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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

First 7 Days of May Plan - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Good Morning Ladies( & Gentlemen )

Here at GSL! We are going to be examine 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; which says " May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!" (MSG)

So we will engage in some workout routines provided by 

1. Start or finish your day with a 7 minute warm up


2. Day 1 - Use the overview as a guide to create a 10 minute or more routine to work scripture or pray. The next following workouts use Psalm 91, so for those who are not good at memorizing you will be able to have some of the verses by the 7th day! However you can use whichever verse or version is comfortable for you!

(MSG)
91 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!”

Day 2 -                          


Day 3 -                            Exercise Through the Bible #3 - Christian Fitness

Day 4 -                            Exercise Through the Bible #4 - Christian Fitness

Day 5 -                           Exercise Through the Bible #5 - Christian Fitness

Day 6 -                           Exercise Through the Bible #6 - Christian Fitness

Day 7 -                          Exercise Through the Bible #7 - Christian Fitness

3. There are more days and activities on there website at WholyFit.com TV  . If you like you can sign up for FREE videos and newsletters here!

Thank you as always Sisters( & Brothers)!

Failure is Not Final by Mary Southerland






Today's Truth
At least there is hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail(Job 14:7, NIV).
Friend to Friend
I have never met a single person whose goal in life was to fail, but failure is a reality of life. The key to success is not avoiding failure; it is learning how to handle failure.
  • Beethoven's music teacher once told him that he was a hopeless composer.
  • Abraham Lincoln campaigned for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly and failed. He then opened a general store which failed after only a few months.
  • Walt Disney was fired by the editor of a newspaper for lacking creativity.
  • The Ford Motor Company was Henry Ford's third business. The first two didn't work out.
  • A teacher told Thomas Edison that he was too stupid to learn anything.
  • Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times.
I remember the first time I failed a test. I was in first grade, and my teacher, Mrs. Martin, decided to test us on the names of the states and their capitols. We had been studying them for what seemed like an eternity. I did not like Geography and tended to daydream my way through class. Why did I need to know the names of states I would probably never visit? And what was the big deal about state capitols? As far as I could tell from the pictures in my Geography book, they all looked pretty much the same to me – boring.
Even though I did not like Geography, I had to make 100 on the Geography test. Why? I was only six-years-old, but I knew the unspoken rule that failing a test meant I was a failure.
When Mrs. Martin told us to clear our desks except for one pencil, I panicked. A quick glance at the assignment board revealed nothing. The look of confusion on the faces of my classmates told me they were just as clueless as I was.
"We are having a little test to see how you are doing in Geography," Mrs. Martin explained. I had three problems with her statement. First, there is no such thing as a "little" test in my world. Second, no one had said anything about having a test, and third, I did not know the names of the states and their capitols. When I voiced my complaints, Mrs. Martin smiled and said it was a "pop quiz."
Sidebar: That might have been the moment when I decided to become an elementary school teacher, vowing to never subject my students to the terror of "pop quizzes."

