This Is My Father's World

Seeing beyond the garbage

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for those sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him." Philippians 3:8-9 (NIV)

At a New Year's retreat in Bangladesh, I found an idyllic spot for my quiet time--a secluded beach atop a cliff overlooking rice fields and waterways. The sun was warm, the distant sound of villagers echoed, my bible lay in my lap, and I had a whole hour ahead of me -- pretty close to perfect!

Then a man with a basket on his shoulder strolled up to the cliff edge and dumped garbage over the side, right in front of me! Not such a perfect spot now. I looked over the side, and there was a mound of trash piled at the bottom. He must have wondered, Why is this foreigner sitting there in front of the garbage dump?

That knowledge didn't chase me off. The prospect of a quite hour with the Creator of the beauty that I could see blinded to the ugliness of the garbage that I couldn't see. It was another lesson from God about learning to look at the world through spiritual eyes.

Sometimes the places where international missionaries serve aren't much prettier than garbage dumps. Maybe even the place where you live is not optimum. Yet the Father wants us to look beyond the physical world and see Him with our spiritual eyes. When we desire to know Him above all things we can do this. In my quite time that morning above the dump, God led me to Philippians 3:8-9. Those words became my New Year's resolution--to know Him more! Knowing Him allows me to continue when life seems more like a garbage dump. -- T.D.F. Missionary South Asia

Prayer:

Oh God may I be willing to look pass the "garbage" that distracts me from keeping my eyes focused on you. May I know you more this New Year, and may I hear your voice through your word as I face each day. I pray for Christian workers all over the world to dedicate themselves again to seek only your will and to give you all the glory. Amen.

Source: "Voices of the Faithful" Inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world with Beth Moore and friends who put their lives on the line for God. Compiled by Kim P. Davis, Page 427, Thomas Nelson Publishers, ISBN # 1-59145-364-x




God Is for Us
Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 8:31-34

Throughout life, there will be times when our sins and failures lead us to conclude that God is disappointed or angry with us. How can He still love me after what I've done? If I'm really forgiven, why do I still feel so guilty? At such time's, we need to fix our eyes on the truth of Scripture and ask the questions Paul posed in Romans 8.

If God is for us, who is against us (v. 31)?

Our heavenly Father proved His loyalty to us when He delivered His own Son over to death in order to save us. Without Christ's atoning death on our behalf, we would face eternal separation from God.

Who will bring a charge against God's elect (v. 33)?

No accusation against us can stand, since at the moment of salvation, the Lord justified us. This means we were legally declared righteous, while still in our sinning condition. No one can reverse this transaction and make us guilty again. To doubt our blameless standing in Christ is to declare His atonement insufficient to cover our sin.

Who is the one who condemns (v. 34)?

Although Satan rails against us, Jesus' death and resurrection are proof that we are right with God. Christ took our condemnation and gave us His righteousness in return. Now He sits at the Father's right hand, interceding for us.

When doubts about the Lord's love and faithfulness arise, focus on truth. If we judge His loyalty to us by our circumstances or feelings, we will never get an accurate view of God. True security lies not in our good performance, but in our relationship with Christ, and no one can take that from us.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit http://www.intouch.org/.

Fernando Ortega - This is my Father's World



Simply trust Christ and follow Him. He is the one who fulfills dreams
and gives hope for a new year of serving Him.

Faith & Miracles: The Firey Furnace

FAITH & MIRACLES PART IV:
THE FIERY FURNACE

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is one of the most fun miracles in the Old Testament. These three Hebrews stood up to King Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into the furnace for it. They obeyed God and remained faithful to Him, trusting that God could marvelously, miraculously save them.

They didn't know exactly what was going to happen, though. They knew that God could save them. They didn't know if He would.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." -Daniel 3:16-18

"But if not." We are usually in that same boat. We believe that God can do anything. He can split the ocean and let escaping slaves walk through on dry land. He can provide money or food at the last moment to feed orphans. He can heal people from cancer and Alzheimer's and drug addiction. We know He can. We just don't know in our situation if He will. So, the question we asked at the beginning of this series remains... in what, exactly, are we supposed to have faith? That God will do something? We don't know that. Then what?

Mistake #4: Not Depending On God's Love:
One of the biggest errors we make when we pray is that we really don't think that God WANTS to do what we ask. We have the idea that God wants us to go through this suffering for a reason. And perhaps He does. Maybe He's refining us through fire (1 Peter 1:6-7). Maybe He is teaching us to depend on Him and not our own strength. Then again, maybe He is perfectly willing to do what we ask. The bottom line of our fear is that we do not really believe God loves us.

And yet, believing in HIS LOVE may be the very key to our faith. We believe God exists. We believe He is powerful. Do we truly believe He loves us? If yes, then we can believe that His will is excellent. Then we can believe He wants to do the most excellent things in our lives, no matter what those things are.

Guess what!! God didn't let those young men perish! He protected them in the middle of the fire and they walked out unharmed and not even smelling of smoke!

Maybe... maybe God wants to do wonderful healing, protective things in our lives, but He's waiting until our understanding is correct. God our Father loves us so deeply and selflessly that He gave His precious Son for us. He would never pay that price for us and then drop us. When we pray, we need to pray with confidence in that love.

Example - Amy Joy:

On November 27, 2010, Amy Joy Hess (one of our writers) piled wood and paper on the burn pile behind her house on her 4.5 acres. She had been renovating her house, and she piled scraps of lumber along with bags of papers she wanted to get rid of. She set the pile on fire, and as the flames rose, she realized she had forgotten to pay attention to the wind. The cold November wind whisked up ashy, burning papers and blew them into the woods near the burn pile. "I am such an idiot," Amy Joy told herself. She knew better than to light a fire when the wind was blowing.

"Dear Lord," Amy Joy prayed fearfully, "Please don't let the woods catch on fire. Please don't let the woods catch on fire." She begged God, "Please calm down the wind. Please calm it down." Nothing changed. The wind continued to blow orange flames toward the trees. Dry leaves at the base of the fire ignited, reminding Amy Joy of the thousands of dry oak leaves in the woods.

"Wait," Amy Joy said to herself, "I'm not praying right." Then she began to remind herself of the truth. "Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me," she told herself. "Jesus loves me." She felt her confidence in the love of God for her grow. The fear left. "Jesus cared about me," Amy Joy told us. "He didn't want my woods to burn down. I knew He would keep me safe."

