Can you serve your boss and others at work, helping them to succeed and be happy, even when they are promoted and you are overlooked? Can you work to make others look good without envy filling your heart? Can you minister to the needs of those whom God exalts and men honor when you yourself are neglected? Can you pray for the ministry of others to prosper when it would cast yours in the shadows?

Donald Whitney


Christ told his disciples not to be anxious about tomorrow, but he never said not to consider tomorrow. Intelligent problem solving demands careful consideration of the future effects of present solutions.

R.C. Sproul

90 Day Bible Reading Challenge

An estimated 75 million adults (42%) said that reading the Bible is very important to them (the Barna Group) … but less than 50% of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Gallup).
Among Bible readers, the average amount of time spent reading the Bible is less than 7 minutes a day (the Barna Group).

And yet, the average person spends almost 5 hours a day watching TV (Communications Industry Forecast & Report)


Just 12 pages per day is all it takes to read The Bible in 90 Days. It’s easier than you thought! Once you break it down into bite-sized pieces, what may have seemed to be a formidable challenge becomes doable and enjoyable. And by reading the Bible as a single book—from Genesis to Revelation—you will see the total message of the Bible, giving you new perspectives on God’s love for you. If you or someone you know has always wanted to read through the Bible, this is the perfect way to do it. It’s a great way to introduce anyone to the Bible—Christian or not.

That is why I've decited to read the Bible in 90 days. I challeng all of you to join me on this advanture and saturate ourselfes with the Word of God for the nest 90 days. See the big picture with me, challenge yourself!

Your mission:

to READ, attentively, every word of the Bible in 90 days. Don’t expect to be able to consciously recall everything you read. At this point, focus on what you can recall and don’t worry about the rest. And, don’t expect to understand everything you read. Pay attention to what you do understand and don’t worry about the rest.

Pray the Commitment Prayer.

God, you’ve invited each of us here [today/tonight] to embark on this 14-week adventure. While we understand the general parameters of this journey and may have some idea where it will lead, we also know unanticipated twists and turns await. Ultimately we believe there are significant truths you want to teach us about you, the world, and ourselves. As each of us prays our silent decision to you, we ask that you give us the strength to respond to your desires more strongly than to our own. Hear us as we each pray silently for one minute. [After one minute] In your Son’s name we pray, amen.

Begin reading only 12 pages a day.

Based on research, 12 pages a day is the most comfortable amount of text to read each day.

READING FOR DAY ONE:

Genesis 1:1 - Genesis 16:16

9/11

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:7

For some reason I stayed home from work on September 11, 2001. I had just finished a three-mile run when Barbara met me on the highway near our home with a concerned look on her face. She blurted out the words, "We've been attacked!"

After watching television and learning more about the terrorist attacks, I showered and rushed to the office, where I met with leaders of our ministry. We prayed and discussed how we would encourage followers of Christ to respond to days that were filled with fear and uncertainty.

Many of the reflections that I captured in the days following 9/11 are just as appropriate in these days of insecurity:

Trust in God, not men (see Jeremiah 17:5-8). God and His plans are not upset by the actions of men. He is the anchor in a storm.

Live for eternity and God's kingdom (see Matthew 25:14-30). The things of the world seem trivial in a time of crisis. Determine God's purpose for you. How does He want to use you to reach, influence and serve others in the cause of Christ?

Share the gospel boldly (see 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). People could be one breath away from meeting God face to face.

Embrace biblical family values now, not just when there's a crisis (see 2 Peter 3:10-13).
Give others courage to live for Christ today and not wait for tomorrow (see Hebrews 3:13).
One of my favorite hymns in the days after 9/11 was Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Perhaps you sang it in your church:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Those are words to remember whenever we need courage to live in these troubled times.

Discuss
What do you remember from 9/11? How was your faith affected?

Pray
Pray that you and your family would make God your "mighty fortress" in the days to come.

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45 Spiritual Birthday Gifts

This morning I was on one of the sites that I visit often and came a cross this post. Every time we reach our birthday we think of how old we have bacome, but this year let's think of how blessed we've become. Let's take the time and meditate on these very blessings now.

Gifts from Romans 5:


1. Justified by faith (v. 1) We have a right standing with God because we have been declared righteous before Him. This is a legal verdict, and it includes: pardon from the guilt and penalty of sin; imputation of our sin to Christ's account; our sins no longer counted against us; Christ's righteousness credited to our account; and God declaring us "righteous," solely on the merits of Christ's righteousness.


2. Peace with God (v. 1) We are no longer God's enemy. "God has declared Himself to be at war with every human being because of man's sinful rebellion against Him and His laws. But the first great result of justification is that the sinner's war with God is ended forever." (John McArthur)


3. Access to the Father (v. 2) The access that was unthinkable in the Old Testament is now made possible through Jesus Christ.


4. Stand before God in grace (v. 2) In God's saving grace, we enjoy a permanent, secure position. We also have sanctifying grace, sustaining grace, enabling grace, and suffering grace. Our position is not based in our own performance, but in God's.


