Devotionals
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Love Speaks
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 14:1, NLT). Love speaks. It doesn’t clang. Or give off false hope. It doesn’t come up empty or count how many times you’ve come up short. Been embarrassed. Failed. Recently I started a book study called “Lazarus Awakening” by Joanna Weaver with my friend and author, Lisa Velthouse. It’s been a while since I’ve done a one-on-one study with someone and I’m really excited to dive in. We discussed Chapter One: Tale of the Third Follower last week. One of the…
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Are you a people pleaser?
“When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!'” – Exodus 14:5, NIV Sometimes the reason why we please others is because we owe someone a service. Maybe it’s a boss at your job, a spouse, or your kids. You’ve made promises and even though it’s become a difficult situation–you’re comfortable and that’s just the way it is. How do you tell someone who has a slave mentality they need to fear God, not man? In other words… Are you a…
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29 Things
Everyone who knows me, knows how excited I get about my birthday, and that I celebrate my birthday month! So on the last day, I wanted to share with you 29 things I’ve learned in my short lifetime in the hopes that you’d be inspired and most of all encouraged! 1. Your spiritual birthday matters more than your earthly ones. ~ I proudly accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life and became born again on my 5th birthday, June 24, 1987. 2. It’s never too early to get a Bible concordance. ~ When I was 7, I balled my eyes out when I saw how horrible the…
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The Anatomy of a Lie
I’d like to explain to you the anatomy of a lie through the eyes of Elijah. “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets” (1 Kings 18:22, NLT). It’s interesting in Scripture how God opens our blind eyes and allows us to see His Spirit of Truth. Here in 1 Kings 18 we find that Elijah has just begun to confront wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (yuck). Most of us recognize Elijah as the hero of the story because he called fire down from heaven… “At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the…
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I'm Growing Up
I don’t know about you, but I think I’m growing up. I am feeling the stretch of my spiritual muscles as well as my emotional and physically muscles. “There are some shameful episodes in it; instances of meanness, unfinished tasks, weakness, and regrets. I had to ask myself, ‘If I live, who is it that I intend to be.’” (Lance Armstrong) Do I intend to be a protege of my parents? Or me? Do I intend to please the people around me, or forge an identity all my own, while scared at the same time of learning how to fly? One thing I’m learning is you’re never too old to…
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He Should Have Known Better
“On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him” (Exodus 4:24, NLT). I never really understood that passage. I mean Moses had just been singled out (again) by God. Called. To lead the people of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. He was the only one besides Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to get face time with God, and yet God choose to reveal Himself as Yahweh (Exodus 3:15, NLT). Not even Abe, Izzy, or JJ got that far!! So why in the world was God trying to kill Moses? Seriously?…
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10 Tips to Renew YOUR Devotional Life
10 Tips to Renew your devotional life. 1. BE A FOLLOWER. Disciple simply means follower. It’s not a spiritual term. QUESTION: You follow people on Twitter and Facebook, so why not be mindful to follow God FIRST? BIBLICAL EXAMPLE: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33, NIV). 2. DISCIPLINE TAKES TIME. Over the years I’ve discovered what works for me. Daily eVerses + Yearly devotionals + One Year Bible + journal/pen = a VERY happy Renee. QUESTION: What have you found works best for you? BIBLICAL EXAMPLE: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it…
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Affirming Our Worth
[To Find Freedom in Christ] – “Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life! The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!” (From “Victory Over the Darkness” by Dr. Neil Anderson) Affirming our worth is important. Every one to us need to know this isn’t about positive self-talk or even new age mumbo jumbo. This is about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), not having a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7) because there is no fear…
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King of my Heart
[Quit Making Excuses] – “Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.’ Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night” (1 Samuel 15:10-11, NLT). The other night in my quiet time I was reading through my One Year Bible and came upon the famous passage of the downfall of King Saul. I immediately thought of this verse from Deuteronomy 17:14-15, NLT that says: “You are about to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When…
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Cheers For Change
[How to Believe Again] –“So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.” – 1 Samuel 3:9, NLT God’s used the story of Samuel one other time in a very POWERFUL way. I remember when I was writing my first book, “Faithbook of Jesus” and how I couldn’t exercise the same kind of faith I was writing about. I was weakened physically from working full time and writing full time (under a four month deadline of over 105,000 words). Burn out seemed imminent. What I did not understand, however, was how…