Then, full of confidence in God's love, Amy Joy spoke to the fire and wind, and she said, "In the name of Jesus Christ, calm down."

The change was immediate. "Instantly, the fire just 'whoosh!' went from lion-mode to kitten mode," Amy Joy said. "It didn't simply calm. It was like a giant hand pressed down, and it actually puffed out the sides. The flames relaxed, and there was no wind, and the fire became as docile as you could want. There was a soft blue flame in the middle of glowing red. I was like, 'WOW! Let's try that again!'"

Later on, when a few gusts of wind came through, Amy Joy grew worried again. "But, then I remembered that God was taking care of things, and I knew I was safe." The fire eventually burned out, and Amy Joy swears she will check for wind before lighting fires in the future.

When we pray, we need to rest in the belief that God desires to do wonderful things in our lives, and we need to trust in the work He is doing in us. Everyday need to we say, "Lord, we are Yours. Thank you so much for loving us. Please keep us in the cross hairs of Your will today, because we know Your will is good."

That's praying in Faith.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 2:4-7

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The Empty Tomb

One Way to Salvation
Pastor Adrian Rogers

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6

Materialism says, "Buy your way out." The politician says, "Legislate." The army says, "Fight." Industry says, "Work." The philosopher says, "Think." But Jesus says, "There's no way out but through Me."

Jesus will save you by His grace, and He'll save you all by Himself or you won't be saved at all. When you are saved by the grace of God, you are saved instantly, and you are saved eternally. Your goodness is not enough to save you, and your badness is not enough to keep you away. Jesus loves you so much that He died to save you.

Have you taken Jesus at His Word and followed His way of salvation? Maybe you have a friend who needs this truth today. Share it, don't suppress it.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.

The Poor and the Marketplace

The Poor and the Marketplace
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
12-29-2010

"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God" (Lev 19:9-10).

God has a special place in his heart for the poor. In the book of Isaiah we read these words:


"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh? -Isa 58:6-7
So how does God want us to care for the poor? Is it through government welfare programs, food stamps, or soup kitchens? God gives us his answer in the Old Testament story of Boaz, Ruth and Naomi. It was customary for farmers to not glean their entire fields in order to leave some of the crop for the poor to glean. This allowed the poor to come at the end of the day and work to receive their provision. This is how the widow Naomi was able to care for herself. Boaz allowed the poor in his community to come to his field at the end of the day to get the leftovers of the harvest.

Notice that God created a partnership between the marketplace and the poor. I believe it is the marketplace that has a responsibility to the poor. By providing an opportunity to glean something from our businesses through an opportunity to work, we provide provision and dignity to the poor.

What are the gleanings in your business? Consider how you might serve the poor.



Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you to ask a special blessing of health and prosperity upon the poor. Though they may be poor in the eyes of the world, may they be rich in spiritual blessings and happiness. Though they may live in meager shelters or be homeless, may they find warmth and love. Though they may not have material possessions, may they have food to eat, clothes to wear, and place to sleep. I pray that this season, this year and in the days ahead, every need be met whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. I pray that doors will open, people will reach out and encourage, jobs and education will be available, and sufficient housing will be provided. I pray that the sick will be well, the disabled will be enabled, the bound will be loosed, the scared will find courage, the hopeless will find hope, the lost will find salvation in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Please have mercy...and please use those of us who have to minister to those who have not. Guide, direct, protect us, Father. In Jesus' name I pray and give thanks, amen.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

I Refuse by Josh Wilson

Time for Rest
by Mary Southerland
Girlfriends in God Devotional

Today's Truth
Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT) "The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul."

Friend to Friend
Life is so daily and often filled with uncertainty, a reality that can make me very nervous. I want to know what the plan is and how that plan is going to be implemented. Details! I need details! Instead, God calls me to rest. I don't want to rest. When I rest, I feel guilty. I have places to go, people to see and important things to do. I hear the quiet whisper of the One who knows me best and loves me most, "Mary, it's time to rest." I have tried to ignore that whisper on more than one occasion but it is only a temporary maneuver on my part. The Lord is my Shepherd, He is used to dealing with stubborn sheep like me. He will lovingly make me lie down in green pastures and firmly lead me beside quiet waters. Why? Because He wants to refresh my soul and give me the peace that can only be found at His feet. Rest is not really an option. It is a spiritual discipline that needs to become a spiritual habit in our life.

Admit your need for rest. Many of us have bought into the lie that who we are is based on what we do or don't do. We fill every waking moment with something or someone in order to prove our worth. After all, we must be worthy if we are doing worthy things, right? Busyness does not always equal productivity. When we admit our need to rest, we are acknowledging the fact that we are imperfect and that our human power is limited. We need to rest in Him.

Turn to Jesus to find rest. Recreation is anything you enjoy doing while relaxation is any activity that slows you down. Restoration is an inside job and can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We once had an Australian cattle dog named Dallas. Australian cattle dogs are extremely loyal to a master of their choice. Dallas chose our son, Jered, to be his master. When Jered came home from school each day, Dallas would greet him at the door and follow him wherever he went. If Jered was doing homework in his room, Dallas would find a spot under the desk. If our son was working in the garage, Dallas was with him. When Jered ran an errand, Dallas went for a ride. Dallas instinctively knew that the only place he would find genuine rest was at the feet of his master. The same is true in our life.

Lay your stuff at Jesus' feet. The number one stress is the result of bearing a burden that is not yours to carry. Exhaustion comes when we take on a responsibility God never intended us to have. The twin of exhaustion is emptiness that comes when we fail to take on a responsibility God does intend for us to assume. God empowers His plan and agenda for our life. When we step outside of that plan, we are stepping into our own power and depending on our own strength, both of which will soon be depleted.

Realize you are not alone. For years, our family vacationed in the mountains of North Carolina in order to escape the brutal heat of South Florida where we lived. We all had our favorite thing to do while on vacation. Dan loved to read and take long walks in the cool, green forests. The kids loved wading in creeks, looking for "gold." My favorite activity was shopping for antiques. Now let me define "antiques" and "antique stores" according to Mary. The best stores were nestled in the mountains on some remote dirt road and the "antiques" were what most people would call junk. One year, I walked into a shop and stopped in my tracks when I saw the yoke. Matthew 11:28-30 is one of my husband's favorite passages of Scripture where Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls." For years, I searched for just the right yoke to give Dan as a special gift. It seemed that every yoke I found was either too big or too small and in less than stellar condition. The yoke before me was in perfect condition and was just the right size and price. Upon closer inspection, my excitement faded.

