How do I know when God is speaking to me?
Listen to today’s podcast Episode #70 and uncover how to discern God’s direction in your life so you can live the truth and make a difference.
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Godly Girl Power
For the battle you face today, brave heart, God’s strength is sufficient. His perfect love is a powerful force. His all-surpassing mighty power is much greater than worldly power.
Allow God to guard you by letting him guide you. His unfailing love will see you through.
Women make the greatest difference in this world when they experience God’s unconditional love and live confidently, fulfilling God’s purpose for their life. This is not easy. In a world that teaches us to depend on sources other than God, it’s easy to become co-dependent and lose our identity.
I know this—I’ve been there. This is what I’ve learned in my journey of breaking free from co-dependency: to walk in our purpose, we need to plug into Godly girl power.
What Is Godly Girl Power?
Godly girl power is God’s all-surpassing power. This is different from worldly power.
- Worldly power is outward control dependent on other people and things and focuses on self.
- Godly girl power is the inner strength of a woman led confidently by God to walk in love and live for his glory no matter what circumstances she faces. Love is the most powerful force and that is what Godly Girl Power is all about.
Paul taught the Ephesians about God’s all-surpassing power:
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16)
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20).
Standing in God’s Strength
When faced with a battle, we can be tempted to put on the armor of the world, to fight with the world’s battle plans. We try to take the reins of life, fighting our way to take power the world provides to fix things. During past battles, we learned those old coping mechanisms for survival like manipulation, control, self-reliance, seeking power from people, people pleasing, performance, anger, and unforgiveness.
These are just some of the worldly ways we sought to find power from external sources when we felt powerless.
But now we belong to Jesus, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. He invites us to receive his power by standing in his mighty strength (1 Peter 2:18–25).
Sharing the gospel is our precious privilege but one that the enemy of our souls would love to shut down. If he can get us so wound up and worn out fighting our battles the world’s way, we may become so discouraged, distracted, and directionless that we stop sharing the Gospel altogether.
Christianity that requires courage instead of Christianity that demands comfort calls to us stand in the strength that only God can provide.
God Is Your Defender. You Are Not Powerless.
Which will you choose? Will you stand in God’s mighty power . . . or survive by trying to take worldly power? It’s such an important choice. You see, whatever source you see as your strength will control your life. God’s power is agape love—and his unconditional love is the most powerful force in the world.
Nourish Scripture: Acts 20:16-36
Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life.
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
Godly Girl Power
Hey there, Braveheart,
Yeah, that’s you! Happy 4th of July! Hope you are having a great start to your summer.
Starting next Monday, we will kick off a new series called Godly Girl Power. For the next ten weeks, we look at Paul’s words to the Church at Ephesus as we walk through Acts 20:16-26 and the book of Ephesians.
So, what is godly girl power?
Understanding Godly Girl Power
Godly girl power is God’s all-surpassing power. This is different from worldly power.
Worldly power is outward control dependent on other people and things and focuses on self. Godly girl power is the inner strength of a woman led confidently by God to walk in love and live for his glory no matter what circumstances she faces. Love is the most powerful force, and that is what Godly Girl Power is all about.
Paul loved his church family in Ephesus. Under his care, he encouraged them to stand in God’s strength.
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Life can make you feel powerless sometimes when a battle is at hand. We can find all the strength we need by standing in the strength that ONLY God can provide!
So, grab a friend and get ready as we uncover God’s limitless strength in this 10-week Bible study on the book of Ephesians. In this study you will:
- Learn the difference between godly girl-power and worldly power.
- Discover how to plug into God’s limitless source of strength.
- Study the entire book of Ephesians using the Nourish Bible Study Method.
- Be inspired to live the truth with our weekly podcast audio messages on iTunes.
- Gain encouragement for your journey with our resources on our Facebook Page including our weekly video message.
Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and like our Facebook page to get ready for a great journey.
We start next Monday! Have a great Fourth of July!
ONWARD!
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
Making a Difference
Hey, brave heart, I love that you will jump into the unfamiliar. I love that you are bold. I love that you dare to do what I am asking you to do. I love your passion to pioneer. (Isaiah 42:16)
So be free to become the beautiful you I have created. (Ephesians 2:10) 
Let go of what others say and find freedom to walk in your authentic identity in Christ by allowing my Words to frame your soul. (Galatians 1:10) Let go of every other hand you are holding so you can grab tightly onto mine. (Proverbs 29:25)
I am looking for someone whose heart is fully committed to me and not afraid to walk differently by following me completely. Walking outside the world-defined box takes you beyond what is temporary into living for eternal treasures. (2 Corinthians 4:14–18)
My presence and my purpose for you do not promise the absence of adversity; rather, they provide the assurance that you will never face adversity alone. (Hebrews 13:5) With me, you have a love that will never let you go. (Romans 8:38–39)
The Pioneering Spirit inside You
You see, I need someone to be first. (Isaiah 42:16) Yes, I am looking for the pioneering spirit inside you that says, I will not settle for what has always been. I want to uncover what can be. I need you to be the first in your family to walk a different way. (1 Peter 1:18–19) I see the generations beyond you who can be blessed. Indeed, my child, I have created you for this time appointed under heaven to leave blessings in your wake as you live for me.
