November 24, 2024

Girls With Swords: Chapter 5 – “Who Was Responsible for the Cross?” (pgs 66-72)

April 23, 2013 by

“Isaiah and David prophesied that God’s chosen people would kill his one and only begotten Son. The religious leaders thought that by killing God’s Son they would get to steal his inheritance.” (pg 67)

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified The Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)

“What blindsided each and every ruler of that age? They could not see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross.” (pg 67)

Do you see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross?

Do you live a transformed and triumphant life?

Do you live fully believing that Christ died for you?

Can you accept that truth into your heart and  truly, without a doubt, believe it? It is one thing to know about the Cross and what happened that day in Calvary. It is one thing to know what the Cross represents—freedom, forgiveness, love, mercy, redemption, among others. But do you live in a way that your life represents this knowledge? Have you accepted this as your own truth, that Christ died for YOU?  YOU, the single momma trying to make ends meet. YOU, the woman who cannot have kids. YOU, the woman who carries shame from her past. YOU, the woman who has a hard time forgiving. He died for YOU, for me, for every single one of us; regardless of anything that has happened in our lives. No matter what we have done, it was finished on that Cross.

Live triumphantly knowing that you are loved. You are wanted. You are known. You cannot do this life on your own. You cannot forgive on your own. You cannot move through the hardship and pain of your past on your own. You were not made to. If you are wondering why you struggle so much with a stronghold in your life, ask yourself: have I let God into this place? Have I allowed Him to work on my heart in this area? Christ will not barge His way into your life. He must be invited in. If your finances are a mess, you must invite Him in so that you and He can work on fixing what is broken. If your marriage is on the verge of separation or divorce, you must let Him in so that He can help you restore all that lays in shambles.

He is the only One who can do it. And He desires to fix your brokenness even more than you. He wants you to be whole. Let Him in. Let Him do His work. He is the only One who can do it.

I feel like there is this thinking in our society that we must fix our problems on our own, by our own power and might. We do a pretty good job of seeing other peoples’ problems, and how to fix those…but when it comes to our own lives, it is not so easy. We get defensive, we struggle, we read book after book trying to fix ourselves. But, have you fully turned this area of your life over to Christ? Have you let Him in to do the work He needs to do in your heart?

“Because of Him (Christ), we no longer exist in Adam. We live in Christ and are seated with him as we walk on earth.” (pg 69)

Transformation is not an easy process. But, we have a new life because of the Cross. We no longer walk in sin and death. “We were saved, forgiven, healed, loved, graced, empowered, and restored “in Christ”” (pg 71). “It was the dead tree that brought us all back to life” (pg 72). You must know and understand— you were already transformed because of the Cross. The question is – have you accepted it? Are you living it?

Let’s Pray:

Father God, the Cross represents so many things, but ultimately it shows us Your unfailing LOVE and GRACE toward us. We are triumphant because of the Cross. Help us to live triumphantly in You every day on this Earth. For those areas of our lives that we have not let You into, today we turn it over to You. Help us fix what is broken. Show us a new way. Guide us into the triumphant and abundant life that You have already prepared for us. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Live transformed and triumphant,

Jennifer

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Girls With Swords: Chapter 4 Weekly Review – “The Battleground”

April 19, 2013 by

Welcome to Campground USA

Log Cabins, Nature Trails, Canoes,

Paddle Boats, Bikes, Fishing

That’s where we are – over 125 women – camping at Campground USA, studying Girls with Swords by Lisa Bevere. During the day, women huddle in small groups throughout the campground, becoming “doers of the Word.”

  • They have grabbed hold of Lisa’s statement:  “We are a TARGET of the enemy, not because of something we have done, but most likely because of something satan knows we are going to do.”  (Do I hear an “AMEN”  to that!)
  • A sight to see that will “bless your socks off, is women walking the nature trails quoting God’s Word from their Pink Bedazzled Sword.  (Diane, the devil doesn’t stand a chance when he sees PINK coming at him!)
  • Excitement has filled the campers’ hearts with Teresa’s urging to become a HERO in this battle, and join Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rahab listed in the Hall of Faith.  (After all, they are cheering us on!)
  •  Tonya put to rest any fears the women had of becoming a superhero:  “It’s not by my might, nor by my power but by His spirit.”   (You got that right, Tonya!)
  •  PRAYER is really shaking things up!  Would you believe I saw Coleen, Erin, and Merol doing cartwheels?  It excites them seeing women putting their armor on everyday and linking it up with prayer. (Check’em out behind Cabin #4 – -woohooo!) 
  •  PRAISE AND WORSHIP at the end of each nightly session is just out of this world. Even the “city girls,” who would never set foot inside a campground think they are in heaven!  (Let’s don’t tell them any different.)   

As night approaches, they gather around the bonfire to discuss the assigned chapter.  Tonight, Chapter 4,  The Battleground, is the topic of discussion. My girlfriends will answer the questions “Where is the battle?” and “Who is my enemy?”

