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Musicianaries
[Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Michelle D. Hand. Michelle emailed me to share about her amazing life with her husband as musicians and missionaries, or musicianaries. Enjoy!] Hey, there. My name is Michelle and I’m a vagabond. (And everyone says, “You’re a what now?”) See, it’s not how it sounds, but then again maybe it is! So what? 😉 Here’s a quick history of how I came to be in the scary-exciting, awesomely-adventurous situation God has put me in. Nine years ago, God called me to be a missionary in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I was jazzed. I’d gone on dozens of mission trips and loved it; what could be better than serving…
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The Strength of Women
[Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Fran Thring; Today she shares about the mighty strength of women.] Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock. I should be at work, but thank goodness I’m not. Instead, I’m seated in my apartment in Cape Town, South Africa in a watery spot of winter sunlight. It’s a public holiday- Women’s day. The day the government of South Africa set aside today to commemorate all the brave and strong women in our past. Let me indulge you with a quick history lesson. I won’t be long, promise! Let’s head back to 1956 where South Africa was in the…
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Unafraid
[Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from Unafraid: 365 Days Without Fear by Gracie Malone. I received a copy of the book so that I could choose an excerpt, and I went with the devotional for November 22nd. Lately, I’ve been having a little trouble falling asleep and this excerpt was encouraging to me. I hope it can encourage you as well.] When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24 The promise is set amidst a discussion about wisdom, understanding, and knowledge – contrasting these life-giving principles with fear and making them synonymous with the gift of sleep. Blessed is…
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Case of the Widow
[Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Amanda Batten. Above is a picture she provided of those widows she met in Kenya. Here, she shares some of the lessons they taught her.] “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17 Life can change in an instant and can alter us in many ways. The weather can change in the blink of an eye, but I’ve come to learn that God never changes. It wasn’t until I went on a mission trip to Kenya in 2013 that I learned just how unconditional God’s love truly is.…
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Super Christians
[Editor’s Note: This is Alice Carter’s first devotional as the new Devotional Diva social media intern!] When I was a child I was a Brownie, and I loved being in the Brownies. We would meet in a church hall each week, sing some bizarre songs, maybe do a craft or two and play a couple of games. While we were there we had to wear a uniform. It was actually pretty ugly, involving brown culottes, a yellow top a nick tie and a sash, on which you would get your mum to sew on badges. When you start you only have a couple of badges, just one with the name of…
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From the Valley To The Mountaintop
Today I am featuring an interview with author Tracey Jackson, who speaks about her new book, Lessons from the Journey: From the Valley To The Mountaintop. I hope her story of redemption can encourage you! Tracey Jackson is the author of Lessons from the Journey: From the Valley To The Mountaintop where she provides inspiring and intimates stories from a five year period in her life filled ups and downs. She warmly provides the tools (i.e. scripture and prayer) needed to help get her readers through the valley and onward to the mountaintop. Tracey is also a member of numerous community service based organizations in her native South Florida where she…
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Turning Away From God
[Guest post by Jo Ann Erwin: Welcome back, Jo Ann! I read this submission soon after I had my baby and I was still so full of hormones. I knew a story about a stray kitten was bound to bring me to tears, but when I read this powerful metaphor of turning away from God…well, I think I cried a lot more!] I am leaving the restaurant after a fine meal, my belly is full. As I walk to my car, I hear a distress call. It’s a kitten at the dumpsters. He is frantic. It has been raining and he is soaked to the bone. I call to him and…
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Take Good Care of Yourself!
[Guest post by Kunbi Ayo-Okanlawon: I found Kunbi’s post about the unhealthy fitness trends on social media very timely and extremely important for our readers. Remember, take good care of yourself!] “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) I love fitness and I’ve been called a fitness fanatic a number of times. More importantly, I love encouraging and inspiring people on their health and fitness journey. Being fit and healthy is a good thing, and Apostle Paul alluded to that fact in 1 Timothy 4:8. Eating healthy (and within reason) and staying…
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When the Fireworks Lost Their Sparkle
[Guest post by Nicole Bernard: We’re welcoming back Nicole today to share her perspective on how our sins hurt God.] The Fourth of July can be quite stressful…. at least that’s my experience as a mother to a rescue basset who suffers from anxiety issues. This year, while my husband, Steve, and three-year-old son, Carter, sat outside enjoying the fireworks, I remained inside with Lucy as she paced, panted, trembled, and occasionally lost control of her bladder (and worse). As I sat crouched on my knees near our living room window, scrubbing away at the carpet, a burst of light flashed, catching my eye. Turning my head, I was…
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Criticism and Worship
[Guest post by Hannah Kallio: I especially appreciated this post from Hannah, because criticism is definitely something I am trying to work on myself. I’d rather worship in the right way!] She Was the Worst. Worship Leader. Ever. (and I Was just like Her) Have you ever read the Bible, and seen your best and worst reflected back at you? That happened to me recently when I read Miriam’s story. I hadn’t noticed how much Miriam and I had in common. Her finest moments were moments of worship: Then the prophet Miriam…took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And…
