Psalm 55:22 --- you really need to read this.
'Friends are God's way of taking care of us.'
This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5 pm, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke,sputter and die - I barely managed to coast into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the 'quickie mart' building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying 'I don't want my kids to see me crying,' so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, 'And you were praying?' That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me.'
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fuelling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee.
She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City Her boyfriend left 2 months a go and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned and put it in the car. She told the kids they were going to California to see their grandparents for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, 'So, are you like an angel or something?'
This definitely made me cry. I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...
Psalms 55:22 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'
My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, especially for the months in 2008 , and I picked you.
Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me.
Here is the prayer:
'Father, I ask You to bless my children, grandchildren, friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace, In Jesus' precious name. Amen.'
I know I picked more than four -- you can, too.
When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, 'Jesus, could You please get that for me ?!'
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Today’s Truth
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV)
In the Old Testament, God has many names. He is Elohim – the Creator, El Elyon – God Most High, El Roi – the God who sees, El Shaddai – the All-Sufficient One, Adonai – the Lord, Jehovah – the Self-Existent One, Jehovah-Jireh –the Lord Will Provide, Jehovah – Rapha – the Lord that heals, Jehovah—Shalom – the Lord is peace, Jehovah-Raah – the Lord my Shepherd, and many more. His covenant name with the people of Israel was I AM. J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing God, said, “He is: and it is because He is what He is that everything else is as it is.”
In the New Testament, Jesus introduced a new name for God – Father. It is the name that Jesus referred to more than any other and the name that He invites us to use to address the Creator of the Universe. Just stop and think about that for a moment. The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth, who always has been and always will be, who is all-knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere at once – that same God invites you to call Him - Daddy!
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name….’ (Matthew 6:6-9 NIV).
Packer went on to say: “For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God.” All other religions demand followers to worship created beings (Mohammad, Buddha), but Jehovah the Creator, the great I AM, invites us to crawl up in His lap, become His child, and call Him Abba, Daddy. He said, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV)
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for being a father who loves me as His precious child. How amazing to think that the God who created the universe and all it contains invites me to be His child and call Him Abba, Father. I do not take this invitation lightly, but cherish it with all my heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What would a perfect Father look like to you? Make a list of those qualities. Now put a check mark by the ones you have experienced in God as His child.
What does God promise in 2 Corinthians 6:18?
Describe how God, our Father is depicted in Hosea 11:3-4.
What do you learn about the love of God in Ephesians 3:18-19?
What do you learn about the Fatherhood of God in 1 Corinthians 8:6?
In the Old Testament, God has many names. He is Elohim – the Creator, El Elyon – God Most High, El Roi – the God who sees, El Shaddai – the All-Sufficient One, Adonai – the Lord, Jehovah – the Self-Existent One, Jehovah-Jireh –the Lord Will Provide, Jehovah – Rapha – the Lord that heals, Jehovah—Shalom – the Lord is peace, Jehovah-Raah – the Lord my Shepherd, and many more. His covenant name with the people of Israel was I AM. J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing God, said, “He is: and it is because He is what He is that everything else is as it is.”
In the New Testament, Jesus introduced a new name for God – Father. It is the name that Jesus referred to more than any other and the name that He invites us to use to address the Creator of the Universe. Just stop and think about that for a moment. The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth, who always has been and always will be, who is all-knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere at once – that same God invites you to call Him - Daddy!
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name….’ (Matthew 6:6-9 NIV).
Packer went on to say: “For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God.” All other religions demand followers to worship created beings (Mohammad, Buddha), but Jehovah the Creator, the great I AM, invites us to crawl up in His lap, become His child, and call Him Abba, Daddy. He said, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV)
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for being a father who loves me as His precious child. How amazing to think that the God who created the universe and all it contains invites me to be His child and call Him Abba, Father. I do not take this invitation lightly, but cherish it with all my heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What would a perfect Father look like to you? Make a list of those qualities. Now put a check mark by the ones you have experienced in God as His child.
What does God promise in 2 Corinthians 6:18?
Describe how God, our Father is depicted in Hosea 11:3-4.
