Day #6

Anyone have anything they would like to share about this day's devotion?

Day #5

This day inspired me to write a facebook post titled, "God is fun." I think it bears repeating here, so for those of you that read my facebook status that day, this may bore you... but God won't!
He created laughter, smiles, joy, parties, taste-buds and sex. Good times where his idea. He made everything we enjoy and gave us the capacity to do just that. He commanded his people to celebrate saying, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks" several times per year. So, we are made in his image. This aspect of who we are is very telling about who He is. God's word speaks of how He delights in us, how we are the apple of His eye, how there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents, and how He dances over us! Could it be that one reason he created pleasure was to help us 'get' how much he loves us? When the Bible speaks of God's joy... to my memory... it is always something to do with US!?! Such thoughts are so amazing to me! When experience pleasure today, may I remember that it is a gift from God and it tells me just what a fun God I love and serve.

See how this devotion is simply a springboard to where God can bring us?

Day #4

The Mighty One really has done great things for each of us! And, we each have our own ways of REJOICING in him. For many of you, it really is through SONG. Isn't it special when God puts songs in our hearts? I think that when we write them down and sing them back to him, it really DELIGHTS God. I think Mary's song blessed the heart of God... and so does yours! Anyone have a song rolling around in your head lately? I wrote one line down- Only He can take the pain and suffering and make it worth bearing. I am praying today that each of us would rejoice in Him. My favorite line of Mary's song is "He has filled the hungry with good things." I feel hungry, how about you? I am expecting good things because, I know He is in the business of FILLING the hungry with GOOD THINGS!
Favorite Quote from this day- "Nothing is more appropriate than getting excited when God does something in our lives!"
On last thought, praying scripture back to the Lord is powerful. Recently Susan and I were having some hang out time and it was special how the Lord brought Mary's song back to our hearts and we prayed it back to him over our church, asking Him to, for example "Do great things," "extend His mercy," and "Preform mighty deeds with His arm."

Day #3

Wow, Danielle said it in her comment on the "how do I???" post... it is so timely that I started this blog on what, for most of you, is day #3 of the study!!! This is one of my favorite days so far! Right here, tucked into the Christmas story, God gives a lesson on 'girl-friendship.' He knows that these kind of connections are so important to women! How tender, how thoughtful, how... God is it that when He sent Gabriel to tell Mary her life was about to be totally turned upside-down, that the unthinkable was about to happen... he provides for Mary's need to share this with... someone who will believe her, someone who will love her, someone who will understand her, someone someone who will rejoice with her, someone who will bear the difficulty with her... a girlfriend (Elizabeth). It brings tears to my eyes. God designed us woman, He made us in his own image... and part of that is that we are especially RELATIONAL. Girls, He knows our need for girl-friendship. It is an area of our lives that He cares deeply about. Let this passage of what transpired with Mary and Elizabeth be a testimony to that, and, if it is an area of your life where this is some particular lack... pray His word back to him! Like this, "Lord, I see that you know and care about my need for connections with other woman. It is clear to me in this story of how you gave Mary and Elizabeth to each other at such a pivotal time in their lives. God, I need that too! Would you do that for me?" We learned in the Believing God study that putting God's word and prayer together is POWERFUL, like putting two sticks of dynamite together!

Two other things from this day were really special for me-

1. V. 45 says, "Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord said to her will be accomplished." Girls, here is some major motivation to take God at his word! When He speaks to us, and we believe him... HE LOVES IT. He says that when we do that we are BLESSED. Is there anything you are believing God to do, though it seems impossible, though the only reason you are doing so is that it is what you thought you heard from the Lord? Well, God is pleased with you! I am believing God to do what he said, so this was like a little love pat from the Lord!
   