Jennifer 

What I have to say may sound harsh, but I’m going to give you 8 points that are a reality!  

  1. We spend our time and energy fighting each other.
  2.  Our war is not with any political party, alternative lifestyle, social issue, family member, pastor, President of the United States, or any other worldly circumstance.  
  3. Our war is with Satan.
  4. When he sees us fighting with each other, he laughs; when he can cause division and strife, he wins.
  5. Unbelievers are watching Christians. They are trying to see if we live our lives differently than they live theirs.
  6. We cannot have a negative spirit toward anyone and be right with God.
  7. We must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
  8.  We must model our leader, Jesus Christ, who tells us to:

This, girlfriends,  is the answer to how we defeat the enemy.

Teresa

 Did you know that there is a prayer that Jesus prayed that has not been answered YET?  How can that be? In John 17:20-23, at The Last Supper, Jesus prays for you and me:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me.  The glory that You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved me.

God’s plan for redemption includes: One Heart   One Vision   One Purpose   One Name   One Kingdom   One Mandate

 I submit to you that we would then become the answer to the prayer Jesus prayed.

Tonya

Jesus fought a battle larger than any we could imagine.  He died on the cross and won that battle so we could handle the battles He knew would follow.  This means, that sometimes we must battle to become ONE.

Satan uses adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries to divide and separate us from our Heavenly Father (Galatians 5:19-21).

But, God created a list of tools to fend off these attacks: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-26).

There are times where we have to hold up our swords to protect our joy and peace.  As Lisa says:

“You don’t set up camp in hell…you journey through it.”

 All of a sudden, Christi, jumped to her feet.  Ladies, I feel on FIRE tonight! God WANTS you to hear this!

Never be afraid to enter the enemy’s camp and take back what he has stolen from you!! God has already won this battle, and He will restore the years the locusts has eaten!!! Do not fear! We serve a Mighty God!!! He will never ask you to stand for something if He thought you were not able to!

Enter the enemy’s camp, get mad, put the enemy under your feet, and take back what he has stolen from you!! It is yours!! Stomp on his head and tell him NO!!!! No more satan!!!! You are defeated!!! You have not won this battle, God has, and I am standing with my God with the sword in my hand, and I send you back to the pit of hell where you belong!!

Ladies, please get this!!!! You have ALL authority, not just some authority, but ALL authority over the enemy!!! Don’t let him lie to you any longer and tell you that you are defeated!!! You are not!! You have victory in the name of JESUS!! Please get that!!! Take your marriage back, your rebellious children back, your health back!! Stand in victory with your sword in hand, and dance on the enemy’s head!!!

Oh baby, I’m preaching myself happy!!! Dance with me on satan’s head tonight!! I stand with you as you take back what he has stolen from you…what is rightfully yours!!!!

 I (Martha) am a very conservative person, but something got a hold of me! I heard myself saying: “Preach it, Sister Christi, preach it!  Come on ladies, let’s dance.”  And with that, such dancing like you never witnessed went on around that campfire as we danced on satan’s head, and took back what he stole from us.  They all began to sing “Look What the Lord Has Done”:  

 Diane finished the chapter with her personal testimony.

I would like to focus on the following TRUTH.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

This reminds me of my past. At one point in my life it was easy for me to blame the someone who robbed me of my innocence and even easier for me to blame myself. I learned that the roots of my problems were not people or my own thoughts; they were the lies Satan was feeding me.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Jesus has come so that WE MAY HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE.  Satan will try to bring back the pain and memories of people who hurt you.  BUT —

The more you grow in your relationship with God, the stronger defense you will have against Satan.

And so it was – -Diane, through her own experience, had been able to join Jennifer, Teresa, and Tonya in answering the questions:  “Where is the Battle?” and “Who is my Enemy?” 

Women lingered by the bonfire and continued to worship the Lord.  The sounds of other campers filtered in and, what’s that other sound I hear?  Could it be Heaven’s Angelic Choir joining us in Praise and Worship?  (Breath-taking.)

*****

Let’s Pray:  Father God, we are so grateful that You have taught us where our battles are and who the real enemy is.  May we realize Your Word equips us for this battle.  You and You alone are our strength, our shield, our strong tower.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

*****

If you would like to join us for the “Girls with Swords” Online Bible/Book study, click HERE to be taken to our sign-up page.  Once you complete the enrollment process, we will email you further details.  We hope you will join us!

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Girls with Swords: Chapter 3 – “Heroes Have Something More to Them” (pgs 49-51)

April 11, 2013 by

When I read this part of the chapter, I wrote down five words and put them next to my bed.  Each night before I close my eyes for the day I am reminded of these words:

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, and SALVATION…

…with the words, “live by these, apply these” underneath.  As I was reading The Message version of The Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-20, these words stuck out the most.  I love how this version tells us that these five words are more than words.  We must learn to apply them.  I have been thinking each night as I fall asleep, “What does it look like to apply these words to my life?”  Each morning as I awake, God shows me exactly what it looks like to use these words in my life by helping me put on His full armor.

