• Relationships

    I lost more than a marriage

    [Guest Post by Kathy Moore – I have been walking alongside my friend through her separation, and then divorce. It has been especially hard to watch as the gossip train has started, and doesn’t seem to stop. If you are a “Christian” who knows others who have been destroyed by gossip, please forward this to them. If you are one of them — be encouraged by my friend Kathy’s story today.] I am divorced.   Out of obedience to the Lord, I have been silent to share my story — until now. Due to continuing gossip, I have felt the Lord’s prompting to speak truth. Matthew 5:13-14 reminds me as…

  • Relationships

    Our Need For Intimacy

    [Guest Post by Priscilla Cash – When I got an email from a military wife, I had to say yes. Not just because I support our military, but because I know many military wives and moms who can relate. I hope you are encouraged by her vulnerability and courage to share about intimacy.] It was not just that I was a woman. It was not just that I had seen too many TV shows or read too many novels. Deep within, I knew I needed intimacy. It is a profound need. We crave it, we seek it, but it often alludes us. And so, as a teenager, I waited, feeling…

  • Relationships

    Don't Throw Yourself Away

    [Guest Post by Wendy Griffith – I really resonate with her story and not throwing your life away. If you find yourself struggling with your worth in Christ today, be encouraged! You are not alone.] My heart was crushed—but somehow I was still breathing. It had been just a week since my breakup with a man whom I had once believed was the love of my life when Dr. Pat Robertson, founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, called me into his office. Like a concerned father, Pat gently commanded, “Wendy, come in here. Tell me what happened.” The compassion in his voice caused the tears that were already…

  • Faith,  Health & Body

    When it's Easier to Declare Defeat

    [Guest Post by Mara Rose – I am so encouraged by her story because someday if my husband and I decide to have kids I will have to go off my medications, and that will not be easy. I love what she says that God still performs medical miracles. Believe it! Be encouraged today my friends.] Sometimes it’s easier to declare defeat prior to trying, rather than to try and fail later. There are so many things that we can worry about in life. And our worries can be amplified when we decide to have children. This past summer, my husband and I decided that we felt ready to start a…

  • Faith

    Playing The Jesus Card

    [Guest Post by Jenifer Jernigan – Like all authors meet, we met through social media. I love her vulnerability, her voice, and the desperation behind her story. I am honored for Jenifer to share her story, and if you, like her, have felt like taking your life–you are not alone! I know her story is long but please read the whole thing. You will be blessed!] The summer months found me serving as a youth intern in a local church, teaching, ministering, and loving on kids who became an important part of my life. The fall semester ushered in months of studying through the Psalms in my Old Testament class…

  • Relationships

    Why Not Pursue Him?

    [Guest Post by Paula Hendricks – I met her many years ago at the True Woman Conference in Chicago, IL. We were roommies and it was fun to meet her when I published my first book, and now years later it’s my turn to return the favor. Please welcome my friend Paula!] Ever been tempted to force your fairy tale? Yea, me, too. On those days when I’m tempted to act like a beggar or an orphan (instead of an adopted daughter of the King of Kings!), here are four truths I often come back to. I pray they spare you the frustration and heartache I’ve experienced along the way.…

  • Relationships

    Marriage Is My Idol

    [Guest Post by Jessica Dickson – I just love her heart and how she speaks truth over her singleness. When I read this I couldn’t help but want to post it immediately. If you struggle with viewing marriage as an idol — be encouraged!] I have a confession — Marriage is my idol. Was my idol. The worst part? It took me forever to realize it. I thought if I wasn’t perfect, nobody would want me. Few knew, but I hated myself. I thought I needed someone to love me and tell me I was okay. My mind set up a prison that I guarded. It was inconceivable that anyone could…

  • Relationships

    I never wanted a bruised heart

    [Guest Post by Laura – I appreciate how brave Laura is! This is the second time she has shared her story of rape on DevotionalDiva.com, and I love seeing how far she has come and how her story continues to encourage others. If you struggle with a bruised, broken, or shattered heart — be encouraged today!] Bruised. I bruise easily. Bruises seem to appear randomly on my knees or shins, and I can’t remember bumping into anything. To make matters worse, I can be a little klutzy. On the bright side, I’ve never broken a bone. But I’m fairly sure that a broken bone hurts exponentially more than a bruise. And…

  • Relationships

    A Happy You Comes Before a Happy Wife

    [Guest Post by Arlene Pellicane – I just love the question she asks because so many women ask it before getting married. Now that I AM married, I can honestly say she speaks the truth! Don’t be afraid to wrestling with this question yourself, and be encouraged today!] Have you ever met someone who thought her happiness was dependent on getting married? I remember being in my twenties, dateless, without a speck of hope when it came to romance.  But I always believed that a happy me preceded a happy wife. In other words, if I couldn’t be happy alone, I couldn’t be happy with someone either.  I love the story…

  • Devotionals

    Your Pain has a Purpose

    [Guest Post by Kate Motaung – We both write for iBelieve.com and it’s always nice to share a fellow writer’s story, especially when they write about one of my favorite Bible verses–Romans 8:28. Be encouraged my friends!] I have a limited threshold for listening to the news. My stomach churns and I swallow hard as I hear story after story of brokenness. Like shards of glass pieced together, the resulting mosaic has very few smooth edges. Shards of large scale calamities. Tsunamis swallowing entire villages. Hurricanes ripping through hearts and homes. Government corruption. Human trafficking. Missile attacks. Economic instability. School shootings. All stemming from the same source — a bite…