Speaks! Conference

Application Steps: 

In your journal, write out a prayer of thanksgiving to God as you reflect on the beautiful qualities He created in you. Include the qualities that will be made "beautiful in His time." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Keep an eye out for someone who needs to be reminded that she is a one-of-a-kind creation of the Master Crafter.

Reflections: 

When you declare you are "no good," what are you telling God about His skills as a Creator?

Do you truly believe God's Word when He says you are wonderfully made? If not, ask Him to change your mind!

Power Verses:

Song of Solomon 4:7, "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." (ESV)

Psalm 139: 13-14: ". for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (NIV)

Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image..." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lee Merrill. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 10, 2009

Pleading for Salvation?

Luann Prater

"...for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

1 Peter 1:9 (NIV)

Devotion:

Kay was a prodigal. She had been stunningly beautiful, but now her beauty was hollow and worn. Downcast with shoulders slumped, she walked through the doors of her childhood church. The reaction of the congregation burned an image that remained in my young mind. Heads turned and steely whispers followed her as she made her way forward during the invitation. She fell to her knees at the altar. A group gathered around her and prayed for what seemed like an eternity. She slowly rose to her feet and was asked, "Did you pray through?" to which the weary wanderer replied, "I think so."

I don't remember ever seeing Kay back in church again.

"Pray through." In my small town church this phrase was synonymous with striving, straining, and working to find grace and deliverance. When I became a prodigal myself and wanted desperately to find answers and deliverance, I remembered the forlorn look of Kay and decided to keep wandering. It just seemed easier than trying to "pray through" somehow.

Have you been wandering through life looking for answers? Do you long to return to the Father after being far away but hesitate, wondering what it will cost?

When coming "back home" we often have the same mentality as the prodigal son in Luke15:18-19, "'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants (ESV).'" Feeling worn down and unworthy, we return to our Heavenly Father thinking we have to work like hired servants to earn our place.

After many years, I discovered that forgiveness and salvation aren't chores for us to labor over. They are tremendous free gifts from an amazing God! How incredibly liberating to know that Jesus offers these to any and all who believe on His name.

Jesus says, "Come to me." Period. It really isn't any more complicated than that. He loves you. He has been waiting for you and He welcomes you with open arms. We don't have to work for forgiveness or "pray through" like those well-meaning people in my childhood church felt the need to do. God's heart for us is the same as the prodigal son's father in Luke 15:20. "So he [the prodigal son] got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him" (NIV).

When you allow Jesus to walk through the doors of your heart, no pleading is necessary, only faith that His salvation and grace are your gifts.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us the gift of salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Today I come to You and believe that You are my Savior. I ask You to come into my heart and forgive me. Help me to live in the freedom that You promised to give. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?

Broken into Beautiful: How God Restores a Wounded Heart by Gwen Smith

Confessions of a Good Christian Girl: The Secrets Women Keep and the Grace that Saves Them by Tammy Maltby

Visit Luann's Blog

Application Steps: 

If you don't know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, ask Him into your heart today.

If you are a believer and have seen weary wanderers walk through the doors of your church, show them unconditional love. Be the grace-filled Jesus with skin on to them.

Reflections: 

Do I understand God's grace; His unmerited favor towards me, His daughter?

Who in my world needs a kind word or touch from me?

Have wandered away from home - even in some small area of my life - and need to return to the Father?

Power Verses:

John 6:37, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." (NIV) 

Hebrews 10:22, "...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (NIV)

Matthew 11: 28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

© 2009 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 11, 2008

What Has God Done For Me Lately?

Tracie Miles

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Devotion:

Is the glass half full or half empty? Is it partly sunny or partly cloudy? Perspective makes all the difference.

Even for strong Christians who are grounded in their faith, discouragement can easily sneak its way into hearts and minds as life deals us chaos. As we struggle with the challenges and difficulties of everyday life, or things that happened to us that were unfair or unwarranted, it is easy to get pulled into a habitual mindset of negativity. Just like that old song from the '80s says, we may find ourselves asking God, "What have you done for me lately?"

