Devotions with Denise
Loaves And Fishes
You've got to hand it to the mama who packed her little boy's lunch with bread and fish. I mean think about that day when thousands of men, plus women and children, came to hear Jesus speak.
Put Your Oxygen Mask On First
If you have ever flown in a commercial airplane you know that part of the emergency preparedness instructions from flight attendants is that if cabin pressure should change, an oxygen mask will drop down in front of you...
And That's THE Truth
The truth will set you free. Probably one of the most misquoted scriptures in the whole Bible. Because many times it’s spoken totally out of context.
Unparalleled
There is no life parallel or equal that could compare to the grace and mercy that God has freely given to every person.
Tyranny of the Urgent
My To Do List often contains things that I do every day. Some are work-related and some are personal. I know that I’m going to need to do them and I would do them without a reminder.
God-Breathed
There aren’t too many sounds more beautiful than those first breaths, usually followed by the crying, of a newborn. Having the honor and privilege of carrying and giving birth to two beautiful babies...
The Gentle Cycle
Have you ever watched how the gentle cycle in the washing machine works? I got curious one day and ..well, you know where curiosity can lead!
Impression or Impact
One of the tips my mom taught me when I first learning to bake a cake was to open the oven and press my finger onto the top of the cake to see if it was done baking.
Decisions, Decisions
I saw an advertisement for something I'd never heard of before...an 'interactive' movie. The main character was at a crossroads in her love life and with the touch of my remote control I could help her choose which guy she should pick and watch her decision play out.
What's Your Order
When you go to a restaurant you've eaten at before do you order the same thing on the menu that you did before? I think our answer to that question may reveal a lot about us.
Seeing Value
A woman set out for a thrift store one day. Maybe she was looking for something specific. Maybe she was doing what so many others do...looking for something that was 'old to someone else and new to me'.
Speechless
Rarely in my lifetime have I ever found myself 'speechless'. Let's just say I was very zealous with my gift of gab when I was younger.
Fruit That Lasts
One of the beautiful benefits of summer is all of the scrumptious, fresh fruits and vegetables we have access to eat. I know what I love but I'm not very good at judging the ripeness of them.
Putting Practice
Over the years our family vacations have often included a round or two of miniature golf. It's something the whole family can play.
Stored or Sown
You can count the number of seeds inside of an apple. But you cannot count how many apples are inside of a seed. You know what that is called? Potential! And potential....is powerful!
The Planner
What do you write on your calendar? Birthdays and anniversaries...special events...doctor appointments, date nights and coffee dates? Some of us are not just calendar keepers.
Who Touched Me?
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked while surrounded by a large crowd. Jesus' disciple Peter told him what clearly Jesus already knew. The whole crowd was pressing in toward Jesus as they walked. Yet Jesus asked the question for a different reason.
Not An Option
There are seasons in our life that we experience deep pain. It might be from loss or injury. Whether it was accidental, self-inflicted or intentional the pain cuts us deeply and can leave us staggering to hold up under the weight of it.
Results May Vary
Results may vary. It's the final sentence on advertisements we see on television and in magazines. Whether its fitness equipment, weight loss systems or skin care regimens, the manufacturer can put everything into it except for one thing: consistent usage.
Tasty Or Toxic
If there was a fountain near you that produced the most crystal clear, fresh water and you were able to stop and fill up your water bottle every day with refreshing water from this fountain you would probably stop by often, wouldn't you?
Finishing Our Sentences
You are loved. You were formed in the image and likeness of your Creator. Long before your parents laid eyes on you for the very first time...in fact, long before your heartbeat was heard or your mama felt you move for the first time in her belly...
The Giant Pickle Jar
I watched a man take a giant pickle jar and pour a bunch of sand into it. Then he added a tray of pebbles that filled the jar almost to the top. So when the man tried to add in the big rocks there was no room...
The Best Leaders
The best leaders I've ever worked with - were followers first. They learned to follow well and understood the importance of being a good follower. We can't be leaders until we are followers. Perhaps the better way to say it is...
Honor & Faithful Service
I received a call one day to audition for a Christian music group called Sound of Joy. The group was based in Pensacola, Florida and had gotten my name from a group I had traveled with previously. I politely declined.
Some Root Work
My husband, Ken, and I were sitting out on our back deck one afternoon enjoying a beautiful day when I pointed out how strange it was to see a variety of leaves on the giant pine trees that run along the back of our yard's property line. There were plenty of pine tree limbs...
Squeezing & Crushing
What do orange juice, coffee, peanut butter and lemonade all have in common? You can't get them without a lot of work first! There is a lot of energy that goes into the process before we are able to enjoy the finished product. The picking, inspecting, sorting, squeezing, crushing, mixing, tasting...
What Dims The Light?
One of the most infrequently cleaned things in my house is the globe around the light fixture in my ceiling fan.
What I Learned From Job
When something happens that shakes our faith, in the moments that follow, we are faced with a decision to lean into what we know to be true about God or allow the doubts of His love for us to take up space in our mind.
Open Eyed Prayer
I admit that I am not a morning person. While there are mornings that I wake up feeling fully rested and cognizant enough to begin the day with prayer...
