No Junk Allowed

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Seven‐year‐old Chris Krebs was born with cerebral palsy and was profoundly retarded. One day he and his father, Greg, sat in a hospital lounge waiting for Mrs. Krebs, who worked at the hospital. Another man, shabbily dressed and emanating a peculiar aroma, was also waiting there. He looked like a bum or derelict. Greg went to the nurses’ station and asked how much longer his wife would be. When he returned, he saw Chris sitting by the man. The man was sobbing, and Greg wondered what Chris had done to disturb him.
“I’m sorry if my son offended you,” Greg said.

The man replied, “Offended me? Your son is the only person who has hugged me in the last twenty years!” Greg later said, “I realized at that moment Chris had a more Christ-like love for this man than I did.”
Although disrespect for the disabled or less fortunate is characteristic of our culture, we know there is no “junk” in God’s value system. He loves every one of us the same. He sees our potential, and He uses each person to accomplish some part of His purpose. As His children, we’re called to look at everyone through the lens of His perfect love.

When we show compassion and respect to the people who cross our paths from day to day, we are also likely to treat our spouse the same way. It all begins with a spirit of loving‐kindness.

Just between us…

• Has anyone ever unexpectedly modeled Christ’s love to you?
• How can we encourage each other to see value and potential in everyone we meet?

Father, may we always be sensitive to the needs and value of other people. Help us to share Your love to them, no matter who they are. Amen.

From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.

In the Arms of Your Savior

by Sheri Rose Shepherd

Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28 

Watch this week's video on the image below.

I don’t know what you carry or who or what burdens you, but I do know your Daddy in heaven is lovingly waiting for you to give them to him.

Even after I became a Christian, I did not know how to process the problems and pain this life brings. Somehow, I thought that following Jesus would eliminate all my pain . So whenever I experienced emotions that did not feel good, I ignored them. I thought if I kept my feelings covered up, they would go away. I handled my heart the same way I did before I was a Christian. I put my life in fast-forward by setting more goals and filling my schedule with excessive busyness. I did this so I would not have to feel or deal with anything emotionally difficult.

In theory, that sounds like it might work, but in real life it causes emotional meltdowns. At one point of my life, I had buried so much of my emotional pain that every part of my body was hurting. I had panic attacks, crying spells, loss of memory, and chronic depression. When I had no more strength or desire to run any longer, I finally found freedom and powerful peace. I learned to run to God and cry out to my Daddy in heaven. I don’t know where your heart is at this moment, but I do know how to lead you to your Father in heaven, in whose presence healing begins and you can breathe again.

Let’s do the following three things today: 

1. Pray and ask God to show you the areas of your life that you are holding back from Him.
2. Write a list of the heavy things you carry and that you want to give over to your heavenly Father.
3. Be still after you do the above and allow Him to show you that He is the God of comfort, and is strong enough to carry anything that concerns his chosen child... you! 

God's Letter to You 

My child,

When you are too weak to run the race, allow me to carry you.

I know how tired you often become, running everywhere except to Me. If you want to win this endurance race, you must let go of living your life without Me to guide you. You’ll find that My grace will lighten your step, and My favor will follow you when you draw close to Me. No one can comfort you like I can. In those times when you will stumble and fall while you run to Me, I will pick you up. I will do this as many times as it takes, and I never grow tired of picking up, My beloved. Make it your daily passion to run to Me and with Me, and I will carry you over the finish line of your faith. Together we will win! 

Love
Your Heavenly Daddy 

For more about Sheri Rose's ministry, visit HisPrincess.com.

The Daily Readings for May 17, 2016

Proverbs 4:1-27
Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight; for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother's favorite, he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over. My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Matthew 11:7-15
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!

