November 2010 - Page 2 of 3 - Good Morning Girls

Courtney November 18, 2010

Baby Jesus Is The Everlasting Father

Today I am continuing my study in one of my favorite verses for Christmas time, which is Isaiah 9:6 which says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I’ve already focused on the first two names that God calls baby Jesus – “Wonderful Counselor” and “Mighty God”. Today I am pondering His name “Everlasting Father.”

This is a verse that clearly points to the trinity – Jesus is the Everlasting Father! They are one! And then I think about the word “Everlasting” and how God never changes. We can experience his love for all time. Let that soak in. It’s hard for us to imagine because we live in a finite world. God the Son is not bound by time or space. In an ever changing world we can be totally secure in Christ – he is from everlasting and will continue on with us into eternity for forever!

My friend Aimee sent me an email yesterday morning. In it she was writing about how God is like our earthly father and it seemed appropriate to share as I am looking at Jesus being the “Everlasting Father.” Here is what she wrote:

”I was thinking today about the access we have to God — I compared it to my boys freely going to their daddy, running into his arms when he comes in from work, or crawling up on the couch with him to snuggle in his arms or on his chest, and the fact that he might be sleeping does not deter them; afterall he’s their daddy, why shouldn’t they crawl up into his arms even if it means waking him up. Now, I know that God never sleeps, but if someone else looked at a man sleeping, most would leave him alone — not a good time to approach him, but children, with their daddies, in their innocence, go to him on a whim. That is how God wants us to be with him; come to him, crawl up into his arms and bear our hearts to him, on a whim, anytime, all the time. That is humbling.”

Have you crawled up into the arms of your Everlasting Father yet today? He loves you – He desires to be close to you. Won’t you take the time today and allow him to talk to you through His word, listen – allow him to speak to your soul. He is always watching, He is always listening and He cares for you!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: God's Glory 3 Comments

Angela November 16, 2010

Women In The Word Wednesday

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”- John 4:42

I love the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. What Jesus teaches us in this story is that His living water is for everyone! Jesus didn’t care what others would think of Him for talking to this woman. Her salvation was much more important than others’ opinions of Him. This woman was physically thirsty, she was trying to meet her physical need the only way she knew how. Jesus reached out to her, meeting her in her life, in her situation and offered her His living water…..the only water that can quench the spiritual thirst that she was trying to physically meet. Aren’t we like that sometimes too. We try to meet a spiritual need with a physical replacement. A new outfit, new haircut, new furniture, new car, new house, new friends, new husband……the list can go on and on. It just doesn’t work. Jesus says that “whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again.” Jesus is offering us His living water today, it’s our job to accept the offer and drink it. How thirsty are you today?

If you are a blogger we invite you to blog about what you are learning in your walk with God and then link up below (this includes devotionals you have written). If you are not a blogger, we invite you to weekly share in the comments section what God is teaching you in his word.

Love God Greatly!

Filed Under: Women In The Word Wednesdays 1 Comment

Angela November 15, 2010

Being Intentional With Our Thoughts

Do any of you struggle with those nagging negative thoughts that always seem to be telling you what a failure you are, that you’re just not good enough and never will be? That you’re not smart enough, pretty enough, worthy enough, lovable enough…..that you’re just not enough. If you do, let me reassure you that you’re not alone. I’m right in the same boat with you! This week let’s focus on being intentional with what WE ALLOW our minds to think about. I love Philippians 4:8, I actually have this verse in my kitchen and look at it all the time to help remind me to focus on the excellent and praiseworthy thoughts instead of the negative ones.

What are you allowing into your mind? This week pay special attention to what you:

watch (TV or movies)
read (Internet, books, magazines)
listen (music, talk shows)

How do these sources of input affect your thoughts and actions? Paul tells us to be disciplined in what we feed our minds. Are you feeding your mind healthy thoughts or thoughts that are more like junk food for your brain?

We are told in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We need to be intentional with what we feed our minds. One question to ask yourself: “Does what I am watching, reading or listening to encourage me to be more like Christ or less like Him?”

When those negative thoughts begin to fill your mind and discourage you, remember who you are in Christ. You are:

God’s workmanship- Ephesians 2:10
Free forever from condemnation- Romans 8:1-2
Valuable to God- purchases with a price- You belong to God- 1 Cor 6:19-20
Established, anointed and sealed by God- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
A citizen of Heaven- Philippians 3:20
Redeemed and forgiven- Colossians 1:14
Free from any charge against you- Romans 8:33-34
most importantly……..You ARE A CHILD OF GOD!!! Ephesians 1:5

We must learn to submit our thoughts to God’s control, not our control and above all else make sure we are reading God’s Word!!! Filling our minds with HIS truth!!!

Challenge: This week let’s focus on being intentional with what WE ALLOW our minds to think about. Memorize Philippians 4:8 and pay attention to what you are feeding your mind this week. You may need to change your diet!

Until next time….

Love God Greatly!

Filed Under: Being Intentional

Courtney November 11, 2010

Worshipping Jesus As God

One of my favorite verses to reflect on at Christmas time is Isaiah 9:6 which says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Last Thursday, I focused on the first name that God calls baby Jesus – “Wonderful Counselor”. Today I am pondering the second name - “Mighty God”.

Jesus is the Mighty God! While Jesus was fully human he was not merely man. JI Packer says “The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man… The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.”

Though many photos show Jesus looking soft with flowing hair and a white robe – we know that he was actually a construction worker with callused hands and muscles on his frame. Many people have claimed to be speaking for God such as Buddha, Muhammad and Gandhi – but very few claim to BE God. Jesus was not killed for telling stories and healing people but for claiming to be God.

Matthew 1:23 says “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “God with us.” So who do you say that he is?

Our only appropriate response to Jesus is to worship him as God. If you saw Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of Christ” you were moved by the reality of Jesus’ humanity as you watched him be flogged and crucified. It was the portrayal of Jesus’ humanity while maintaining his deity that made this movie a box office hit.

Do not forget what this baby Jesus – the Mighty God – has done for you – and worship him during this holiday season. He is worthy!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: God's Glory 18 Comments

Courtney November 10, 2010

Women In The Word Wednesday

This past week, I read Yessel’s blog post about her Good Morning Girls. It so blessed me that I wanted to share it with all of you too.

Yessel says:
This group and of course the power of God has enabled me to wake up at 5 am every morning and spend time in God’s Word. I tried for so long to do it on my own and I failed over and over again. But, you know what? Accountability works! Knowing that there are other Christian girls–my best friends, true sisters in Christ–watching out for my daily e-mails is what has truly helped me get up from my cozy bed and learn about God.

I have a new found passion for God’s Word I never felt before, and I pray it never goes away! Reading the Bible on a daily basis has helped ignite my passion for Jesus Christ, something I have wanted back since I first accepted Him into my life. I am gaining a better understanding of who God is and how loving and gracious He is to us sinners! This is an amazing experience and I am so grateful for this opportunity!

God’s majesty, and love, and mercy, and grace, and omnipotence is so great, it is so humbling to know He wants a personal relationship with each one of us; He even calls us His children! Because we serve a God of order and power, I know this group is not a coincidence based on some random idea. It is in God’s plan for us and He placed the right people in it. He is in complete control and involvement in our lives and I am so honored to see it happening in this small group of young ladies who each have a heart that beats for Jesus. I’m just eager to see what God has in store for us next! Because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God is at work in your groups! Keep walking with the King!

Filed Under: Uncategorized 4 Comments

Baby Jesus Is The Everlasting Father

Women In The Word Wednesday

Being Intentional With Our Thoughts

Worshipping Jesus As God

Women In The Word Wednesday

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