Yokes have two loops of leather or wood attached to a sturdy wooden frame. Two working animals wear the loops around their necks in order to bear whatever load they are given. The loops on this particular yoke were not the same size - one larger than the other. When I pointed out the flaw, the shop owner said, "It is supposed to be made like that. The stronger animal is placed in the larger loop to help the weaker animal pull the load. A shared load is a lighter load.

Are you tired and exhausted from trying to live life on your own? Come to Jesus and find rest in Him.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for the promise of rest. It seems like I am always tired and every step is hard. Please forgive me when I turn to You as a last resort instead of running to You first. Today, I turn to You, Lord, for rest.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Writing The Future

Pruning our Lives
by Sharon Jaynes
Girlfriends in God Devotional

Today's Truth

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
In 2006, I sat down to write my annual Christmas letter and it began with these words: "This year has been a year of change." Then I realized that was the very same way I had begun our traditional letter the year before! I tore up the letter and decided to skip our Christmas letter that year.

Have you ever had one of those years when everything in your life seemed to change? I had two years in succession where God left no area of my life untouched...except my marriage. I did get to keep my husbandJ My son graduated from college, I stepped down from leadership at a ministry where I had served for ten years and my voice went off the radio for the first time in a decade. But perhaps the biggest change was that we left a home we had lived in for twenty years. This was a home we had built, filled with wonderful memories in every room. My adult son's two-year-old handprints were stamped in the concrete of the driveway, his growth was charted on the kitchen doorframe, and echoes of laughter and tears lingered in the now empty rooms.

But Steve and I packed up our memories and moved out into the country to a house overlooking a beautiful lake. And while we loved the view and the house, the yard was a mess. The shrubbery around the house was terribly overgrown and there were just too many bushes. Steve began the arduous task of cutting the bushes back, and while he is quite a Rambo with a hedge trimmer, the job was too big for him. We hired a crew to finish the job. The men hauled off truck loads of trimmings. All-in-all, they carted away 2,000 pounds of cuttings!

As I watched the last dump truck pull away from our newly trimmed yard, God began to show me a picture. He seemed to tell me that over the past two years, He had been pruning my life in order to make room for healthy new growth. My life had become too full with what I had been comfortable doing. Yes, there was fruit, but He wanted me to produce more fruit. The only way to make room for what He had in store was to lop off areas of my life that had become overgrown. Was it comfortable? No. Was it spiritually profitable? Yes.

Jesus explained this process to the disciples in one of their last conversations together before the cross: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1).

As you move into the New Year, ask God what parts of your busy schedule need to be pruned or cut back. Perhaps, like me, He has some new and exciting ventures waiting just around the corner, and He's waiting for you to make room in your life before He reveals them.

Let's Pray
Dear God, sometimes I don't like it when you prune my life. It's uncomfortable and I'm not crazy about change. However, I know that You are the gardener who knows what is best to produce the best crop in my life. Forgive me when I whine and complain about the process. Help me to trust You more and give up what needs to be removed with an attitude of expectancy and anticipation of a bumper crop of spiritually healthy fruit.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen




Classic Car Christmas Card



Being Spirit-Filled
Pastor Adrian Rogers

"...Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6

So many Christians want to be Spirit-filled, but have they ever asked why God should fill them with His Spirit?

I want you to imagine a man pushing a car into a service station. It has no battery in it. The car has four flat tires, a hole in the gas tank, and half the wires are disconnected. The attendant comes out, looks at this rattle trap, and says, "May I help you?"

And the man says, "Yeah, fill 'er up."

What do you think that attendant would say?

"What for?" would be appropriate.

I think God sometimes says, "What for?" to us. Instead, we need to just sign the contract at the bottom and say, "Lord, You fill it in."

Bow before the Lord, open your hands and say, "Lord, It's all You. I am nothing but a vessel for You to use. Use me as You will."


For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.




Lisa Bevere: Writing the Future (Words of LIFE)

Christmas: A Time for Giving

Christmas: A Time for Giving
Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 2:1-20

Christmas is one of the happiest holidays because during this season, people are more generous than at any other time of the year. The practice of giving is not a recent innovation—it began on the first Christmas when Jesus was born. Everyone in the story had something to give.

• When Mary submitted to God's plan, she gave her body to be the first home of the incarnated Savior (Luke 1:30-38).

• She also surrendered her good reputation in order to fulfill the Lord's calling for her life.

• Joseph offered his love and protection to Mary and the child who was not his own (Matt. 1:18-25).

• An angel gave an announcement of the Messiah's birth to some lowly shepherds who were watching their flocks at night.

• A heavenly host of angels offered praise and glory to God.

• The shepherds shared the first personal testimony about the Messiah.

• The wise men relinquished the comfort of home to seek the newborn King and give Him gifts worthy of royalty (Matt. 2:1-11).

At first glance, these gifts may seem to pertain only to the first Christmas, but they each have application for us today. Believers are called to give of themselves to the Lord and to one another in similar ways.

Look at this list again. What gifts could you give to Christ today? Maybe you need to submit to His will in a difficult area or endure misunderstanding in order to obey Him. And how about others? Who needs your protection, love, or perhaps the good news of salvation in Christ?

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

And Jesus Said "Yes"
by Mary Southerland

Girlfriends in God Devotional


Today's Truth
Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

Friend to Friend
An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. At the base of a tree, one ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes. Dismayed by the strange sight, the ranger knocked the bird over with a stick. To his amazement, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, sensing the impending disaster, had carried her chicks to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. The blaze had descended upon her, scorching her small body, but the mother remained steadfast, willing to die so those under the cover of her wings would live.

God's love is like that. God defined His unconditional and relentless love for us when He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a baby. And Jesus said, "Yes!" What an amazing gift! The love of God for you and for me compelled Jesus Christ to willingly exchange a throne for a manger, divinity for humanity and Heaven for Earth.

God's love changes everything and everyone it touches. It protects and breathes life and purpose into every minute of every day. God's love is a gift beyond measure that surrounds us and covers us when the fire of life rains down. It is God's love and the very reason for the season we call Christmas - or it should be.