Our answer to that question will depend entirely upon our perspective. God does more for us each and every day than we deserve, but it's so easy to lose sight of the good, because we are caught up in the reality of the bad. How do we combat this perfectly human attitude?

Prayer.

Resolve to have an attitude like Christ.

Take inventory of our every blessing.

Life. Your every breath. Your every heart beat. A spouse or loved one. Children. Clothes that need to be washed because God gave you clothes to wear, and a way to wash those clothes. Good health to help those whose health is failing. Trusted and educated doctors to treat you when you are facing health challenges. A house that needs cleaning. A car to drive. The ability to purchase gas for the car. A job to go to. The ability to be a stay at home mom or wife. Healthy kids who can play music or sports. Friends. Family. Freedom. Jesus. Eternal life.

What is on your inventory list today? If you were honest with yourself, would you say you have been looking for the positive aspects of the situations in your life? Are you considering how God could be using those things to draw you closer to Him? Or have you been primarily focused on the negative?

During times of negativity, we actually become our own enemy. We wage a battle in our mind because we look at our situation from our own perspective, instead of what God may be doing through our situation. So in order to change our minds, we have to choose to change the way we think -- our perspective. Attitude is a choice.

Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." What do you usually see?

To quote an old cliché, today is the first day of the rest of your life, and it is never too late to become an optimist! I have heard it takes 21 days of doing something for it to become a new habit. The more you practice challenging your thought patterns, the more automatic it will become. Changes may not take place immediately, but over time, the challenge gets easier, and optimism becomes the norm instead of the exception.

Are you willing to take the challenge to become an optimist today? The rewards of looking for God's goodness in every situation will be a healthier and happier heart.

Dear Lord, help me with my human tendency to be critical or look for the negative in situations. Forgive me for a lack of gratitude for all You have given me. Thank You for Your patience with me as I strive to be a Godly example. Guide my heart to recognize You at work, instead of seeing things from an earthly perspective. Lead me into a closer relationship with You by helping me remember to count my blessings every day. I n Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Reinventing Your Rainbow by Tracie Miles

A Thankful Heart: How Gratitude Brings Hope and Healing to our Lives by Carole Lewis

Visit Tracie's Blog

Application Steps: 

Draw two columns on a piece of paper. On the left side, make a list of the difficult situations or daily frustrations in your life. On the right side, write down something positive about that situation or frustration, and how God can grow your faith by depending on Him about that situation. If you have a hard time finding something positive, pray and ask God to show you.

Reflections: 

Is my attitude typically one of negativity or optimism?

If a close friend were asked to describe me as a pessimist or an optimist, which one would they choose?

Power Verses:

1 Peter 1:1-3, "Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." (The Message)

© 2009 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 12, 2009

Unexpected Treasure

Amy Carroll

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

Devotion:

"Where is that goat?" the young Bedouin shepherd muttered under his breath in frustration. He clambered over the rocks as he moved up the cliff on his search. It was hot, and he was impatient. Rather than going into the darkness of the cave near him to look, the shepherd tossed a rock into the opening and listened for a protesting "Bahhhh!" Instead, he heard the breaking of a pot. Suddenly the goat was forgotten, and the shepherd's curiosity prevailed. He entered the cave to find one of the greatest archeological and religious treasures ever discovered--the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Visiting an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls recently captured my imagination, and my mind pictured the story above. The tale continues that this nomadic shepherd took the scraps of paper rolled in a cloth and stored in the pot to a merchant in Bethlehem. From there, the treasure passed from hand to hand until they came to rest in a special museum at Hebrew University named the Shrine of the Book. The fact that these ancient documents of God's own Word lay moldering, unfound in a cave for over a thousand years before being found in the search for a wandering goat seized my heart and mind.

Paul tells us that each believer is a jar of clay that contains treasure. When we look through scripture, we can see that we contain peace (Philippians 4:7), the forgiveness of sins, redemption, the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7), joy (John 15:11) and the resurrection power of Christ (Philippians 3:10).

