Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

June 1, 2012

Tool, Toy or Tangent?
Karen Ehman


"My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me." Psalm 31:15 (NIV 1984)

I have a love/hate relationship with social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest...

I love that it keeps me connected to family and friends. It allows me to spy on ... er ... keep up with my kids, and I can post a prayer request when accidents or sickness occur. And I love re-connecting with friends from my past.

But I hate the way, if left unchecked and without boundaries in place, social media can become a ginormous black hole, eating up time and energy while diverting my attention from what's most important.

As a guideline I have learned to ask myself, is this a tool, a toy, or a tangent?

The Internet in general is a fabulous tool. It can be used for God and for good—organizing meals for a hurting family or participating in an online Bible study. But it can also be used for bad—cyber-bullying, extramarital affairs and airing our frustrations about other people.

It can also be a toy.

Nothing wrong with toys. We all need a little fun and relaxation. And if we enjoy playing games online that's great. What crosses the line is when any online activity becomes a tangent: a sudden diversion that takes us off track from our priorities and responsibilities.

Tangents torch our time, sap our strength and can cause us to ignore loved ones. Tangents give us a false sense of being productive, doing something. When in reality, we aren't accomplishing anything. Then we feel frustrated, defeated and even guilty when we realize how much time we've wasted.

In today's key verse, the psalmist placed his time in God's hands and asked for deliverance from his enemies. Although he was speaking of physical enemies who could do him harm, we need to realize our tools, toys and tangents can harm us, too.

I've had my own tangents that led me off track and caused me to neglect my family and household responsibilities. And both of these situations made me feel like a failure.

Maybe you have too. Today let's prayerfully and carefully (with all honesty) ask ourselves while spending time online, "Is this a tool, a toy, or a tangent?" By doing this and setting healthy boundaries, we can overcome the enemy of defeat and eliminate frustration. We can free up time for the important relationships and tasks God has for us and live our lives in a meaningful, not frivolous, way.

Dear Lord, teach me to use my time wisely, in a way that honors You and doesn't get derailed by tangents. I want to be efficient and effective for Your Kingdom's work. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
For more on this topic, including 5 Keys to Tangent-Proofing Your Time, visit Karen's blog.

Would you like to bring a life-changing message to the women of your church? Click here to find out more about considering Karen as your next event or keynote speaker.

The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman

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!

Reflect and Respond:
What things in your life can morph from a tool to a toy, or perhaps even become a tangent?

How can you tell when you are wasting time on a tangent? When you sense this is happening, what should you do?

Power Verse:
Ecclesiastes 8:5, "Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way." (ESV)

© 2012 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 4, 2012

Catching the Little Foxes
Melanie Chitwood


"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (NAS)

My friend Holly has a hard time parking in the garage. It sits at a tricky angle and she has run into the garage wall quite a few times. In fact, her van has plenty of scrapes and dents to prove it.

Her husband Dan could choose many ways to respond—he could be angry every time or he could berate her, but that's not his reaction. He has repeatedly chosen to forgive Holly. Their situation is a great example of one of the "little foxes" mentioned in Song of Solomon 2:15: "Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!" (NLT).

Theirs is a situation that could have become divisive but because of Dan's gracious response this "little fox" did not ruin their "vineyard of love."

Do any "little foxes" come to mind when you think about your own marriage?

Maybe your spouse was abrupt when speaking to you, didn't give you the attention you wanted, wasn't responsive to intimacy, forgot your anniversary, or got home late without calling recently. Everyday married life presents countless occasions to choose to be offended or to choose to forgive as today's key verses instructs us.

Without forgiveness we'll find ourselves becoming irritated, hard-hearted, bitter, and disconnected from our spouse. A friend taught me one way to make sure this doesn't happen: The moment I feel offended I can choose to forgive. If my spouse says something that makes me mad or hurt, I need to begin praying at that very moment to forgive. Doing this allows God to begin softening our hearts immediately.

In addition to dealing with the little foxes of small offenses, we will sometimes need to forgive our spouses for big offenses. We might be betrayed by unfaithfulness, our trust might be rattled by secrets our spouses keep, or our feelings might be stomped on by spouses who do the same hurtful things over and over again.

If one quality makes a Christian marriage stand out from the rest, it's our choice to forgive our spouse. We might feel as if we're ignoring the offense or giving our stamp of approval by choosing to forgive. Our pride and fear might rise up: What if the offense happens again and again? Will I be taken for a fool? What will others think?