I know many of you are experiencing those "fires" of life this year. No job and no prospect of one. Someone you love is very ill or maybe you are the one battling to survive each day. A rebellious child has broken your heart. A secret addiction is slowly destroying your life. Your spouse packed his bags and walked out the front door because he no longer wants to be married. It is hard to celebrate anything in the midst of such darkness.

I have great news for you, girlfriend.

You can celebrate Jesus. Do not believe the lies of the enemy when he tells you that your God has forsaken you. God is with you - Emmanuel. God understands your fear and loneliness. He endured the cross, completely and absolutely alone because He loves you and because no one can take your place in the Father's heart. No matter where this Christmas Eve finds you - you can celebrate Jesus.

Let's Pray
Father, I celebrate You and the love You so freely offer. I may not understand some of the things happening in my life right now but I choose to trust You with each one. My faith is small, Lord. Give me Your strength for each step and help me to remember that You are with me. Lord, today I celebrate Your birth. Thank You for the gift of life and love I find in knowing You. My Christmas gift to You is everything I am, everything I have, everything I hope to be.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Find some time today to spend alone with God. Praise and worship Him for who He is, Lord, King, Father and Shepherd. Celebrate the perfect plan and design of God for your life.

More from the Girlfriends
Sharon, Gwen and I pray that this Christmas is a true celebration of Jesus Christ at work in your life. It is such an honor to do life with you.


May God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith;

The warmth of Christmas, which is love;

The radiance of Christmas, which is purity;

The righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;

The belief in Christmas, which is truth;

The all of Christmas, which is Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Wrapping Up Christmas

Country Living Magazine

Wrapping Up Christmas
by Sharon Jaynes
Girlfriends in God Devotional


Today's Truth

"Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12 KJV).

Friend to Friend
Who in the world would wait until Christmas Eve to do their Christmas shopping? I find it hard to believe the statistics that show December 24th is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so one season I decided to venture out to the stores and see for myself. I usually have my Christmas list complete by Thanksgiving to avoid the crowds, so even though I was elbow to elbow with anxious shoppers, I didn't feel the same angst that seemed etched on their faces.

I traveled to my favorite department stores and picked through a few stocking stuffers. Low and behold, I saw three of my in-laws scrambling for gifts. I picked up a few items and went to stand in the check-out line about sixteen people deep. Maybe this was the "season to be jolly" but the people in line at 2:00 on Christmas Eve were anything but cheerful. Amazingly, they were talking to each other. Strangers who normally would never speak to each other in a checkout line were chatting away about Charismas plans, families, special purchases, and where to find great last minute bargains. I actually was enjoying listening to the friendly banter. It seemed the shoppers were bonding because of a common cause - get the shopping finished today!

The young lady in front of me was laden down with five large rolls of very expensive wrapping paper. She turned to me and said, "I can't believe I'm spending over $25.00 on wrapping paper. It seems like such a waste for something that's going to be torn off and thrown in the trash tomorrow. But at least I won't have to get back in that traffic and go to another store."

I didn't bother telling her about the paper I saw on sale for one-fifth the price she was about to pay. By the look on her face, the $20.00 saving wouldn't be worth the trip. Instead I said, "Oh it is expensive isn't it? But it will look lovely under your tree."

"Thanks," she said. "I think it's pretty too."

Musing over the idea of wrapping paper took me back to the origin of the gift giving tradition. We give gifts at Christmas because the wise men gave gifts to baby Jesus. But were they wrapped? I don't think so. I didn't even remember wrapping being mentioned in the Christmas story at all. Then the words of Luke two came flooding through my mind. "And you shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger."

Ah, the first Christmas gift was wrapped indeed.

As I watched the young lady dash to her car with her shiny gold paper I thought, "Maybe that expensive paper is not such a waste after all."

As you look at the beautifully wrapped gifts under your tree this year, remember that the most important gift of all - the One that was wrapped just for you - is the Christ Child Himself.

Let's Pray
Dear Jesus, My heart is full today just thinking about that first Christmas Day. Thank You for taking on the form of man, for humbling Yourself and leaving Your throne just for me. I am wrapped in gratitude pondering Your amazing gift.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Now It's Your Turn
If you have any more gifts to wrap, think about that first Christmas gift and thank Jesus for His amazing gift.

Girlfriend Hint

Dollar stores have lovely wrapping paper and gifts bags.

Use brown paper and let your children color trees, bells, and stars on them.

Buy gift wrapping after Christmas and save it until next year. (Just don't forget where you put it!)


God Bless Us - Echoing Angels


God certainly did bless us when he sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world. O, What great love Divine!

Our Savior Understands

Our Savior Understands
Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 4:14-16

We do not have a Savior who's isolated in heaven with no idea what it feels like to have human struggles. No, our Lord left the glories of heaven behind and added humanity to His deity. He temporarily gave up the use of some of His attributes, applying them only as the Father directed Him.

Jesus understands precisely how we feel because He went through the same types of situations we do. Though details of our lives may not match His, the experiences and feelings are alike. Let's look at several examples of how He identifies with us:

• Misunderstanding: People constantly misunderstood His claims to be the Son of God.

• Rejection: He was unappreciated by the ones He came to love and die for.

• Pressure: Crowds surrounded Him, begging for help and demanding His attention.

• Exhaustion: He experienced all the weakness of humanity.

• Loneliness: At Gethsemane, when He needed human companionship the most, His closest friends fell asleep.

• Temptation: Satan hit Him with every imaginable type of attack and temptation.

• Hatred: Religious leaders despised Him.

• Injustice: Though Jesus lived a sinless life, He died a criminal's death.

• Pain: He suffered the excruciating pain of scourging and crucifixion.

Whatever you're going through right now, remember that Jesus knows how you feel and sympathizes with your pain and weakness. He may not remove the anguish or change your situation, but He'll always give you the grace to resist temptation, endure suffering, and grow in spiritual maturity.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.



This year why not write a "love letter" to each family member. Place the letter in an envelope and hang it on your Christmas tree. Make it the first gift you open on Christmas morning.


