Ladder of Success (Christian Reggaeton)

Video Mix Reggaeton Cristiano 2010 Dj JL ( Unción Mix )

christian reggaeton mix by DJ RAY SANTIAGO

Eric E - Si, si, si (Christian Reggaeton)

(HOT Z Team) "Good Morning" Mandisa Christian Dance Fitness

ReFit Dance Fitness, "Boomin" Toby Mac faith+fitness

REFIT Dance Fitness "MOVE" Christian HIP HOP

Aretha Franklin - People Get Ready

Blessed - Ekklesia

Natalie Wilson Conqueror

Eyes on the Prize by Gwen Smith

March 21, 2014
Eyes on the Prize
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
…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 author and perfecter of faith... (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Friend to Friend
When my daughter Kennedy was four years old she played on a pee-wee soccer team. We signed her up in hopes that she would have a fun outlet for her overflowing, youthful energy.

On the afternoon of her first practice, I saw great promise! She was all business as she fearlessly ran after the ball and fixed her eyes and efforts on getting the soccer ball into the goal.

I was stoked! A competitive athlete myself, I began to envision Kennedy as Mia Hamm junior. In my mind, she was about to take pee-wee soccer to a whole new level. Surely the Olympic team would be sending me emails about their need for her in just a few short years!

When we got home, she was elated and exhausted, fully in love with her new sporty endeavor. Pride swelled in my mama heart as I gave my husband the run down on practice and assured him that we had a very serious four-year-old competitor on our hands. For a week, I bragged to family and friends about my little soccer girl and told them of her "eye of the tiger" mentality.

Thrilled to see his future-Olympian-soccer-playing daughter in action, my husband Brad took Kennedy to her second practice. As they drove off, I waved like a prom queen swollen with promise – eagerly anticipating an exciting report of her skills and focus upon their return.

When they got home, however, Brad surprised me with his recount of what had gone down on and off the field that day. It seems that during this second practice Kennedy did not have a competitive eye of the tiger. Instead, she had a playful desire to catch the eye of her father. All throughout practice – even in the middle of drills – she continually ran to the sidelines where Brad was watching to get a drink from her water bottle or simply a kiss or a hug from her daddy.

Clearly, her eyes were on the prize of another kind! A better kind.

What a beautiful picture. Kennedy was delighting in the love of her father – constantly running to him with arms open wide. She ran to be refreshed in him. She ran to have her thirst quenched in his presence.

Oh, the lessons we can learn from children! This is how we should run to God and be loved by Him! Jesus taught that we are to approach and accept the kingdom of God as a little child does: simply.

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Luke 18:15-17, ESV)

This causes me to wonder, do I really have a child-like faith? Do I run to God all throughout my days and approach Him with confidence as one who is greatly loved? Do I trust that His gaze is fixed on me or do I believe the lie that He is distant, unseeing and uncaring? Do I focus on the mountains before me or on the Mountain Maker who is able to do exceedingly above and beyond what I can ask or imagine?

It is so easy for us to fix our eyes on the mundane instead of the majestic. So easy to focus on our jobs, our challenges, our failures, our disappointments, our relationships, and our goals! The prize of a better kind awaits each of us who recognizes that the true reward of life is found in Jesus Christ.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; 
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:8).

God is your reward.

Trust that when you look to Him, He's looking right back at you. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry… (Psalm 34:15).

Trust that when you run to Him, He's running right back to you. Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep…How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! (Psalm 36:5-7)

Today, …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 author and perfecter of faith... (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Eyes on the Prize, friend.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for Your love and compassion. Forgive me to for the times I run straight ahead in life without so much as glancing your way or considering your ways. Today I run to your wide-open arms and give thanks for the redemption, rest and restoration I find in you.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Complete this sentence and post it as a comment on my blogfor the world to see: "Lord, today I will stop fixing my eyes on ______________ and will instead fix my eyes on You."

Read Psalm 34 and note all of the active and responsive ways of God. Journal about them and reflect on the blessings of walking closely with Him.

