November 27, 2024

A Daughter’s Worth Week 2: Accepting The Father’s Love

October 7, 2012 by

 

2 Corinthians 6:18

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my… daughters,”says the Lord Almighty.

Hey girls…. It’s Megan <3

WOW….. I hope you all enjoyed all of the blog posts from week 1 as much as I did! Are you ready to really dig into the word this week? I know I am!

Week 2 is all about accepting God’s love. That is one HUGE subject as His love is bigger than anything I know! …but we are going to break it down this week and this is what that will look like:

Monday you will hear from Diane all about how your Father wanted you to be born. On Tuesday, Teresa will share some thoughts with you about how much God delights in your existance. Wednesday is when Jordan will bring her words to you about how God protects you, while Thursday we will hear from Tonya about God’s forgiveness. On Friday, Tina will share with us about all of the great advice that God gives and Saturday we will be on week 3 of Coleen’s excellent series on prayer.

WOW….. what an AWESOME week we have ahead of us!!

Last week, you met my amazing 15 year old friend named Morgan who is a teen member of our GCH:decaf Leadership Team and she has a few words for you as we begin week 2…

Hey girls it’s me Morgan again! I hope everybody enjoyed last week, but this week we really can start to begin to dig deeper. Everyday you’ll read some verses and some really cool points that Ava makes… which is very awesome! This week we will be talking about how God is our Father, yes you have a father here on Earth, but God is the Father in Heaven, He is the Father to those that are Fatherless.

What’s also cool is that God is here for us no matter what! He will always listen to us vent… He’s like that best friend that everybody wants, that they can just go to that person, and then vent their heart out and feel so much better. God wants to be that for you and me, so just try one night and just pray whatever is on your mind. He can look at your heart, but He loves to hear the words from your mouth too.

You’ll read later on this week in Isaiah 41:13 where it says “I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” Don’t you think that’s amazing?! God wants to protect you, I have 3 sisters…2 older, and 1 younger than me. I sometimes wish I had a brother, younger or older, that would be the like protective brother in my life, and God has just placed some awesome college age men of God in my life to be that for me. That blesses my socks off, and I’m so thankful for it.

They give me advice, they help me when I’m in a tough spot, they also laugh with me. Girls, God can be that for you. God will be there for you, help you, and also give you advice through His Holy Word to help you out, so I pray that this week during the study you will see all that God gives you, and you will realize that you are a daughter of the King of Kings and are worth so much more!!

Morgan (:

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. You can even order your book right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lord, Teach Us To Pray: Part 2

October 6, 2012 by

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, Teach Us To Pray!  Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did ––”Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray.  I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who pray—who delight, yearn, love to pray to their Father.  This is my heart’s desire.

Jesus was asked this important question by His disciples. One of the places that it is recorded is in Luke 11, verse 1: “Then He was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray….” They had observed Him going off to pray many times.  In the Gospels it is spoken of numerous times that He “arose early,” “went off to pray,” “withdrew…to pray.” Jesus PRAYED; He spoke with His Father. And His disciples wanted to be like Him!  When asked, Jesus very simply taught His disciples how to pray to God.

Listen to the words that He spoke to them when they asked:

Pray, therefore, like this:

Our Father

Who is in heaven,

hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts,

and have given up resentment against) our debtors.

And lead (bring) us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

Last week we focused on the very first and most important aspect of Jesus’ instruction—addressing God Almighty as: “Our Father….” We looked at verses from the Scriptures which taught us about the level of relationship that God (the Creator, the Almighty, El-Shaddai) wants to have with us.  We found that He wants to be our Father…our Abba Father!  We learned that ‘Abba!’ (today we would say ‘Daddy!’ or ‘Papa!’) is used when talking about “a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person.”

This week we are looking at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—“Who is in heaven.”  Jesus’ first attribute relating to God showed the depth of relationship we have with God.  This next attribute also pertains to relationship but tells of the utmost importance of Who God is.  He is in heaven.  To me this relates to His being The Creator…’heaven’ always has been.  It is where God IS, where He exists (though certainly without any limitations).

In Genesis chapter 1, we read “And God saw everything that He had made…” (v25).  Think for a moment…if God was observing what “He had made,” it couldn’t include where He was at.  So, where was that?  By exclusion, it must have been beyond everything that He had made.  God, His existence, is beyond time and space and any limitation within our scope.   After all, He is ELOHIM, The Creator.  Everything belongs to Him.

