March 2013 - Good Morning Girls

WhitneyD March 31, 2013

Week 2 ~ {Luke 10} From Easter Sunday Worshippers to Monday Missionaries…. GO!

I don’t know about you, but there is definitely a residual spiritual “high” going on in this house and heart following our full-on Easter Sunday celebration today. As the day falls into (late!) evening, I still find myself humming the powerful resurrection hymns that we bellowed out in church this morning, and my smile gets bigger each time I think about one of my children answering the Pastor’s traditional announcement: “He is risen!”, with their sweet (and louder than everyone around us!) response: “He is risen indeed!!”

It’s a good day for Jesus followers. Death has been defeated! Christ has won! HE’s ALIVE!!

But tomorrow’s Monday, and you know what that means.

Real life starts up once again, and the world steps up it’s challenges for the day. There are hectic jobs to go to and children to feed, and you’d better believe that Satan is on the prowl, making every effort to knock us down a post-Easter notch or two.

But in {Luke 10}, Jesus says GO. Will we hide? Or will we go? Today and every day, the choice is up to us.

Because of Jesus, everything has changed… WE are changed! Let’s not celebrate to the fullest on Easter Sunday, only to forget how to LIVE and LEAD like Jesus on Monday.

Let’s be Easter worshippers on Sunday, who become missionaries for Jesus on Monday…

{If you are unable to view this video, click here.}

{Week 2} Challenge: Choose ONE way to show Jesus’ love in action to a “neighbor” around you this week. Need help getting started? What about taking a freshly baked loaf of bread to a neighbor or co-worker (how about with an encouraging Bible verse attached!)? You could ”pay it forward” to a stranger in a restaurant, or help a single mom or a widow in need. Maybe you have a difficult family member who needs reached out to in love. Get creative!

“‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor

to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’

The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

~ Luke 10:36-37

What other ways can you show God’s LOVE to someone this week?

Please share your ideas in the comment section below!!

At His feet,

{Week 2} Reading Plan:

{Week 2} Memory Verse:

Filed Under: Luke 17 Comments

Jen Thorn March 29, 2013

Carry Your Cross

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Have you ever hidden from your children in order to get some peace and quiet, read a few more pages in your book, or check your email or facebook on your phone? I don’t know about you, but I can go to great lengths to maintain my selfish desires, agendas and plans. I’ve hidden in bathrooms, bedrooms, under covers, behind doors, the garage, and even pressed myself up against the wall in the laundry room hoping that I would not be found. Being found would mean answering one more question, getting out one more snack, refereeing one more argument, or changing one more diaper. Worse than that, I have had spiritual temper tantrums and pity parties towards God when my plans don’t work out the way I had wanted them to.
In chapter 9 of Luke we find some hard words from Jesus about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It involves selflessness, suffering, and following the example of Jesus.

1. Self Denial

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself …”
This is a call to laying down all parts of our lives for Jesus and others.

“Self-denial consists in the voluntary renunciation of everything which is inconsistent with the glory of God and the highest good of our fellow men.” Gardiner Spring

This does not mean that we reject rest, pleasure, or comfort. We can still enjoy a good book or TV show. But it means mean that we are not first. Do you believe that? Can you say it? “I am not first.” Denying ourselves means we put God above everything good in our lives. But denying self also means serving others in whatever role God has placed us.

2. Carry the Cross

When Christ tells us that we need to pick up our cross and carry it he is referring to suffering. As aliens in this word and followers of Jesus we will suffer for our faith. On a higher level this may look like persecution and on a lower level this will be the difficulties of trying to live godly lives in a fallen world. We may experience the ridicule or mockery of others because of what we believe. We will certainly feel the pull of the flesh to follow sin instead of righteousness and we will have Satan trying to whisper lies to us to get us to turn away from Christ.