My stomach dropped, and I broke out in a cold sweat. My mind raced as I frantically searched for my Geography book. Maybe I could learn the names of a capitol or two while she handed out the tests. "No books allowed," Mrs. Martin warned. I was doomed.
When the blank outline of the United States appeared on my desk, I dissolved into tears. Mrs. Martin immediately dropped to her knees beside my desk and gathered me in her arms. She asked the student teacher to take over as she gently ushered me out of the classroom and in to the nurse's office next door.
When I finally stopped crying, Mrs. Martin said, "Honey, what is wrong?" I could not believe my ears. "I don't know the names of the states or their capitols," I wailed out what seemed to be a ridiculously obvious explanation. "Do you know some of them?" she asked. I thought for a moment. "I know some of them but not all of them and that means I'll fail the test," I responded. "Why don't you just do your best and see what happens," she said. I did my best … and I still failed the test.
Guess what? The world kept spinning. I passed first grade and elementary school with flying colors, graduated from high school with honors, and attended college on a music and academic scholarship. I graduated from college with honors, was named Student Teacher of the Year, and eventually became an elementary teacher.
And I failed a lot along the way. So did a lot of people in the Bible.
Adam and Eve blatantly disobeyed God and then lied about their sin. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then plotted the murder of her husband. Peter bragged about his commitment to Jesus, but denied Him – not once – but three times. In fact, it is hard to find Biblical characters that did notfail at some point, but those who learned from their failure and used it as a tool of growth were often used by God to accomplish great things.
I have come to believe that failure is a necessary part of our growth and maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ. Failure can interpret the unconditional love and forgiveness of God like nothing else can - if we let it.
Desperation can be our friend if it makes us crave God and long to see His power unleashed in our lives. Failure is not final but God's grace is.
Let's Pray
Father, I come to You, imperfect and flawed, knowing that I have failed You. Forgive me for the sin in my life. Thank You for Your love and mercy that covers that sin. Help me learn the lesson that each failure holds and teach me how to apply that lesson in my daily life. I celebrate the hope and fresh start I find in You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Read Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (NIV). How does this verse apply to the way we view and respond to failure?
What failure are you facing today? Filter that failure throughRomans 8:28 and look for the lesson and seed of victory it holds.
Read Job 14:7 (NIV) "At least there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail." How can you apply this verse to the failures in your life?
More from the Girlfriends
I love how God transforms tragedy into triumph … failure into success. When we choose to see our mistakes and failures as opportunities for God to work, success takes on a whole new meaning.
You cannot change your past, but you can change your response to it. Mary's CD, How to Get Past Your Past will show you how to face your past and determine the power it has in your life today. (Also available as MP3 download)
It's not too late to enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study,Down … but NOT Out and have access to all of 2014 studies. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or throughemail.
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

Stark Contrast by Gwen Smith






Today's Truth
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be (James 3:9-10, NIV).
Friend To Friend
It has been a long winter this year and I'm really looking forward to summer. I like it nice and warm, but at times the summer heat can be unbearable – even for a sunshine girl. North Carolina is by no means a place of cool summers. To the contrary, we Tar Heel residents expect to have our air conditioning units running almost round the clock. But the heat we've experienced the past few years has been uncommonly sweltering. At times, it's been so balmy that my sweat drops have had sweat drops! Now, you can call it global warming, or you can call it chance, but I just call it plain old hot!
On one of those crazy-hot summer days, I spent time at our local library. I sat on the lower level, which is the coolest area in the building. The vigilante AC unit worked aggressively to protect us book-reading occupants from the external heat wave. I was on that chilly lower level for the better part of two hours, and gradually turned to a human icicle. My fingers were completely numb as I signed out a Hardy Boys book for my son and turned to exit the building.
As I opened the door to leave, a forceful wave of heat swept over me. In that moment I thought, "Wow! That sure is a stark contrast! What a temperature change!" From one extreme to the other, the heat pendulum had swung. Hot to cold, and then hot again. As I considered the contrast, it occurred to me that the temperature of my life might sometimes look the same. It gave me reason to pray.
Have you ever gotten up early and had a sweet time with the LORD, only to turn into an unreasonable, raging screamer hours later? Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or children on the way to church, only to cross the threshold of the lobby with blessings and kindness on your tongue? Have you ever driven in traffic with worship music on the dash and praise on your lips when suddenly, someone cut you off and the praises on your tongue turned to cursing? If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, welcome to the Sinner's Club. All humans have an automatic membership that activates at birth and is irrevocable until we accept forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and see His face on the other side of glory.
The Bible calls us to a higher, more consistent temperature of living. We must be careful not to praise and curse with the same tongue. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be" (James 3:9-10 NIV).
Are you swinging the pendulum of your responses, or are they swinging you? We are accountable for our behavior. We are accountable for the way we respond to circumstances. Our responses reflect the core of who we are. They reflect our faith … good or bad.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
As we go through today, let's center the thermometer of our hearts on Christ so we are less likely to respond in stark contrast to His perfect example of love. Let's live out God's grace and heed the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:3: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."
Let's Pray
Lord, please forgive me for the times when my responses are unkind. Please forgive me for the times when I over-react and under-love. I need the power of the Holy Spirit to moderate the temperature of my heart and my responses.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Will you live out deeper grace today? If you're ready to start fresh and declare, "By God's grace I am a new creation," then visit my blog or my Facebook page and say, "I am a new creation!"
More from the Girlfriends
Okay – this is hard! Trust me, as I was stepping on your toes with this message, I was trampling all over mine, too. Let's go in grace today, and pray that God will be strong in our weakness. We are continually being transformed into a greater likeness of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit … one day at a time … thank You, Jesus!
Every step of transformation begins with the heart of God. If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be reworked into a picture of God's beauty, order Gwen's bookBroken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing and restoration!
Like FREE stuff? (Who doesn't, right?) Swing by Gwen'swebsite and get a free song download when you sign up for her newsletter. The site is filled with videos, posts, songs and resources that we believe will be a deep well of encouragement to you.
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

