Category Archives: DEVOTIONS

SUNDAY DEVOTIONS!

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For the past few years, I’ve had a devotional blog. But I’m taking a break from that for the time being. Instead, I’m going to add devotions to this blog–probably on Sundays but I might actually post them on Saturday sometimes. After all, we seem to have an extra minute or so on Saturdays. We’ll just have to see how it works out.  I hope you enjoy this one!

 

SEEKING GOOD!

1 Corinthians 10: 24

Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others.

Me! Me! Me! It’s all about me! We’ve become a self-absorbed society. I don’t think many of us could deny that fact, but our life shouldn’t just be about us and what we want!  The Bible tells us to seek good for others. Wow–what a novel concept!

As a writer, this verse convicts me. After all marketing our books and ourselves is as much a part of being a writer as writing stories. And in fact, I think I have an obligation to my publisher to do this as much as possible to the best of my ability. (Even if I don’t like it!)

So, how do we reconcile this Bible verse with the reality of marketing?

For me, it’s about giving back to the writing community that I’m a part of. I do that in a few different ways. First, I give other writers the opportunity to be a guest on my blog. When the opportunity comes up, I also share their information with my circle of  “friends.” I give advice when I think I can add something to the discussion along with encouragement.

In my “other” life, I have to admit I need to improve in this area. I’ve been struggling with serious health issues for more than two years. Believe me when I say there’s nothing like a serious illness to make us selfish. Notice I say us–I certainly include myself in that statement. And in truth, when a serious health issue arrives we do need to focus on ourselves.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t seek good for others as well.

So, with the above verse in mind, I’m issuing a challenge. Find a way this week to do good for someone else and expect nothing back–not even a thank you. Or better yet, do something good for someone anonymously! How about it? Are you up for the challenge?

Once you’ve done it, come back and share your act of goodness with my readers and myself in the comment section. I’ll share mine after I’ve done it as well! Have a blessed week!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

CELEBRATE LIFE–and Christmas!

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Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

There is nothing like a serious health crisis to teach us to number our days!  It started on April Fool’s Day (yes, God does have a sense of humor!) in 2012 and continues still. How it will end? Only God knows. It’s been a long journey for me as well as for my husband. It’s not been easy, but God has taught me much. And one of those nuggets of wisdom is to celebrate life!

Celebrate the big things but even more so the little things.

Celebrate other people’s accomplishments.

Celebrate the mundane, the unusual, and the downright silly.

Celebrate life—it is a gift from God!

For the past several years, we’ve cleared off our enclosed porch and filled it with Christmas cheer! And Christmas trees–lots of them!  It’s just for fun and just for us–no grandbabies around to enjoy it.  When I started experience side effects from my second (and hopefully last) brain tumor treatment much earlier than expected, we decided to forego the Christmas Porch this year.  Too much work and I didn’t feel well enough to help.

But I know my husband……we not only have our Christmas Porch up but we have TWELVE Christmas trees this year. We only had ten, but when I said I’d like to have the twelve days of CHRISTMAS trees, my hubby made it happen! So between now and Christmas, I’m going to share the twelve days of Christmas trees.

Each day, I’ll post a picture of that day’s Christmas tree.

Hope you enjoy them and remember no matter what circumstances you find yourself in–celebrate life! It is truly a gift!

At this time of the year, we have so much to celebrate–the birth of a babe in a lowly manger. A birth that changed the world! So, come celebrate with me as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

 

TREE NUMBER 1:

tree

 

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME….GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness

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My guest writer today is Janet K. Brown and she has a great surprise–a free devotional book!

Janet says, “I lost ninety-five pounds and have maintained the loss for seventeen years.” Brown wrote Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness from her journals and memories. This is one woman’s road for success by allowing God to take over the compulsion. “It’s all about God.” If you struggle with food and weight loss issues, this could be what you need to help you finally win the battle. Each page offers a Scripture, a short devotion, and a prayer for the day.  Here’s an example of one of the devotions:

July 10

 Oleanders and Weight Loss

 Psalm 42:4 Life Recovery Bible

“…..Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his help.”

God amazes and encourages us. In the midst of trials and turmoil, God sends small reminders that He knows our plight and feels our pain.

The brutal summer of 2011 in Texas, we vacationed for eleven days. The sprinkler system failed. Our lawn received no water during that time. My gardener husband grieved. He poured water, but the brown grass, withering flowers, and trees prematurely losing their leaves mocked his every effort.

We prayed. Remember, God cares about the little things that trouble us. We prayed for our yard.

Two days later, an oleander bush planted on the west (hottest) side of the house broke into profuse blooms. It was like a rainbow after the storm for my husband. God encouraged him. We knew God cared.

In the beginning, we may lose weight every week. Over time, the loss slows. Sometimes, we gain. Many times, we fall from the boat, and then God sends a raft.

