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Devotionals

5 Ds and 5 Cs

Life can certainly be challenging, can’t it, my dear friend?

Some days leave us feeling beat up, knocked down, and just plain exhausted.

So how are we to overcome those less-than-desirable days?

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Part 1

How to combat the 5 Ds with the 5 Cs of Christ

The strategy of the Devil –

John 10:10(a) tells us the thief (devil) comes to steal and kill and destroy.

That’s powerful – and it’s also frightening.

So, just how does the devil go about doing these things?

Here are a few of his tools:

Doubt – Doubt causes you to question God’s work in your life and question His goodness

Ever feel unworthy or less-than?

Perhaps you tell yourself ‘I can’t’

Discouragement – Discouragement keeps your focus on how big your problems are – rather than on how BIG our God IS

Do you find yourself desiring to give up?

Do you feel the work is just too hard sometimes?

Diversion – Diversion will make the wrong things seem attractive so that you will desire them even more than the right things

Are you distracted by things? Phone? TV? Sports?

Tempted by things that do not belong in your Core Values?

Defeat – Defeat will make you feel like a failure so that you don’t even try

Ever feel that you might as well just give up before you even start?

Feel like you just can’t?

Delay – Delay will cause you to put things off, so they never get done

Procrastination is not of God

Remember: it’s God’s timing, not yours

We know that the devil schemes to kill and destroy. He attacks us with lust, pride,

power, discouragement, doubt, money, escapism, pleasure, hate, anger, jealousy, selfishness – you name it, it’s in his arsenal. And he’s more than happy to pull it out and use it on us at any given moment.

Part 2 –

How to combat the 5 Ds with the 5 Cs of Christ

Combat the devil’s strategy with Christ! –

So, what’s a Christ-follower to do?

The truth is we don’t have to fight the devil alone.

In Christ, the victory is already ours!

(1 Corinthians 15:57)

Read on for tips to keep the devil at bay!

Remember:

Compassion – God is a compassionate God, and He loves you

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness

The Heart of Jesus is love and compassion

Courage – God gives us courage through His continual encouragement

Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go

He gives us the courage to stay in the fight

Content – We are content and at peace when we remain in God’s will

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We will have Joy

We will find Happiness in Jesus

Certainty – God gives us the certainty that we are never defeated. The Bible clearly states that the victory is ours, and He is on your side.

Romans 8:30 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God has a good plan for your life

Confidence – God gives us complete confidence in His timing

Philippians 4:13 I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength

Christ has already won the victory

Remember John 10:10(a) – the devil prowling around, seeking to do all those mean things? Well, that’s not the end of the story.

John 10:10(b – emphasis mine) finishes by saying, ‘ I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’

I don’t know about you, but I like that ending! That is a beautiful promise to hold fast to when the devil attacks.

So, always remember that C comes before D, just as Christ comes before the devil!

by Diana Journy

Devotionals

The Gift of Love

What is the gift of love? What is love?

Love: lŭv – A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.

That’s the definition of Love, according to the American Heritage Dictionary.

How would you define Love? And who comes to mind when you think of love? Do you think of your precious children or grandchildren (oh, those sweet babies!)? Your incredible spouse? Or maybe it’s the love of your favorite furry kiddos, your dogs and cats! How about the love of the Lord?

The Gift of Love

However, it is that you view love, it is a gift. A gift to be shared and a gift to be received.

Our family has been on quite a journey recently. First, we’ve had a beautiful blessing in our new, precious granddaughter’s safe arrival. She is love personified, in all of her tiny perfection!

To look at her is to love her.

On the very same day we welcomed our newest family blessing, sweet baby Margeaux, we began a challenging journey with our son, Matthew. We learned Matthew was in the ER, being treated for a possible stroke. Fear and uncertainty followed. Feelings of overflowing blessings mingled with our worried and anxious minds.

But what keeps us afloat through it ALL? The gift of Love.

The pure love we feel when we look at our treasured new granddaughter. The pure, unconditional love we feel for our son as we walk through this season with him – and the love we receive back. The love of our Lord, who carries us and gives us strength – all a genuine gift.

What We Know About Love

1 Corinthians 13 tells us these things about Love:

Love is patient
Love is kind
Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud
Love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

That’s quite a list! But surely one worthy of aspiring to, don’t you think? As we walk this marvelous journey of life together – we sure do.