Deuteronomy 10:14

Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens

belong to the Lord your God,

the earth also, with all that is in it and on it.

Many times throughout the Scriptures, our Father is spoken of as “the Lord, the God of heaven”… “the God of heaven and earth” … “He Who sits in the heavens” … “Who speaks from heaven” … “Possessor of heaven and earth” and in similar other ways.  The heavens are His.

When Solomon finished building the Temple, in His prayer to Almighty God he voiced,

But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?

Behold, the heavens and heaven of heavens

[in its most extended compass] cannot contain You;

how much less this house that I have built?

1 Kings 8:27

Solomon, the wisest man on the earth (by God’s blessing) knew that surely a building couldn’t contain the glory of the Lord…the Lord’s presence…if the ‘heaven of heavens’ was not able to!  He knew God was above all.

And that brings me to one of the most awesome promises contained in the Scriptures.  A promise from Almighty God, Elohim, our Father to you and to me:

 

Ephesians 2:4-8

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love that He had for us,

made us alive with the Messiah

even though we were dead in trespasses.

You are saved by grace!

Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up

and seated us in the heavens, so that

in the coming ages He might display

the immeasurable riches of His grace

through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For you are saved by grace through faith….

Sit there, please, for one minute and meditate on this promise: in the coming ages, you and I WILL be seated together with Jesus in the heavens.

In the coming ages, we WILL be seated together with Jesus in the heavens.

We will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and Almighty God “Who is in heaven.”  Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. <3

—————————————————————–

This week in our blogs we have talked about recognizing our worth.  We have looked at it from various aspects: how we feel about ourselves; within our relationships—family, friends, boyfriends, school; our hopes, dreams, plans for the future.

I put before you this thought:

How much worth,  ______ (insert your name here), do I have if God Almighty has promised
that I will sit with Jesus in the heavens? <3

 

“Our Father, Who is in heaven…”

~Coleen

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***This is a special Saturday series for GCH:decaf.

For our Bible Study, A Daughter’s Worth, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until THIS MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Winning Him Without Words: Jesus with “Skin On” / Weekly Review

October 5, 2012 by

 

The young mother tucked her little boy in bed, turned off the lights, and walked out of his room.  It was then she heard him cry out:  “Mom, turn the lights back on; I’m scared of the dark.”  The mother walked back into his room to reassure him.  “Now, son, don’t be afraid, Jesus is here with you.”  To which he replied:  “I know Jesus is in here with me, but I want somebody with some skin on!”

Can we admit that we all have felt that way?  “Yes, I know you are near Jesus, but, I really want someone to pray and study your word with me, someone to sit beside me in church, and most of all, Jesus, I want to talk to someone about I much I love YOU.   That someone is my husband.  Won’t you please tell him to come into the room with me?  I am scared of being in this dark room alone.”

Thirty eight years have passed since the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and my husband still hasn’t shown up in that dark room with me.  But, my goodness how God has blessed me by sending so many Jesus with “Skin On” people!  They brought light into my dark and lonely room!

Allow me to introduce a few of them to you.

  1. Jackie:  Always saved a seat for me in church so I wouldn’t have to sit alone.

  2. Gerry, Beth, Gloria:  Spent hours cleaning their homes for the weekly bible study.  Oh, yes, Beth Moore  taught me much, but it was these ladies who made it possible by opening up their homes to me and all the other ladies.

  3. Sylvia, Irene, Susan:  Prophets that God used to give me a prophetic word at times when I thought I couldn’t take another step.

  4. My Pastor:  Preached sermons that I know he prepared just for me!

  5. Melba, my pastor’s wife:  Gave me opportunities in ministry.  Quite frankly, I had always thought that I couldn’t go into ministry with an unsaved husband. What do I have to offer if the head of my household is not serving the Lord?

I just know that these people will receive a special reward in heaven one day for being obedient to God, and being there for me.

But, I have to confess that when the journey stretches into years of being unequally yoked as it has for me, there is a tendency to grow weary.  As the year 2010 was drawing to a close, I felt like I had reached my limits. “When is this man, my high school sweetheart, father of our two daughters, and grandfather of three going to fall down at the feet of Jesus?”  I felt the lights being turned off in the room again.

And then one day in March, 2011, God showed up with a whole army of Jesus with “Skin On” people.  It happened like this.

I stumbled upon the book, Winning Him Without Words by Lynn and Dineen.  In all my many years of being unequally yoke, I had never read a book about the unequally yoked, nor had I been associated with anyone “like me.”  But, God in his perfect timing introduced me to these two ladies, along with their community of women on their website, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.  And then, He introduced me to you, my friends, at Girlfriends Coffee Hour.

