Chronicles of the Donovan Clan - It's Time

It’s time to bring the Lord Jesus Christ glory. Please honor Him along with me as I give Him all of my worship. I am a humbled, ordinary wife who serves an extraordinary God. I am privileged to have a front row seat to watch the Creator of the universe, vividly active in the lives of the Donovan Clan.

Many of you know that several years ago I prayed the Dangerous Prayer….. (you can read it here at Laced With Grace) This prayer, “Lord, do whatever it takes to save my husband,” was spoken with sincerity and surrender. For the first time I was able to pray it and really mean it.

Lynn was ready. God was ready.

Little did I know God waited all these years for me to finally arrive in this place of trust to start the life-changing work in me, my husband, and many of those who will hear our story.

Thus began a scary, crazy, and awesome journey. On January 16, 2009 almost a year ago, my husband lost his job. What I know to be true is my husband’s unemployment and his faith journey are intricately intertwined.

Where to begin???

The Blogger’s Retreat.

The many months leading up to the retreat I often wondered why the Lord was sending me across the country to this brand new event in Sneads, Florida. My sweet friend, Angie Knight, invited me to share some thoughts about blogging for Christ. I thought I was going to Florida to help others.

Whoa, was I clueless.

I was going there because God has praying friends and He was bringing them together to “HELP” me.

It was 5:30 p.m., Sneads time on October 23rd. I had just finished speaking about blogging and sharing my story about my husband. At that moment the Holy Spirit was moving and I mean moving. Lisa Shaw and Angie both rose from their seats and they called the women in the sanctuary to come forward. These women surrounded me on all sides and they prayed.

They prayed with fervor and conviction for my husband’s salvation and for him to find employment. My words fail me, even today, to explain this experience. The Lord, Himself was present and somehow I felt deep in my spirit that my husband’s salvation/employment journey was immediately at hand. The decree was spoken from the heavens.

It was at 5:30 p.m. October 23, 2009 Sneads time that my husband’s name was glowing in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Connie, Lisa and Angie said from that day forward I must now pray for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in my husband’s life. I knew they were right. I felt the Lord speaking to me to remain watchful, prayerful, and quiet about all that was taking place until the pinnacle of His plan was revealed. And today is the day.

I arrived home from the retreat overwhelmed with a surety of the future. I knew before I even opened the door to the house that God was already moving.

Sure enough, that very day my husband received a phone call about a potential new job. I just knew it. I knew after months with zero leads for employment that God was preparing to show His power and love in our lives. But, it gets even better. Why? Because our God isn’t a small God, He is Sovereign and He will teach us what it really means to bring honor to His name. A few days later another job opening landed on my husband’s desk. Then a few more days pass and another arrived.

After months of nothing, three jobs, ALL AT ONCE. (I have to shout here…. Go God… Go God…. Go God…)

My husband began speaking to these potential employers and moving the process along. Now he would have to choose. Did you hear me? He would choose. Go figure….

At this point I am praising Jesus every moment of every day. BUT, even better, so was my husband. One day he came into my tiny office, grabbed my hand, “Come with me to the family room. Let’s pray about these jobs.”

“WHAT,” you say???

You heard me right.

He wanted to pray. We prayed, together, out loud.

Over the past several weeks my husband has prayed. He is praying to Jesus. He is seeking His will.

On Wednesday, November 25 at around noon the day before Thanksgiving, an offer letter arrived. I was in Colorado with my Mother and Sister (another amazing story the result of the Blogger’s Retreat – read it here). My husband called, I was in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant.

“I have a job.”

“Woo Hoo,” I screamed then shouted to my sister and her family, “He’s got a job. Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus.”

My husband went on to give me some of the details; He starts on December 14th and will be working close to home. My husband has always traveled away from home. Out on Monday, home on Friday. This is the first time in 17 years he will come home every night for dinner. ANOTHER answer to prayer.

So today, would you please just take one moment and give honor and worship to the King of Kings. Please praise Him in the comments today. The Lord never gives up, His love never fails, His ways are always the best ways. His will is perfect for our lives.

