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.