Devotional

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For Family Only
Feb 06, 2019 | Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!  Psalm 61:4

Friend to Friend

Psalm 61 is a powerful reminder that no matter where we are or what we’re going through, we can cry out to God for help. David was in a fragile place, desperate for God. Forced to flee because his son Absalom  had rebelled against him. He’d been betrayed by his own flesh and blood, and the sting of betrayal, as we all know, is painfully damaging.  He ran to God seeking refuge when he was hurting and overwhelmed.  “God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings.” (Psalm 61:1-4, CSB)

His heart had grown faint… and he knew ran to the shelter of God’s wings. That reminds me of something my kids used to do back in the day.  Our boo boo bunny was pink and lived in the freezer. When my kids were small, I loved to take them to the park for play dates. Often there was at least a dab of drama, usually because someone got hurt. When they fell and skinned their knees, my littles didn’t run to their friends they ran to me. They knew I would help clean up boo boos, get them a Toy Story bandage, wipe away their tears and hold them. Because I’m their mom. The one who loves them and could be trusted to care for them.  In Psalm 61:4, the psalmist cried to God saying that he longed to take refuge in the shelter of His wings. Who’s allowed under the wings of a mama bird?

Only her babies. The wing of a mama bird, or arms of a parent, is an intimate place. Close to a beating heart. This type of shelter is personal. For family only.  I read this and remember that when my heart grows faint, when I’m overwhelmed, I should run to the Lord. Because He’s my Abba Father. My Daddy who loves me and can be trusted to care for me.  Whether your earthly father was good to you or not, God does family right.  God cares for His own with unwavering faithfulness.  He defends and protects, whispering hope to desperate, disappointed, fragile hearts.  You are precious His daughter. Fully seen and perfectly loved. Because of this, you can take your place in the shelter of His wings and nestle up in the intimate warmth of His safe, strong, compassionate arms.

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How Prayer Can Change a Man’s Heart
Feb 07, 2019 | Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Note from Sharon: I know that devotions on marriage are difficult for many who are not married and perhaps would like to be. That’s why we usually keep the marriage devotions that minister to thousands  of women in the month of February. Whether you are married or single, please join us at GiG in praying for marriages all around the world.

Friend to Friend

Allan was a tough man. Raised by a single mom with five siblings, he learned how to scrap his way through life and climb to the top of humanity’s heap through sheer determination and grit. He married at nineteen, had his first son at twenty, then a baby girl at twenty five. Over the next two decades he advanced from driving a delivery truck at a lumberyard to becoming part owner of a building supply company.  Allan drank heavily, fought with his wife verbally and physically, and terrorized his children emotionally. He gambled, dabbled in pornography, and had questionable relationships laced with a host of unsavory vices. But when his teenage daughter gave her life to Jesus and began praying for her family, God grabbed the chisel of grace and began chipping away at Allan’s proud heart of stone. One day he told her, “I’ll go to church with you from time to time, but I could never become a Christian. I’ve done too many horrible things in my life. God could never forgive me. I could never be good enough.”

His daughter explained that no one could ever be good enough. If we could, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross to pay for our sins. But Allan couldn’t wrap his mind around that kind of grace.  When Allan was forty-six years old, his life took several hairpin troublesome turns. Because of a business deal gone terribly wrong, he was sued for breach of contract and breaking a no compete clause with a former employer.  Allan teetered on the brink of a nervous breakdown. From man’s perspective, it appeared he was on the verge of losing it all. From God’s perspective, Allan was right where he needed to be.  One day, in a surge of panic, Allan drove from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to try and find his wife at a meeting she was attending. When he couldn’t find her, he stopped by a church and asked for prayer. The church receptionist drew Allan a map on a piece of scrap paper and sent him to find a pastor out in the woods building his new church.  Allan followed the map and found a man with a hammer in his hand and Jesus in his heart. He poured out his heart and told the pastor everything he had ever done in his raucous life. Then the man put his arm around Allan and said, “Now, let me tell you what I’ve done.”

The way Allan later explained what happened that day was this: “That man had done everything I had done. I knew that if God could forgive him and he could be a pastor, then He could forgive me too.”

Allan accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior that day in the woods of Pennsylvania, and became one of the sweetest men I’ve ever known.  Allan was my dad.  From my earliest years as a Christian, I experienced the power of prayer to change a man’s life to strengthen a man’s resolve, to protect a man’s heart, and to mature a man’s faith. My firsthand encounter with God’s faithfulness to hear our pleas for the men in our lives began with my father and continues with my husband and son.  As a wife, you have the power to open the floodgates of heaven through prayer on your husband’s behalf. (If you aren’t married, keep reading. There’s an assignment for you too.) Whether your husband hasn’t yet decided to follow Christ, has a lukewarm fledgling faith, or lives a fiery firm faith, there is no one more qualified to pray for his relationship with Christ than you. No matter where your husband is on the continuum of faithlessness to faithfulness, I encourage you to pray with “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB).

