Louder Than the Voices

So, this month has been dedicated to that voice in our head saying I can't. Even though I have a general thought for each week, God usually points out what He wants me to write about. This week was no exception. We learned at the end of last week that one of the girls I work with was starting through a huge storm. Her 12-year-old daughter just found out she has cancer. Thanks to the Internet, and her caring bridge site, we are able to keep up with what is going on and I believe, though, I'm sure it doesn't seem like it to their family, the doctors are moving quickly. It still doesn't cover the fact; this is their child.......and she has cancer.... I have to tell you, my absolute, without a shadow of a doubt, biggest fear is losing my son. It was seriously what I was afraid would happen while he was still growing up. A big reason I was afraid was it seemed to be the one thing I couldn't turn totally over to God. I always assumed anything else God would throw my w...

This may be the longest devotional I have done to date. I have opened a proverbial can of worms on myself this week and at the moment, I can't whittle down to fewer points, so I'm sharing them all. Fake it til you make it has become a popular catch phrase in these times. I really didn't realize it has also become very controversial until I started doing a bit of research. I have used the phrase myself on those days when I really would rather stay home, pull the covers up over my head and just not participate that day. I get up, plaster a smile on my face, plaster some make-up over that and away I go. Philippians 2:14 tells us to "Do all things without murmurings and disputing". I have always thrown this action into that category. After really probably over -analyzing it this week, I have come to the conclusion that calling that "faking it" is really short changing not only ourselves, but God. I'm not really "faking" anything, I am sti...

If you haven’t noticed yet there is a theme running through this series. January’s theme is actually encouragement. I want the whole month to work on that voice that says, “I can’t”. You may have also noticed a common thread in passages. The first two devotionals had passages from Philippians; this one will as well. I have different books of the Bible for different thoughts but my favorite book to look for encouragement is Philippians. It’s a short read, 4 chapters, but there is just so much there to help you press on.   I seriously read the whole book when I know I’m thinking negative thoughts. This week I want to talk about the past. We have a tendency to not see the past as it truly was. We romanticize what our lives used to be, especially when we are having a bad day in the here and now. Last week, I committed myself to better self-care only to end up with a week of set-backs and sick days. It was so very easy to look back and say, “Last time I tried to do this, it was...

If you are at least in my generation, you have grown up hearing that the way to true joy is to put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself, last- hence J-O-Y.  In this crazy life we have created for ourselves, it seems the only way to get everything done would be to have a few more hours in every day and a few more days in every week.  I read a devotional not too long ago that pointed out God is not going to reward us for being busy. I found that kind of sad because I'm not busy to try to impress God with my busyness, but I am busy because I'm trying to do my best to be a good steward of what He has given me.  I then decided maybe there should be a disclaimer that if our being busy is centered around what God wants us to be doing then yes, He will probably reward it--or at least expect it.  I can already hear some of you, "God is not going to expect you to work yourself into a state of being sick", (or maybe that was just the two people who showed up in my office...

So, it’s the second day of January—did you make New Year’s Resolutions? Have you already screwed them up? I don’t know why we impose such stringent restrictions on “starting over”. Do you think God ever told a sinner coming to him, “wait until January 1, or at least until in the morning- the beginning of a new day”. We see the absurdity in that so we should be able to see it in our setting limitations for change. The best time to change something you want to change is now. This brings the first voice that we need to face—the “I can’t” voice. This one is probably the most prevalent in my own head. I hear it more than I want to admit—worse yet, I LISTEN to it more than I want to admit. Our first Bible passage is going to be from Philippians, and many of you can already hear, “I can do all things” going through your head; and yes, Philippians 4:13 tells us just that. I want to back up a few verses and look at verses 10-12 and then on to verse 14. The KJV says    ...

Happy 2016!!!! Here we are, embarking on a beautiful, shiny, new year.  Welcome to Louder Than the Voices. Hopefully, this will become a stopping point for a weekly cup of inspiration, encouragement, and remembering what God is trying to tell us. I am so very excited about starting this venture as it has been rumbling through my head for years, and most recently, I have been very focused on this date for months. Hello, my name is Mindy (and if you just heard a Matthew West song tumble through your mind, you are one of my kind! ;-) )  I am setting off on a year long journey of bringing devotionals to my friends and family through the use of the ever popular blogspot.  If you are one of my friends who has faithfully followed my personal blog, you had a little foresight that this was coming. If you are a first time visitor and/or was invited by one of my friends (that IS a hint, thanks in advance!), let me fill you in on the background. I actually posted ...