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides a powerful and biblical picture of how a broken vessel can release the power of God into our lives and those around us. Brokenness, although painful, is one of God's means of showing His all-surpassing power in our lives. Even when the cause of our brokenness is the result of living in a fallen and sin-filled world, God is able to show Himself as the Redeemer by pouring out His treasures through us.

Are you a broken or crushed pot today? Are you suffering because of the loss of a job or the current financial crisis? Are your emotions broken and bruised because of the rejection of a friend or husband? Are you experiencing crushing loneliness because of the loss of someone dearly loved? Is your heart torn and bleeding for a wayward child? If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He says even in catastrophic times He is not only with you but longing to pour out through you. God's Word that you have been storing away in the quiet times with Him can be revealed through your brokenness. He sees your pain, and His heart breaks with your every hurt. You are dearly loved. Hold on to His promise that your brokenness is not wasted but releases His Spirit to do works of perseverance, power, character and hope.

At times, I've been a very intact pot, moldering and hidden in a cave while the world around me sinks into the abyss of the absence of His Word. I pray with my broken sisters today that God would use the broken places in each of us for His great glory and our ultimate good. I pray even as He walks with us through the broken places of our lives that His Word would be exposed and powerful in a lost and dying world.

Dear Lord, I come to you in brokenness today. I give myself over to you even in my weakness and frailness. No matter if I've been broken by sin or circumstances, I ask you to fill my broken pot and pour out through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story by Wendy Blight

Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents: Words to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say by Susanne Scheppmann

Redemption by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley

Visit Amy's blog

Application Steps: 

Read the power verses below.

Memorize one of them and quote it often as you struggle in a difficult time.

Reflections: 

How can I come to know God's Word better so that it can flow out in times of brokenness?

Power Verses:

Phillipians 3:10-11, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (NIV)

James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (NIV)

Romans 5:3-5, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (NIV)

© 2009 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 13, 2009

Be Mine

Rachel Olsen

"My lover is mine, and I am his." Song of Solomon 2:16 (NLT)
       
Devotion:

While I spent the last few months thinking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, another group of people likely spent it focused on Valentine's Day: greeting card writers. Valentine's Day is the second-biggest card-buying holiday besides Christmas. More than 200 million cards will be exchanged this weekend. That's a lot of love.

Have you ever watched somebody pick out a greeting card for someone special? Growing up, my family owned a chain of Hallmark stores where I worked as a sales clerk. The occasional customer would breeze in, look at two or three cards and then head to my cash register. However, most would spend 10, 20, even 30 minutes reading through cards, searching for the just right expression of love.

In Christ, God sent us the ultimate Valentine. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life" (John 3:16, The Message). Whole and lasting, two things we desperately seek but rarely find in this world. Long after the greeting cards I might receive are forgotten, I know that God's love for me endures.

Jesus demonstrated His love for us and taught us how to live and love each other. He received criticism, testing and rejection -- and yet gathered strength from God to turn the other cheek. Jesus prayed for us, and His enemies. He even suffered crucifixion in order to save us from our sin. Jesus is God's perfect expression of love. His life and death are God saying to me and you, "Be Mine."

Yes, God loves us so much that He gave us His most valuable gift, Himself. And after Jesus rose from the grave and ascended back to heaven, God sent His Spirit to remain with us. As He shares Himself with us through His Son and His Sprit, God says, "You are my beloved." Hearing that is better than any sentiment the best card-writer could pen. God Himself, given for you and me -- as well as anyone willing to open their heart to Him -- demonstrates the ultimate expression of love. Like melt-in-your-mouth chocolates from a heart-shape satin box, He invites us to taste and see that He is good.

Close your eyes and hear Him whispering to you today, "Be Mine."

