Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

December 15, 2010
You're the One I Want!
Renee Swope

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Devotion:
Christmas was only days away and we still didn't have a tree. Living on a college-student's budget with our first baby on the way and barely scraping by, we couldn't bring ourselves to spend $25-50 on something we didn't need. It seemed kind of trivial when I told God how sad I felt that we couldn't afford a Christmas tree. Then I felt guilty knowing there were others who needed so much more.


But that year, I discovered how much God cares about the longings of our hearts and, if we're looking, He'll show us His heart for us in them.


On our way home from a friend's house the Sunday night before Christmas, my husband, J.J, and I noticed the tree lot near our apartment had marked all their trees down to $10! Grins stretched across our faces as we made plans to buy one Monday night as soon as J.J. got home from his part-time job.


The next evening we walked down each row of the tree lot looking for just the right spruce to fit in the corner of our one-bedroom apartment. Feeling sentimental and slightly maternal, I realized that picking our first Christmas tree was going to be almost as difficult as choosing our child's name.


I took way too much time. The sun went down quickly, the tree-lot started to close and the spotlights shut down. There we were, standing in the pitch dark without a tree.


My creative and very patient husband pulled his car into the rows of trees and flashed on his high beams. Suddenly, the bright lights dispelled the darkness and standing in front of me was the most precious tree I'd ever seen. Although it had some droopy branches and a gap on one side, I pointed at it and told J.J., "That's the one I want!"


I couldn't wait to get my little spruce pine home. Later that night, with my hands wrapped around a cup of hot cocoa, I sat on our couch looking at it. I thought about how sad I felt earlier when the darkness made it impossible to see the trees. Yet, when the beams of light illuminated the lot, my heart filled with hope.


Etched in my mind was a picture I wouldn't forget, a memory that drew me back to another time marked by darkness - a time when I wasn't choosing, but needed to be chosen.


Just when it felt like all my dreams had died and my hope was gone, the Light of God's unfailing love punctured the clouds of darkness and depression surrounding my mind. It happened on another cold winter's eve in January 1989 while I was sitting in the balcony of a church hoping to hear something that would fill the empty places in my heart. Feeling His spirit tugging on my heart, whispering words I longed to hear, I sensed God saying, "Renee, you are the one I want."


He'd been trying to tell me for years, but I had allowed the wounds of my past and the words of others to convince me that no one would ever want me.


At some point, I think most of us have felt like the little Christmas tree and me. Scarred by disappointments, we wonder if anyone would ever choose us. With gaps that make us feel like candidates for rejection, we hope no one will notice our empty places. Like the fate of my spruce pine, it seems the only way we'll get chosen is if all the good ones are picked first.


First Peter 2:9 reminds us that through Christ we are chosen! God sent His Son to light our darkness and fill the gaps in our hearts. Sweet friend, I pray that you will hold onto the truth that God sees you today, and He wants you to hear Him declaring with all His heart, "You are the one I want!"

Dear Lord, that spruce pine and I have a lot in common. Even with my gaps and broken branches, You chose me and made me part of Your family through Jesus. Thank you for sending Your Son to bring Light in the dark corners of my life and to bring endless hope to my heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Renee's blog where she talks more about our longing to be chosen, loved and accepted and how she learned to let God fulfill those needs while healing her hurts and filling the empty places in her heart.


Enter to win a "Confident Heart" gift pak that includes Renee's testimony on DVD, a gift certificate for her book, A Confident Heart, (coming July 2011) and a Starbucks gift card.


Letting God Fill the Empty Places in Your Heart message on CD by Renee Swope


Unwrapping His Christmas Presence message on DVD or CD by Renee Swope


Application Steps:

Paraphrase 1 Peter 2:9 to make it personal and remind yourself of who you really are as a child of God: I am a chosen woman, a royal priest, a holy daughter, a woman belonging to God, that I may declare the praises of him who called me out of darkness into his wonderful light.



Reflections:
Are there times when you feel rejected or forgotten? Tell God today about the gaps in your heart. Ask Him to heal the broken places that leave you feeling unwanted. Ask Him and show you how He sees you - holy and dearly loved - chosen and belonging to Him!


If you have never responded to God's invitation to be chosen and loved by Him, click here to find out how you can Know Him.


Power Verses:
Isaiah 43:1b, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (NIV)


Isaiah 43:4, "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you." (NIV)


Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (NIV)

© 2010 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

December 16, 2010
A Call to Action
Lysa TerKeurst


"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food."

Romans 14:20a (NIV)         

Devotion:
Three years ago I was stuck in a rut of wishful thinking and excuses with my weight. At the beginning of each day I would say I wanted things to be different.  I would vow in my heart to make things different.  I would even make a plan to stop the snacks, increase the veggies, and say no to the desserts.

