Monthly Archives: April 2009

Talking vs. Praying

“When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.” 1 Kings 8:54

I’ve noticed lately (though I’ve known for years) that I seem to talk to God more than pray to Him. It wasn’t always like this. Before marriage and kids I was a pray-er. A continuous communor with Jesus. But life got busy and my alone times got less and less until now it seems I throw out Twitter-like conversations, a status update with my God.

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Control Freak!

“Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7

I’ve had this condition most of my life. A condition that I am learning to live with. I desire to control things. Lots of things. Not just big things, but little things, important things, and not so important things. I try and give God a hand, all the time.

Hello. My name is Joanne and I’m a control freak.

From what my children wear, to who they will hang out with – where they will go to college, what they will eat, to what political party they will subscribe to.

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Good Fortune

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Is America in constant need of good news? It seems all we ever see on television is bad news. I’m not one for watching the news everyday, because almost every story reported is full of turmoil and tragedy. However, I do try to stay abreast of current events. I read a magazine called The Week, which touts itself as containing “all you need to know about everything that matters.” It highlights major stories covered in the United States and International Media. In addition to the top news stories, it usually contains a few human interest type stories as well as the latest in film, travel, leisure, music, books, and business.

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He Knows You

Have you ever put up a front and hidden your true feelings from others?

Have you ever acted a certain way, just to be liked or accepted?

I think it’s safe to say that, at some point, we’ve all done this. Whether it’s during our teen years due to peer pressure, or later in life, to try to fit into a group of friends or family, there’s probably a time we can all think of when we weren’t true to ourselves because we were trying to please others.

Sometimes, the desire to be liked or make others happy can be so powerful that just being ourselves doesn’t seem like enough.

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Absolutely perfect

A few weeks ago I walked into the house at the end of a long day and sank onto the couch, kicked off my boots, and launched into filling Mike in on all the details. He’s good at that; at knowing when I need to talk something through and – on this particular day – I think he realized long before I did, that I was about to, indeed, talk something through. He pulled off his reading glasses like he does when he’s preparing to give his full attention to something and he listened.

It had been a full day, with classes, labs, a meeting, and then a late lunch with one of our sons.

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Your Loved Ones Don’t Miss You

Do you have loved ones in Heaven? If you do, I’m here to tell you that they don’t miss you.

They really don’t.

Anyone close to me knows that my husband and my children are my life. I love them to pieces. BUT, when I was at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference last week, in the midst of other believers- worshipping God together through His Word, through song, and through our gifts of writing, I was home.

By day three, when I should have been aching to be with the ones I love, I spoke with my husband Paul. “I love you sweetheart, but I don’t miss you.”

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The Battle of the Jacket

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7 NIV

“I don’t know why I have to wear this heavy jacket,” my son complained as we sat in the car waiting for an appearance of the school bus. I glanced at the digital readout of temperature outside – 42 degrees. “It’s cold today,” I told him.

“I’m not cold,” he countered, “and I don’t like this jacket. I don’t even want to go to school. All I do is work all day, and it’s not fun.” He yanked at the zipper and slouched in his seat. Thinking for a moment, I said, “Colin, do you know what the Bible says?

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A Prayer of Thanks

This week, as I sat down to write my devotion for today, I paused to look out the window and soak in the moment of quiet. My kids were back at school after a very fun (and very noisy) spring break, and I savored the moment of stillness and peace.

And–maybe because of the gorgeous day outside and the beautiful sound of the birds in my backyard, or maybe because I had such a fun week with my husband and kids over spring break–when I finally began to type, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness…

And as I wrote, I prayed…

Thank you, God, for this day filled with peace, because it’s made me appreciate the moments of quiet.

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