In my book, Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, I show wives how to cover their husband’s in Scriptural prayer from top to bottom. If you’re not married, you can use this same pattern for praying for the important men in your life. Today, let’s pray for the mid-section.

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Make Every Effort to Do This
Feb 11, 2019 | Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Romans 14:19

Friend to Friend

I’ve got lots of opinions, not gonna lie. You do too, right?

I’ll go even one step further by assuming that your opinions and my opinions are not perfectly in synch. Agreed?

Differences of opinion among people are more numerous than grains of sand in the ocean. Disputable matters in the church are no exception. Freedoms and convictions are not the same in every heart. Unfortunately, these areas of contention can cause conflict in our hearts, relationships, and communities of faith if we let them.  My family and I got thrown into a situation recently that caused some harm and confusion. The perception and convictions of another was pressed upon us, and the consequences were anything but peaceful. Much of it was a misunderstanding about a social media post, but the reaction was layered in judgment and accusation.  We agonized and prayed over how to respond in a way that would honor God. My family and I talked through flesh-led responses (revenge, defensiveness, etc.) versus Spirit-led responses (humility, love, grace, forgiveness) and, in all honesty, we also wrestled with justifiably inflamed feelings of hurt.  Paul spoke of these types of in-the-church tensions in the letter he penned to the believers in Rome. He explained that the freedoms we have in Christ are to be handled responsibly, in love, and that we are to be careful to not allow our freedoms to cause a person of weaker faith (or different convictions) to stumble.  Let me be clear, this is not a conversation about Biblical activities that are clearly forbidden or addressed. This is about us creating our own rules and expectations of how other believers should or shouldn’t behave, think, or believe. {Hunker down, girlfriend, ‘cuz we are about to go there.}  Romans chapter 14 addresses this issue head on.  Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. (Romans 14:1-4)

Even when others wound us with accusations and differing expectations, God can and will tenderly teach and heal hearts that are intent to walk in His ways. In the tension of our recent family challenge, I looked for the lessons found in God’s Word.  Paul’s writings to believers in Rome lead me to consider a few heart directives:  ACCEPT THEM: Gah! Don’t sidestep, stiff-arm, alienate, or reject that person. (V1)  DON’T QUARREL: Followers of Christ have different opinions. When a believer has differing opinions and convictions, I am to be concerned with my own convictions of faith, not fuss and quarrel about theirs. (V1)  DON’T JUDGE: I should act according to my conscience because I am accountable to Christ. (V12) And when another believer has different convictions, I’m not to judge them. (V4,13)  Paul went on to instruct Roman believers in Chapter 14 with this ... You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. (V. 10-14)

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (V. 17-19)

These Scriptures also lead me to search my heart:  Am I determined not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of another believer?

Am I making EVERY EFFORT to do what leads to peace?

If the answer to either of these questions is NO, then I’m in violation of God’s Biblical standard and I need to humbly get with Him on the issue. {Warm and fuzzy, right?!}  Truth is truth and the Word is the Word. Following Christ isn’t always easy, but it is always best and always what brings Him the glory He deserves.  The Bible calls believers to unity, love, and peace in Christ even when we differ in opinions. When all is said and done, it honors God when we make every effort to love well and align our heart with the teachings of His Word. Join me today?

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A Little Reminder From God
Feb 12, 2019 | Kelly Balarie

Today's Truth

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me 2 Corinthians 12:9  2 Corinthians 12:9

Friend to Friend

I am such a mess. I hate how I am. I can’t ever get a handle on this issue.  Thoughts of self-hatred coursed through my mind as I sat on the hard-tile floor and took it all in.  Within the cabinets I’d just spent twenty minutes rearranging, there still was no semblance of organization. Papers shot out of books. Bags heaped left and right in no particular order. Shoes and knick-knacks filled the right side of the cabinet. And, worst of all, electrical cords stood like tumbleweed in the center of it all.  Regarding cleaning and organizing, my best efforts fell way short. And this is the problem. You see, no matter what I do, everything stays a mess. I fix things for a moment, until: my kids come home and mess things up, I get busy and I forget to keep up with it all, or clutter becomes impossible to throw out because I fear I’ll lose future-memories.  I want to be a better mom than this; my family deserves better.  With a heavy heart, I decided to approach my husband, “Uh ...,” I said. “Can I share something with you?”

