Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 2 "Why Easter Matters"

This is the reading for Thurs, 4/10/14. It is from Colossians 1:21-23: This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you—nothing left that he could even chide you for; the only condition is that you fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you. This is the wonderful news that came to each of you and is now spreading all over the world. And I, Paul, have the joy of telling it to others.

S: Colossians 1:21-22
This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you—nothing left that he could even chide you for.

O: Once, when you weren't a believer in Christ, you walked in sin. But now that you are a believer, Christ has brought you into His fold as a friend. His death on the cross was His way of showing you how much He loves you and how your sins are wiped clean. You can come to the Lord with a clean slate, all your sins forgiven.

A: When I decided that I wanted Jesus as my savior I was given a "do over"! I got to start again! I could put my past behind me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

When I feel like I will never measure up, when I feel like I am not good enough, I have to remember that Jesus died for me so that my sins could be forgiven. All that came before has been wiped clean. I am a new creation! I'm not given a free pass to sin, but I do not have to hang onto the guilt or the pain of it. 

P: Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for me so that I can be forgiven of my sins. I need to remember that. I am never not good enough or not worthy enough. I am loved by You. Forgive whatever sinful nature is still within me. Help me to follow You completely. In Your Holy Name I ask this. Amen.
  


 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Wednesday Reading

Read: Philippians 3:15-21
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

S: Philippians 3:19-21
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

O: In this, Paul's letter to the church of Philippi, he is telling them that those who live "of the flesh" will be their own destruction. "Their god is their belly "..they fill themselves with all things unhealthy. They are ruled by their sinful nature. They live as they want, without regard to what God intended.

Those of us who keep ourselves in Christ and who obey God's word, He will help us to transform ourselves into beings that He created. No matter how out of shape we are or how broken we are, He can fix us. 

We need to do some of the work, however. We are told that if we do our part, then Jesus will help us with rest. If we look back earlier in Philippians, it says "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Philippians 2:13) We want to look good and feel good because we know it pleases Jesus. When we know we are doing it to glorify Jesus, then it becomes infinitely easier. 

A: As hubby and I embark on a healthier lifestyle, it will make it easier if we remember that we are not only doing it to keep ourselves healthy so we can enjoy a long life, but we are doing it for the glory of the Lord! Perhaps I should write the verse from above and put it on the fridge so we can remember always why we are doing it. 

P: Lord, we need to remember that when we are taking care of our bodies, we are not only doing it for ourselves but for Your glory! Remind us, oh Lord, that You gave us our bodies and we are to take care of it as You take care of us. Help us to remain steadfast in our quest to stay healthy. Help us to remember our bodies are not our own, but are Yours. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

Good Morning Girls End of Week 1 Philippians 3:12-14

Week 1  Friday 1/24/14

Read: Philippians 3:12-14
SOAP: Philippians 3:14

Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

S:  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

O: Isn't refreshing to hear someone actually admit they're not perfect?! Paul is reminding the Philippians that he is NOT perfect. BUT that he is perfect in the eyes of Jesus. He tells them that he had not done these things on his own, but with the grace of Jesus. He has forgotten what was his past. Remember, Paul was once a very important and influential Jew. (Acts 9: 1-6/ 10-16) He put all that behind him to do Jesus' work. 

And so he reminds us that in all that we do, it should be by the calling of Christ Jesus and that our prize awaits us in heaven. We are all made in God's image. None of us is perfect. And honestly, who would want to be? What would that leave us to accomplish? We would never change or grow. Anyone who claims to be perfect has some serious narcissistic issues. 

I work for a doctor. She is a perfectionist. Living up to her standards has turned my life into one long nightmare. Everything I do is wrong. She'll even correct my sentences and tell me how it SHOULD be said. One time a pharmacy called about a prescription refill for a patient. Her reply was that she gives enough refills until the next visit and that if the patient was out of refills that would imply that she made a mistake and that she doesn't make mistakes. Oh Lord. Nothing worse than a doctor with a God complex.