Has God ever placed something in your life at just the right time?  This study has come into my life at just the right time.  I had been feeling this nudging to put on the Armor of God daily, but I was not sure what to do with this nudging.  Thanks to Lisa’s book, God is showing me what to do!  God is showing me how to be a hero.  No joke, some days I sit in my apartment and imagine myself with the prettiest pink, bedazzled sword you could ever imagine.  I picture my perfectly pink armor filled with sparkles, and I get this joy deep down in my heart because I imagine so clearly God’s words and actions of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation covering every inch of that bedazzling pink armor and weaponry He has handpicked for me to use.  The Armor of God is out there, ladies, just for you!  What does yours look like?  Take the time to find out.  Take the time to use and apply God’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation to your life.  If you find yourself becoming more aware of Satan’s attacks and less aware of how to defend yourself against them: you must spend some much needed time learning what the Armor of God looks like in your life.

Ephesians6_10thru18

I love so much when Lisa says, “As the daughters of God draw their swords, the enemy draws back.”  Do you know where your sword is, what it looks like, how to use it?  There is no time for guessing; we MUST be quick to pull out all of God’s truth against Satan.  The last thing the enemy wants to see is the person God created you to be standing firm against him each morning.  Satan will do anything and everything in his awful power to keep you from seeing who God sees when He looks down at His precious hero.  However, God is doing everything in His mighty power, even at this very moment, to show you the something more you have been in search of: Himself.  If your whole heart desires to meet with God, think about how much more God’s heart desires to meet with you!  Don’t let Satan get in the way of meeting with the One Who loves you and created you to be His hero.

As impossible as this task may seem, with God we know all things are possible (Philippians 4:13).  Lisa tells us that prayer is not optional.  I believe prayer is what ties this all together and makes this all possible.  When you are finding yourself in that nearly impossible task, pray and ask God to show you His possible way.

Our prayers are our life-line to God: this is how we can keep in constant contact with Him.  I am learning that prayers are powerful and they are to be used constantly for all kinds of things.  Prayers are one of the best gifts we can give to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  When we pray for them, we are giving them Jesus’ aid, not ours.  Can you think of anything better that anyone would ever need?  Prayers keep God in the loop.  Prayers help us all get out of the prison Satan tries to keep us in daily.

I picture all of us: swords in hand, shields in place, bedazzled in GOD’S TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, AND SALVATION; standing tall, shouting prayers of all kinds to our Holy God in Heaven, as we leave behind all of Satan’s lies that fall in crumbles with the chains that kept us tied down from the something more we have been craving: God Himself.  Can you picture it?

*****

Let’s Pray:

Lord Almighty, thank You for the armor that You have prepared for each and every one of us.  Thank You for the privilege we have to come to You in prayer.  I ask that You help each and every one of us stand firm with our feet fitted with Your peace to crumble Satan’s evil’s schemes.  Lord, we need You every moment of every day for this battle.  Thank You for being there for us each and every moment.  We love You so much and desire Your truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation to be displayed in our lives for others to see, so that they will be drawn to You alone.  Please help us.  Thank You, Lord, that You are always there for us.

In Your Precious and Powerful Name, we pray,  Amen.

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Girls With Swords: Chapter 2 Weekly Review – “A Sword is Born.”

April 5, 2013 by

Click Here for Next Week’s Reading Schedule

Last week, “the 5 girlfriends on their road trip,”  voted unanimously to continue their journey into The Prince of Darkness Territory, despite knowing they were a TARGET.  However, they realized the key to being victorious in battle against the enemy was choosing the right WEAPON.  To get their thoughts together, they pulled over at a rest stop. 

While they were standing there in the moonlight, two bus loads of women pulled into the parking lot, and about 125 women made their way over to where the five girlfriends were gathered. Four women stepped up and introduced themselves as Amy, Christi, Laurie, and Kim, the leaders of the group.  “We’ve heard about your decision to enter into the Prince of Darkness Territory, and we want to join forces with you,” Christi said.  

The 5 girlfriends welcomed them, and told the women that they were in the process of choosing the weapon they would use for the battle ahead.  A murmur could be heard among the crowd of women at the mention of a weapon for self-defense.  The consensus of the crowd seemed to be that “heavy artillery guns” should be bought before driving any further into enemy territory.

But, knowing this was not the answer, Jennifer hopped up on top of a picnic table nearby.  With her Bible lifted up toward heaven, it was a sight to behold, as the moonlight beamed down on her as she spoke very eloquently and simply about the only weapon to use.

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:1-5, NLT).

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (verse 14).

His Word (The sword) stands alone. Nothing I can add to it will make it better!

