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The Power of Forgiveness
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back” (Matthew 18:15, NLT). The power of forgiveness. The Bible is pretty clear on forgiving others. With Matthew 18:15-18 as our guidebook, we are shown how to go directly to the person and show them if they have wronged you. I love how proactive the Bible is on forgiveness. Maybe it’s because the root of bitterness grows so easily. I tell you–after Marc and I moved into our new house we quickly realized how challenging our front lawn would prove to be. Those devil…
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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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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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The List
I don’t care if you’re single, in a relationship, or already married…if you’re breathing you’ve made “the list” of what you want in your partner. Taken from my book “Not Another Dating Book” that releases Valentine’s… “When I was a kid I made a list of all the qualities I was looking for in a mate. I didn’t get much farther than tall, dark hair, blue eyes. When I got older, I added other words to the list. Leader. Communicator. Compassionate. Encouraging. I kept building it out, describing my perfect man. Wants children. Virgin. Well-read. Likes to cook. Doesn’t smoke. Doesn’t swear. Comes from a Christian family. Good hygiene. Pays…
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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…
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34 Pre Engagement Questions
Before Marc and I (Renee Fisher) started pre engagement counseling, he came up with a list of 34 pre engagement questions because we had a lot of questions, and some of you have asked me what exactly is that? Basically we want to go through counseling before wedding planning gets in the way! I wanted to share 34 questions that Marc came up with after studying the writings of Count Zinzendorf (1700-1760). What I love most about them is how they continually point back to Scripture. Feel free to use the 34 pre engagement questions to strengthen your relationship whether you are single, engaged, or married. 1. What does this…
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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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Now!
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (James 1:21, NLT). Biblically speaking, it’s time to take out the trash! Now! “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6, NLT). Just as you would a best friend or someone you care about. “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their…
