Devotions for women

by Gini Crawford, MSW

Following are links and abstracts to a number of devotions I have written for women over the last few years. Most are written, but I have also recorded a number of audio devotions. The written are listed first, then the audio are listed.

Written devotions for women:

New Years resolutions that God endorses (12/26/2008)

This New Years devotion talks about what sort of New Years resolutions God would want you to make. It discusses a few of my personal resolutions and what I humorously learned from them. It compares physical vs spiritual resolutions and the advantages to both of them. It explains with an illustration that as Christians our true problems stem from an obstinate heart towards God (sin), not a lack of self-improvement. It ends with four detailed life applications to help you make New Years resolutions that promote godly living and change. New Years resolutions that God endorses.

The true spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit (11/29/2008)

This Christmas devotion talks about our need for the true Christmas Spirit, the Holy Spirit, in a humorous but informative way. It answers some questions that we all need to know to have the true Christmas Spirit fill our lives. These questions are: Who is the true Spirit of Christmas? And why does He live within us? How can we make Jesus the reason for everything in the season, and let Him fill our lives throughout the New Year? It discusses what it means for Jesus to step out of eternity and to be born so He could become one of us. It explains how the Spirit fills us and why we need to let Him. True spirit of Christmas.

Prayer and thanksgiving go together like a turkey and Thanksgiving (revised 10/23/2008)

This Thanksgiving devotion has as its theme Colossians 4:2 - this verse is explained in detail. This devotion talks about how and why to be devoted to God and devoted to prayer. It explains how prayer and thanksgiving go together. It clearly defines the Greek words for devote, watchful and thanksgiving. It shares how and why we can pray with thanksgiving, even in hard times. Philippians 4:6-7 is talked about. Thanksgiving

Life and death? (8/27/2008)

This devotion gives answers everyone needs to know about life and death. This devotion talks about the most important thing we need to know - how to have eternal life instead of eternal death and punishment. It gives the salvation message by explaining what eternal life is and where it comes from; and what death is and where it came from. It defines what belief means and what belief in Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible means. Life and death?.

Sacrifice - the cost of freedom (7/2/2008)

This devotion gives some true life examples of people sacrificing their lives for others freedom. It describes how important this type of sacrifice is and how few people are willing to do it. It also answers the question, why some people are willing to love and protect others at this level by comparing their sacrificial act to Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us. Sacrifice - the cost of freedom.

Mothers and fathers can be a godly influence on their children (5/10/2008)

This devotion teaches how mothers and fathers can be a godly influence on their children, and how they are their children's strongest influence. It discusses that children naturally want to be with and like their parents. It uses 11 humorous statements from kids about their mothers to show how families do influence each other. This devotion can be used for a baby shower. Mothers and fathers can be a godly influence on their children.

Where is God when I hurt? Or the silence of God! Part 2 (4/29/2008)

This devotion answers the question "Where are you God when I hurt?" At length it outlines why we need to look at Jesus' suffering to understand why God allows suffering. It discusses the principle God is always with us, whether or not we feel or think He is. It describes how Jesus has experienced all the hurt, and pains we have had, so He can save us, comfort us and sympathize with us. It defines Jesus interceding for us right now as we suffer and it explains what sympathize and intercede means. Where is God when I hurt? Or the silence of God! Part 2.

Why does God allow us to suffer? Part 1 (3/17/2008)

This devotion talks about why God allows suffering. It clarifies how all God's decisions are made from an eternal perspective for our good and out of love for us, so that we can have Jesus' character in our lives. Through 1 Corinthians 13:12 it discusses that God knew we would struggle concerning why He allows suffering, and when we reach eternity we will understand fully. It describes that God did not create us for pain and suffering, but that sin brought suffering into this world. Why does God allow us to suffer? Part 1.

The love of God is described (2/13/2008)

This devotion describes God's love. It emphasizes that words of love need to be backed up with acts of love, or a person doesn't feel or think they are loved. It describes God's love as words that are lived out in His actions of love, especially His Son dying for us even though we were His enemies. It defines the Hebrew word for love hesed and the Greek word for love agape. It discusses the meaning of covenant from God's perspective. The love of God is described.