A hush swept across the group of women gathered.  It was obvious many of them were thinking,

“Are you saying that God’s Word can be used as a Sword?”  

Teresa was the next one to step on top of the picnic table to address the crowd. 

“Ladies, we have been handed a sword—a God Sword.  Ephesians 6 addresses the Armor of God that we are to put on daily to protect ourselves from spiritual attack.  Verse 17 says this, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God—my Bible. 

In her book, Girls with Swords, Lisa Bevere says she had a revelation that “…many of God’s daughters in this generation are unarmed, ill equipped and unprepared.  This means they are at risk and incredibly vulnerable to deception.”

I proclaim tonight that:  “As Christ-followers we need to be properly equipped with the whole Bible, not just the pieces we like and disregard the rest.”

Next, Tonya, addressed the crowd.  She admitted something about The Sword in her life that all the ladies seemed to relate to: 

“There have been times in my life where I have felt beaten down, like I was unable to pick anything up; times where I have felt I couldn’t read the word of God; times where I felt I couldn’t even pray.” “But, I also know what it feels like to have the sword renewed in my life—to pick up the Bible and have God lead me to the scripture I needed to read that day, to say a prayer, and to feel His presence.

As Lisa Bevere said in her book, Girls With Swords, it is time for the church to know what a girl with a sword can do, it’s time for Satan to know what a girl with a sword can do, and it’s time that we believe this ourselves—that we take up our swords and declare what God has said in His Scriptures.

Next, Diane hopped on top of the picnic table.  “Ladies, these are the words that I know God wants YOU to hear tonight.”

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Do you believe these words spoken by Jesus is God’s Living Word?  No matter how badly Satan attempts to discourage us, these words will always remain true.  I have found the more time I spend in God’s Word; the more I feel the truth of these words.  The more I learn the power of the “sword” God has given me to deter Satan’s attacks, the more thankful I become that God has already fought my battles for me. 

HeIsVictorious

**********    

After Diane spoke, a murmur could be heard among the 125 plus gathered at this rest stop.  I, Martha, did a little eavesdropping just to hear some of their comments.  Here are some of the things I heard them saying.

“I totally believe the Word of God!  It’s the flesh that gets in the way!”

“Everything we need or we will need is hidden in His Word, and we search it out like buried treasure.” 

“I need to pick up the whole word and start really listening to His Word, not just reading it.”

“You wouldn’t go into battle without being extremely familiar with your sword, right?  We wouldn’t make it out alive.  Same with this world.  These battles can kill us spiritually and defeat us if we aren’t in His word. So lets prepare. Lets really get in His word. Ahead of time is so much better than in the midst.”

“When the word is alive in us, we can weather any storm knowing that Jesus is with us and is greater than the one who is in the world. The sword is our weapon. Lets declare the victory.”

“For the Word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart” [Hebrews 4:12].

Finally, Christi, the lady who appeared to be in charge of both groups on the buses, stepped up on the picnic table, and with a voice of authority proclaimed:

 “We should be seeing the sick healed, the lame walk, the blind see, cancers falling off of people, lives miraculously changed because of Him!! We should be laying hands on the sick and through the power of the Holy Spirit, see them become whole again! We should be spreading the gospel so much more than what we are.”

And with that, such shouting like you never heard broke out all over that rest stop.  And then—with their Swords lifted up toward heaven, the women began to worship the Lord as the moonlight from above beamed down on them. 

They had united and settled on their weapon for battle—God’s Word!

 

Let’s Pray:  Father God, we are so grateful for your Word.  It is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path, a light into our path.  Help us never to use it in pieces, but make use of the fullness of God.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

*****

If you would like to join us for the “Girls with Swords” Online Bible/Book study, click HERE to be taken to our sign-up page.  Once you complete the enrollment process, we will email you further details.  We hope you will join us!

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Girls With Swords: Chapter 1 Weekly Review – “You Are a Target”

March 29, 2013 by

Next Week’s Reading Schedule

Picture this scene:  The long awaited girlfriends road trip had begun. The five girlfriends had been planning this get-away together a whole year.  It was to be a time for studying the Word of God with other believers at the women’s retreat, plus a time of rest and relaxation from their busy lives being a wife, mother, and the many other hats they wore throughout the year.  They were riding down the road giggling so hard that their sides were splitting. 

Then all of a sudden, they saw a road sign up ahead that read: 

Prince of Darkness

The laughing stops as Jennifer, the driver of the car, pulls over to the side of the road. They all sat quietly for a few minutes, each absorbed in their own thoughts as to what they should do now. 

Finally Jennifer spoke up: 

Girlfriends, let’s face it!  We did not even have to leave our homes to know that a battle is waging. Satan is desperate.  He tries to discourage us and make us doubt our God and His goodness.

It is time to recognize that, as Christians, we are automatically targets of the enemy. Satan will stop at nothing to tear apart our relationship with the Lord. He wants to keep us away from reading the Bible. He wants to prevent us from fully participating in a Bible/Book study by distracting us. He does not want us to be in fellowship with other believers. If he sees a spot to weasel his way in, he will try to do it.