More from the Girlfriends
Are you struggling to trust that God's love can bring beauty to your life? Learn how God wants to bring you beyond your past heart-wounds and your present challenges to His wholeness, strength and beauty. Broken into Beautiful is a book filled with stories – real stories … gritty and honest, not cleaned up and phony. It's also filled with Scripture that will inspire you toward the life-changing grace of Jesus. To order the book, go toAmazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen's store.

Gwen's website is filled with videos, posts, songs and resources that will be a deep well of encouragement to you.Click here to visit her site. (Get a FREE song download when you sign up for her newsletter!)

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

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

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11, NIV)

Friend to Friend
As a little girl, I really did have a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow. I can remember the day my mother showed me the lamb and explained that she did not have a bottle with which to feed the stray lamb. I did. I agreed to let the lamb have my bottle if I could have the lamb. I have been fascinated by the unique relationship between sheep and their shepherd ever since.

Shepherds live with their sheep, finding places for them to eat and drink, providing shelter from the storms and protection from the heat. Sheep must eat the right amount of the right kinds of grass at the right times…or they will die. If the sheep eat too little one day and too much the next day, some of the bacteria that live in the stomach of the sheep will reproduce abnormal levels, creating toxins that cause sudden death. This problem was even more complicated for the shepherds of the Bible.

The type of shepherding referred to in the Bible is not the farming of fenced pasturelands, but nomadic grazing. The shepherd must carefully plan the path and lead the way so that the sheep have neither too little nor too much grazing and are able to get to the water hole on time. Pastures are often lost to extreme heat that means the shepherd has to scour the countryside in search of green grass. Several flocks of sheep are gathered together at night in a sheltered place so that shepherds can share the watches of the night, protecting the sheep from wild animals and thieves. Good shepherds are always willing to risk their lives to save their flocks from any harm, any enemy and even from themselves.

Sheep are dumb, can never be left alone and often stray, requiring the shepherd to find and rescue them. A shepherd never pushes his sheep but rather leads his sheep, going before them, making sure they are not walking into danger. The needs of sheep, compared to the needs of other animals, are greater because of their instinct to be afraid and when faced with a fearful situation, to run. Without a shepherd to care for the sheep, they will not last long.

Personally, I definitely fit the profile of a sheep. I can't count the number of times I have stubbornly stuck to my plan, foolishly thinking that it was better than His plan, only to end up in some pit somewhere, calling for help. Psalm 40:1-3 has become my life maxim – with one exception. I rarely wait patiently! Remember, I am a sheep!

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

I sometimes allow fear to drive me to a place where I am trapped by doubts and darkness…until He rescues me. I try to satisfy my hunger by eating the wrong things found in the wrong places at the wrong times. The result is always the same; my soul remains ravenous for what is good while stuffing my heart and mind with what is bad.

Like every sheep, I don't like to be pushed. Good shepherds do not push, no matter how great the temptation. A good shepherd stands in front of his sheep, gently calling their names, leading them to a place where he has already been, positioning himself between danger and his sheep. When I am tired and ready to give up, I tend to withdraw from the other sheep and even from my Shepherd. Many of us have somehow bought into the lie that they can make it on their own or that the rules, the commandments of God, do not necessarily apply to them…just those other sheep. The longer I serve God, the more I realize just how much we need each other and how much we need Him. When will I learn that I cannot do life on my own – as a sheep or as a shepherd?

A good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for his sheep, just as Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and for me. I am so glad He was willing to lay down His life for every single sheep – the cute, fluffy ones as well as the dirty, broken lambs like me. Maybe it is time for us all to stop, listen for His voice, seek His plan and remember that we are indeed needy sheep who are called to love and lead other needy sheep to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Let's Pray
Lord, I am so thankful that You are my Shepherd and that no matter how deep the valley or dark the pit, You have gone before me and made a way. Help me to understand that Your ways are higher than mine. Forgive me when I complain that the way You have made for me is harder than I want it to be. I surrender my life to you, Lord, my God and my Shepherd.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now it's Your Turn
Here is a challenge for every Girlfriend in God. Read Psalm 23 once a day for one month. Record it in your journal. Let every word soak into your heart, mind and soul. When fear comes, turn to God. When you are in need, trust the Shepherd. When confusion surrounds you, trust God to make the crooked paths straight. Rejoice daily in the fact that you are His lamb and He is your Shepherd.

