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Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart. - Proverbs 3:3 I attended a meeting for writers where an author spoke and gave many wonderf…Let not mercy and tr…Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart. - Proverbs 3:3 I attended a meeting for writers where an author spoke and gave many wonderful tips on how to get published in children’s magazines. She knows whereof she speaks, having been published over 400 times. When we ooh-ed and ah-ed over her body of work, she hastened to say she has probably had at least four times that many rejections – more in the beginning. That’s 1,600! But even in being rejected, she was never dejected. She looked to the future, and when receivi…

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies (Psalm 34:13 niv). An elderly woman has been in the news today. She got in big trouble for spouting off and making very controversial rem…Keep your tongue fro…Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies (Psalm 34:13 niv). An elderly woman has been in the news today. She got in big trouble for spouting off and making very controversial remarks to the media. Her comments could not be interpreted as anything but small-minded and bigoted. Because of the uproar, she resigned from a long-held position as a newspaper columnist. I was offended by this woman\'s views, but joked with some friends that the older I get, the more apt I am to let loose and opine with abandon on almost any subject. My friend, Georgia, said, "Some people …

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps…Now you are the body…Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NKJV). I was nine years old and couldn’t wait to get to Sunday School. My teacher, a lovely, gentle woman, shared the most wonderful stories with us every week. Then we got to do a craft, a puzzle, or a coloring page. I didn\'t even care that one Sunday the other children had laughed at me. When we studied the Beatitudes, the…

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far m…Therefore we do not …Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 On January 1, I always breathe a sigh of relief. The frantic pace that begins the week of Thanksgiving lets up - a little. I always have two or three…

His master replied, \'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master\'s happiness!\' – Matthew 25…His master replied, …His master replied, \'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master\'s happiness!\' – Matthew 25:21 NIV As a little girl, I use to daydream a lot and tended to dawdle. In first grade, my teacher saw some artistic talent in me, and gave me an assignment to paint a poster-sized picture. Every day I spent part of my recess time staying inside and working on it. I\'m also a bit of a perfectionist, so the progress became painstakingly slow. One day my teacher came in to see how much I\'d ac…

After the LORD finished speaking to me, I got another scroll and gave it to Baruch. Then I told him what to write, so this second scroll would contain even more than was on the scroll Jehoiakim had bu…After the LORD finis…After the LORD finished speaking to me, I got another scroll and gave it to Baruch. Then I told him what to write, so this second scroll would contain even more than was on the scroll Jehoiakim had burned. – Jeremiah 36:32 cev Have you ever had the hard drive on your computer crash and burn? I have. And I wouldn\'t wish that situation on my worst enemy. I lost everything on my computer. All my files. All my mail. All my favorites and email addresses. I sat in front of my laptop and prayed. Then I cried a bit. Then I prayed some more. I took my computer, which I really wanted to shove over…

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. - I John 3:14 NLT Do you have a favorite restauran…If we love our Chris…If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. - I John 3:14 NLT Do you have a favorite restaurant? What makes that particular eatery different from the rest? Each restaurant specializes, whether it\'s a hot dog stand or a fancy French restaurant. You won\'t get a fantastic piece of fresh salmon by going to a local pizza place, but you can probably order lasagna with homemade sauce or thick crust pizza piled high with the ingredients of your choice. I added a new place to my list of favor…

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certain…Obey your spiritual …Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. – Hebrews 13:17 nlt A wonderful woman named Mary Preston was a mentor to me in my early years of singing, and instrumental in my learning to play the piano. She never had children, but treated me as I was her own. I share this in honor of Mother\'s Day. As a teenager, I sang in the church choir. I enjoyed watching the pianist, Mary, as her fingers glided across…

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. - Hebrews 13:…Through Him, therefo…Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. - Hebrews 13:15 amp I received the nicest email from someone who stumbled across my devotionals. Dianne complimented me on the site, and encouraged me to keep working for the Lord. I appreciate the fact that Dianne took the time to cheer on a fellow Christian she has never met. Her email caused me to wonder. When\'s the last time I applauded someone? Have I inspired someone to work harder in his or …

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. - Luke 10:42 It snowed this evening. An entirely unexpected snow, at least for me. I have a DV…But one thing is nee…But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. - Luke 10:42 It snowed this evening. An entirely unexpected snow, at least for me. I have a DVR now, so I rarely watch live television. This means I miss important announcements - like the fact that a storm is headed for my town. But in other ways, this little electronic box has been a great blessing. I no longer channel surf, looking for something worth watching. I have more time to be productive. Tonight before I let my dogs out, I looked out at my back deck, covered with a thick…

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 nlt When my son, Aaron, was a small tyke, his favorite toys were plastic G I. J…For the wages of sin…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 nlt When my son, Aaron, was a small tyke, his favorite toys were plastic G I. Joe figures. Every day his little red head could be found poring over his collection. After much deliberation, he picked out two to carry- one in each chubby, little hand. For Christmas, Aaron asked for a specific G. I. Joe. The problem? Every other three-year old in our area wanted the same one. I despaired as Christmas grew closer, and none could be found. Finally, I found it. You would h…

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 niv People today are pre-occupied with their bodies. It seems every magazin…Therefore, if anyone…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 niv People today are pre-occupied with their bodies. It seems every magazine for women I see has at least one article promising a total makeover. "If you\'ll follow these ten steps, you can change your body!" I don\'t know about you, but I\'m about due for an extreme makeover. The changes in my body both fascinate and horrify me. Not long ago, my friends and I stopped at a new restaurant for dinner. When I got up to go to the restroom, I saw a woman I thought looked …

From that time on, Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17 niv The other night on the news, the reporter profiled a man well over one hundred ye…From that time on, J…From that time on, Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17 niv The other night on the news, the reporter profiled a man well over one hundred years of age who competed in the Senior Olympics. I looked at my husband and said, "Just think - in fifty years you could be an athlete!" A look crossed his face that I can only describe as one of horror. Still be here in fifty years? No, thanks. You see, just a few days ago, my husband preached a sermon on Heaven. Where is it? What will it be like? Who gets to go? All this talk of going to …

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 niv Have you eve…But the fruit of the…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 niv Have you ever been around someone you\'d describe as gentle? Kindness and consideration ooze from her pores. Things that would cause you to snap or rebuke someone harshly only slightly ruffle her feathers. Gentleness is in her nature. When I attended the Girls Auxiliary program as a young girl, I had a teacher I could count on to be tenderhearted, never raising her voice. With about fifteen chatty and some…

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. - Jude …Dear friends, althou…Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. - Jude 1:3 NIV A guest minister at our church told us how, when he chose his former profession, he knew he\'d made the right choice. Wrong. God had other plans. This man had a congenital birth defect. The Lord not only healed him, but also called him to preach. He said God set him on ‘a new path I didn\'t know was there.\' When he made that statement, it reminded me of one of the origina…

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 nkjv I don\'t drive on the interstate often. Recently I had a meeting to attend which necessita…I press toward the g…I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 nkjv I don\'t drive on the interstate often. Recently I had a meeting to attend which necessitated a forty-minute drive on the highway. Before backing out of the garage, I strapped my seatbelt, adjusted my mirrors, checked my directions, and prayed. In fact, I prayed for the next forty minutes! As I whizzed down the road at sixty, okay seventy miles per hour, I checked my rear-view mirrors often. Many years ago in driver\'s education, my instructor told me to check my mirrors frequently …