But then life would happen.  And the excuses were so very plentiful. So, my resolve would melt away like butter on a hot yeast roll.

Of course the next morning I would always get up and weigh myself hoping that somehow magic would have happened over night.  Despite my indulgences from the day before, maybe the numbers would have gone down.

But the scale was not impressed with my wishful thinking. It could only tell the truth.

And so you know who I'd get mad at?

God.

I'd beg Him to help me one minute while scarfing down an order of fries the next. And then I'd be doubly mad He didn't steer my car away from that drive-thru.

I deemed myself a victim of tragic genetics, overactive taste buds and a stomach that demanded large portions.

What I failed for years to realize is there was a much more significant issue going on.

More important than the ever increasing size of my jeans was the deception going on inside my heart. My weight wasn't God's curse on me. My weight was an outside indication of an internal situation.

Honestly, I might as well have taken Psalm 23 which talks about the Lord being my shepherd and my comfort and replaced His name with various foods. I was relying on food to be my comfort, my ever present help, my guide. Food was the thing that got me through the valleys. It became the friend I wanted to celebrate with in the good times.

I don't write to point out anyone else's issue. There are certainly medical and genetic circumstances that can cause weight gain. But I discovered that my issue was truly a spiritual one. And no diet would have ever been permanently successful until I got to the real root of my problem.

The root of my issue was craving food more than God. I desired and depended on the instant high of physical gratification because I hadn't learned how to let God satisfy my deepest needs. This realization became a call to action.

Maybe as you read my story, something is stirring in your soul. I know this is a tough issue. I've walked through the tears and the feelings of failure. I was the girl mad at God about this whole deal. But I wanted freedom. And I realized that if I wanted to have my deepest desires met by God and not food, I would need to restore God to His rightful place by changing my old thought patterns. Here are some examples I wrote about in my new book, Made to Crave:

Old thought patterns:
"I need these chips. I deserve this ice cream. I must have that extra large portion."

New thought patterns:
Chips will only taste good for the moment. But the calories are empty and will do nothing good for my body. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reminds me, "...Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit... out of reverence for God."

This ice cream will give me a sugar high but then I'll crash and feel terrible. Psalm 34: 8 reminds me to get into God's word and let it satisfy the deep hungry places of my soul, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

This extra large portion will overstuff me and make me feel sluggish. I can't look to this food to soothe me. Psalm 34:5 says, "Those who look to [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Learning to do this has been a process that I have to intentionally choose day after day. Eventually, I did lose the extra weight I needed to shed and have kept it off. But the real reward was what I gained with Jesus in the process. He became the best part of my journey. And I wouldn't have missed this new found closeness I now have with Him for anything in the world.

Dear Lord, if this devotion is a call to action that I need to make, please help me. I want to see the root of my issue, I really do. I want to learn to crave and depend on only You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:


Find out what foods can sabotage even our greatest intentions to get healthy. Visit Lysa's blog today for a list of food alerts and tools every healthy girl should know about.


Sign up for a FREE webcast with Lysa based on her new book: Made to Crave. Lysa will be sharing more of her journey starting January 10th. For more details, click here.


If this devotion resonated with you, don't miss Lysa's new book: Made to Crave.

Also, you'll want to consider the 6 week Bible study using these additional resources: Made to Crave DVD and the accompanying Made to Crave Participant's Guide by Lysa TerKeurst


Application Steps:

Keep a pocket sized notebook nearby all of this week. Every time you crave food, ask yourself if you are hungry or if you are craving something else like comfort or peace. Write down your old thoughts patterns and then rewrite them using new thought patterns.


Reflections: 

Have I learned to let God satisfy my deepest needs?


What is one healthy choice I can make today?


Power Verses:

Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (NIV)


Psalm 18:1, "I love you, O Lord, my strength." (NIV) 

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 17, 2010

The Hush Among the Hustle

Karen Ehman

"But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings) weighing and pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19 (AMP)

Devotion:

"Come on! Move quickly kids or those popcorn balls will harden before they're formed!"

"Step on it! The live nativity is about to begin and we want a front row view!"

"Hey, can someone get the door already? FedEx is here waiting for a signature on those packages!"

Dash; dart; hurry and scurry. The hustle amidst the holidays causes our stress levels to sky rocket and sets our Santa caps spinning. With added activities and gift-buying responsibilities on our December day planners, we find ourselves on a seasonal treadmill lacking any "slow down" feature. Instead, it only boasts a crank-it-up knob that somehow seems to be twisting itself!