What do you learn about the love of God in Ephesians 3:18-19?
What do you learn about the Fatherhood of God in 1 Corinthians 8:6?
Monday, October 27, 2008
God Never Changes
God Never Changes
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
Friend to Friend
My husband, Steve, became a Christian in High School and has never wavered from his strong faith in Christ. He was never a rebellious child, but just a good ol' all-American kid. As an adult, he has been a model citizen and exemplary Christian. I guess you might say that he is the male version of Snow White.
One problem that Steve does have, along with every other man, is trying to understand the mysteries of the internal working of that fascinating creature called …woman. To top it all off, the poor fellow has seven female employees (translation: seven sets of hormones and seven schedules of PMS). They are all wonderful Christians, but women none-the-less.
As I listened to his stories about the seven women, and sensed his frustration in trying to figure them out, I kept getting this picture in my mind of "Dr. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." If you remember, the dwarfs' names were Doc, Bashful, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, and Grumpy. I decided what he needed to do was to make name tags of the seven dwarfs and put them in a basket. Each morning, when the women came in the office, they could reach in the basket and get out a name tag which expressed how they were feeling on that particular day. That way it would take the guesswork out, and Steve would know how to respond to each lady on any given day.
Of course, at the end of each day, he would have to collect the name tags, put them back into the basket, and bring them home so I could pick out which dwarf I was on that day. Poor men! We women do make it hard for them.
As I think about how our emotions can flit back and forth on any given day, I am comforted by the fact that we serve a God who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) The Bible is full of different names for God that describe for us unchangeable characteristics of His nature. He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides; Jehovah-rah, the Lord who heals; Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace; Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is there. God can change anything He wants to change, but remains unchanged in Himself. He is our Rock that is without deviation.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, as the ever-changing world swirls around me, I am so thankful that You remain the same. Thank You for being the constant in my life – the North Star that guides my compass and gives me direction as the world and my life spin on its axis.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Think of all the things that have changed in your life over the past year.
Make a list of the ways that you’ve seen God remain the same through the changes.
How does God’s unchanging nature give you hope in a changing world?
How would you like to memorize half of a psalm in the next sixty seconds? Want to give it a try? Turn to Psalm 136. After each sentence, there is an echo, “His love endures forever.” If you repeat those words twenty-six times, you have quoted half of the psalm! David begins by reminding us that God created the world, led the captives out of Egypt and through the desert, and conquered the enemies of the Israelites so they could move into the Promised Land. While He works in many varied ways and with many different people, one thing remains the same – “His love endures forever!” He never changes.
More From The Girlfriends
This story of “Dr. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was adapted from Sharon’s devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God. To learn more, see http://www.sharonjaynes.com/
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
Friend to Friend
My husband, Steve, became a Christian in High School and has never wavered from his strong faith in Christ. He was never a rebellious child, but just a good ol' all-American kid. As an adult, he has been a model citizen and exemplary Christian. I guess you might say that he is the male version of Snow White.
One problem that Steve does have, along with every other man, is trying to understand the mysteries of the internal working of that fascinating creature called …woman. To top it all off, the poor fellow has seven female employees (translation: seven sets of hormones and seven schedules of PMS). They are all wonderful Christians, but women none-the-less.
As I listened to his stories about the seven women, and sensed his frustration in trying to figure them out, I kept getting this picture in my mind of "Dr. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." If you remember, the dwarfs' names were Doc, Bashful, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, and Grumpy. I decided what he needed to do was to make name tags of the seven dwarfs and put them in a basket. Each morning, when the women came in the office, they could reach in the basket and get out a name tag which expressed how they were feeling on that particular day. That way it would take the guesswork out, and Steve would know how to respond to each lady on any given day.
Of course, at the end of each day, he would have to collect the name tags, put them back into the basket, and bring them home so I could pick out which dwarf I was on that day. Poor men! We women do make it hard for them.