Sunday, April 13, 2014


Hello Everyone my friend sister is missing please help.

http://www.gofundme.com/840ci8?pc=fb_u


15 WAYS TO BE A HAPPIER HUMAN posted by blogilates


1. Appreciate your life.
Be grateful that you get to live today and that you have the power to create change and affect other people. It is a gift to be alive right now. Make the most of it.
2. Choose friends who make you feel good.
…and take yourself far far away from the people who suck the positivity out of you, who don’t make you smile, and who you dread to see. Surround yourself with inspiring people who motivate you to be a better you every day.
3. Keep learning everyday.
Never think that you’re #1 at something. The moment you do is the moment you stop growing.
4. Compliment others.
To be able to see the beauty in other people, and to let them know means that you are confident with yourself.
5. Always look for the solution, not the problem.
There is always an answer. Seek to be a creative problem solver.
6. Laugh!
Laughing makes you feel better and works the abs at the same time. What could be better!?
7. Take a moment to enjoy life, and stop to see how far you’ve come.
Stop going through the motions and actually stop to realize and ENJOY what you’re doing. Embrace each experience you have because you can’t ever come back to it again.
8. Forgive people and stop holding grudges.
Be able to LET GO. Forgive others so that you can move on. Holding on to the past is like holding onto old stuff that has no value and slows you down. Live for moving forward and being better.
9. Keep your promises.
In fact, under-promise and over-deliver. But never ever ever break a promise. Your word, your trust, is the most valuable form of human currency.
10. Live clean. Live honest.
No lying, faking, and being shady about anything. The truth allows you to live a way less complicated life.
11. Love unconditionally.
Give your whole heart. That is the only true way to love.
12. Invest in the people you love.
Believe in others. It can be the difference between someone chasing their dreams or giving up on everything. You can be the catalyst of making their greatest goals happen.
13. Never give up.
Keep going. You will get there. Love the journey.
14. Exercise.
Working out releases endorphin's that chemically make you happy.
15. Believe in yourself.
Always know that you are capable and powerful enough to make anything you want to happen, happen. It’s your life. You control it because yes you CAN turn your dreams into reality.
I thought this may brighten up your day! Do these things ring true for you? And is there anything you would like to add to the list? Let me know in the comments below! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
<3 Cassey