I’m not alone in the dark room anymore. – -I’m hanging out with – – Jesus with “Skin On” people from all over the U.S. and world who are “just like me!”

As for my husband?   “He has made  everything beautiful in its time.” [Ecc. 3:11]

Let’s Pray:  

Father God, I ask you in the name of your son, Jesus, that every lady taking this course be blessed with Jesus with “Skin On” people so that they will not sit in a dark room alone.  We need each other to help us walk out our lives before our husbands according to 1 Peter 3.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Your Assignment:  

Who are your Jesus with Skin On people?  Take time today, not only to thank God for them, but call or send them a note expressing your appreciation for being with you on your journey.  For starters, list them in the comment section.

***********

And now, as we come to the close of the first chapter of Winning Him Without Words, review this past week:

Monday:  Know That You are not Alone:  Beverly pointed to page 27 in our book that described her feelings of being alone: yearns for her husband to sit with her, feel his arm come around her shoulder, desires to have him look up Bible verses together,  hold her hand after they found it.  But, Beverly made a decision she has stuck with for 33 years.

  • Stopped worrying about her husband, and left him in God’s hands.

  • Kept going to church and serving God in areas that He led her into.

  • Kept asking her hubby to come with her.

  • Took her children with her so they could learn about Jesus.

  • And thanks God that He is sitting with her in that pew, along with  friends who support, embrace, and pray for her.

May we do likewise.

Tuesday:  The Alone Factor:  Jennifer pointed us to reality:  we are alone by not having a spiritual connection with our husbands, and it hurts.  But, she learned the real truth:

We live for a Savior who desires to do life with us. That actually gives me a sense of peace. I am truly not alone in this. Our Heavenly Father is walking right alongside us, infusing us with power and strength every single day. He knows the aching of our hearts. He knows our longings. He wants the same thing for our husbands and for our marriages. He will not leave us flailing.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20(b), NIV)

May we do likewise.

Wednesday:  Is it Possible to Thrive in a Mismatched Marriage?  Donna assures us that we can thrive in a mismatched marriage and this is how she learned to do it:

When I let God be in control he takes away the anxiety of my life. God meets me right where I am and meets hubby where he is too. My marriage can grow and THRIVE!! I can rest assured God has our backs in this marriage-After all he created marriage! All I need do is get off my “throne” and hand my scepter over to God, pray for my husband and let God work!

May we do likewise.

Thursday:  Placing Christ On The Throne:  Sarah makes a statement that all of us could probably admit to when she says:  To surrender your power and control is a hard thing to do. Some may say impossible.

But, Sarah has made a commitment to start each day with the following prayer no matter how silly she may feel: Jesus, right now as I begin this new day, I surrender my place of authority over my life to You.  I am placing You firmly on the throne of my life.  Teach me to focus on Your desires for living.  I give you my entire life this day.  In Your powerful name Jesus.  Amen

May we do likewise.

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For those who are reading this blog and would like to join the Bible study, we would love to invite you to join us!  Click here and follow the instructions, (you can also click the SIGN-UP link in the menu bar above to be taken to the form). It’s that simple!  We hope to see you soon!

Above all, if you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and would like to have someone pray with you, please email our Prayer Team Leader:  Robin@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com, and one of our prayer team members will contact you.

Blessings to you,

Martha

 

 

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A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Handling Stress at School

October 5, 2012 by

 

Growing up I had a pretty easy, happy childhood for the most part. My only stress at the time was my friends. They used to tease me endlessly about my long legs and small frame; I became ‘daddy long legs’ to them, which hurt me terribly. I used to hate going to school, at one point I requested to change classes, but that did not happen, I just could not handle the name calling anymore. Until my late 20’s I was under-weight, I remember wanting to donate blood, but couldn’t because of my weight. That however was my only stress at the time.

As a teacher, I see many students under different types of stress. As educational requirements get more stringent in all levels of education, students everywhere experience considerable school stress. You have to make good grades to attend good schools after high school. You have to make honor roll in order to participate in extra-curricular activities, to get that iPod touch, new phone, dress, watch, etc. Your teachers, parents, coaches, youth leaders, they all seem to expect so much of you! Sometimes you just want to yell,” Give me a break you guys, I’m only a kid!”