Choosing to forgive is an act of obedience to God's commands. Forgiveness entails choosing, often over and over again, not to dwell on the offense because that would allow a root of bitterness to grow in our hearts. But let's be clear: If you're dealing with a sin issue in marriage, choose to forgive but still spend the needed time talking about the situation, praying separately and together, and seeking godly counsel.

Forgiveness is one of the most essential attitudes for bringing unity and oneness to marriage, and it flows from our relationship with Christ.

Dear Lord, Cover our marriage with a spirit of forgiveness. I confess that sometimes I want to hold a grudge, to retaliate, or to be right, rather than forgive. Lord, I don't want the enemy to get a foothold in our marriage, so through the power of the Holy Spirit, I slam the door on Satan by choosing to forgive my spouse. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Have you received God's forgiveness?

This devotion was adapted from Melanie Chitwood's book, What a Wife Needs from Her Husband

What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

Reflect and Respond:
What "little foxes" come to mind concerning your marriage? Have you chosen to be offended and hurt? Or gracious and forgiving?

Dwell on Christ's forgiveness of your offenses. The moment you feel offended, begin to pray that the Holy Spirit will work through you to forgive your spouse.

Power Verses:
Colossians 3:12-13, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." (NLT)

© 2012 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 5, 2012

A Pursuit of Happiness
Sarah Martin


"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

I stood numb in the makeup aisle at the drugstore. The glittery pink and shimmery red tubes served as color therapy after a stressful day. Surely brand new lip gloss would alleviate the dismal feelings and ignite some sense of happiness.

Several hours later I added my new purchase to an already full makeup drawer. That's when it hit me. I have 47 other tubes of lip gloss; 47 other purchases on a journey — a pursuit — of happiness.

The coral pink tube was bought to ease my heart after a fight with a loved one.

The ruby red tube was purchased to distract myself from worrying over money.

The glossy sheer tube was meant to cover up my loneliness.

Buying lip gloss (clothes, jewelry, fill in the blank) isn't wrong in and of itself. What is wrong is how I insert short-term pleasures to find happiness, instead of seeking long-term joy in God.

The difference is happiness is fleeting, but joy is eternal. It's joy that sticks with us through stressful days, because joy is found in our always-present Lord. The psalmist says in our key verse, "You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11b) Instead of looking for a short-lived high in things, I'm challenged to find lasting joy in God.

Looking at this very important difference makes me wonder what would happen if ...

Instead of a mad dash to our favorite store for retail therapy, we pursue God and allow Him to give rest to our weary body and mind after a difficult day.

Instead of drowning our frustrations in a tub of ice cream after our car breaks down, we vent our feelings to God and wait on Him to calm us down.

Instead of adding yet another song to our iPod to spark happiness, we make a list of everything we're grateful for and turn around a bad attitude.

I'm tempted to throw out my lip gloss as a symbol of ending this pursuit of happiness. I'm tempted to never buy a tube again. Because I want to show God that I can pursue Him, rather than seeking satisfaction in a temporary thrill.

But, I think I will honor my renewed relationship with joy in the Lord by using each and every tube — knowing that the only road that leads to joy and fulfillment is in Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for the ever-available joy found in You. Please bring it to mind when I'm tempted to replace my frustrations and pain with a temporary fix. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
We're celebrating the release of Sarah Martin's new book, Stress Point. In it Sarah helps young adult women address common stress points and gives them practical ways to wait on the Lord, worship Him and make Him the focus of their lives.

Click here to join Sarah on her blog for helpful tips and a give-away of Stress Point!

Connect with She Seeks, our division for 20-somethings by clicking here.

Reflect and Respond:
What is your go-to temporary happiness?

Spend 10-15 minutes in the Lord's presence today, asking Him to fill you with His joy.

Power Verses:
Psalm 43:4-5, "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (NIV)

© 2012 by Sarah Martin. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

 June 6, 2012

God is Working on Your Behalf
Samantha Reed


"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

An ultimatum from my boss left me no choice but to head into unemployment. I'll never forget the day she asked me to lead an initiative that went against God's Word.

Staying at my job would deny my faith. Leaving would challenge it. Fears clamored. If I quit, I'd be broke. I had no husband, no savings, no additional source of provision.

Day after day I pleaded with God to intervene, to change my boss's mind. But it didn't happen.

She made her decision, which solidified mine: I turned in my two weeks notice.