He has risen! by Mary Southerland






Today's Truth
He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:6, NIV).
Friend to Friend
The boys and girls in Mrs. Stephens' fourth grade Sundayschool class entered the room and quickly found their seats. The girls were dressed in frills and lace and chatting excitedly about the candy-filled baskets they had received that morning. The boys pulled at the unfamiliar ties around their necks and quickly discarded the sports coats they had obviously been forced to wear. The room was filled with excitement – for good reason. It was Easter Sunday.
Mrs. Stephens wanted to help her students understand that there is so much more to the Easter holiday than new clothes, chocolate bunnies, and egg hunts. Easter is more than family gatherings and tables filled with luscious food. Easter is about life. Easter celebrates the certainty of Jesus' death on the cross, the fact that He was buried, and the reality that He came out of that burial tomb to conquer death so that we can live now and eternally.
Mrs. Stephens came up with a plan. After sharing the Bible story of Jesus' resurrection, she gave each one of her students an empty plastic egg and said, "We are going to take a walk outside, and I want each one of you to find one sign of life and put it in your plastic egg." As the children filed out of the room, Mrs. Stephens noticed Danny, a little boy with Down syndrome who had been coming to her class for some time. His bright smile and sunny disposition had immediately won her heart. In fact, when it came to Danny, she often thought he had taught her so much more about the unconditional love of God and the joy of simply being a child of God than she could ever teach him. When she heard the other children make fun of him, it broke her heart. She always corrected the children and tried to help them see just how special Danny was, but Danny seemed oblivious to their hurtful words, and thought of each child as his "buddy."
The children soon returned from their walk, depositing their eggs on the teacher's desk as they made their way to their seats. Inside one student's egg was a butterfly. In another was an ant. Others had collected flowers, twigs, blades of grass and leaves to fill their eggs. But one egg had nothing in it. Everyone knew whose egg it was. Mrs. Stephens silenced the giggles with a look of warning. When she asked Danny why he had not put anything inside his egg to show signs of life, his face broke into a huge grin as he responded, "Because the tomb was empty."
Danny got it. He truly understood the profound truth of Easter. The empty tomb is the ultimate sign of life and a miracle like none other.
Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. The women knew Jesus was dead. Some of them had seen Him die. And they were sure His body was in the tomb; it had been there since Friday. But when they went to anoint the body on that Sunday morning, the tomb was empty! The body could not have been stolen. Nobody was playing tricks on them. They were not merely fooling themselves. The miracle was real. They could see the empty tomb with their own eyes. Jesus Christ really had risen from the dead!
Spend some time today thanking God for the miracle of life. And then share the good news with someone else: He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Let's Pray
Father, Thank You for the miracle of life – abundant life here, and eternal life with You in Heaven. Help me celebrate that life every day as I seek You and follow Your plan for my life. Today, I say with the Apostle Paul, "Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?"
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Consider this truth: Satan has no answer for the empty tomb. What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ really mean to you?
Set aside time today to remember what Christ has done for you through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Read Luke 24 and celebrate the life only He can give.
More from the Girlfriends
I would love to have been there that morning when the women went to the tomb – expecting to deal with death and instead found life, wouldn't you? You may be dealing with death in your own life – the loss of a loved one – the death of a dream – the pain of a broken body. Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He can breathe new life into your heart and mind. Right now, quietly turn to Jesus. He is waiting for you – healing and restoration and new life are in His hands.
You can make Mary's MP3, Celebrate Life, part of your Easter celebration. Are you discouraged and ready to give up? Enroll in Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Down … but NOT Out, and learn how to face and deal with the pain in your life. 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

Sunday, April 6, 2014

He is Waiting for You by Mary Southerland









April 2, 2014
He is Waiting for You
Mary Southerland
Today's Truth
Now as they went on their way, He entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home(Luke 10:38, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Balance always requires a fierce and ruthless examination of priorities. Our true priorities are not mere lists of activities completed or goals set, but candid reflections of our heart desires. What we deem important receives the most time, energy, attention and resources. The importance of right and balanced priorities is illustrated by the life of Martha.