He waited.  “There’s an area I haven’t told you about where all the time I feel so angry at myself. Every time I open up a cabinet, I mentally get furious at how I feel like I’m the most unorganized woman on the planet.”

Compassionately, he looked at me and replied, “Well, maybe Jesus just wants you to remind you that His grace is sufficient.”

And He was right. I finally understood. My cabinets and my deficiency are a blessing, not a curse.  How could a deficiency be a blessing?

Deficiencies point us to Christ’s all-sufficiency. Through them, we come to the One prepared to help us. The One with answers. The One with all the grace to accomplish true and long-lasting life-change.  Grace accomplishes far more than our hardest labor ever could. Certainly, God often calls us to meet Him in this venture by working, but work without God is toil.  My cabinets would now be a reminder of this. They, in all their untidy-glory, would almost speak, “Kelly, invite Jesus in to help you with this.”

Where do you need to invite Jesus in?

What personal issue do you hate to look at?

What feels unconquerable?

Heavy?

Burdening?

Jesus’ grace is sufficient. It is sufficient to change you, to rework you, to remake you, and to renew you.  It is more than okay to desperately need Jesus’ grace. It is life-changing to be in need of God.  Be encouraged. Wherever you feel powerless, God is powerful. Wherever you are hungry, God has food for you. Wherever you feel blind, God restores sight. You are not left behind or forgotten. God will help.  Today, rejoice by saying: No matter where I feel deficient, Christ is all-sufficient.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

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Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe
Feb 13, 2019 | Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power…For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.”  Ephesians 6:10-12
 
Note from Sharon: I know that devotions on marriage are difficult for many who are not married and perhaps would like to be. That’s why we usually keep the marriage devotions that minister to thousands  of women in the month of February. Whether you are married or single, please join us at GiG in praying for marriages all around the world.

Friend to Friend

I can still remember being sequestered in the “Bride’s Room” of our church just moments before the organist began to play for the early arrivals. As I sat in front of an oversized gilded mirror trying not to wrinkle my dress, I daydreamed about the man who would become my husband in just a few moments. He was everything I had ever hoped for: handsome, smart, ambitious, and strong. And most important, he loved Jesus.  Yes, this was a good day.  As I stared at my reflection, an unwelcome thought popped in my mind. Doesn’t every woman feel this joy on her wedding day?

What could go so terribly wrong that such a high percentage of marriages end in divorce?

Am I fooling myself?

Am I that much different from the thousands who have walked the aisle before me?

I decided right then and there that I would do everything in my power to make my marriage a success. It didn’t take long for me to discover that the words “in my power” were a problem. “My power” was not enough. Marriage was hard.  Fairy tales end with the words, “And they lived happily ever after.” But if we could see the Epilogue to those rides off into the sunset, we’d most likely find daily struggles, potentially divisive decisions, and angry arguments sprinkled throughout. Fairy tales stop short of telling us about tension over whose turn it is to wash the dishes, pay the bills, or put the kids to bed. They leave out the part about stress over holidays with in-laws, frequency of sex, and who gets to spend what when. We naively repeat the words, “for better or for worse,” and then are shocked when the first hint of “worse” rears its ugly head.  If you’ve been married for more than a few days, then you’ve most likely figured out that the blessed union doesn’t stay so blessed without a lot of work. And I dare say, the most important “work” we can do as wives is on our knees. Only God can truly protect our marriages and our men. And He invites us to participate in the unleashing of His power by praying for our husbands and turning the key to the storehouse of heaven’s door for blessings outpoured.  We’ve got to remember: the real struggle in marriage is a spiritual one. Our husbands are not the enemy; the devil is (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Paul urged believers to enter into spiritual battle armed and ready with the Word of God. He wrote: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:12,17 NIV)

Through prayer, the enemy’s plans are intercepted; the principalities and authorities are defeated. Through prayer, the power and provision of God flows into the lives of His people.  I had to learn that prayer is not a means of gaining control over my husband, to whip him into shape and make him the man I wanted him to be. Prayer is a means of relinquishing control of my husband and asking God to shape him into the man that He wants him to be.  Regardless of where your man or your marriage falls on the continuum of terrific to tolerable to terrible, there is always room for improvement. Prayer can make a bad marriage good, and a good marriage great.  There’s no better way to pray for someone than praying Scripture. We’ll use the following as our closing prayer for today. While I love to pray for my husband from head to toe, today we’ll just focus on our husbands’ head.

