Jana Spicka and Women Getting Real Ministries
Posts tagged God story
A Timely Word Aptly Spoken
Mar 16th
On a very soggy, groggy morning, my friend sent me this great devotion. It was exactly what I needed. But of course, God already knew that didn’t He? That is why He stirred her to act and why I am so blessed that she listened.
It reminded me of a story my friend Mary K. told last night. She was really sick and God prompted a friend to call her. And the friend did. Mary K. could hardly speak for holding back the tears as she told the class how much that one gesture of kindness, that one act of her friend responding to the Holy Spirit’s tug, reassured Mary K. that God knew how much she was suffering and He cared.
Remember God is always working for our good. Even if it hurts. Be encouraged today. And better yet, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to love on someone today, please do. It may make all the difference.
March 16th
“It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mindset will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help.
Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence.”
Philippians 4:13; Proverbs 17:22
“Jesus Calling” Devotions for every day of the year by Sarah Young.
Who Is Driving?
Mar 8th
You already know that the Lord is hilarious. And He speaks everywhere all the time. Well my God story this week is from a bathroom in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
We were making a pit stop on the way to our WGR Leadership Retreat and I saw an open Bible on the bookshelf next to the potty. So since I was just sitting there for a moment (ahem) I looked over to see where it was opened. Oh, surprise, surprise: Psalm 23, where most Bibles are marked in funeral homes and the like. But I sensed the Lord telling me to read Psalm 26 because I love that one. I quickly realized it was in the King James Version, and this familiar verse took on a whole new kick.
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Psalm 26: 2
When was the last time you prayed that? How much do we give the Lord permission to examine and prove us? I don’t know about you, but the term “try my reins and my heart” really grabbed my attention. Reins are what you use to direct, to lead, to guide, to stop or correct. Reins are how you drive a horse, a carriage, a life.
“Try my reins.” See if I willingly hand them over to You. Are they supple in Your hands from firm, loving use? Are they easy to hold from lots of hours of good following and obedience? Or are they stiff and unused? Have I been running wild without reins or direction?
What about my heart? Do I do the same for my heart? Willingly hand it over? Trust You to hold and lead? Is it soft and following, or hard and balking when You apply tender pressure? And honestly, what is the difference between my reins and my heart?
It is the difference between my will and my affection. It is one thing to say you follow God. It is another to love Him. It is one thing to “obey” out of fear, and quite another to “go with Him” out of pure adoration. Both the reins (or will) and the heart are what God is after. Wholeheartedly His.
Examine me, Lord. Test how I am living life with You. Gauge how I am allowing my life to be led. By You or by my own selfish ways. You are the God of my will. You take the reins. And hold my heart, Lord. Keep it warm, safe and soft in Your mighty right hand. Heal me and make me fully yours. Amen.
Listen for Your Love Story
Feb 12th
I am prepping for a retreat today. But I am really just looking for an excuse to have Laura Jones share her love story. It is a doozy. What I love about it is she was introduced to the notion of God giving her a new name and she ran with it. Or maybe she Ran To Him. So when He started with those “gentle whispers,” her heart was ready and oh so willing to believe and receive.
Be on the look out this weekend for your own love story. Where do you think Romance came from anyway? Jesus is the Lover of our souls. Enjoy! ~ Jana
Sparkle
by Laura Jones
“I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” ~ Revelation 2:17” (For more on God giving special names, read this.)
Okay, God’s gushing on me. I have a new pet name from Jesus! It’s “Sparkle.”
I was looking at my Christmas ornament Mom got me – a seashell with all kinds of glitter on it (because of the way God had spoken to me with the sea shells I found at the beach this summer).
“I love that my shell sparkles, Lord,” I smiled as I admired my shell.
“Like you.”
Then I remembered that my dress He provided for my birthday party (celebrating new beginnings) has sparkles all over it, too. I had asked Him for a gorgeous dress in a size 10 that was under $50. This one was $32! I was surprised at the time that I liked it.
I generally hate things that are too glitzy - I feel like they are fake, over the top, draw too much attention, are cheap looking. Aren’t lady like. Too out there. (Is this sounding familiar yet? Those are all the fears I have about being myself. Will I be too over the top, draw too much attention… do I have anything real worth paying attention to anyway?)
He’s telling me I sparkle. Really. And it’s okay.
“Sparkle. Is that my name? Is the word ‘sparkle’ even in the Bible?”
So I looked on Biblegateway.com. Get this:
“The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.” Zachariah 9:16
Isn’t it just like the Lord? I’ve known for a long time that “Laura” means “crown.” So where “Crown” is my name, “Sparkle” really is my pet name!
And get this: something can only sparkle in the presence of LIGHT (Him). AND the more facets there are (the more there are different sides of me), the more the sparkle. Isn’t God awesome!?
