Once Upon a Time

I’m so grateful to Jamie Britt for allowing me to be her guest blogger today! Jamie has such an incredible passion for women, and it’s an honor to be included on her blog.

Christmas tends to bring out the child in all of us and one of my favorite parts of being a child was of course, books. Not just any books—but specifically fairy tales. Today I want to share my own story with you.

Once Upon a Time

By Edie Melson

There once was a poor girl who wanted to be loved. But she was a slave, completely under another’s domination. One day a young man appeared on a white horse, he was a prince and she hid in shame of who she was, dirty and unimportant. But she was the one he sought. 

He came to her, like she was someone important, someone worthy to be loved.  And he pledged that love to her, forever. Then, before he could take her away, her master pulled her back, refusing to let her leave. Her prince didn’t give up easily. He fought for her and won her and carried her off to reign with him and live happily ever after.

Sounds like many fairy tales we grew up with, doesn’t it?  But guess what, this is my story and it’s all true.

I once was that slave, and sin was my master. My prince came for me, with love and hope and a promise. He fought for me and paid a terrible price to win my freedom. 

He comes after all of us, no matter where we are, pursuing us with a love do deep he paid with his life. 

All he asks is that we accept his love, his sacrifice on our behalf.

Ladies, your prince is calling you.

Maybe you have strayed, he’s still pursuing you, come back to him.

Maybe you have never answered his call, you’re still hiding, unworthy and unloved, believing a lie.  Now is the time, run into his arms, experience the joy of happily ever after.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

What's In a Name?

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given
And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6, New King James Version)

What's in a name? Have you ever wondered the significance of your name? Perhaps your child's? A friend's? Well, there's a person whose name means more than any of our names. His name is Jesus. His name can mean whatever you need Him to be for you. Do you need a counselor? He's the one. Do you need peace? He's your source of peace when you feel weak and like your world is crumbling around you. Have you had a miracle happen in your life? He is a Mighty God! He's mighty beyond any of our weaknesses or temptations. Let me encourage you, ladies, if you need peace; call out to the only one who can give you that peace. If you need counsel, go to the best counselor of all. Beyond any of these names however, there's one that's often overlooked. He's wonderful! When we're up on the mountain, it's not hard for us to say He's wonderful. The hard time is when we're going through a trial. Even then, He's wonderful. I want to end this month of Christmas focus devotions with this thought. When you can't praise Him for what you're going through, praise Him for who He is. Praise Him for being your counselor. Praise Him for being a Mighty God. Praise Him for being your Prince of Peace. Praise Him for being Wonderful. Let's just praise Him because He's worthy!

Father, we give you praise You today. We praise you for sending your son in that manger that precious night.
We praise You because He didn't stay there! He died on that cross so we could have life! Lord we give you praise and we love You. In Jesus Name, Amen.!

There's Power In Forgiveness!

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive you". Mark 11:25

Ok, I can think of several things that are easier to do than forgive someone who's hurt me, can you? In fact, we would rather just dwell on how bad we were hurt and stay angry about it. Maybe you grew up in a very abusive home, or you had an employer that treated you really bad,a close friend whom you trusted betrayed you, or something worse....the list goes on! The truth is that as long as we're alive on this earth there will always be those opportunities that will caoose us to chose to forgive or not. To chose TO forgive is the best thing you could ever do for yourself. I heard it once said that to NOT forgive was like drinking poison and wanting the other person to die. Wow, such powerful, thought provoking words!That unforgiveness is poison to our spirits should be enough to move us to forgive!

Jesus was the perfect example of forgiveness. Imagine that He was beaten so badly that you could not even recognize Him. Then He had nails driven through His hands and feet and was hung on a cross, and yet He looks up and says "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". It was by His love that He died for you and He would forgive. God loves you so much and He wants to heal you of every hurt! He does that as we chose to forgive and release that person/situation to Him. Forgiving those who have wronged or hurt us allows God to release great blessing into our life. What blessings is that? It's blessings of PEACE, JOY, HEALING, and WHOLENESS.

Mark 11:24 says "Therefore I tell you, whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you receive it and you shall have it". Because when you prayed, you chose to forgive, you are able to receive whatever you ask of your Heavenly Father without the weight of the hurt and unforgiveness. You are FREE to experience all that God has for you, because remember, there is power in forgiveness!

I encourage you to, by faith, forgive and let go of the hurt that was done to you. Begin to pray for that person, even if you don't feel like it, and I promise if you will do that, God will put HIS love in your heart for that person and you will experience a joy and a freedom like never before!

PRAYER- Father I chose today to forgive that person who hurt or wronged me. I release them to you and pray that you would touch their heart. Thank you Lord for healing me of every hurt, I release all unforgiveness and resentment to You now and receive all that You have for me in Jesus' Name..Amen


Lisa Miller- Guest Blogger

What Gift Are You Bringing?

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(Psalm 51:10, New King James Version)

I want you to picture a beautifully wrapped package. With this being the month we're so focused on gift-giving, we're so worried about the presentation of it. We're worried about what people will think of our gift. Ladies, that's how we come to God. We come to Him with our little pretty packages and think that's enough. I've got news for us all, He's not looking for our pretty little wrapped packages. He's looking for our hearts. In this season of Christmas, will you give Him your heart? Will you let Him create in you a clean heart? Will you let Him fashion you into what He wants you to be? I can promise you ladies, that will be the most precious gift you can give Him-and the most precious gift you can receive for yourself. Ladies, I love you, and I want nothing more than for us all to say, "yes Lord, do in me what you will!"