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Where Can I Find True Love?
Feb 14, 2019 | Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings  Psalm 36:7

Friend to Friend

In the early days of the automobile, a man’s Model T Ford stalled in the middle of the road. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t get it started. A chauffeured limousine pulled up behind the stalled car and a  wiry, energetic man stepped from the back seat to offer his assistance.  After tinkering with the engine for a few moments, the stranger said, “Now try it!”

Immediately, the engine leaped to life. The well-dressed man then identified himself as Henry Ford. “I designed and built these cars,” he said, “So I know what to do when something goes wrong.”

When our lives are broken, when the plan falls apart and everything goes wrong, we need to wait on God to show up, knowing He created us, and that He knows us best and loves us most. We are chosen and He knows exactly what to do when things go wrong.  You and I were created as a living, fleshed out depiction of God’s love. We can celebrate the precious truth of Psalm 139:14-16 (NCV) that says, “I praise You because You made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What You have done is wonderful. I know this very well. You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was put together there, You saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.”

Think about it! God supervised our formation. We were created in love for love and with a specific and holy purpose in mind. Wow!  We can rejoice with the Psalmist who wrote, “Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to Him; we are His people, the sheep He tends” (Psalm 100:3, NCV).

Many women buy into the lie that we are little more than puppets in the hands of God; that He created us as tools for His personal use or slaves to do His bidding and carry out His plan. In this verse, “Lord” literally means “Father” or “dearest Daddy,” indicating an intimate relationship between a loving Father and His child.  God undoubtedly has plans for us, but we misunderstand the character and heart of God when we assume those plans serve as a punishment or penalty for not being good enough. The best plan, the highest plan for our lives rests in the hands of the One who created us and loves us most.  We are all desperate to be loved and to love. We innately search for significance and are created with the powerful need to belong.  We pursue worth in worthless places.  We demand validation from invalid sources.  It is only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can truly experience authentic love, a love that displaces thoughts of rejection and banishes feelings of abandonment. It is in this priceless gift that we comprehend the amazing truth that even if we were never wanted or planned by human heart and mind, we were planned and wanted in the heart and mind of God! And that, dear friend, is enough!  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

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The One Secret to Enduring a Tough Season
Feb 15, 2019 | Michele Cushatt

Today's Truth

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble  Matthew 6:34

Friend to Friend

A quick look at my upcoming calendar nearly launched me in an enthusiastic episode of hyperventilation. Paper bag?

Anyone have a paper bag?!

As I scanned Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and  every day following for several weeks, any free time and possibility of rest were swallowed up by commitments and responsibility. Once again, I’d said “yes” to too many appointments, meetings and projects. I knew better, had been here before. And yet, once again, I found myself in a wrestling match between promises made and potential meltdown.  The more I looked at the never-ending stretch of days, the more I felt buried under the weight of it. And with the weight came frustration, irritation, and anger. Even panic. How would I get it all done? It felt impossible. Worse, I knew if I didn’t get my emotions under control, it was only a matter of time before they spilled out on those around me, namely my husband and children.  I needed to get a grip. Fast. And that’s when I remembered eight of Jesus’ words:  “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34)

In other words, you and I have more than enough to handle today. Today requires nothing less than our full attention. As for tomorrow and the next day and the many days yet to come years from now? We’ll have what we need for those days the moment we wake up to them, and not a moment before. Today takes up all the space our hands can hold. So why reach for days that haven’t yet come to pass?

Rather than looking at the calendar or circumstances months and years, it’s best to tackle life one day at a time. There was no way I’d get through this full season by panicking at the magnitude of it. Instead, I needed to take one day at a time, trusting God’s provision and presence to be sufficient for each one.  And, yes, it was also time I learned how to say “no” so I didn’t end up in this predicament again. Jesus could help me with that, too.  If you find yourself in an overwhelmed season, friend, I get it. Sometimes life IS more than we can handle. So, don’t try to tackle all of life in one 24-hour block. Instead of panicking at all your tomorrows, take a deep breath and pray your way through today. Let tomorrow’s troubles rest on tomorrow’s shelf, and keep your hands (and heart and mind) free to handle what is right in front of you.  Then, with an exhale, trust that the One who holds all of time in His able Hands will walk with you through whatever tomorrow may bring. Just as He did for you today.

