December 23, 2024

I Will Lift My Eyes

I will lift my eyes
God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes
To You

God, my God, let mercy sing
A melody over me
And God, right here, all I bring
Is all of me

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The loving I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together God
So hold me now

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the calmer
Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes
To You
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes
To You

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now

Bebo Norman
written by Jason Ingram, Jeffrey Norman

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Close your eyes and listen to the words; make them your prayer today.

What is it that you need God to be today for you?  He is your Creator and the Lover of your soul.  He created you with a purpose and He longs to spend time with you because He loves you.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
Psalm 121:1

When the sea is raging all around you, and the storms of life are so loud and strong, He is your Calmer.  Lift up your eyes and see His heart for you.  When you are hurting or sick, either spiritually or physically, He is your Healer.  This world is full of so much hurt and He is truly the only One Who can take it all away.  You are His beloved!

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,
He who pastures his flock among the lilies.
Song Of Solomon 6:3

From the beginning of time God has longed to walk with us, His children.  And we were created with a void that can only be filled by Him.  So when the longing in your heart is too much, it is not the world that you are wanting—it is Him.  He truly does hold it all together in His very capable hands.  There isn’t much that stays the same and time brings so many changes that sometimes are hard.  But God is the always the same…He never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

Friend, your life may not be what you are wishing, but God is all you need.  Lift up your eyes today and find your hope in Him!

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Let us pray: Dear Lord, You are our Maker, our Healer and our Calmer.  You are the same today and everyday; You never change. You love us so very much.  Thank You for sending Jesus to take care of all the sins we will ever do and for erasing all the pain and replacing it with joy.  All we have to do is read Your promises and know that You will always come through.  We love You and we worship You today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Take Heart

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
There is a Light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is Hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our Hope
He has overcome
All our failures
And all our fear
God our Love
He has overcome
All our heartache
And all our pain
God our Healer
He has overcome
All our burdens
And all our shame
God our Freedom
He has overcome
All our troubles
And all our tears
God our Hope
He has overcome
All our failures
And all our fear
God our Love
He has overcome
God our Justice
God our Grace
God our Freedom
He has overcome
God our Refuge
God our Strength
God is with us
He has overcome

Songwriter: Joel Houston ~~  Hillsong United

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Oh, how I love His promises.  They comfort us in all situations.  Whether you need healing physically or you need chains to be broken—He is always the answer.  There is no burden too heavy that He can’t carry it for you.

If there is one thing we know for sure it is that this world is changing daily (and not always for the better).  There is so much hurt and anger, there are so many lost people trying to find an answer and searching for a little hope.  But we as Jesus’ followers know that Hope—and His name is Jesus.  He never changes and He never fails.  He is our strength and He is our refuge in times of trouble.  And He is that Light in the midst of this dark world.

God is just so full of grace and mercy, and so much love.  Every fear and every failure, He has already conquered it for us.  He has overcome this world.  And to prove to us just how much He loves us, He sent Jesus, His only Son, to die for us so that we can live in Heaven forever with Him.  In His hands, He bears the scars of the nails and every sin that we would ever commit hung on that cross that day.  Do you realize that we are free?

What do you need freedom from today?  If you have  just a little faith, He can move that mountain in front of you.   He can break the chains of addictions.  He can take anger away. He can give peace to the one who suffers from anxiety…and grace and mercy to the one who can’t forgive himself.  I pray as you listen to this worship song that you will let His love wash over you.  I pray that you feel loved because you are.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me.
Here on this earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

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Let us pray:
Dearest Lord, You are so awesome and amazing!  You are our Portion and Strong Tower in this shifting world.  Thank You for taking our burdens and giving us peace. Thank You for the grace and love You give so freely. You have overcome and You give us strength.  May we take this light that You give us and share it with all who will listen.  You are good, You are God, and You are still on the throne.  We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A Beautiful Exchange

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You were near though I was distant
Disillusioned I was lost and insecure
Still mercy fought for my intention
You were waiting at the door, then I let You in

Trading Your life for my offenses
For my redemption
You carried all the blame breaking the curse
Of our condition
Perfection took our place

When only love could make a way
You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange
When only love could break these chains
You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange

My burden erased, my life forgiven
There is nothing that could take this love away
And my only desire, and my sole ambition
Is to love You just the same

Holy are You, God, Holy is Your name
With everything I’ve got my heart will sing
How I love You

Songwriter – Joel Houston / Performed by Hillsong United

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Thank You, Lord, that You were near even when I was distant….