Once, despondency nagged my mind more than usual. If you’ve struggled with dieting and losing weight, you know how it is. I ate well for six weeks with no loss. Then, I prayed,

“I can’t change anything about my body. I’m a weak vessel tossed by frustration. Search my mind for evidence of resentment or envy. Examine my body for lack of sleep or proper nourishment. Heal the anger welling in my mind.”

God’s silence was deafening. I set out a fleece.

“I need to see a dip in the scale tomorrow to let me know You’re there.”

The next day I dropped four pounds.

A lady in our church is known for one particular song. Many times, we request “He’ll do it again.”

Prayer: We need Your encouragement today and again tomorrow.

Amazon is offering Divine Dining for free during the dates of Nov. 12-16. Here’s the link:
I’ll be first in line to order my copy!!  I hope you do as well.
UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

An Attitude of Gratitude

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1st Thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Oh yeah, right? Easier said than done.  God expects me to be grateful for the misfortunes, the tragedies,  the hurts?  For me personally, I’m supposed to be thankful for my brain tumors, the complications, the pain?

 

That’s a little hard to do. God doesn’t really expect me to do that, does He?

Mmm, but the above verse does say give thanks in all circumstances?

To answer the question, no I don’t think God expects me to be happy I have brain tumors, but I think He doesn’t expect me to forget all the blessings He has done for me in the past, is doing for me in the present, and will do for me in the future.

Little words can make a huge difference in meanings. Notice the verse doesn’t say give thanks FOR all circumstances, but rather IN all circumstances. And I think that’s what God wants.

When we focus on the negatives in our life, we end up with blinders on. Not being able to see or to enjoy the blessings we have in spite of our circumstances.

I’m not saying it’s easy to be thankful when life gets tough, it’s not!

But keeping a thankful attitude will keep you in God’s peace and joy. Biblical experts believe Paul wrote the above verse when he was in prison.  I take comfort in knowing that fact. If Paul could do, then I can certainly make an attempt at being thankful in all circumstances, too.

I think praising God and be thankful in all circumstances go hand in hand. It’s a little hard not to be thankful when you’re praising God and it’s hard not to praise God when you’re thankful.

So, if you feel a pity party coming on and who doesn’t when life gets difficult, then put on your favorite praise music and sing of God’s great love.

FOREVER HIS!

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Sundays seem to be a good day to run a devotion so here’s one to enjoy.  I’m hoping it will be a comfort to those waiting for the prodigal son to return or you are that prodigal son.  It’s never too late to come home to you Heavenly Father. Trust me on that! I know from experience. More of my devotions can be found at  www.PowerUpWithGod.com.

FOREVER HIS!

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is an awesome GOD moment I experienced many, many years ago, but I remember the details as if it happened yesterday. And that’s saying something because I don’t have a good memory. I was in my car driving up what is called Madison Hill in my 62 Falcon (but it was 1974 on the way to Fredericksburg, Ohio.

God gave me answers that I was searching for and they were the perfect answers for me.

I was nineteen and making choices that weren’t godly. I wasn’t consciously rebelling against God but my actions told a different story. God’s love is so amazing that even though I had turned my back on him, he didn’t do the same to me.

After a year of working in dead-end jobs, I was going to college. but I needed to decide what to major in. I really had no idea. I only knew I wasn’t going to work in a factory or fast food for the rest of my life.   “Teacher” popped into my head from nowhere.  Almost audible, but not quite. What a good idea but what kind of teacher? Elementary? Home Ec? Math? The words, “Deaf teacher” popped into my head. Another great idea! I”d been involved in the deaf ministry through my church since I was about thirteen or fourteen so it made sense to me.

Four years later, I became a Speech Pathologist and several years later received my Master’s Degree as a teacher of the deaf. I was blessed to work most of my career as a Speech Pathologist for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the Cleveland City Schools.

I loved it! Not that there weren’t a few moments of frustration, but it was a job that I was good at and it brought me much joy thanks to the great students I had through the years.

It was only years later that I realized that God had truly spoken to me in HIS  still quiet voice in that car that day going up Madison Hill.  God had guided me to the perfect career for me even though I was in complete rebellion at the time and for many years afterwards.  I’m still blessed every day by that choice that God gave me that day.

AT the time, I wasn’t living in a godly way, but God loved me enough to get me down the right path anyway. God is so wise and so good. He picked the perfect job for me in spite of my rebellion. This was only one of the times that God clearly guided me, protected me, and blessed me during my rebellion. There were many others!

Know that God loves you no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. Just as the prodigal son’s father worried, loved him, and longed to bless his child when he was off in rebellion, so it is with our heavenly father. Whether our rebellion lasts for ten minutes or ten years, God is waiting with open arms to welcome us back because we are forever HIS!

SHARING TIME: Is there a time God guided you in spite of your rebellion?