Believe it or not the carrying of our cross, the suffering that we endure in its various ways, are there to strengthen our faith, grow us in righteousness, make us trust God’s promises and purify our hearts. (James 1:2-4; Titus 2:14)

Your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine
love, and you are cheerfully to accept it. You are to take
up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not
to stand caviling at it. Jesus bids you submit your
shoulder to His easy yoke. Do not . . .
kick at it in petulance,
or trample on it in pride,
or fall under it in despair,
or run away from it in fear;
but take it up like a true follower of Jesus! - C. H. Spurgeon

3. Follow Me

Jesus does not want us to live life aimlessly, muddling our way through our trials and difficult circumstances. Instead he calls us to follow him. First, this is a call to faith and repentance. To deny our old master (sin) and to follow our new master (Christ). It is a call to salvation. But this call to follow Jesus does not end with us receiving new hearts and the forgiveness of sin. We must continue to follow Jesus as we strive to pour ourselves out for his glory and others’ good. It is an ongoing journey of love, kindness, patience, mercy and justice. We are called to walk in humility, to forgive others and to be a people of grace. The only way we can know how to live like this is by knowing the example of Jesus, and experiencing his power.

This life of self denial, suffering and following our Lord is not just for super saints. It is the calling for all who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb. There is no way that anyone can live like this on their own. God knew this and has promised the power, encouragement and help of the Holy Spirit. With such a Helper we will not fail.

So the next time you are tempted to hide from your children because they are being difficult or demanding that day, or you are tempted to complain about a request from your husband, or you simply want to do your own thing, remember that a true disciple denies herself, takes up her cross, and follows Jesus and she will find joy.

Looking To Jesus,
jen-sig

Filed Under: Living & Leading Like Jesus: Luke 9-16 21 Comments

Angela March 26, 2013

The Importance of Interruptions

( My oldest daughter’s favorite activity outside? Catching lizards!)

One of my favorite stories of the Bible is found in Luke 9 where Jesus feeds the 5,000. Because of that, I normally skip past Luke 9:10-11. It’s easy to do, at first glance. Those two verse only seem to be talking about Jesus getting away for a bit with His disciples….yet not being able to because a crowd of people find them. Nothing to note worthy……until you become a mom of little ones! Ahhh I love how Jesus shows us in scripture how he relates to us in our real lives…right here….right now.

Jesus completely understands the need to “just get away”…….away from all the demands, requests and needs that are never ending. In Luke 9:10 we see Jesus needing to get away for a little bit with his disciples….needing to not be so “needed“ at the moment. Aren’t we moms just like that too?! Moms of little ones call it “going to the bathroom”….and even then we aren’t alone because our kiddos are right outside the door talking to us, putting their fingers under the door and asking when they can have a snack.

I’d like to say I always respond in a pleasant tone to my children when they are sharing their requests, needs, wants…..and just about anything else for that matter. But then I would be lying, especially when the sharing involves bugs or lizards. I’m really not a fan of either.

In verse 11 Jesus gives us a beautiful example to follow. It says:

He welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

When Jesus’s “break time” was interrupted, how did he respond?

He Welcomed Them
Even though I’m sure He too was physically and emotionally tired, He welcomed the people none the less.

Hurting, needy people were never viewed as a nuisance but rather the reason why He came.

Though I am only human and get worn down at times, I never want my children to feel like they can’t come to me…..I want them to know they are always welcome in my presence just like we are always welcome in Jesus’s, …bugs, lizards and all.

He Spoke to Them
He spoke words that gave them hope…..hope of a better tomorrow. He had them shift their eyes and thoughts from their present situations and turn to the future and to the work He was doing in and amongst them.

Just spending time talking with someone is so valuable these days. Taking time to slow down and look someone in the eyes and really see them shows they matter to you. Jesus did this to the crowd that was forming.

The need to be seen and heard is great. Young children need the attention and so do elderly adults……this need is with us our whole lives.

My husband sees this need all the time in the ER where he works. Just the other day he had an elderly gentleman came in and was concerned about a recent fall he had had at this house. When my husband asked him how long ago this fall had taken place, the man replied, “Ohh about 3 months ago.” Surprised that the man didn’t come in sooner, my husband asked, “Well sir, why did you decide to come in today to be seen about your fall?” The man replied that he was a widow. His children lived out of state and all of his friends were either gone or to old to come and visit him. He was alone and lonely. He needed someone to talk to him. Someone to listen to him. And so that’s just what my husband did. He sat and listened to old World War II stories, heard a few new jokes and spoke to a man who was starved from lack of conversations. After the talk the man said, “Well doc, I feel much better now. Thanks so much for that….I feel like I can head back home now.”