Dear Lord, Thank You for first loving me, and for showing me what love truly is. I'm so grateful You invited me to be Yours. Like a bouquet of exquisite roses in a simple earthen vase, I treasure Your presence in this "jar of clay." May others see You displayed in me this Valentine's, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Have You Received God's "Valentine" in Christ?

My Prince Will Come by Sheri Rose Shepherd

Want More Love? For teens by Kathy Wierenga Buchanan

Stop by Rachel's blog

Application Steps: 

Take some time to read through scriptures about love. You can read through them in Paul's writings online here at Biblegateway.com.

Reflections: 

Do I realize the great extent of God's love for me?

How do I respond to that? What does it look like to "Be God's?"

Power Verses:

John 15:12-13, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV)

1 John 3:16a, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (NIV)

Romans 5:5, "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (NLT)

1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (NIV)

© 2009 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2009

Keep Chalking the Line

Lynn Cowell

"And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'" Genesis 2:16 -17 (NIV)

Devotion:

When it came to football, my mother-in-law gave me great advice, "You can either get mad or learn to love it too." I took the latter part of her advice. So, along with 90 million other Americans, I was recently glued to my TV watching the Super Bowl. It reminded me of several years ago when my husband and I had the opportunity to be one of the screaming fans attending the Super Bowl.

Knowing this was once-in-a-lifetime, we arrived at the stadium hours before the game to watch preparations. We took in everything, including the caretakers pushing their carts up and down, carefully chalking in the boundary lines.

At any football game, depending on the weather, these lines might be facing a tough day. Rain, snow, cleats, smashed bodies might beat against them for hours. At the end of the game, they are no longer white, straight and clean. In some places, they may have been completely rubbed away. But when game time rolls around again, the caretakers pull out their carts and chalk the lines back in.

Often, as a parent of two teens and a pre-teen, I grow weary of "chalking in the lines." Peer pressure, TV, music, and FaceBook all beat against the boundary lines of safety and obedience I have helped create for them. I am prone to think to myself as my children leave the house with keys in hand, "I don't have to remind them to not blare the music. They know. I've told them before." Or, "It isn't necessary to tell them not to have the opposite sex in the house when you are gone. You have told them that many times." But then I remember that the world is constantly repeating its opinion on what is fun, acceptable, and okay. So I must chalk in the lines by reminding them of the boundaries the Lord has called me to put in their life.

The Lord is our example of setting boundaries with those we love. In the Garden of Eden, He made it clear to His children that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He set the boundary. It was then up to Adam and Eve to obey.

Just recently, I had to chalk the lines again. My son asked me if he could attend an event, to which my answer had to be "no." With tear-filled eyes, I explained why. Needless to say, he was not happy! But then I remembered another conversation we had several months ago when he said, "Mom, thanks for my curfew. It has kept me out of trouble many times." That was evidence enough for me that when we set the boundaries, with love, they know we care deeply about them.

When the day has been long, when you are tired, trying to cook, run a load of laundry and figure out what time you need to leave for the next rehearsal, my hope is that you will not grow weary in "chalking in your lines." I pray that one day soon, your child will thank you, too.

Dear Lord, help me. Sometimes as a parent, I get tired: tired of going against the world that seems to have no boundaries. In Your strength, help me to lovingly show my child the way. Soften their heart to accept and obey. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Boundaries: When to Say Yes & How to Say No by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend

The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst

Visit Lynn's blog

Join us for more Everyday Life encouragement

Application Steps: 

Write a list of boundaries for your family and your home. During natural conversations (in the car, during breakfast) casually bring these up a little at a time, making sure your child knows what your boundaries are.

Reflections: 

Are there any areas in your own life where you have overstepped God's boundaries?

Do you discuss boundaries with your child at times when it won't turn into a heated argument?

Power Verses:

2 Thessalonians 3:13, "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." (NIV) 

Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2009

A Brownie Knife

Sylvia Basham, She Speaks! Graduate

"But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."

1 Corinthians 12.18 (ESV)

Devotion:

Oddly enough, I'm thinking about plastic knives today. You know, the kind you get with your to-go meal at restaurants, packaged with a plastic fork, spoon, and napkin?

