Advent Archives - Good Morning Girls

Jen Thorn December 21, 2012

Peace

Imagine being in a field, hanging out with some friends and out of nowhere an angel appears and begins to talk to you about the coming savior. If that weren’t crazy enough the angel is then joined by an army of angels that begin to sing a song of praise to God.

“Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

When I think of an army I think of war and yet the message of these heavenly beings is that of peace. A baby has been born who will bring peace. A prince has come into the world whose very name is Peace (Is. 9:6)

What is ironic is that this Christ child’s birth would bring about anything but peace in his own life. Herod would massacre possibly hundreds of children in an attempt to kill him. Mary and Joseph would have to flee in the middle of the night into a foreign country. As an adult Christ’s years of ministry so up-heaved the religious community that it would end in his arrest, torture, and execution. After his resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven his followers would be persecuted and killed for his name’s sake. And yet all of these things worked together for a peace that is far greater than any earthly peace we long for.

The peace Christ was born to secure for us is peace between God and humanity. Christ saves us from the punishment of our sin and reconciles us to our Maker. Christ saves us from the power of sin in our lives and gives us safety from their enslaving power. He offers us peace in the midst of dark days and difficult circumstances assuring us of God’s good plan for us. The salvation of Jesus will, in the end, save us from the presence of sin and establish a kingdom and a new earth where Peace will sit on the throne having conquered and removed all evil and darkness.

But how do we live in the meantime? How do we live in a world where people are self centered, where marriages are falling apart left and right. How do we live when people take the lives of others without thought and where the name of our King is used as a curse instead of a blessing?

The answer is found in peace itself. We are not only the recipients of peace, but we are called to live lives of peace. We are told to let peace rules our lives (Col. 3:15) and the only way we can do that is to walk closely to its source. To get to know him as much as possible by reading, studying and meditating on the very words this Prince of Peace has given us. Only then will peace truly characterize us.

“Peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament. He took the initiative to establish peace with rebellious men, and He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives.” Jerry Bridges

So as you get ready to celebrate Christmas remember that this Christ whose birth we celebrate is our peace and therefore our safety. He is our safety from the curse, power and cruelty of sin.

Looking to Jesus,

Filed Under: Advent 12 Comments

WhitneyD December 18, 2012

Advent {Week 4} ~ Paralyzed or Purposed?

{So proud of her color choice… purple glitter!}

She’s four, funny and anything but fragile, and she’s my girlie who got a hearing aid last week. It’s been a long time comin’, and let me be the first to tell you that we’re all about as giddy as it gets.

Funny how hearing makes you realize just how much you’ve been missing…

Immediately after she wakes each morning, she begs me to put her hearing aid in. She knows the benefits already, and happily accepts that trying to hear on her own would be in vain. Now she turns to me the first time I call her name. She sings along instead of asking me to turn the music up over and over. She gasps with excitement at the breakfast table when her brother’s voice comes in loud and clear. We actually get through an entire book without her saying, “Huh?”. Thoroughly impressed, she stops me mid-sentence – several times throughout the day – just to say, “Mom, I…JUST… HEARD… THAT!” She doesn’t take one clear sound for granted, this sweet, spunky girl of mine.

She was born with a deficiency, but she’s not held back, because she’s connected to the source of help that she needs.

As we’ve dived into this new chapter in our lives, I’ve learned a whole lot about the amazing technology that accompanies such a tiny device. Tess’s hearing aid comes with two microphones: one placed to amplify noise in front of her, and one situated behind to pick up background noise. Because of technology and timing, these two microphones allow sound to be divided into different parts, separating background noise from speech. In mom terms (heh), what this means is that if Tess is facing and focused on the person who is talking to her, those sound waves hit her main microphone first, and the distracting background noise is essentially “turned off” so that she is able to clearly hear the speaker’s voice. Pretty amazing stuff.

What had previously been paralyzed now has great purpose.

As we’ve mourned and wept for the families affected by the Connecticut tragedy these last few days, it could be easy to give into thoughts that leave us feeling paralyzed. Paralyzed by the evil in this world. Paralyzed by overwhelming sadness for families we’ve never met. Paralyzed by fearing for the safety of our own children. Paralyzed by the unknown, and by our lack of control of what happens to us on this side of heaven.

Because sin entered the world, all of human race has a deficiency. But because of Jesus, praise God we don’t have to be held back, paralyzed by our sin any longer!