Jesus knew that He was always welcome in the home of Martha. Scripture tells us that Jesus "had no place to lay His head" but He often came to this home when He needed to rest or get away from the demanding crowds. At the age of thirty, the Son of God left His natural home and there is no record of His ever returning to live there. He often went to Bethany, to the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and even spent His final week on earth there. Jesus didn't have to wonder if He was welcome in this home or if Martha was "ready" for His presence. He knew she was. Can He say the same about us? Do we have the heart of a seeker, one who lives each day aware of God's presence, His plan and His priorities?
Seeking God begins with recognizing who He is and then inviting Him into our life as Lord and Savior. If He is not Lord ofall, then He is not Lord at all. For some of us, the problem is not that we lack a personal relationship with God. Our problem is that we are not "making room" for that relationship. Balance comes when we yield to His plan in the everyday moments of life.
One summer, our family went to Pennsylvania where we visited Amish country. I have always been fascinated by the Amish people and enjoyed every minute spent in their beautiful and carefully ordered world. As our visit came to an end I wanted to buy a souvenir to remind me of the peaceful days we had spent there, but everything I picked up was too expensive. Being a committed shopper, I was not about to let that stop me. We travelled up and down the small hidden back roads of each community, looking for the Amish products known only to a few and to those relentless shoppers who were willing to persevere. I was beginning to lose hope when I spotted the small, white sign posted on the fence of a quaint and absolutely perfect house. "Amish Crafts" it said. This was it!
As we climbed out of the car, a sense of peace settled around us like an old familiar blanket. Our voices immediately dropped to a whisper as we tiptoed up the narrow stone path and gently opened the screen door. When we stepped onto the porch filled with beautiful Amish crafts, a woman came out of the house, welcomed us with a beautiful smile and introduced herself as Mary. She invited us to browse and let her know if we needed any help. I have to admit that I was almost rude in my pathetic attempts to catch a glimpse of her home through the porch windows. Reading my mind, she graciously offered, "Would you like to come in and look around?" I thought she'd never ask!
Mary's home revealed a world very different from mine and an uncommonly simplistic lifestyle I desperately longed to experience. The house was sparsely furnished with only the necessities but Mary described her life and daily routine with words like "calm, uncomplicated, peaceful and serene." When I asked why she had chosen such a lifestyle she sweetly responded with words of wisdom I will never forget, "I have discovered that when my life and my heart get too crowded there is not enough room for God." Exactly!
An unbalanced life is too crowded for God. It is so easy to relegate our spirituality to religious activity when all He really wants is to spend time with us. When the tears fall, He wants to wipe them away, collecting each one so that He can pour them back into our lives as a refreshing rain of restoration. God longs for us to forever run into His arms, sharing every hurt and rejoicing in every victory. The Father yearns to wrap His strong arms around us, bringing the peace and balance we so desperately need.
Instead, we often relinquish control of our life to unworthy demands dictated by a world that operates in "urgent" gear. We forget what is really important. The important rarely barges in while the urgent is always an offensive intruder. The important waits patiently while the urgent demands its own way, creating bedlam and imbalance. Certainly, there are times when the important is also urgent – but we must learn to discern between the two. We wrongly conclude that a busy life is automatically a productive life and think that a full schedule will surely produce a full heart.
I have great news! He loves who you are more than He loves what you do. Seek Him today. Make room for Him. He is waiting.
Let's Pray
Father, I am too busy and sometimes I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I'm tired of the imbalance I see in the way I live. Help me learn how to establish priorities that please You and reflect Your plan for me. I commit to spending time with You each day, seeking Your wisdom and direction. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Ask God to let you see your life through His eyes. Be willing to change what needs to be changed in order to invest your time wisely.

Determine the top five life priorities of your life - right now. Take a deep breath and brutally examine your calendar and checkbook to see where you spend most of your time and resources. We can give lip service to what we think our priorities should be but until our daily schedule reflects those priorities, we are only "playing at life."

More from the Girlfriends
Choose to keep the commitments you have made today for one month. So much of the Christian walk is wrapped up in the word "choice." A choice is a deliberate action and purposeful decision. We can choose where and how we spend our time. Need help? Check out Mary's MP3, How to Find Your Missing Peace.
Are you discouraged? Check out Mary's weekly online Bible Study, Down … but NOT Out!" 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