Sometimes, there’s so much going on in your life that, God fades from the picture…creating distance.  In other words, your relationship with God may be weakened because your focus is not on Him.  Not spending as much time with God can create distance because your mind becomes occupied by other things…thus shutting God out.  If you are a person who spiritually feels God’s Presence and Love—and then you don’t feel it anymore—that can mean you are becoming distant from God.

But even if there are things going on and you are distant from God, He is still always there and He will never fail you, even if you don’t feel His presence.  All you have to do is close the distance, and put your trust and focus back on Him.

The problem lies within us.  God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever; He never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 ESV

We must return our focus back to Him the One who is Faithful…

What a beautiful exchange—Jesus’ life for mine!  He freely laid His life down for you and me.  Therefore, all thanks, praise, and honor should go directly to Him!

Jesus said in John 15:13 that there is “No greater love that a man can have than this: that he lay his life down for his friends!”  How can we not place our main focus on Him and allow Him time in our lives when He laid down His life for ours?!?  We must not let the distractions in our lives take precedence over our time with Him.

My burden erased…my life forgiven…there is NOTHING that could take this love away for you and for me.  Our sole ambition should be to love Him the same!

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Heavenly Father, I come to You today with a grateful, thankful heart. Forgive me for the times I have let the distractions of my life take away from my time spent with You. Thank You for the beautiful exchange of laying down Your life for mine…and that, no matter what, nothing could ever take away from Your love for me… In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!!

Lady In Waiting: Lady of Security – Feelings of Insecurity

Then he [Boaz] said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter.

You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence” (Ruth 3:10-11).

I am in awe of the words that Boaz said to Ruth.  You can hear from his words that he is sincere and honest.  Furthermore, he is a man of integrity who did not want to take advantage of Ruth but to do right by her.  Don’t you think this man is worthy to bring home to meet your parents?  You will be rest assured that you will be secure in his love for the rest of your life.

Girlfriends, ever since we were young girls we long for security.  We placed our security in our parents to provide for us a loving, nurturing and stable environment as we grow up and discover our place in the world.  When we are ready to move out of our parents’ home, we want to make sure that we get married to someone who will love and cherish us, who will provide for us and continue to give us the security we need.  However, the reality of our lives is far from what our heart desires.  Many of us have found ourselves hurt and broken because those whom we placed our security and lives into have not met our expectations; instead they have taken us for granted.

There are so many things that cause one to become insecure and lose hope.  I cannot tackle them all here but I will discuss two of them, namely loss and disappointment.  When we lose loved ones like Naomi and Ruth did, it’s so difficult to believe that your tears and sorrow will one day turn to joy and you will find another person to love again.  Naomi’s loss caused her to feel insecure in God’s love for her; this was shown by her bitter expressions when she returned home to Bethlehem.  She asked her relatives to call her Mara instead of Naomi.  Loss brings with it doubt and despair.  Naomi hoped that she and her husband would grow old together and see their great grandchildren.  But her husband and sons died before this could happen.  She never expected that her dreams would end in tragedy and loss.

Unlike Naomi, Ruth reacted differently, she did not allow Naomi’s bitterness to rub off on her, she could have stayed at home with her mother-in-law and joined in the pity party but she knew this would not help them in any way, they needed to eat and food was not going to come on its own.  Ruth did not go out to seek a man to provide for their needs.  Instead she set out to work in order to find food for both Naomi and herself.  Through this act, Ruth found a man who would show her how to smile again, Boaz.  Ruth had found security in the God of Israel before she met Boaz and the same God took care of all her needs.  Through Boaz and Ruth’s marriage, Naomi also realized her dream of grandchildren.