Okay, this is only ONE fantastic event of the past six weeks. I have more to tell you about my husband and about our LORD.

Please hear me now. There are many of you right now who are in agony over the salvation of your spouse or someone you love. Don’t ever give up. God hears your prayers. What I know to be true is His timing is never our timing. He often takes much longer to work things through to a conclusion. It’s the journey where He does His best work. Don’t rush the Lord. You may be struggling, hurt, desperate, depressed, at your wits end. I once lived there too. But, I have learned so much on this journey and I wouldn’t trade a moment of it for everything in the world.

I am an ordinary woman. I am a prodigal. I am a sinner and have failed in life more than I have succeeded but God never gave up on me. Not even in the darkest of the dark years. He has pushed me, prodded me, He has encouraged me and challenged me with relentless determination because He loves me that much.

God loves me so much He will not allow me to remain unchanged. Ironically, He used my spiritually mismatched marriage to bring about His greatest work in my life. I am humbly and utterly undone when I ponder His ways.

If God will do these kind of miracles in my life, in the life of my husband, my family, He will certainly do it in your life. AND THAT’S A PROMISE.

Stop back on Friday for the next installment of the Chronicles of the Donovan Clan. Be Blessed, Lynn

She's Gonna' Freak Out!

“Okay God, I will do it but she is going to FREAK OUT!” Sniff, sniff, waaaaaaah…. Where’s the Klennex. WAAAAAAAAH!

I found myself kneeling at the front of the church following Lisa Shaw’s powerful teaching and altar call at the Blogger’s Retreat last month.

-----

This is a true story of redemption, restoration and thankful hearts. I still can't believe it and it happened to me.

Find the rest of the story over at Laced With Grace. She's Gonna Freak Out!

Also, on our Facebook page we are giving away a spankin' brand new copy of, The Love Dare. Hop over there and leave a comment to enter.

Spiritually Unequal Marriage on Facebook

Dineen and I are signing off through the Thanksgiving weekend. We will see you here again on November 30th for another powerful post on Praying God's word. Or even a Donovan Clan update.

Dineen and I are deeply thankful you allow us to come into your home and share the hope we have in Jesus for fulfilling, happy marriages and joyful living. Thank you and God bless, Lynn

Weekend Devo — Thanksgiving Offering

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." — Mark 12:41-44

In this story from Mark, a woman gives out of her poverty what equates to a fraction of a penny. But it was all she had. I can picture her approaching the temple treasury, hands trembling. Did she wonder for a moment if God would honor her sacrifice? Did she worry how she, or her family, would survive? Did she give a knowing smile, founded in her knowledge of God's faithfulness as she slipped the coins in? We can only speculate what thoughts might have crossed her mind, but she obediently did what she knew was right, willingly and sacrificially.

What I love here is that Jesus saw her. He saw her sacrifice. He saw her actions. He saw her heart. Just as He sees our smallest acts of sacrifice even when no one else does. Those times especially when we give out of the poverty of our hearts while feeling depleted and unappreciated.

You know the times I mean...when you think you just can't squeeze out anymore love, any more compassion, any more strength. But you do because you know somehow it matters. Especially in our spiritually mismatched marriages.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we can be thankful our God sees everything—the good and the bad. Jesus sees everyone of those sacrifices. And I do believe Jesus' calling attention to the woman to his disciples was not just to teach but also because he was proud of one of God's servants. He was proud of that dear woman. Just as I dare say he's proud of us when we give of our hearts, no matter how small.

I can remember not too long after I recommitted my life to Christ, we had a thankful box near the church entrance at Thanksgiving. Each of us was to write one thing on an index card that we were thankful for. I wrote "God" on my card. I could think of nothing in my life that I was more thankful for than his presence in my life. He'd rescued me from so much.

So, that is my offering this Thanksgiving. Again, I write God's name on that card and slip it into the treasure box. He's the one thing I'm most thankful for. He sees me. He knows me. He loves me.

And He loves you too.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Anchored ~ What a Visual!

Why do we need the Word of God buried deep in our memory and in our heart?