More from the Girlfriends
I truly believe that most of our stress in life is rooted in our refusal to trust God as our Shepherd. Escaping the Stress Trapis not just a book I wrote. It is based on Psalm 23 and is my story of learning to understand that I am His sheep and He is my Shepherd. Check it out!

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Tame Your Tongue. And be sure to connect with Mary on Face book or through email.

Click HERE to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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

06 Found a Love - Seth and Nirva

Whole World

CHRISTIAN APPAREL

Below you will find, some christian apparel, I find interesting to wear. Below each image is a link to that companies website, where you will find many more designs. Enjoy and pass the Jesus!

http://www.christianapparelshop.com/default.aspx

https://www.notw.com/

http://www.jcluforever.com/

https://www.godinspiredfashion.com/

http://risenapparelonline.com/index.html

http://www.familychristian.com/apparel.html

http://www.kerusso.com/christian-apparel/

www.christianbook.com/

http://www.gratefulapparel.com/

http://www.mardel.com/apparel.aspx

http://christlyke.dbrwebs.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

http://www.cool4christ.com/

http://www.adifferentdirection.com/collections/christian-apparel-clothing

http://christiandollarstore.com/christshir.html

http://www.christian-apparel.com/

http://www.christianapparel.org/

http://hgachristianapparel.com/

http://www.souledoutstyle.com/

http://www.warriorchristianapparel.com/home.html

https://www.christianshirts.net/

Day 6: A Constant Place of Refuge - God Has Not Forgotten You: A 31-Day Devotional

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents found themselves taking refuge in shelters all over the United States. Three weeks later, Hurricane Rita, cut a new path of destruction through the Gulf Coast, forcing those who found refuge in Houston, and other areas near the coast to participate in yet another evacuation. Then on the heels of Rita came the wildfires in Southern California, the earthquake in Pakistan, and the mudslides in Guatemala, displacing even more families. 

If you and your family have been displaced as a result of tragedy you may be experiencing feelings of anxiety, insecurity, uncertainty, and more. Or if you are facing death or disease you may feel like running for shelter … a place to hide. There is a place where anyone facing tragedy can go—a place that provides our spirits never-ending shelter from danger, and offers powerful strength to weather any storm life may bring our way. That place is in God. In Psalm 32:7, David says this of God, "You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance."

Though life is sometimes difficult and painful, when we take shelter in Him, His help is always ready, has been proven time and time again, and is completely reliable. In Psalm 62:7-8 (TLB), David wrote, "He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust Him all the time. Pour out your longings before Him, for He can help!" Like David, you can take shelter in His protective presence. There you will find peace for today, strength for tomorrow, and hope for a brighter future.

Taking back your life …

1. In Psalm 57:1-2 David prayed, "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. I will cry to God most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me." How can you use or apply this prayer to your circumstances today?
2. How does it feel to know that you can find permanent shelter in God, where everything you need (peace, joy, strength, protection, hope, etc.) is provided?
3.  When you have some time. Open a Bible and read Psalm 91 to learn more about the blessings of taking refuge in God.

Additional Scripture reading:

• Deuteronomy 33:27 
• 2 Samuel 22:2-3 
• Psalm 32:7 
• Psalm 61:3-4

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/growing-in-your-faith/god-has-not-forgotten-you-a-31-day-devotional#.UxkVpPRDsRL

The Power of One Broken Seed by Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17, NLT).