Let’s choose to live on purpose, to give the gift of love to those around us – not just in this notoriously love-filled month, but every day!

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:13

by Diana Journy

Devotionals

I Still Believe

I Still Believe…

While walking one day, God spoke to me about believing. Walking through an event like a pandemic can leave us with many doubts about the future. Yet, as I walked that day, I heard Him say: “Still believe”.

My mind turned to the many times I had doubted: the premature birth of our fourth baby, the mountain of debt that we could not move. I looked around and things seemed hopeless; but the biggest time I doubted was my husband’s affair.

I can so clearly see the hand of God as each event turned into a miracle. Our premature son beat all the odds, and today he is a successful businessman, a loving husband, and father. The mountain of debt? It was taken down piece by piece. Against all odds, my husband and I not only survived his infidelity. We have also soared to new heights in our marriage. Now we are blessed by helping other couples to heal from betrayal or take their own marriages to new heights.

Beating The Odds

Contemplating on my walk that day, it occurred to me that we really had beat the odds. My husband once told me that his counselor shared with Tim that the odds were against his affair relationship lasting. Tim told his counselor that he liked it when the odds were against him. I never realized until today how much the deck was stacked against us as a couple. As much as I don’t like to admit it or even think about it, he was entrenched in his affair partner. She was determined to win the man she thought would rescue her. Yes, the odds were definitely against our marriage.

That was not God’s plan for us! The day He showed up everything changed. I can say today – I still believe!

God is in control during this time of uncertainty: coronavirus, financial strain, jobs, education, marital struggles – all of it. And that when all is done, life will again resemble our normal lives. We will have changed because of what we have gone through while we were staying in place. Our new lives will be different – but there will be blessings! I still believe that He will do it again!

by Diana Journy

Devotionals, Life

Surrendering Changes Everything!

After seeing the movie Breakthrough, there were two critical points that really made an impact on me. The first is when Joyce Smith arrives at the hospital and is escorted into the ER room where her 14-year-old son lies lifeless. All life-saving measures have been stopped. John fell through the ice into Lake Sainte Louise, in Missouri. John was underwater for over 15 minutes and not responsive for over 45 minutes, while the paramedics and then doctors did all they could to try to bring life into John’s lifeless body. What did his mother, Joyce, do? She prayed! She cried out for God to breathe life into her son. The monitor went from a flat line to a beep. All the medical crew outside the curtain were in shock but immediately jumped into action to get John on all the life-supporting equipment he needed. But the journey didn’t end there. God answered his mother’s prayer—to breathe life into John—but there was still so much unknown in front of them.

The second thing that Joyce did came days later when there had been no improvement and things looked grim for John’s recovery. Joyce removed herself from John’s side and escaped to the rooftop of the hospital where she surrendered to God. She acknowledged her sins, asked for forgiveness, and surrendered all control over the future of John’s healing to God. That’s when everything changed!

I personally know this! This is my story! Many years ago, I was trying to control the outcome of my broken marriage. I was guilty of trying to fix it all on my own. Sure, I prayed, and I even surrendered, but when things got crazy again, I would jump back into the driver’s seat. I thought I knew what needed to be done to fix my marriage. Well, maybe it’s more correct to say, I thought I knew what my husband needed to do. Of course, now after being out of the crazy cycle, I can honestly say that I was causing more damage than good—something I didn’t see at the time. Things were a mess, and I was a mess! Something needed to change.

Then one day it happened: I found some emails that once again ripped my heart into a million tiny pieces and depleted me of all hope that my marriage could be saved. I cried, screamed, and wailed as I read the emails over and over. My fears consumed me: my marriage was over, and I would be alone. Then in a split second, I was on my knees, with the emails held high above my head, pleading with God to take this from me. I couldn’t do it anymore. And he did: within a few seconds, I felt everything being lifted from me and His peace surrounding me. Feeling the warmth and comfort of someone holding me and telling me I would be OK, I was able to rest in the peace of God. Those moments changed everything.

