In Christ - I am blessed

I am blessed...

Deuteronomy 28:2-14 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.  Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.  The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. The LORD will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.  Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land He swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.  The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.  Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Psalms 65:4 Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. 

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Page-a-Day Calendar/email edition/2/2/11

“’Bless you!’ a stranger said to me when I sneezed loudly in the supermarket once again.

It must have been the tenth time I’d heard it that day as I suffered with yet another winter cold. I don’t feel all that blessed, I thought, sniffling and reaching for another tissue. I appreciated her kindness, but suddenly the phrase seemed silly. Who’s really thinking about God’s blessings when somebody sneezes? I’ve read that the origins of this tradition go far back in history, to a superstitious belief that an evil spirit could enter the body to steal the soul or to the fear that a sneeze signaled oncoming illness, requiring God’s protection for the sneezer. Whatever its origin, the average ‘Bless you’ is little more than a courtesy today.

“Still, all those ‘Bless yous’ made me think about the many times each day when I do feel blessed in small ways. I was blessed when a truck driver let me in ahead of him to make my left turn, instead of speeding up to beat me to the intersection. And I was blessed when a woman held the door open and waited for me as I struggled with my arms full of boxes for a school project. These weren’t big events, but little kindnesses that eased my way and brought much-needed help.

“Yet I’ve discovered something about these small, everyday blessings. They seem to mean the most to me when I’m on the giving end. The other day, I was waiting in the checkout line with my full cart, and I let a man with a huge box of diapers go ahead of me. ‘Thank you. You’re a blessing to me today,’ he said. But I also felt blessed, privileged to be able to pass on even the tiniest bit of God’s love that might make someone’s day go a little smoother. It’s one of God’s wonderful ironies: The more blessings I give others, the more blessed I am.

Heavenly Father, show me the ways I might shower others with blessings as You have showered me.” —GINA BRIDGEMA

God chooses to bless His children because of His great love for us – and His gifts and graces are always over the top!  The children of Israel were blessed by God – He was with them in the desert for 40 years providing for their every need – and He brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey – a land they didn’t have to work for – they didn’t have to build cities or plant vineyards – they were already built and planted.  In Deuteronomy 28:2-14 God spells out the extent of His blessings – every area of their lives would be blessed – IF.  IF they obeyed the Lord.  IF they walked in His ways.  IF they paid attention to His commands.  Why was He giving them so much?  So that they would be a witness to their neighbors – so that other nations would see God’s hand of blessing on the children of Israel and they would want it for themselves and come to see that the LORD was the King of kings and LORD of lords.  The rest of Deuteronomy 28 goes on to tell the Israelites what would happen if they DIDN’T obey Him  - didn’t walk in His ways – didn’t pay attention to His commands.  And, sadly, the history of Israel shows us what choice they made – over and over again – they rebelled – they walked away from Jehovah and served other gods – and they refused to be the light to the nations.  When they were walking in obedience (which wasn’t often) they hoarded God’s blessings – they saw His blessings as evidence that there was something pretty special about them – and anyone who wasn’t a Jew was worse than a dog.  Before you get too hasty and judge Israel for the choices they made, take a look at your own relationship with God.  When I did it wasn’t a pretty picture – there was a time when I was so caught up in my own self-righteousness that God couldn’t use me to be the “salt and light” I should have – and could have – been.  Then I was doing just what the Israelites did – walking in the world – worshipping other gods (not literally – I didn’t have any gold statues – but I had idols of the heart) – and I had removed myself from the blessings of God.  I am SO grateful that God continued to extend His hand of grace and mercy – and yes, His blessings – to me, His prodigal daughter.  I don’t want to hoard His blessings anymore – I want my life to shine for Him – for people to see what He’s done in my life and be drawn to Jesus as a result of my witness.  Is that what you want?  Then open your hands – let His blessings spill out of an overflowing heart of gratitude for all He’s done for you!  Sharon

In Christ - I am forgiven

I am forgiven...