Hope Lives even as a Last Resort

Hope Lives even as a Last Resort
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. . . . For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians verses 4:13, 16-18
She and I stood in the front yard of the old apartment house. Lisa wore a light pink suit jacket, and her sad brown eyes looked directly into mine as she said, "I hope it's not cancer. I don't want to die." That visual image is sealed in my mind as vivid today as it was seven years ago when I lost my youngest sister. Bird-like hands clutched a shining gold star with a pearl-head pin. She handed it to me, "I want you to wear this." When she died, the heavens raged. Storm clouds covered the land and hurricanes blew in from the sea. That year, twelve blustery ones battered America's shores. The last, a storm named Lisa, tiny and non-threatening like her, eventually faded out over land. On September 13, a summons came for Lisa. Sent on a mission, angels ferried another angel home. As I fell to my knees bedside my bed and cried, I said a silent prayer. Then, I opened my Bible, and the Comforter sent me encouragement. I knew then, that even in death, hope lived, for I'd see my youngest sister again in heaven.

Dear Lord, thank you for Your encouraging Word and the gift of eternal life through Your son, Jesus. Thank you for opening my eyes so I no longer grieve without hope, Amen.

Lives disrupted:

You’re a young adolescent girl and life is too competitive--the competition is being the thinnest.

It's so sad when people diet themselves to death. Many lives are disrupted with the loss of a loved one. In my novel, Last Resort, the main character Faith has lost her sister to an eating disorder. This was an important topic for me to brooch because I lost my youngest sister in 2004 right after Hurricanes Charley and Frances. She wanted to share her story in hopes of helping others. Though my novel is romance, mystery, suspense, and intrigue entwined, this subject is one of several important messages I hope and pray benefit people. In school, author's purpose is taught. If you read Last Resort, you'll find I had several and this is one of the most important, but God's love is the most important of all. Without it, we'd all be lost. Even in death, there's hope, and I used this scripture in my debut Christian romance novel Last Resort to encourage those who have lost loved ones through death.

Set in fictional Bridal Wreath and Key West, Florida, the backdrop of a strawberry farm turns dangerous for Faith, when she's stalked. Last Resort is a 79,000 word woman-in-jeopardy novel that tells the story of Faith Grace Roussell, who escapes an abusive fiancé and endeavors to start a new life filled with peace and contentment. She returns to her family home to farm strawberries only to discover it's not a safe haven . Where will Faith be when the smoke clears? Will Faith and Matt's love survive? Five-star reviews on Amazon and B&N. Both men and women readers. Free sample. She's pursued by an ex-fiancé, shattered dreams, an awesome God, and a cowboy farmer. There's only one place she can turn . . . .There's only one last resort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwF0dLLX6M&feature=youtu.be
Book Trailer for Last Resort

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-184/B-J-Robinson-Last/Detail.bok
Read a free excerpt from the publisher. May also be purchased here as a PDF file to read on your computer.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-resort-b-j-robinson/1030124288?ean=2940012838063&itm=1&usri=last%2Bresort%2Bb%2Bj%2Brobinson Buy here if you own a Nook.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Resort-ebook/dp/B005CQ7JQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310918473&sr=1-1 Available here for the Kindle.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

B. J. Robinson lives in Florida with her husband, two dogs, and a shelter cat named Frankie. Her golden cocker spaniel, Sunflower, is featured as a character in her novel. Her children are all grown and have all made her a grandmother multiple times. She lost her mother and sister six years apart. Last Resort is her debut Christian romantic suspense. Southern Superstitions releases January 15, 2012, and Whispering Cypress releases August 15, 2012, all through Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. Visit B. J. at http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com.

Give Thanks!

In this day of Thanksgiving, we think so much about the commercial things-the food, the shopping, and all that goes along with preparing for this special days. Sometimes, we get so busy that we take our minds off the greatest thing of all, Jesus. We're so busy in the hussle and bussle that we don't stop and thank the Lord for the many blessings that He's given us each and every day. The greatest of all is His Son. He died on that cross so that we can have a life full of joy. I didn't say it would always be easy, but it certainly is worth all the struggle and pain that we go through. In the comments section, I love for you to list five things that you're thankful for this Thanksgiving! For me, (1) Christian friends, (2) the ability that God has gifted me with to write for Him, (3) for my writing mentors-Nan Jones, Vonda Skelton, and Edie Melson, (4) the fact that the things I write encourage people, (5) the fact that I'm going to meet one of my dearest friends in Febuary of next year! So let's hear it, what are you thankful for? Can I pray for you?

Father, I lift up my precious readers to you. Lord in this time of preparation, help us all to keep our focus on You. Lord we love and praise You!