We are the way God made us. We are imperfect creatures. God knows we will mess up from time to time. All we can do is to try our best to be pleasing to God. After all, He is the only one who really matters.

A: I love to do photography. I think I'm pretty good at it. But then when I sit down and look at the images I made, I am critical of what I did. I can only see the imperfections in it. And I'm the same way when I look in the mirror. I see the gray hairs. I see sadness. I see how overweight I am. I see all the imperfections. Instead, I should be seeing the person that God made me to be. I am caring, kind, empathetic. Yes, I have a short fuse at times. I get easily irritated at things (especially when I am cycling with my Bipolar). I'm not perfect. I shouldn't expect to be. As a friend once told me, I am wonderfully and fearfully made in God's image. I need to find a balance. I need to accept me for me, faults and all. But like Paul, I am the first to admit that I am not perfect. I hope I never will be. I want to please God. That's all. I want my life to reflect my love for Christ. And so, I journey on... 

P: Father, we are reminded that You love us even with all our imperfections. You see us as Your creation. Let all that we do be in favor with You. And if it falls short, Father, let us remember to humble ourselves before You and ask for forgiveness. Amen.



 

Good Morning Girls, Intentionally Focused Week 3

From Tuesday, 2/4/14: Romans 12:1-2

S:  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

O:  I did a little reading up on this particular verse. I went to Bible.org for a good, solid explanation. Turns out, this one little paragraph has a lot to say! "This verse is one of the most important in the entire Bible and contains more key theological terms and truths for its size than perhaps any other verse of Scripture." Wow! Who knew.

So, let's see... Paul is telling the Romans that they are to present their bodies to God as an offering. This is where "the body is a temple" must come from. We are offering our entire selves to God. It is telling us what we should do. Time to put into action the things we have learned. 

Paul is also telling us not to conform to the ways of this world, but to the ways of God's kingdom. To really think about our actions. If we bend to God's way, then that is truly the right way. 

A: How to apply this to my life? First off, to take better care of myself both physically and mentally. To show God that I know how to take care of what He gave me. Secondly, to realize that I am important and to stop putting myself down all the time. God doesn't make mistakes, so why should I look at myself that way? Third, to always try to do the will of God. To do things as if I were doing them for Him.

P: Jesus, help me to be the person You designed me to be. Help me to look at myself the way You see me. Help me to see past all my faults and imperfections. I pray that I become the person You hoped and dreamed for me to be. Amen.

Good Morning Girls, Intentionally Focused Week 3

My dear friends, I am trying to play catch up with my bible studies. I am 3 weeks behind. So tonight I am going to make an effort to at least get a few days worth done. 

The reading from Week 3, Wednesday 2/5/14:

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

S: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


O: In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he reminds them to focus on what's good in their life. He tells them to not think of the bad things. He says to share the good things they think about with each other. That is how we encourage one another.

A: This is definitely something I apply in my life. I know when I am troubled or overwrought, I try to focus on beautiful things. I'll Google things like flowers, gardens, tea sets, whatever I can think of to soothe my mind. And that's what Paul is reminding us to do. Focus on the beautiful, the peaceful, whatever is honest and true. Don't think of the bad.

P: Father, I pray that in times of trouble, in times of stress and strife, You will help me to focus on all the beauty in the world around me. To take notice of the small things. Help me to share these things with others so that I can be an encouragement to them. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional on 2 Corinthians 10:1-5

 Today's reading is from 2 Corinthians 10:1-5.

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

S: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

O: What this passage is telling us is not give in to worldly desires and wants. We need to keep our eyes on God and what He wants of us. We are to forsake all our own earthly dreams to pursue the ones He has planned for us.

A: How we can apply this to our own lives? Ask God what He wants for you. It's hard to give up our own dreams and desires, but it is that sacrifice is what keeps us in obedience to God.

P: Father, I pray to you for guidance. To show me the way that You want me to travel and to guide me along that path. Help me to close out all worldly desires and wants of the flesh so that I may stay true to You and Your desires for me. Amen.