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Bittersweet
Read more: BittersweetDear Dineen and Lynn: I just have to share with the two of you my “bittersweet moment” this morning. To back track, I just got home yesterday from having been with my youngest daughter the past three weeks as she gave birth to her first child-a precious 9 lbs. 1 oz. baby girl, name Hadley. …
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Pointing Out the Positive
Read more: Pointing Out the PositiveI’m in Florida at the moment visiting with our extended families. When I fell in love with my husband, I also fell in love with his family. He has a big one too! I love being around them and hearing all their stories of growing up. Lots of chuckles and memories. On Father’s Day I…
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The Elusive Dream
Read more: The Elusive DreamToday’s post may be a bit rambling but I'm sensing you may be in the same place. So here goes. Yesterday was Father’s Day. I know this day can be emotional and challenging to spouses who are spiritually mismatched. I know this because I am still one of them. I walked into church this morning.…
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Weekend Devo – Do Whatever Brings You Back to Your Heart and the Heart of God
Read more: Weekend Devo – Do Whatever Brings You Back to Your Heart and the Heart of God(In honor of Father's Day, we'd like to share this excerpt from Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge.) Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a "quiet time." But most men have a hard…
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Thankful Thursday –
Read more: Thankful Thursday –It's Thankful Thursday. In June we are at Iris', Grace Alone. ….. Today Iris was sharing her thanks for the summer produce and the Farmers Markets. This brings to mind two things. First a verse that I read recently. John 4:36 But he said to them, ”I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Neat.…
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Extenuating Circumstances
Read more: Extenuating CircumstancesWe've talked about all kinds of issues here at S.U.M. but today I'd like to delicately touch upon extenuating circumstances that can exist in our mismatched marriages. You know that Lynn and I will always be on the side of believing that God can save any marriage, but we want to also be clear that…
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Weekend Devo – Our Faithful Travel Companion
Read more: Weekend Devo – Our Faithful Travel CompanionThe other day I took our dog for a walk. Shasta is a strong dog, so much so that we have to use a lead leash in order to keep her from pulling us down the street when we walk her. On our usual route we approached a house under construction. A yellow caution tape…
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Keeping Eternity in Our Sites
Read more: Keeping Eternity in Our SitesYesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my father’s death. I will admit I am affected by this more than I thought I would be. Sunday I was down right cranky (my daughter will confirm that) and yesterday I was sad. I kept I reminding myself that death didn’t win. I know where Dad is and…
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Good Always Wins
Read more: Good Always WinsHeaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back The following is an excerpt from Heaven Is For Real: Looking back, the Burpos realized there had been moments since the surgery when Colton had spoken very personally about Jesus, but they had just been happily surprised. Now…
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Weekend Devo – Character Builders
Read more: Weekend Devo – Character BuildersIs there a particular area of you life that you seem to constantly struggle with? I have several! (grin) I have a funny one to share with you over at Laced with Grace. Stop by and read how God used my 17 year old daughter and traffic to bring one to light… That car just…
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Our Soul and the Natural World ~ Article III
Read more: Our Soul and the Natural World ~ Article IIIArticle III: Our Soul and the Natural World A few weeks back, I began a series on the natural world and how nature, the world God created, can bring healing and joy to our soul. We started with light. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Then we looked at darkness and…
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The Heart of the Matter
Read more: The Heart of the MatterOver the last two weeks I’ve shared the importance of having a quiet time. My fear is that we haven’t covered the heart of this discipline and see it more as a duty, so I want to make that clear today. Not having a quiet time each day isn’t a sin. You haven’t broken a…
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Creating a Quiet Time
Read more: Creating a Quiet TimeLast week we talked about keeping a divine appointment with God on a daily basis. Again, I know this isn’t easy to do, especially if you have small kids, but I promise you it will be the most important and beneficial decision you will ever make in your life. Do you want a transformed life?…
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The Schwarzenegger Rant
Read more: The Schwarzenegger Rant(Photo: Reuters / Tomas Bravo) Okay, I’m not really sure where this post is going today but I think I’m about to go on a rant. I am utterly and wholly disappointed and sad over the impending divorce of Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger. I am outright devastated for the children, and the son of the…
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Lavish Love
Read more: Lavish LoveWhen they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. – John 6:12-13 I read this piece of…
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Light Vs. Darkness: Living in the Natural World
Read more: Light Vs. Darkness: Living in the Natural WorldArticle II: Our Soul and the Natural World A few weeks back, I began a series on the natural world and how we can let nature, the world God created, bring healing, and joy to our soul. We started with light. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Today I want to post…
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A Divine Appointment
Read more: A Divine AppointmentI’ve been on a quest. What kind of quest, do you ask? A quest to understand how to listen to God better. To hear Him more clearly. I don’t want to miss a thing He has to tell me. Hearing God is not something that comes easily. (And please understand I'm using the word "hear"…
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A Tale Worth Telling
Read more: A Tale Worth TellingIndulge me today. Let me introduce the cast: One- small furry, cute (deceptive) catOne- small dog named PeanutOne – teenaged girl 16 going on 27.One – believing mom and keeper of the home. It started several months back. The rainy season. It’s cold, wet, and dark. One early evening during a light downpour as we…
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Weekend Devo – A Special Prayer
Read more: Weekend Devo – A Special PrayerI love my Kindle. Especially the way you can see what parts others have underlined too. In fact, in one marriage book I'm reading right now, one line was highlighted over 100 times! Amazing! I love it when something significant resonates with many of us in the body of Christ. I want to share such…
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Thankful Thursday – In The Storm
Read more: Thankful Thursday – In The Storm“Everything in our lives has to go through the filter of God first. Just like Job. His disaster’s were not a surprise to God- God didn’t keep it from happening. God filters what happens and what is kept “from happening” in our lives on a daily basis.” ~Aimee Douglas Every tear. Every question why. Every…
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You Make a Difference
Read more: You Make a DifferenceWhile I was with Lynn this past weekend, we talked about where our hubbies were at spiritually. I know you can relate to this discussion. Do they really see Jesus in us? Do they have any idea of how much we pour of our love and selves into these guys of ours? I will be…
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Netflix – Light – Spiritual Warfare
Read more: Netflix – Light – Spiritual WarfareA few days ago, I finally surrendered. We signed up for Netflix. It’s not like we don’t already have over 100 channels to choose from. But if you’re like me. I am very choosy about what I pour into my soul through television. So most of what’s available to watch….. I don’t. Okay but back…
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Blessing or Burden?
Read more: Blessing or Burden?One of the features of Kindle is it allows you to see what other people are highlighting in the same books you are reading. I hit upon this feature when I was preparing the speech for a MOPS group and was using our book to develop a speaking point. In chapter 5 (Believe Your Marriage…
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Marriage Monday – Couples in Faith
Read more: Marriage Monday – Couples in FaithIt's Marriage Monday. Please join us once again for Marriage Monday on May 2, 2011. Our group topic this time is “faith.” How does your Christian faith express itself between you and your spouse? Do you pray together? Or discuss theology? Do you lead or attend a couples Bible study? Perhaps you’re spiritually unequal, yet…