What Translation Are You Using?
by Mary Southerland
Girlfriends in God Devotional



Today's Truth

1 Corinthians 8:1 "Knowledge puffs you up with pride, but love builds up."

Friend to Friend
As a teenager, I can remember feeling sorry for my mother because - well, she just didn't seem to know much about anything. When I graduated from high school and went to college, I think she must have taken some classes herself because she seemed to get smarter every time we talked. And when I graduated from college and moved out on my own, I began to realize just how brilliant my mother really was.

Mama raised three children on her own and often worked three jobs a day to put food on the table while attending nursing school. She studied - a lot. I can still see her cooking dinner while holding her nursing manual in one hand and a spoon in the other. Mama became an excellent nurse and was highly respected by those who worked with her. And she was one of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever known.

Children adored her. Crying babies grew silent and peaceful in her arms. Stubborn toddlers did whatever she asked them to do and she could still a mischievous child with a glance. I miss her so much - especially around the holidays. But I don't miss her brilliant mind, even though she graduated near the top of her nursing class while raising three kids and working three jobs. I miss the feel of her arms hugging me and the way she would kiss my forehead when I was sick. I miss the way her eyes sparkled with pride as I sang a solo at church or played the piano for a worship service. I miss her love.

Isn't it amazing how much we have to know before we realize how little we know? Knowledge - for the sake of knowledge - is worthless and can easily lead to pride and arrogance. But knowledge for the sake of love is priceless. In other words, no one really cares how much you know until they know how much you really care.

Knowledge is powerful and should be used in love and love should always be controlled by knowledge. God gives us the ability to understand the Bible and then use its truths to build each other up and meet the needs of others.

A preacher once said, "Some Christians grow. Others just swell." Arrogance and pride are the result of knowledge that is misused. Knowledge can be a weapon of destruction or a tool of construction. It all depends on how it is used. We can know doctrine and never know God. We can grow in Bible knowledge but not grow in grace. We can attend church every time the doors are open but until we actually apply God's truth to the way we live, something is lost in the way we translate the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I heard the story of four Bible scholars who were arguing over the best translation of the Bible. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beautiful, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the American Standard Bible for its literalism and accurate translation from the original text. A third man preferred the newer translations because of their practical application. The fourth scholar listened thoughtfully and then added, "Personally, I prefer my mother's translation." When the other men laughed, he explained, "My mother translates every page of the Bible into her daily life and it is the most convincing translation I have ever seen."

I wonder. Do the people in my life better understand God because of the way I live? Is my life a living illustration of God's love? Is the "Mary Southerland Translation" of the Bible authentic and real and pleasing to God? I hope so. Mama would be proud.

Let's Pray
Father, I am amazed that You love me - no matter what I do or don't do. Lord, I want others to look at my life and see You. Teach me Your ways. Give me Your strength and wisdom to live each day as a beautiful translation of Your unconditional love and grace.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Pray for the people on your Christmas list and ask God to show you how to demonstrate His love in a tangible way. Look for a need in each person's life and then make a plan to meet that need.

Read John 3:16 as part of your Christmas celebration.

Write a "love letter" to each family member. Place the letter in an envelope and hang it on your Christmas tree. Make it the first gift you open on Christmas morning.


You Raise Me Up - Selah



When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.
There is no life -- no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.

Ready for Christmas?

Ready for Christmas?
By Sharon Jaynes
Girlfriends in God Devotional


Today's Truth

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2 NIV).

Friend to Friend
It seems like everywhere you go during the month of December people ask the same question. At the grocery checkout counter - "Are you ready for Christmas?" At the bank drive through window - "Are you ready for Christmas?" At the doctor's office - "Are you ready for Christmas?"

I think the answer to that question depends on how you define "ready." Let me ask you this question: "Are you ready for Jesus?" Now that puts the idea of being ready in a completely different Christmas light, doesn't it?

John the Baptist was sent by God to get the people ready to meet Jesus. Here's what Matthew had to say about him:

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for him.'"..."People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River" (Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6).

We don't like the words "repent" or "repentance" very much. They mean "to make a radical change in one's life, to turn and go in the opposite direction from sin (another word we're not too fond of today) to God". Repentance involves an element of grief over the way we have lived apart from God and a decision to run toward the Father. That was God's idea of the way to prepare for Christ's arrival in the book of Matthew, and it is still God's idea of preparing to worship Him today. Now that's what I call getting ready for Christmas!

Let's reflect for a moment on the words to this poem and then answer the question, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high...
Then wearily sat for a moment AND READ
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father! Forgive me, I see what You mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him.


Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I want to be ready for Jesus today and every day. I come to You now in repentance for my sins: my sin of selfishness, stubbornness, and rebellion. I turn from my self-centeredness today and commit to keep my focus on You. God, I cannot do this on my own. I am not able. So I ask that You fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Now It's Your Turn
What do you think it means to be "ready for Christmas?"

What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

Go back and read the parable of the ten virgins in Matthews 25:1-13. Notice the difference between the five who were ready and the five who were not. Which group more resembles your readiness for Christ?

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
www.girlfriendsingod.com





A Necessary but Challenging Lesson
Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalm 27:14

There are many lessons for us to learn in God's School of Obedience. With space for just two, I have chosen principles that aren't easy. Yesterday, we learned that Christians must trust the Lord. Today, let's tackle patience: Believers must learn to wait upon Him.

Have you ever wondered why the psalmist coupled the admonition to wait upon God with encouragement to be strong and courageous? The reason is that sometimes delaying is the hardest thing to do.

Modern culture is in such a hurry. Gotta have it now! Gotta do it now! Can't wait! We've been primed to stay in a permanent state of readiness. It takes courage to be still when the world is rushing past. Everything in us hollers, "Go!" while God whispers, "Wait." But people are quick to act, because they are afraid of missing out on something. Believers who buy into that attitude make a move and then hope God will bless them.

God leaves nothing to chance. He does not place a decision before us with the hope that we'll make the right choice. That would be irresponsible and out of character. The Father is more than willing to show His children what to do, because He is personally interested in their welfare. But until the Lord makes clear what is the way forward, we've got to pause and wait.


Waiting upon God is not passive. It is not lazy. It is not an excuse to be careless. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who pause are seeking His will—which means that they are praying, searching Scripture, perhaps even fasting. And they are still serving the Lord wherever they can.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.





It is All Coming to Jesus
Pastor Adrian Rogers

"For by Him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him; And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17

This week we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "All things were created by Him and for Him..." (v. 16). In this sentence the word "for" is a preposition that speaks of direction. It's the Greek word for "moving in the direction of."