5. Hope of the glory of God (v. 2) "Hope" does not speak of uncertainty, but of something that is certain, but not yet realized. Our ultimate destiny is to share in the glory of God.


6. Suffering and tribulation (v. 3) Trials are the "pressure" that, like a "juicer," produces the sweet "juice" of perseverance, endurance, character, and hope. This gift comes especially as a result of our relationship with Christ or because we choose to do right.


7. Love of God (v. 5) is lavished on us, overflowing in us. Understanding His great love for us will result in overflowing love for Him.


8. The precious Holy Spirit (v. 5) He lives in us: "God has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Cor. 5:5). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, comforts us, makes Christ known to us, teaches us the truth, and guides us.


9. Saved from God's wrath (v. 9) Christ bore the full fury of God's wrath against us and our sin.


10. Reconciled to God (vv. 10-11) Formerly separated and alienated from God, we are now brought to a state of right relationship with Him.


Gifts from Ephesians 1:1-8


11. Adopted into God's family (v. 4) God is our Father. We are children of God with a new nature, in a new family relationship. We bear God's likeness.


12. Redemption through His blood (v. 7) This is a word picture from the ancient slave markets. A redeemer paid the necessary ransom to purchase the prisoner or slave's release from bondage. We can sing, "Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am."


13. Forgiveness of sins (v. 7) In the words of another song: "My sin--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought--my sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul." Forgiveness leads to joy: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." (Ps. 32:1) Because of the blood of Jesus, God is faithful to forgive our sins--past, present, and future (1 John 1:9).


14. Purpose for living (vv. 12, 14) We exist "for the praise of His glory."


Gifts revealed in other scriptures:


15. The righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) Christ's righteousness comes in exchange for our sinfulness.


16. Christ in you (Col. 1:27; Gal. 2:20) He is our "hope of glory," and the perspective of our lives is "no longer I, but Christ."


17. Life (1 John 5:11-13) We have eternal life, which speaks of its quantity (length), and we have abundant life, which speaks of its quality. We are spiritually alive because we are in relationship with Jesus, partaking of His life.


18. Mercy (Ps. 103:10-11) God does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. We will experience His unmerited mercy throughout our entire life.


19. The peace of God (Phil. 4:6-7) God's peace, which comes as a result of prayer, stands guard in our hearts and minds.


20. Joy (Ps. 16:11; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 4:13,14) In God's presence, there is "fullness of joy." Far more than earthly happiness, we receive "exceeding joy," a joy not based on circumstances. There is even joy as we endure trials of our faith, partaking in Christ's sufferings and reproach.


21. Victory over sin (Romans 6:6-23) We are "freed" from the power of sin. When we reckon ourselves to be "dead" unto sin (crucified with Christ), and yield our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness, we are no longer under the dominion of our flesh.


22. The Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-27; Romans 12:5) We instantly have countless "brothers and sisters" in the family of God and are "members one of another."


23. Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-7; 1 Peter 4:10; Rom. 12:6-8; Eph. 4:7, 11-16) Every believer has one or more spiritual gifts-which are to be used to glorify God and edify the Body of Christ.


24. Future glory (Rom 8:17-18) As heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, we will be glorified in heaven.


25. Two great intercessors (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; Rom. 8:26) Jesus intercedes for us in heaven, and the Holy Spirit intercedes within us.


26. The power of God (Eph. 1:18-20) We begin to understand how God uses His exceedingly great and mighty power on our behalf.


27. Prayer (Heb. 4:16; Phil. 4:6) We are encouraged to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" and to let our "requests be made known unto God." Remember: "Oh, what peace we often forfeit... when we do not carry everything to God in prayer."


28. Wisdom (Prov. 2:6; James 1:5) Man may have knowledge, but true wisdom comes from God. He enables us to see from His perspective. Want more wisdom? "Ask of God."


29. A home in heaven (John 14:2-3) Christ is preparing a place for us in our Father's house.


30. Freedom from fear (Ps. 23:4) God's presence makes all the difference in the world. Because God was with Him, the Psalmist said, "I will fear no evil."


31. No condemnation (Rom. 8:1) While the Law condemns, there is no condemnation in Christ, our Deliverer.


32. An advocate (1 John 2:1; Rev. 12:10) We have a defense attorney in heaven: "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." Jesus defends us against the prosecution, Satan, who accuses believers day and night.


33. Future rewards (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10) Rewards will be given for faithfulness and for service.


34. The presence of God (Matt. 28:20; Heb.13:5b)-His loving presence is continuous: "I am with you always." The changeless Christ will never leave or forsake His own.


35. The Word of God (Ps. 119:105; John 17:17; John 15:3) Not only is the precious Word a light to illumine our path, it also sanctifies and cleanses us.


36. Provision (Ps. 37:25) The Psalmist said, "I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." God's provision is expressed in a powerful church hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"--"All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided."


37. Guidance (Psalm 23:3) David said, "He leads me in paths of righteousness . . ." All we have to do is follow and obey.