The Bible says that I have a weapon against any attacks from the enemy. That weapon is the Word of God.   I believe we can be a hero in God’s army. When we tuck God’s Word into our heart, we are able to defeat the enemy the same way Jesus did in the wilderness. He refuted Satan’s attempts at trickery by repeating the truth from God’s Word.  

We now have a choice to make.  We can choose to be a hero in God’s army of warriors or not. As for me, I choose to keep going. Who’s with me?

Teresa spoke up next. 

Look, at it this way, girls.  We must have something of value Satan wants to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us.  Personally, I think a  few of the reasons Satan puts a TARGET on us are:

  1. We are a target simply because we are human.
  2. God loves us and created us for a relationship with Him.
  3. Satan cannot fix his problem himself and be returned to a relationship with God.
  4. If he can’t have a relationship with God, then neither can we. NAH! NOT! Whatever!
  5. Satan knows that every soul close to God is capable of great and wondrous things.
  6. Satan knows how the story ends.
  7. Satan is fighting to keep God’s precious creation distracted, distressed, and demoralized so that we don’t experience the fullness of our place with Him in heaven.

You know, Lisa Bevere says, “I believe that the attacks on your life have much more to do with who you might be in the future than who you have been in the past.  That statement made me realize that God created me for a purpose in this time.  I have a choice to fulfill that purpose and live a rich and satisfying life that God wants to give me or I can let Satan steal, kill, and destroy me. 

I choose to be a HERO!  I’m with you, Jennifer; let’s keep going!

Tonya spoke up next.

Okay, girls, the reality of the situation is that we, do, indeed, have a target on our backs. We are women, we are Christians, and we are determined to take up our swords and fight back. These three combined make us a very real threat to Satan and he will do what he thinks he can do to throw us off of our path.

But, there is a bigger reality than this one—the reality that we have God on our side, the reality that His promises are stronger and more powerful than any threat Satan has made. “There is no way we can or should fight this battle alone.” We don’t have to, we don’t need to, and we can’t. We NEED God’s heavenly support.

We as women are faced with a choice, “Will we be an unarmed civilian, victim, prisoner of war, or a hero”?

There is a target on our back, but the swords we hold are bigger and stronger than the weapons being thrown at these targets. Our swords, our prayers must not be influenced by what is around us; they need to be powered by looking to the One who created us to be warriors. 

“I’m with Jennifer; let’s move forward!”

Diane spoke up next:

“Hey girls, you know what just occurred to me?  Hebrews 12:1 says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, which is the faithful followers of God whom we learn about throughout the Bible.  They were people just like you and me throughout the Bible who have run their race and won!  Each one of these people had one thing in common—they lived by faith and not by fear.  They let God control their lives, and not fear.

Satan will never be able to live for God.  He has no choice but to live by fear.  His fear drives Him to attempt to destroy God’s chosen ones.   That is what he is trying to do to us now—implant fear in us to keep us from going ahead with our journey.

I’d say we must follow the examples of the faithful followers of our heritage, put on the full Armor of God, and trust that God has a plan for our lives, one in which we are a Hero for God.

I’m with you, Jennifer.  Let’s keep going.

I, Martha, was the fifth girl on that trip.  I had sat silently while my friends were discussing our options for continuing our journey. I now had to make a decision.  As I saw it, I must decide if I wanted to enter this territory where I was marked as a target, or get out and walk back the way our car had come from—alone!  These gals were determined to go forward.

As each of my friends had spoken from their hearts, I saw something different in them. No longer were they just friends, giggling on a road trip; they had caught a glimpse of who they were in Christ, and were not afraid of facing an enemy who had already been defeated anyway. They had convinced me that we were warriors!

Without a speech, I just said to Jennifer:  “Crank her up, Jen.  Let’s keep moving.”

Let’s Pray:

Father, God, we thank You for each lady who has signed up for this course.  Having read their comments this week, I know that, they, too, are ready to move forward using the sword that You have given us, defeating all the attacks the enemy tries to throw at them.  I pray Your blessings on each of them as we continue our journey together.  In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

*****

If you would like to join us for the “Girls with Swords” Online Bible/Book study, click HERE to be taken to our sign-up page.  Once you complete the enrollment process, we will email you further details.  We hope you will join us!

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Captivating: Chapter 12 Weekly Review – End of Study

March 29, 2013 by

Girlfriends, what an awesome journey we have been on for the last couple of weeks. I pray that you are more than convinced of your awesomeness!  You truly are Captivating.

On Monday, Jackie told us that we have an irreplaceable role to play in this world. God is waiting for us to accept that role so that He can use us for His glory. You and I have the power to influence our world for God.