For years I ditched the plastic knife, thinking they are a waste of energy and not very useful at cutting my food. Steak, chicken, pot roast ...metal knives slice right through these, but not plastic knives. Hard foods are not their forte. Where plastic knives do excel, however, is in cutting fresh from the oven, piping hot brownies!


Have you ever cut brownies with a table knife and made a ragged mess out of them? Well, I've discovered a way to enjoy them, and keep them in tact, while they're still warm. I've used this trick successfully for years, as my hips will attest. Nice squares of warm, gooey chocolate goodness with smooth edges can be yours when cut with a plastic knife.

Knowing plastic knives' special knack for cutting brownies, I use them specifically for that purpose. I don't try to cut cardboard, steak or wood with them. That would be a senseless misuse of their gifts.

Oh, but how often have I misused my gifts or stepped away from my natural talents, attempting something I am not really cut out to do? This usually leads to frustration and a mess.

The point is this: God designed each one of us with certain abilities, but we tend to look at the abilities of the other women and we get caught in the comparison trap. We try to emulate her gifts and her talents when God has called us to something totally different.

Some of my friends have better culinary skills. Some of my friends train their children better than I. Some of my friends are well organized. Some of my friends...well, it really doesn't matter. What does matter is this: What am I going to do with what I am?

Paul puts it this way in I Corinthians 12.17-19: "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?" (ESV)

In what way has God gifted you? Have you yet to use that talent for His glory? Are you a wonderful hostess? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is a teacher. Are you an organizer? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is creative. Are you great with children? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who writes the newsletter.

After many years of anguish over my place in this world, or in my church, or in a women's group, I've come to embrace that which God has blessed me with. And I've decided I love being a plastic brownie knife!

Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts and talents You've given each of us. Please show us where we are most useful for Your kingdom and Your purposes. Give us boldness to carry out Your will especially when it might be an unexpected task. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

She Speaks Conference

Youniquely Woman: Becoming Who God Designed You To Be by Kay Arthur, Emilie Barnes and Donna Otto

Shaped with Purpose CD and companion Workbook by Renee Swope

The Confident Woman by Anabel Gillham

Application Steps: 

Pray and ask God to reveal your gifts and passions which can best be used to further His kingdom. Embrace and excel in your uniqueness. Be available when opportunities arise for which your talents are best suited.

Reflections: 

Are you grateful for your gifts or do you dismiss them as useless?

Are you second-guessing God and making comparisons with the talents of others?

Will you choose to love who God created you to be?

Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (NIV) 

Matthew 25:22-23, "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 19, 2009

Pause Before Reacting

Lysa TerKeurst

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

A few years ago, Art and I hit a rough place financially. Some investments we'd made went bad and we lost nearly our entire life savings. I was knee deep in 3 small children at the time and hadn't a clue that financial danger was looming on the horizon.

That is until Art came home one day and the look on his face spoke of utter defeat. How could we have lost so much? He'd been wise with our finances. He'd done his research. He was a faithful saver. I stood stunned in our foyer that day, as Art told me the news.

There were many different directions my reaction could have gone in the minutes that followed. I was upset. When Art first talked of making these particular investments, I shared with him that I didn't have a good feeling about it. But, in the end, I let him make the final decision.

So many times in my marriage, I've chosen the wrong words - words that were tainted with bitterness, words that were emotionally toxic. But I'm so thankful the Lord had been working on preparing my heart for this moment and instead of reacting immediately with what would have been a disastrous response, I paused. I allowed the Holy Spirit a few seconds to interrupt my natural flesh feelings.

Then, because of God's Spirit working in me, I was able to wrap my arms around my husband and speak life-giving words into his weary heart. "I love you Art. I loved you yesterday when we had everything. I love you today when we have nothing. I love you for who you are, not what you have."

A few years later, Art and I were on Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program. On the show Art was asked, "I know you and Lysa had a rough start to your marriage. But what happened that made you know you'd stick by her forever, no matter what?"