We can never underestimate the power of sharing a conversation with someone…..we were made for community.

He Met Their Physical Needs
Not only did Jesus welcome them and speak to them, but he also met their physical needs. So many times we try to tell people about Jesus, when what we really should be doing is meeting their physical needs.

When Jesus healed those who were needing a healing, He showed them they mattered to Him.

Some days our little ones just need to be hugged on, kissed and reminded that they matter to us and to God. Aren’t we the same with our husbands? It feels good to be cuddled, to have someone look you in your eyes and say, “How was your day?” and really mean it. Jesus lived His life intentionally investing in others and I want to live my life the same way.

What are some special ways you are like Jesus in how you welcome, speak or meet the needs of your friends and family? I’d love to hear!

Love God Greatly!

Note: If you missed my video on Monday, here’s the link!

Tricia Goyer March 25, 2013

Jesus Takes You Places—and Teaches You How to Lead with Your HEART

Luke 9:10-20

It was without hesitation that the disciples first started following Jesus’ leadership. Something inside told them Jesus was going to take them places. There was something about Him that caused a spiritual fire to kindle within their hearts. The disciples were good Jewish men. They knew the Scriptures, but Jesus spoke and acted with authority like they’d never known . . . and now he was teaching them to do the same.

What about you?

“What person—living or dead—has most influenced your thinking, behavior, and path in life? Was it your mother? Your father? A coach? A teacher?” This is the first question my co-authors and I ask in our book, Lead Your Family Like Jesus.

“Any time you seek to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of people in their personal or professional lives, you take on the role of a leader.”

If you’re a mom, the truth is, you’re a leader. And in this leadership role you might feel like the disciples . . . lacking!

Jesus pointed out their lack of resources. Check out Luke 9:13: “But Jesus said, ‘You feed them.’ ’But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. ‘Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?’”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at what resources I have in my role as a mom, and they’ve come up painfully, painfully short.

Jesus took them out of their comfort zones and asked them to be leaders.

Jesus didn’t group the people up in lots of fifty himself; he had the disciples do it. They were the ones mingling with the crowds and directing them. Jesus also asked his disciples to pass around the bread and fish. He used their hands and feet to show them what being a leader was all about. Jesus knew that some day He wouldn’t be around. This was their training ground.

Moms, our home is our training ground. And raising kids is our race. And the most important part of leading our children is guiding them to their eternal home.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12:1-3, The Message)

Leading like Jesus as a parent is first a spiritual matter. It all starts with the HEART. As a leader of your family, are you focusing on what’s temporary—or on what will last?

Peter Drucker once said that nothing good ever happens by accident. If you want something good to happen, he advised, put some structure around it. Here are some practical ideas for reaching your family’s heart that my co-author Ken Blanchard shares from our book, Lead Your Family Like Jesus:

Birthday Blessings. On every family member’s birthday, we have a family gathering. As part of the celebration, we sit at the dining room table. One by one, each of us tells the person whose birthday it is what we really love and cherish about him or her. Our kids, Scott and Debbie, used to protest this tradition. But today they encourage their kids to take part in it, too.

Christmas Recital. Between dinner and dessert on Christmas Day, all our family and friends who are gathered share something special with everyone. They can sing a song, recite a poem, or tell us something important in their lives. This not only delights all those who are gathered, but it also makes the day memorable and meaningful.

Date Night. Margie’s brother, Tom, and his wife, Jill, try to schedule a date night every week, when they get a babysitter and have a night just for themselves. There is no focus on their work or kids—just on their relationship. What a wonderful way to cherish each other!

There is also a link to read the first chapter of Lead Your Family Like Jesus! Just click “Look Inside”!

When you follow Jesus He’ll guide you into leading your family in ways that will last!

- Tricia

Note: Looking for the giveaway of Tricia’s Leading Your Family Like Jesus book?? Click here.