Tuesday with Tonya we learned that what God asks us to do can seem more than what we thought possible. Being what God requires us to be can seem overwhelming at times. But, by saying ‘yes’ to God, and by going where God is asking us to go, and doing what God asks us to do, we are also acknowledging that we have faith in His covering—faith that He will take care of everything else.

Carissa shared some awesome truths with us on Wednesday. She said that we might not be where we are ‘called’ to be right now, because God is preparing us for His plans that are to come. We can’t see the big picture, but God can. He has you right where you are for His reasoning.

On Thursday, Michelle encouraged us to not be afraid of who we are, who we were created to be. It is time to stop hiding. Let us all step out in faith. Let us be real and present in the moment.

Girlfriends, I want to encourage you to be strong in the Lord. Yes, things come our way that paralyze us, and it feels like we will never recover, never be able to get up and walk again, but I want to remind you of the cross. When you are blinded by fear, think of what happened at the cross. God is in control!

I love you and hope that you will join us in our Women’s study that started on Monday, Girls With Swords. I feel armed and dangerous!

Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You for each lady that participated in this study. Thank You that You have great and wonderful plans for their lives. I pray that they will always know that they are Your children and that You love them unconditionally, Amen.

Be blessed!

Edwina

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

Girls With Swords: Chapter 1 – “You Are A Target” (pgs 3-6)

March 25, 2013 by

Our daily reading schedule for this week can be found by clicking this link.

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Eph6_13

We do not have to leave our homes to know that an epic battle is waging. On any given day, point your internet browser to any major news website and you will see how desperate Satan is. Violence, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, envy and judgment seem to permeate our society. In fact, it may even discourage some of you; make you doubt our God and His goodness.

Sisters, it is time to recognize and understand that we are a part of this battle. As Christians, we are automatically targets of the enemy. Satan will stop at nothing to tear apart our relationship with the Lord. That is his business. It is his only job. He wants to keep us away from reading the Bible. He wants to prevent us from fully participating in a Bible/Book study by distracting us. He does not want us to be in fellowship with other believers so he will use our insecurities or past hurts to prevent us from moving forward in our faith journey. Anything is up for grabs. Not one of us is immune. If he sees a spot to weasel his way in, he will try to do it. I use the word *try* because we hold the ultimate power. We can look to God to help us through these difficulties, or, we can allow the situation to take us captive and restrict the Spirit’s work in our life.

Which will you choose?

I say this not to scare you, but to warn you. The battle is being waged. Thankfully, we have a Mighty Savior who sends us to the frontlines fully equipped to fight the enemy and to beat crush him at his own game.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 NLT

The Lord gives us many defensive weapons in our arsenal to fight the enemy. We have a belt, body armor, shoes, a shield, and a helmet. However, there is just one offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

What is the Word of God?

  • For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).
  • All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16 and 17, NLT).
  • Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalms 119:105, NLT).
  • In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5, NLT).

When we tuck God’s Word into our heart, we are able to defeat the enemy immediately when he tries to attack us. Before Jesus started His ministry, Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. For forty days and nights, He fasted and was very hungry (Matthew 4:2). He refuted Satan’s attempts at trickery by repeating the truth from God’s Word. “Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11). By claiming God’s truth and promises and wielding them as a weapon to the enemy, Satan had no choice but to flee.

Can I get an AMEN to that?!

Ladies, I know life is difficult. It can be busy. I truly hope and pray that you will delve deeply into this study. Commit to it. Make it a part of your daily quiet time with the Lord. It has the potential to impact your life in a radical way. God wants to use us to reach the lost, to save those that we may think seem gone forever. No one is beyond saving. No one. We can be a hero in God’s army of warriors. But, ultimately, it is our choice.

Who’s with me?

*****

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, as we begin our study of this book, please let the truth from Your Word soak into the depths of our souls. We want to be prepared for the battles that are coming our way and to be a hero fighting for You, Lord. Please remove anything that will prevent us from focusing solely on this study. Help us find a daily quiet time with You to read and study what You want to teach us through this book. We know You have already won the battle, Lord. We thank You that You are a God who loves us so much and who equips us with all that we need to fight the enemy. We have all that we need in You. Guide and lead us in the weeks to come. We pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 *****

If you are interested in joining us for this online Bible study, please click HERE to complete your enrollment.

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Meet the Founders of Girlfriends Coffee Hour

March 18, 2013 by

Christi Wilson

Founder  –  Blog Contributor 

Meet Christi Wilson.  She lives in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

Christi is the wife to her wonderful husband Gary, mom/step-mom to her amazing kids Tiffani, Heather, William, and Joshua, and grandmother to her awesome grandchildren Michael, Brandon, Makenzie, Brooklyn, Kyler, Alaina, Jayden, Austin, Kylee, and CJ.

Christi has been involved in Women’s Ministries for ten years.  She was part of the Women’s Team with Christian Motorcyclists Association for nearly 9 years.  She  has been coordinating Online Bible Study/Prayer Groups on Facebook, since 2011, when she created the first Facebook Prayer Groups for Proverbs 31 Ministries.  The Lord led her into starting her own online Bible study ministry, and that’s when Girlfriends Coffee Hour was born!