That was my first step into my journey of joblessness. My mind raced with fears: would I be able to pay rent, find a new job, hold onto hope? Day by day, my financial, spiritual and emotional accounts were depleted. I couldn't see beyond my raw emotions and dreary situation.

God nudged me to send my resume to a ministry. A place I knew rarely hired. Somewhere I didn't know if my gifts could even be used. I doubted they'd accept my application, and pushed aside the thought to apply.

If only I had lifted my eyes away from the despair, I might have realized God was working on my behalf, much like He did for Naomi in the book of Ruth.

You see, at the same time soil churned, seeds nestled underground, and crops waved in the wind, Naomi needed God to intervene. She lamented to her widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth:

"Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up?" (Ruth 1:12b-13a NIV)

Perceived destitution left her feeling desperate. Can you feel it in this widow's words?

Then Naomi told them, "'Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me?'" (vs. 11a)

It would take time for Naomi to look beyond her dire circumstances and see the divine intervention waiting on her. God had plans of redemption that involved Ruth, the very person Naomi tried to push away. Yet she was so engulfed by her emotions and circumstances, she couldn't fathom how God might provide.

"Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." (vs. 20b AMP)

Perhaps your current situation is bitter and dismal. Maybe your journey has been long. You can't see how God is working things out. You don't have the energy to apply for one more job, so you turn down the lead a friend sends you. Your marriage is on the verge of collapse anyhow, so you opt to cancel your counseling appointment. Life in general is bleak, so you withdraw rather than join your sister for dinner.

If you are weary; if the road is too difficult; if you feel destitute financially, emotionally, spiritually; don't miss this—

"So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning." (vs. 22 NIV, emphasis added)

Naomi's journey was hard and long. Yet her first step began at the same time soil churned, seeds nestled underground, crops waved in the wind. And when she arrived at her place of redemption, the harvest was beginning; a harvest that was gleaned by Ruth, the very one she had pushed away.

It was in that field that Ruth caught Boaz's attention. Boaz, who was Naomi's kinsmen redeemer, unceremoniously provided above and beyond for both women for the rest of their lives.

Well before I turned in my two weeks notice, the Lord was tilling the heart of my would-be new employer to hire an assistant. He faithfully watered that seed as I was searching for a job. And a new position was created shortly after I applied.

Looking back now, I wish I had chosen to believe and looked expectantly for His faithfulness instead of torturing myself with worry and fear.

Though unseen, God is divinely intervening. If you are walking in what feels like a desperate and destitute place, might I encourage you? Look to the Lord instead of your circumstances today. He's working on your behalf.

Dear Lord, You are faithful. Please direct my thoughts and my steps. Take what doesn't belong—fear, doubt, unbelief—and replace them with hope, trust and joy as I focus on You instead of my circumstances. Thank You for working on my behalf. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

31 Days of Praise or 31 Days of Prayer by Ruth Myers

A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

Click here for the whole story of God's faithfulness on Samantha's behalf.

Reflect and Respond:
What might the Lord be doing on your behalf, even now? Who or what could He be using, that you may be trying to push away?

"When God seems furthest, He may be laying the foundation of showing His greatest faithfulness." David Platt

Power Verse:
Psalm 66:5, "Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf!" (NIV 1984)

© 2012 by Samantha Reed. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 7, 2012

Asking God for the Impossible
Lysa TerKeurst


"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV 1984)

Several years ago I sat beside my youngest sister and listened as she boldly rejected my views of God. She told me how she'd always been a free spirit, much too non-conventional for traditional religion.

"Good thing I'm not into religion," I gently replied.

She twisted her face as if half expecting a lightening bolt to strike us both. "But you ARE religious."

I laid my head against the back of the lounge chair, closed my eyes to the sun now washing over me and simply replied, "Nope."

Letting my statement just sit for a while, I decided not to clarify unless she asked. And ask she did.

That's when I explained that I follow God, not a list of rules. I am passionate about getting into the Bible - God's teachings - and letting the Bible get into me. I no longer evaluate life based on my feelings. Instead, I let my feelings and experiences be evaluated in light of God's Word.

I have watched God chase me around with rich evidence of His presence and invitations to trade apathy for active faith. But I had to make the choice to see God. Hear God. Know God. And follow hard after God.

Then I took my sister's hand and told her I'd be praying for God to mess with her in ways too bold for her to deny.