Friend to Friend
I am famous for my "brown thumb." Even though we have moved several times over the years, changing climates, states, neighborhoods and soil conditions, nothing has altered the fact that if I touch any living plant, its chances for survival are slim. My husband has fared no better in his numerous attempts to plant trees and flowers. I fear that the "brown thumb" disease is contagious. There is more. I see undeniable evidence that this gardening malady is hereditary. Our son, bless his heart, has tried to rescue wilted flower after crispy plant from his mother's clutches. But there is hope! Our daughter, Danna, is not only able to keep living plants alive for an impressive amount of time, she can plant seeds and green things will actually grow! It is absolutely amazing to me!

When Danna was in kindergarten she had a very creative science teacher, Miss Kay, who constantly planned fun activities and projects for the children. Danna loved her and was always talking about what she learned in science class. One day, as I waited for Danna in the carpool line, I spotted her standing by Miss Kay, grinning from ear to ear, jumping up and down as if she simply could not wait for me to get there. I pulled up, Danna hopped into the car, gave a huge sigh of satisfaction and stretched out her tiny hand, proudly displaying the reason for her enthusiasm - a wadded up paper towel.

Now I am normally very good at being excited about the things my kids find important but, for the life of me, I could not fathom why Danna would be so thrilled with a crumpled paper towel. "Honey, what is that?" I asked. She looked up at me with sparkling brown eyes and whispered, "Mom, there are seeds in here. Miss Kay gave them to me, and I am going to plant them, and they are going to grow. Can you believe it?"

Given my morbid experience with seeds, I declined to answer that question and chose to join my daughter in her excitement – until I saw the seeds. Evidently, Danna had been carrying them around all day because when she carefully unfolded the paper towel, all I could see was a big mess of broken, mismatched, crushed and crumbled seeds. Looking into the eager eyes of my daughter I said, "Honey, if these seeds don't grow for some reason, remember that we can go to the store and buy some new ones." Clutching the seeds tightly to her heart and safely out of my reach, Danna said, "Mama, they have to grow 'cause I prayed and asked God to please make them grow and He said He would!" I began planning a trip to the gardening center.

Danna was silent all the way home but when we pulled into our driveway, she jumped out of the car and darted into the house, leaving her doubting mother behind. Moments later Danna reappeared with a small paper cup in her hand. I watched as she scooped up dirt from the front flowerbed and marched confidently back into the house. I followed her, moaning my silent complaint, "Father, do you realize that your reputation is on the line here? Why did she have to pick that particular flower bed, the one we filled with decorative rocks because nothing, not even weeds, would grow there?" Once again I tried to reason with Danna. "Honey, why don't we just buy some new seeds?" Ignoring my obvious lack of faith, Danna stuffed the broken seeds down into the cup, marched to the kitchen sink, placed the cup under the faucet, and turned the water on full blast. Just as fast as the seeds and dirt spilled over the edge of the cup into the sink, Danna scooped them up and poked them back in, all the way to the bottom of the cup so they could not escape.

"Miss Kay says that they have to have sunshine to grow." With this announcement, Danna placed her soggy cup of broken, mismatched seeds on the kitchen windowsill that looks out over our screened-in porch; a place purposely designed to receive no sunlight at all. By this time, I knew my words were falling on deaf ears and decided to let God handle this one on His own.

Several days later, I was standing at the kitchen sink preparing dinner, when I glanced out on the porch to see my daughter's faith on spectacular display. A small paper cup filled with green sprouts confronted my doubting heart. I could not believe my eyes. Dropping the potatoes in the sink, I literally ran to Danna's room shouting, "Danna! Danna! Your seeds are growing!" I found her calmly playing "Chutes and Ladders" with Danielle, her best friend. "Danna! Did you hear me? Your seeds are growing!" A brief glance and knowing smile from Danna said it all. "That is so neat, Mom. I knew they would." She and Danielle resumed their game, leaving me to gaze in awe and wonder at the faith of my child who dared to believe in a broken dream.

I know you are desperately clinging to the broken and mismatched remnants of your life, wondering how you can go on. Whispers of the enemy creep into your heart, soul and mind, taunting you with the lie that you are just too dirty and broken for God to love or use. It seems as if nothing and no one can change that reality, so you might as well give up, throwing your life away.