Now academics are not the only stress you have to deal with. Extra-curricular activities can also become extremely daunting, especially when one of your parents excelled in a certain sport and they want you to follow in their footsteps. The other stressor that is becoming quit alarming is that of bullying. Bullies come in different forms and they are all pretty harmful. You might be hurt by your so-called friends who bad mouthed you just to get some type of recognition; enduring the teasing by the popular click at your school for not wearing the latest fashion, wearing your hair in a certain style, playing in the school band or just being real clever. Whatever it might be, there will always be someone who find fault with what it is you are doing, how you do it. The Bible tells us in Psalms 139:14 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

At times when you might feel like everything is coming undone, remember that you don’t have to suffer alone; you can talk to your parents, youth pastor, a trusted friend or a teacher. If you need extra help with your school work, you can ask a teacher to assist you before or after school, you can also work out a study plan that will help you understand and remember facts and formulae’s. You might even get a study buddy who is stronger in a specific subject and can help you.

Remember that changing your wardrobe, wearing your hair in a different style might not be the answer. Surround yourself with people who like you for who you are, people who love God. All the world’s potatoes were not going to fatten up my skinny legs, I had to accept myself for who I was, skinny, long legs and all.

It might seem that as a teenager a lot is expected of you, but believe me,” You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you”!

Let us pray:

Father, thank you for every girl represented in these groups. Thank you that we can give You our stress and that You will deal with it accordingly. Thank you for Your promise that no weapons formed against us shall prosper. You are in control in our lives and we love You very much. Amen.

Be blessed my friends!

Edwina

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Making Plans for the Future

October 4, 2012 by

 

I can remember so vividly in high school being asked the question repeatedly, “what are your plans for the future?” What do you want to be when you graduate? Are you going to go to college, go to the military, get a job, etc…I had so many questions! If you were like me, those questions could be a little overwhelming at times! Someone suggested to me that I should pray and ask the Lord what He had for my life. You definitely don’t want to leave God out of your plans for the future.

 

 Jeremiah 29:11

He is the same One who said that He has plans for us to prosper us, not harm us..

 

Well, I didn’t seek His direction for my life and it sent me on what some would say…A wild goose chase, for what I wanted to do with my life…which was really God’s life. It was His life after all, right, if I gave it to Him?

 

I wanted to get married and have a family, I wanted to be a nurse, I wanted to move away and go to college. Most of those plans didn’t succeed and I spent a lot of my earlier years of my life going in circles. If I had only took the advice that was so freely given to me, I possibly wouldn’t have made the unnecessary decisions that I made and I wouldn’t have wasted a lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted. I started off going to college to be a nurse. I went two whole years before I realized that I was not great in math and with that profession, you definitely need to be “on it” when it comes to figuring out how much medication to give, how often to give it, etc… So, no that was not the profession for me, although I loved serving others and taking care of others, that just was not the career for me.

 

I then changed my major to teaching. Oh how I love to teach, but I sort of wanted to combine teaching and ministry together, but wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I detoured from the idea of teaching after almost finishing my degree and changed it to Human Services. Let me tell you girls something: If I had only went to God first, I would have been finished by now, but I know that this is the path that He wanted me to travel, because I have learned so much in my life up to now!

I am now a Young Women’s Coordinator that works with young girls everyday where I get to teach education and Biblical studies!!! You can’t get better than that!! I LOVE what I do!! After I began to seek His direction and Commit my plans to Him, it was then that He began to orchestrate things and turn it all around and place me on the path that He always had laid out for me J I am oh so much happier than I could have ever been doing what I do now. I am truly walking and working in His will!!

If you don’t take anything from this blog post today, I ask that you take at least this one thing: Commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do and your plans WILL succeed!!

He WANTS to be involved in your plans for the future! He WANTS to be involved in your life!!

 

Let’s pray: 

Dear Lord, I would like to ask You to help our precious girls to see You for who You are and who You desire for them to see You as, in their lives. Help them to see that You are so in love with them that You desire to see them happy and on the right path. You have such GREAT, AWESOME plans for their lives and help them to see, know, and feel that. I just ask that You help them to place their futures in Your hands because You created them, each one by one, individually and you have such great plans for their lives! You KNOW what their futures hold and I just ask that You continue to place people in their lives to help them along the way. I ask this in Your Darling Son’s Jesus name. Amen <3

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

 

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Getting Along with Family

October 3, 2012 by

Relationship over Being Right

When I first saw that this was my topic I thought, “I am not qualified to talk about this.” For those of you who don’t know me or my story, right now I am still living at home. I am supposed to be in my second year of college, but because of financial reasons, I have not been able to go yet. Let me tell you, being twenty and living at home is not easy. I have always been an obedient child, for the most part. I have never “tested the waters” or really acted out any form of rebellion against authority. But I do have 3 younger siblings, and as many of you know, it isn’t always easy to turn the other cheek.