As I wake up each morning, I recognize my need to plug into the Source of Life - Jesus. I’ve experienced the benefits of knowing Him, and recognize that I am nothing without Him. He calls me by name, and I find comfort knowing that I am His child. I can sing songs of praise, knowing that my Redeemer lives. I’ve even caught myself stopping mid-sentence, overwhelmed by His love and the fact that “GOD… JUST… DID… THAT.” And just like my girl’s hearing aid, I’ve learned that when I’m pursuing and focused on Jesus, only then is the background noise of this world hushed, so that I can clearly hear the voice of my Savior.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have PEACE.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

~ John 16:33

What had previously been paralyzed now has great purpose. Because of the hope we have in Jesus, we are free to be messengers of PEACE to a hurting world.

Paralyzed or purposed? Which will you choose today?

At His Feet,

^“And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

~ Philippians 4:7

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Women around the world are IN THE WORD!

Every Wednesday we will have a link-up. If you are a blogger we invite you to link-up any blog posts that you have written about your quiet time that week. We ask that you put our button in the post or on your sidebar so we can find each other. We do not have code for this link up button. Just right click and save as. Then link it to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

Filed Under: Advent, Women In The Word Wednesdays 13 Comments

WhitneyD December 17, 2012

Advent {Week 4} ~ PEACE

Welcome to the fourth and final week of our Advent study… where we’ll focus on Peace! In case you didn’t know (haha), it’s officially the last week before Christmas. People everywhere will be hustling to wrap up their last minute holiday preparations, while trying to maintain some sort of sanity. Is peace possible in the midst of limited time and last-minute to-do lists?

You bet it is {… sigh of relief!}.

Finding peace through what the world has to offer is inconsistent and far too dependent on our changing and unstable circumstances. But internal peace – that peace that comes from knowing Jesus – is lasting. It’s the real deal. It’s steady even on busy and imperfect days. It gives hope to seemingly hopeless situations. It settles our hearts in the midst of chaos. It trumps any external peace that we may be seeking, because it fixes our eyes not on what is temporary, but on what is to come.

You and I have a choice of what we allow to rule in our hearts this week…

{If you cannot see this video, you can view it here.}

{Weekly Challenge}: How can you be a “Messenger of Peace” this Christmas season? Chose one intentional way to follow through with this, and ask someone close to you to keep you accountable.

At His feet,

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**Knowing that I had a full weekend planned with extended family, I took advantage of some free time and recorded this week’s video last Thursday afternoon. Little did I know that the nation would be mourning that very next day upon hearing the news of the tragedy in Connecticut. We at Good Morning Girls continue to pray for God’s peace to comfort the families and all who have been affected by this devastating event.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33

Recommended reading in response to the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy:

“How Does Jesus Come to Newtown?” ~ John Piper

“Guard Their Hearts…” ~ Sally Clarkson

Filed Under: Advent, Videos 3 Comments

Angela December 16, 2012

Join us in changing a nation…every dollar counts!

Lately I’ve been praying big…..dreaming big…..and putting myself out there.

You see I DO NOT LIKE to ask for money.

I hate it.

It gets me nervous and squirmish……..and I can think of a thousand other things I’d rather do than ask someone to give…..

But then I see their faces and hear of their need.

I think of the mothers as I give my children their baths at night.

I think of them as I give my girls clean water to drink at lunch and dinner time.

I think of them as I remind my daughters to turn off their running water as they brush their teeth…because their need is constantly on my mind.

Their unfortunate circumstance reminds me to be more appreciative of mine.

Water.

In the physical and spiritual sense it’s the difference between life and death.

Physical water gives life just like the “Living Water” gives life, salvation….hope.

And so this is where you find me. Asking for those who do not have a voice. Being the voice of the silent ones, who live in a country none of us may ever visit….but does that even matter?

I read in Matthew 25: 35 to give to those who are thirsty and because of their desperate need, their desperate thirst, I’m willing to go out of my comfort zone……….and ask, how many moms, how many children, how many families can you help this Christmas?

Our Christmas challenge has been to give the gift of water…….1 dollar gives the gift of water for 1 year for 1 individual. How many lives can you impact?

Today I was contacted by a VERY generous Good Morning Girl leader and her husband who have agreed to MATCH the remaining money we need to raise to reach our goal of 10,000!!! So far we have raised $6,700…..we have 10 more days to go…..WE CAN DO THIS!!!