The Final Quest By Rick Joyner

I just started reading The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. I actually read it once a couple years ago but it is one of those books you just find yourself picking up every couple years.

The book is a vision that Rick was given and in the beginning he is describing two armies that he is seeing that are about to begin battle. One is the army of the Accuser of the Brethren. The other is the army of the Lord. As he is describing these armies the battle begins and a messenger tells the army of the Lord to fight from a mountain that is behind them. This mountain has many ledges that the Christians can stand on while fighting the enemy. Each ledge represented a biblical truth.

He also describes the armor of the army of the Lord (based on Ephesians 6:10-18), specifically the shields (faith) and the size of these for various warriors as well as the Swords which are the Word of God.

One thing struck me was as he began talking about advancing to different ledges on the mountain. I know the sword is the Word of God and we are to use it to fight the enemy and his attacks. But as he came to higher ledges on the mountain, they became narrower and more slippery. Also, the enemy was down below him quite a ways and they were fighting by shooting arrows of Truth into the enemy. He says many around him began to set aside their swords (which were growing larger with each ledge) thinking there was no use for them.

Here is a quote: "Our swords grew after we reached each level, but I almost left mine behind because I did not seem to need it at the higher levels. I almost casually decided to keep it, thinking that it must have been given to me for a reason. Then, because the ledge I was standing on was so narrow, and becoming so slippery, I drove the sword into the ground and tied myself to it while I shot at the enemy. The voice of the Lord then came to me, saying: "You have used the wisdom that will enable you to keep climbing. Many have fallen because they did not use their sword properly to anchor themselves."

As I read this it struck me - not only is the Word of God a weapon to be used to fight the lies and deceit of the enemy, it is also our anchor which keeps ups from becoming full of pride and self-righteousness which will lead to our falling from whatever "ledge" we have obtained.

I really believe God is preparing us mightily and this is just one more step in his plan. He is grounding us each in His Word so that we may be humble and used by Him.  

Angela Smith

Thankful Thursday ~ Happy and Sad

This month we will meet at Grace Alone. December we will return to Women Taking A Stand. 

-----

After 14 years of serving God, the pastor of my church, Greg Sidders, will be leaving. Waaaaaah!

I am sad and happy.

The teaching I received under the Holy Spirit inspired words of Greg have changed my life. His words have certainly changed eternity for many. In heaven I can imagine Greg will have thousands in his line as many thank him for reflecting Jesus. I will be one of them.

Greg is now heading into a new direction with writing and speaking and likely other adventures yet unknown. I will miss his teaching, his leadership, and his passion for seeking and saving the lost. I see Jesus in Greg.

I now look forward to the new opportunities for our church with anticipation. God is a God of change. The ride can be scary and fun and everything in between but it is NEVER boring.

God bless you Greg as you move forward in your service to the Kingdom. Thank you for making a difference in the life of an ordinary woman, me.

What are you thankful for this week? I can’t wait to read your posts. Be Blessed, Lynn

Greg Sidders Blog

God’s Preparation

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. — Hebrews 5:7-10

I’m back again with another nugget. Are you ready?

 Have you noticed how more people seem to be going through more trials than normal these days? Are you one of them? We face enough conflict and trial in our spiritually unequal marriages as it is, then throw in a few more issues, and we can feel like we’re at the end of our ropes.

I want to share a promise with you, one ready to be dug out of the Scripture I shared above. Specifically, look at the part I bolded. Go ahead. I’ll wait for you. Just come back when you’re done.

This little nugget shows us that even Jesus was prepared for what God, his Father, had designated for him to do. Jesus wasn’t placed on this earth ready to fulfill his destiny. God used his first 30 years to prepare him for his ministry and greatest moment of glory.

From his birth to his death, Christ’s life was a series of trials for preparation. Though we know few details of his life growing up, I think we know God well enough that he wouldn’t have made his son’s life easy. Like us, he learned obedience and submission from his sufferings, as it says in verse eight. Perhaps this represents the human side of his deity, one so critical to his sacrifice being legitimized in our very human and broken states. We more easily identify and welcome someone who knows and understands our own trials by experience.

