Tag Archive - Podcast

Say Anything

February 16, 2009 in Daily Devotionals with 1 Comment

“Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

Dealing with a difficult coworker, problem roommate, or a secret crush? Here are FOUR TIPS on how to SAY ANYTHING the BIBLICAL WAY!

1. Quick to Listen – Trigger Happy Convo’s are not the best. Professing your love too soon, saying too much at work, and too many quippy sarcastic comments will push others away as they question their trust in you. The best place to start is by listening with both ears (James 1:19-20).

2. Slow to Speak & Become Angry- You just may be the expert on a certain topic, but …sometimes people just need to vent. “80% of communication is NEUTRAL.” i.e. when we overpersonalize things, we react to what is a neutral message, in the wrong way (Kim Levings).

It’s easy to flip a lid. Things happen all the time that are out of our control. Hurt people hurt others. Sometimes we get in the way–even of ourselves. Biblically, we have the option to be angry–but there is one rule: don’t sin. “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Psalm 4:4).

3. How to Rebuke - This one is probably the hardest! It’s easy to forgive (sometimes), but taking the time to show a friend his or her faults takes mad skillz! To see how the Bible tells us we should rebuke read below:

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Mathew 18:15-17).

4. Forgive (77×7) – Choosing to forgive it not something you can just do on your own. You have to be completely surrendered to God, completely and fully surrendered. Once Jesus was asked how many times one should forgive, and Jesus answered, ” I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven time” (Matthew 18:22).

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31). Also read the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

Devotional Diva’s “Say Anything” Podcast = http://feeds.feedburner.com/devotionaldivapodcast

10 Tips for Valentine's Day

February 9, 2009 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

[ 10 Tips for Valentine's Day] – 10 great ways to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day whether you in a relationship, single, or “it’s complicated.”

  1. Make Valentine’s Day Cards – I bought a box of V-day cards for my co-workers (Shh! Don’t tell). It cost me about $2.99. What a better to spread the love by giving words of encouragement to my closest office buddies?
  2. Watch the Sunrise.
  3. One QUALITY Card – It could be for your significant other, a member of your family, or for a secret admirer and it lists his or her good qualities (talents, strengths, funny memories, personality traits, etc).
  4. Be Thankful – I saw on the Oprah Show (yes I am quoting Oprah), that she kept a gratitude journal and would write down 5 things every day that she was thankful for every day. Great practice to start on St. Valentine’s Day.
  5. Read Song of Songs – If You Think All Christians Are Prudes? Think again.
  6. Watch a Chick Flick – The only day women have a legitimate excuse to make their man watch a romantic comedy. Go for it ladies!
  7. Wiki St. Valentine’s Day – Do it now at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Valentine%27s_Day.
  8. Ladies/Bromance Night – Go out with the ladies or the bro’s for a night on the town. What a better way to celebrate than with your closest girl/guy friends?
  9. Chocolate & Flowers - Who doesn’t partake in this shameless ritual each year?
  10. Read a Book – Gary Chapman wrote a book called “The Five Love Languages.” Could you be “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, or Receiving Gifts?”

Devotional Diva’s “10 Tips for Valentine’s Day” PODCAST = http://feeds.feedburner.com/devotionaldivapodcast

Promoting YOU!

February 2, 2009 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments


[Ridiculously Long Lasting] – “I chose you…to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name” (John 15:16 NLT).

In a world saturated with self, there are a few ways to have a long-lasting effect on this world.

First, I’d like to give a little context.

I represent the top Christian speakers in the industry, and as a speaker myself I am often asked by new speakers how one can achieve success (being nationally known, have a best-selling book, etc), AND since speakers are marketing themselves (not a product) it gets tricky. At what point does focusing on self become prideful?

Romans 12:3 says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

I can confidently say that most speakers are not looking for their 15 minutes of fame, but 15 years of service. Just look at Michael & Amy Smalley or Bill & Pam Farrel, two of my Fireproof Your Marriage speakers. It took them about 10-15 years to build that platform, and 10-15 years later they are still publishing best-selling books on marriage while serving thousands of hurting marriages across the country.

So what are you waiting for? In light of today’s economy there is a lot to FEAR, but Nelson Mandel shared why you (self) should be GREAT for the long haul.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Want to get your message out there and have a ridiculously long-lasting effect on others?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).”