As I think about how our emotions can flit back and forth on any given day, I am comforted by the fact that we serve a God who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) The Bible is full of different names for God that describe for us unchangeable characteristics of His nature. He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides; Jehovah-rah, the Lord who heals; Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace; Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is there. God can change anything He wants to change, but remains unchanged in Himself. He is our Rock that is without deviation.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, as the ever-changing world swirls around me, I am so thankful that You remain the same. Thank You for being the constant in my life – the North Star that guides my compass and gives me direction as the world and my life spin on its axis.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Think of all the things that have changed in your life over the past year.
Make a list of the ways that you’ve seen God remain the same through the changes.
How does God’s unchanging nature give you hope in a changing world?
How would you like to memorize half of a psalm in the next sixty seconds? Want to give it a try? Turn to Psalm 136. After each sentence, there is an echo, “His love endures forever.” If you repeat those words twenty-six times, you have quoted half of the psalm! David begins by reminding us that God created the world, led the captives out of Egypt and through the desert, and conquered the enemies of the Israelites so they could move into the Promised Land. While He works in many varied ways and with many different people, one thing remains the same – “His love endures forever!” He never changes.
More From The Girlfriends
This story of “Dr. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was adapted from Sharon’s devotion book, Extraordinary Moments with God. To learn more, see http://www.sharonjaynes.com/
Friday, October 24, 2008
God Really Does Care
Today’s Truth
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)
While the world chants: “Don’t worry, be happy,” we Christians should practice a much more appropriate principle: “Don’t worry, God cares!” God knows and God really does care about the little and large things that touch our lives.
Let’s Pray
Lord, thank You for caring about every single detail of my life and for taking care of them all. Help me to trust You more and turn to You more quickly for help in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
How has God taken care of you this past week?
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11.
Who is trying to rob you of joy (vs. 8)?
Describe the picture the verse creates in your mind. You can resist him by humbly asking God for help (vs. 6) and worshipping God (vs. 13).
Make a list of the troubling situations in your life. Read Philippians 4:6-7 and follow the directions. Enjoy the resulting peace!
Tell a friend about one of your own “God Moments.” Sharing gives us the opportunity to praise God. It may also create in your friend the desire to look for God in her own life circumstances!
Check out the whole devotion and others.
May God Bless you in all you do!
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)
While the world chants: “Don’t worry, be happy,” we Christians should practice a much more appropriate principle: “Don’t worry, God cares!” God knows and God really does care about the little and large things that touch our lives.
Let’s Pray
Lord, thank You for caring about every single detail of my life and for taking care of them all. Help me to trust You more and turn to You more quickly for help in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
How has God taken care of you this past week?
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11.
Who is trying to rob you of joy (vs. 8)?
Describe the picture the verse creates in your mind. You can resist him by humbly asking God for help (vs. 6) and worshipping God (vs. 13).
Make a list of the troubling situations in your life. Read Philippians 4:6-7 and follow the directions. Enjoy the resulting peace!
Tell a friend about one of your own “God Moments.” Sharing gives us the opportunity to praise God. It may also create in your friend the desire to look for God in her own life circumstances!
Check out the whole devotion and others.
May God Bless you in all you do!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Whose Report Are You Going to Believe?
October 20, 2008
Whose Report Are You Going to Believe?
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30 NIV).
Friend to Friend
All through the Bible, God gives us great and wonderful promises about who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and where we are in Christ. Let me remind you of just a few.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)
“God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3)
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:5)
The Bible is packed full of many promises just like those. However, the enemy, Satan, tells us that we are worthless losers with little to no power to live in victory. He tells us we are but “grasshoppers” in the face of our difficulties and struggles. So, whose reports are we going to believe?
The Israelites faced the same situation. They had been freed from Egyptian slavery and then roamed around in the desert. God then signaled it was time to enter the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. He said, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan which I am giving the Israelites.” At God’s command, Moses sent in twelve men to spy out the land and ten of them came back with this report:
“We went into the land which you sent us and it does flow with milk and honey! But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13:27, 28) The men went on to say they were like grasshoppers compared to the giants who lived in Canaan.