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The One Day That’s Hers
Feb 18, 2019 | Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

Friend to Friend

Rarely do I see more beauty on the face of a woman than on the day of her wedding. She’s the belle of the ball and she knows it. Her eyes twinkle as she walks down the aisle toward her groom and her smile  speaks to the confidence she feels.  And she’s J Lo on the dance floor. Unhindered. Exuberant in celebration of her big day.  Brides are often consumed with the details of wedding planning. They reach out to best friends, family, co-workers and loved ones. They invite others to share in the big day.  There are showers and parties and cake-tastings.  There are presents to buy and dresses to try on, menus to peruse, and tuxes to rent.  Brides know their wedding day is special. They know this is their day for the spotlight. Their day to shine. A bride laughs, smiles, glows with love ... and she dances! She celebrates this one day that is HER day!  Royal weddings don’t happen every day. They’re special, grand occasions full of fancy, opulent indulgences that dance elegantly in the dreams of little girls.  All the feels are happening here! Psalm 45 invites us to an extravagant wedding.  (v13) The bride is beautiful within, filled with light, love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness and self-control. Darkness, hatred and evil have no place in her ... No matter our earthly experiences with grooms, we, the church, are the Bride of Christ. And He is the perfect gentleman. Royal by all accounts. King of kings! But more down to earth and intimate as the closest of earthly friends.  Stand tall, royal Bride.  Your groom adores you, cherishes your love and sees you as beautiful.

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In God’s Waiting Room
Feb 26, 2019 | Rachel Wojo

Today's Truth

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  Psalm 27:14

Friend to Friend

I have a confession to make. I’m terrible at waiting. Whether in a doctor’s office waiting room, parent pickup line, or restaurant waiting area, I strategize ways to wait the least amount of time.  If you can use an app and wait less time than standing in line?

I use it. If you can order ahead and potentially wait less time?

I do it. Now I realize that this is not all bad; I certainly don’t want everything in life to be a journey. But what if the desire for instant gratification is so strong that it makes me miss important parts of growth and relationship?

At some points in my life, I’ve felt like I was sitting in God’s waiting room. Oh, I know; there were no magazines and no chairs. But for reasons unknown to me, I was waiting on God. To send answers. To open an opportunity. To create a new situation. Whatever the circumstance, it was outside my control and I felt tempted to stomp my foot like a toddler. I sometimes felt tempted to try to make a change without God’s help. Have you ever sat in God’s waiting room?

I know you have.  Why does God place us there?

While I’m still learning how to wait patiently on God, I’ve combed the Word for hints on embracing this concept. One of those hints is that God wants to prepare us for the answer.  If I gave my 13-year-old son a car for his birthday this year, what would happen?

Most likely something horrible since he’s not qualified to drive a car. He hasn’t taken a single driving lesson. He doesn’t know how the equipment functions. He barely understands how to unlock and start the car. My son would have to wait to truly unwrap that gift because he’s just not ready for it.  God alone knows when we are ready for the answer for which we are waiting. He wants us to be equipped for the answer He is providing. He knows that catastrophe could lie ahead if we move on without preparation. He knows how hard it would be to sit and stare at the answer while we continue to work on our qualifications.  Today’s verse provides the encouragement we need to keep going through the waiting period. So often our focus is either on the wait or the result we desire. But while our focus is on the wait, God’s focus is on the work. Be strong and courageous, Friend. God will provide the answers in his perfect timing.  When we begin to view life from a faith-filled perspective, we can look back over the course of the journey and realize that God was there all along. We weren’t waiting for no reason! Spiritual hindsight comes as we adjust our lenses to see as God sees. Although we can’t see things to come, we recognize that just as God had a purpose for the wait in the past, so can He be trusted with the future.  Perhaps today you are waiting on God to provide a new job, heal a sickness, or mend a broken relationship. The journey has been long, and you are flat-out tired of waiting. Take heart. The God who loves you beyond measure is right there with you in your wait. He longs to provide the strength you need to keep from barging ahead on your own. He has not left you alone in the wait.  What we perceive as waiting on God is actually his wooing. He longs to draw you close and equip you well.

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When You Need Someone to Cheer You On
Feb 27, 2019 | Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” Hebrews 12:1-2

Friend to Friend

My son was fast, and he ran with a fast crowd. As a matter of fact, his entire track team was pretty fast! In the ninth grade, Steven participated in the conference track meet, running the 1600 meters. (That’s  four times around the big circle.) I was so proud of him as he ran like a gazelle around the first lap, about six feet behind the first-place participant.  But at some point during the beginning of the second lap, we saw an unidentified flying object soar over Steven’s head.  “What was that?” my husband asked.

“I think it was his shoe!”