I've often wondered why at this magical time on our calendars, our hearts don't always shoot to the "merry" stage on their own. Rather, they often migrate to the "weary" zone as our seasonal responsibilities parade through our minds. You know, instead of the visions of sugar plums that are supposed to be dancing there about now! Our minds swirl. And our hearts sink.

But when I stop and remind myself that Christmas is like everyone I love all having their birthdays on the same day—oh and they are coming to my house and expect it to be lavishly decorated, complete with a gourmet menu AND a twinkling tree standing in the middle of my living room—well, its no wonder my holiday cheer turns to holiday fear!

This festive frenzy is really nothing new. Even in the account found in the Gospel of Luke during that first Christmas in Bethlehem, urgency was afoot. A quick read through chapter two finds an angel abruptly appearing, a heavenly host "suddenly" filling the sky, simple shepherds deciding at once to go examine the scene for themselves and the words "so they hurried off" chosen to describe that investigative journey.

However, smack dab in the center of that fast-paced story we find two simple words:

"But Mary."

When the mother of the baby King is mentioned, the hustle halts. She isn't depicted as scurrying and hurrying. Nope. She is weighing and pondering. Her contemplating goes beyond the commotion, right to the heart of what the hustle is all about.

Jesus.

Jesus, the Savior of the world. The hope for the heart-broken widow; the rest for the worn-out woman; the answer for the maxed-out mom; the truth for the tormented; the way for the wayward; the only calm in our chaos.

Weighing and pondering.

Could we do the same? Could we dare find calm in the Christmas chaos? A holy hush among the hustle? More importantly, could we model for the wide-eyed kids in our lives just how to slow down and, like the Wise Men of old, actually look for the Savior? Here is one idea to try:

Have one evening where you use no electric lights, but do everything by candlelight. Prepare dinner by candlelight. Eat by candlelight. Wash the dishes by candlelight. Get ready for bed by candlelight. Then, set the family on the couch and read (by flickering flame, of course) 1 John 1:5, "God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all."

Talk about this truth. What would our lives be like if we had no lights to use? Discuss also where we'd be if we didn't have the light of Christ, sent to us as the baby in the manger so many years ago. For a memory-making conclusion, prepare a thermos of hot cocoa for the troupe, hop in the car and go look at your town's Christmas lights.

Pause. Ponder. Wait and weigh.

If we are intentional, as was Mary, we can suspend the season for a flickering moment; discovering Christ in the chaos and experiencing a holy hush among the hustle. Then, when the last strand of lights is taken down and the fruitcake is finished, we can look back on a Christmas season that was blessed, not stressed!

Dear Lord, calm my anxious heart. Whisper to me in the holiday hustle. I want to experience You afresh this year. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Homespun Memories for the Heart by Karen Ehman

For more ideas of focusing on Christ with your kids this month, and to be entered in a Cool Christmas Basket giveaway, visit Karen's blog.

Pursuing the Christ: 31 Morning and Evening Devotions for Christmastime by Jennifer Kennedy Dean
Advent: Making Christmas about Christ, A four-week devotional by Lisa Robertson
Application Steps: 

Are there some spots on your schedule where you could gear down from the break-neck speed of the holidays in order to be quiet and intentional? What will you do? When will you do it? Write it on your schedule now.

Reflections: 

Why does it go against the grain of society to slow down and savor in December?

Do I have a fond memory of the holidays that has to do with reflection rather than activity? With hushing instead of rushing?

Do You Know Him?

Power Verses:

Psalm 46:10, "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!" (Amplified) 

© 2010 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 20, 2010
When You Don't Know What to Do
Melanie Chitwood

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

2 Chronicles 20:12b (NIV)         

Devotion:

5 a.m. Wide awake. Thoughts racing and whirling. Chest tight with anxiety.


My mom recently suffered a stroke, and my concern about her weighs heavily, causing my thoughts to spin. How long will Mom need to be in a rehab facility? How's my Dad holding up? Who will watch the boys when my husband's traveling for work and I need to be away to help my parents? We are in a situation we've never been in before, and we're finding that there are so many questions we can't answer.

There's a good chance you, too, are familiar with those middle of the night anxious thoughts and unanswered questions racing through your mind. Maybe your worry is about finances, a job or lack of one, a wayward child, a health challenge, marriage problems, or extended family problems. Or maybe your worries are not about big situations, but the accumulation of smaller challenges burdens your mind and heart. Your thoughts whirl as you wonder about the solution to your problems.

As I lay in bed that early morning, I remembered a familiar and favorite Bible verse: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." I got up from bed, went downstairs, and opened my Bible to today's key verse which perfectly captured what I was feeling and thinking.