However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, believed God and reported, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (13:30)
Guess who the people believed? They believed the “evil report” and failed to take the land because of fear. I have an acronym for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. They saw only the giants, but failed to see Almighty God. God had already given them the land. The people simply needed to walk in and take possession of it. Instead of moving into the Promised Land, they wandered in the desert for forty years because of their unbelief. Caleb and Joshua were the only two who inhabited the Promised Land. The others died in their unbelief.
Oswald Chambers notes, “Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be non-existent. But remember God’s assurance to us – ‘I will never … forsake you.’ Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, ‘The Lord is my Helper,’ or are we yielding to fear?”
I don’t want to be like those Israelites who didn’t believe God told the truth. Do you? Let me ask you a few questions. Are you going to move into the land flowing with milk and honey - take the promises found in the Bible and make them yours? Or, are you going to believe the evil report and continue wandering around in the desert – free from slavery, but missing the Promised Land? Whose report are you going to believe?
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that You have called me to walk in victory. Help me to realize when I am listening to Satan’s lies, “to the evil report,” and not to You. If I am the only person who believes in Your promises today, give me the courage to believe and walk forward in faith to what You’ve called me to do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think back over your life for the past few months. Have you believed what your eyes see or have you believed what God promises in His word? Make a list of promises of God that mean the most to you and practice believing the truth!
Look back over the promises of God listed above in the devotion. How might these verses help you defeat that “grasshopper” feeling in your life?
Can you think of a time where you believed God’s report instead of the border bullies, naysayers, and gloom and doomers? What was the result?
Is there someone you have been listening to and believing rather than God?
Do you feel like a grasshopper or a soldier in God’s army? Which is the truth?
Whose Report Are You Going to Believe?
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30 NIV).
Friend to Friend
All through the Bible, God gives us great and wonderful promises about who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and where we are in Christ. Let me remind you of just a few.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)
“God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3)
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:5)
The Bible is packed full of many promises just like those. However, the enemy, Satan, tells us that we are worthless losers with little to no power to live in victory. He tells us we are but “grasshoppers” in the face of our difficulties and struggles. So, whose reports are we going to believe?
The Israelites faced the same situation. They had been freed from Egyptian slavery and then roamed around in the desert. God then signaled it was time to enter the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. He said, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan which I am giving the Israelites.” At God’s command, Moses sent in twelve men to spy out the land and ten of them came back with this report:
“We went into the land which you sent us and it does flow with milk and honey! But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13:27, 28) The men went on to say they were like grasshoppers compared to the giants who lived in Canaan.
However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, believed God and reported, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (13:30)
Guess who the people believed? They believed the “evil report” and failed to take the land because of fear. I have an acronym for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. They saw only the giants, but failed to see Almighty God. God had already given them the land. The people simply needed to walk in and take possession of it. Instead of moving into the Promised Land, they wandered in the desert for forty years because of their unbelief. Caleb and Joshua were the only two who inhabited the Promised Land. The others died in their unbelief.
Oswald Chambers notes, “Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be non-existent. But remember God’s assurance to us – ‘I will never … forsake you.’ Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, ‘The Lord is my Helper,’ or are we yielding to fear?”
I don’t want to be like those Israelites who didn’t believe God told the truth. Do you? Let me ask you a few questions. Are you going to move into the land flowing with milk and honey - take the promises found in the Bible and make them yours? Or, are you going to believe the evil report and continue wandering around in the desert – free from slavery, but missing the Promised Land? Whose report are you going to believe?
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that You have called me to walk in victory. Help me to realize when I am listening to Satan’s lies, “to the evil report,” and not to You. If I am the only person who believes in Your promises today, give me the courage to believe and walk forward in faith to what You’ve called me to do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think back over your life for the past few months. Have you believed what your eyes see or have you believed what God promises in His word? Make a list of promises of God that mean the most to you and practice believing the truth!
Look back over the promises of God listed above in the devotion. How might these verses help you defeat that “grasshopper” feeling in your life?
Can you think of a time where you believed God’s report instead of the border bullies, naysayers, and gloom and doomers? What was the result?
Is there someone you have been listening to and believing rather than God?
Do you feel like a grasshopper or a soldier in God’s army? Which is the truth?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
When I Am Afraid
October 16, 2008
When I Am Afraid
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).
