Devotional Diva® | Renee Johnson Fisher

God’s Call

January 23, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, On Writing with 3 Comments

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. C.S. Lewis

I just love that quote. It reminds me in a very powerful way that God’s call on our lives is real. It’s tangible. Something we can taste, touch, feel, and see. And it’s not something so far out of our grasp that we’ll fail.

Failure.

Every time I tried to manage my schedule the past couple weeks–I’ve failed. I just wasn’t doing a good enough job. When my panic attacks came back, I felt like a big fat one–failure that is.

I just wanted to cuddle up in my blankets and hide in my bed until things got better.

When they didn’t I roused myself out of bed really early to deal with it. I decided that it’s now or never. I finished writing my third book on forgiveness.

The hardest part for me has been revisiting all the painful stories of the past. When I write books, God doesn’t just give me fluffy words, He reminds me. I get to relive each story in present day. “Oh joy!” I say sarcastically.

Then I read about Joseph in Genesis 39:2 & 21

“The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home [palace] of his Egyptian master…But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.”

The truth is, “we must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God…” says Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together.

It’s funny how God had to interrupt me in my misery. Last week I said in Something Borrowed that I have no idea what to pray for–now that I’m married.

Then I read this in “Seize The Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.” In it Charles Ringma writes:

“In the final analysis, the key issue is not whether we are married or unmarried, a missionary or a mechanic. The more important issue is that we have made some sense of God’s call in our lives. For that call to be realizable, we need to understand ourselves sufficiently so that we know our gifts, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. When God’s call harmonizes with our giftedness, we become candidates for lasting achievement. And true achievement does not arise from a negative reaction to life, but from embracing God’s perspective on what is good” (Charles Ringma).

Lord, please show me your favor. Everywhere I go, don’t let me be afraid of suffering. It’s not up to me to determine my life, but only You. Help me to stay flexible even when change scares me BIG TIME. Show me how to be blessed like Joseph whether I’m in the palace or in prison. Amen.

p.s. I’m sorry Lord for doubting Your call on my life. Please forgive me?

Deal Breakers

January 18, 2012 in Dating & Relationships with 37 Comments

People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace. Proverbs 10:10

Do you just hate it when a guy blasts the music too loud when you’re in his car? Or when a girl can’t seem to tear herself away from texting on her cell phone long enough to say hello? Maybe you’d never date someone who smokes, doesn’t laugh at your jokes, or has a lot of baggage from a previous relationship. It’s no question: Everyone has deal breakers in a relationship–beliefs we’re not willing to compromise. But what does the Bible say our deal breakers should be? [Not Another Dating Book, Harvest House, (C) 2012, page 34]

That is just an excerpt from my second book, “Not Another Dating Book.” I decided NOT to finish the list because I want to hear from you!

I’m also giving you a chance to win two free copies of my book.

Here is a picture of me holding “Faithbook of Jesus” for the first time back in 2010, and “Not Another Dating Book” in 2012. In honor of my second book I am going to do a BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY.

I’m giving away 20 copies of books to ten different people.

To win a copy for you and your friend, please tell me your top two deal breakers when it comes to relationships and dating. I will draw the winners at random on Friday, January 20th.

To officially win, you must comment on THIS BLOG post!

Something New

January 16, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, Dating & Relationships with 7 Comments

I prayed so many years to find a husband. When I was single I used to wonder if God heard my prayers. I wanted to know when it was my turn to experience my taste of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something…red?

Now that I’m married I wonder what in the heck am I supposed to pray for?

I’m one of those people who worries about what’s next. The future.

A passage of Scripture that’s been kicking my butt lately is from Matthew 6. When I was single I used to hate Matthew 6:24. The one that says “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24, NLT).

I struggled with finding one singular purpose because I wanted to do it all.

Have it all.

Be it all.

When God humbled me, and showed me my pride–I knew right then, I wanted to be devoted to God and only God.

Let me tell you, it was so much easier to transition into marriage with that attitude.

Then came the next verse!

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing” (Matthew 6:25, NLT)?

I find myself worrying about the stupidest things now. Petty things. I’m a newlywed, so there’s not much to complain about. It’s not that marriage is hard, but I’m still learning how to adjust.

Last week, I wrote my about my personality flaw in The Bulldog Principle. If there’s one thing marriage has taught me, it’s that my work ethic still doesn’t have anything to do with my worth–or purpose.

Here’s a new thing (not really). I am fulfilled in God. Although I want to please my husband or my publisher or even myself–I have my limits.

So today, I choose to embrace the newness.

The quietness.

The rest.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15, NLT).

Thank you, Lord, for borrowed confidence!

The Bulldog Principle

January 9, 2012 in Daily Devotionals with 11 Comments

It’s no secret. I suffer from anxiety. Most days I’m fine. It’s usually when a major life crisis hits that–boom–my emotions go crazy.

I resemble the quote that says, “Anxiety girl! Able to jump to the worst conclusion in a single bound!”

That’s totally me.

The Bible says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7, NIV). I think that’s a better way to live. That and pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). So why is it whenever I’m faced with a challenge?

FREAK.

OUT?

Right before the holidays, I met up with my friend and fellow author, Lisa Velthouse. She told me she loved my work ethic. Even called me a “bulldog.” Instantly, I remembered back to my working days when my boss used to call me a “bull dog.”

I have a confession…

I like being called a bulldog.

I like how it makes me feel.

I like how it sounds.

I love working hard and being rewarded for a job well done.

BUT.

(And here’s where I be painfully honest).

A couple of years ago, before I became a full time author and speaker–I never wanted to quit my job. I really wanted the company I was working for to let me go.

They knew I was having anxiety.

I knew I was having anxiety.

But when weeks turned into months, the decision became quite clear.

I had to quit.

Although I wanted someone to blame, God didn’t give me an out. No matter how much I wrestled, God broke me. I thought I was done suffering. God showed me I had just begun.

He showed me the purpose of being pruned.

Of abiding with Him.

Back to my friend Lisa. A few days after she called me a bulldog, my anxiety caught up to me. I was supposed to finish a few more articles during my husband’s week off before Christmas.

I couldn’t.

It took a lot of humility on my part to say–I’m sorry but…I can’t.

It forced me to remember the lessons I learned two years ago when God showed me, Hello, chica! This is never going to be about your job performance or work ethic.

I’m still learning how to surrender the bulldog mentality and just rest.. As cheesy as it sounds it’s true.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).