II Samuel 12:13  Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

Hebrews 9:11-15 But Christ came as our High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption .  For if the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!   And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Colossians 1:14 In Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

I John 2:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. 

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

The Broken Wing

by Charles R. Swindoll

Daniel 9:4-19; Luke 7:36-48; Acts 10:34-43

“It is quite probable that someone reading my words this moment is fighting an inner battle with a ghost from the past. The skeleton in one of yesterday's closets is beginning to rattle louder and louder. Putting adhesive tape around the closet and moving the bureau in front of the door does little to muffle the clattering bones. You wonder, possibly, ‘Who knows?’ You think, probably, ‘I've had it . . . can't win . . . party's over.’

“The anchor that tumbled off your boat is dragging and snagging on the bottom. Guilt and anxiety have come aboard, pointing out the great dark hulks of shipwrecks below. They busy themselves drilling worry-holes in your hull and you are beginning to sink. Down in the hold, you can hear them chant an old lie as they work: ‘The bird with the broken pinion never soared as high again. . . .’

“Allow me to present a case in opposition to these destructive and inaccurate accusers. It may be true that you've done or experienced things which would embarrass you if they became public knowledge. You may have committed a terrible and tragic sin that was never traced back to you. You may have a criminal record or a moral charge or a domestic conflict that, to this moment, is private information. You may wrestle with a past that has been fractured and wounded by a mental or emotional breakdown. Futile attempts at suicide may add to the previous scar tissue and increase your fear of being labeled ‘sick’ or ‘nervous.’ It is possible that you live with memories, covered now by the sands of time, of an illicit relationship or a financial failure or a terrible habit or a divorce or a scandalous involvement. You feel that any one of these things might mar or cripple your reputation if the dirty details ever spilled on the table of gluttonous gossipers.

“But wait a minute. Before you surrender your case as hopeless, consider the liberating evidence offered in the Bible. Take an honest look at men and women whom God used in spite of their past! Abraham, founder of Israel and tagged ‘the friend of God,’ was once a worshiper of idols. Joseph had a prison record but later became prime minister of Egypt. Moses was a murderer, but later became the one who delivered his nation from the slavery of Pharaoh. Jephthah was an illegitimate child who ran around with a tough bunch of hoods before he was chosen by God to become His personal representative. Rahab was a harlot in the streets of Jericho but was later used in such a mighty way that God enlisted her among the members of His hall of fame in Hebrews 11.

“Still unconvinced? There's more. Eli and Samuel were both poor, inconsistent fathers, but proved to be strong men in God's hand regardless. Jonah and John Mark were missionaries who ran away from hardship like cowards but were ever-so-profitable later on. Peter openly denied the Lord and cursed Him, only to return and become God's choicest spokesman among the early years of the infant church. Paul was so hard and vicious in his early life the disciples and apostles refused to believe he'd actually become a Christian . . . but you know how greatly God used him. We could go on and on. The files of heaven are filled with stories of redeemed, refitted renegades and rebels.

“How magnificent is grace! How malignant is guilt! How sweet are the promises! How sour is the past! How precious and broad is God's love! How petty and narrow are man's limitations! How refreshing is the Lord! How rigid is the legalist!

“There is not a single saint who sits in a single church free from a few things he or she is ashamed of---not one of us! The one who thinks otherwise is worse than all the rest combined. In plain, garden-variety English, we were all taken from the same dunghill. And so we all fight the same fight with the filth of the flesh regardless of how loudly we sing, how piously we pray, or how sweetly we say hello.

“Mark it---when God forgives, He forgets. He is not only willing but pleased to use any vessel---just as long as it is clean today. It may be cracked or chipped. It may be worn or it may have never been used before. You can count on this---the past ended one second ago. From this point onward, you can be clean, filled with His Spirit, and used in many different ways for His honor. God's glorious grace says: ‘Throw guilt and anxiety overboard . . . draw the anchor . . . trim the sails . . . man the rudder . . . a strong gale is coming!’