Friend to Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. There always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the process all over again. Sound familiar?
Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. In an effort to raise responsible young adults, our children began doing their own laundry at a young age. However, there was a price to be paid for that lesson. After a few loads that yielded pink male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting. Heaven help the man, woman or child who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to peace and joy! How? By counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful and we can count on Him to be with us every step of the way. Worry is trying to fix tomorrow’s problems with today’s resources. My husband and I are flying to Charlotte, North Carolina. Dan booked the tickets and reserved seats for both of us. We have packed our suitcases and made every preparation we can think of. However, we really don’t need any of those things…until we get on the plane. Grace is much the same. God gives grace in daily doses – just when we need them.
Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT).
Count on God for direction. Life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion. God offers direction and guidance through His word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 32:8 I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you (NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from the scenario sickness of “What if”. There are no “what ifs” when we choose to trust God for every need.
Isaiah 65:24 I will provide their needs before they ask. I will help them while they are still asking for help (NLT).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we follow God’s agenda, God fights for us. When we follow our agenda, we are on our own.
Exodus 14:13 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, “If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!” Many of us have good reason to be afraid because we are sitting in the pilot seat of life, determined to be in control. Fear feeds stress. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender control to God and find the peace waiting in His hand.
Let’s Pray
Father, my heart is filled with fear. It seems like I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Lord, help me to surrender my fears to You. Strengthen me to face each one and walk through it, knowing that You are with me. I choose to trust You and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and choose for peace. I choose You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What fears are you facing today?
Make a list of your fears.
What step(s) do you need to take in order to find victory over those fears?
Surrender each one to the loving control of God as you pray, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Burn the list as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God’s perfect peace enthroned in your life.
Read and memorize the following verses. When you are afraid, pray and speak these verses aloud:
Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (NIV).
Psalm 63: 7-8 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me (NIV).
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (NIV).
More From The Girls
The longer I live and walk with Christ, the more I experience the reality that God is the only one I can truly count on in life. He never lets me down. He never leaves me. He is always there when I cry out to Him. Fear was once a very familiar prison to me. Step-by-step, I began to realize just how faithful God is and that realization has changed my life. When you are afraid, He is your complete peace.
When I Am Afraid
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).
Friend to Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. There always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the process all over again. Sound familiar?
Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. In an effort to raise responsible young adults, our children began doing their own laundry at a young age. However, there was a price to be paid for that lesson. After a few loads that yielded pink male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting. Heaven help the man, woman or child who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to peace and joy! How? By counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful and we can count on Him to be with us every step of the way. Worry is trying to fix tomorrow’s problems with today’s resources. My husband and I are flying to Charlotte, North Carolina. Dan booked the tickets and reserved seats for both of us. We have packed our suitcases and made every preparation we can think of. However, we really don’t need any of those things…until we get on the plane. Grace is much the same. God gives grace in daily doses – just when we need them.
Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT).
Count on God for direction. Life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion. God offers direction and guidance through His word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 32:8 I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you (NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from the scenario sickness of “What if”. There are no “what ifs” when we choose to trust God for every need.
Isaiah 65:24 I will provide their needs before they ask. I will help them while they are still asking for help (NLT).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we follow God’s agenda, God fights for us. When we follow our agenda, we are on our own.
Exodus 14:13 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, “If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!” Many of us have good reason to be afraid because we are sitting in the pilot seat of life, determined to be in control. Fear feeds stress. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender control to God and find the peace waiting in His hand.
Let’s Pray
Father, my heart is filled with fear. It seems like I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Lord, help me to surrender my fears to You. Strengthen me to face each one and walk through it, knowing that You are with me. I choose to trust You and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and choose for peace. I choose You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What fears are you facing today?
Make a list of your fears.
What step(s) do you need to take in order to find victory over those fears?
Surrender each one to the loving control of God as you pray, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Burn the list as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God’s perfect peace enthroned in your life.
Read and memorize the following verses. When you are afraid, pray and speak these verses aloud:
Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (NIV).
Psalm 63: 7-8 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me (NIV).
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (NIV).