Teenage years are difficult. You’re dealing with friends, boyfriends, school work, and family. Your home is supposed to be a place where you can escape from the worries that every other area of your life demands. However, that’s not always the case. You must keep in mind that your parents and your siblings also deal with other relationships and other obligations. Too often, we think that OUR problems are the worst. I am SO guilty of this! Because of the season I am in right now, I sometimes think that the things my family members are walking through are not NEARLY as hard or nearly as painful as what I’m walking through. Then I am reminded that their problems are big to them, and I should care that they’re hurting. I should show them compassion and sympathy, because that’s what I would want if I were walking through something difficult.

Let’s talk about parents… Your parents, if they are walking with Jesus, strive to make every decision to benefit you. I don’t mean that they make decisions to make you happy. They make decisions to protect you from straying from the path that leads to Heaven. “Children, honor your father and mother.” Yes, this means to obey. It also means to respect them, and to trust that they are doing these things because they love you.

Family members are human. That means that one day or another, one of them will be sad, angry, frustrated, upset, or all of these things at once. We are called, as children of God, to LOVE them. But what happens when your sister borrows your shirt without asking? Or what about when your mom won’t let you spend the night out? Or when your brother reads your journal? In that case, we’re excused from loving them, we’re excused from giving them grace. Right?

WRONG.

Matthew 5:38-39

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.’

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek,  turn to them the other cheek also.

Regardless of what they’ve done, regardless of who is right or who is wrong, you are called to love them. Anytime my siblings and I are arguing about something my mom ALWAYS says, “You should value your relationship more than you value being right.” We should forgive when we’ve been wronged. We should extend grace when we’ve been disrespected.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, and your neighbor is most definitely your family member. Pray today that the Lord would give you patience. Ask Him to reveal to you the ways you need to change your heart toward your family members. He will begin to convict you, and He will begin to change your thoughts, your words, and your actions if you let Him.

Let’s pray…

Lord, thank You for my family! My prayer, Lord, is that I would reflect You in the way I interact with them. Lord, give me patience, and give me Your heart and Your eyes to see them and love them as you do. Thank You for grace, Lord. Thank You for forgiving me when I don’t react to their wrongs in the way that is pleasing to You.

~Jordan

_______________________________________

For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Winning Him Without Words: “The Alone Factor”

October 2, 2012 by

 

We can depend on the Lord to show us where we are today in our marriage and where He wants us to be in the future. (Lynn Donovan, pg. 27)

My husband is not a believer. Although he supports me, he does not share my faith. I have come to accept his decision and respect his choice; however, there will always be a part of my life that I feel I cannot share with him.

And it hurts.

My belief in God began at a very young age. My relationship with Him began only two years ago; four years into my marriage. It was like a light bulb clicked on and life finally made sense to me. My friend invited me to a women’s retreat with her church. I accepted. And life has never been the same. But, my zeal for God seems to not make sense to my husband. At first, I had to hide my faith. I hid my Bible. When I was going to a Bible Study, I would tell him I was going to meet with some new friends from church. When we got in the car to go somewhere, I immediately changed the Christian radio station to the more mainstream station he prefers.

I had no idea how to act. I felt isolated and alone. There was this newfound blossoming of faith within me, but I could not share it with the one person who is closest to me. I felt like I was living a double life.

In fact, I still am.

I am still trying to figure out how to live this spiritually mismatched life. Although I have come a long way (I can now openly read my Bible in front of my husband and talk about my church activities without feeling uncomfortable), I still flounder. God still has much to teach me about honoring Him despite my circumstances.

“It matters not how we came to be in our crazy, mixed-up and unexpected marriage situation. What matters is that God desires that we honor our marriage commitment and fulfill our marriage vows through His power and His strength. We can’t do it on our own.” (Lynn, pg. 28)

Lynn’s message hit me at my core. God wants our marriages to be beautiful and thriving. He desires us to honor our commitment and fulfill our vows. And the only way we can do it is through HIS POWER and HIS STRENGTH.

We cannot do it on our own.

Did you catch that?

We cannot do it on our own.

And why would we want to?

