Encouragement
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Chronicles of the Donovan Clan
Hello….. What happened? August is over… I feel like deer in head lights. Where in the heck did the month go? I had so much to write about and finish up before September. So let’s finish up our conversation about conflict. Give you an update from the Chronicles of the Donovan Clan, talk some about…
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Marriage, Alcohol, Final Thoughts and a Suprise!
When we began this series regarding conflict I set out some of the guidelines and the premise by which we intend to explore the specific issues. If you have not read that post, please read it now (go here, then come right back). I want to add some thoughts about our current topic, Alcohol and…
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Weekend Devo – Have you noticed?
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. – Psalm 106:1 Have you noticed God in the little things? The bloom of a flower, a clear blue sky, a special word you needed at a particular time of discouragement? God's presence is all around us, constantly. He…
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Weekend Devo-To Know and Be Known
(This is a re-post from July 30, 2007, with the addition of applicable Scripture. In light of our recent topics I thought it might be a good one to revisit.) But the man who loves God is known by God. – 1Corinthians 8:3 As I wrote down my prayer, the ache in my heart formed…
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Eternity’s Waiting
As I mention in the weekend devo, Ecclesiates 3:11 became quite significant to me last week. I'll tell you why. I've shared recent posts about "living out loud" and searching for God's will in my marriage, and what that means. What should I say or not say about my faith? Am I living out loud…
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Weekend Devo-Time and Eternity
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11 I don't know about you, but there are certain books in the Bible that take more energy to read than others. Ecclesiastes…
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Living Out Loud, Part 2
Thoughts and questions are formulating in my mind. I've not yet made sense of it all, but I trust God to take care of that. Consider this more just me thinking out loud. And please join in with your own thoughts. Perhaps its impatience. I don't know, but I do sense God preparing me for…
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Weekend Devo – Living Out Loud
God Is Interested in Your Work by Rick Warren "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose…
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Second-Hand God?
"I'll never again live on the crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor." – Job 42:6 The Message I love this line from the Message translation, because even Job made the same mistake we do sometimes. We rely more on what people and books tell us about God than really getting to know God through prayer…
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Church or no-Church; The Conclusion
It’s a typical hot July day here in sunny Southern California. It’s Sunday afternoon. I am in my office and I can hear my hubby clearing the kitchen of the lunch dishes. I am remembering the morning. I woke today wondering about church or no church. Would he go? Would he stay home? What do…
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When God Leads
“When you sense an answer from the Lord and your husband doesn't, how do you communicate WHY you feel moved to do what God said?” A friend of mine posed this question to me recently. At first I didn’t know how to answer, because I couldn’t recall a situation where this happened. Don’t you know…
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Weekend Devo-
Finding God in the Little ThingsAmazing how the littlest word or gesture can go a long way. I'm going on a mini retreat next week with two friends from church. We've tired to plan this for several years and finally found a way to work it out. Tahoe here we come! But what's so funny to me is that I'm…
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Attending Chruch Alone
Church or no-Church. What is a Girl to Do?Continued from Monday. I just couldn’t do it any longer. Sacrifice another morning. I survive because of those two little hours where I refuel, gain perspective and fill my soul with spiritual strength in order to face the week ahead and the spiritual battles which are inevitable. His non-confrontational persona leapt forward and he mumbled…
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Let’s Talk, Part 2
Last week we had a great discussion about communication. Lots of great comments and input. Let me see if I can summarize some of what was shared. Talking: The true key to communication, although we do communicate with our body language and tone of voice, but we’ll leave that to another post. Kathleen gave us…
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Weekend Devo-Praying Fervently for our Children
In celebration of Father's Day, I'd like to share this wonderful article by Rick Warren with you. -Blessings! Dineen Fathers: Pray Fervently for Your Children by Rick Warren "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours" (John 17:9 NIV). Jesus reflected…
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Are you listening, God?
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. – Proverbs 19:20 In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers speaks frequently of the challenges in the valley, which he likens to the trials and travails of everyday life. Those moments on the spiritual mountain tops are fine for what…
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Five Valuable Questions
You know how you have those times where you think things are going well? Quiet time's in place, you're more in love with your spouse than ever, and your kids (all of them!) are actually doing well and handling their responsibilities without making it an act of congress on your part. (I actually have one…
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Weekend Devo – Are you with God?
"The Lord is with you when you are with Him." – Asariah, son of Oded (2 Chronicles 15:2) Here's another one of those Scriptures that kept my interest for days. It fascinates me to find something I could so clearly hear Jesus say in the Old Testament. But that makes sense, doesn't it? After all,…
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Thriving Despite
Hi All My Friends, I sure owe you an apology. I apologize for my sporadic writing schedule in the month of May. In my life, May and December are equal when it comes to over commitments and busyness. I’m sorry! Whew glad to get that off my chest. Today I want to conclude the truths…
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Books, Books, and Books
Welcome to the final week of our Open Forum. We've tackled some tough questions the last several weeks. It has been and honor and a pleasure for us to serve our readers this way. Please, feel free at any time to leave a question you may have in the comments or email Lynn and I…
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Weekend Devo – Talk Like the Animals
As my daughter and I were driving to the dog park, she told me a cute story. See, one day a while back, her dad had taken her and Shasta, her poochy, to the dog park. She said the most interesting thing happened. The dogs were drawn to my hubby. According to my daughter, they…