Shattered Places

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart
These, O God, You will not despise.
(Psalm 51:17, NKJV)

Do you ever feel like all you ever have to offer the Lord is a broken heart-a broken spirit? That's ok. He will not despise that. He says that our praise is a sweet sacrifice to Him, whether it's on a day filled with joy or filled with pain. Are you going through a betrayal? He's been there. He was betrayed by one of His closest friends, remember? If you're going through the loss of a child-a loved one, bring it to Him. Bring Him your broken pieces. Your broken heart doesn't go unnoticed by a loving and faithful God. Ladies, I can assure you, He will bring you through to the other side. When He does, you will have so much to thank and praise Him for! Until then though, let's praise Him in the midst of our pain, in the midst of our broken heart.

Father, hold these precious ladies in your arms of love. Remind them that they're not alone. Lord, we love you!

He Does More Than We Can Imagine

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
(Ephesians 3:20, NKJV)

Have you ever had something in life happen to you that was hard for you to believe? I have. When I won a full scholarship to a writers retreat, I had never expected that. I felt like the odds were stacked against me. At the time, I had no transportation to get there or didn't think my family would even allow me to even attend. About a month before, I had some unexpected circumstances transpire that would allow me to attend this much needed retreat. That just goes to show that when we least expect it, God comes in and shows us that, Yes I will do this. You just need to wait on me. Is there something that you really want to do but just don't see a way to get it done? Let me encourage you, just wait on the Lord and if it's His will, He will allow you to do the thing you really desire to do.

Don't Worry!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
(Phillipians 4:6 NKJV)

How many of us have a problem with worry? This verse plainly states that we're to be anxious about nothing. That's saying to me, let the Lord handle the situation. I know that in life, we will all have those things that bog us down, but ladies, we need to give it completely over to Him! I know that's a lot easier said than done sometimes, but once we do that, we will begin to have peace. Are you struggling today with a trial that's bogging you down? I want to encourage you, give your wory to the Lord and let Him take care of it!

Peace for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." - John 14:27 (NLT)

Have you ever felt like you were living out your life on your own? Have you felt like the struggles and challenges you face were unlike anything anyone ever experienced before or could even relate too? Have you felt hopeless or forgotten about by God? If you have ever felt like this in any way, then know today that the LORD has an eternal message for you. In fact, He has gifted you with infinite promises and assurances in His Word.

Over and over again, the LORD provides countless messages of love to His beloved children. He communicates all that He is and all that He has for those who trust Him and place their hope and their future in Him.

Not only has the LORD shared His Spirit with those who follow Him in the way of Christ, but He has also shared His peace. And it is this peace that can comfort the soul who feels alone, that can provide resolution to the soul who struggles, and that can give grace to the soul with little to no hope.

No matter what you have to deal with in your life in the day-to-day, the LORD has peace for today and hope for tomorrow.

Challenge: Go forward today being intentional in claiming God's peace, being purposed in celebrating and rejoicing in God's love, and being renewed in spirit.

A Prayer for You: Most Holy Father, You have promised us perfect peace. Our hope is in You; we trust You. Help us to live each day believing the words You have said. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Kim Teamer (The Phone Tree Bible Study Group), Guest Blogger

Have You Left Your First Love?

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
(Revelation 2:4, NKJV)

When couples get married, everyone knows, there is the honeymoon phaise. You're so happy to be married and you're so thrilled to be able to have your own place. After a few years, the honeymoon period is over. In our walk with the Lord, we can have the same problem. Do you need to return to your first love today? Do you need that renewed fire and zeal? When we first get saved, we're so on fire for God and we want to do all that we can to please Him. After awhile, again, He becomes routine to us. We'll attend church because it's a ritual. We've always done it so we know that's what we're supposed to do. It's the same with our Bible reading and devotion time. There again, we've always done it, so it's just something we check off our list. Let me encourage you, stop making devotion time a thing we check off our lists, let's make it a priority!

Psalm 23, Week 6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23:6 NKJV)

When this verse says that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, does it mean that it will always be a good day? No, absolutely not! Far from it actually. To dwell mean to live, and when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, that means whatever bad thing happens to us, He will turn it into good. If we let the Lord use our lives, He will use it for His glory. When He begins to use our experiences in that way, ladies, you won't hardly believe some of the thing that He will accomplish through you. Did I ever think I'd be a writier and leading an online Bible study for women? No, not in a million years. When I surrendered my life over to God and said "Lord use it how ever you see fit," then he turned it into more than I could've dreamed possible! That's because He's living inside of me and I'm letting Him use my life fully and completely. Is it always easy? No! Is it always worth it? Yes, absolutely! Ladies, as we end this Bible study, let me encourage you, let the Lord use you! With Psalm 23 being such a familiar Psalm, let's also remember, don't let the words become verbatum to you. I pray this has been an encouragement to you and also a reminder of just how good our God is! Can I pray for you?

Father, I lift up my readers to you. Lord I pray that you'll just bring the things to their mind that you want them to get. Lord get me out of the way of this study so you can do your work. Work in each lady's heart, whether she needs comfort, assurance, peace or whatever it may be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You in Need of a Friend?

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(Proverbs 18:24, New King James Version)

I have a dear friend by the name of Nan Jones. Our story of the way we started communicating was nothing more than a God-thing. I'd sent one email to her asking a question about writing. I really didn't expect a response from her because she was a writer and speaker. I thought she'd be too busy to answer an email from me, especially not knowing me. Sometimes, we think Jesus is that way. We think He's too busy for little 'ole me. This verse tells us that He sticks closer than any friend or brother. I know that Nan loves me and I know she encourages me, but at the same time, even she can't take the place of the sweet encouragement that the Lord gives. She loves me, but He loves me even more than she ever can no matter how hard she tried. Sweet sisters, if you're in search of a friend today, let me encourage you to run to the greatest friend you'll ever have!