By reading the context of 2 Chronicles 20 we learn some key principles to follow in anxious situations. When King Jehoshaphat is told that "a great multitude" is coming to wage war against him, we see how just like us, the king is afraid (2 Chronicles 20:2, 3, NAS).

Instead of sinking in the quicksand of his own fearful thoughts or the inscrutability of the situation, King Jehoshaphat purposefully chooses to focus on the sovereignty of God. The king "turned his attention to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (v. 3).

Through prayer and fasting, the king and the people of Judah acknowledge what God has done in the past, and they voice their faith in what he will do in their future. They acknowledge they are powerless, but God is completely powerful.

In the same way through my mom's situation, I have seen how quickly my thoughts could turn to the problems I don't know how to solve. What will we do if she doesn't recover her ability to walk? What if she needs a nurse full-time?

I am learning, however, to turn from these thoughts by thanking my sovereign God for all the ways He has been faithful in the past and all the ways I see His faithfulness in the present circumstances. I am learning to ask Him for wisdom for every little detail. And I am setting my eyes on Him as I wait for His answers.

What problems in your life seem unsolvable or unanswerable? Follow King Jehoshaphat's example. Turn from your own anxious thoughts, acknowledge you don't have the answers, and set your eyes on the One who does.

Dear Lord, I praise You for being a sovereign God. You are in control. I don't have to be. When I don't know what to do, Lord, thank You that I can ask You for wisdom and guidance. You are my Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). I put in Your hands each of the concerns weighing on my heart and mind. Thank You that I can entrust them into Your loving care. I set my eyes on You, confident You will come to my rescue. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Melanie's blog, What Matters Most


What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

What a Wife Needs from Her Husband by Melanie Chitwood

When You Don't Know What to Pray: How to Talk to God about Anything by Linda Evans Shepherd
Shop with us for Christmas!

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you support the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase. Thank you and Merry Christmas!


Application Steps: 

Write out and post today's key verse in various places around your house, car, and workplace. Commit it to memory.


Imagine that each one of your concerns is a single rock. For example, I imagined my worry about the quality of mom's nursing care was a rock. Next, imagine placing that rock in Jesus' open hands. Feel the weight of that specific burden lifted from your hand to Jesus' strong and compassionate hands. Feel the relief and whisper this prayer for each concern: Lord, thank You that I can trust You to carry this burden for me.


Share your burden with a friend. Confide in her and ask her to pray for you.


Read all of 2 Chronicles 20 for more help when you don't know what to do.


Reflections: 

Am I trying to solve the problem myself or am I asking God for wisdom, help, and direction?


Are my eyes focused on the problem or on God?


Do I truly believe that God can take care of my situation?


Power Verses:

2 Samuel 22:20, "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (NIV)

Isaiah 9:6b, "...And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (NLT)


© 2010 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 21, 2010
Pondering and Peaceful
Marybeth Whalen


"Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." Luke 2:51 (NIV)         

Devotion:
Not much is known about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is obvious from the Scriptures that she was a young girl who loved God and was willing to obey Him at all costs. We don't know how God chose her to be the mother of His Son — we just know He did. Her response to the angel when she finds out about God's plan for her is our first clue as to why God knew she would be a great mother for Jesus: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38, NIV).


Recently, my children and I were reading in Luke where Jesus goes missing as a young teen, and His parents find Him in the temple. After searching for three days! As parents, we panic if we lose track of our child for a few minutes in a store. Can you imagine searching a city for three days for your 13 year-old son?


When they finally found Jesus, He was in the temple and wondered what all the fuss was about. The Scripture says that He told them He was where He should be, in His Father's house. "But they did not understand what He was saying to them" (Luke 2:50, NIV).

As my children and I read this passage, I tried to put myself in Mary's shoes. Her son had been missing. I am sure she vacillated between trusting God and panicking. And this was how I know that I would not have been a candidate for the Mother of Jesus award: as I tried to picture my reaction to finding Jesus in the temple after searching for three days, I pictured myself joyous and relieved. Then I pictured those feelings giving way to anger and questions.


Okay, so that was before the days of cell phones. He truly had no way to let His parents know where He was. But why didn't He stay with them in the first place? I got angry for Mary! And then I read the next verse: "But His mother treasured all these things in her heart" (Luke 2:51b, NIV).

The last time we saw Mary treasuring an event in her heart was right after her son was born. Once again, things were not going the way I would have wanted. She had given birth in a cold stable in dingy surroundings. Again, I was reminded of how accepting of her circumstances she was, and how her attitude reflected that.


