Marriage
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Same Sex Marriage
Psalm 2:1-4 Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. "Let us break their chains," they cry, "and free ourselves from this slavery." But the one who rules…
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We SUMite Women Stand In the Gap for The SUMite Men
Honor….. This word has followed me around a lot in the last several months. And I’m coming to realize that honor is a great prize. Honor is also something I haven’t always done well. However after a recent dinner out with my husband I’ve come to realize the utter importance of honor. The honor I…
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Wedding Pictures!!!
My friends, I'm so happy that I get to share these with you! The entire weekend was amazing! So full of love and joy. I felt all your prayers through the weekend for the wedding, for my daughter, for my health-all of it. THANK YOU SO MUCH! As we drove to the wedding venue, my…
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Weekend Worship – A Story of God’s Faithfulness
Mr. and Mrs. Keith Silva I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. – Psalm 17:6 My friends, this is a special day for me and my family. It's my oldest daughter's wedding day. For me it's also a testimony to God's faithfulness.…
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A God Encounter Changes A Marriage
Crossing the Jordan series has covered a lot of new territory that we haven’t trekked before. I’m convinced that God is using this online community of The SUMites to take His love encounter to the communities where we live. Please know the Dineen and I have literally prayed and prayed for this very thing. So…
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Conflict In Marriage – I Bet You Didn’t Know THIS
I heard the most astonishing story this past week. And as I’ve thought about it, I’m compelled to share it with you. I was engaged in a discussion with a few people about marriage. You can imagine this particular subject will come up often because I’m so fascinated by God’s design for marriage. The gist…
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A Marriage of Honor
So my friends, it’s been a tough week. On Friday morning I telephoned Dineen on her cell phone and said, “I need you to pray for me. I’m really sick and can’t seem to kick this cough. It’s one in the afternoon and getting into Kaiser (our healthcare provider) will be impossible at this late…
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Open Arms – FamilyLife Today –
Hi Everyone, We are psyched to be on the FamilyLife Today broadcast Monday, today, through Wednesday. In the broadcast Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine welcome Dineen, me (Lynn) and another guest, Darla Stone, to share our stories. I think today is also when Dennis stops the broadcast to say something to my husband over the airwaves.…
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Redefining My Marriage
Many of you know Lynn and I were at the Open Heavens conference at Bethel Church in Redding, CA last week. She and I are still processing much of it and God is still moving and doing things to confirm and move us in this faith journey. Let me tell you, it’s deep stuff and…
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A Day in the Life of a S.U.M.
Hello, my dear friends! How I missed you this past week. I shared in my last post that my hubby and I were off to a get-away to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and have some R&R. Our destination? Kauai, Hawaii. Yes, truly and for real. This was our first time to visit this tropical…
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Was Jesus a Democrat or Republican?
Yep, it’s that time again. Every four years the Presidential politics rise up around our nation and especially around the Donovan house. How about you? I’m daring to talk about politics today because if your house is anything like mine, politics is a deep chasm of which my husband and I stand on opposite sides.…
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Who is This Man?
On Sunday my hubby called me from the disc golf course and asked if I’d like to go to a movie with him. It took me a few seconds in my fumbling surprise to say yes. Why? Because we have had this ongoing disconnect about going to the movies. I know this sounds a bit…
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Sacred Marriage?
Today it's my great privilege to welcome back for a second time Janet. Janet resides on the East Coast with her high school sweetheart turned husband and their three daughters. She begins and ends her day with God and strives to still be in constant dialogue with Him between. Thank you for being part of…
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Weekend Devo – Feeding on God’s Best
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. – 1Peter 2:2-3 Have you ever noticed how you wind up drifting away from your spouse when you don’t spend time together and make time to talk…
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The Call to Stand Firm
(This is from a 2009 post that I dug out and updated. It fits our ongoing series so well even after three years!) The stories in the Bible display a constant thread of struggle and perseverance. From Jacob to Joseph to Moses and the Israelites. In Genesis 32, Jacob is faced with a potential disaster.…
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Taking a Walk with Nehemiah, Part 1
If you're doing a read your Bible in a year plan, chances are you're reading in Nehemiah right now. I've been reading this story of rebuilding Jerusalem's wall with a new fascination. It's as if God is whispering in my ear as I read, asking, "Are you committed to building your marriage like Nehemiah fought…
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Weekend Devo – God Has Your Back
“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. – Isaiah 58:8 I have loved this particular verse for a quite a while now because God used it to affirm me…
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What Does Respect Really Mean?
At church one Sunday, a friend who is also mismatched asked me about how to handle a situation that she either went behind her husband’s back to do what she thought was right in fulfilling a law or being up front and asking for his input and leadership with the understanding that he may well…
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An Open Letter from Courtney
An Open Letter from Courtney: Hi Lynn and Dineen, I never thought I would say this, but I'm going to miss this season being in a spiritually unequal marriage in some ways. It just dawned on me this morning during a very precious and tear-filled quiet time with Jesus. As the Lord has been impressing…
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An Interview with Lexie Baltimore, Part 2
Welcome back, everyone! Here's the second half of Lexie's interview. Okay, here’s a tough one, Lexie and I hope you don’t mind us asking, but I think it’s an area we should address. How did you wind up handling your feelings for Nate? First of all, I went to God and confessed them. I had…
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An Interview with Lexie Baltimore, Part 1
My friends, I had a lot of fun (and shed a few tears) doing this interview with Lexie. You spend months and even years with these characters and they become almost real. I thought you’d like to see the picture I used to help me visualize Lexie too. So, without further ado, here’s Lexie. Lexie,…