When I formed the world, I did not rest until I’d made a woman, because she was needed to complete my plan. Today I still work to release the God-given potential within women, because they are an important part in a great story written for my glory.
So don’t be afraid to jump out of the boat. I created you to be brave! You’ll leave ripples of eternal blessings when you walk in courage, trusting in me. Fear is something you learned. Love is what you are wired for, and you’ll walk in love when you follow me because I am love.
My dear daughter, if I am for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31) My perfect love can cast that fear right out of you. (1 John 4:18) Nothing can separate you from my love—and my love is enough.
So walk in that security. If worry walks through the front door, push it back out by casting all your cares on me and trusting me with your whole heart. (1 Peter 5:7) And if waves of adversity steal your focus, get your eyes right back on me. (Matthew 14:30; Hebrews 12:1–2) Find a promise in my Word and cling to it with all your might. (Mark 4:20)
Yes, brave heart, flex your faith muscle. Walk differently by living fully for Christ. You are bold, beautiful, and brave.
Making a Difference by Doing God’s Will
Jesus said, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” (John 4:34, NLT, emphasis mine).
God’s will for us is revealed through his Word. As we respond to the Word and walk out God’s will for our lives in faith, the nourishment we receive will flow to others and we will become more and more the women God created us to be.
Nourish Scripture: Joshua 1
Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life.
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
#69 On the Threshing Floor (Ruth 3-4)
Without vulnerability, there is no intimacy. However, religion often teaches us to hide from God.
Look into the story of Ruth in our iTunes podcast this week, Episode #69 and find freedom to come to God just as you are and take your relationship with God to a new level.
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Completing the Circle
The sky held onto the heavy golden sun for as long as it could. Slipping through the fingertips of the horizon, the globe of golden light retreated for the day but not without leaving a proper parting gift. Writing with of streams of orange and purple against the backdrop of wispy clouds the sun said a glorious goodbye and welcomed the bright moon to take its turn to captivate the sky.
Reveling in the Circle of Life
Sunrise. Sunset. Seasons in life. The circle of life.
She sat still and quiet on the mountain top and watched the sunset with great intention as tears fell on her face. Seasons in life. Sunset. Sunrise. The circle of life.
The cool mountain air settled in and she pulled her sweater close around her shoulders and wiped her tears. She felt the Lord’s presence so close and leaned into His heart with an honest prayer to her soulmate as her tears flowed. Her relationship with Jesus was authentic and vulnerable. Her deep love for him was simply an echo of his love and forgiveness towards her. Her journey through hurt, hope and then finally healing was beautiful but in this moment the Holy Spirit revealed it not yet a complete circle. She knew Jesus was asking her to comfort others with the same comfort He had given her.
Sunrise. Sunset. Seasons of life. The circle of life.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (emphasis mine)
The Women Who Followed Jesus
While Jesus was on the earth, a group of women followed him and ministered to his needs out of their own means (Matthew 27:55, Luke 8:1-3). These women transformed by the healing touch of Jesus, in turn, served Jesus out of their own means.
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:1-3 NIV)
Because you belong to Jesus, you have a great capacity to love. How has Jesus comforted you with his words? Complete the circle by sharing those words with others.
God’s Word is a seed that creates a harvest to nurture others. And in doing so, the cycle of God’s love continues to fall on the earth for his glory.
Nurture: to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone.
We were created to nurture, to serve and to lead others by leading them to Jesus. When we equip women to connect with Christ through His Word and ultimately allow him to nourish their hearts with truth, redefine their identity and the purpose for which they were created, they will experience the freedom, healing, and growth that only He can bring.
Nourish Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11
Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live.
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
#68 Why Relationships are Important- Discussion with My Nourish Together Group
What would I do without the women in my Nourish Together Circle? I don’t even want to go there.
Listen to today’s podcast (Episode #68) as we discuss the barriers women face in finding authentic community and the blessings of having a place where you are loved unconditionally and inspired to become all God has created you to be.
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Nourish Together
A pearl alone is a beautiful treasure. But when anchored with other treasures on a strong strand, the results are extraordinary. Similarly, when women are walking by faith in Christ and in fellowship with each other, we find strength to live as God intended.
Women anchored together in fellowship as they follow Christ find strength to flourish.
God never intended us to walk alone.
God never intended you to walk alone.
Opening Your Heart to Community
Opening your heart again to community after you have been hurt or betrayed takes a tremendous amount of courage. I know this by personal experience. I know how the fear of rejection can paralyze your heart. And I also know from experience that stepping back into a healthy biblical community one baby step at a time was a vital part of healing.
I have heard this so many times, and it is so true…. Community can be where we hurt – but it can also be the place we heal.
Healthy interdependent fellowship with other believers is foundational to our walk with Jesus.
God’s family is a gift to help you grow. Enrich your experience in God’s Word by inviting women to gather. Women are looking for community where they can find acceptance and encouragement to live their purpose. We are better together and when you build community, you change the world.
Joining Together Allows Us to Nourish Together
There is a strength that stems from a circle of women who stand together that is beautiful, quiet, and powerful. Each woman remaining true to her authentic God-given identity yet together in interdependence in a healthy community of love and truth brings a fullness to life and allows our gifts to flourish in greater measure.
Your study of God’s Word grows when you gather with other women. Lead a group. Build community. Change the world.
ONWARD!
Nourish Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Take the next step and download Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life.
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