All the fans were laughing and pointing as they noticed Steven’s left running shoe fly in the air and land on the grassy field. But amazingly, Steven kept running and never missed a beat. With one shoe off and one shoe on, he continued around the track. The atmosphere of the race lit with excitement, and the focus seemed to change. It became less about who would win and more about if shoeless Steven would make it to the finish line. All curious eyes were now on one lean runner. Would he stop?

Would he slow down?

Would his sock stay on?

His teammates began to run around the track, cheering him on. “Come on, Steven! Don’t give up! Don’t slow down! Keep going!”

Surprisingly, at the urging of his teammates, Steven sped up. By the third lap, he had passed the first-place runner by several paces.  but then, predictably, his sock started to work its way down the ankle and the toe was flopping like a loose sole of a worn old shoe.  Undaunted, Steven ran on, sock flopping.  When Steven crossed the finish line in first place, the crowd erupted in applause and laughter. He had broken his personal best running time!  The Bible tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV). The

NLT version calls them a “great crowd of witnesses.” The Message calls them “pioneers” and “veterans” who call us to “strip down, start running never quit!”  That cloud of witnesses this verse speaks of is all the men and women of the faith listed in Hebrews 11. If we could hear those that have gone before us, we would hear them cheering us on. “Don’t stop Mary, Kristen, Bethany, Keisha. Keep going! Don’t quit!”

That’s what they’re cheering for you today.  Not only that, but you and I can be part of the great crowd of witnesses that cheer on our brothers and sisters in Christ right here and now. All through our lives, we’ll notice friends, or “fellow runners” who have lost more than a shoe they’ve lost their hopes, their dreams, and their will to finish the race. What can we do? We can cheer them on by offering a timely word of encouragement and running alongside them shouting, “Come on, friend! Don’t give up! Don’t slow down! Keep going! Keep you eyes on Jesus!”

Who knows, that friend may do more than simply finish the race. She may even take first place!

[Pip]

What’s Up With That, God?
Feb 28, 2019 | Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant. Psalm 44:17

Friend to Friend

Not gonna lie, sometimes life gets really hard. At times our battles are an intense, invisible boxing match, and the enemy seems to not only make contact on every upper cut but also win every round. There are  seasons when we feel defeated, wounded, abandoned, vulnerable, frustrated and forgotten. The psalmists felt this way sometimes too.  “You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.  My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face, because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.  All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant.  Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path.”  (Psalm 44:14-18, CSB)

The Sons of Korah wrote Psalm 44 from a hard place, to say the least. They’d gone round after round and felt beat up. They wanted to know why God was allowing their enemies to crush them in light of the fact that they were actually faithful and obedient to Him.  Essentially shrugging their shoulders to heaven and saying, What’s up with that, God?

We’re Your people fully committed to You aware of Your power and love, grateful for the ways You’ve knocked our enemies out in the past. C’mon, now! Can we get a little help down here?

Let’s be honest here, sometimes it can feel like God is sleeping. Snoozing off as we scream for help. It can seem like He’s casual about our suffering. As if He’s talking to someone more important at the boxing match, clueless as to the bruises that ache and the bleeding cuts that sting.  But just because it FEELS this way doesn’t make it true.  You know it. I know it. The psalmists knew it.  God is always faithful, always able to step in and stop the swinging and always loving even if He chooses to allow the fight to go on.  Why though?

Why does He sometimes allow such brutal seasons?

Why does He allow His own children to go through hardship and experience loss?

I don’t know for sure, but perhaps to grow our faith and deepen our awareness of how much we truly need Him.  I take heart, confident in this: when life hits hard and knocks me down, I’m better positioned for battle as my knees hit the ground.

[Pip]

Come to Me
Mar 01, 2019 | Wendy Speake

Today's Truth

Today’s Truth Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”  Matthew 11:28

Friend to Friend

Since the start of the new year, three words have been ringing in my ears: “Come to Me.” Matthew 11:28 has been hidden in my heart for as long as I can remember, but recently I’ve heard the Lord speak this intimate  invitation to me personally, in light of all the things I tend to run to, turn to, “come” to.  “Come to Me.”

As I turn to comfort food: “Come to Me, I’m the Great Comforter.”

As I turn on my computer; “Come to Me, I want to connect with you.”

As I head into Target for a little retail therapy, “Come to Me, let me be your Counselor.”

As I make a phone call to talk through my stress with a friend; “Come to Me Call on Me!”

As I turn into Starbucks for something sweet; “Come to Me, my words are sweet as honey.”

As I scroll through Facebook; “Don’t follow them, follow Me. Come to Me.”

As I open up Amazon Prime; “Come to Me, I’m free and I’ll set you free!”

