Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, April 8th
No One Suffers from
TOO MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT!
We all need it. We all want it. We can all give
it away!!
The Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
definition of encourage is:
(v.
t.) To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the
confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; -- the
opposite of discourage.
In
looking up the word encouragement in Scripture, I found that the first use of
the word "encourage" is in Deuteronomy
1, where Moses was speaking to the nation of Israel. Moses was reminding
the ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, March 4th
Can Prayer Really Change Things? Jesus declared it CAN!
In Mark 9:29, Jesus makes a simple statement, after his disciples came to him asking why they could not help the boy with a demon. This story is also shared in Matthew 17:21 and most versions note by prayer and fasting! Below are a few examples from Mark. The last version speaks greatly to me, for it emphasizes that NOTHING else works!
New International VersionHe replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
English Standard VersionAnd he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo” –Monday, February 25th
Paying for your Children...the Rest of the Story
When first learning how to parent, a job which will never end, nor my learning curve ever seem to change, I was greatly challenged by my super strong-willed first born son! After being an easy baby, he seemed to enter the “terrible twos,” which lasted from 12 months ‘til he was almost 7 years old! Literally. Meanwhile, our second child, a girl, was born about 17 months after my son, an event which he did NOT condone. I needed help! I was desperate!
Years before, about a year or two after saying ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, Feb. 4th
Praying for Your Children-Part 2: A Daily Prayer Guide from Focus on the Family
We just can't pray enough! Right? I know that when I was in the throngs of caring for young children, trying to home school two, with a toddler running about, and helping my husband run a business, life was pretty hectic. I even took on the job of educating two other children, in exchange for an occasional dinner and my laundry washed and folded! Additionally, I drove to Ft. Worth once a week for my kids to attend Museum School and for us to visit with my parents. Never ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, Jan. 28th
Praying for Your Children
If you read last week’s “Mom’s Minute,” you better believe I’ve been praying for my children! It seems that the older they get, the more I need to pray!! But in reality, we should always be praying and declaring words of life and destiny over our children-from before birth, all the way through our lives. That also goes for our husbands, family members, and those for whom we love and care. In fact, we are called to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, Jan. 21st
WAKE-UP CALLSLast Friday, my son Joshua, a senior at Baylor, was in a three car pile up, resulting in his car being totaled; yet, he was NOT injured-Praise God!! Definitely shaken and sore, he walked away from the accident. From the police analysis, the wreck could have ended in loss of life in any of the three vehicles involved, and EVERYONE walked away! Miraculous!!
Earlier in the week, I had a near miss of rear-ending someone because I glanced down for a split second to find my phone-not even to read it, just to grab it out of my lap. I was forced to slam on ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, Jan 14th
Eyes of HOPE : Having Our Perspective Encouraged
If we just watch the news, focus on the media, listen to the conversation in the grocery store or coffee line, we could easily be discouraged at the state of affairs of our nation, our state, or our community. If we look back at last year, remembering the negative circumstances which we experienced or the failures of ourselves or others, we could start this year desperately discouraged. It’s easy to see the evil in the world or what’s wrong with a situation, clearly defining "the speck" in ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”-Monday, December 17th
What are You Saying?
Our words have POWER!! What we say has a great impact in our lives, our husbands’ lives, our children’s lives, and our world around us! We are literally making declarations every time we speak, whether for good or evil, whether for truth or falsehood, whether for what we want to see come to pass or what we say but don’t really want to be fulfilled...
Proverbs 18:12 tells us that "Life and Death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it (life or death will indulge it) and will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”–Monday, December 3rd
Hark! Means Listen
“Hark the herald angels sing, Hark! Means listen there’s a newborn King,” sang the Valor students last week, as they rehearsed for the Christmas program. I had the opportunity to be a substitute for the Music classes on Wednesday and Friday, thoroughly enjoying the experience! Yet, I found that by Friday evening, all I could hear “playing in my head” were the words and music which I had heard and sung over and over again for two days!!
According to Merriam-Webster.com: hark-verb/ˈhärk (harked; harking; harks) Definition of ...
Mom’s “Minute Devo”-Monday, November 26th
How dead is dead?
Wow! What a title for right after Thanksgiving? Giving thanks on purpose definitely has something to do with it, but we’ll get back to that!
You remember the story of Lazarus in John 11? Jesus was with his disciples in another place when Lazarus became ill. His sisters, Mary & Martha, sent word to Jesus, but instead of going to Bethany to see Lazarus, Jesus delayed two more days. By this time, Lazarus died.
Jesus then told his disciples they must go to Bethany for Lazarus had “fallen asleep,” yet it was all for “the glory of God,” ...