Fast forward over six years later. My sister walks into her professor's office and sees one of my books on her bookshelf. I don't think she really believed anyone actually read my books. But there it was. And it messed with her.

She later went home and poked around my blog a bit where she found a clip of my testimony. Again, it messed with her. One verse in particular messed with her so much that she let the possibility that God exists slip into her heart.

A few days later she went and had Jeremiah 29:11 tattooed on the back of her neck. And she started calling wanting to talk to me. About life. About tattoos. And about God.

A few weeks later I stood in the middle of an airport praying for my precious sister who called while I was traveling, and asked me to pray for her. She had called. She had asked. And that's the miracle of our Jesus. He is the God of the impossible.

I wonder what might happen if we dared to ask God for the impossible just a little more often. I'm up for it? Are you?

Dear Lord, use me today to reach the heart of one. I want to trade any apathy I may have for active faith. Lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Lysa's blog by clicking here to read this article about a completely different way to look at the word "impossible."

Lysa will be speaking in over 40 cities this year and would love to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.

Learn how to study the Bible in a fun and relevant way on your own by reading Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst

Reflect and Respond:
Read the book of John over the next several days. Let the truths of Jesus' life resonate in your mind and soul. As you read and ponder each verse daily, let your feelings and experiences be evaluated in the light of God's Word.

How can you, right where you are, choose to see the rich evidences of God? How can you show this to someone else who needs to hear it?

Have you asked God for the impossible lately?

Power Verses:
John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (NIV)

Colossians 1:9, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (NIV)

© 2012 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 8, 2012

"Harmless" Little Lies?
Glynnis Whitwer


"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10 (NIV)

My job was overwhelming, yet I was desperate to appear competent. With each passing week, I found myself giving misleading responses to my boss. All right ... they were lies.

As a young college graduate, I was grateful for the position. It included writing, which I loved, plus answering the phones, which I didn't love quite so much. But the owners promised the position would develop as the company expanded.

Over time, both the company and my work level grew ... but I still answered the phones. Eventually, it got to the point where I couldn't manage everything, at least not well.

My boss was very hands on and often called me into her office for an update on my projects. I found myself dreading those meetings, knowing she'd be displeased with my lack of progress. I could feel myself getting anxious as I fell further behind.

And that is when the lies started:

"Yes, that project is coming along nicely." "I'm almost finished." "Just waiting for a few more pieces of information."

After our meetings, I'd rush back to my desk and frantically try to make my progress match the inaccurate response I'd just given. Over time, the lies and truth became jumbled.

I'd crossed a line of personal integrity that nagged at the edges of my conscience, but not enough to make a change. Until one day my boss gave me another request: to lie for her.

She hadn't gotten something done, and asked me to give false information to a person on the phone. I felt sick to my stomach. This wasn't right. She hadn't even started the project. And now I was supposed to cover for her? It was as if God made me do a 180 and stare at the line of integrity I had already crossed.

I'd compromised my character one half-truth, one excuse, one rationalization at a time. But no more. I had some decisions to make. I needed to determine on which side of the line I would stand.

Would integrity be a mask I put on at church and took off at work? Was my career more important than my character?

Those were heavy questions for a young woman. Especially one who desperately needed a job. But they were necessary. God was using this situation to help shape the person He wanted me to be.

It was a defining moment, and I knew where I wanted to stand.

Knowing I could lose my job, with humility and respect I told my boss I couldn't, no I wouldn't, lie for her. Amazingly, she didn't fire me. With a huff and a sigh, she accepted my decision.

While I wasn't up to confessing all my lies to her, I did confess them to God. And I made a commitment that day to honesty, no matter how personally difficult it was. Luke 16:10 reminds us that God cares about what may seem like a harmless little lie: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (NIV)

Compromise is easy, but character takes work. Yet with God's help, I'm making progress to become the woman of integrity He has called me to be.

Dear Lord, You are the source of all truth. Please forgive me for the times I've twisted the truth to manipulate the opinions of others. I want to be a woman who is filled with Your truth and in whom there is not a shadow of a lie. Help me to uncover whatever stands in the way of becoming that woman. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do you know the Source of all truth?

Visit Glynnis' blog for more encouragement and insights on the dangerous patterns of lying in our culture.

I Used to Be So Organized by Glynnis Whitwer

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!

Reflect and Respond:
Compromise is easy, but character takes work. Yet with God's help, you can make progress to become the woman of integrity He has called you to be.