Our verse for today reminds us of a young woman at peace with her circumstances, trusting God no matter how things would work out. Fast forward 13 years later and she is still that kind, gentle woman — no yelling at Jesus, no threats, no yanking Him by the ear when they finally find Him. Instead, the Scriptures tell us that she treasured "all these things." Would I have been able to treasure that dirty stable? Would I have been able to treasure that seemingly errant teen?

As I pondered these two times where Mary is seen treasuring her circumstances, I began to wonder how often things go wrong in my life and I react instead of reflect. So I'm allowing these two Scriptures to seep into my heart. Is my attitude, "May it be to me as You have said," or is it, "Okay, God, this is not the way it's supposed to be and I want You to fix it right away."

As we go through this season of celebrating Jesus' coming, I plan to work on my attitude when things don't go right. I plan to practice accepting God's plan when it doesn't match mine. I plan to learn to treasure and ponder instead of whine and complain. I plan to grow in my love and appreciation of Jesus, just as Mary did. I plan to marvel at His coming and revel in His glory. And most of all, this Christmas, I plan to search for Him everywhere, just as she did — and never lose sight of Him again.


Dear Lord, thank You for sending Your Son into this world. As we celebrate His birth, help me to focus on who He is and why He came here. Help me to be the kind of servant to You that Mary was and for my attitude to reflect that each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Find more from Marybeth on her blog and on her resource page.


A Recipe for Christmas Joy (E-Book) by Marybeth Whalen


When a Woman Meets Jesus: Finding the Love Every Woman Longs For by Dorothy Valcarcel

Shop with us for Christmas!

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you support the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. Therefore, we are extremely grateful
for each and every purchase. Thank you!


Application Steps:
If you have children in your life, read Luke 2 with them and talk about Jesus growing up. This is one of the few passages where we see Jesus as a child. This is also a good time to talk about staying with your parents and what to do if separated!

Adjust your attitude today to be more accepting of your circumstances.


Reflections:
Am I allowing God to shape me through my circumstances—the good and the not-so-good? Am I trusting Him when things don't go right?


Power Verses:
Job 23:12, "I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread." (NIV)

Colossians 2:2, "I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery." (MSG) 

© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 22, 2010

The Rich Home

Sharon Glasgow

"Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions."

I Kings 10:1 (NKJ)

Devotion:

The Queen of Sheba was wealthy and beautiful. She had everything a queen would want: gold, silver, ivory, precious jewels and servants taking care of her every need.

Well, almost everything.

She'd heard about the famous King Solomon and his miraculous God. Even though her people had many gods to worship, none intrigued her like the Lord God of Israel. Her heart was so moved by His name that she decided to take a 1,400 mile trip across the desert sands of Arabia to visit this man who knew this God personally.

Camels can travel around 20 miles a day, so the trip would take her six months each way. She took a great caravan of servants, loads of spices, gold and unusual woods to give as gifts to Solomon. Her heart and soul longed for riches that she did not have, and she sensed they would be discovered through him.

Finally, she arrived. It was the grandest palace she had ever laid eyes on. But her purpose wasn't to see the most beautiful archeological place ever built, it was to find a secret treasure.

She talked to Solomon for hours, asking him deep questions about God. She was exhausted, but satisfied by his answers. She found what she had longed for and she declared, "Blessed be the LORD your God" (1 Kings 10:8, NKJ).

Jesus mentions the Queen of Sheba in Matthew 12:42. He honors her desire for His wisdom. The Queen of Sheba took great pains to find wisdom, yet the wisdom available to her at that time was the lesser wisdom of a man. The wisdom we have access to through Jesus far out shines that of Solomon. If the Queen of Sheba would travel six months to find truth, how much more should we search for wisdom by opening our Bibles and our hearts to Him in prayer?

When people travel to our home this week, it is not the seasonal décor or the cleanliness that will ultimately impress our visitors. It is not a perfectly sculpted yard or a new car in the garage. It's the spiritual insight and presence of grace that they will be drawn to - through the Holy Spirit living in us. When we share the love of our God with them, then they will have visited a wealthy home.

As rich as Sheba's or Solomon's palace.

Your home is where your heart is. And your heart is Christ's home - a dwelling place for the Lord. Be sure to spend time with Him this week so you will be filled with love and prepared with wisdom to offer your guests.

May those who enter your home this Christmas, and in the New Year to come, find treasures that people have traveled the whole earth in search of!

Dear Lord, I want every person who walks into my home to find the riches that only You can deliver. Help me to be a conduit for Your wisdom and love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Sharing Grace - Family Traditions - Gift ideas (E-Book) by LeAnn Rice
It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen
All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book) by Wendy Blight
Shop with us for Christmas!

We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us.

Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Application Steps: 

God freely gives spiritual wisdom to those who ask for it. Seek God's wisdom through prayer and the Bible. Ask Him to help you remember all that you learn from Him, and to live it this week.