38. Protection against the enemy (Ps. 121:1-8; Eph. 6:10-17) God, who never sleeps and is always watching over us, gives us His armor for protection, and His presence preserves us from evil "evermore." God gives us victory over Satan.


39. All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."


40. He restores my soul (Ps. 23:2-3) “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”


41. A future inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 3:21-23) Christians will receive “an inheritance that is imperishable” and “kept in heaven.”


42. Kept by God (Ps. 121:5-8; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24) God’s power will keep us from all evil.


43. Life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) God’s power gives us “all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him.”


44. Great promises (2 Peter 1:4) God has “granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of this divine nature.”


45. Call to ministry (Gal. 1:15; Eph. 3:7-8; 1 Tim. 1:12) “He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace.”

Pride builds walls between people; humility builds bridges. Humility is the oil that smoothes and soothes relationships. That's why the Bible says,

"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" 1Peter 5:5

Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less... Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don't think of themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a family, acceptance isn't based on how smart or beautiful or talented you are It's based on the fact that we belong to each other. We defend and protect family. A family member may be a litle goofy, but she's one of us. In the say way, The Bible says,

"Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other" Romans 12:10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Confidentiality does not mean keeping silent while your brother or sister sins. It means that what is shared in your group needs to stay in your group, and the group needs to deal with it, not gossip to others about it.

Outer Wear or Inner Spirit?

Your adornment must not be merely external . . . but let it be the hidden person of the heart.1 Peter 3:3-4, NIV

I'll never forget that spring Sunday when our church was honoring our graduating high-school seniors during the service. A couple of the students had been asked to speak to the congregation. The first was a young man, sharply dressed, who made an articulate statement about his faith and confidence in Christ. He was followed by a young lady who presented an equally strong message--but her dress was so skintight and seductive that I imagine it was hard for any of the male gender to pay attention.

I want to be quick to say that we men are fully responsible for where we allow our gaze and our thoughts to go. One hundred percent responsible. But I must ask today's Christian woman and teenage girl, what thought process goes into your clothing choices?

And dads, if your daughter dresses immodestly for church (or school, for that matter), are you willing to ask her to please go put on something more appropriate?
It's important to help our daughters understand how God hardwired a man. Barbara and I have four daughters, so you can be sure we had many conversations around this subject as they grew up. We know what it means to raise young women in a culture that's increasingly promoting immodest dress. We know what it's like to wander the stores, losing hope of ever finding anything suitable to wear.

We need to help our daughters (and sons) be more concerned with cultivating their inner spirit rather/more than their outer wear. Their appearance says a lot about who they really are. And it says a lot about the kind of man they are trying to attract. Do they really want their neckline or hemline to be what lures a guy?

Discuss
What are the dress codes in your family? What have you determined about how to address and enforce these?

Pray
Pray that you will have the courage to confront difficult issues like this. And pray that you will model what you preach to your children.

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Temporary Difficulties

by Barbara Rainey

Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?Job 30:25, NIV

You’ve been through the same type of difficulties your children are facing now, whether as preschoolers, school-age kids or teenagers. But have you forgotten what it was really like to be their age? When they suffer setbacks, are you there to give them the emotional support they need—from someone who’s been there?

Our oldest daughter, Ashley, tried out for the cheerleading squad three times in a row but failed to be chosen on each occasion. Still, she decided to give it one final effort during her junior year, and this time we went all out.

I arranged for her to take lessons. I videotaped her practicing. Together we critiqued her moves. We prayed and prayed about it, feeling surer each time that God wanted her to make the team this year. It would give her a strong platform for influencing her public school for Christ.

But when the tryouts came around, she didn’t make it. This time, I was as heartbroken as she was. It seemed so unfair. We cried for hours, so upset that she had to endure this loss a fourth time in a row.

I could have said to her, “Ashley, cheerleading really isn’t all that important. You’re making too much of a fuss over this.” But this was the most important thing in her life at the time, and she needed me to let her know it was okay for her to cry, to feel sad . . . even to wonder why God had said no again.

Through an amazing set of circumstances, Ashley ended up being selected for the squad a week later. But as I look back on that experience now, I realize that the biggest thing God accomplished in our lives at that time was to knit our souls together, mother and daughter, in sorrow.

Discuss
Name the biggest challenges facing your children right now. How can you walk with them in the valleys yet still help them trust a sovereign and loving God?

Pray
Pray for the words to speak . . . and the words not to speak.

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Six Great Tips From Titus 2 Women

by Sylvia

1. “My own behavior, not my husband’s is all that I am responsible for before God.”

2. “Anyone can make demands. It takes a strong person to spend time satisfying another person’s needs.”

3. “I am a daughter of the King” (See Ephesians 1:4,5)

4. “If I am sullen and grouchy at home, but gracious and friendly at church, work, and the garden club, there is something wrong in my life and I need to ask God to show me how to correct it.”

5. “I must not allow my good attitude to depend on something or somebody. It is ridiculous for a born-again woman to allow her happiness to depend on such erratic things as how a three-year old behaves today; whether or not a husband is cranky or friendly; or if there is enough money to pay every bill. My attitude should be dependent only on a continuing, stable relationship with God, who loves me and provides for me at all times, night and day, no matter what.”