Psalm 23, Week 5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
(Psalm 23:5 NKJV)

How many of us have or have had enimies in our lifetime? I'm sure if we're honest, we all have at some point. There's always going to be someone who doesn't like you as a person or they don't like what you do. In Scripture, we're told that until we get saved, we're God's enimy. God's enimy! That's hard to believe for some people. They say that how can a loving God have enimies? Once we're saved, we become his friends and we're treasured by Him. That, my dear sisters, should make our cup overflow with praise. We should always praise Him for that fact! To think, we can be a friend of the Creator of the universe? Wow! That's just mind boggling to me. I don't want to assume that every person that may be reading this Bible study is a Christian. If not, let me encourage you to do that. When we do, it will be the best decision you'll ever make in your life! It will also be the hardest decision you ever make because living the Christian life isn't always a bed of roses. When you get saved, you can become a friend of God! Let me encourage you to become His friend today!

Psalm 23, week 4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
(Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

What does it mean to "walk through the valley of the shadow of death?" Some think of it as losing a loved one, and it can mean that. I think it's also when we're going through a trial in our lives. When we go through that storm or that trial, we feel as though we'll never make it out. We think we'll never make it to the other side. Though it may seem like an insurmountable obsticle, when we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, it's not. When we're going through that difficulty, we have the comfort of an almighty God! When we're feeling so alone and even deserted at times, He's there. Ladies, I want to encourage you to take that comfort when you need it. He never gets tired of us coming to Him for the comfort that we so desperately need at different times in our lives. I'd love to know your thoughts and comments.

Rejoice Always

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice!"
~ Philippians 4:4

Every circumstance that comes our way, whether good or bad, is an opportunity for the Lord to show His grace, love, and power on our behalf and for His glory. That's why in everything we can give thanks and always rejoice in the Lord.

Instead of moving into "panic mode" or that "knee-jerk reaction" when situations arise, we will find that by choosing to move into the peace and rest of the Lord we will rise above the situation and find His wisdom, strength, and hope to overcome. Instead of reacting, we respond to the Lord's calm assurance and presence.

I like the way Graham Cooke puts it:
"We can stand up in our spirits and live a life that really glorifies who God truly is. God is always delivering us from ourselves and promoting us into a place in Jesus."

Isn't it reassuring to know that God has placed us in the safest place we could possibly be in? My dear friend, Jesus is that safest place. And you are secure in His loving arms. So rejoice when the trials of life come against you and see God smiling upon you saying, "Watch my dear child; watch what I will do for you now!"

Let Jesus be big in you and everything that would overtake you won't!

by Lyvonne Snyder, Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger!

We're taking a break from our Psalm 23 Bible study this week to feature our guest blogger for September. Please welcome my friend, Lyvonne Snyder! I would also ask for your prayers this week. I will be attending a writer's retreat. Please pray that I will hear from the Lord while I'm there in the quiet and solitude. Love you all!

Psalm 23 Study, Week 3

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
(Psalm 23:3 NKJV)

When I read this verse, it makes me think of restoration. Think about when we restore a piece of furniture. When we get through with it, it's like brand new. When God restores us, He makes us new again. He takes our broken lives...our mess and turns it into something He can use to glorify Him. Like a friend of mine says, I'm so glad he takes my messes and uses them for His glory. He takes our mess, and if we let Him, He'll turn it into His message. Do you need restoration today? I encourage you to pray and ask God to restore the broken pieces of your life. I pray that this study is helpful and encouraging you. I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments. Let's make this as interactive as possible!

Meditating on the Word

Nevertheless I am continually with You;You hold me by my right hand.
Psalm 73:23 (NKJV)

I was given a chalenge today at a ladies conference and now I want to offer this chalenge to you. For the next week, I want to encourage you to sit for an hour with this one verse of Scripture and really meditate on the words of it. Let God speak to you through it. If you don't know how, that's ok. God will show you. Just sit down, pray and say, Lord I'm here if there's anything you want me to know, show me. Oh ladies, He will begin to show you things that you can't hardly believe. I'll be praying for you all as we take this chalenge together!

Psalm 23, Week 2

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
(Psalm 23:2, NKJV)

When we think of Green Pastures, we think of a very calm, a very serine place. That's what God is trying to get us to see here. When he tells us that we're to ly in green pastures beside the still waters, He's telling us that we need to find a place for our spirit to just calm. In the midst of the chaos of life, we just need to sit and be calm. I know that we find our spirit in so much termoil at times that it's hard for us to do that. God wants us to remember that in the midst of it all, He's there to give us calm in the midst of a chaotic world. I pray that if you're going through a chaotic situation, you'll take time today to just let Him lead you to those still waters.