Reflections: 

Do I spend more time fussing over the outward beauty of my home than the inward beauty of my soul?

Can I recall time spent in the home of a gracious, godly person? Do I remember the richness felt there?

Power Verses:

Isaiah 60:13,"...Beautify the place of my sanctuary..." (NKJ)

I Corinthians 3:12, "Now, If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is, if any one's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward." (NKJ)

© 2010 by Sharon Glasgow. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 23, 2010
Why God Told Shepherds First
Glynnis Whitwer


"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."

Luke 2:8-9 (NIV)         

Devotion:
If you had good news, whom would you tell first?


When something wonderful happens to me, the first people I want to tell are those closest to me, those most important in my life. They have proven themselves trustworthy over time, and will rejoice with me. They've stood by me during difficult times, and will share in a victory.


When God had the best news of the ages, whom did He tell first? Important religious people? Wealthy folk? Learned men? Actually, no. God told shepherds.


The Christmas story told in the book of Luke reveals this interesting fact. The story takes us right from the manger to the fields nearby, where an angel appeared to some terrified shepherds. Who wouldn't be if an angel and "heavenly host" appeared where there had only been scrub brush moments before?

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger'" (Luke 2:10-12, NIV).

It didn't take long for the shepherds to pull themselves together after the heavenly crew left. Knowing the "town of David" meant Bethlehem, the shepherds hurried there, and arrived in time to see Jesus in the stable. The Bible says after seeing the baby, " ... they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them" (Luke 6:17b-18, NIV).


This is a familiar and well-loved story. We treasure images of the nativity, and the humble nature of Christ's birth. When I delve a bit deeper into who attended the birth, I have to admit I'm surprised God chose shepherds to reveal the truth about Jesus so quickly.


Shepherds were in the fields among smelly and not-so-bright sheep. They had no power or influence. They had nothing to bring the baby King. So why did God choose the lowest members of society to entrust the greatest truth of the ages?


Why didn't God choose the religious leaders? Surely they would have been excited after waiting for thousands of years to meet their Savior. Why not choose a king or a rich man whose testimony would have carried more weight? Why shepherds?


Two reasons come to mind when I ponder that question. First, shepherds had the capacity to be humbled and amazed that God chose them to hear the news. Imagine how unworthy they must have felt, but how honored. Based on Jesus' opinion of the religious leaders of that day, I don't think they would have had the same reaction.


You've probably heard about the Pharisees. They were religious people back when Jesus was born who thought highly of themselves. They loved religion more than they loved a relationship with God. They probably wouldn't have been very impressed that God chose to reveal the secret of the ages to them. In fact, they might have thought they deserved to hear the news first.


But not the shepherds. They were amazed God chose them and they couldn't keep it to themselves.


That leads me to the second reason I think God chose shepherds. After they had seen the baby Savior, they "spread the word" concerning what they knew. They weren't like too-cool teenagers, worried about what others thought of them. They didn't over-think the situation and talk themselves out of telling the news. They were exuberant, overflowing with joy and probably still reflected a bit of the glory of being with Jesus.


You know what happened when those uneducated, simple shepherds spread the word that a Savior had been born? People were amazed!


God is His infinite wisdom chose just the right group of people to entrust the greatest news of eternity. Those humble men took the Good News of Jesus and did just what God wanted them to do - told others, and their lives were never the same.


Dear Lord, today I rejoice with the shepherds in the Good News of Jesus' birth. Help me to set aside those traditions that have become commonplace and explore the amazement of Jesus' birth. Thank You for sending a Savior for me. I want to spend my life sharing this news. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

The P31 Woman magazine


Visit Glynnis' blog and resources page for ideas on how to cultivate amazement in your heart.

The Wonder of His Love: A Journey into the Heart of God by Nancy Stafford
Shop with us for Christmas!

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you support the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase. Thank you!


Application Steps: 

This Christmas, plan to do one thing that will cultivate amazement in your heart.


Reflections: 

What are some reasons my amazement has dimmed at the true meaning of Christmas?


What can I change about myself so that others see/hear more of the amazing things of God through you?


Power Verses:

Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (NIV)


Mark 1:10-11, "As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" (NIV)


© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 24, 2010
The Wait is Over
Micca Monda Campbell

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation..."

Luke 2:29-30 (NIV)           

Devotion:
Christmas is finally upon us!  We've been waiting for it. We've been planning, dreaming, and hoping for something spectacular. For some, the magic of Christmas will come exactly as promised, while others may feel disappointed. Perhaps what we are looking for isn't found wrapped up in holiday paper tucked under a glistening tree. Instead, it's found wrapped in swaddling clothes tucked away in a manger among the oxen and sheep.


