Encouragement

  • A Stunning Revelation of My Authority

    A Stunning Revelation of My Authority

    My friends, today I want to share a something God is showing me in my own life. And as God is so perfect in His ways, this ties into the series I’ve been writing about regarding words, the power of God’s Word, and the authority we walk in as His children. And I’ve no doubt…

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  • The Power of Words

    The Power of Words

    My friends, on Monday we talked about our authority and place of power, that we have everything through Christ Jesus and nothing to lose because of His sacrifice for us, and that the enemy has nothing and everything to lose. That's because he's already lost. With that I want to point to a truth that…

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  • Our Place of Authority and Power

    Our Place of Authority and Power

    Dear friends, two weeks ago I wrote a post about seeing the gold in our spouses and calling it out. Since then the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about the power of our words, which seems to dovetail perfectly with what Lynn has been teaching us, specifically about praying with confidence. And that…

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  • My Husband Entered My World, part 2

    My Husband Entered My World, part 2

    Hello, SUMites! I have to say I’m so excited to share the rest of this story for you. God did some pretty awesome things during the week of the ACFW conference. I was so blessed to hug old friends I hadn’t seen since last year and to make some new friends as well. Since I…

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  • My Husband Entered My World

    My Husband Entered My World

    I shared the week before last that I would be in Nashville for the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. What I didn't tell you is that my sweet hubby agreed to come for part of the week. Yes, my friends, he entered my world of fiction and met some amazing people on fire for Jesus,…

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  • Guest Post: The Mismatched Family by Dee Rusnak

    Guest Post: The Mismatched Family by Dee Rusnak

    Dear friends, I'm traveling this week and will be in Nashville for the ACFW conference. I'm thrilled to share this most encouraging post by SUMite, Dee Rusnak. How amazing to think our Lord and Savior Jesus understands our mismatched places because He lived it too.  Thank you, Dee, for once again sharing your beautiful heart…

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  • Seeing the “Gold” in Our Spouse

    Seeing the “Gold” in Our Spouse

    I went through my old files today and found a post I’d written about my husband’s positive qualities. The list made me think about a verse in Ecclesiastes that I absolutely love. Why? Because it’s a picture of God’s heart and how He sees us. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he…

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  • Growing Up a Marriage

    Growing Up a Marriage

    What if nurturing a marriage is like nurturing a child? The question entered my thoughts as I sat next to my hubby in the car, comfortable and confident that he would take us to our next destination well. I began to contemplate the journey of a marriage. Like the birth of a child, a marriage…

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  • Lord of the Harvest

    Lord of the Harvest

    He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” My friends, I don’t know if you remember me sharing in June of 2013 a dream God gave me, which…

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  • You are Powerful!

    You are Powerful!

    My friends, today’s post came as a complete surprise to me. Interesting way to start, isn’t it?  Well, the Holy Spirit seems to be doing things quite differently in me these days, so I’m doing my best to follow His lead and trust He has a something already in mind even when He waits to…

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  • Foundations Series: INHERITANCE & IDENTITY, part 2

    Foundations Series: INHERITANCE & IDENTITY, part 2

    Hello, SUMites! Yesterday my hubby and I walked through our house to see the changes in just the last week or so. The drywall is up and the rooms are more defined now. As we passed through an unfinished doorway, my husband pointed a written Scripture still exposed there. He asked me, “Is this one…

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  • Guest Post: Follow Me by Dee Rusnak

    Guest Post: Follow Me by Dee Rusnak

    “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26 I totally get where the Israelites were coming from in yearning to be like those around them, even to the point of desiring a king (1…

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  • Foundations Series: INHERITANCE & IDENTITY

    Foundations Series: INHERITANCE & IDENTITY

    Dear friends, in this foundations series we’ve talked about the foundational truths of salvation, love, hope, faith and specifically God’s love. That one seems to be the one I keep coming face to face with. I’ve grappled with the full truth of God’s complete love for us and now God is connecting me to others…

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  • A SUMite Question: How Do I Stay Connected to My Spouse?

    A SUMite Question: How Do I Stay Connected to My Spouse?

    My friends, one of the most challenging areas in a SUM is staying connected to our spouse, so today I want to tackle a reader question. Actually, this is a question that is asked frequently so I’ve edited this most recent one and included some additional parts from past questions so that it will encompass…

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  • Guest Post: Glowing in the Dark

    Guest Post: Glowing in the Dark

    "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" – Acts 13:47 I could hear the explosion of fireworks near my house on the night of July 4th. I peered out my back window, but…

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  • God is Watching Over This House!

    God is Watching Over This House!

    My daughter Leslie is visiting and helped us write Scriptures! Hello SUMites! Today I wanted to share with you how amazing it was Saturday to write those beautiful Scriptures on the beams, doorposts and stairs. There are now over 30 Scriptures written all over this home. As we wrote, we prayed, blessed the house and even…

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  • Foundations Series: SALVATION

    Foundations Series: SALVATION

    Hello my dear friends. I just love the Scriptures you’re sending in response to my post on Tuesday. Thank you for sharing your treasures with me. I’m so blown away by your stories of how God is moving! I will be writing these precious Scriptures on the beams of our house and holding them close…

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  • Friday Prayer: The Armor of God

    Friday Prayer: The Armor of God

    Hey there, SUMites! Here's one of those surprises! On Fridays I will post a prayer through the month of July. God's impressed upon me to share these prayers to help encourage and bless you. So here goes…are you ready? (Turn up your volume if needed. I forgot how allergy season here in Florida makes me…

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  • Part Four: The Promised Provision

    Part Four: The Promised Provision

    My friends, are you ready for more of God’s amazing truth and love? Are you ready to have your thinking transformed a bit today? Let’s go back to the book of Jeremiah and take another look at King Zedekiah’s story. Let’s look at the first five verses of Jeremiah 34, because this is where things…

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  • Part Three: When Things Don’t Make Sense

    Part Three: When Things Don’t Make Sense

    Recently, I sat in a big room with about 50 people worshiping God in their own way, creating one big mass of noise. But when I closed my eyes, Holy Spirit tuned my ears to hear each individual sound-instruments, voices singing and praying. Each one was distinct and clear. Then I opened my eyes and…

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  • Part Two: Upgrades

    Part Two: Upgrades

    SUMites, I promised to share more of what God is showing me for our community right now. I believe this next part will be so encouraging to you and will strengthen your spirit greatly. Let’s go back to Isaiah 60. There are several parts to this chapter that God has in the works for us…

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