We have been speaking with women all over and my heart breaks as I hear stories of desperation and loneliness. Women, that from all appearances have everything going for them, are hurting so much on the inside. They yearn for friendship, support, love and hope. In the absence of those things they feel so lost and alone.
Well, today I want to tell you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Our heavenly Father not only understands exactly what you are going through, He wants you to know that He LOVES you and is right there beside you. HE will hold you up when you feel like you cannot stand in your own strength. Here is what HE says… Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All throughout scripture we can read about how God is with us, how He loves us and how He delights in us. He wants you to know just how special you are to Him. Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing!" Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. There are so many scriptures proclaiming God’s love for each and EVERY one of us. If you ever feel lonely or overwhelmed with the circumstances in your life, know that your heavenly Father is always there beside you and you can rest in His loving arms. Simply give it all to Him and pray He also brings people into your life that will encourage you, support you and love you… helping you to grow into ALL He is calling you to be for Him. I have said it before and I will say it again “GOD HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU!” and all you need to do is submit yourself to Him and seek out His Word in obedience, praying for doors to open or close according to His will for your life. This very ministry “Girls Just Want To Love God” was created because I felt the Lord’s calling on my life to minister to women. I see how God has brought ladies into my life that have encouraged me, loved me and been such a blessing to me. He has also in the same way, opened doors for me to encourage, love and bless others. It is my utmost desire that you know Jesus as your personal Savior and accept the unconditional friendship He offers each one of us. I also want you to know that all of us at Girl’s Ministries are here to offer you friendship, love, prayer and encouragement. You are not alone! Let us all try to encourage someone else today… If we follow what His Word says, we can change the world… Are you READY friend? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
0 Comments
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… John 3:16
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus paid such a price for my life and yours? All we need to do is choose to believe in him as our savior and we can have eternal life. It is something that is hard for us to fathom and when it made me think of a story I heard years ago, I thought I needed to share it with all of you… The Auction A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son was called to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood there with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day and was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart… he died instantly.” He told the man that his son spoke of him often and his love for art. The young man then held out his package… “I know this isn’t much and I am not really a great artist, but I know that your son would have wanted you to have it.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the painting. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift!” The father hung the portrait over his mantle and every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few weeks later and there was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the priceless paintings and the opportunity to purchase one for their own collections. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel and said, “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son, who will bid on this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings, skip this one!” But the auctioneer persisted… “Will someone bid on this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100? $200?” Another voice shouted angrily, “We didn’t come to see this painting… We came to see the Rembrandts and the Van Goghs. Get on with the real bids!” The auctioneer still continued… “The son! The son! Who will take the son?” Finally, they heard a voice from the way back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10! Let’s see the masters!” Again the auctioneer said “The bid is $10, won’t someone give $20?” The crowd was becoming angry, they did not want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded his gavel “Going once, twice, sold for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “ I am sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “Sorry, when I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal it until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned and whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the priceless paintings. The man who took the son gets EVERYTHING! ~ Unknown Author God gave His son 2,000+ years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is… “The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets EVERYTHING! Ponder this question my friends as you reread John 3:16. Will you take the Son? Have you ever had one of those days where it seemed like you were just a little off? There are so many ways I could put it: a french fry short of a happy meal... a day late, a dollar short... 2 planets short of a universe and oh, so many others. As funny as it sounds, the truth is, as I went about my day, I became more and more frustrated with everything that happened and upset about the things that did not.
It was not a horrible day, I just could not figure out why so many things were not coming together and why even my children were at odds with each other. Finally, I took a TIME OUT for me and went to my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. The second I did this, I was reminded that when I woke up, I was busy with one son headed to school and a sick son staying home, I had not taken time to commit my day to God and ask His blessings upon it. The verse "Pray without ceasing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 came to my mind as I was contemplating my hectic day and, after my TIME OUT, I became renewed and things were so much better for our entire family. I thank God for who He is and that He cares about my day and wants it to go well too. It is such a good feeling to be able to go to Him at any and all times and that He is ALWAYS there for me. He is there for you too. Go to Him now and commit your day to Him and I promise, it will go so much better! I found this poem and thought it fit beautifully into my life this day and is a great reminder for all of us! Blessings to you all! Time to Pray! I got up early one morning And rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish That I didn’t take time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me And heavier became each task. "Why doesn’t GOD help me?" I wondered He answered, "You didn’t ask." I wanted to see joy and beauty But the day toiled on, gray and bleak I wondered why GOD didn’t show me, He said, "But you didn’t even seek." I tried to come into GOD’s presence; I used all my keys on the lock. GOD gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn’t knock." I woke up early this morning, And paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish, That I had to take time to pray. Anonymous I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139:14
Have any of you ever seen an artistic masterpiece that is of great value and highly sought after? A Monet perhaps, or a Van Gogh? Well I tell you that there is an artist of even greater talent whose work is all around us and of priceless value. Just look at the ocean, the trees, the colors in a rainbow and everyone you know. Let's take a look around, even at ourselves... I don’t know about you, but when I look at myself through my own eyes, I see every flaw, but it sure feels good to know that God sees no flaws but every possibility and every plan He has created me for. In all of God's wonder, the thing that amazes me the most is that I am a purposeful and planned creation. He wants me and even created me to be exactly who I am. Truly, I am wonderfully made and you are too! We should praise Him for that just like our verse says. Do not ever doubt that you are wonderful! You were made to be wonderful and all that God made is good. In fact, in all of creation, there is not another person that looks just like you, laughs like you, cries like you, loves like you or sounds like you. No one has the same combination of likes and dislikes or talents and abilities as you, and the truth is... NO ONE EVER WILL! You are an ORIGINAL MASTERPIECE! Are you thanking God for all He created you to be by treating yourself as a priceless work of art? Keep this verse ready on your heart and mind and it will be so much easier to think this way Some years are definately better than others! We may struggle to get through a health crisis or the loss of someone close... We may struggle financially due to unexpected medical bills or the loss of a job... We may struggle with ourselves and the descisions we need to make on a day to day basis.