That may not sound spectacular, but it is. Come with me to Jerusalem and see for yourself.

As we arrive, the greatest event in history has just occurred! The shepherds are the first to receive the news that the long awaited Messiah has been born for all. News doesn't travel here as fast as it does in the twenty-first century. There aren't newspapers, television or the internet, so news spreads by word of mouth. As soon as the shepherds see baby Jesus, they begin spreading the news of His arrival.

The good news doesn't reach Jerusalem until weeks later. In keeping with the law, Mary and Joseph head to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord. By participating in this ceremony, they acknowledge their child belongs to God, who is the giver of life.

Let's tag along.

It's a busy day at the temple. Many have come with their firstborn son and offerings. Jesus looks somewhat plain compared to the other babies. They're all dressed up in their embroidered clothes and pretty booties, while Jesus is wrapped in a simple cloth. He may not look like much to others, but to His mom He is a jewel. Mary knows her son is a gift from God, and so does Simeon.

Simeon is a devout man who comes to the temple every day in hopes of seeing the promised Messiah who would deliver the people from their sins. Long ago, the Holy Spirit promised Simeon that before he died he would see the Son of God (Luke 2:26; paraphrased). Today is that day.

There's Simeon now, walking among the crowd. The Holy Spirit must have led him here. He sees Jesus. As he gently takes baby Jesus in his arms, he proclaims, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation..." (Luke 2:29-30).

Just as we anticipate Christmas each year, Simeon had waited his entire life for this day to arrive. Was he disappointed? Not in the least. Simeon could do nothing less than sing praises to the God who keeps His promises.

I realize that the big day may arrive and you may still be waiting for your Christmas miracle -- a new job, a healed relationship, or a baby of your very own. You don't have to live disappointed. Simeon shows us how to hold on to hope.

First, believe that God is faithful. Next, wait for God's perfect timing. It may be slow, but it's certain. Finally, take a step of faith. Simeon didn't sit still while he waited. He got up each day and went to the temple seeking the Son of God. As you and I seek God and His will each day, the Holy Spirit will direct our path.

Perhaps you've been wanting and waiting, like Simeon, to see the reality of Christ for yourself - perhaps you don't know this Messiah. Just as the Spirit of God led Simeon to Christ, He can lead you to Him as well. This world may offer empty promises that leave you disappointed, but Jesus never will. God is the same today as He was the day Simeon received his promise to see the Christ-child with his own eyes. God's promises are true.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).

The wait is over. Whatever your circumstance, you can experience the miracle of Christmas. Like Simeon, reach out and receive Christ into your heart. Simply pray this prayer:

Dear God, I confess I want and need You. I have sinned. My life isn't what I want it to be, and I'm sure isn't what You want it to be either. I willingly believe You came to earth, died on the cross, and rose from the grave to purchase me a place in heaven with You. Jesus, come into my life and take control. Forgive all my sins and save me. Let me see the reality of You in my life. I'm turning from my sins and placing my trust in You for my salvation. Share with me with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?


An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell


Visit Micca's blog and her resources page.

Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life by Sarah Young
Application Steps: 

Experience Christmas like never before, give your heart to Christ.


Reflections: 

Have I given up and given into doubt?


Do I persevere in faith like Simeon?


How can following Simeon's example revive my hope?


Power Verses:

Luke 2:11, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (NIV)

© 2010 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 27, 2010
Forget to Remember
Marybeth Whalen

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits --"

Psalm 103:2a (NIV)         

Devotion:
Sometimes it is hard to accept that God can bring about His purposes through our trials. It is hard to see past our circumstances to a future that, for us, doesn't exist yet. But God is not constrained by time. He is not reined in by our circumstances. Because of this, we have to trust that our limited perspective simply can not process His higher purpose.


There is a temptation during these times to wrestle back the control from Him, telling Him through our actions that He can't be trusted. We say to Him, "I got this one, God."


David writes of this tendency in Psalm 103:2, "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (emphasis mine). David knew that he had to remind himself not to forget what the Lord had done for him—and what He would do for him in the future. Like the rest of us, David struggled with remembering that God has a purpose in every trial, and a benefit waiting for those who will persevere.


I remember a time I ran impulsively ahead of the Lord because I didn't want to wait on His answer. We were in need of a computer and had a little money we could spend. Since we were in the stages of still paying off debt, it was money that could have been spent elsewhere. As I prayed about this decision, I felt God telling me to wait on this purchase. "God," I responded, "we can't wait any longer. We need a computer." I couldn't understand why He would tell me to wait, so I moved ahead with our plans to buy a computer.