Excerpted from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Copyright © 1983 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

I lived a long time with my own personal and private failures – until I realized that it wasn’t the LORD reminding me of my past – it was my own inner voice and the voice of my enemy.  Over the years I’ve learned to recognize who is talking – and I choose NOT to listen to the enemy of my soul – he’s a liar and the father of all lies – so why should I give him ANY time in my head?!  I’ve also learned to weed out my own negative self-talk, and have replaced those old “tapes” with the truth of who I am “in Christ.”  It’s work – and it’s discipline – but it’s worth it!  I can feel the breeze in my face as I move forward with the Lord!  I hope you do, too! Sharon

In Christ - I am protected by God

I am protected by God...

Deuteronomy 33:12,27  About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders."  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, "Destroy him!"

Joshua 1:5-9 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go... Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

II Chronicles 14:11  Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You."  

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 

Page a Day Email Calendar - MYSTERIOUS WAYS

April 16, 2010

“I gripped the steering wheel, squinting at the dark, fog-covered road. I knew this route through the Nebraska Sand Hills like the back of my hand, but the fog was so thick I couldn’t pick out a single landmark. A sign jumped out of nowhere: WARNING, SHARP TURN. I knew the curve that came after it. And I knew I was going too fast. My pickup skidded out of control. Glass shattered. I flew through the air.

“When I came to, I felt cold prairie grass beneath me. Where am I? Where’s the road? I tried to sit up. A sharp pain ripped through my chest. I turned my head gingerly. Nearby, the outline of the truck was visible through the fog.

“I gritted my teeth and dragged myself toward the vehicle. Something told me that if I could just get back to my truck, I’d make it through this. A few yards felt like a thousand miles, but I made it and opened the door. The dome light went on. I pulled myself onto the passenger seat. That light filled me with peace. Lord, don’t let the light go out, I prayed, then drifted into unconsciousness.

“I woke up in the hospital, covered head to toe in casts and bandages.

“’You have a collapsed lung and a broken collarbone,’ a doctor said. ‘But you’re going to be all right.’

“The next morning, the sun shone through the hospital blinds and a breakfast tray stood by my bed. My uncle sat next to it.

“’You’re lucky, Mike,’ he said. ‘You know how deserted that stretch of road is at night. A woman driving by spotted a light and called the police. Your truck had skidded so far into the prairie, I don’t know how she even noticed it through all that fog.’

“’That was my dome light,’ I said. ‘It went on when I pulled open the door of the pickup.’

“’It couldn’t have been, Mike,’ my uncle said. ‘The crash threw the battery twenty feet away.’

“However You did it God, thank You for saving me.”  Mike daly

WOW!  The Light of the World was right where this man needed Him to be in his hour of need – what an amazing testimony!  I know that there have been MANY times when the Lord’s presence has protected me  - maybe not as dramatically as Mike’s story – but just as miraculous.  God is always watching out for us – no matter where we are or what we’ve gotten ourselves into, He is there.  He may not always protect us from all harm – but even then it is mitigated by His grace, and it’s always for our good and His glory. TRUST Him– and carry on!  Sharon

In Christ - I am chosen

I am chosen...

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 

I Thessalonians 1:4  For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you... 

Ephesians 1:4-5 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love,  He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-- 

I Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 

August 31, 2011

Living Beyond the Shadow of My Doubts
Renee Swope

"You are a chosen [woman], a royal [priest], a holy [daughter], God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

“I stood in front of my bathroom mirror getting ready for a large event while begging God to zap me with confidence, or send Jesus back before it was time for me to speak. I had been struggling with paralyzing self-doubt that week, and it was making me question everything.

“Although I was honored when the event leader called months before, now I questioned why I'd accepted the invitation. And my internal dialogue was relentless...What if I forget what I'm going to say? What if my points aren't that powerful? What if they don't connect with my stories or laugh at my humor? What if...?