Morning Psalms

Psalm 5 Verba mea auribus
1   Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation.
2   Hearken to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I make my prayer to you.
3   In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you.
4   For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, and evil cannot dwell with you.
5   Braggarts cannot stand in your sight; you hate all those who work wickedness.
6   You destroy those who speak lies; the bloodthirsty and deceitful, O LORD, you abhor.
7   But as for me, through the greatness of your mercy I will go into your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
8   Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness, because of those who lie in wait for me; make your way straight before me.
9   For there is no truth in their mouth; there is destruction in their heart;
10   Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
11   Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall, because of their schemes.
12   Because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
13   But all who take refuge in you will be glad; they will sing out their joy for ever.
14   You will shelter them, so that those who love your Name may exult in you.
15   For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; you will defend them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 6 Domine, ne in furore
1   LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not punish me in your wrath.
2   Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are racked.
3   My spirit shakes with terror; how long, O LORD, how long?
4   Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me for your mercy's sake.
5   For in death no one remembers you; and who will give you thanks in the grave?
6   I grow weary because of my groaning; every night I drench my bed and flood my couch with tears.
7   My eyes are wasted with grief and worn away because of all my enemies.
8   Depart from me, all evildoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9   The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10   All my enemies shall be confounded and quake with fear; they shall turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 10 Ut quid, Domine?
1   Why do you stand so far off, O LORD, and hide yourself in time of trouble?
2   The wicked arrogantly persecute the poor, but they are trapped in the schemes they have devised.
3   The wicked boast of their heart's desire; the covetous curse and revile the LORD.
4   The wicked are so proud that they care not for God; their only thought is, "God does not matter."
5   Their ways are devious at all times; your judgments are far above out of their sight; they defy all their enemies.
6   They say in their heart, "I shall not be shaken; no harm shall happen to me ever."
7   Their mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression; under their tongue are mischief and wrong.
8   They lurk in ambush in public squares and in secret places they murder the innocent; they spy out the helpless.
9   They lie in wait, like a lion in a covert; they lie in wait to seize upon the lowly; they seize the lowly and drag them away in their net.
10   The innocent are broken and humbled before them; the helpless fall before their power.
11   They say in their heart, "God has forgotten; he hides his face; he will never notice."
12   Rise up, O LORD; lift up your hand, O God; do not forget the afflicted.
13   Why should the wicked revile God? why should they say in their heart, "You do not care"?
14   Surely, you behold trouble and misery; you see it and take it into your own hand.
15   The helpless commit themselves to you, for you are the helper of orphans.
16   Break the power of the wicked and evil; search out their wickedness until you find none.
17   The LORD is King for ever and ever; the ungodly shall perish from his land.
18   The LORD will hear the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their heart and your ears shall hear;
19   To give justice to the orphan and oppressed, so that mere mortals may strike terror no more.

Psalm 11 In Domino confido
1   In the LORD have I taken refuge; how then can you say to me, "Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
2   For see how the wicked bend the bow and fit their arrows to the string, to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
3   When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
4   The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven.
5   His eyes behold the inhabited world; his piercing eye weighs our worth.
6   The LORD weighs the righteous as well as the wicked, but those who delight in violence he abhors.
7   Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire and burning sulphur; a scorching wind shall be their lot.
8   For the LORD is righteous; he delights in righteous deeds; and the just shall see his face.

Forward Day by Day Meditation for Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Matthew 11:8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.

A relative of mine used to say, “Don’t go fishing in a tree. You’ll come up empty and annoy the squirrels.” Jesus says this same thing to people who had come to see John the Baptist. They had expectations about John, expectations that were not met. John was not a sweet, elegant preacher who never said anything that offended anyone.

We all bring our expectations to Jesus and our faith communities. Some of them are realistic, while others are the spiritual equivalent of fishing in a tree. When our expectations are not met, how many of us become angry, disappointed, and frustrated?

Can we expect our faith communities to strive to love God and each other? Yes. Can we expect them never to disappoint us? No. Can we expect our faith communities to engage in forgiveness? Yes. Can we demand forgiveness be easy and instantaneous? Probably not.

Have you ever “fished in a tree”? How might we modify our expectations to be more realistic?

Subscribe to Forward Day By Day 

 Join more than a half million readers worldwide who use Forward Day by Day as a resource for daily prayer and Bible study

His Princess Every Day - Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Devotionals for Women - Inspirational author and speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd imagines what a letter written from God to you would look like.