We live for a Savior who desires to do life with us. That actually gives me a sense of peace. I am truly not alone in this. Our Heavenly Father is walking right alongside us, infusing us with power and strength every single day. He knows the aching of our hearts. He knows our longings. He wants the same thing for our husbands and for our marriages. He will not leave us flailing.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20(b), NIV)

***

Let’s Pray: Lord, help us to see and to understand that we truly are not alone in our mismatched marriages and that you are right there, walking side-by-side with us through every step. Show us how to release the pain that binds us and causes anguish in our spirit for our unsaved spouse. Provide us with your power and your strength to get through each day and teach us to fix our eyes solely on You, the One responsible for our husband’s salvation. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray, Amen.

Your Assignment: Leave a comment below telling us one thing you can do for your spouse today to honor God and your marriage.

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For those who are reading this blog and would like to join the Bible study, we would love to invite you to join us!  Click here and fill out the form at the bottom of the page (you can also click the SIGN-UP link in the menu bar above to be taken to the form). It’s that simple!  We hope to see you soon!

Blessings to you,

Jennifer

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Friends and Boyfriends

October 2, 2012 by

AHH, Love.

Everybody wants it.  Everybody needs it.  How do you get it?  Where do you get it?  Is it really OK to ADMIT that you need it?

The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24,

“A man(or woman) that has friends must show him(or her)self to be friendly and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs is a book of Wisdom written by Solomon almost 3,000 years ago.  I don’t think very much has changed in that time.  If we want friends we have to act friendly.  God gave Solomon wisdom because Solomon asked for it, then he shared his wisdom with us all these years later.

How do we show ourselves friendly?  We put a smile on our face, introduce ourselves, do something nice for someone, consider someone else’s feelings above our own…the possibilities are endless.  We have to be open to friendship.

As long as we are afraid to be friendly, we will not be making any friends.  No one wants to be lonely.  Movies are more fun with a friend, restaurants are more fun with a friend, games are… you get it – FRIENDS are a good thing.

Be the one who reaches out first.  You don’t know what that other person is going through.  God could be using you to fill a need in their life.  Be willing to be a friend.

What about the second half of that verse, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother”?  Can we have friends that are closer to our hearts than our own family?  I think so.  We don’t get to pick our family members (and sometimes we are too much alike to get along well).  Friends come along and fill in those places in your heart that time and distance cannot separate.  Through fellowship with this group of women and teens at Girlfriends Coffee Hour I hope you see how easy it is to love friends in different states and countries.  I hope you find a “soul sister” that you can open your heart to.

I pray that all the friendships we are building here bring out the best in us.  We should challenge each other to be better people.  Having good friends boosts our self-esteem.  We have a more well-rounded life.

Someday…..

What happens when friendships turn into something more?  As teens, you begin thinking about that special someone.  As Christ followers we should be thinking about that someone who God has prepared just for us.  Sometimes it’s hard to be patient for Mr. Right when we want a boyfriend RIGHT NOW.

I’ve heard some Christian teens say they won’t have a boyfriend or date until they find the person they are to marry.  Yet others enjoy having friends to hang out with and get to know in each life stage.   Which theory is right?  Can they both be right?  There are so many ways to think about dating and friendship.  Both schools of thought are ok.  The Bible even addresses the issue.  Because people are different, they have different needs – some need many friends while others need 1 or 2 really close friends.

Some girls need to have a boyfriend to feel happy, while others don’t want to be bothered with stinky old boys.  Either way your relationships should bring out the best in you – your attitudes, your behaviors, your SMILE and should bring glory to God.  Christ-centered friendships are AWESOME!  God made us this way and He wants what is best for us.

BONUS:

I interviewed a very nice young man for this blog, so I could pass some good information on to you young ladies.

Question: What do you find attractive in a girl?

Answer: I find attractive a girl who has a good head on her shoulders.  A girl who wants to try to be successful in her life.  A girl who has good values.  Who follows God, and tries her best to be close to family and really close friends.  A girl who values having a good time and having good memories, but not through drinking or drugs or bad behaviors.  A girl who is smart and funny and means well in her intents, but also will stand up for herself and what she believes in and the people she cares about.

Question: How do you know if a girl is real or fake?

Answer: There’s no real way to tell, you just have to trust them with how they act and see how it goes.  And I guess you could kinda tell if they put forth a lot of effort into the things they do and the passions they have and the people they care about to show they really do care and are genuine and aren’t fake.  And also I believe if she has a lot of faith in her relationship with God then that’s another way, too.