As I binge watch another late-night TV show; “Come. To. Me.”

“Come to Me.”

There are so many things that I mindlessly “come to” each day so many things that I eat, read, watch, buy, consume.  But God is speaking clearly to me: “Come to me, consume Me, and let me consume you.”

Are you weary and heavy laden?

Experiencing a void that social media, food, and shopping simply can’t fill?

Take the weight of it all to the Lord. If you’re worn out, exhausted, running to all the false gods this world has to offer take it all to Him. He has the shoulders to carry your burdens. The One who shouldered the cross, can shoulder your pain. It’s what He does. Amazon Prime can’t do it. Facebook can’t do it. Brownies can’t do it for you either. It’s not their job. It’s God’s job.  “Come to Me.”

He is able to carry your hurting relationships square on His shoulders. He can handle your fears and your failures. He can carry your sin struggles and your shame. He alone can carry the weight of it all, all the way up Calvary’s hill. And at the foot of the cross, He can lay it down on your behalf. In exchange for those heavy burdens, He offers His light yoke. That’s what He gives us when we give it all to Him.  “Come. Come to Me. Bring it all to Me, and I will give you rest.”

[Pip]

Breaking Up With Fake
Mar 04, 2019 | Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people.  Psalm 50:4

Friend to Friend

When a skilled jeweler places a diamond under a microscope, he is able to authenticate and determine its value based upon the color, cut, clarity and carat weight of the stone.  Flaws are visible in the testing, and any jeweler worth his salt can easily see the difference between a man-made cubic zirconia and a real diamond that’s been forged in pressure over time.  I like to think I can spot fake from a mile away too. It’s everywhere: the lashes, spray tans, hair color, boobs, eyebrows, puffy lips and high cheekbones. Beyond the substitute beauty efforts, there are a million other ways humanity serves up fake. Passing off that gossip as a prayer request. Praying from my lips, but not from my heart. Harboring anger and holding on to it like an invisible friend that I have every right to have.  God sees straight through fake.  Empty sacrifices are meaningless to Him.  Psalm 50 serves as a powerful reminder to me not to try to pass off a cubic-zirconia-faith to a flawless-diamond God. He leaves no room for insincere worship and makes it clear that He doesn’t want me going through the motions of religion in an effort to please or appease Him. He doesn’t want any part of fake faith. That’s not His way.  Holy echoes call out routine religion. If you’re really my daughter, act like it. Don’t bring me your fake faith and expect that I’m going to pretend along with you. It’s of no value to me. Be grateful. Really. Thank me for every good and perfect gift you have in life. It’s all from me. And be honest in worship. Do what you say you’re gonna do. Include me in your days. Talk with me about your troubles. Let me come along side of you. Recognize me as God and just watch: I’ll show up in powerful ways.  Yowsa! Tell me how you really feel, God.  He wants our honest attention. Our sincere faith.  The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks;  The summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance.  3 Our God is coming; he will not be silent!  Devouring fire precedes him, and a storm rages around him.  4 On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people:  5 “Gather my faithful ones to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”  6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God is the Judge.  (Psalm 50:1-6, CSB)

The holy God of heaven doesn’t want any of us to treat Him lightly. He deserves better. He deserves our genuine thanksgiving, honor and trust. He is faithful, merciful and kind.  Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.  15 Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.  (Psalm 50:14-15, CSB)

Time to break up with fake faith because grace is free, but it didn’t come cheap.

[Pip]

Every Storm An Opportunity to Trust God
Mar 05, 2019 | Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

LORD, even when I have trouble all around me, You will keep me alive. When my enemies are angry, You will reach down and save me by Your power.  Psalm 138:7

Friend to Friend

My father-in-law was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean when he was caught in a school of jellyfish. Dad was stung twenty-three times. In severe pain and a state of sheer panic, he began to swim furiously, trying to escape the poisonous sea creatures.  The only problem was that he was not sure which way was up.  Dad was soon running out of air. He prayed asking God for help.  And then a thought occurred to him. His only hope was to stop, relax, and look for the light. As he forced himself to relax, he began to float. And then he saw it the light. With his last bit of energy, he began to swim toward the light and made it to the surface just before he passed out and was rescued.  We often react to a crisis in the same way.  When the excruciating pain of life leaves us breathless, we panic.  We are not sure which way to go.  We are soon paralyzed and in desperate need of rescuing.  And as a last resort, we cry out to God.  When will we learn that crying out to God should be our first response instead of our last resort?