I don’t know. What I do know is that if God prepared his Son for what lay ahead of him and equipped him for every step, we can expect the same preparation as his children and coheirs with Christ. Whether it’s persevering through the storms in our life or meeting the challenge of a new calling God is leading us to, God will equip and prepare us just like He did Jesus.

In our lives of trials, we can look to Jesus and see the pattern of preparation. And perhaps therein lies our joy—in knowing God the Father loves us that much, like his Son, and is preparing us for the destiny he has planned for each of us.

What I do know and have lived is the joy of looking back through those trials and seeing how God meant every one for good. He not only prepared me for the trials, he used each one as preparation for ministry and service.

Whatever difficulties you’re facing today, walk forward in the trust and belief that God has prepared you for it. He’s set everything in place to bring you though. He’s equipped each of us to walk the path of being unequally yoked and to persevere no matter how long the journey may take.

We just have to believe and ask for God to show us this great mystery. Go ahead and ask him. I’ll be here waiting to hear how God prepared you for your journey.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

The Unequally Yoked and the Curse of Norman Rockwell

Who is this guy anyway?

Norman Rockwell’s depiction of a perfect Thanksgiving Holiday was featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Poston November 3, 1945. Ever since then American women strive every year to achieve this idyllic replication of a perfect Thanksgiving celebration in their own homes.

And boy it's a high standard. We often fail.

It’s not as if we haven’t tried. We do all the right things, prepare the turkey, clean the house, and bake up a storm of pies for the momentous meal. All the while secretly dreaming anticipating expecting a holiday filled with smiles, I love you pecks on the check for a job well done, and prayer lead by Dad as the fat bird awaits carving.

In reality some homes experience the Norman Rockwell portrayal. I truly rejoice for those families. But, if you are like me, eventually one family member makes a casuistic remark about someone or something. The kids fail to recognize you have slaved over this meal for days which in reality is over in 15 minutes. They beg to be excused so they can go play video games. So much for lingering conversation and jovial laughter around the ornately decorated table. Or your husband does not believe in God so why give thanks.

Norman Rockwell feels like a curse when you are living in an unequally yoked home during the holidays. As a Christian woman, you long for your husband to be the spiritual leader of your home. Year after year you hope your husband will stand up and say grace. You pray and pray and pray secretly clinging to that idyllic image in your head of what Norman Rockwell would look like in your home if only Dad believed.

As a woman you are desperate to commemorate Thanksgiving like it should be. You want your home, Dad, Mom and kids to give thanks to God for the rich blessings He bestows. And for all your men readers out there and I know you’re out there, you want the same thing. You also want your spouse to know God and have a Thanksgiving as a family truly giving thanks to the Lord.

I get it. I KNOW how you feel.

So acknowledge now that Thursday after next likely won’t be a Norman Rockwell. Let it be a Donovan Clan Extravaganza, or a Miller Thanksgiving, or a ________________(insert your name) Family Turkey Day. Decide today that if your spouse won’t say a blessing, you will. You give thanks to God for the riches so freely given. Model your faith for your children and your spouse.

Decide today to love your crazy, dysfunctional, and not so perfect family like Jesus. Lavish the love of Christ upon your misfits and unappreciative brood. That kind of love speaks louder than any painting by ole Norman baby. Love them like Jesus.

Decide today to toss all your expectations and entitlements out the window. Serve with joy in your heart because you have the truth inside you. You have Jesus Christ to fill you up. Simply start early that morning and read:

2 Corinthians 9: 12-15 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Men will praise God. God will be honored by your service.

Take the pressure off this year. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and love with that great big heart God gave you, on your unbelieving spouse, your kids and everyone you meet.

I have loved you with an everlasting love~ Says the Lord Almighty.

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Be Blessed, Lynn

Praying Psalms

A dear friend and author I know is a prayer warrior like none I've seen. I've seen God use Brandilyn in mighty ways since he healed her of Lyme disease. Here's a link to her site with a prayer of healing using Psalm 31. It's powerful and also a great example of how we can pray God's Word.