The truth is friend, WHATEVER you are struggling with, GOD IS RIGHT THERE BESIDE YOU! I stand in faith believing Psalm 9:9 ~ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. You too can claim this verse in times of trouble as He is our refuge and longs to help us if we only seek Him! This very ministry came about as I struggled with a debilitating illness after the birth of my son. I went from being a very active individual, teaching aerobics, weight training and riding bicycles to a hospital bed and then a wheelchair for quite some time. This was my second bout with Spastic Quadrepledgia as it had happened just over 8 years earlier with the birth of my first child. Through this struggle, I knew that this time my attitude needed to stay positive and that it truly is the JOY of the Lord that is my strength. As I started speaking to others, I was amazed at how His Joy opened up so many opportunities for me to encourage and minister to them with confidence. It was at that time that I felt the Lord calling me to be not only an encourager , but a friend to those women around me. I started talking to friends and family and seeking God's direction for my life and His ministry and would stand firm (and you can too) on Proverbs 16:3~ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. I have and do commit this entire ministry to the Lord and have seen the blessings that He has given through it. I am so thankful to Him for all that He has done for me and how He gets me through each day. I am also so very thankful for the awesome family & friends He has brought into my life, (More about all of them in later blogs!) and for His calling upon this rather wacky kind of girl who loves Him so. Tell me... Are you struggling today and don't know what to do? Take His advice in the following verse from Philippians 4:8 ~ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. If you do this, you will start thinking differently about the things that are not going well in your life and discover ~ The joy of the LORD is your strength.~Nehemiah 8 : 10 NIV ~ Choose to walk in VICTORY friends! It is not always easy, but we can cheer each other on and lift each other up in prayer. “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)
How many of us are seeking love and acceptance today? I have heard and been singing this scripture for years, but never really took the time to listen to exactly what it was saying to me. As I read it, the first part always stands out and I know that God is with me and has saved me, but when I look at the statement "He will take great delight in you" I start to think of what that really means for me. I know that when I feel loved and accepted for who I am, it gives me great joy and contentment. To know that God delights in me is so amazing... I am not perfect, nor does He call me to be, but yet right here in this scripture, my heavenly Father tells me He delights in me and then goes on to say He will rejoice over me with singing! Oh what a wonderful feeling! Now, whether or not you have had parents who have embraced and encouraged you in your life, know that you too can take great comfort in the fact that your heavenly Father takes great delight in you and will rejoice over you with singing. We are ALWAYS LOVED, ALWAYS ACCEPTED and ALWAYS HIS BELOVED CHILD! Isn't God good?! I received this some years ago from my sister when I was going through a tough time in my life and it really made me look at the health issues that I was facing a bit differently. Now,if you are like me, (even though I prefer hot chocolate) you will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. Blessings to you today!
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her into the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and did the same. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see." 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked,'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you allow God to help you change the situation? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? The good news is, that no matter where you are today... We don't have to handle anything in our own power. God, in all of His glory will give us the strength we need to be the coffee bean. Follow Him Girls, HE KNOWS THE WAY! May we all be COFFEE! Tell me about some of the things that are happening in your life! Love ya friends! Being rather new to the blogging world, I thought I would start out with sharing a little bit about one of my favorite Bible verses... Jeremiah 29:11 reminds me that I don't need to worry about what I will do tomorrow, if I will have what I need or even if my family will be cared for. Nothing is left to the imagination as the verse states boldly and plainly "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Knowing and claiming this promise sure takes the pressure off because I DON'T need a plan of my own, I only need to be willing to follow God's leading, and through that obedience, I am assured prosperity and hope. At times I have tried to create my own future and gone my own way, but it never works out. Thankfully, when I come to my senses and choose the direction the Lord has for me, I get right back on track and things go much better. If things are NOT going so well for you today, why not let God take over the planning process? It is time to claim Jeremiah 29:11 and the prosperous future that God has in store for you! I am not saying it is always easy, I am saying GOD IS GOOD and faithful to His promises He gives His children.
|
AuthorJeaunetta lives in Watertown, WI. Archives
February 2018
Categories
All
|