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I can’t wait to see you young ladies grow spiritually and closer to each member of your study groups.  Branch out and fellowship with the people in the :decaf Fellowship group.  God has brought together some very special Daughters of the King.  Open your hearts as we dive into the study,  A Daughter’s Worth, and see just how special we all are to our Heavenly Father.

PRAY WITH ME:

Heavenly Father, We thank you for this opportunity to make new friends.  You know our hearts and that we love you.  If we could speak all the languages in the world, but didn’t love others, we would be just a bunch of noise.  If we could understand all of God’s secrets and had all the knowledge in the world, but we didn’t love others, we would be NOTHING.  If we gave everything to the poor and sacrificed our bodies and felt really good about ourselves, but if we didn’t love others, we would have gained NOTHING.

We read in your word that Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  We thank you for your example of LOVE to us.  We love you Father and we pray that our hearts will be open to experiencing our WORTH in your eyes.  AMEN

Love,

Teresa Bolme (Mama T)

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Finding A Lasting Joy

October 1, 2012 by

Finding A Lasting Joy

 

This is it!  The first official blog post starting the first official day of our Bible Study, A Daughter’s Worth.  I am so excited, are you?  There is so much I want you to hear, so much that God has laid on my heart to share with you.  It is my prayer that you find one thing in this post that will stick with you, that will make you think, and that will encourage you.  Ok, let’s officially get started!

When I was in high school I worked at an assisted living facility, as a server.  It was my favorite job to this date.  One of the things I liked best about this job was getting to know a lady named Mary Jane.  Anytime I was feeling bad about myself, God brought her along my path.  Her words made me smile.  She repeated them over and over again, only because she lost her short term memory, so she had no idea she was saying the same thing over and over again.  I still, to this day, remember those sweet words that brought so much joy to my heart, “Wow, look at you, you are so pretty, dear, you really are so beautiful, look at your face, look at your smile, look at you, oh you are so special.”  It was some sort of magic, those words alone had the power to take my feeling badly about myself and turn it into me feeling really good about who I was.  Her words had never been said to me before or about me before.  I always kind of thought I was pretty or special, but without ever having validation from anyone else in my life, I just did not believe those thoughts.  Mary Jane was one of the only people who had ever told me that before and there was something about her way of telling me that made me really believe she meant every word.  I think it has to do with the repetitiveness, which is something that she did totally on accident.

Who is speaking truth into your heart?  Do you have a Mary Jane in life?  Do you believe the truth of who you really are?  Looking back, I learned why Mary Jane’s role in my life was so important.  When I was no longer hearing her powerful words in my life, I craved them from someone else, anyone else.  After trying every remedy imaginable; the right outfit, the right hand of a man in mine, just to name a few, I finally realized the only lasting remedy we can ever turn to is God alone.  I learned the only thing that will ever satisfy my heart for good, the only thing that will bring me lasting joy are the words that God speaks to my heart through his Word each and every day.  This is when I started embracing the truth about who I am in Christ.

God’s way is the only lasting way to make you feel better about whom you are!

WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS SPEAKING TRUTH TO YOU, YOU MUST SPEAK IT TO YOURSELF.  No matter what your current remedy may be for making yourself feel better; you must get rid of it and start repeating what God says about you.  You must replay what God says about you over and over and over again until you believe it, until you know God is being honest with you always!

Whenever you feel down and out about YOU, please remember who you really are.  You are a precious child of God.  You are His princess.  You are cherished, loved, forgiven, beautiful, chosen, and the list goes on and on.  I encourage you to learn the truths that make up who you are in Christ.  Repeat these truths until you have them memorized in your heart!

I had to do this; I have an entire list of truths that have become my identity.  I used to have to repeat them over and over and over again with my words.  Now that I am confident in Christ, when I repeat them over and over again it is not only in my words but it is now in my actions.  Those truths are so much a part of me that I do not need to go seeking for anyone else to comfort my soul.  Knowing who I am in Christ, makes me feel the best feeling in the world, it is indescribable.  Do you desire that feeling?  Let your heart ache for Jesus’ truths.  If you want to feel good about you, learn who you really are, not to this world, but to God.

Below is a list of truths followed by verses in the Bible that support that truth.  These verses describe who you are!  When you are feeling badly about yourself, go to this list!   I encourage you to memorize the ones that you do not so strongly believe in.  Live by these truths.  Never let anyone convince you of anything else.  Speak these truths over and over again.

