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The Rat’s Nest
I have a rats nest in my hair. I remember one time my hair got so tangled, all because I would just add dry shampoo and quickly run a brush through my hair – not really brushing it out. Then just put it up in a messy bun. This was during my husband’s first time away from me with the military and I was super depressed. I started neglecting my self-care. I started neglecting myself (and my hair) again, and that’s why I have this rats nest. Do my kids look a mess? Does my house? No. But I do, and more importantly, I feel like a mess inside. I…
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What Easter Means to Me
“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:15-16 I love a low-key Easter. I’m all about spending the day at home, opening baskets, doing an egg hunt indoors right away, and tuning into a service on livestream…in pajamas. Maybe we’ll have quick cinnamon rolls or monkey bread — when I was little my mom always made us little sausages for breakfast on Easter. We’ll get dressed eventually, and play with our new Easter stuff. Maybe get the kids dressed up cute for…
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After Death Comes Life
I launched Devotional Diva as a single person in 2009 under the name Renee Johnson. It was my dream to use that platform to get noticed and become a published author. God knew. A few months later, NavPress signed me for my first book, Faithbook of Jesus, a 365-daily devotional. It released one year later while the ink was drying on the trademark I purchased for Devotional Diva. Talk about a whirlwind. I experienced tremendous growth as an author those first few years as well as personal. My first book sold so well that NavPress signed me for another book. Then the economy tanked. It was a God-sized miracle that Harvest House signed me for…
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The Promise and Puctuality of Easter
Resurrection Sunday reminds me that God is not only a promise keeper but is perfectly punctual in His sovereign timeline over history and my own story. Keeping a promise years ago may have looked like a pinky swear when we were little girls or even keeping a secret told to us on the middle school playground. Today, my three-year-old daughter promises me on a nightly basis that she will stay in bed after I put her down… but I know better! Her promise-making is on point, but she has not yet perfected her promise-keeping skills! As a woman who follows Christ, I must place unwavering trust in my promise-keeping God…
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Remember Me
“Drink this… and remember me.” Jesus’ eyes brimmed with tears as he extended the cuptowards John. It trembled in his hand. A drop spilled down the side. Oh don’t worry, we won’t! Especially me. I’m your best friend! Or what about Peter? 2000 years later, a pastor raises his grape juice and says with a smile, “Today we rememberJesus…” But I do, Jesus. It’s been my focus all year long. I’ll admit, I’ve skipped prayer or bible study a few times. I’ve been far from perfect. But I remembered, didn’t I? Who could forget? John was there when the earth shook violently in a cry of grief as its Maker…
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The Cleansing of Easter
Editor’s note: This is the first story in our Easter devotional series. Enjoy! One Easter holiday, the message of Jesus’ cleansing power was clearly put on my heart. My youngest daughter was two years old at the time, and my girls and I were excitedly coloring Easter eggs for our family Easter egg hunt the following day. Suddenly, I noticed an egg dye tablet was missing from the package. Where was it? Sophia? Everyone has one child that is more likely than the others to find and make mischief; Sophia is mine. I opened her mouth, squeezed her adorable chubby cheeks and found yep, a yellow mouth! Sophia…
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Looking for EASTER submissions!
Happy New Year, Divas! I’m opening up submissions again, and I want to make sure we have plenty of time to organize a great new series for EASTER! I’ve never done an Easter series here on Devotional Diva, simply because I didn’t feel led to. This year, I do. Easter is the most holy holiday and I want to honor it this year with a series of devotionals leading up to Easter. I’m hoping I can get the series started around-ish Ash Wednesday. As it’s my first year doing this, and I’m not sure how much interest I’ll have with submissions, I’m going to play it by ear 🙂 I…
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A Holiday Dream 4 Years in the Making
Spring 2016 It was a few weeks before my husband was leaving yet again on his Navy ship. We left our one-year-old son with friends and went on a wine-tasting trip and had so much fun. So much fun that it made me sad. I’m sorry to my more conservative Divas but I had a little too much wine, and emotions were hitting me hard. I wanted this all the time. Why did he have to be gone so much? I wondered. Why did I have to experience Italy without him? It was a lonely existence. I wanted to go home, I cried. I didn’t want to be in Italy…
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The Cold Winter Warmth
Editor’s Note: This is a guest story by veteran Diva Ann Grace. This is a beautiful story and great reminder to take into the New Year! The holiday’s always seem to bring a sense of warmth in me. The day after Thanksgiving literally births some sort of fire to prepare for the Christmas season. Some of the holiday’s anticipated highlights include the endless classic Christmas movies while sipping on some yummy Mexican hot cocoa. And it has to be hot because if not, the marshmallows don’t melt as well. But this year will be different, I’m sure. Many of us are wondering if there will even be a “Christmas”? The…
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3 Ways to Get Your Christmas Joy Back – Diva Christmas 2020
Editor’s Note: This is a guest story by Juliana Gordon. Welcome, Juliana! Readers, I hope if you’re feeling a funk this year, this devotional can be an encouragement! Have you ever been in a shop that sells Christmas decorations year-round? Or heard of households that left up a tree – on purpose – for most of the year? I know people like that, who live for December! They have boxes of decorations, special Christmas dishes, and even an assortment of holiday sweaters to wear throughout the season. They cannot get enough of the festive music, Christmas traditions, and holiday movies. I used to be like that. Then 20 years or…