6. “I cannot excuse my bad nature or habits by telling others, ‘That is just the way I am.’ There is no place in the Bible that condones crabbiness, persistent hostility, stubbornness, nasty tempers, impatience, unkindness, negativeness, quarrelsomeness, or lack of self-control, no matter how they were acquired or how deprived my childhood was.”

–From _400 Creative Ways to Say I Love You_ by Alice Chapman

Posted in Godly Womanhood

Killing Me Softly

I have become mute, I do not open my mouth.Psalm 39:9, NIV

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The husband realized he needed to be awakened early one morning to catch a business flight, but he didn’t want to be the first to break the silence. So he left a note on his wife’s side of the bed that read, “Please wake me at 5 A.M.”

By the time bright sunshine roused him the next morning, it was 9 A.M. Furious, he threw back the covers and shouted to his wife (who was nowhere to be found), “Why didn’t you wake me up like I asked you to?” That’s when he saw, stuck to the lamp on his bedside table, a note in her handwriting that read, “It is 5 A.M. Time to wake up.”

It doesn’t take much to make us angry and create emotional distance from each other. But it does take great, courageous effort to fight through the silence to a place of forgiveness and oneness. Isolation seems to offer us protection, a certain kind of self-preservation. There is a type of peace found in avoidance that appears much more appealing than the pain of dealing with reality.

Silence feels like a security blanket. But in fact, it is one of Satan’s most deadly disguises. The silent treatment is perilously deceptive and ultimately destructive.
When you find yourself tempted to square off against each other, retreating to your corners and refusing to give in, remember that Jesus could have given us the cold shoulder. He could have taken one look at our many, many sins and shortcomings and never sought to draw us out. May His reaching, redemptive love be our model and motivator.

We serve a God who both seeks and speaks. Be sure you’re a spouse who does the same.
DiscussWhat, if anything, drives you into silence? Discuss what your spouse should do when you are silent.

PrayPray that God will show you both what you should do if one or both of you becomes silent.

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Being included in God's family is the highest honor and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. Nothing else comes close. Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.

Live is about LOVE.

Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is this: Live a life of love.

2John 1:16

Feathers Plucked for a Nest

Read this amazing article!

"Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests

BY Ann Voskamp,


Houses may be bought, built, or borrowed. But homes can only be made, and that with ourselves. Or so the ducks told me..."

©2008, Ann Voskamp
Related resources: May the Children Eat First
The original Koester painting, "Moulting Ducks," is part of the collection at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle http://www.fryemuseum.org/

Being a Mom that Matters

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
Proverbs 22:6 Train children how to live right, and when they are old, they will not change. (NCV)

Friend to Friend
So much of who we are as women is rooted in the parent/child relationship. I believe that my role as a mother will greatly affect the kind of woman my daughter will become. I also believe that moms are the primary teachers in a child’s life. Here are a few familiar truths taught by mothers:

Cleanliness: "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"
Religion: "You had better pray that will come out of the carpet."
Logic: "Because I said so, that's why."
Planning: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
The circle of life: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

We live in a world that many times denies the importance of being a mom. I don’t come to you as an expert. I simply want to be a successful mom! Well, actually, my credentials are impressive! I am the mother of two beautiful, brilliant children! I want to be the mom they need and deserve and the good news is that God wants the same thing. Being a parent is a holy calling from God and God never calls us to do a job without providing the power and the plan to do that job successfully. How can we be the moms that really matter?

1. Be a mom who loves God!
1 John 4:19 “We love, because God first loved us.” (NCV)

We are incapable of loving our children like they were meant to be loved until we first love God! Motherhood at its best demands a thriving partnership with God! We cannot give unconditional love until we have experienced unconditional love! And God is the only source of that kind of love! We can do everything else right as a parent but if we don’t begin with loving God - we will fail!

2. Be a mom who prays continually.
I Thessalonians 5:17 should every mother’s commitment to her children. “Never stop praying.” (ICB)

It is never too late to start praying and it is always too early to stop!

Pray for God’s plan – not yours – when praying for your children.
Pray that you will see your child like God sees your child.
Pray specifically for your child:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Lord, I pray that Jered would trust in you with all his heart and will lean not unto his own understanding. I pray that in all his ways Jered will acknowledge you and that you will direct his paths.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Lord, I pray that Danna would cast all her care upon you, because you care for her.”

Prayer is an eternal gift we can give to our children, teaching them the importance of prayer and teaching them how to pray. I recently heard the story of a mother who had invited several people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" “I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," she answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

We began early to pray with our kids at bedtime. One night, out of the blue, our son, Jered, began to pray that his grandfather and his uncle would stop smoking. Since both had smoked for many years and neither was trying to quit, I didn’t expect much. But our son did. Within the next year, both men suddenly quit smoking. I was totally amazed, but Jered acted like it was no big deal. When I questioned his response, he simply said, “Mom, you told me God answers prayer.” I am convinced that if we pray for our children and with our children, it will change their lives and ours and give us insight that we can gain no other way.