Walk in My Confidence  
I know the world whispers in your ear that what you possess defines who you are, and what you look like determines your worth. This is a lie, My love. The generations to come will never remember you for the things you accumulate or the efforts you placed in your appearance. In fact, the harder you strive to collect more things and to perfect your image, the more insecure you will be about who you are and why you are here. I am in you and you are in Me. I will give you all that you need. Now go and walk through your world in the confidence that I’ve uniquely equipped you with all you need to impact the lives of those around you forever!

Love,
Your King and your Confidence 

For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. - Proverbs 3:26 (NASB)

This devotional is written by Sheri Rose Shepherd. All content copyright Sheri Rose Shepherd 2015. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Visit HisPrincess.com for devotionals, books, videos, and more from Sheri Rose Shepherd.

Chocolate For Your Soul with Sheri Rose Shepherd - The Treasure Inside of You

by Sheri Rose Shepherd

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
— Ephesians 2:10

You are treasured and loved no matter how you feel about yourself. I want you to be sure of this, my sister princess: you are set apart, chosen by God to stand out for His glory. It is time for you to get comfortable in your royal wardrobe and embrace who you are in Christ. If you think about it, why should you waste your days trying to fit in with the world, and miss your chance to stand out and make a difference by the way you live and the way you love?

It’s time to become more concerned about your witness and your walk with God. Let Him help you finish the work you were sent here to do. Watch the video above and find the priceless gift God placed inside of you and live to give it away! 

God's Letter to You 

I believe if The Lord was going to write you a personal letter about battles this life brings it may read like this.... 

My treasure,

You are my masterpiece whether you believe it or not. I have been carving your character through trials and displaying my grace through your weakness without your awareness. But, now I am asking you to open your eyes and to say “Yes” to all the work I want to do through you. I am ready to appoint you as an ambassador of hope to the hurting and a comfort to those who feel cold inside.
I long to display my glory and marvelous plan for your life for all to see but I love you too much to give you more than your heart can handle. So I'm asking you to pray and ask me to help you get your heart into place that you are ready to receive and watch the wonderful work I will do in you and through you starting today, if you're willing. 

Love,
Your God of Creation


Treasure of Truth
A Potter does His greatest work when the clay is soft and ready to be molded into something beautiful.

Girlfriends in God - May 17, 2016

The Cracked Life
Part 2
Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth 

Jesus said, ‘My purpose is to give life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10, NLT). 

Friend to Friend

I have discovered some wonderful advantages to growing older. Honestly, I can get away with so much more than I could when I was younger – and I have to say that I love it!

Like many of you, I have paid some heavy life dues. I am enjoying a refreshing freedom in what I say and do - as long as I say and do it in love and with integrity before God.

I am flat-out amazed by the fact that people value my advice. They actually think I know what I am doing. Hilarious! I know!
But I am thrilled to share the lessons and God-truths I have learned along the way, and I am also free to occasionally respond with a hearty “I don’t have a clue what you should do.” No guilt. No shame. Just being real.

Yes, I have aches and pains that I really could do without, but that is why God made drugs and doctors to dispense those drugs. God has gifted doctors and counselors because He knew we would need them. We live in broken bodies and dwell in a broken world. We must deal with the consequences of our frail humanity until Jesus comes back and takes us to heaven where He gives us our perfect, pain-free bodies for all eternity. Yes! I cannot wait, but until that day, I know He wants my feet to hit the floor each morning, ready to face and delight in whatever He has for me to do.

One of my current personal life goals is to royally tick off Satan whenever I can. Some days, his feeble tactics make me laugh and I respond with, “Seriously, that’s is? That’s all you’ve got?” Other days, I am on my face before God asking for strength to withstand the demonic attacks of hell itself. Either way, I win. I have read the whole Book … and we win! No matter how bad it gets here and now, we win for all of eternity.

I can say with authority that you probably will live through that crisis you are convinced will be the death of you. What defines you today may very well seem ridiculous in ten years or even ten days.

Foolishness will hopefully give way to wisdom gained the hard way. I now give myself permission to do or not do things I once would have felt compelled to do simply because it was someone’s expectation … and not God’s plan.

My audience for this race of life has certainly changed over the years. I no longer give credence to those people who delight in leering at me through the fish bowl, waiting and watching for me to fall and fail so they can feel better about their own faults and failures.