  • Who is your Mary Jane?
  • Which verses below are your favorites?
  • Which verses are you thinking you need to be memorizing and repeating over and over again?

Let’s Pray:  Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity to learn and grow from each other.  I thank you for bringing us all together.  I pray as we start this study that we come to love who we are in Christ.  I pray that when we start to feel badly about whom we are, that you help us to wipe away those thoughts instantly and replace them with the truth of who we are in you!  Thank you for loving us, thank you that we can always count on you.  Amen. 

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Who I am in Christ:

I am able

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS ME.

I am beautiful

Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory

I belong to God

John 17:9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours

I am born again

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

I am cared for

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I am a child of God

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

I am chosen

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I am complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

I am confident He will never leave me

Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”[

I am dead to sin

Romans 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I am desired

Psalm 45:11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

I am filled with joy

John 17:13  I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

I have the power of God behind me

Philippians 3:21  who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Love,

Diane <3

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lady In Waiting: Lady in Reckless Abandonment / Alabaster Box

October 1, 2012 by

I started this book with excitement.  As someone who runs the book club at her church as well as bible studies, I enjoy reading, and I get to read a lot of quality Christian books.  But one thing I do not get to do is focus on myself and my ‘singleness’.  Our church is mainly composed of families, so in planning events singles are rarely taken into consideration.  So I sat down with eagerness to focus on me a little bit.  Then it hit me, the emotion.  I was taken aback when I saw my feelings in print.  So yes, I struggled a bit, but the message in our chapter this week is just amazing ladies.  Have you been thinking about your alabaster box?

Did you all know the meaning of the alabaster box?  I had heard of it of course, but I did not know how significant it was, and how relatable it was to me as a single woman.  Throughout the whole chapter I just kept wondering, “Could I, would I have done what Ruth did?”  Recklessly abandoned.  Am I?  Are you?

We face a lot of challenges as a single woman in our society.  The pressure to be pretty, to be thin, to be sexual and through all this we are trying to draw closer to Jesus.  As you were reading did you think of each little section as I did?  Like a little checklist to take my “reckless abandonment” temperature?  I like to think that I am close to Jesus.  I have used this time of my life to work on my spiritual growth.  I lead Women’s Ministry at my church, I am a Youth Leader, I am the administrator for our youth group as well as our Worship Team, and I sing on the worship team.  I run bible studies and retreats, I talk to trusted Christians to help me in my walk, I thought I was doing just fine.  Sure, I’m close to Jesus!  Then the “checklist”:

~ Am I willing to let friends go if they are standing in the way of my growth?
~ Am I willing to switch churches or jobs if that is what God wants me to do?
~ Am I spending enough time WITH Jesus instead of just trying to serve Him?
~ Am I willing to let go of society’s norms and take the chance of being singled out for being “different”?

I may be clutching my alabaster box a little more tightly than I thought I was.  Letting a few drops out here and there, maybe even a little stream if I am feeling really good (or really bad) that day.  But have I smashed my alabaster box at Jesus’ feet?  I can’t say I have.  I still struggle with the “missing puzzle piece” as Jackie and Debby call it.  Knowing that the only way I will be complete is through Jesus.  When I am lonely I wonder how that can be enough.  Even as I just typed that out and read it as it went across my computer screen, I realize how dishonoring that is.  How can Jesus be enough?  Really Michelle?  Did you just say that “out loud” for everyone to see?  So yes, through the study of this book, I will be working on fully and completely smashing that alabaster box at the feet of Jesus as I ask His forgiveness.  Are you with me?

Let’s Pray
Father God, we ask today for Your forgiveness.  We are sorry for not being fully and recklessly abandoned to You.  Please help draw us closer to You.  We love You Lord and we want to trust in the truth that You are all we need.  We will never be complete without You.  No matter who comes into our lives, they will not be able to fill the void that only You can fill.  Renew our minds and hearts as we seek to live fully in Your love.  In Your Holy Name we pray.  Amen.

Your Assignment
Please leave a comment below sharing whether or not you have broken your Alabaster Box at the feet of Jesus.  Are you afraid to break your box?  Why?  How can we pray for you as you start this journey?

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over every power and authority (Col 2:9 – 10)

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If you would like to take part in our Online Bible Study Facebook Discussion Group, please click on the Sign-Up Here button located at the top of our website, in the Menu Bar.  Once we receive your request, we will add you to our group!  🙂

 

Blessings,

Michelle Graziano

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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