3. Be a mom who gives time!
Proverbs 22:6 Train children how to live right, and when they are old, they will not change. (NCV)

It takes time to be a mom, to know and to train your children. Every child comes with a set of characteristics already established by God. Our job is to identify those characteristics and then steer the child toward them. The original root word for “train” is the term for “the palate, the roof of the mouth, the gums”. In the days of Solomon, a midwife would deliver the baby, dip her finger into the juice of crushed dates, reach into the mouth of the baby and massage the gums and palate to create a sense of taste and thirst. She would then give the child to the mother so the baby could nurse. Our job as mothers is to develop a thirst in our children for the right things. And that takes time.

There is a popular philosophy today that it doesn’t matter the quantity of time that we spend with our kids as long as it is quality time. It does matter! Can a woman have it all - a home, a family, a career? I think she can. I’m just not sure she can have them all at the same time. There are seasons of life to which we must yield in order to be the mother God wants us to be. Time spent with children is never wasted! Every minute invested in your child is an eternal investment! Give your children the best of your time – not the leftovers.

· Make weekly dates with your kids.
· Pull them out of school occasionally for a fun day.
· Have a meal together every day.
· Be involved in the things they enjoy.

In other words, be available! And just your physical presence is not enough! Our normal bedtime routine was to spend a few minutes with each child, talking about the day, praying together and then I would tuck them in. When our daughter, Danna, was six-years-old, Dan was out of town and I was behind in studying for an upcoming retreat. I went in to Jered’s room, completed the routine and he was asleep in minutes. But when I went into Danna’s room, trying to speed things up, Danna refused to talk. When I asked her why, she cried out, “Mama, you’re not here!” Confused and a little irritated, I responded, “Yes, I am! I am right here!” Her big brown eyes filled with tears as she drove the truth home, “But you’re not really here on the inside.” Be a mom who gives your children time.

Being a mom is the hardest job on earth! It brings out the best and the worst in you! I know that it requires great sacrifice and limitless energy, but to invest your time and best efforts into a child, to watch that child grow and develop, is to be part of the creative majesty of life itself! We’re half the way there! Tomorrow, we will explore four more ways to be a mom that matters.

Let’s pray
Lord, thank You for giving me children. Help me be the mom they deserve. I commit to constantly pray for each child and invest the best part of my time and life in them. Forgive me for allowing lesser things to take the place of my role as a mother and guide me to be a mom that really matters. Amen.

Now it’s your turn
Are you growing in your life as a Christian? How?
Evaluate your schedule in light of the truth that the best part of your time goes to being a mom. What changes do you need to make in your schedule?
What do you need to give up so you can spend more time with your children?
What specific needs are you praying for your children? Make a list and pray through that list daily.

More from the Girls
Whew! This is a tough one! When we start looking at the minutes and hours of each day to see how much time we really spend – being a mom – the authenticity of our role as a mom shines through. We are in this together. Gwen, Sharon and I are all mothers with children at all stages of life. Know that we are praying with you and walking with you. Need more? Connect with over 7,000 women from across the world by enrolling my online Bible study, Light for the Journey. Still need a gift for Mom? Look at this! And be sure to check out my two brand new CDs, How to Get Past Your Past and Escaping the Stress Trap.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

G.I.G.
Girlfriends in God, Inc.
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, North Carolina 28106
Web site: http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/
Email: info@girlfriendsingod.com


Click here to learn more about hosting a Girlfriends in God conference in your area.

Devotions

God want;s all of you. God doesn't want a part of your life. He asks for all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. God is not interested in halfhearted commitment, partial obedience, and the leftovers of your time and money. He desires your full devotion, not little bits of your life.

When Jesus said, "Love God with all your strength," He pointed out that worship takes effort and energy. It is not always convenient or comfortable, and sometimes worship is a sheer act of the will - a willing sacrifice.

Jesus gave up everything so you could have everything. He died so you could live forever. That alone is worthy of your continual thanks and praise.

God wants a family, and he crated you to be part of it... The entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love him, honor him, and reign with him forever. It says, "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself thought Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure"

Ephesians 1:5

Every time you trust God's wisdom and do whatever He says, even when you don't understand it, you deepend your friendship with God. We don't normally think of obedience as a characteristic of friendship; that's reserved for relationships with a parent or the boss or a superior officer, not a friend. However, Jesus made it clear that obedience is a condition of intimacy with God

Unbelievers often think Christians obey out of obligation or guilt or fear of punishment, but the opposite is true. Because we have been forgiven and set free, we obey out of love - and our obedience brings great joy! Jesus said, "I have loved you even as the Father has lved me. Remein in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I ovey my Father and remain in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15:9-11

We are often challenged to do "great things" for God. Actually, God is more pleased when we do small things for Him out of loving obedience. They may be unnoticed by others, but God notices them and considers them acts of worship.

Fighting Fear

One more post that I came a cross today. It touched me deeply, I have to say that I've been through the fear of unknown and I've learned the hard way to trust the Lord and let Him take care of the end result.