Devotional Diva’s “Promoting YOU” PODCAST = http://feeds.feedburner.com/devotionaldivapodcast

10 Tips for 2009

January 26, 2009 in Uncategorized with 3 Comments

- “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).

Here are 10 Tips to get you started off right in the New Year.

1. Read the Word Daily – Find a reading plan that works for you and stick with it, so you can find out what it is that you’re supposed to be doing (Matthew 6:11, Romans 12:1-2).

2. Talk to God – Also called praying. Develop a personal relationship with Him so that you can face 2009 with grace, humility, and courage. And, like Abraham–God will share secrets with YOU (Genesis 18:17-33).

3. Putting Others Before Yourself – In an “all about me” culture, it’s important to remember the greatest commandment of loving Jesus and others. (Matthew 22:36-38, Philippians 2:3-4).

4. Fast Break - Take a breather! Try abstaining from rich and fatty foods, music and movies that do not line up with the teachings of Jesus, and friends that cause you to sin (Daniel 1:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 15:33).

5. Taming Your Tongue – With our mouth we build up and tear down. Decide to speak only truth–and in love (James 3:9-12).

6. Flee Temptation – Choose to take captive every thought and take it into the obedience of Christ. Remember to flee temptation because there is no temptation that God cannot deliver you from–whether drugs, sex, alcohol, self-pity that leads to depression, etc (Matthew 5:28, 1 Corinthians 10:12-14, 2 Corinthians 10:5).

7. Practice Hospitality – By making others feel welcome you entertain strangers which Hebrews says could even be angels. Think of a time when you were included and how good it made you feel! (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:12).

8. Give – Everyone has a different gift to give Whether that be serving with time, money, or talents–the world needs what you have (Romans 12:6-8).

9. Respect Your Elders – God has given us 20-somethings (and for those of you who aren’t) elders who have gone before us. Show them the respect they deserve (Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:32).

10. Laugh – Don’t forget; the world needs your laugh. It says in Proverbs that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Spent time with friends and family who know the real you, and laugh it up (Proverbs 17:22).

Devotional Diva’s “10 Tips for 2009″ PODCAST = http://feeds.feedburner.com/devotionaldivapodcast

Men Are For Marriage, Women Are For Children

January 19, 2009 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

[Biblical Standards in Dating] – “Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (Genesis 24:67).

I’m opening up the floor for a little “Dating 101″ to my two best girlfriends, Amy and Jenn. The three of us graduated High School in 2000 and at one point we were the three musketeers. We would dream up lists of what we wanted our future husbands to look like, dream about college, a career, and raising a family.

Nine (wow I’m getting old) years later, each of us have gone in a direction that we did not expect. Amy got married, Jenn had a baby, and I [Renee] am still single.

Meet Amy:

In my twenties God taught me that he is faithful and he called on me to be faithful with what he had given me. He asked me to be faithful in my school work, at my job, to my family and friends, in my purity and most importantly in growing closer to him. I struggled with wanting to know how and when all the pieces of my life would fall together, but God in his wisdom granted me contentment instead of answers. God has since given me the desires of my heart and still he continues to teach me to be faithful with what he has given me.

Meet Jenn:

My number one responsibility is my daughter and I have to look out for what is best for her. That means that for this season in my life God has lead me down a path where, not only am I a single parent but I’m thousands of miles away from those I love and care most about. By sacrificing my own desires and putting those of my daughter’s first, it has made it easier to surrender and to entrust my desires to God. In return has given me peace that he really does know what he is doing. He has also thought me that He will always be right by your side no matter what your status is; and when there are those days when you start to feel “alone” and/or “single”, he will show you that you are not, in one special way or another.

Meet Renee:

In the book, “Women of the Bible,” Ann Spangler & Jean Syswerda claim that Genesis 24:67 (above verse) holds some of the sweetest words about romance found in the Bible. It got me thinking–what exactly does that look like for me, a single woman in her 20′s? What God brought next to my attention was a verse in James 3:17 that hold Biblical standards in dating. It says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.“

* * * * *

Dear God,

Please help us to see our value for who are are and not because we’re in a relationship, a single parent, or still single!

Amen

Devotional Diva’s “Men Are For Marriage, Women Are For Children” PODCAST = http://feeds.feedburner.com/devotionaldivapodcast

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