The psalmist promises that God will keep us by His power. The word “power” means “strength and authority.” When we fully surrender our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. He is our power link to God. And one of His most important jobs is to comfort us when we are in pain and sustain us in the storms of life.  I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you  (John 14:25-26, NLT).

Many times, when the storm waves of life hit, we forget every promise we know. That is when the Holy Spirit reminds us that

•   God is faithful.
•   God will not forsake us.
•   God will never leave us.
•   God is always with us.
•   God will empower us to withstand the storm.

Just as storms in life are a certainty, so is the provision of God.  Life can be messy and bad things will happen, but every crisis and every storm is also an opportunity to trust God. He calls us to a heavenly perspective when facing challenging times. He calls us to see the storms of life as He sees them opportunities for His power and purpose to be illustrated in human terms.  In the midst of the darkness, He will point us toward the light. When a huge wave of daily life knocks us to our knees, it is easy to lose our sense of direction. When a storm overwhelms us, we need to stop, look for the light, and swim toward it.

[Pip]

Avoiding Burnout
Mar 06, 2019 | Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”  Mark 6:31

Friend to Friend

I sat on the edge of my seat as I watched my son’s first track meet. The crowd was abuzz as moms and dads chatted, waiting for their teens to dash, sprint, or endure the eight laps of the 3200-meter race. But when the  boys lined up for the hurdles event, the visiting stopped and the crowd watched with rapt attention.  Why?

In the hurdles event, the stakes were higher. It became less about who would win, and more about who would gracefully leap and clear the metal roadblocks or tip and topple over the intentional barriers.  Hurdles they are not simply found on the asphalt of track and field but also in the great race called life. As women, we struggle finding balance with our many roles and responsibilities. Our flame of enthusiasm begins to diminish when we are doing more than God intended or when we are doing what God intended, but on our own strength rather than His.  In the Bible we see many who experienced times of burnout. After Jonah’s miraculous delivery from the big fish and prophetic announcement to the people of Nineveh, he sank into a depression and wanted to die. “Now, Lord, take away my life,” he cried. “For it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3).

After Elijah destroyed 850 false prophets and called down fire from heaven that miraculously burned up sacrifices to Baal, the fire in his own life went dim (1 Kings 18-19). And yet, after it was over, he wanted to quit. Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4).

How do we avoid those same feelings of burnout, even after a great success?

The first step is to realize that it can happen and does happen to the best of us. Burnout is real. We can run out of steam and lose our drive.  What was God’s response to Elijah’s cry to quit? Let’s take a look at 1 Kings 19. I suggest you pull out your Bible and follow along.

•   He allowed Elijah to sleep (19:5) rest.
•   He sent an angel to provide food for him to eat (19:5) refreshment
•   He allowed Elijah to sleep again (19:6)–more rest
•   He sent an angel to provide food for him to eat again (19:7) refreshment
•   He caused Elijah to ponder what he was doing: “What are you doing here?” (19:9) reflection
•   He spoke to Elijah personally (19:11) response
•   He caused Elijah to ponder what he was doing, again. “What are you doing here?” (19:13) reflection
•   He told Elijah what to do next (19:15) redirection
•   He showed Elijah whom He had appointed to help him (19:16) reinforcement

Even Jesus had to take time to rest, refresh, reflect, respond, redirect, and gather reinforcement. The Bible tells us this about Jesus: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed” (Mark 1:35 NIV).

Early in the morning Jesus went off by Himself and spent time alone with His heavenly Father. Interestingly, Simon and his companion interrupted Jesus’ time of prayer.  “Everyone is looking for you!” they exclaimed. (I’ve been there. I bet you have too.)

The day before, Jesus had healed many men and women. No doubt, the disciples and the townspeople wanted Him to return to perform more miracles. But Jesus had a different idea. ”Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so I can preach there also,” He said. “That is why I have come.”

I love that Jesus said “no” to a good thing so that he could say “yes” to the best thing. That is the bull’s eye to avoiding burnout. But how do you know when to say no?

He prayed.  If you’re feeling a bit burned out today: Consider the following.

•   Rest often. (God rested on the seventh day.)
•   Refresh with proper diet.
•   Re-evaluate priorities and responsibilities on a regular basis (monthly).
•   Relegate and delegate.
•   Review commitments regularly (monthly).
•   Resist saying “yes” to demands and requests that do not line up with what God has called you to do.
•   Resist being ruled by your schedule and allow for divine appointments from God that may not be on your schedule.
•   Remove superfluous activities that interfere with or choke out God’s agenda.
•   Refocus on what God has called you to do rather than what others would like for you to do.
•   Remain in close and constant communion with God.