What little decisions of integrity can you make to help strengthen your character?

Power Verse:
2 Corinthians 8:21, "For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man." (ESV)

© 2012 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June11, 2012

Did I Really Say That?
Wendy Blight


"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

I had just cleaned my kitchen ... everything perfect and in its place ... counters shining, stovetop sparkling. And then it happened. Within moments of completing this labor of love my husband walked through the door.

I should have been thrilled, but I wasn't. I knew what was coming. He was home for lunch and was going to create one of the gourmet sandwiches he loves to make. All I could think about was the grease that would soon be on my freshly polished stove and dishes that would soon fill my sink.

My mind went right to the mess he was about to make in my freshly cleaned kitchen. I couldn't stand it, so I launched into a series of instructions:

"Please don't make a mess. I just cleaned."

"Please put your dishes in the dishwasher."

"Please wipe your crumbs off the counter."

"Please clean the stove I spent an hour scrubbing."

I was polite. Did you count my "pleases?" I just have a way I like things to be done in my kitchen ... my way.

I saw the look on his face. I knew what he was thinking: You have got to be kidding me. Did she really just say that? Why did I even come home for lunch?

I realized I was nagging. I knew I was being controlling. And this wasn't the first time.

Often after I speak such words, I find myself asking, Did I really just say that?

When I make such big deals out of minor things it brings resentment and discord. It's wrong. Yet sometimes it feels like I just can't help myself.

But when I get in God's Word, I am inspired to change. I want to stop being a control freak. I promise myself no matter what—dishes in the sink, crumbs on the counter, grease on the stove—I won't say anything.

It could be hours or days later when the opportunity comes again, and I blow it once more. Within minutes, the words start spewing.

I'm convinced my way is best. Deep inside, I know I should not be this way, but then I hear that voice of justification: "It's just who I am."

The truth is, it is not who I am. It is who I am used to being.

But it's not who God wants me to be. In fact, His Word tells me exactly how He wants me to respond with my speech. My words should be:

Edifying:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

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

Self-controlled:
"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11 (NIV 1984)

Compassionate:
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

This can so hard to do on our own! Yet God enables us to walk in obedience to these scriptures through the power of His Holy Spirit. He will mold us and make us more like Him. And on those days when we feel as if there is no way we can speak kindly to others, let's remember His Word says we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).

When we quiet our hearts. When we open His Word instead of just opening our mouths. When we approach Him with a heart of surrender. When we choose to submit to His ways instead of our own ....

That is when God will do His work and help us tame our tongue. And the next time we find ourselves asking, "Did I really just say that?" I'm praying it will be because we responded with patience, kindness and gentleness that is evidence of His work in us.

Dear Lord, help me to tame my tongue. Make my heart tender to Your Word. Guide me into all Truth. Enable me through the power of Your Holy Spirit to speak gentle, edifying, self-controlled, compassionate words of life. Thank You, Father, that You are faithful and will do what You promise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
This lesson was taken from Wendy's e-book Bible study All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Word in Everyday Life.

Click here to visit Wendy's blog today to enter to win a copy of her e-book Bible study, All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Word in Everyday Life.

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue and accompanying Workbook by Deborah Smith Pegues

Reflect and Respond:
Keep a journal or mental record of your words this week. At the end of the week, honestly examine the words you have spoken.

Apply the truths you have learned today and take one baby step toward changing your speech this week.

Power Verses:
Proverbs 12:18, "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing." (NLT)

Proverbs 10:11a, "The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain." (NLT)

© 2012 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 12, 2012

Broken Places
T. Suzanne Eller


"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)

I knew there were secrets. I pressed gently, but she shied away. I prayed she would tell me when she was ready.

The phone call finally came.

"Can you come get me?"

When I arrived I found her battered and we drove to get medical help. On the way she spilled her secrets. Her mother was often beaten. She and her siblings were secondary targets. Leaving home had been her only escape. She had returned to visit, only to find her brother being abused. She stepped in and crushing blows followed. Her father finally stopped when she begged for her life.

Shana came to live with us until she found a safer environment. In those two months we often stayed up late talking. Her greatest fear was that she would always feel broken.

We prayed together that she could move beyond her father's actions.

Paul, an apostle in the Bible, also knew what it was to be bruised and battered. He was imprisoned unfairly. Beaten.