Stop Fighting Part II – by Guest Blogger, Beth Hungerford
Jan 21st
Jana is preparing for a marriage retreat. But she will be back on Monday with a special blog about Wrinkle Release!! Some of Jana’s recent posts are available here.
Enjoy this great story from Beth.
So you would think that after my encounter with the ocean waves I would have learned my lesson about fighting against the Lord. Apparently I am a really slow learner.
About a month later, I went to one of my favorite places to spend time with the Lord…a large rock that hangs out over the river. I have many conversations with Him while out there picking pieces and sometimes large chunks off of the rock.
This time I was working particularly hard at trying to get off a large piece that was just loose enough to make me think I could get it. I heard Him again telling me that I was still fighting.
“But I really want to get this piece off.”
“Stop fighting. You don’t have to work that hard. Just worry about the really loose ones.”
I wouldn’t listen. He kept gently repeating Himself and even told me exactly where to go on the rock but I still insisted on trying to get the pieces that just weren’t ready to come off.
I think He finally got tired of me not listening and insisting on fighting so He let me suffer the consequences.
I was looking down at a lot of small cuts and nicks on my hands from where the rock kept breaking off (instead of coming off in chunks like it usually did). The Lord said, “Those hurt didn’t they?”
“Yes,” I said as I went back to pulling on a large piece of stubborn rock.
Then He said, “You know, you’re only getting hurt when you’re fighting. Just stop fighting.”
“I will just as soon as I get this…”
Right at that moment it gave way or at least part of it did…my hand slipped and my finger got cut deep enough that I now have a scar.
Now fast forward about a week. I went back to the rock this time fully committed to working where the Lord told me and only pulling on the pieces He gave me permission to pull on. At one point He said “look where you are.” I looked down to see that I was stretched out as far as I could over the water and that’s when it clicked. I had been upset and angry about cutting my finger because I really was going to obey once I had gotten that piece off. But… had the Lord not stopped me and allowed me to continue while I was still fighting and not listening, I would have been in the river. He had protected me until I was ready to handle what He had for me.
Your God Stories: The Gift of a Name
Dec 11th
I love to tell women about how much God loves names. All through the Bible, He gives people names or changes their names. A new identity in Him. Abram to Abraham. Sari to Sarah. Jacob to Israel. Simon to Peter. Saul to Paul. In Revelation 2:17, God says, “I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Isaiah talks about it. Ezekiel talks about it. I mean, new names are everywhere. And better yet, He still does this. God has given each of us “a new name.” A pet name between Him and us. This new name is such a gift from Him. Affirmation of how He sees us.
So I frequently invite women to ask God to reveal their name. “Go ask Him to tell you what your name is. Look up your name meaning. Watch for Him to tell you again and again until you believe it.” Here are a couple of girls’ stories.
Jana,
So I went to the website that gave us our name meanings. They didn’t have my name listed. So I just gave up.
Well, God put it on my heart to look again somewhere else. He gave me its meaning: “Princess”!
That’s what he’s been calling me the last couple of months, but I wasn’t sure it was really from Him. I just thought that I would share that. 
God is good.
~Tia
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Jana ~
I’ve been meaning to email you since last class, but finally am making time to do it. I just wanted to share a couple things that have been going on with me. I left class last week angry (as you mentioned might happen)! I basically half-a$$ed the exercise, got in my car, and cried the entire way home. I came to the realization that I feel like I don’t have TIME to breakdown. I don’t have TIME to think about all this heavy, emotional stuff. I don’t have TIME to be so completely broken which then makes me feel like I need to fix everything, take time for myself, etc. So instead, I’ll turn my head and be fine =) Right? Because that’s way easier!
There’s so many things I want to share with you – my ‘journey’ on value, being be-loved, recently this notion of affirmation – and I’m aware they all are connected. And I get overwhelmed thinking I need to conquer all of them at the same time since they are all staring me in the face.
I was sharing last night in my small group how I’ve somewhat acknowledged the fact that I don’t want to ‘go there’ with the Lord. I get this picture of someone taking tiny, tiny baby steps towards the ledge – not really wanting to peer over and see what’s on the other side, knowing I could be cheating myself from the beauty and freedom of the view.
For whatever reason, I’ve been meaning to look up the meaning of my name. I know we’ve touched on that a couple times during class, so I finally did it this morning. Wouldn’t you know this is what I found:
Jamie
Meaning: truthful
Verse: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” – Proverbs 3:3
Which is obviously the same context of scripture we talked about last night! Ah, I thought that was cool =) I also saw another version where they used the words kindness, trust, and mercy interchangeably with love and faithfulness. What website did you use when you looked up our names?
I’m way past my 3-sentence mark =) but wanted to share. Even though sometimes I don’t want to admit it, I know the Lord is working on my heart ever so slowly – or maybe it’s just that I’m ever so slowly starting to turn to Him.