Another cause of insecurity is disappointment.  As women young or old, single or married, we have gone through situations that have left us so disappointed, we just want to dig a hole and hide.  The father who promised to love and provide for us declares to our mother that he longer wishes to stay married, as such he seeks divorce and leaves us behind and never keeps his promise to come and see us, birthdays come and go without a call or a card in the mail.  We grow up, we meet the perfect guy who promises us heaven on earth takes away our most prized possession and leaves us for our best friend.  How about the woman who discovers that the man whom she married, who pledged to love and cherish her is nothing but a drunkard, and abuses her at every chance he gets.  How does one keep sanity in such circumstances and not lose faith and become so insecure and manipulative in order to have her way?

There is only one answer to all these situations, no matter how hard life becomes! I can only become a Lady of Security when I place my trust in the one who will never leave nor forsake me.  His name is JESUS!

Girlfriends, Jesus is the answer to all our insecurities, He alone can turn our mourning into gladness, our sorrow into joy, our mess into a message.  In Isaiah 61:1-3 our beloved Saviour says:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Beloved, in order to be secure, we need Jesus to be the centre of our lives.  He should be the constant in our lives because He never changes – “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  He is telling us to go to him with our insecurities and lay them at his feet.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

LET’S PRAY

Father, I come to you with all my insecurities, I have been hurt and wounded by others and I have placed my security in the wrong hands.  I realize that you are the security that I long for.  Take my pain and hurt away.  I exchange my ashes for a crown of beauty, turn my mourning into gladness, I also trade my spirit of despair for a garment of praise.  Thank you Jesus for calling me an oak of righteousness.  In Jesus Name Amen.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Look at the things most important to you, the things on which you spend the most of your time and energy (e.g., appearance, money, career, family, friendships, dates). If these were taken away, how would you be affected?

Security is basing one’s life on that which cannot be taken away. Are you building your life on what makes you secure or insecure?

Be Blessed,

Jackie

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For the “Lady in Waiting” Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. You can order the book right through our website by clicking the “sign-up here” button at the top of our webpage; which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!

God: The Same Yesterday and Today…

… and He wants to connect with YOU!!

Hello GCH: Decaf Girls!!! I am so excited to be walking alongside you on this journey! I want to share with you that the God you hear about and have read about in your Bibles, is the same today as He was a long time ago. He reaches out to us in so many ways.

I can sense who He is whenever I am by water…any large body of water.  The water is like God in a sense. The water is soothing and comforting. The sounds of the water brushing up against the bank is as if God is reaching out for me to tell me that everything is going to be okay and that He is here for me.  Water is also a source of cleansing which reminds me that He washed away all of my sins and I am a new creation in Him. He loved us that much to send His only Son to die for our ugly sins. He loves us so much!

Whenever I am around nature I quickly think of the trees, grass, creeks, and cool breeze.  When the wind is blowing it is as if God is speaking to me Himself. You feel the wind but you can’t see it. It is like that with God. You can feel Him but you can’t see Him…but for me, I see Him when I look at my teens, my face in the morning, through my friends on Facebook and Twitter.

God is so smart that He has allowed us to create ways in today’s time to see Him. The Bible on the internet, scriptures and quotes that some of your friends may place on their pages, text messages that some of your friends may send that may be the scripture of the day or even our own GCH women who place daily devotions on their Facebook pages.

God desires to be a part of every aspect of your lives. He doesn’t want to be left out. He wants to be included. Maybe the next time you are on Facebook or sending a text message to a friend…you could send a prayer, scripture, or inspirational quote for encouragement, or even a smiley J. Those are a few ways that we can include God in ALL that we do. You will be sharing Him with others.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He LOVES you my dear precious friends and He desires to be connected with you and in all that you do.

He is still the same God today as He was yesterday!

Love you bunches,

Tonya <3

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Remember… we are giving away 5 copies of the book for our very first Bible study A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon!!! How do you enter to win?!?!?!?

1. Tell your friends about the Bible study! You can call, txt, email, FB, etc…. any of your best girlfriends that YOU think would benefit from this online Bible study!

2. Have them send an email to teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com to sign up for the Bible study and have them give us YOUR name as referring them.

3. The 5 people who refer the most people to the Bible study WINS a FREE copy of the book!

Our secret fellowship group on Facebook  is OPEN, so join us to make some new friends who love the Lord!!!! 🙂

Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.