More From The Girls
The longer I live and walk with Christ, the more I experience the reality that God is the only one I can truly count on in life. He never lets me down. He never leaves me. He is always there when I cry out to Him. Fear was once a very familiar prison to me. Step-by-step, I began to realize just how faithful God is and that realization has changed my life. When you are afraid, He is your complete peace.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
You are truly special
October 15, 2008
I am God’s Workmanship
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
Friend to Friend
When my son was in elementary school, he created some works of art that had a striking resemblance to that of the world-renowned artist, Picasso. However, Picasso’s paintings are worth millions of dollars and my son’s are only valuable to me. What makes a work of art valuable? Its value is based on the artist who created it. You, dear friend, are a piece of art created by God Himself. King David described it this way:
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).
A woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. In fact, she was His grand finale. After He fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful. Let’s go back to the beginning of time and reflect on our magnificent beginnings.
After God created the sun, moon, stars, earth, waters, creeping and flying animals, he created man. But something was missing. For Adam there was no creature suitable for him. This is the only time God said any aspect of His creation was “not good.” He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-24 NASB)
While God created the world and all it contains, He did something a little special when He made woman. The NASB translation says He fashioned Eve. He didn’t simply make you – He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous detail. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpieces - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I complain about Your masterpiece – my nose, my hips, my complexion, etc. I praise You for the intricacies of the human body. The fact that my heart beats without my telling it to, my lungs inhale and exhale without my instruction, and my reflexes react automatically. Yes, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Make a list today of how your body is wonderfully made by God. Example:
My eyelids blink.
My food is digested.
My heart beats.
What ways have you complained about your body lately?
How does the above list of how you are wonderfully made compare to your complaints?
When you see a newborn baby, what is one of your first thoughts?
Considering that Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our own image,” how should we view ourselves?
More From The Girlfriends
Wow, when we think of all the intricacies God put into making us, it is truly amazing. But more than a body, He also created us with a soul and a spirit. And all through our lives, God is at work to complete the masterpiece of you and me through our minds, wills, and emotions. If you would like to begin seeing yourself as God sees you, you’ll want to read Experience the Ultimate Makeover by Sharon Jaynes. When you see yourself as God sees you, you’ll never again feel inadequate.
I am God’s Workmanship
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
Friend to Friend
When my son was in elementary school, he created some works of art that had a striking resemblance to that of the world-renowned artist, Picasso. However, Picasso’s paintings are worth millions of dollars and my son’s are only valuable to me. What makes a work of art valuable? Its value is based on the artist who created it. You, dear friend, are a piece of art created by God Himself. King David described it this way:
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).
A woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. In fact, she was His grand finale. After He fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful. Let’s go back to the beginning of time and reflect on our magnificent beginnings.
After God created the sun, moon, stars, earth, waters, creeping and flying animals, he created man. But something was missing. For Adam there was no creature suitable for him. This is the only time God said any aspect of His creation was “not good.” He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-24 NASB)
While God created the world and all it contains, He did something a little special when He made woman. The NASB translation says He fashioned Eve. He didn’t simply make you – He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous detail. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpieces - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I complain about Your masterpiece – my nose, my hips, my complexion, etc. I praise You for the intricacies of the human body. The fact that my heart beats without my telling it to, my lungs inhale and exhale without my instruction, and my reflexes react automatically. Yes, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Make a list today of how your body is wonderfully made by God. Example:
My eyelids blink.
My food is digested.
My heart beats.
What ways have you complained about your body lately?
How does the above list of how you are wonderfully made compare to your complaints?
When you see a newborn baby, what is one of your first thoughts?
Considering that Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our own image,” how should we view ourselves?
More From The Girlfriends
Wow, when we think of all the intricacies God put into making us, it is truly amazing. But more than a body, He also created us with a soul and a spirit. And all through our lives, God is at work to complete the masterpiece of you and me through our minds, wills, and emotions. If you would like to begin seeing yourself as God sees you, you’ll want to read Experience the Ultimate Makeover by Sharon Jaynes. When you see yourself as God sees you, you’ll never again feel inadequate.
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