He once described himself as a chipped clay jar, saying, "We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." Paul had discovered something valuable. There was a light inside that fractured jar healing the hurting places on the interior, then shining through the broken places so that the world could see.

That treasure, nestled in the center of the clay, was Jesus.

As time passed, Shana began to see herself through that light. She wasn't just a battered daughter; she was a woman with purpose. The wounds inflicted by her earthly father took time to heal, but as they did she was led to share her story.

Her message, one she would shout from every mountaintop, is this:

You are loved.

You are made for more than this.

God can and will heal the broken parts of your heart.

Today Shana is a mom and a wife. The treasure inside of this woman illuminates through the once-broken places in a powerful way. She has adopted a son and fostered other children who came to her home with their own broken places, her hope to love them to wholeness. Children trust her because she understands their pain, but also because of the light and love they see inside of her.

Maybe, you were bruised by an earthly parent's words or actions. Can I tell you something? Those words, those actions, they do not define you. You aren't limited by the chips and cracks in the outer shell.

There are thousands, like Shana, like me, who were once chipped and broken. God blazed His light through those cracks, not just healing us, but allowing that light to lead others straight into His loving arms and these truths:

God sees you.

He loves you.

He's reaching to make you whole again.

Dear Lord, I can't change another person's actions or the past, but I can open my heart to the treasure of You. You are the light in the darkness. You are reaching for me today and I am reaching back. Thank You for a fresh beginning inside of me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Suzie's blog for an interview between Suzie and Shana about beginning to heal with God's help.

The Mom I Want to Be by Suzie Eller

Embraced by the Father by Susanne Scheppmann

Join Suzie in her Live Free Facebook community to find daily encouragement on how to live free despite a painful past.

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!

Reflect and Respond:
Your family may have been far from perfect, but Christ offers a family tree, one with a new and beautiful legacy.

Read Ephesians 1:18. Make this paraphrased scripture your prayer today:

I ______________ pray that my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the confident hope Christ has given to me, for He has called me as His own to give a rich and glorious inheritance.

Power Verses:
Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." (NLT)

Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (NLT)

© 2012 by T. Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

 June 19, 2012

Sometimes I Want to Run Away
Glynnis Whitwer


"Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

When my first three children were small, a book in a Christian store caught my eye. The title perfectly depicted how I felt at that time. So I bought it, carried it home, and hid it in my bedside table - still wrapped in the store bag.

The title was Sometimes I Feel Like Running Away From Home.

I was embarrassed for my husband to see it. My oldest was just learning to read and I didn't want him to see it either. What would they think? How could I explain that I didn't really want to leave, but every once in awhile I wanted to not be touched, pulled at or asked a question? I loved my family, but I felt like I was losing me.

And then the guilt set in.

How could a woman who had experienced three years of infertility and now had three healthy children ever want to be away from them? Wasn't I supposed to be enjoying every peanut-butter kiss and jelly-smeared hug? What was wrong with me?

I don't remember ever reading the book; I just kept it hidden. But I do remember the feelings:

• Inadequacy
• Being overwhelmed
• Exhaustion

While I never seriously considered running away, my soul longed for refreshment. As a full-time caregiver I needed to be reminded that I was important. And that it was okay to take time for myself so I could be refueled.

I remember when things changed for me. It wasn't a super-spiritual moment. It was a Target moment, looking at the most adorable girly shoes. As the mother of three boys my life was consumed with masculine things. So I dismissed the shoes thinking they were too girly and walked on. Two steps later I thought: Wait. I am a girl.

I tossed the cute shoes in my cart and determined to start rediscovering me. I could only do small things, but they sustained me on the hard days. Every day I tried to find a me-moment. A few quiet minutes with my Bible or book on the patio ... grocery shopping by myself ... a pretty coffee mug ... fresh cut flowers ... a ruffled blouse. In the midst of the chaos, I created little vignettes of beauty, little moments of peace. Yes Barney was still on the VCR and Hot Wheels were in the hall. But those moments helped.

Of course there are days when feeling overwhelmed and inadequate as a caregiver wasn't as simple as sipping from a cute coffee mug. In today's key verse Jesus modeled the most effective choice: time away and time alone - with our Heavenly Father.

Nothing can replace the peace only God can bring. Yet, in some seasons of life, getting away by ourselves for extended periods of time is near to impossible. In those seasons, we have to get creative. I had to discover ways to connect with God and renew my heart despite the daily demands. The only one who was going to make it happen was me.