We in America have been invaded by Eastern religions. Eastern religions believe that it's all circular. Everything goes round and round. But it's not circular. It is all headed in a direction. The Bible is linear. We're moving—moving to the time when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.

Friend, it is all headed to Jesus. It is all for Him, for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the key to the mystery of history.

People ask, "What is the world coming to?" Answer: "It's coming to Jesus."

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.





Brandon Heath - The Night Before Christmas

A Mustard Seed And An Empty Fridge

FAITH AND MIRACLES:

A MUSTARD SEED AND AN EMPTY FRIDGE

Koinonia House Newsletter

Sheri Munson gazed into her refrigerator. She saw a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda, a bottle of ancient mustard, and some very old packets of soy sauce. The barren cupboards held a can of pumpkin and the last remnants a 20-pound bag of rice. That was basically it. Sheri had five children to feed. As Sheri stared into her empty cupboards, she said, "Okay Lord. I'm going to trust you. You've brought me this far. I can't believe you're going to let me fall off a cliff now. You said you would be my husband. Please provide for us..."

There are times in our lives when we need miracles to take place. Even among Christians, though, there's often a sense that God is no longer in the miracle business. Many people complain that God doesn't answer prayers. At least, if He answers, He says, "No," a lot. If God is not a liar and He loves us, then, why doesn't He answer our prayers? What are we doing wrong? Do we just not have enough faith?

First of all, God does answer prayers. He answers prayers all the time. Sometimes He doesn't do exactly what we want Him to do in our timing. He does things His way in His timing. But, we also make some errors in the way we pray, and we need to understand those errors so that we can pray in the kind of faith that God honors.

Mistake #2 - Putting Faith in Faith:
We often make the mistake of putting faith in faith itself. Our faith isn't supposed to be in how great our faith is. Our faith isn't in us, it's in God.

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

A mustard seed is small, the smallest of seeds. The point is, our faith doesn't have to be huge. It just has to be. We need to stop being afraid and doubting, thinking our faith is too small. We need to trust our God that He can take our small faith offering, and He can work with it.

Example - Filling A Fridge:
Sheri Munson stared into her empty refrigerator in Rathdrum, Idaho that autumn afternoon in 1997 and told the Lord simply, "I trust You." That was it. That was her great display of faith.

Regardless of the magnitude of Sheri's faith, God moved.

"I had to pick up my son Tyler from the bus station in Spokane," Sheri told us. Tyler was 17 and a big eater, and there was no food in the house for the four kids already at home. What's more, Sheri had no money for gas to drive to get Tyler.

"So, I asked my 9-year-old, Max, for the four dollars he had. He said, 'Mom! I wanted to buy jerky with that four dollars!' I said, 'Max, I have to have gas. We'll buy jerky with one dollar, and with three dollars I can get enough gas to get to the bus station.'" So, Max sacrificed his three bucks.

Just before she left to get Tyler, Sheri's friend Kathy Spackman called and invited Sheri and the kids to come to a barbeque – and not a barbeque in three weeks, a barbeque that evening. "Can I bring something?" Sheri asked, (having nothing to bring but a bowl of rice). "No," Kathy said. "Just come!" That was a relief. At least Tyler would have something to eat when he got in!

Then, they lost the three dollars. When Sheri and Max got to the gas station, the money set aside for gas was missing. They looked all over the car for it. "Finally, we just went in to get Max's one dollar's worth of jerky," Sheri sad. That was it. They had nothing left. Sheri didn't want to think about how they were going to go pick up Tyler.

When they came out, though, twenty dollars had appeared on the front seat. "I started crying," Sheri said. "Max said, 'Mom. It's okay. Don't cry. It's a miracle. Let's buy gas!'" So, they put ten dollars into the gas tank. Off they headed to get Tyler and go to the barbeque.

Tyler ate at Kathy Spackman's gathering as only a growing young man can. It was the only meal Sheri had to offer her son. After the meal, though, Kathy approached Sheri and asked her to PLEASE take some of the leftovers home with her. There was so much food, Kathy told Sheri, and the food would just go to waste if she and the boys didn't take it. "There were steaks!" Sheri told us, "And chicken and salads and potatoes and corn on the cob. There was so much food! They just loaded my car up."

On top of the leftover food, a man at the barbeque had a truck full of bread from the bread store. Normally he got the old bread to feed to his pigs, but the store had just gotten a truckload of fresh bread in and had taken perfectly good bread off the shelves to give to him. He asked Sheri if she wanted any. Sheri told us, "So, then we got bread and doughnuts and little wheat rolls and pastries – all kinds of bread – and put them in the car too."

"Wow Mom," Max said. "God is sure a good shopper with just three bucks!"

"Then we got home," Sheri said, "and there was a ham the kids' father had sent us. And somebody had left us a box of oranges and a box of apples. I still don't know who left the apples and the oranges. And a voice whispered in my heart, 'See, I can take care of you.'"

That wasn't the end of it. The next day, Sheri's friend Cheryl called and said, "Hey, Sheri. We had a moving sale, and I have all this food I couldn't sell that I don't want to move it to the new house. Would you like some of it?" It turned out that Cheryl had an extensive pantry. "There was peanut butter and packages of oatmeal and canned food and dried food and, there was just so much!" Sheri exclaimed.

"The best part of it," Sheri told us, "Was when Tyler said, 'You know, Mom. You're poor, but whenever I come to see you, I always eat really well!'"

On Saturday, Sheri had simply told the Lord, "I trust You," while facing an empty refrigerator and empty cupboards and kids to feed. By Sunday, her cupboards were full, her refrigerator was full and her freezer was full. Her faith wasn't in how good she was or in how much faith she had. She just trusted God not to drop her. She hadn't told people she needed help, but God knew, and God provided for her - pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing.

When we come to God, we must approach Him in Truth, trusting Him and trusting His character. We need to put our faith in His goodness and not our own. That's the beginning of the kind of faith that can move mountains, or fill refrigerators.

Our series on faith will continue next week with, "Where We Put Our Faith Part III:Even Our Hairs - Hamster Time"

Related Links:

Faith and Miracles Part I: Faith In What? »- Koinonia House

Sara Groves - He's Always Been Faithful



It's good to remember we serve a faithful God, especially during difficult economic times. He is a faithful God and will remain so.