Psalm 23 Study, Week 1

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(Psalm 23:1 New King James Version)

When we think of a sheperd, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The first thing that enters my mind is a man shepherding his sheep. That's how the Lord is, He's our beloved shepherd. When anyone goes astray, He will search for that lost shepherd and bring him back into the fold. Ladies, whatever is keeping you from the shepherd today, it can never be enough to keep Him from you. We're always held in the palm of His hand, even when we stray. In my own life, I've recognized the role of the shepherd in a tremendous way over this last week. I' was having doubts about doing this study, the enimy was throwing his darts at me. In the midst of all of that, through the shepherd's gentle reminders and the reminders of a dear friend, they kept reminding me that there was someone that needed to be reminded of this Psalm. Sometimes things can become so familiar, it can lose its meaning and the words can lose their power. Let's take comfort that we have a shepherd today. Do you know what the best part is? The shepherd knows us each by name!! He knows us, and He calls us! Not only is He our shepherd, He's our need supplier! The second part of this verse says, "I shall not want." That doesn't mean He'll give us everything we ask for; sometimes His answer may be "No." Let's remember though that when God says "No" to something, He's got something even better waiting for us!

I pray you'll enjoy this study over the next few weeks. If you have questions, fill free to ask. If I don't know the answer, we'll find out together. I'll try to answer in my next post. God bless you all!

What Do You Choose?

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
“ In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
But you would not,
(Isaiah 30:15, NKJV)

Have you ever been in a situation where you had no idea how you were going to make it through? Let's stop and think for a minute. Maybe God is allowing this for you to behold your miracle. There's a catch here though. When those situations and ataks come, we have a choice. We can either panick and have a pity party, or we can say "okay God, I'm your child and I choose to behold you through this." Ladies, we have a choice. We can either watch our faith grow through each trial and difficulty, or we can sit on the sidelines and be in panick mode. By the way, our faith isn't going to grow by sitting and wishing! Faith requires action ladies, so let's show Satan that he has no authority and no demenion! I've had to make some choices this week. I have to either decide that the enimy can take control of my mind, or I can decide to look up and know without a doubt God will get me through this! Ladies, what will you choose today?

How Great is Our God

by Nan Jones, Guest Blogger

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."
~ Matthew 24:35

The news reporter leaned into the wind, one hand clutching his windbreaker's hood, the other gripping his microphone against his chest. Shrouded by a veil of blowing sand and rain, the storm pummeled his body, daring him to contest the power of God. Hurricane Irene was on a mission to devour the very earth on which he stood.

As I watched this scene unfold, a thought beat through my mind like a drum: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away," saith the Lord.

A surge of wind nearly toppled the reporter. Behind him, a hungry tide stalked and gorged itself on the sandy shore. The beach disintegrated beneath him. The reporter struggled to keep his composure before an anxious audience. Did he really think he could harness the power of this monster by challenging it with his presence, his words? Could he withstand its authority? Irene was in charge of this feeding frenzy - not the news media.

Again, I heard the drumbeat. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away," saith the Lord.

"Lord," I said, "What is it You want me to see?"

In His gentle whisper He spoke to my spirit, "Do not fear, My child. Take courage, for I am with You. I am with My people. I will surround them with My Presence. When you pass through the waters you will not drown. The flames will not kindle upon you for I am the Lord Your God. You are Mine. As the earth shakes and floods, yea, as it begins its decay, I am with You. My Word, My Spirit, My power and love will always remain. I changeth not, saith the Lord."

Nothing in this world is for sure. The very breath we take cannot be taken for granted. Life can change in the beating of a heart. But, God...

But God will never change. "In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But You, Lord, remain the same, and Your years will never end." (Psalm 102:25-27,NIV)

Sweet friend, in an ever-changing world, take comfort in the knowledge that God loves you with an everlasting love. He, Himself, will rebuke the devourer from among you. He is the peace that passes all understanding. He is your Deliverer, your Counselor, the Mighty God and He knows you by name.

Amazing, isn't it? Simply amazing.



Father, You are great! In You we can depend. Thank You, Lord for Your love, for Your faithfulness. It is You that put the stars in place, Who holds the seas in Your hands. It is You Who rides on the wings of the wind. Your majesty and splendor we cannot grasp and yet, we are Your children. You call us by name. Nothing comes our way without Your knowledge. Thank You, Lord. Open the eyes of our heart to understand just how magnificent You are.

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To read more of Nan's devotions, visit her blog, Morning Glory at http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com/ Nan has a heart for Christian women who are struggling with their faith. Through difficult seasons in her life she has learned how to find God's light in the darkness and unspeakable joy when the river runs dry. She is available to speak at your ladies' meetings, brunches, teas, or special events. Pleas visit her website www.jubilantlight.com for more information.

Guest Blogger Day!

Hi Friends! Once again, we're at the end of another month and that means it's guest blogger day! Once again, we have the pleasure of welcoming my dear friend, speaker and author Nan Jones! Not many of you may know, but Nan is also waiting to be notified about whether a terrific book she has written will be published! It will be a devotional book for women called "let It Rain." Let's all help her pray for this to come to fruition. To read more of Nan's encouraging devotionals, visit and subscribe to her blog, www.morningglorylights.blogspot.com
Ladies, get ready to be tremendously blessed and encouraged! Welcome, sweet Nan!

Psalm 23 Bible Study!