Without hesitation, Art recounted my reaction over the lost investments.

I cried.

Had I been left to my own flesh reaction that day, it could have set us on the road to marital disaster. But, because of God's response being stored up in me, this situation wound up bringing us closer together than we'd ever been.

I realized how crucial it is to always be aware of God's preparation in our lives. Because He stands in our yesterday, today and tomorrow, He sees all. And He knows the perfect way to prepare our hearts for every situation.

When we embrace His preparations, even a girl with firecrackers in her blood like me can have reactions that honor God and breathe life into relationships.

Dear Lord, remind me to pause before I react. Sometimes the stresses of life pull at my emotions, which cause me to have reactions that tear at my relationships. Please forgive me for poor reactions in my past. Thank You for second chances. Thank You for the way You prepare my heart for everything You see that I'll be facing today, tomorrow and in all my tomorrows to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa TerKeurst's blog

Capture His Heart by Lysa TerKeurst

The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps: 

Part of embracing His preparations are to pray prayers that make God my focus rather than my circumstances--- Here are a few I've been inspired to pray:

God, despite my circumstances, I will find reasons to praise You.

God, even when I feel disappointed by what life brings, I will trust You to bring good out of bad.

God, no matter what, I will hold on to You and Your truths.

God, my deepest desire is for more of You in me. And if that is the desire of my heart, I will never be disillusioned.

Reflections: 

When hard situations arise, do I tend to react out of my emotions or out of a well-prepared heart of love? How might pausing help me to react better?

Power Verses:

Proverbs 15:4, "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." (NIV) 

John 15:4, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 20, 2009


The Whitening Process

Marybeth Whalen


"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

When my dental hygienist of a mom gave me a free whitening kit from her dentist's office, I was elated. The cost of the whitening treatment had been far too expensive for me in the past, so I had never pursued it. But free I could do! Unfortunately, I quickly discovered this whole teeth whitening thing wasn't the blissful experience I had anticipated. It was far more painful and complicated than I understood when I began. As I thought about this, I realized it was a parallel to the Christian life.

Whitening is painful. The chemicals they use in the bleaching process can cause pain. The nerves under the gum-line that are exposed to these chemicals can really hurt, making things you used to do without thinking--like eating, for example--impossible. I thought about how this applies to God's process of making us white as snow, as today's verse says. We want that process to be quick and easy. We don't want Him to make things we used to do to become painful or unpleasant. And yet, by exposing those nerves--the stuff we keep hidden under the surface--we are forced to change things about ourselves. We don't want the pain, and yet sometimes pain is the only thing that will cause the change God wants to bring about in us.

Whitening takes a long time. I was asking my mom why they don't just make a product that works in one application. Why does this process have to be so drawn out? "Because," she answered, "The chemicals are so harsh you couldn't take it all in one application, so they break it up a little at a time." I thought about how gentle and loving our Heavenly Father is, allowing us to go through a process of refinement, instead of being exposed to more than we can take all at once. He leads us along the path of righteousness -- a journey. He never gives us more than we can take, balancing just the right amount of pain mixed with just the right amount of perfectly timed relief. It might take longer than we want, but we can find peace in knowing that the end-result will be worth waiting for.

Whitening isn't convenient. I couldn't find an ideal time to submit myself to this process. Finding three hours to wear a tray full of chemicals in my mouth just wasn't happening. The refiner's fire is like this. It is never convenient and it certainly won't fit into your neatly ordered life to develop the character of Christ. And if you wait until you are "ready" to submit to it with your whole heart, well, it likely will never get done. God wants us to come before Him and say, "I will make the time to undergo what You have for me, because I want to be all I can for You, Lord." When He hears this from us, He moves within our lives to bring about dazzling change.

God's whitening process--it might not be easy, or tidy, or even close to what we expected, but we can trust it will be for the best.