Lamentations 3:22-24

Because of the LORD's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself,

The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.

Letting Go of a Troubled Heart

Letting Go of a Troubled Heart

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 14:1, 27

What has a grip on your heart? Think about the things that trouble you. Perhaps you're dealing with financial need, relational stress, difficult circumstances, or lingering illness. What are we supposed to do with all the challenging situations we face? Jesus' words can seem like a pat answer to our very real dilemma because saying, "Do not let your heart be troubled" doesn't change our feelings.

However, a more accurate interpretation is, "Be troubled no longer." Jesus isn't saying that we are to deny our feelings and put on a happy face, but rather that we're not to let anxiety conquer us. Yes, we will experience trials, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can endure struggles with the peace of Christ.

But how do we move from overwhelming distress to undisturbed tranquility? Begin by focusing immediately on the Lord, not on the circumstance, trusting Him to help you through it. Read the Scriptures so you can understand His perspective on the problem and search out His promises. Then believe God and do whatever He says, because you can never have His peace without obedience. And lastly, present your troubles to the Lord in prayer, not just with requests for their removal, but with thanks for His strength to endure them.

The next time you feel a rush of fear or anxiety, remember Jesus' remedy: "Believe Me!" (vv. 1, 11). If you trust that He loves you and has a good purpose for allowing that difficulty in your life, you can thank Him no matter what you feel or what the outcome may be. Faith always ushers in His peace.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit http://www.intouch.org/.

Words to Warm The Heart

"The just shall live by HIS faith." Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

"The first mark of the gift of faith is the love of TRUTH." Fr. andrew

"Often we assume that God is unable to work in spite of our weakness, mistakes, and sins. We forget that God is a specialist; he is well able to work our failures into his plans." Edwin W. Lutzer

"To choose what is difficult all one's days as if it were easy; that is faith." W.H. Auden

"He who hath heard the Word of God can bear his silence." St. Ignatius of Loyola

"Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom." Colossians 3:16 NJB


Mary Sweet Mary - Selah & Plumb



This song can be found on Selah's "Bless The Broken Road - The Duets Album." Soon we will be celebrating once again the birth of our Savior and King. It really is amazing when you stop to think about how the birth of one small baby changed the world. -Beanscot

Behold The Lamb Of God

Believing In the Living God
Pastor Adrian Rogers

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son." 1 John 5:9

I've been asked, "Pastor Rogers, do you expect me to believe in Jesus Christ just because your book says that He lived? That's not enough for me."

I agree. You need something else. If you want to know who Jesus Christ is, ask the Holy Spirit.

God says, "If you want to believe, I will help you to understand and to know that these things are true."

Don't tell me that you cannot believe. You may refuse to believe, but I will tell you this. If you want to believe in Jesus Christ and if you seek Truth, God the Holy Spirit will speak to you and confirm to you that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Read Deuteronomy 4:29—

"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."

Do you want to know the living God? He is there if you seek Him with all your heart.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.





Key to Effective Prayer—Humility
Bayless Conley

Humility is a very important key to effective prayer. In 1 Peter 5:5-6 we read this,

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

God resists the proud. He gives grace to the humble.

Humility, more than anything else, is an attitude of the heart that says, "I recognize I am not self-sufficient. I am open, I am teachable, I am thankful. God, I am willing to bow my heart before You and confess that I am in utter need of Your assistance."

Contrary to what some people say and think, humility is not to be equated with lack of courage. In fact, it takes great courage for a person to admit they have need. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is a sign of strength.

King David said in Psalm 18:35, Your gentleness (or Your meekness) has made me great. Moses was called the meekest or the humblest man on the face of the earth, and yet we don't think of him as a weak person. He is one of the greatest leaders to ever step out of the pages of the Bible, and very few people in history have had power with God in the place of prayer like Moses did.

Jesus, our Savior, said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (KJV). Friend, that ought to be one of the hallmark qualities of our lives— especially when we are praying. It is a key to effective prayer.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God








The Fire Swamps
by Gwen Smith
Girlfriends in God Devotional

Today's Truth
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:30-31, NIV)

Friend to Friend
There's a scene in the whimsical and quirky film The Princess Bride in which some bad guys were chasing the movie's two main characters, Princess Buttercup and Wesley. In order to escape, Buttercup and Wesley ran into the treacherous Fire Swamp. (Insert scary music and creepy feelings here.) The Fire Swamp has three challenges: fire spurts, quicksand, and the ROUS - rodents of unusual size. (Stay with me...) At one point in the Fire Swamp adventure, Princess Buttercup fell into a pit of dry quicksand, instantly vanishing. Her brave hero, Wesley, quickly grabbed a sturdy vine then plunged in to save his true love. Moments later both characters emerged from the quicksand gasping for breath, stunned by the events that just took place.

Life clutter can sometimes consume us just as fast and leave us gasping for breath, stunned. When we find ourselves in the fire swamps, we ask question after question: How did this happen? How did I get here? How do I get out of this scary place? Does anyone know I'm in this pit? Who will be my hero?

Falling into the quicksand of situational fire swamps becomes a greater risk when we run on empty. Without a doubt, I'm more vulnerable on the days when my schedule is so full that my God-time is minimized. You probably know what it feels like to have a day filled with activity but a heart filled with empty. I imagine you, too, feel at times as if all you do is work, work, work and give, give, give. You feel lonely among crowds of people and wonder if anyone really sees you or if anyone really cares. At times, you have too many obligations, too much stress, and not enough strength.

In order to survive these pitfalls, we must wait upon God - the One who won't grow tired or weary. He has strength readily available for us and knows where to direct our steps. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:29-31, NIV)

King David said it like this, "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:1-3a).

Fire swamps of life come and go. There's really no avoiding them. We can, however, be spiritually prepared to face their challenges. God equips us - strengthens us - as we wait on Him. As we trust in Him. As we dwell with Him.

Have you refueled in His presence lately? Take time to meet with God one-on-one today. As the psalmist wrote, "Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool - arise, O LORD, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might" (Psalm 132:7-8).

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, You are my Strong Tower, my Deliverer, and my Shelter. I'm running to You now. Please renew my strength. Please lead me with Your Holy Spirit and guide my day.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Are there obligations in your life that could be eliminated? Take a few moments to consider your schedule and your circumstances. What needs to stay and what needs to go? Make a list and then make an action plan.