Nothing could be further from the truth, girlfriend. In fact, God is drawn to broken people, choosing the most broken to do His highest work. His light shines best through broken people. Never underestimate the power of one, tiny broken seed. Placed in the right hands, it will surely grow into an expression of His beauty for all to see.

Let's Pray
Father, I come to You, broken and desperate for Your love and grace. Please heal the broken places in my life. I surrender my hurt and pain to You and ask You to transform it all into something beautiful that glorifies You. I choose to trust You – not my feelings or human understanding. I choose to walk by faith and not by sight.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
If you really want God to change your life and teach you how to embrace your pain, you must be willing to make several choices:

• I choose faith over doubt.
• I choose to believe God's Word over man's wisdom or logic.
• I choose to stand firm and trust God when the storms of life come.
• I choose to count on God's holiness and perfect plan for my life instead of my effort.

More from the Girlfriends
Women are amazing! Every day, we receive e-mails from women who are facing seemingly impossible circumstances, and yet choose to believe and cry out to God. Doesn't sound like enough, does it? It is. No matter where you are, God is with you…and so are we. For more help, check out my book,Escaping the Stress Trap, to discover 9 practical ways to overcome overload. Looking for a Bible Study? Be sure to check out my E-Book Bible Study, Strength for the Storm.

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check outMary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Tame Your Tongue. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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

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

Day 5: Finding Hope in God - God Has Not Forgotten You: A 31-Day Devotional

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

"Take from a man his wealth, and you hinder him; take from him his purpose, and you slow him down. But take from man his hope, and you stop him. He can go on without wealth, and even without purpose, for a while. But he will not go on without hope."—C. Neil Strait.(1) As you think about your own circumstances, you may feel completely discouraged. The reality of what you are facing can seem so overwhelming, you might feel like giving up. But don't give up. The circumstances may be too difficult in human terms, but in Christ there is always hope. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 TLB). 

When you consider all that you are facing, ask yourself, "Is there anything too hard for God?" (See Jeremiah 32:17). Absolutely nothing! No matter what is going on in your life, you can trust that He is in control, and is working everything out for your good (see Romans 8:28). When you wake up in the morning and wonder how you will face the day, God is working it out. When you wonder how you can get through and overcome this difficult time, God is working it out. And when you lay down at night, wondering how you will face the challenges of tomorrow, whatever they may be, God is already working it out. God knows intimately the concerns of your heart (see Psalm 139:1-3), and can provide all the peace, strength, and courage you need. So don't give up! Confidently hope in Him. Hope … and persevere!  

Taking back your life …

1. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." What hope does this Scripture give you in the midst of tragedy, loss, and uncertainty? 
2. Discuss as a family (or with a friend) how God has worked things out for your good in past times of difficulty. 
3. Pray with someone else who shares your sorrow. Take turns praying for one another that God will encourage your hearts and give you hope. 

Additional Scripture reading:

• Psalm 31:24 
• Romans 15:13 
• Ephesians 3:20-21

a time for mourning by Amanda Bible Williams

a time for mourning

Posted on Mar 5, 2014 by Amanda Bible Williams in #SheReadsTruth, Daily Devo,

psst – be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom – we have a fun Lent assignment for you for Friday!

Text: Job 42:1-6, Genesis 3:19, Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 4:1-6

The Ash Wednesday ashes are as a sign of mourning, just as they were in biblical times. Perhaps you’ve seen them smeared on the forehead of a friend or a coworker, or even in the mirror just this morning.

I vaguely remember the first time I noticed the ashen cross; it was on the face of a stranger and I was in a public place, although I don’t remember where. I was practically an adult but I remember feeling taken aback by such an outward display of an inward posture, an overt proclamation of an intimate heart condition. I was just beginning to learn then what I’m still learning now – that the condition of all us sinners is very much the same, even when we choose to keep it to ourselves.

