Devotions Archive

Words: Power Tools

Today’s Truth
The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things – (Matthew 12:34-35, NCV).

Friend to Friend
Words are power tools that, in the right hands and used correctly, can build and encourage. However, in the wrong hands and used incorrectly words can destroy or, at the very least, cause confusion. Life is filled with men and women who have been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or …

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I’m Not Enough!

Today’s Truth

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

(1 Corinthians 3:16).

Friend to Friend

I’m not _____________ enough. You can fill that blank in with smart, talented, gifted, spiritual, or any number of positive attributes. But the root source of each one of those lies is “I’m not good enough.” It is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons and he uses it to keep God’s children in bondage to feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. The bottom line is, the enemy wants you to believe that you are “not enough.” …

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Master Designer

Today’s Truth

For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10, New English).

Friend to Friend

Our son was born to be a builder. From the time he could hold a plastic red hammer in his toddler-sized hands, Jered began hammering imaginary nails into the coffee table, fixing everything that was broken in our house, and drawing crayon blueprints of various objects he planned to build. No wooden surface in our home was safe from Jered’s scrutiny or design.

Since my husband enjoyed woodworking as a hobby, he decided …

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I’d Be Happy If…

Today’s Truth
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers (and sisters). Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:16, 17 NIV)

Friend to Friend
Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world. All their needs were cared for. They had perfect communion with God and each other. They were “naked and unashamed.” The only restriction placed on them was that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil located in the middle of the Garden. God …

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Friends That Sharpen

Today’s Truth
“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]” (Proverbs 27:17, AMP).

Friend To Friend
Whether it’s over a steaming mug of dark roasted coffee, a frilly lunch served at the local sushi restaurant, or a power walk in the wee hours of the morning, my accountability partner and I meet regularly to speak into each other’s lives.  We trust each other.  We challenge one another.  I’m a better woman because she’s my friend – because she speaks with honesty and courage – because she is for me – …

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God’s Circle of Encouragement, Part 2

Today’s Truth
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).

Friend to Friend
When I went through my first major battle with clinical depression, I was amazed at the compassionate people God sent to encourage and comfort me. One of the most precious groups of encouragers was the elders of our church where my husband served …

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Shattered Dreams, Part 2

Today’s Truth
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die,” (John 11:25-26 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Have you ever had a shattered dream? In my last devotion I told the story of my friend Luanne and her shattered dream when her son died on a football field. I hope you’ll go back and read it on my blog archives if you missed it (www.sharonjaynes.com).

In the New Testament, we find a story about two sisters whose dreams were …

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God’s Circle of Encouragement, Part 1

Today’s Truth
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Allan Emery, who served for many years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, shared an experience that made a deep impression on him. His father received a call saying a well-known Christian had been found drunk on the sidewalk in front of a …

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Shattered Dreams, Part 1

Today’s Truth
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” (Isaiah 49:15-16 NIV).

Friend to Friend
My husband and I were reveling in our time with our good friends from our college days, Larry and Cynthia Price. It had been almost a year since our last visit and I was hungry to hear of the latest family news about their children, Daniel, Julianna, and Laura Beth.  While the four …

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King of Kings

Today’s Truth
God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

Friend to Friend
It was shockingly early when the alarm clock invaded my dreams, screaming at me to wake up that morning. Even the sun was still sleeping as I rose. With heavy eyelids and a groggy mind, I forced myself to crawl out from beneath the cuddly warmth of my bed and ventured downstairs.…

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