2. One of Beth's questions was, "Has God ever provided you someone to share your joy in the impossible, or understand the peculiar place you find yourself in?" I felt a little stunned as the memory came to me of the day I said good-bye to my little boy. Most of you probably know that I raised a son for one year and then had to say a forever goodbye. No, he didn't die (though, in ways, it was worse then that for me), he was adopted by another family. Letting him go was one of the painful things I can ever imagine experiencing. The memory came to me in response to this question is so serial for me, like slow motion. Someone had given me Beth Moore's book, "Feather's From My Nest." It must have been the day they came and got him. I got in the car and just drove. I found myself in a parking lot, sobbing my heart out. After my body was dried up, I continued to weep, but there were simply no more tears. I picked up the book next to me and read the entire thing. I couldn't believe it. Beth Moore had a son for several years, even adopted him, and then had to let him go to other parents. In that book, it was like she read my emotions. She was candid about that experience, and things she shared hit me... I felt understood, like someone out there 'got' me. The best way to describe it is, I felt comforted. So, how ironic is it that Beth Moore would ask this question, and my answer is, "yes, you!"
   

Introduction + Day #1 & #2

Introduction:
My heart just swells as I feel the conviction that, like we sang Monday, "He is more than enough for me." Beth penned it well in her poem, "Take all you want, take all you need, till soul is fed and spirit freed... Jesus Christ. He is all you need." I also relate with how, unlike her love for her husband, Beth wants other women to come to know and love her Jesus like she has. God was so wise and loving when He prompted me to do this devotion and told me I would not do it alone. What joy it brings my heart to know that you are on this journey with me, and Oh, I can just imagine how, if I were doing this alone, I would yearn for you.

I whole-heartedly agree with how Beth summed up the introduction saying, "WE WILL NEVER SPEND OUR TIME MORE VALUABLY THAN IN PURSUIT OF KNOWING JESUS CHRIST." Ladies, that is what we are doing!!! I am thrilled that God has brought us together for this purpose.

Day #1:
Prompted from the praying God's word section, I am fascinated by how God does things. The thought of God initiating pregnancy and announcing it in advance warms my heart and fills me with a sense of wonder and expectancy. I relate with Mary, as I feel God has giving me promises of amazing 'births' that are to come.

Day #2:

• V. 37- NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. I love that. That phrase has bombarded me since I read it here. It is something God seems to be pounding deep into me, something that He knows I need to know, that I know, that I know. And, conversely, I like to say... anything is possible with God.

• Prompted by her first journal question, I love that God comes to us and speaks to us on ORDINARY days!!! I think He wants to show up and talk to us a lot more than we ever realize. Sometimes, He shouts to get our attention, but with me, more often, He waits until I am receptive.
  

How do I???

Like me, you may be totally new to blogging. I think the way this will work ,is that I will post and you all can comment. I don't think you can create a new post, but I"m not 100% sure about that. I also don't know if you have to become an official 'follower' to comment? Anyone know? I think that by 'subscribing' you can get posts sent to your email, if that is something you would like. Or, you can just check in from time to time to see what's been happening. I intend to create a post for every 'day' of the devotion, even if it is simply, "Anything strike you on this day?" It won't matter if we are all on the same day or not, when you get to day 5, and something zings out at you, you can simply go to the 'Day 5' post and add to the conversation whatever is on your heart to say. Feel free to post your technical questions on this thread, and together we will get it all figured out. I don't see any need to create password protection to who can view and post on this blog, but if any of you would like that, I will be happy to get Jenn's help to do that.

We are online!

Greetings Lovely Ladies!

I am excited that we now have a place to come throughout the week to share and be blessed by what God is doing in each other's lives through this devotional experience. I can't wait to get into writing some of the things the Lord has highlighted for me. I want to encourage you to do the same. I really feel that the scripture, questions and commentary for each day are simply springboards for Jesus to take us where He wants us to go. Writing things out and telling others solidifies our learning, gives God glory and is a powerful way for God to use you to love on others! I am convinced that the things He does in our lives are not just for us! Every good work, every word He speaks, every truth that becomes even a little more real is meant to bless you AND others! I am praying for each one of you!

Dear God,

Please let your sweet presence be so close today. Draw us into your loving embrace. Speak tenderly to us, touching our souls with your soothing, strengthening, invigorating, comforting love. Let our hearts swell with love for you in return. You bring joy to our souls!

With a thankful heart,
Coreen

PS- when I blog, I am going to throw off my concern to word things perfectly and spell correctly. My goal... get my thoughts out! So, there you go.