I had wrestled the control back once again.


About a month after we got this new computer, my mom called me to ask if we still needed a computer. "Well, no," I told her, "we bought one already. Why?" She went on to explain that her friends were getting rid of a nearly new computer because they had decided to buy a laptop. Did we want it? In that moment I felt God remind me, "I told you to wait."


Even though this was difficult, it was a very powerful lesson that I have not forgotten. We ended up with two computers— but were minus a large chunk of money (that could have gone to paying off debt) invested in an unnecessary computer. God used this lesson to teach me that I have to wait on His purpose to be accomplished. When I do, my financial journey becomes intertwined with my spiritual one. This is part of growing in faith as we simultaneously grow in our relationship with Him. I can't forget to remember what He's done in the past, or I won't be able to cling to His promises for the future.


Dear Lord, I don't have this one. But You do. Help me to trust fully in You. Please bring to mind the things I can remember that will comfort me as I wait on You to act on my behalf in the future. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Marybeth's blog


Living Financially Free: Hard Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Money and Your Marriage by Marybeth and Curt Whalen


From Financially Frantic to Financially Free (CD) by Marybeth Whalen


What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:
Do you forget to remember? Write down one example of God's goodness to you in the past. 


Reflections:
Is there something that's happening to me now that I need to trust God to take care of in the future? How am I trying to take care of things on my own?


Power Verses:
Deuteronomy 4:9, "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons." (NASB)


I Chronicles 16:12, "Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced." (NIV)



© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 28, 2010
Just a Little Heart Cleaning
T. Suzanne Eller

"So iIf you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come offer your sacrifice to God."

Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)         

Devotion:
Yesterday I swept the mahogany wood floors in my house. I worked with so much energy it might have looked like I was a clean freak or, at the very least, industrious. I am neither of those things. In fact, I really didn't even notice the dust bunnies flying through the air. I was hurt, trying to sweep away harsh words spoken the day before by a friend.


I had spent most of the morning mulling over the words from the day before, wondering why I didn't say something. Wondering why she did. I finally put on some music, took out the broom, and asked God for His grace because mine didn't seem to be big enough at the moment.


I've heard people throw out advice on forgiveness as if dispensing aspirin. They casually say things like, "Jesus forgave, why don't you?" The reality is it's often an uneven journey for us as we accept His grace, learn from, and strive to live out His example.


The practice of living a forgiving lifestyle can be an ominous task. There is incredible freedom in living a life of mercy, but it's not something that we just stumble into. It takes a purposeful choice to move beyond the restrictive burdens of bitterness, anger, and other unresolved emotions tied to a person or event.


Forgiveness is a bridge I thought I had crossed already, and yet here I was again. I had forgiven an abusive, dysfunctional childhood. I understood the joy and freedom that come through forgiving others. So why was the small stuff with my friend tripping me up? Perhaps it is because I am still growing, a process that will never stop.


Jesus met a man who was paralyzed. His friends brought him to Jesus on a mat. The need was obvious, but instead of healing his legs Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2, NLT) Isn't it interesting that He addressed the issue of the man's heart before attending to his physical body?


Jesus hasn't changed. He still sees to the heart. He sees my heart. I have forgiven - but I will continue to become a forgiver as I meet life's challenges. To do that, I have to give myself a little grace, and invite Him into the process.


Maybe you too are dealing with hurts of the past and forgiveness seems impossible. Forgiving doesn't mean that abuse can continue, or that what happened is okay. What it does mean is that you are ready to follow Jesus' example, and to live life free of entanglements to the past.


Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." As I talked, broom-in-hand, with my Savior, He settled in and made Himself at home in the situation. My perspective on the incident with my friend changed.


Yesterday my house got cleaned, and so did my heart.


Dear Lord, help me to forgive one person today. I lift up my heart. I won't pretend that it doesn't hurt, but I am willing to forgive. I'm not always big enough, but You are and I am grateful. I won't forgive based on a person's response, or even what is fair, but instead I will trust that You desire my heart to be free so that You can love in and through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


The Woman I am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller


Visit Suzie's Blog for more encouragement

How to Get Along with Difficult People by Florence Littauer
Redemption by Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley
Application Steps: 

No matter whether it is a big or small issue, invite God into your situation today.


Reflections: 

Think about unforgiveness as a wall. We build it around our heart to keep people from hurting us. What hurts keep me inside that wall?


What can I miss when I live in a fortress?


I don't offer forgiveness to hear someone say they are sorry. It's nice if it happens, but even if it doesn't, my offering forgiveness is foundational to wholeness - in me!


Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 13:5, "Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged." (NLT)

© 2010 by T.Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org