Yes, the ashes are worn in a spirit of mourning – to signify repentance of sin, like Job’s confession in Job 42, and to acknowledge our human frailty like the “dust to dust” words of Genesis 3. Today, Ash Wednesday, is a time for us – Protestants, Catholics, Jesus followers, Truth seekers – to acknowledge not just our acts of sin but our condition of sinfulness before the Lord. It is a time to turn to him in mourning and to return to Him in trust anew, believing He is faithful to forgive and forgive again.

Before we jump up and down for joy of forgiveness – which we absolutely should – let’s sit here a minute. Let’s let the enormity of our sin sink in deep, so the enormity of the Cross can become more real to us than ever before. So we can remember that we are the sick ones He came to heal. Let’s rest a long moment in the weeping that comes before the laughing, the mourning that comes before the joy (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

.      .      .      .      .

“We travail. We are heavy laden. Refresh us, O homeless, jobless, possession-less Savior. You came naked, and naked you go. And so it is for us. So it is for all of us.”
- Barbara Cawthorne Crafton

Sisters, backwards as it may seem, we come to Lent for refreshment. We fast – be it from a comfort or a thing, an action or an indulgence – to receive. We give up that which we do not need to live, to gain that which we cannot live without: more Jesus.

We hold ourselves back from the everyday trappings of life simply to refocus our gaze and re-firm our grip on him. We do not fast for fasting’s sake, but only to draw near to Him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it best: “Self-denial is saying only: He goes ahead of us; hold fast to him.”

As we move into the Lenten season – and into the 4 short reading plans which will carry us through Lent with the topics of fasting, repentance, meditation and confession – let’s hold fast to Him.

Let’s hold fast only to Him.

_______

and, about that fun assignment…

Hey girls! It’s Raechel. I want to take a quick second to tell you about a little something we’ve been dreaming about here at SheReadsTruth for a few months now, and we thought Lent might be a nice time to give it a try!

You know people say that one of the best ways to learn, is to teach. We’ve certainly found this to be true for ourselves as we’ve studied hard and long and deep to write the devotionals you find on our site. We want to give you space to do that, too!

Whether you consider yourself a writer or not, whether you have a blog with 10 or 10,000 readers – or don’t have a blog at all – no worries. This is about learning. It’s about digging deep and asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures for you in a new way – and boy, is He ever faithful to do just that.

Every Friday during Lent, YOU will be our writers. We will assign your scriptures early in the week (typically on Monday, though we know today is Wednesday so it’s a little bit shorter notice) and you’ll have roughly five days to study and prepare and write.

Publish your devotional on your own blog on Friday. (We try to keep our devotionals to 400 words, but you do what you like.) If you don’t have a blog, try Facebook or even Instagram (take photo of handwritten notes if that is what works for you) and use the hashtag #SheReadsTruth.

And then the fun. On Friday (that’s in two days), come to the SheReadsTruth site and share the link to the devotional you’ve written. The beauty of this exercise is that it will enhance your time in the Word, you will be able to share your Lent devotional with your readers/followers, and all of your SheReadsTruth sisters will be able to click around to read what everyone has written – a hundred different takes on the same passage!

Friday’s scripture will be Psalm 130. Come back then to share what you’ve learned and to see what your sisters have learned as well!

xoxo,
R

http://www.bloglovin.com/

When You Feel Far From God - Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
Jesus said: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20, NIV)

Friend to Friend
Do you ever feel far away from God, or that He is far away from you? If you're like most people, then I bet the answer is yes. So let's take a look at those "feelings."

You are a triune being with a body, soul, and spirit. Within your soul you have a mind, will, and emotions. That's where those "feelings come from." And if you are like most people, sometimes you feel closer to God than other times. But are you? Really?

Sometimes I feel closer to my husband than others times. But that doesn't mean I'm any less married at some times more than others. I usually feel closer to him after we've enjoyed a fun time together, been especially intimate, or gone through a struggle where we've locked arms and walked through the struggle together.