Dear Lord, the cry of David's heart is the cry of my heart: I want You to cleanse me, to make me whiter than snow. I understand that pain, discomfort and inconvenience will be part of that process. Help me to submit to that process every step of the way and to trust You at all times. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do you know Him?

Pierced By the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper

For the Write Reason General Editor Marybeth Whalen

Visit Marybeth's blog

Application Steps: 

Sit quietly with the Lord asking Him, "Lord, what areas in my life need to be cleaned?"

Enlist the encouragement of a good friend in Christ for accountability in making and keeping the choice to be refined.

Reflections: 

Have you gone through a painful time that you can now see was part of your "whitening process"?

Do you struggle with submitting yourself to the inconvenience of God's maturation process?

Power Verses:

I Peter 4:12-13, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (NIV) 

Psalm 23:3, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (NIV)

Zechariah 13:9, "This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'" (NIV)

© 2009 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 21
Read Numbers 19 -- 20

Highlights In Today's Reading:

Your heart will break as disobedience by two men of God results in a terrible judgment. You will find two deaths recorded here, as well as a nation sealing its own fate by refusing to help the people of God. How gloriously Christ is typified twice in today's reading.
The law of the red heifer was introduced following the death of 14,700 Israelites (16:49). And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin (19:9). The Israelites had falsely accused Moses and Aaron of killing Korah and those with him who had attempted to overthrow the leadership of Moses and Aaron (16:3).

Although 14,700 had died, all the congregation of the children of Israel had murmured against Moses and Aaron (16:41). The survivors were equally guilty and God warned them: Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the Tabernacle . . . lest they . . . die (18:22). A new revelation of the exceeding seriousness of sin and its consequences was made known through this new ordinance. We would have not known sin, but by the Law (Rom. 7:7).

If an Israelite touched a dead beast he was unclean for one day, but if he touched a dead man he was unclean for seven days (Num. 19:11). The sinfulness of a man's corrupt nature is viewed as seven times more defiling than any vile animal. The slightest touch of a bone from a dead man defiled one for seven days. It taught Israel not to ignore the defiling effect of what is often dismissed as little sins. Even when he touched a grave he was unclean for seven days. This points out how even hidden things such as evil thoughts defile, for they are the source of all sins (Prov. 23:7; Matt. 12:35).

All the sacrifices illustrated the various aspects of the death of Christ for the sins of the world. The red heifer sacrifice was instituted for the faithful who, as they go through life, sometimes fall into sin and need to be forgiven and cleansed (comp. I John 1:7,9). Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. . . . For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Matt. 15:11,19).

Thought for Today:

Just because we are doing a good thing does not make it acceptable to God. It still must be done with no ulterior motive.
Christ Revealed:

Through the rock that Moses struck (Num. 20:8-11; also Ex. 17:6). Christ, our Rock, who was struck once through His death on the cross, can not be struck again. That spiritual Rock that followed (accompanied) them . . . was Christ (I Cor. 10:4).
Word Studies:

19:2 spot =defect; 19:6 hyssop =bushy, leafy plant that grows in the walls in Jerusalem similar to mint; 19:10 stranger =foreigner; 20:3 chode =expressed anger; 20:10 fetch =bring; 20:12 sanctify Me =hold Me in reverential honor; 20:13 strove =contended; 20:14 travail =hardship, affliction; 20:15 vexed =mistreated; 20:24 gathered to his people =died; 20:29 house =people.
Prayer Needs:

Pray for Radio Sri Lanka International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Duane & Mary Ann Seaburg • Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Officials: Rep. Charles Boustany (LA), Rep. Phil Hare (IL), Rep. John Lewis (GA), Rep. John Shimkus (IL), and Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) • Country: Botswana (1.5 million) in southern Africa • Major languages: English and Setswana • Limited religious freedom because of local chiefs • 58% Christian; 40% Indigenous; .8% Baha'i; .2% Muslim; .2% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Forgive others without exception, and then ask the Lord to forgive you (Matt. 6:12).
Optional Reading: Luke 8

Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:9