Psalm for Sickness, Psalm 31

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Weekend Devo — Basking in the Light

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. — Hebrews 10:19-22

In my reading this week, I came across this piece of Scripture and my notes in the margin. One of my favorite things in the Bible, and in books in general, is the use of symbolism. And this is one of the richest ones.

Within the Holy Place, a curtain sealed the Most Holy Place from view. There also resided the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Mercy Seat). A priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifice for the nation's sins. This one time a year represented man's permission to come into the presence of God.

And if you recall, on the day of Christ's crucifixion, this curtain was torn from top to bottom, symbolizing the elimination of a barrier between God and his people. Christ had become our curtain, and he too was torn from top (his crown of thorns) to bottom (the nails in his feet).

Christ made it possible for us to be in God's presence all the time by making the final sacrifice that would permanently cleanse us from our sins. I don't know about you, but that gives me the best kind of chills.

Our God loves us that much. The curtain's been pulled back to let in the light. I hope you'll go bask in it.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

We Sabotage Our Prayers

We sabotage our own prayers!

This is a strong statement but I am convinced we inhibit God’s work in our lives because of our own ignorance or idiocy.

Why?

I am so glad you asked.

Let’s think about words. The spoken word. Words we say in idle conversation or even mumbling to ourselves.

We will often pray, “O Lord, please heal me. Help me to feel better today…..” There are millions of prayers such as this. But what happens after we pray? We walk away and start mumbling to ourselves, “I just feel terrible today. I am never going to feel better. I just want to go back to bed.” We even mumble this minutes after we just asked the Lord to heal us.

Why do the words we speak matter so much? Let’s take a look at how important the spoken word is to God.

Matthew 12:36 (NIV) But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Did you know this passage was in the New Testament? We will be held accountable for every word we utter. Quite humbling.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

In the beginning was the WORD. Word, not matter, not people…. In the beginning was the WORD.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Did you know that in each consecutive paragraph of Genesis, chapter one begins with: And God said.

And God said, "Let there be light,"

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear."

God speaks....Things happen.

Our spoken words also have power. What we say into the spiritual realm is vastly important because God commands His angels concerning us.

Do you remember our friend Connie Haile? (click here to listen to her video post) She and I were discussing the teaching of last week on the passage, Psalm 91. Connie sent me an email regarding the importance of our words. I want to share with you her thoughts:

How exciting....nothing more powerful than praying the word of God. He said that His word would not return void. His word is mightier than a two edged sword. He said that He would hasten to perform his word on your behalf. His word is yes and amen. Then he says my people perish for their lack of knowledge.

It always makes my heart sad when I hear people talk and they say such stupid things and then blame God because they prayed but nothing happened. It is because they plucked up what they prayed by the words of their mouth.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue!

To see things change we must keep God's word working in our lives by speaking it out so the devil can hear it. He hates it when we speak the Word with confidence knowing that it is going accomplish what He has sent his word out to do.

I am sure you have read Psalm 119 but read it again and again. It just talks over and over about the power of God's word. (Click here for Psalm 119)

You are such a blessing. Have a wonderful week. God's word is working mightily for you!!! Love you, Connie

If you mine for the nuggets in this email, you will discover it is rich with words from scripture. Do you remember that Connie is healed and whole from terminal cancer because she believes in the Word of God, she speaks the Word of God constantly and with confidence and she will not enable the enemy to sabotage her prayer life.

Take this post in. Wrestle with it. Ask God about the truth of it. Discover just how much God has to say about our spoken words. Then share with me what He is confirming in you. I can’t wait to read your comments and words. I plan to sit at my computer in the hours ahead and read your comments out loud. So leave a prayer, leave your thoughts and let’s take God at His Word and watch as we overcome our struggles.

This next week get out a new 3x5 card and write verses 4-6 from Psalm 91. Commit this portion to memory. Also one of the gals from our 1Peter3Living Group found this awesome online memory verse site which helps you to memorize verses. Memverse.com. Thanks Tina! This may be an effective tool for you.

God's Word is our anchor in this crazy world. Bury it deeply in your heart so it is there when you need it.

Be Blessed, Lynn