Ladies, would you join me for what I pray will be ahelpful and healing study of Psalm 23? This will be a 6 week study. I will be posting one verse per week with my observationsand reflections. I will then ask you to comment and do the same. I pray that this will not only be a study of this precious and very familiar Psalm, but also a time of renewal and rememberance of how God is not only our friend but our beloved Shepherd. The only break we will be taking is when we feature our guest blogger at the end of the month. Ladies, come join me! The Study will begin the first Monday in September.
May I pray for you?
Father, start preparing our hearts for this study. Give us all a heart to know in a more deeper way, not only as our friend, but as our Shepherd. If there is healing that will need to take place, show us. If you need to do some prooning or remove some layers, do your work, even now. In Jesus name, Amen.

Change Without Warrning

"For I am the Lord, I do not change."
(Malachi 3:6, New King James Version)

The phone call came without warrning. The phone would ring on that normal Friday evening to tell us that my uncle had been in an accident. It would let us know that he'd been severely burned by a radiator exploding. A normal Friday night, pierced by an unwanted, unwelcomed phone call. That goes to show us how quickly life can change. It can change without warrning, and most of all, with no reason. Even though our family was left with thoughts of fear of the unknown, thoughts that we didn't know what we would be told when we arrived at the hospital, we knew that even though our world had just changed, our God never changed, and never will! Isn't it great to know that even when our life seems to change without warrning, God never changes. He still remains the same yesterday, today and forever! He's unchangeable, unshakable, and unstoppable! When we feel as though our world has fallen apart, we can still turn to an ever-present God! He was our source of strength that night, and He will be yours as well. Ladies, when you feel like your life has changed without an explannation of why, remember, you serve an unchanging God! If you're struggling to understand the change that has come into your life today, seek the Lord and His counsel. He will be with you every step of the way!

Father, help us to see that when unexpected change comes into our lives, you are there and will never change! Amen!

He Finishes What He Starts!

Until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6, New International Version)

When I first felt God calling me to write, my first thought was "Not me, I can't do that." Immediately, this verse came to my mind. If God calls you to do something for Him, he will give you what you need to get the task done. He will finish what He starts in you! Have you ever felt like you couldn't do something God has called you to do? You know that He called you, but you feel inadiquate, insecure, or just plain not ready for it? Let me assure you ladies, whatever God calls you to, he will equipt you for the task!

Father, help us all to complete the task you've set before us. You've given us each a calling, help us fulfill it to the fullest we possibly can. In Jesus name, Amen.

God is Great. God is Good

by Nan Trammell Jones, Guest Blogger

"I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."
~ Psalm 116:1,2

The pain in my shoulder was excruciating. I had fallen at work, toppling onto a concrete floor, and twisted as I tried to brace myself. "Nothing broken," Doc Miller said, "but that's a nasty sprain."

I lay squirming on the couch trying to find a comfortable position to rest my weary body. My three year old grandson was at the house. "Jamison, will you pray for Grandma's arm? I have a bad boo-boo." His stunning blue eyes met mine and, without saying a word to me, he lay that sweet little hand of his on my shoulder and prayed, "God is great. God is good. Amen." And then he toddled off to play.

Oh, that we would embrace the faith of a child, right? Pure trust. Full expectation of God's power and faithfulness. And no pride. Their little hearts seem to understand how big our God is and they accept the depth of His love and care just because He said so. No debate. No analysis. Just pure, unadulterated trust.

Sweet sisters, could we learn to trust the Lord with such simplicity? Could we learn to take Him at His Word - simply dare to believe? God, our Father, delights in revealing Himself to us, to making His power known to us.

Is there a struggle you are facing today? Are you overwhelmed with pain and sorrow? Are you wondering where your next meal is coming from? Dear friends, the Lord your God is great - He is big enough to handle all of your troubles. Nothing is too difficult for Him. And God is good - good enough to want to help you. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. His grace is available and sufficient for anything you are facing. You need only to believe.

After Jamison resumed his play, I noticed that the tension in my body was gone. The muscle spasms in my shoulder had relaxed and the pain began to subside. I fluffed my pillow, closed my eyes and slept like a baby.

Oh to have the faith of a child.

Father, You are so wonderful. Not only are you mighty to save and powerful to deliver, but you are tender in Your love. Thank You for that. Thank You for loving us so deeply and completely that nothing can separate us from You. We love You Lord and we give You praise.
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To read more of Nan's devotions, visit her blog, Morning Glory, at http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com/. Nan has a heart for Christian women who are struggling with their faith. Through difficult seasons in her life she has learned how to find God's light in the darkness and unspeakable joy when the river runs dry. She is available to speak at your ladies events. Please visit her website at www.jubilantlight.com for more information.

Guest Blogger!

With tomorrow being the last Monday of the month, that means it's guest blogger day! Please join me as we welcome my dear friend and mentor, writer/speaker Nan Jones. I also want to encourage you to sign up for her blog, Morning Glory. I can promise you, you will be tremendously blessed! When you read anything from this lady, you will be wanting more, I know I do! Nan, welcome to Encouraging Women my friend!

We Have the Greatest anchor!

We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19 (New International Version)

Ladies, we have a very strong anchor! I want to encourage you, if you're going through a storm, hold fast to that anchor. That anchor never wavers, it never shakes. Nothing can shake our anchor! When our anchor is the Solid Rock, He's unmovable! I want to let you know, if you don't have that solid a! nchor in your life, it's the greatest treasure you could ever have! If you don't know Him today, let me encourage you to take that first step. When you do, take firm hold of the anchor and get ready for the ride of your life! It will be the decision you ever made! Can I pray for you today?