Those people are not my audience. My audience is God Himself – and He is crazy about me, cheering me on every step of the way. You see, angels dance simply because I exist. I am God’s creation – and so are you.

Yes, there are moments when I desperately want to turn back the clock. But then, I come to my senses and realize that there are many years of my life that I really do not want to revisit, and there is so much of my life now that I love. My life is certainly not perfect. But girlfriend, perfection is for heaven – not earth.

We have choices to make with every passing season of life.

We can hang on to past accomplishments, using them as an excuse to sit and sour, or we can seek God, asking and expecting Him to use us up in His Kingdom work.

We can rise each day to dance with joy simply because we know Him and He knows us, or we can focus on what is wrong in our lives and be miserable.

We can sing at the top of our lungs that God is more than enough for whatever comes our way, or we can sing the blues.

We can choose to give Him praise – even when it seems like there is nothing for which to praise Him, or we can sit down and let fear trample us in the dust of Satan’s hissings.

We can grow old in body, mind and spirit, or we can serve Him with passion and purpose until we take our last breath.

Knowing God – loving God – serving God – sharing God will fuel a heart and a life that is forever young.

What about you? Are you living each day to the fullest? Jesus is all about living an abundant life in the here and now … no matter how young or old you are. Eternity began the moment you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Someone once said that life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take but by the moments that take our breath away. Let’s do this thing called life and let’s do it right – cracks and all! 

Let’s Pray

Father, I do not want to stop living the life of purpose You created me to live. I choose to ignore those who would tell me to give up. I stand against the enemy who seduces me to quit the race when the obstacles seem impossible to overcome. No! I turn to You, Lord! I depend on You! I celebrate You, God! Until You come, I am Yours, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. 

Now It’s Your Turn

If you could choose one word to describe your life journey so far, what would it be? Explain.

What one commitment do you need to make today in order to live the life of purpose God created you to live? 

More from the Girlfriends

God wants us all to live a life of purpose and power. It is Never Too Late to Be Great is Mary’s four-week study based on the lives of Samson and Delilah. Each lesson will help you learn how to hear and respond to the call of God, choose forgiveness over revenge, take charge of your wants, and surround yourself with great people. Are you ready to step out in faith and pursue the greatness God has in store for you?

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.

Seeking God? Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070

info@girlfriendsingod.com
http://www.girlfriendsingod.com

MATERIALISM

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Timothy 6:10 

Satan subtly promotes the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor are the most important things in life. While God created all things and is the source of all we have, He does not condone our allowing things and money to usurp His first place in our lives. The prosperity that He so freely gives us, and wants us to have, is indeed a blessing until it takes the place of God.

Materialism is thus the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor, are the most important things in life. Not to say, “There is no God,” but to say, “I don’t have any need for God!”

For Christians, materialism is much like the frog in a pan of water that is slowly being heated. He boils to death because he does not realize the danger quickly enough to jump out of the pot before it is too late.

A church leader from the country of Romania, which was once a communist-dominated land and is now free, commented, “In my experience, 95% of the believers who face the test of external persecution pass it, while 95% of those who face the test of prosperity fail it!”

Satan is ecstatic when he succeeds in luring us into this trap. This is the dark side to money and possessions that many Christians are either unaware of, or unwilling to face. As a result, the spiritual vitality of many has been sapped and the church as a whole has been weakened spiritually. Like fire, money is a good servant but a destructive master.

If the church is to survive this challenge, there is an urgent need to be aware of the true nature of materialism. Unfortunately, it has become such a vital part of our culture that Christians are often unaware of its control.

By the standard of the people around Jesus, many of today’s so called poor are very rich as well as almost all those in free societies. In Jesus’ day, a rich person was one who had more food than needed for the day and who had more than one set of clothing.

Are you a rich person? Go to www.globalrichlist.com 

RESPONSE: Today I will not be a frog in the boiling water. I will be alert to Satan’s attack on the materialism front.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for all the material blessings I have received from You. Help me to use them for Your glory and Your kingdom.

Verse of the Day - May 17, 2016

Romans 11:33 (NIV) [ Doxology ] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Read all of Romans 11