Filed Under: Intentional Parenting, Living & Leading Like Jesus: Luke 9-16 Tagged With: Good Morning Girls, Leading your children, Living & Leading Like Jesus, Online Bible Study, Tricia Goyer 9 Comments

Angela March 25, 2013

Luke 9: Small Gifts, Full Bellies & a {Giveaway}

Hi and welcome to Good Morning Girls! We are so glad you’re joining us!

The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is one of my personal favorites. I love how God uses a boy in the midst of 5,000 men, to perform a miracle. Did you ever think about that before? The Bible records there were over 5,000 men (not to mention women and children) at this gathering….but none of the men offer Jesus anything except hungry bellies. Yet in John 6:1-15 we see it is the faith of a child, a boy, who offers all that he had to Jesus.

I love Jesus’s response to this small donation given in faith…He accepts it, takes it, uses it.

Jesus doesn’t laugh at the boy and his small offering. He doesn’t make the boy “clean himself up” before coming to Him and offering his food. Jesus doesn’t question the boy and ask him what qualifications he has in trying to meet this large need, nor does He criticize the boy and ask him if that is all he has. No, Jesus simply accepts the offer, gives thanks for it and begins using what was given to meet the needs that were before Him.

Have you noticed the miracle happens after Jesus gives thanks for the small meal….before the need is met? The 5 loaves and 2 fish couldn’t even come close to meeting the need of these people, yet Jesus gives thanks anyway.

You see, Jesus knows something many of us don’t…there is power in a thankful heart.

I love how the boy gave all that he could give and then left the miracle up to God.

What has God given you to help feed the body of Christ?

Is it talents, money, time or compassion?

Remember, you don’t have to fulfill the whole need…..just give your portion. Give what you already have. Jesus didn’t ask the boy for more food….Jesus used what the boy gave.

GMG is a lot like this story. All the women who make up this amazing ministry do so out of their love for God. We are ALL volunteers. Many of us are moms with children still at home. Our time is valuable to us. And I’m sure if you asked us, we don’t always feel like we have “a lot” of it to give….just “5 loaves and 2 fish”….but we give anyway. We lead our GMG groups with the “extra” time we have. We love on the 5-25 women in our groups. We encourage them, pray for them and help them get into God’s Word….each day. To us it might not seem like a lot, but I can testify to the fact that God is taking our gifts and multiplying them to reach thousands of women around the world!

I think of our translators, many of them are moms with small children at home, yet they have a passion for God’s Word and for their fellow sisters in their countries and so they sacrifice their evenings to translate our documents for us. Small gifts and sacrifices yet when placed in the hands of God, are used to “feed thousands.”

Let me encourage you today to be like this boy, to give Jesus the talents, the gifts, the time, the compassion that He has given you…..even if you don’t feel like its very much, give it to Him anyway and leave the miracle in His hands.

And remember, you don’t have to “it all together” before God can start using you.

We have generations behind us who are hungry for God’s Word and in desperate need for women to put their faith into action and live God’s truth out in flesh and blood, giving them something they can see and model. They need someone to lead them. Are you up for the challenge?

Week 1 Challenge:

Like the boy in Luke 9, what can you give to Jesus this week? It doesn’t have to be big….just a gift given in faith. Maybe its time spent with a hurting friend, a quick meal to a new mom, or a note of encouragement to a struggling child. Pray and ask God to help you see how you can help those in your life this week.

Week 1 Memory Verse:

Special Giveaway!

Our newest GMG contributor, Tricia Goyer, is giving away 5 copies of her new book: Lead Your Family Like Jesus to GMG readers! Woohoo! Thanks Tricia!

To enter to win 1 of 5 copies Tricia is giving away – leave a comment in the comment section.

For bonus entries share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and then leave an extra comment letting me know where you shared it!

This giveaway ends Sunday, March 31st at 11pm!

Tricia Goyer is Focus on the Family w/ her co-authors March 25 & 26 talking about LEAD YOUR FAMILY LIKE JESUS! Those days you can get a FREE copy of the book with any gift to FOF. The button for this special will be on the radio page those days. Here is the direct link: http://tinyurl.com/byaqq3q

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Living & Leading Like Jesus: Luke 9-16 Tagged With: Feeding 5 Thousand, Good Morning Girls, Jesus, Luke 9, Online Bible Study, Tricia Goyer 334 Comments