Father, I pray for each and every woman that may be reading this. Whether she has firm hold of the anchor or whether she's discovering it for the first time, I pray that she finds such joy in you that it just spills over! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Practicing Gratefulness

1 Thessalonians 5:16
"...give thanks in all circumstances,..."
Does God really expect us to be thankful in all circumstances? Have you wondered why He asks us to be grateful in all things?
I believe it is because He knows that gratefulness breaks the bondage of critical spirit, ungratefulness, and fear. This verse states such simple words that if practiced will have a major impact on our lives.
Are you going through some hard situations? Is your future unknown because of job uncertainty, a sickness in the family, or financial hardship? The Lord knows our first response is usually to be discoraged, to fear, and to worry. But in His Word, He tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. When we do our eyes turn away from the hard situation and onto a Lord who we know will show us how to battle through and to overcome.

Gratefulness slaps the devil down.

Satan wants us to be bitter toward God. Our thankful spirit will bond us into God. It will foster an intimacy we have never known before the terrible situation came upon us.
Remember friends, the Lord gives us steps for victorious and abundant living! Through His instructions to be grateful, He is indeed setting us free from the ties that want to bind!
This week, let's write down the things for which we are grateful and thank Him for always being there to see us through it all!

Sandra Stanford
Titusville, FL

It's Guest Blogger Day!

Tomorrow is the last Monday of June, and you know what that means-guest blogger day! Join me as we welcome to Encouraging Women my friend, speaker, Sandra Stanford! You will be tremendously blessed as you read what Sandra has to say. I've know this lady for a few years, and I can assure you, you will take something away from her! Welcome, Sandra!

30 Days of Praise Part 4

Jamie Britt
What a beautiful day to praise the Lord together! What words can we think of to praise Him with that begin with the letter D? My word is... defender!

30 Days of Praise Part 3

Join me in celebrating our Lord through the alphabet. Today's letter is C. Our God is Creator! What C word would you use to describe Him?

30 Days of Praise Continued

So sweet friends...what B word could you use to describe our Lord? Let's praise His Name together. My word today...Beckoning.

30 Days of Praise

I got this idea from a friend, and I wanted us all to join the chalenge. For the next 30 days, we will be using the alphabet to find words to describe our Lord. Let's start with A. Can you think of some words to describe our Lord? Awesome, amazing, all-knowing, accepting. I'd love to hear your ideas.

There's Still Hope

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!"
Lamentations 3:24

I want you to know that whatever you're going through, there's still hope. You can find hope in the Lord. Your circumstances may not look very hopeful, but if you're a child of the King, you've got somewhere to place your hope. You can place your hope in the one who will never let us down, the one who never fails. Have you felt let down by people, I'm sure we all have. You can put your hope and trust in the God of the universe, a God who never leaves you, never forsakes you. I can promise you that people will let you down, but I can also promise you that God will never let you down. Whatever you're going through in life, remember, there's still hope.

Father, help us to put our total trust and hope in you. Help us know that when we're feeling alone and isolated that you're there with us. Amen.

Blessings

A friend sent me this in an email, and I had to post it onto the blog.


Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

change to the blog

Beginning in the month of June, I will be posting around a certain theme. The theme will be "finding hope and joy through pain and hartache." I'm not sure as of yet as to how often I will be posting. Once a month, there will be a guest blogger. I will be asking them to also center their posts around this theme. My prayer is that whoever comes across this blog whether via a friend or just searching on the internet for hope, they'll be blessed, encouraged, and most of all, that lives will be changed through something that is said here. I'd appreciate everyone's prayers as I step out in faith into this new venture.

“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.” Genesis 1:26.

I have been considering this verse a lot lately in view of the degradation of our society right here in the United States of America. You see, in the beginning, man was created in God’s image bearing His likeness. He was created to reflect the glory of God by establishing His will on the earth. What has happened?

Let's think about this. Adam and Eve were in harmony with God as they remained surrendered to God. They walked in the garden ensuring the rule of heaven was enforced on earth. They were able to do so because of their dependence on God. As they looked to God, His power, wisdom and joy flowed from heaven into them and through them. Then the serpent came along and Eve fell to the deception and temptation that she could live independent of God. She invited Adam to do the same. Adam, instead of ensuring God’s rule which stated they could eat from all the trees but one, went along with His darling wife. The harmony and joy they once experienced was lost as there is no harmony or happiness for those who live independent of their Creator. When we are tempted to live outside of God's rule, we should keep this truth in mind. Man was created by God to be dependent on God. To try to live any other way results in chaos and devastation. Even the much sought after state of "happiness", which to many appears to be elusive, can be found only in living for God. Because Adam was the Federal Head of all of mankind, his sin and the results of that sin was imputed to all who would be born from that day forward.

Yet God had a plan to redeem man through His Son, Jesus Christ, and to restore what was lost. His plan was to make us sons and daughters and not just created beings and servants. He accomplished this as the righteousness of Christ was given to us when Christ took our sins upon Himself on the cross. We now have the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus instead of the lower level of righteousness that Adam could have attained had he lived without sin. Adam could never have been a royal child of God. This is only available for those who live in Christ Jesus. What a plan our God has!