Go to God with your list and lean in to listen to His leading!

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
www.girlfriendsingod.com




Behold The Lamb of God- Andrew Peterson

The Women of Christmas

The Women of Christmas
by Sharon Jaynes
Girlfriends in God Devotional


Today's Truth
"Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend
When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so's, they always listed the males. Nary a time do you find a woman's name in the list. But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand new way. Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one, we see four women in addition to Mary in the list! For that time in history, that was quite radical!

Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick? Oh, I'd probably include Mrs. Noah. She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah's wild ideas.

Or perhaps I'd pick Mrs. Moses. Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the dessert for all those years. And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.

Or perhaps I'd pick Sarah. After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.

But no. Those are not the women that God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He chose Rahab - a redeemed woman who had been a prostitute before she joined the children of God. He chose Tamar - who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law. He chose Bathsheba - who had an affair with King David and bore a son. And He chose Ruth - a woman from a cursed nation.

Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women that God chose. Through these women we see there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory. His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable. That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me. That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that you choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise. I am one of those "weak things" and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory. Praise You, Lord.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Over the next few days, go back and read the stories of the women listed in Jesus' genealogy and see what you can learn about their lives.

Rahab: Joshua 2

Tamar: Genesis 38:1-30

Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11

After reading about them, answer these questions. What did God take them from? What did God take them to?

What does this tell you about the people that God can use?

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
www.girlfriendsingod.com








Eternal Security: Can We Be Sure?
Dr. Charles Stanley

1 John 5:1-13

Our loving heavenly Father wants us to know with certainty that we have eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. What assurances do we have that we are permanently secure?

God's love. One reason that we can be sure of unending salvation is our heavenly Father's unconditional love. At the cross, He demonstrated just how much we mean to Him: He sent His Son to die so that we might have eternal life. (1 John 4:9-10).

Christ's life and death. Because Jesus was without sin, He qualified to serve as our substitute and take our place on the cross. By dying for us, He paid for all our sins and finished the work necessary to secure our salvation (John 19:30).

Jesus' promise. We have our Lord's assurance that we will spend eternity with Him. He promised that we can never be separated from Him and that no one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:28). He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us and will return to bring us there (John 14:2-3).

The Indwelling Holy Spirit. Another assurance of eternal security is the presence of God's Spirit within each believer. The Holy Spirit acts as a seal, guaranteeing that we belong to the Lord and serving as a pledge of our future in heaven with Him (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

The Bible is filled with God's promises that those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior will spend eternity with Him. If you struggle with doubt, meditate on the Scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into scriptural understanding about your salvation.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Cake {Better Homes & Gardens}

Happy Birthday, Jesus!
by Mary Southerland
Girlfriends in God Devotional

Today's Truth
Luke 2:8-12 "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger" (NKJV).

Friend to Friend

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday, dear Jesus!

Happy Birthday to You!

Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. I have always wondered why we typically celebrate His birth by giving gifts to everyone but Him. What gifts does He want from us? What gifts are fit for the King? To answer that question let's go back to that first Christmas and see what gifts He received that holy night.

The gift of trust


Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was a teenage girl, probably fourteen or fifteen years old, engaged to Joseph when an angel appeared to her with the startling message that she would have a baby, a son named Jesus. Since she was still a virgin, Mary did not understand the message but she knew the One who had sent it - and that was enough. Trust is a gift fit for the King.

The gift of obedience


John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Joseph's engagement to Mary was legally binding. Imagine his shock and confusion when he learned that Mary was pregnant. Knowing that he could not possibly be the baby's father, Joseph's first reaction was to divorce Mary quietly. An angel from God appeared and told Joseph to "keep her but do not sleep with her!" Now Joseph's response could have been many things - but he chose obedience.

A small child riding in the car wanted to stand in the front seat by his father. The dad explained the importance of a seat belt and told the little boy to sit down. He refused, crossing his little arms in defiance. The father physically sat his son down and buckled him into the seat, bragging on the little boy for his obedience. With a defiant glare, his son said, "I may be sitting down on the outside but I'm still standing up on the inside." Obedience is an active choice to do what God wants us to do. Obedience is not just an outward motion - it is also an inward attitude - and a gift fit for the King.

The gift of praise


Psalm 50:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

When the shepherds heard the angels' news, they went to see Jesus for themselves. After they saw the baby, they left praising God! Anytime we are in the presence of God, praise will result. Praise is also a continual choice that we make again and again until it becomes a habit. Don't let anyone or any circumstance keep you from praising God! Praise keeps us kneeling before the manger and is a gift fit for the King.

The gift of sacrifice


The Wise Men came; bringing gifts that required sacrifice because they knew that true worship always involves sacrifice. Gold, a precious metal, Incense, a rare and expensive product used in worship and Myrrh, an expensive perfume were the gifts they brought to Jesus. Sacrifice goes beyond what is required or expected. The best gift - the most expensive and extravagant gift - should go to the one whose birthday we celebrate. Gifts of trust, obedience, praise and sacrifice please God and are gifts fit for the King.

In other words, the best gift that we can give God at Christmas is US! May the words of this children's song be the prayer of our hearts this Christmas season:

"I'm gonna wrap up myself for Christmas

And tie me with a big red bow.

That's what I'm giving to Jesus.

It's a present He'll like I know."

Let's Pray

Lord, today I celebrate Your birth. Thank You for the gift of life and love I find in knowing You. My Christmas gift to You is everything I am, everything I have, everything I hope to be. I love You, Lord.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Have a birthday party for Jesus. Bake a cake, sing "Happy Birthday" and worship Him by surrendering to His plan and provision for your life.

Leave one Christmas decoration out this year as a reminder of His birth and what His presence means every single day.

Consider the following questions:

What is the meaning of Christmas in your life?

How can you lead your family to celebrate the birth of Jesus?

What has been the most meaningful part of this Christmas season so far? Why?


More from the Girlfriends

I pray that this Christmas season is a true celebration of Jesus Christ in your life. Carve out time today to spend alone with Him. Praise and worship Him. He is Friend of the wounded heart and the Great Physician. He is our Everything and He is Emmanuel, God with us.

Don't let stress steal your joy this Christmas



North Points IBand! - North Point Community Church