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Santa Claus, Jesus and Kids
Read more: Santa Claus, Jesus and KidsWhen my girls were little, one of my biggest challenges this time of year was not letting Santa Claus overshadow Jesus. Add to that the conflicting expectations a mismatched couple can bring to Christmas and sparks fly! Those early years were really tough sometimes. You see, my sweet hubby turns into a big kid at…
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Deck the Halls and the Dog
Read more: Deck the Halls and the DogYesterday I spent most of the afternoon putting up the Christmas tree. Our tree is a fake tree. Boo! I know. I know. There are two camps those who MUST have a real tree and the rest of us… I promise I’m not a Scrooge… But an artificial tree is in the Donovan home. Our…
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The Bright Morning Star
Read more: The Bright Morning StarWe also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. – 2Peter 1:19 I loved reading this particular verse this past week because its…
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Our Season to Shine
Read more: Our Season to ShineThis December let's all meet up with Iris at Grace Alone in January we are back here at Spiritually Unequal Marriage and February we will be at Laurie's, Women Taking A Stand. It's Thankful Thursday. It's December and I joyfully give thanks to the Lord, Almighty for His Son. What is true about December is, this is…
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The Purpose of Trials
Read more: The Purpose of TrialsRecently I’ve been writing about the trials of life. Specifically those that don’t seem to end. I thought the subject closed but God has put upon my heart the need to share the next level or stage of trials in our lives. Namely, their purpose. To review, in “The Unending Trials” I shared the calling…
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Baptism is Happy and Sad
Read more: Baptism is Happy and SadYesterday as I sat during church, I watched as five individuals gave their testimony and were baptized. I’m nearly always moved to tears when I watch someone become baptized. I pray with diligence as they go under the water, asking the Lord to protect them from the enemy and to grow them up in the…
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Facebook Ruins Marriage
Read more: Facebook Ruins MarriageFacebook ruins marriage. I’m sure you saw in the news a few weeks ago a Pastor in New Jersey gained national attention when he told his staff to close their Facbook accounts. The gist of this requirement was his experience that in his marital counseling efforts, many marriages ended because of Facebook. A married spouse…
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Weekend Devo – Thankful for YOU!
Read more: Weekend Devo – Thankful for YOU!Dear Friends, Lynn and I are so blessed to be a part of your lives and Thanksgiving is a great time to tell you that. We are continually humbled that God uses us and you to create an amazing community to help a very specific need. We are honored that you invite us to share…
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The Rock Shouts Out
Read more: The Rock Shouts OutI have often wondered about a simple sentence in Luke 19. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” I have always wondered how rocks could possibly shout praises to God. I thought about how…
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The Unending Trials
Read more: The Unending TrialsOne of the heaviest burdens we carry for ourselves and others are those that don’t seem to end. These days we all have some area that continues to challenge us. We pray for healing, release, whatever seems needed, in the hopes that God will rush in and save the day. Sometimes things get better, then…
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Romantic God
Read more: Romantic GodToday, I have a treat. Nicole Neri wrote a post on her blog that I believe will speak to many of us. I know it touched me. Nicole is sharing it with us here today. I am delighted to welcome one of our wonderful readers as a guest contributor. I pray you are moved by…
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The Intentional Marriage – A Tablecloth of Thanks
Read more: The Intentional Marriage – A Tablecloth of ThanksWelcome to our Monthly Broadcast, The Intentional Marriage. Friday, November 12th 11:30 a.m. Eastern 10:30a.m. Central, 9:30 Mountain, and 8:30 Pacific. Please tune in and join me as I’m going to share one of my most precious holiday traditions. A Tablecloth of Thanks It’s never too late to start a new tradition in your home,…
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Milk or Solid Food?
Read more: Milk or Solid Food?On Friday, Lynn will host the next edition of The Intentional Marriage over at CWATV.com. (I hope you’ll tune in and participate in the meme.) As you know by the title of our program, we talk a lot about being intentional in our marriages. And last week, I wrote about thinking of our marriages as…
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Thanksgiving… and Spiritually Mismatched
Read more: Thanksgiving… and Spiritually MismatchedThanksgiving is fast approaching in America. I love the holidays and Thanksgiving dinner is a family tradition that brings me great joy. I will tell you that in the early years of our marriage, I would set myself up for such high expectations that my husband would assume the spiritual leadership of our home and…
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Prayer in an Unequally Yoked Home
Read more: Prayer in an Unequally Yoked HomeWith Thanksgiving in mind, let's talk about giving thanks at the dinner table. John 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. Christ models praying before a meal in this…
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Politics is the New Bullying
Read more: Politics is the New BullyingPolitics is the new Bullying Last week our country suffered under full assault from the mudslinging, contentious and outright mean barrage of campaign commercials. As I watched with repulse on one specific evening I felt a smack in the face with a blaringly obvious irony. Let me explain. A week, prior to the election, I…
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Marriage for Training?
Read more: Marriage for Training?I read an excellent post by Kevin Adams over at Wake Up My Faith, entitled “Marriage-God’s Seat of the Pants Training Ground.” If you have some time, read his post. It’s a little long but worth the read. I love how God spoke to Kevin and flat out said marriage was preparation for intimacy with…
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It’s Marriage Monday: Financial Contentment in Marriage
Read more: It’s Marriage Monday: Financial Contentment in MarriageWith the recession still affecting so many among us, and the expenses of the holidays just ahead, let’s take a few minutes to encourage one another on Monday Nov. 1 2010. This month our general group topic is, “Financial Contentment in Marriage.” We all know that the topic of money can be a negatively charged…
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What do we do with Halloween?
Read more: What do we do with Halloween?What do we do with Halloween? Each year when October 31st rolls around I find it fascinating how many of us in the Christian community struggle to know what to do with this day. Is it a holiday? Should we celebrate it? Do we allow our kids to participate in Trick-or-Treat? Is it a sin…
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When God’s Not There
Read more: When God’s Not ThereI read an interesting devotional yesterday that talked about 2 Chronicles 32:31: "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." (NLT) I remember one time God did this with me. I’d recommitted my life to Christ a couple years earlier and suddenly one day my…
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Weekend Devo – Simple Truths
Read more: Weekend Devo – Simple TruthsThis is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:3-4 I love this verse because it shows our Father’s heart. This is what He wants for all of us. We can take comfort in this promise, knowing…
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What if I HAD to Choose?
Read more: What if I HAD to Choose?Excerpt from Winning Him Without Words, Regal Publishers: The true strength of our faith lies in God, not our circumstances. So let’s consider a difficult question: Can we love our spouse without any guarantee that he will come to know Christ? If this question raises despair, then we’ve most likely placed our faith in our…
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Not Disappointed
Read more: Not DisappointedThen you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. – Isaiah 49:23 (NIV) I came across this verse over the weekend and found myself unable to leave it. God's own words tell us right there that those who hope in Him won't be disappointed. That's some…
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In-Laws and Prayers
Read more: In-Laws and PrayersIt’s a busy season around the Donovan house so I’m a bit behind in posting this morning. This past weekend I went to visit my son who lives in Las Vegas. On Saturday night, I met my son’s girlfriend’s parents. They are very nice people and I adore his girlfriend. They have been dating for…