After over five years of being empty-nesters, Christi and her husband became foster parents for children in crisis.  Although foster parenting can be quite challenging, the rewards are far more numerous!  This was truly a God-thing!  Coming from a background of physical and emotional abuse, she can relate to the hurts that many of these children go through in their life!

She also loves to read, study the Word, cook, and play word games.

She gave her life to Jesus on March 23, 1984, when He saved her from suicide, drugs, and alcohol.  She believes that without Jesus, we are nothing.  He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness in our lives and accepts us right where we are in our lives…blemishes and all.

 

Megan SmidtMegan Smidt, CLC – Co-Founder –  Blog Contributor 

Megan is a Certified Christian Life Coach specializing in Relationship Coaching and more specifically, Blended Family Relationships. She also works part-time as Personal Assistant to Christian Musician Yancy.

She and her husband Craig have been married 8 years.  She is the adoptive full-time mother to Craig’s 5 children from a previous marriage, all ranging in age from 21 years old to 14.  Megan is from sunny Southern California, but has lived in middle Tennessee since 2007.

Megan is very active in her church and in ministering to women. She leads a family small group in her home every week along with her husband and she works with teenagers at church on Thursday nights.   Megan also regularly does speaking engagements on various topics concerning Christian Women and is a Certified Christian Life Coach with clients all over the world.

Megan loves to travel and spend time with family and friends. She enjoys reading, music, movies, photography, paper crafting, sewing and roller skating.  She is silly, fun, and loves making new friends!

You will learn more about Megan when we introduce her new Glorious Living blog on Friday!

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We are so very excited to start this next study, Girls with Swords, with you! Lisa Bevere is an amazing author who will bring you deeper and deeper in your walk with the Lord!  If you haven’t signed up for this study yet, you will want to TODAY to reserve your spot!  To sign up, click on the picture below, and you will be taken to our sign-up page.  Once you complete the registration process, we will email you further details.  

GWS

Study Begins March 24th!

Sign Up Today!

 

 

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

Life’s Healing Choices: Chapter 8 – Recycling the Pain (pgs 241-267)

February 24, 2013 by

Choice8_LHC

Galatians 6:1-2
My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.” (CEV)
At the beginning of this study in January, I had many comments on apprehensions, anxieties, and generalized worries about getting back in to the memories & experiences of the past. As the study progressed, I’ve been able to see transformations in our participants. Some have had small “AHA” moments on how the past has shaped today. Others have had eye-opening revelations. Where ever this study has taken you, God has blessed your life.
We are heading in to our final week of Life’s Healing Choices, but this is not the final week of our journey. John Baker tells us, in the Celebrate Recover Participant Guide 4, “Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Instead of the focus remaining on healing your personal hurts, it’s time to consider how others can benefit from our experiences. Baker references “recycling the pain.”
Recycle — to adapt or convert something to a new use
When we faced the events that shaped our attitudes, addictions, thoughts or behaviors, we never would have imagined that good would come out of it. Romans 8:28 states: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (NLT)
God truly does have an amazing plan for His children. He does not sit around looking for ways to hurt us, complicate our lives, or bring us pain. This comes from our choices in life. But He does promise to use ALL things for His good purpose. So when I consider the experiences of my past, I need to look to ways my experiences can help others. What did I learn from these events that can be passed on to another, give hope and encouragement?
We’re reminded that God “does His best work through weak people”

2 Cor 12:7 -10 tells us, “Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (The Message)
If you had asked me in 2001 what good would ever come from the chaos around me, I would have thrown up my hands and said “Nothing!” I never could have imagined that God would restore my heart and soul to the point of remarriage, blending families, and step-parenting. And, I certainly wouldn’t have ever guessed He would use me in a ministry position like Girlfriends Coffee Hour! But in the midst of everything, I didn’t blame God or accuse Him of doing things to me. I knew He didn’t want me to experience pain, but He promised to use whatever I did experience for the positive.
As a parent, I see the same type of things with my kids. I don’t sit around thinking of ways to inflict pain or hardship in their lives (though they may think otherwise with the household rules!), but I do know that their teenage minds will make decisions that sometimes bring painful consequences. My goal as mom is to help them learn from the experience, give suggestions to overcome, and help them move forward. There is a purpose behind all that we experience, whether we want to admit it or not.

God does the same for us through His Word, our interactions with fellow believers, and in daily prayers with Him. Baker shares that , “people are not helped by our strengths; they’re helped when we’re honest about our weaknesses … the proof that you are truly recovering is when you begin to focus outside yourself, when you stop being absorbed with your needs, your hurts, your problems. Recovery is evident when you being to say, ‘How can I help others?”” pg.242
This week we’ll look more closely at the following questions:

  • Why does God allow pain?
  • How can we use our pain to help others?