“When I turned around to put something in my suitcase behind me, I noticed a huge nine-foot shadow on the wall. I was surprised how big the shadow was and how much it distorted the image of my five-foot, two-inch frame.

“All of a sudden, I realized my uncertainty had also created a huge shadow—a shadow of doubt. It was distorting my thoughts and overpowering my emotions.  As I stood there looking at the humongous shadow, I sensed God whispering to my heart: Renee, you can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.

“Slowly I turned back toward the lights above the mirror, and realized I was no longer standing in the shadow. And, I also realized I had created the shadow by blocking the light.

“Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light. And so it is with the shadow of doubt. When we focus on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others are thinking about us, we cast a shadow of doubt in our minds and block the light of God's Truth in our hearts.

“Yet, we were not designed to block the light or to be the light.

“We were created to live in the Light, by focusing on what God thinks about us instead. I love how John the Baptist is described as "a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." (John 1:7-8, NIV)

“The same is true for us. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b, NIV) When we follow Jesus closely in our thoughts, we find our confidence in Him.  As we shift the focus from our feelings of inadequacy to His promises of all-sufficiency, we can exchange our lack of self-confidence with lasting God-confidence. And in doing so, our lives become a witness, testifying of the One who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).

“Are you ready to become a more Jesus-dependent, God-confident woman whose assurance is found in Him alone? If so, when you find yourself standing in the shadow of self-doubt, instead of wishing for more self-confidence, pray for lasting God-confidence! Then turn towards the Light so your heart can focus on and live in the security of His promises:

“• When you feel inadequate, remember God says: You are CHOSEN.

"'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.'" (Isa. 43:10a, NIV)

“• When you feel unable or unstable, God says: You are ABLE.

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." (Hab. 3:19, NIV)

“• When you feel unworthy, remember God says: You are LOVED.

"You are precious and honored in my sight, and...I love you." (Isa. 43:4a, NIV)

Lord, Your Word says I am a chosen woman, a royal priest, a holy daughter, a woman belonging to You. Help me remember that You have called me out of the shadows of my doubts to tell others about the Light and hope I've found in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”

It’s really an awesome thing to be hand-picked by the Father of all creation.  The God of the Universe – the one who measures the heavens with the span of His hand – has chosen me – and He’s chosen you.  He didn’t choose us because of our own goodness – He chose us so that we would be His witnesses here – now – wherever He’s placed you.  Are you living in a way that brings Him honor and glory?  Or – are you living in a way that has compromised your witness of His place in your life?  I hope it’s the former!  He’s chosen you to do great things for His Kingdom - in His name – and that’s an honor we need to take seriously.  I know I have to check my own heart regularly to see if there’s anything that I need to change – confess – I want to be the best witness for Him that I can be.  That’s what He desires – and that’s what He deserves!

__________________________

Sharon Pearce, Director

Silent Voices International

http://www.silentvoices.org/

svoices@pacbell.net

619-422-0757

In Christ - I am promised rest

I am promised "rest"...

Exodus 33:14  The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  

Hebrews 4:9,10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

June 20, 2012

When Worry Makes Me Weary

Renee Swope

“As we drove home from a weekend in the mountains, I felt a heavy sense of dread and sadness. Laying my head back on my seat, I told my husband, J.J., "I don't want to go home."

“After talking through my reasons with him, I realized the stress and strain of countless commitments - at home and work - were taking a toll on me. I just wanted to go back to the mountains where I could rest.

“J.J. encouraged me to make a list of everything on my plate and ask God what I needed to cut back. At first I resented his suggestion. It felt like he'd just added one more thing I "needed to do." Yet I knew J.J. was right and eventually I made the list.

“Then I asked God to show me where to make changes. Much to my surprise the changes I sensed Him leading me to make weren't in my schedule - they were in me.

God didn't show me I needed to cut back at work or in ministry. He didn't show me our kids were in too many activities. He didn't lead me to take a sabbatical, although I was kind of hoping He would.

“Instead, I sensed it was worry - not my workload - that was making me weary.