Blessings to all of you today!

On Saturday, I had breakfast with two of my close friends. While sipping our hot drinks and eating our bagels, the conversation turned to the struggles we have at times with fear—fear about our children, fear about our blindness to sin, fear about our future….

But that is not how the conversation ended.
We went from confessing our fears to talking about our need to trust God more. Our need to exercise faith. We reminded each other of God’s great faithfulness toward us.

Because fear is not neutral. Fear is sin. And we must fight our fears with faith in God’s character and His precious promises—promises that flow from Christ’s work on the cross.

Here are Biblical promises that impart faith for my fears (along with commentary by Charles Spurgeon):

My children: "The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you." Psalm 102:28

“[This verse] is full of good cheer to us; we may plead for the Lord’s favor to our offspring…. God does not neglect the children of his servants…Grace is not hereditary, yet God loves to be served by the same family time out of mind…. We may, therefore, not only for our own sakes but also out of love to the church of God, daily pray that our sons and daughters may be saved, and kept by divine grace even unto the end—established before the Lord.”

Charles Spurgeon, Psalms Volume II, Series editors, Alister McGrath and J.I. Packer (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), p. 70.

My blindness to sin:"Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart." Psalm 51:6

“God is teaching [the repentant Christian] truth concerning his nature, which he had not before perceived. The love of the heart, the mystery of its fall, and the way of its purification – this hidden wisdom we must all attain; and it is a great blessing to be able to believe that the Lord will ‘make us know it.’”

My future:"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Psalm 23:6

“These twin guardian angels will always be with me. Just as when great princes go abroad and must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. Goodness and mercy follow him always – the black days as well as the bright days. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins.”

Are you tempted to fear today? God has provided numerous promises in His Word. Find a specific promise from which you can derive faith and banish fear.
Here is a promise to get you started:"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

“God makes a perfect work of it. He clears away both our fears and their causes, all of them without exception.”

Previous three quotes taken from Charles Spurgeon, Psalms Volume I, Series editors, Alister McGrath and J.I. Packer (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), p. 211-212, 91, 132.

Taming the Tongue

I got this from a friend of mine and I just want you all to read this as well.

Very important information and most of us struggle with this issue.

Please prayfully read this and may the Lord bless you!

In today's culture foul language runs rampant. I have heard people say all my life that so and so "curses like a sailor". However, when they make this comment, I don't get a sense that they are offended or bothered by so and so "cursing like a sailor". The even more perplexing thing is that even Christians don't seem to have an issue with so and so "cursing like a sailor".

Taming the tongue is a virtue that all Christians can benefit from. When Malachi and I were first married I quickly learned that I needed to clean up my language. I was a brand new born again Christian who desperately needed to clean out some old habits. Cursing was one of those nasty habits that needed to be cut away from my tongue. In moments of frustration or anger the worst words would spew from my mouth. It was literally like vomiting. It is gross and nasty. Speaking such words of filth left me feeling sick to my stomach.

There is nothing more unChrist-like than to use such words of filth. As Christians we are called to a higher standard of living. As a Christian wife and mother I am called to live a life of submission to the Lord and my husband. I should be pleasant to all those I come in contact with. Even if no one else ever hears me utter a filthy word, doesn't give me the right to curse in private. It is unbecoming of a lady and makes a mockery of Christ.

We are told in scripture that our mouths will speak of that which fills our heart. (Luke 6:45 and Matthew 12:34) I find this very convicting. There are people who think that talking about Jesus all day is boring. I would refer them to these two verses. If our hearts are filled with things that do not glorify the Lord, then it will spill out of our mouths. If our hearts are filled with the love for the Lord, then that is what will spill out of our mouths. Which one describes your heart?

I have heard some people say they only use curse words to express something that regular words just can't. As a Christian, this is a cop-out and is no excuse for using such filth. The English language is filled with all kinds of clean descriptive words. It is a deliberate choice we make each time we open our mouths.

I am not saying that I never have a slip of the tongue. However, you better believe I have a husband who is quick to reprove me. The Holy Spirit is also quick to chastise me for filth that comes out of my mouth. The Lord is also quick to convict me when my thoughts are less than Christ-like. If you claim to be a Christian and do not feel convicted about impure thoughts or filthy language, then I would urge you to check your spiritual pulse and seek the Lord. Scripture is pretty straight forward about how we should speak.

"Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourselves." James 1:26

"Let your speech always be gracious… " Colossians 4:6

"You have heard that the ancients were told, ..YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and ..Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ..You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ..You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." Matthew 5: 21-22

Just in these three verses alone we see how important it is so have a speech that isn't corrupted with evil phrases. Christians are expected to control their tongues. We are to be set apart from the unbelievers in the world. We are told we should be a peculiar people. We should not behave or speak like those who do not know Christ. We also should not be ruled by our emotions or feelings. These do not justify using filthy language.