In the midst of caring for those you love, don't neglect yourself. You are valuable and important. You are worth a little treat. You have a big job and need to be refreshed.

And by the way, I found the book recently and smiled at the reminder that time does pass, and perspective really helps. We all need a break to get God's viewpoint and peace. We need to refuel ourselves so we can continue to give to others. After all, if there's nothing left inside, what can we give?

Dear Lord, thank You for including in Scripture stories of how Jesus took time for Himself. Help me to accept that I have limits and needs. You know how overwhelmed I feel at times, please refuel and refresh me with Your Spirit first. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Glynnis now has five children, ages 14 to 20 and she still needs to remember to care for herself. Visit Glynnis' blog for a list of her favorite ways to be refreshed.

I Used to Be So Organized by Glynnis Whitwer

Always There offers an inspiring combination of real-faith mothering stories and Scriptures that assures you of God's abiding presence, written by authors such as Renee Swope, Ann Voskamp and more.

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!

Reflect and Respond:
Is there something you love that you have given up because of your current circumstances? Consider if there is a way to re-incorporate that into your life.

Consider ways to be the hands of Jesus and bring refreshment to someone who is a full-time caregiver.

Power Verses:
Proverbs 11:25, "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (NIV)

Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (ESV)

© 2012 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

[Judy Harder]

June 20, 2012

When Worry Makes Me Weary
Renee Swope


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

As we drove home from a weekend in the mountains, I felt a heavy sense of dread and sadness. Laying my head back on my seat, I told my husband, J.J., "I don't want to go home."

After talking through my reasons with him, I realized the stress and strain of countless commitments - at home and work - were taking a toll on me. I just wanted to go back to the mountains where I could rest.

J.J. encouraged me to make a list of everything on my plate and ask God what I needed to cut back. At first I resented his suggestion. It felt like he'd just added one more thing I "needed to do." Yet I knew J.J. was right and eventually I made the list.

Then I asked God to show me where to make changes. Much to my surprise the changes I sensed Him leading me to make weren't in my schedule - they were in me.

God didn't show me I needed to cut back at work or in ministry. He didn't show me our kids were in too many activities. He didn't lead me to take a sabbatical, although I was kind of hoping He would.

Instead, I sensed it was worry - not my workload - that was making me weary.

I thought about the months leading up to this point and realized I'd spent almost as much time thinking and worrying about deadlines as I spent working on them. Some days my concerns about commitments and meeting people's expectations had consumed me.

I had let my mind dwell on the possible outcome of several different decisions - all at the same time - and it left me depleted mentally, emotionally and physically.

Honestly though, until I stopped and talked to God about it, I didn't recognize my mental mayhem as worry.

My mind is wired to think a lot so I'd gotten used to the constant flurry of motion in my brain. Yet anxiety had crept in slowly, causing tangles in my thoughts, a tightening in my chest, and tension in my neck. Some days I couldn't stop thinking about ALL I needed to do.

Instead of going back to the mountains to rest, I sensed God wanted me to find a resting place in His presence right in the middle of my busy life. Through today's key verse from Matthew 11:28, He invited me to come to Him with the worries that were making me weary.

Do you sense Him inviting you to come to Him today?

He promises a place to quiet your thoughts in His presence. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps. 91:1-2 NIV)

He offers freedom from the captivity of your concerns when you bring them to Him: "'Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. And I will lead you back from captivity.'" (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)

Today, instead of letting our worries make us weary, let's respond to God's invitation and come to Him - asking, seeking and finding a resting place for our restless thoughts.

Dear Lord, when my concerns consume me, help me remember You are there inviting me to come to You and talk about all I'm thinking and doing. Show me if my workload or my worries are making me weary and help me trust You with both. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Renee would love to share with you three steps to recognize and overcome worry and a practical way to physically give God your concerns! Also, she's giving away a "Come to Me" stress-relief gift pack" that you can enter to win! Click here to find out more.

If today's devotion resonated with your heart, you don't want to miss Renee Swope's best-selling book: A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises. To order your copy, click here.

Reflect and Respond:
God promises a place to quiet your thoughts in His presence. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps. 91:1-2 NIV)

When you think about all you need to get done, do you ever feel like you're coming undone? Learn how to "cast your cares upon Him" in a practical way that significantly reduces worry. Renee shares how here.

Power Verses:
1 Peter 5:7, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (NLT)

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (NIV)

© 2012 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.