I thought about the months leading up to this point and realized I'd spent almost as much time thinking and worrying about deadlines as I spent working on them. Some days my concerns about commitments and meeting people's expectations had consumed me.

“I had let my mind dwell on the possible outcome of several different decisions - all at the same time - and it left me depleted mentally, emotionally and physically.

“Honestly though, until I stopped and talked to God about it, I didn't recognize my mental mayhem as worry.

“My mind is wired to think a lot so I'd gotten used to the constant flurry of motion in my brain. Yet anxiety had crept in slowly, causing tangles in my thoughts, a tightening in my chest, and tension in my neck. Some days I couldn't stop thinking about ALL I needed to do.

“Instead of going back to the mountains to rest, I sensed God wanted me to find a resting place in His presence right in the middle of my busy life. Through today's key verse from Matthew 11:28, He invited me to come to Him with the worries that were making me weary.

“Do you sense Him inviting you to come to Him today?

“He promises a place to quiet your thoughts in His presence. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps. 91:1-2 NIV)

“He offers freedom from the captivity of your concerns when you bring them to Him: "'Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. And I will lead you back from captivity.'" (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)

“Today, instead of letting our worries make us weary, let's respond to God's invitation and come to Him - asking, seeking and finding a resting place for our restless thoughts.

“Dear Lord, when my concerns consume me, help me remember You are there inviting me to come to You and talk about all I'm thinking and doing. Show me if my workload or my worries are making me weary and help me trust You with both. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”

I think THIS is the “Sabbath rest” that the writer of Hebrews is talking about – a rest that transcends a day of the week – and becomes a mind-set that is so focused on the Lord that we are able to cease our restless minds.  It doesn’t come naturally – or easily.  Change is always difficult – and always requires effort – and always takes time to become a new “habit.”  If the Lord is impressing on you the need to make this change – to let Him take your cares and concerns – I pray that you will listen.  I have to admit that there are times when I’M so busy rushing around – doing what I think needs to be done – that I miss out on that rest.  It’s often only when I’m totally worn out that I remember where I should be instead of where I am – in the center of GOD’S will, resting in HIM.  SO – if you’re weary, take time right now to sit quietly with Him.  Then make the changes you need to make so that you can do that every day – no matter what else needs to be done, time with God is always more important – and more beneficial!  Sharon

In Christ - I am created in the image of God by Him

I am created in the image of God by Him...

Genesis 1:26,27  Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Psalms 119:73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn Your commands. 

Psalms 139:13-16 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,  Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

September 15, 2010

Defined By God

Shari Braendel

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord."  Psalm 45:11 (NIV)

Devotion:

“One word. Flabbergasted.

“That was the emotion I had coursing through my body as I sat at the coffee shop discussing my weight issues with a friend.

“I told her I had recently cut out certain foods from my diet, but was continuing to maintain my "happy weight," that number the scale just seems extremely happy to faithfully report whether I have eaten healthy and exercised that week or not. We had a good laugh as she described how sometimes she locks her scale away so she's not tempted to jump on it every day just to find out if she's still her same "happy" self.

“As a result of this conversation I realized that if I am not careful I can easily allow the scale, or the mirror, to become a compass that shifts my focus and points me in the wrong direction. It seems illogical, yet at times I look to this digital device, or this earthly reflection to gauge my emotional status and essentially define me.

“The Bible tells us that the God of the universe is enthralled with our beauty. Seriously? Yes, indeed! He thinks we are amazing and wonderful. Unfortunately, more often than not, we look in the mirror and only see our flaws; hair that's just a mite too frizzy; a tummy that's a bit too fluffy; and thighs that have a few too many dimples on them. My friend Renee likes to call her cellulite ‘the fingerprints of God.’ One time I shared that with a group of women, and one of them said, ‘Well then He must have REALLY big hands!’

“So, what would life look like if we accepted God workmanship? Can you imagine how different we would feel about ourselves if we glanced in the mirror and told God ‘thank You for making me so wonderfully’? If you listen closely, I bet you would hear Him respond, ‘All beautiful, you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you’ (Song of Solomon 4:7, NIV).