Agreeing with God about your sin (1/14/2008)

This devotion talks about the trend in America and in some churches, not to mention sin or deal with it. It explains why that is harmful (because sin is like a cancer). It clarifies why sin isn't the problem in a Christian's life because Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins. It discusses how important it is to acknowledge our sins and confess them, so we aren't resisting the Holy Spirit's voice. 1 John 1:5- 10 is discussed (what it means to agree with God about your sins, and what happens when you don't). It compares sin to a serial killer in our lives along with giving examples of consequences of sin from God's Word. Agreeing with God about our sin.

The Child born on Christmas is Mighty God and Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6) (12/11/2007)

This Christmas devotion talks about what it meant for Jesus (the God of the universe) to step out of eternity and to be born so He could become one of us. It does this by: explaining Philippians 2:6-8 in detail; by speculating what it meant for Jesus who is God to become an embryo, a fetus, helpless new born and so on. It explains at length what He did for us on this earth because He loves us. a Child will be born for us.

Eternal death is much scarier than Halloween (10/30/2007)

This Halloween devotion talks about death from all angles. It discusses where and why death came into being along with how to go from eternal death to eternal life. It explains death as separation not extinction, because we are eternal beings. It clarifies what spiritual death means in the framework of God and how to stop being dead to God. It discusses what happens to us after we die physically. It talks about heaven and hell. Eternal death vs Halloween.

God's love for us is seen in creation (9/15/2007)

This devotion talks about God's love for us is seen very clearly through His creation. It discusses how God created us very good and what that means. It explains how we are the pinnacle of God's creation and why He created everything for us to enjoy and to sustain us. It clarifies what it means to be in God's image. God's love in creation.

Human sacrifices vs the One True God’s sacrifice (7/16/2007)

This devotion takes a look at what God thinks about human sacrifices from His Word. Human sacrifices are looked at from the movie, Apocalypto by Mel Gibson. Why people would sacrifice other humans, is covered. Then human sacrifices are compared to the one and only needed sacrifice, God sacrificing His Son for us. It discusses how our sins are paid for and forgiven through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Human sacrifices vs God's sacrifice.

Prayer, the gift of love (2/14/2007)

This devotion talks about giving someone you love, the gift of prayer. Valentine's Day is talked about in the framework of love. It discusses one of God's favorite gifts (prayer) and then explains how to give it. Prayer, the gift of love.

 

Audio devotions for women:

The following are mp3 files which can be "streamed" by "clicking" on them. They can also be downloaded by "right clicking" on them and loaded onto your iPod^® or other mp3 player to be listened to later.

God is our loving Father (10/22/2007)is an audio devotion on Hosea 11 about God being our loving Father. It paints a vivid picture of how much God our Father loves us and how He intimately cares for us.  It describes how God hurts (as we would) when we turn away from Him. This audio devotion can be used for a baby shower (like it was) or a woman’s event that has "God is our Father" for a theme, or for personal edification. Read the written introduction first. Then you can listen to either the full version or the mini version. (to continue go to: God is our loving Father)

written background

full audio (17 min)

mini audio (8.5 min)

	God loves you and me This Bible study for women has a series of audio devotions that go along with it. Though I would encourage you to take the time to do the whole study, feel free to listen to the free audio devotions separately too. Following are the devotions that are available so far. Others will be added over the next few months: God loves you and me
	Lesson 0 - God created us to love us		no written	full audio (18 min)	mini audio (6 min)
	Lesson 1 - God's love in creation		Lesson 1 written	full audio (27 min)	mini audio (6 min)
	Lesson 2 - God's love and our sin		Lesson 2 written	full audio (24 min)	mini audio (7 min)
	Lesson 3 - God's love and the death of Jesus Christ		Lesson 3 written	full audio (34 min)	mini audio (7 min)
	Lesson 4 - God's love and the Holy Spirit		Lesson 4 written	full audio (36 min)	mini audio (6 min)
	Lesson 5 - Jesus Christ shows us God's love		Lesson 5 written	full audio (34 min)	mini audio (7 min)
	Lesson 6 - God is our loving Father		Lesson 6 written	full audio (30 min)	mini audio (13 min)
	Lesson 7 - God's love will never end		Lesson 7 written	full audio (35 min)	mini audio (8 min)