My husband explains it this way:
"When someone is verbally venting, they often let their emotions control their speech. This does not mean it's acceptable but it is at least understandable. However,when someone is writing something down they have to carefully think about each word being written. Even in an emotionally driven topic, every word written down is thought about and chosen in a deliberate manor. So there is some "grace" given to someone who's thoughts are being controlled by anger, but that cannot be extended to someone who has carefully (and most likely re-read and edited a few times before finalizing) chosen each word to use. It is the same difference between "crime of passion" and pre-meditation. It is possible to have your emotions control your tongue, but nearly impossible for them to do the same to your fingers."

Christians are being watched all the time. The unbelieving world is always looking for a flaw. They actually enjoy seeing a Christian "fall from grace", so to speak. If this is the case, then we need to be even more careful with not only our actions but with our speech. Our goal is to lead people to a life changing, soul saving relationship with Christ. If we do not look or act any different then an unbeliever, then why would they feel the need to change?

We need to be ever mindful of how we behave, speak. We also need to be mindful of the things we post on our own blogs, websites and myspace pages. There is absolutely no excuse for Christians to curse. It makes a mockery out of Christ and actually defeats our efforts in trying to win the lost to Christ.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise {and} to do good. Psalms 36:3

He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:27

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:9

I pray that if you struggle with "taming your tongue", that you will go before the Lord and ask for His help. God is faithful to help us when we ask. He delights in those who seek to please Him. We need to remain pure in our actions and in our speech.

Serving God and My Family,Crystal <>< (SAHM)

March 25, 2008

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*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

Like a proud parent, God especially enhoys watching you use the talents and abilities He has given you. God intentionally gifted us differently for His enjoyment. He has made some to be athletic and some to be analytical. You may be gifted at mechanics or mathematics or music or a thousand other skills. All these abilities can bring a smile to God's face.

(¯`v´¯)

*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

God also gains pleasure in watching you enjoy His creation. He gave you eyes to enjoy beauty, ears to enjoy sounds, your nose and taste buds to enjoy smells and tastes, and the nerves under your skin to enjoy touch. Every act of enjoyment becomes an act of worship when you thank God for it.

(¯`v´¯)

*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

My children don't have to do anything for me to enjoy them. I'm happy to just watch them breathing, because I love them so much. As their little chest would rise and fall, I smile, and sometimes tears of joy would fill my eyes. Whe you are sleeping, God gazes at you with love, because you were His idea. He loves you as if you were the only person on earth.

(¯`v´¯)

*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

Surrendering to God is the heart of worship. It is the natural response to God's amazing love and mearcy. We give ourselves to him, not of fear or duty, but in love "Because He first loved us" 1John 4:19

Give yourselves to God...Surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes.

Romans 6:13

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*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

Paul urges us to fully surrender our lives to God in worship: "So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us...offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the treu worship that you should offer" Romans 12:1

True worship - bringing God pleasure - happens when you give yourself completely to God. Notice the first and last words of thet verse are the same: offer.

(¯`v´¯)

*.¸.*´

-:¦:- ๑۩۩๑ღ๑۩۩๑-:¦:-

..ooo*""*oooooo*""*ooo..

Becoming a Woman After God's Own Heart

"I have found David...a man after My own heart, who will do all my will."Acts 13:22

With so much going on in our busy lives it's easy to get our priorities out of whack. Set aside some time this week to read and meditate on Psalm 63, where David cries out to God in the wilderness: "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for you: my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." Today is the perfect time to get back on track with God. Use the firstfruits of your time to be filled spiritually so you can serve God and the people in your path. Let others be refreshed by you. Put simply, seek first things first - every day!Until tomorrow, from my heart to yours, Elizabeth George

If you desire to learn more about becoming a woman after God's own heart, you will enjoy reading Elizabeth George's book, The Remarkable Women of the Bible, or her bestselling book, A Woman After God's Own Heart.

You may order these books by clicking here to access our "Books Page" page.

Reverence & Awe

by Margaret D. Mitchell

Week of March 16, 2008

”Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” ~Hebrew 12:28 (NASB)

The NIV translation of this scripture inserts the word, “worship” for “service.” Indeed, our work is a form of worship and service, offered by gratitude, if we do it unto God from our hearts, demonstrating His love and devotion.

Since the Bible tells us that God first loved us and that His love is power, clearly there is no greater position to be in than walking in His awesome love, touching others and being awed by His manifest miraculous power moment by moment. In this, we honor God.

I never understood this revelation better than when I found the courage to trust God enough to surrender control to Him in my workplace. The first step was to totally confess all my fear, lack of trust and lack of faith. The truth was that I was terrified to let go of control. But I knew He was calling me to a new place spiritually, so I consciously chose to step out with the primary motive being not wanting to suffer the consequences of disobedience. In other words, my fear of God was greater than my irrational fear of man.

The Lord instructed me to spend more time in His presence at home praising Him, talking to Him, confessing to Him, reading His word and petitioning Him until I found peace in my heart. I often felt compelled to sing praises to Him, dance before Him and, my favorite, sit on the floor with Him and have coffee and chat. We spent intimate time together daily, often hours. I asked Him to fill my spirit with His love to overflowing. And I asked Him to give me divine appointments so that I could demonstrate His love to others in need. I asked Him to choose the people, the times and the places. Mind you, none of this was my idea. God instructed me to do so. All of it was new territory for me.

