Category: devotions

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Give Me Life

Diane Reid

I have been greatly humbled, Lord Jehovah; give me life according to your word. Psalm 119:107 Pain, lack, limitations, broken relationships, financial pressures are all humbling experiences. I tend to have emotions that run the gamut from fear to peace and back again.  When my emotions try to get the best of me, I turn to the Psalms. The writers of these psalms wrote of their emotions, our emotions. They, too, knew what it was like to be humbled by circumstances beyond their control. They understood the emotional upheaval this can cause. These are some of the emotions expressed in the … Continue reading Give Me Life

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Ridiculousness

Diane Reid

A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 Maybe you’ve seen it.  Ridiculousness. Maybe not. I wouldn’t have it if I didn’t have a son  that loves the show.  It’s a more grown-up version of America’s Funniest Videos and it makes us laugh. Good, deep, belly laughs. Utter ridiculousness and utterly hilarious.  Good medicine. Doctors have found that laughter helps blood flow, may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, may lower blood sugar levels and aids with relaxation and sleep according to … Continue reading Ridiculousness

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Beloved

Diane Reid

“I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and … Continue reading Beloved

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Freebie

Diane Reid

I placed a cart out on my front lawn near the sidewalk and taped a sign on it that read “FREE” and then waited. Fairly soon, a man pulled up and looked the cart over and under and then came and knocked on my door. He wanted to give me some money for it. I told him it was free. Turns out, he is a neighbor who does lawn work for a living. My front yard had been recently mowed so he asked about the back. After more conversation, I agreed to let him mow my yard in exchange for … Continue reading Freebie

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Lost at Sea

Diane Reid

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.  Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” Mark 4:39 Some of the kids I work with, I have worked with for over two years. Long enough, I would think, to prove my character about certain issues, to know whether I actually mean it when I say something, whether I will actually follow through with the consequences.  This is how the conversation usually plays … Continue reading Lost at Sea

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Temporary Captivity

Diane Reid

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, declares the Lord… Jeremiah 29:11-14 Fear grips me every morning before I get out of bed. Just this vague and uncomfortable sense that all is not well. Granted, I don’t … Continue reading Temporary Captivity

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Help Me Trust

Diane Reid

Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.  Exodus 14: 21-22 The Israelites must have thought it was over. Moses led them the wrong way. Or worse, God did. Either way, it appeared as though their journey had come to an end. An ending they couldn’t predict or prepare for. Surprise though it may have been to them, it did not surprise God. God made the Red Sea, … Continue reading Help Me Trust

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Valentine’s Day

Diane Reid

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39  Happy Valentine’s Day! I read a couple of differing accounts of how this day came to be. I don’t know which is true, all I know about it is that I do like chocolate! I googled this and discovered that in the United States alone, 2.4 billion dollars is expected to be spent for Valentine’s Day this year! Further, 27.4 billion … Continue reading Valentine’s Day

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Suggestions, right?

Diane Reid

Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,Nor stand in the path of sinners,Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,And on His Law he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,Which yields its fruit in its season,And its leaf does not wither;And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1: 1-3 Several years ago, I had the opportunity to teach my grandson how to drive. After weeks of making good progress, he turns to me in all seriousness and asks, “So Grandma, these speed limits, they are just suggestions, right?” I … Continue reading Suggestions, right?

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Chocolate Cake

Diane Reid

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 Ever made a chocolate cake from scratch? If so you know the list of ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, vanilla and sugar. Some call for buttermilk and other ingredients but you get the idea. None of these ingredients, with the exception of sugar, tastes very good on its own. Some could make me gag if I tried to eat them. However, once we combine them and add the sugar … Continue reading Chocolate Cake