Devotionals
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Two or Three Witnesses
“For where two or three witnesses gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV). In school, we’re taught from an early age that 1+1=2. When you’re a baby, you learn to count by using your fingers and toes. Body parts. When you grow up you learn to count your toys. For instance, one for me, none for my baby brother! I loved being the first born, but that’s not the point! Counting shouldn’t require thinking. It’s a habit. Something ingrained in us since childhood. Unfortunately, as “mature” adults we learn to count by comparing ourselves to others. For instance, when I was single all I could…
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Change Your Name
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble” (Psalm 90:14-15, NIV). For many, many years I suffered. With ill health. With no possibility of boys to date (oh the horror, seriously). So many years I cried out to God, wondering “where is he?” and “Does he even exist?” Of course, I knew better. On September 20, 1998 God told me that I would NOT be lacking a mate. His Spirit would make all come true (Isaiah…
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My New Name
In 8 days I will have a new name: Mrs. Renee Fisher. All those years ago, God knew. He prepared me. Changed me. And now, He wants to give me a new name. When Jesus asked his soon to be disciples to follow Him they were FISHER-men. They simply worked to make money and provide for their families. Nothing more. Nothing less. In this next year of marriage, I want to be a living example. No matter who you are or what job you have–I want you to know without a doubt that Jesus loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. I look forward to revamping my…
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It's Not Who You Know
This is the Devotional I wrote and shared at the San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild Fall Conference hosted at Maranatha Chapel in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Morning Devotional ~ Saturday, September 24, 2011 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!’(Jeremiah 9:23-24, NLT)…
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Uniquely You
Growing up, being uniquely you was considered a bad thing. I should know. I was the shy home school kid (yes, I said SHY) with no friends and very little social interaction. I mostly read–a lot and practiced piano for hours a day. That all changed when I entered college and finally found myself. I learned how to be comfortable in my own skin. Literally. The reason WHY I write and am heavily involved ministry is because I lost the skin off my face and feet due to severe eczema when I was 15, and it took me over 6 years to recover. Basically the years when a girl becomes…
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Find Your Own Promise
“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:4-5, NLT). Every once in a while I come across a passage of Scripture that makes my hair stand up. Gives me the chills. Sometimes I start weeping. Sometimes I giggle until I am laughing uncontrollably. Either way. I just found my own promise, and…
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20-somethings need a home
In today’s economy it’s pretty rare for a 20-something to own their own home. Especially in California. At the very least it’s even more rare to live in a stable living environment (that’s not their parents). A safe place. Tonight, after leading another week of the Summer Book Study it hit me. 20-somethings need a home. My friend Summer’s graciously allowed us to meet in her home the past three weeks, and it’s fostered so much more than a Panera or a Starbucks ever could. Why? Because there’s less people. Less distraction. Less noise. No interference. You get the picture. Remember those drawings we used to make when we were…
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Silence Speaks
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But who will be able to endure it when he comes?” – Malachi 3:1-2a, NLT In my own version of the Bible–Renee 3:16 says “when” and “how long” I must wait. But in the days of Malachi, they didn’t have anything to go off. And all we see is a single white blank page in our Bibles. Silence speaks. But all too often, it’s…
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Daddy Issues
“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15, NLT). “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father'” (Romans 8:15, NLT). Last week I posted 34 Pre Engagement Questions that Marc and I have been going through. I wanted to highlight truth I learned while using another tool “Family Matters.” It has questions like “List what you feel are the positive qualities of your father/mother”…
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When God Says No
I wanted to dig up this blog post from 2004, but I’ve been so busy with life that it took me longer to find it. I did a clean sweet of my blog a few years ago and removed all blog posts from my beginning years of blogging, but I felt God impressing this one on my heart to share again–a key principle that most (if not all) will learn at some point. Do not be afraid. You are not alone. [What happens when God says no? -Previously Posted, November 23, 2004] This Thanksgiving will be a one-year anniversary for me. Last Thanksgiving is when the bumps on my right…