In light of Friday’s tragedy, I’ve been thinking a lot about overcoming……and I’m reminded of Romans 12:21.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

When we put others before ourselves. Their needs before our wants…….we love those we have never met…….we become Jesus’s hands and feet and we love well… we love like Jesus. And when we love like Jesus, we are able to overcome evil with good.

Please join me in praying what involvement you are being called to take in helping us provide clean water to the children, the mothers, the families of Liberia by overcoming the heartbreak that has taken place with the good that God can do through us.

Just think if all 17,000 Good Morning Girls donated 1 dollar…..an entire NATION could be changed!

In the words of our generous GMG Leader and her husband…..“Let’s get this done!”

It’s your move!

Click here to donate!

Love God Greatly!

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How much does one well cost?

ONE dollar gives ONE Liberian clean water for ONE year. How many people can you help?
Purchase a water well for a community in Liberia for $3000. The average well serves 1000 people!
Purchase a bio-sand water filter for one family in rural Liberia for $102. You can give an entire family clean water!

How Can You Get Involved?

Add The Last Well to your Christmas list.
Talk with your family about The Last Well and give a family gift.
Give up a Christmas gift(s) and instead donate the money to The Last Well.
Invite your children to give up a Christmas gift(s) and donate the money to The Last Well.
Have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” party with your friends and their kids. (I talk about this idea in our Advent eBook on page 40) Instead of having children bring gifts to donate, have them donate the money online and learn more about the need for clean water in Liberia, building awareness of how other children live around the world.
Tell friends about THE LAST Well by sharing this graphic on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, informing more people of this wonderful organization and the great need of physical water and the “Living Water” in Liberia!
PRAY! Pray God will use us mightily in this nation for HIS GLORY!

Please join us as we strive to make a difference in our generation for Christ by serving one of the poorest countries in the world. Imagine what 17,000 Good Morning Girls could do by giving just $10 each. We could provide clean water and the Gospel to thousands of Liberians, saving lives now and changing eternal destinies as well.

Please join us this Christmas and help change a nation in the name of Jesus, one water well at a time!

To learn more about the Good Morning Girls Christmas Challenge and The Last Well, click here.

To learn more about having a Jesus Birthday party and including your kids in helping with the last well, click here.

Filed Under: Advent Tagged With: Gift of water, Giving, Jesus, Liberia 1 Comment

Jen Thorn December 14, 2012

Joy

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Joy is one of those godly character qualities that is elusive and therefore rare. To be able to have a deep rooted joy that is not shaken no matter what is going on around us seems almost impossible, and yet it’s something we all wish we possessed. At least this is true for me.
It is especially easy to lose our joy during this time of year when it should be overflowing. It is easy to get caught up in schedules, to do lists, financial strain, greed, stress, and general feelings of dissatisfaction during the Christmas season. These things turn our eyes away from the true joy found in that little child in Bethlehem.

Can you think of some things that kill your joy? For me it is worry, busyness and stress. In my children I see joy disappear when they have a complaining spirit. For others it may be comparison, fear or ungratefulness. Thankfully it is possible to rediscover joy that has been lost.

So, how do we rediscover true Christian joy?

We must pursue it. Our pursuit must be relentless because around every corner there is something that will try to steal our joy. Satan is never idle. While he cannot take away our salvation he sure can take away our joy and try to make us miserable Christian women.

“My quest for happiness is now nothing other than a quest for God. And He has been found in Jesus Christ.” John Piper

Joy is only found by God’s grace in his Son. If we do not pursue it in Jesus we will never find it. We find joy in him because through faith we are loved, accepted, forgiven, redeemed, and promised a future restoration. We find joy in Jesus (his name means, “the Lord saves”) because he saves us. This should mean everything to us because no matter what storms rage around us we know that our soul is safe in Jesus. We can be satisfied with what we have because we know that one day we will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5).

But this joy must also be protected. It is not natural. Pride, self pity, anger, discouragement–these things are natural. They always return to our hearts and though our joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) it can be lost through sin and unbelief.

If you feel that you are lacking joy pray. So as Christmas comes closer focus on what truly matters and pray with David that God would “restore the joy of my salvation…” (Psalm 51:12). Joy is truly a gift that must be received by faith and only God is the one who can fill our lives