It's not that much different in my relationship with God. I mightfeel closer to Him when we've had a good time together (as in worship service), been especially intimate spiritually (as in a morning quiet time), or gone through a struggle where we've locked arms and walked through the difficulty together (as in mourning the death of a loved one).

But just because I feel closer to God in a particular moment doesn't mean that I am. It is just a feeling. We know that we cannot have that giddy feeling about our spouse all the time. Then why do we think we have to have that with God?

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they could know him better …that they might know the hope to which he had called them…(Ephesians 1:17-19). He prayed for the Colossians that they would know the mystery of God, namely, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3). He did not pray that they would feel like they were close to God or feel the love of God. He prayed that they would know it.

Specifically, Paul prayed:
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (How? Through faith.) And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know his love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19emphasis added).

Why do we experience times when we feel far from God? How can we feel far from God if His Holy Spirit lives in us? If you are in Christ and He is in you (John 14:20), why don't you feel Him at all times? Can you feel distant from your liver, from your kidney or from your pancreas? Being near to God, or ratherfeeling near to God is not a matter of proximity, as if one of us moved closer or further away. It is not a matter of a physical position, but it is a matter of our relational acuity. It is a spiritual receptivity, a spiritual awareness, and a spiritual acknowledgement of His presence.

Charles Spurgeon once said: "It may be that there are saints who are always at their best, and are happy enough never to lose the light of their Father's countenance. I am not sure that there are such persons…and I have not traversed that happy land. Every year of my life has had a winter as well as a summer, and every single day has its night…I confess that though the substance be in us, as in the teil-tree and the oak, yet we do lose our leaves, and the sap within us does not flow with equal vigor at all seasons."

God has promised He will never leave us, but we can feel far from Him when we ignore Him, live independently from Him, grow dissimilar from Him, or rush about expecting Him to tag along rather than move in union with Him.

So here's what I want you to do today, stand on what youknow. "On that day," Jesus said, "You will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" (John 14:20NIV). And friend, you can't get much closer than that.

And while your humanness falters between spiritual times of plenty and times of want, communion with God is always just a whisper away as you acknowledge His presence with you and in you.

Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I'll admit, sometimes I feel far from You. But today, I am not going to be a woman who is lead by her feelings. I am going to be a woman who stands on the truth of Your Word. I am in Jesus. He is in me. And we are both in You. Hallelujah.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
One of the best ways I know to reconnect with God when I feel disconnected is to listen to some great praise and worship music. So click over to www.youtube.com/gwensmithmusic and listen to my favorite recording artist!

After listening to Gwen's music, click over to my Facebook page and tell me your favorite Gwen Smith song. (Mine isBroken into Beautiful. And then there's All Generations. Oh, and Uncluttered. I'm having a hard time choosing one. Maybe you'll have an easier time. Good luck!)

More from the Girlfriends
Do you long to feel close to God but sense there's something missing? That you've missed that mysterious formula to make it happen? Do have a glory ache–a persistent longing to experience God's presence and working in your life, but not quite sure how to make it happen? If so, my book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is just for you. Join me and discover how to erase the lines between the secular and the sacred to experience a deeper, more intimate relationship with God than ever before. While you're there, you can download a free chapter or watch a video book trailer. Also, remember, we're making 2014 a year of prayer! Check out Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toeand sign up for the 30-Day Prayer Dare on my site as well.

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

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

info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Reconcile - Never Would Have Made It (@ReconcileUs) (@LiveFrontline)

JG fka Jesus Geek- Lego My Ego

Official Video "Let Go" FLAME feat. DecembeRadio

SHONLOCK - SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) (+playlist)

Francesca Battistelli - Write Your Story (Official Audio)

It's A Beautiful Day - Jamie Grace (with lyrics)

Mandisa - Overcomer

TobyMac - Speak Life (Eye On It Album/ Deluxe) New Christian Pop 2012

Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace

Patience Pays Off - Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:13, NIV)

Friend to Friend
Patience is not one of my greatest strengths. In fact, I tend to live each day with a schedule in mind - an agenda by which to live that day and several goals I need to meet before the day's end.