If you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have been adopted into the family of God. You are a royal daughter of the King of the Universe. You have been redeemed from sin and it’s power as well as from the curse of the law.

God’s plan to redeem and restore is being played out through our lives as new creations in Christ as we take seriously the responsibility we are charged with. Because Christ lives in us, we have been empowered to walk in the ways of God; to discern what is truly of God versus what is not; and to rule over the earth, developing culture and ensuring the rule of heaven is carried out.

The enemy of Christ, as well as our old nature, sometimes pulls on us tempting us to walk in our own wisdom and rule as did Adam and Eve. And when we do, we find devastation as did they. Could it be that the mess we are in whether it is personally or as a country is due to our negligence concerning the things of God? Have we been negligent, as was Adam, to ensure God’s will be done in our lives? In our country?

As the redeemed of the Lord, we have been blessed as well as given responsibility to develop culture under the Lordship of Christ. To do so, it is imperative that we recognize that we are powerless without God. It is imperative that we recognize our need for Him. We must recognize our responsibility to bring His rule to earth. This means we must not live with our heads in the sand. We need to repent and quit ignoring what is happening around us. We must take action and the first action we must take is to PRAY! God tells us that if His people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, He will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We fulfill God’s purpose for our lives to bring glory to Him as we remain dependent on Him and grow in His image (Romans 8:29). His image is developed by the power of the Holy Spirit as we take heed to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” We stay connected and surrendered to God through His Word, prayer and Christian fellowship. The more we grow in His image, the more we are empowered to affect the world around us. We then fulfill our cultural mandate through the “gospel mandate” by proclaiming Christ’s name and sharing God’s ways throughout the world (Mt 28:18-20).

We have the power of God living in us as royal daughters of the one true God. Let's examine our lives and our commitment to grow in His image. Let's ensure His will be done on the earth. Let’s unite in prayer and godly action to bring glory to God in our lives and our land. Shall we?

Serving Christ and His Women,
Sarah Goebel
"Encouraging women with the Word
to produce a harvest of Christ-likeness"

www.sarahgoebel.com

Guest Blogging

Beginning this month, I will have a "guest" blogger. Normally, the guest will post on the last Monday of the month. If I'm led to do it more often, that's what will happen. For the month of May, let's welcome Sarah Goebel! Be sure to check back tomorrow at some point to read what God has put on her heart for us all. I'm telling you, you will be richly blessed and greatly encouraged!

The Peace of the Lord

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

There is something that's just unexplainable about God's peace. When we think of having the peace of God, it's something that the world just can't comprehend. I want you to know that whatever you're going through today, there is peace. The peace will eventually come. It may not be immediate, but I can promise you that it's there. It may seem far away and you may think that it's unobtainable, but I can tell you from experience that it will come. When you find that peace, there's just nothing in this world that can compare to it. Do you need peace today for a particular situation? If so, I pray God's calming peace over you.

Dear Lord, I pray for each and every lady that may read this. I pray for whatever she's going through that you'll grant her peace. Lord, bring peace and calm that storm. Let her know that you've not forgotten her, you're still there and you're working behind the sceens Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Behold Your Miracle!

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.
Exodus 14:4

In this well-known story of the parting of the red sea, God hardens the heart of Pharaoh so the Isrialites can behold their miracles. You see, the had a choice. They could choose to believe in their God or not to believe in their God, it was up to them. When we think the storms of life come to us to destroy us, sometimes it comes so we can see the hand of God in our lives. We also have a choice to believe or not. We can panick, or we can choose to believe that God has a reason for us going through whatever we're going through. What will you choose today?

What Do You Look Like?

Today, I want to talk about our beauty, but not our physical beauty as much as our spiritual beauty. As you all know, I've been totally blind since birth. In talking about this subject, I want to introduce you to a woman who is also blind. This woman has a great attitude on how she looks. Though she can't see how she looks physically, she sees a much deeper beauty. Welcome via vidio, Jennifer Rothchild!
http://youtu.be/76u5aanB7o0

Give Thanks

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thesolonians 5:18

I know that's easier said than done. The key is that it doesn't say to give thanks for our circumstances, it says to give thanks in them. No matter what we're going through, we still have a reason to praise the Lord. Praise Him for what He's doing in your life. I had a friend tell me, "you won't feel anything at first, but soon, it will come." This same friend also told me "it's always darkest before the dawn!" I've had to put this into practice a lot over the last few days. I'm not going to say it's always easy, but I tell you, it's always worth it! Ladies, let's praise God today! I'd love to hear what you're praising God for, what's He doing in your life?

The Touching Story

In our church service yesterday, our pastor shared a sermon from the story of the woman with the issue of blood. I can just picture her in that huge crowd trying to touch Jesus! She knew He was there, and she knew that He could heal her. She had the faith! She'd tried every other method, only to have them fail. When Jesus said in Mark 5, "Who touched me?" can you imagine what the disciples thought? There were a lot of people, and He was wanting to know who that was. Jesus knew that something had transpired when she touched his garment. I love the part that says "Your faith has made you well!" I love the next thing he says. He calls her "daughter." Ladies, isn't it great to know that we're daughters of the King! I'd love to hear your comments!

Welcome!

I just want to welcome you to Encouraging Women! My prayer is that through this blog, you'll find hope, strength, and peace to get you through the hard times in life! Let's be encouraging women!