A few verses to ponder this week:
Ecclesiastes 4:9 -1 2 NLT
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. (The Message)

James 1:22 NLT
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

 

Your Reading Assignment this Week

Monday – Chapter 8 Sharing the Choice – Laurie
Tuesday – Why does God Allow Pain? – Leslie
Wednesday – How to Use our Pain – Kim
Thursday – Make the Choice – Amy
Friday – Recap of the week – Laurie

Let’s Pray:

Lord, we thank You because You are ever-present in our lives. No matter what we experience, You are there with us to give us strength, courage, comfort through each and every step. Even as we look to heal from our past experience, we can hold hope in Your promise to work ALL things for good in those who live according to Your will. As our Heavenly Father, You desire the best for Your children. Continue to guide us as we continue to learn more about trusting You. Amen.

Power Verses for Chapter 8
Matthew 10:8
Matthew 6:24
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Deuteronomy 4:9
James 2:17
Ephesians 4:1
2 Corinthians 3:18
Hebrews 10:24
Romans 12: 9, 13
Galatians 6:1
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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If you would like to send Amy a private email in regards to this blog, please email her at: Amy@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Crazy Love: Chapter 5 – “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God” (pgs. 83-88)

February 4, 2013 by

Something-is-Wrong-crazy-love-francis-chan-F

Ok ok…so chapter 4 was pretty convicting and, if you have made it this far with us, that means that you have made the boldly intentional decision to be moved to ACTION, repent, and move forward full speed ahead to live as a Christ-follower the way that God has ordained you to! I applaud you and know that you are not alone in this! God is with you every step of the way…and we are, too!

Now,  for chapter 5….

A few Thanksgivings ago, this story was relayed to me (and I don’t even remember where I heard it…) and it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the title for Chapter 5.

At one point, the Butterball Turkey Company set up a telephone hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys.  One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in her freezer for 23 years.  Can you imagine!??!??! Turkey and stuffing is Craig’s favorite meal and that would NEVER happen in my house. Anyway, the representative told her the turkey would be safe to eat, but did not recommend eating it because the flavor would have deteriorated over this much time.  The woman caller replied, “That’s what I thought.  Okay then, we’ll just give it to our church.”

Um…. uh…. er…. (yes, pick your jaw up off the ground and let’s continue….) 🙂

Serving leftovers to family and friends can be one of the best things we can do.  In my family, when I make dishes like lasagna or spaghetti, they always seem to taste a little better served as a leftover.  Mmmmm…and  homemade soup served again on the second day: YUM!  However, there is nothing good about serving leftovers to God, which has become the norm for far too many of us Christians.

It is nothing less than idolatry.

Need some examples of how we serve leftovers to God???

  • In our worship when we consistently show up late and pray for the preacher to finish up quickly so that we can beat the Presbyterians to Cracker Barrel.
  • In our careers when we give less than our best effort, thinking, “Well, I haven’t had a raise in 3 years, what do they expect about my performance?”
  • In our relationships when we find more satisfaction in our earthly relationships with others than we do in our relationship to God.

The menu of leftovers is endless.  When we consistently remove God from first place in our lives, it is not long before He has virtually no place there.

We are designed by God for God, and we are to make Him our first priority.

His purposes are to be our purposes.

His plans are to be our plans.

His passions are to be our passions.

1 John 2:3, 4 (NIV)
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

I don’t know about you, but I read there that if I profess to know the Lord but my actions are in contradiction to His Word, then I am a liar and I do not have the Holy Spirit living in me. God deserves our best. Is that what you are giving Him…with intent, or are you just haphazardly going about your day each day giving Him whatever is left over? If the latter is more of a valid statement, repent TODAY and begin to truly follow God and give Him the best of everything you have and are…after all, it’s all His anyway. <3

THIS is how we make sure we are giving God our best…and not just our leftovers.  God demands exclusivity, and that is exactly what He deserves—not so much for what He does for us, but simply for who He is.  He is God, our Abba Father, and He is worthy of our absolute best.

Let’s Pray: 

God, show us clearly today how we have been giving You leftovers instead of our very best, fresh self. Convict us of this, Lord, and make today a new day for us in every way! A brand new beginning where we see our relationship with You and our life as a Christ-follower in the light You intended for us to see it in. This is not a right but a privilege, and it takes intentional work and devotion on our part. Help us, Lord, as we cannot do this on our own. In Your Son’s amazing name we pray, Amen. <3 

Your Assignment: 

So . . . where in your life have you been serving leftovers to God? Share with us here today; let us lift you to the Lord and encourage you to GIVE YOUR BEST for His glory!!!

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If you are interested in joining this amazing online Bible study for Crazy Love, click HERE to sign up. Once you are registered, you will receive an email with further details.

If you would like to email a private message to Megan in regards to this blog, please email her at: megan@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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