As He crossed my path with others’ paths at work, I consciously chose to trust the Holy Spirit to reveal His purpose in what He wanted to accomplish. I chose to trust Him to lead me as to how to approach the person, what to say, how to say it, when to pray for them, what to pray for them. And as I stepped out, the Lord met me. What I witnessed shocked, awed and amazed me.

God opened my eyes to see that the people He sent to me were in need of a breakthrough and that when He allowed me to pray for them, they received whatever breakthrough blessing He wanted to give them at that appointed time. Oftentimes, the Holy Spirit healed them physically or emotionally, depending on their needs.

God’s demonstrations of love, His power to heal and His sheer glory touched my heart so deeply that it caused me to weep and brought me to my knees in humble reverence. He made my heart grateful to participate. I realized there was no better place to be, and I desired more. The Lord increased the number of divine appointments for me to a point where I found myself crying out to Him to bring others to help. I simply couldn’t keep up, which is a great place to be.

I believe divine appointments are ours for the asking and that meeting them invites a greater purpose and joy to our work. I believe it humbles our hearts and glorifies God. I believe it brings us into the Great Commission, which pleases God, and puts Him first in our workplaces, which offers us rewards of joy, favor and promotion.

If you would like to journey higher in your faith in God and at work, simply ask the Lord to show you how and to position you. He will require you to lay down fears and any other encumbrance as you choose to step into new territory. And He will journey with you the whole way. Truly, it is the greatest adventure.

Margaret D. Mitchell is an author and the founder God’s Love at Work, a Christian outreach initiative dedicated to cultivating the heart of Jesus Christ in women so they may, in turn, share God’s love in the marketplace.

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100 Passengers by Margaret D. Mitchell
Recommended by the director of the Billy Graham Library, CBN.com and Janet Parshall, "100 Passengers" reveals how God enabled a Christian flight attendant to soar in daily miracles of healing and breakthrough in her workplace and to reap rewards unspeakable. Find out how you can do the same.

Finding Power in Weakness

March 21, 2008
Lysa TerKeurst

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Devotion:
This weekend as we celebrate Easter, let’s draw near to Jesus, the One who saw our desperate need for His grace and responded with compassion and kindness. When facing the pain, agony, shame, and horror of the cross he couldn’t walk away – because He saw YOU. As Max Lucado says in his book The Final Week of Jesus, He saw us “right there in a middle of a world which isn’t fair … He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw you with a body, which gets sick and a heart that grows weak. He saw you in your own Garden of Gethsemane – and he didn’t want you to be alone…He would rather go to hell for you than to heaven without you.”

What an amazing act of kindness, and what an incredible example to follow of what we should do when we feel vulnerable and weak. Many of us say we have nothing to give when dark and lonely times come our way, but Jesus taught us to look past loneliness into the richness of helping others.

We say we having nothing to give, and God says, “You’re right, but I have something to give through you.” Remember the encouragement given to us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Maybe that is why the world hates weakness so much. If it is in our weakness that the power of God can flow most freely, then it’s no wonder the world would want to cork up this power’s flow. Everything about our society screams out against being weak, yet weakness resides in us all. No matter how beautiful, rich, powerful, and significant someone may seem, weakness is still there.

Behind the thin bodies and glamorous clothing of the rich and famous, weakness is there. Weakness knows no bounds. At every level of society, in every race, men and women alike have weaknesses. And be assured that along with weakness, loneliness calls their names. Sorrows and insecurities still haunt them. All the while God gently calls them to let Him make their weaknesses and loneliness count for something good. Many choose not to listen.

To walk the path that the Lord delights in, we must be willing to let God use the circumstances of our lives to reach out to others. Let’s compare our hurts to stones littering our paths. We have a choice to do one of three things with these stones. We can use them to beat ourselves up, making our scars run deeper than they should. We can throw our stones at others, wounding them and making them also feel our pain. Or, we can use these stones to build bridges for others to walk across from their own darkness and pain into His healing light. This third option is seldom chosen, yet it’s exactly what God delights in.

Dear Lord, help me take an honest assessment of my weaknesses and places where I feel vulnerable right now. Show me Lord, who I could touch today so Your power could flow through my weakness. Help me to not be so self-consumed with my troubles but rather be a bridge to help another person find Your power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Lysa TerKeurst’s blog

Who Holds the Key To Your Heart by Lysa TerKeurst

Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

Application Steps:
Who is in your sphere of influence today that might need a touch of some sort from you? Ask Jesus to give you the wisdom and words to know how to reach this person.

Reflections:
Have I been paralyzed by some type of weakness in my life?

Is it possible for Jesus to use this for good?

During this Easter season, people are usually more receptive to Jesus and to visiting a church. Who could you invite to go with you this weekend?

Power Verses:
Jeremiah 9:23-24, “This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” (NIV)


© 2008 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
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