Did I still hurt? Yes! Was there still uncertainty? Yes! Sure thing. All the same feelings where there: the pain, hurt, anger, disbelief, hopelessness, uncertainty… you name it, it was there. The difference was that now I was not the one in the driver’s seat; I had surrendered to God, and He was the one driving. I learned to trust God and to call out to Him when I need help or even to just release. He was there for me; He loved me through my brokenness, the pain and the anger. He didn’t judge me; He was just there. True surrendering, when you finally give it all up, laying it all down at the feet of Jesus and not picking it back up, changes everything.

Is it easy? No! But God knows that. That is why we have His word to help us through.

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 46:10

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10

I highly suggest you see the movie Breakthrough and you focus on the two things that Joyce did and how God reacted. She prayed and He answered. She surrendered and it changed everything!

by Diana Journy

Devotionals, Life

Just Enough

Just after Christmas last year, I discovered that my checking account was almost empty! It had been a wonderful holiday as the whole family had come to stay. Our house had been full of activities, laughter and love. Now it was empty and so was our bank account. Entertaining and feeding a group of 17 is expensive. Add to that buying the necessities for the babies and projects to keep the preschooler busy, and it cost way more than I had anticipated. Now I worried how we would get by on 83 dollars until payday, which was ten days away. The pantry and refrigerator were both empty. We needed groceries and I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled that would require a copay. I didn’t see any way we would be able to make it.

My story is that for many years I have lived one step ahead of just enough. What does that mean? Well, I’ve experienced years of financial struggles, while an outward appearance made it seem like I had it all. The truth is, I had options to make things look better than they were, including credit cards, an option to refinance our home or get a second, and a path to find a better paying position. When things got tight and there wasn’t enough money, there were options. Then one day, there were no more options, credit cards maxed out, no more offers for higher paying positions, and a downturn in the market meant more was owed on the home then its value. Options were gone; reality had to be faced. And beyond the reality of facing no more options, I had to face the reality that I had been the one to make the choices. Now what? If I’m honest, facing reality is not a very easy thing to do. I spiraled down into a tunnel of darkness. Seeing no way out, I became withdrawn and cocooned in the darkness. The hopelessness wrapped around me, keeping me paralyzed and alone.When I was in this cocooned place, I could not move or see any light of hope.

So, did I ever get out of that dark place? After all it’s not a fun place to be! Slowly, I started to see light, but it was a process! A slow and painful process with hard lessons. Even writing this blog is not easy, because all the facades, prestenses and masks had to come down. I had become comfortable with the life I presented, facades and all. Right now, today, there is no more false outward appearance, just the plain and simple truth. That is how I can write that I have just enough. Yes, just enough for today, for every day and that is a good place to be.

So, what happened? Well, it was only through the grace of God. He helped me to see that I had enough, even if it was just enough. He showed me that all I needed was just enough for today, for this minute. Have you heard a similar story? While in the wilderness, God gave the Israelites manna for each day. They were instructed to collect just enough for that day. If they gathered more and hoarded it, the manna rotted.

Even knowing the story from the Bible didn’t make it easier. It was still a very slow process of accepting that I was going to be okay and God was in control. It meant I took things little by little, day by day. In time, I started to see light through the darkness giving me hope. There is a big lesson here that God really wants me to learn and live by, which I’m trying so hard to grasp. To be totally honest it’s not always enjoyable. The most important lesson He wanted to teach me is that while I have less than I would like— financially or in any other area—I need to trust Him. He will give me what I need, like he always has, just enough. A second but just as important lesson is that I am not alone on this journey of life; He is here alongside me. The third lesson and probably hardest is that He needs my story for His glory. I’m not the only one who has struggled with whether they have enough and I need to be able to be open so others can feel understood and know that they are not alone. He is asking me to be vulnerable and that’s why I am sharing. He gives us all enough. Sometimes just enough, but enough.

I still catch myself worrying whether I have enough, yet God is right there reminding me that He is enough. Of course, I might need to do some things differently, make some changes in my lifestyle. All of these feel different, perhaps even scary. Although I may be uncomfortable with the shifts and there are even things I don’t want to change, in the end, it will be okay And more importantly, I will be ok. My job is to trust and know that Just Enough is His plan!

So, you may be wondering, what happened when I only had 83 dollars? With ten days before the next paycheck would come in, we would receive absolutely just enough for each day. An unexpected refund hit our account, a client called for an emergency appointment, and I even found a check that I had not deposited. In the end we made it to payday with, you guessed it, Just Enough!

by Diana Journy