God does have a sense of humor. I can't tell you how many times my schedule falls apart, the agenda is completely forgotten, and I have to move today's goals to tomorrow's list of things to do. I am learning that when God wants to build a certain quality in my life, He puts me in the opposite circumstance. For example, if God wants me to be more patient, He arranges the hours and minutes of my day in ways that demand patience.

What is patience? To be patient is to have the ability to endure, but it doesn't stop there. Patience must also have the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate. In other words, patience is love persevering and love waiting. We are not only to be patient in the way we face difficult situations but in our relationships as well. That just about covers life, doesn't it?

One of the most powerful Bible passages on patience and perseverance is found in the book of James. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." Do you want to be blessed? Stand firm in your trial. Do you want to be rewarded? Stand firm in that tough circumstance. Be patient – because patience really does pay off.

God promises blessings and rewards to those who persevere and stand firm in hard times, but the reason we can stand firm is because He loves us unconditionally and promises to walk with us through every dark moment life will bring.

Nothing touches our life that does not pass through God's hand, with His permission.

Remember the Bible story of the man named Job? Job was a faithful servant of God, strong in his faith and unwavering in his obedience to God. Satan didn't like it. In fact, he went to God and asked permission to test Job. I love that truth! The devil had to go to God like an errand boy in order to get permission to touch His child, Job. Satan was convinced that if Job lost everything God had given him - his health, his family, and his possessions - if Job lost everything, he would curse God and follow Satan. God told the serpent to give it his best shot, convinced that Job would persevere. Satan stripped Job of his health, his possessions, his wealth and his family – everything Job held dear. Job stood firm.

Every trial must come through His love but every trial has a purpose. Every pain has a purpose, every ordeal contains a seed of victory, and there is a promise for every problem you and I will ever face. The psalmist writes, "The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy" (Psalm 28:7).

Patience pays off in many ways, but one of the greatest rewards of patience is joy. Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Warren Wiersbe writes, "When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat!" God will never let us face more than we can handle with His help.Hebrews 12:12 says it so well: "So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs." I have been there, done that and can relate to a weary heart and shaky legs. Can't you?

An evangelist told the story of his friend who, during the depression, lost a job, a fortune, a wife and a home, but he held onto his faith because it was all he had left. One day, the man stopped to watch some men building a stone church. One of the workers was chiseling a triangular piece of rock. "What are you going to do with that?" asked the friend. The workman said, "Do you see that little opening way up there near the spire? Well, I'm shaping this down here so that it will fit up there." Tears filled the eyes of the broken man as he walked away. It seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain the trials of his life." God is using the trials here on earth to refine and purify us. In Colossians 1:11, the apostle Paul writes, "God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient!"

No matter where you are today, where you have been, or what you are facing tomorrow, be patient, knowing your God will strengthen you to stand firm.

Let's Pray
Father, please forgive me when I am impatient. Help me see You at work in the trial and choose to depend on Your strength instead of my own. Help me see Your purpose and plan, but even if I can't understand it all, help me to stand firm in faith. Lord, make me more patient so that others will see You in me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now It Is Your Turn
Read Romans 12:12 "Be patient when trouble comes." What trouble in your life today requires patience? Are you willing to choose faith and obedience by trusting God with that trouble?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "Be patient with everyone." What relationship in your life demands patience from you? Evaluate how patient you have been in this relationship. What one thing do you need to change in order to choose obedience to God as you relate to this person?

Read Ephesians 4:2 "Always be humble, gentle and patient." Notice that patience is listed along with two other important qualities that God wants to see in us. How do you think patience relates to humility and gentleness?

More from the Girlfriends
We all need help learning to be patient. Check out Mary's E-Bible Study, It's Never Too Late to Be Great, for practical steps to leading a life of victory.

Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Tame Your Tongue. And be sure to connect with Mary on Face book or through email.

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

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