“No matter your size or shape, the number on your clothes tag or your scale, you are beautiful! Let's embrace that we are fine just the way we are because if God says so, then it's true!

“Dear God, thank You for making me the way I am. Please help me to have more confidence. I will practice defining myself through Your eyes and not my own. I am grateful, and humbled to be Your beautiful daughter, and I can feel Your approving gaze upon me. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

This could not have been a more perfect time to be reminded of this myself.  My clothes are fitting just a bit snug – and I know I’ve put on some of the weight I lost two years ago.  The enemy would just LOVE to keep me fixated on that “failure” – but I KNOW the truth, and the truth is that my value has NOTHING to do with how my clothes fit – or a number on a scale.  My value – my worth – is ALL about who I am “in Christ” – and NO ONE – especially not the enemy of my soul – is going to steal that truth away from me! Now way – no how!  This hasn’t always been true – sadly, for too many years of my life I let the mirror tell me what I was worth – to the point where I didn’t want to look in a mirror – ever.  I’m SO glad God got me over that – and He can get YOU over that, too!  Emerse yourself in the Word – let the truth of who you are “in Him” define you – NOT how you feel – how much you weigh – or any other measure that the world would use to stamp their value on you!  Don’t let them hang a bargain basement tag on your soul, sweet Believer!  You are HIS – and HE’S in LOVE with YOU!  Just the way you are!  Hallelujah!  Sharon

In Christ - I am a Friend of God

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:14, 15

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional

November 18, 2010

“I love the way that Jesus was such close friends with John. Their friendship was intimate and powerful, close and sweet. While on earth, they were inseparable. John was the only man who stayed by the cross.

“I also love the way that Jesus was such close friends with Mary, sister of Martha. He deferred to her. Lavished accolades on her. He even memorialized her when she wiped His feet with her tears.

“When I look at these warm and intimate friendships, my heart fills with praise that Jesus was... a man. A man of flesh-and-blood reality. His heart felt the sting of sympathy. His eyes glowed with tenderness. His arms embraced. His lips smiled. His hands touched. Jesus was male!

“Jesus invited us to relate to Him as the Son of Man. And because He is fully man, we can relate to Jesus with affection and love. It would be hard to trust God if He were only Prime Mover, First Cause, or Source of All with no respect to gender. It would be impossible to love a Lord who is only some vague, hazy theological concept.

“The essence of Christianity is knowing Jesus Christ the Lord as Priest and King, Head and Husband, Shepherd and Life-giver. He is the cornerstone of the church; that is, His body and bride and building. Knowing the Son of Man in all these respects has a relational and affectional dimension - yes, we can love God, and yes, we can love a Man.

“Thank You that, as the Son of Man, You understand every human passion, You feel every hurt, and You sympathize with every tear. O, Jesus, may Your favor of friendship rest upon me.”

Friends are so important in our lives, aren’t they?  Knowing that someone else “has your back” – or that you have someone you can turn to with ANYTHING makes it easier to face the difficulties and challenges of life.  Choosing friends can be a challenge for some of us – we’ve been hurt – we’ve been betrayed – we’ve been the subject of gossip amongst the very people we would call “friend.”  It hurts – and our natural tendency is to withdraw and put up a protective barrier between ourselves and anyone else who might hurt us.  The sad thing, though, when we do this is that we rob ourselves of experiencing the wonderful benefits of connecting with someone else!  And – it can keep us from connecting with our very BEST Friend – Jesus!  When we project onto Him our fears about getting too close, we miss out on the sweet communion that is ours “in Him.”  All we’re left with then is religion - and a cold, empty feeling in our heart.  If you’ve put up that wall, my prayer for you is that you’ll take steps towards the One who will NEVER hurt you – the One who died for you – the One who is longing to be in an intimate relationship with you – the One who is your Forever Friend!  Sharon