Author Archive for lizziejank

May 15: Communication Part 3

Published by lizziejank on May 17, 2013 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 6 Comments

Isn’t it brilliant that I got behind on devotionals during a series on communication? The irony of it all…. just didn’t want you to miss that!

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So now that we have talked about taking responsibility for your half of the communicating, even when you are the needy one, I’d like to address this whole topic of being the needy one.

Sometimes we really have a reason to be down. Sometimes we are struggling through some hard providences, or some difficult people, or we haven’t talked to an adult in 12 days (or just since 7 a.m. which can feel the same). Sometimes we are pregnant and exhausted, or  stretched thin and feeling like quitting. Sometimes you have needs. No wait. Always you have needs. Everyone. All of us. All the time. Your husband too. Continue reading ‘May 15: Communication Part 3′

May 14: Communication Part 2

Published by lizziejank on May 14, 2013 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 13 Comments

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In the last post about communication the biggest application that I wanted to make is that even when you are the one who is hurt or needy or upset, you need to take responsibility to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Other people who are around you do not necessarily know what to do with you, and you need to take responsibility to help them. Even if what you are saying is, “Thanks, but I’d rather not talk about that right now. What have you been up to?” Continue reading ‘May 14: Communication Part 2′

May 13: Communication Part 1

Published by lizziejank on May 13, 2013 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 4 Comments


We have all heard countless times how important good communication is. It is important in marriages, in parenting, in work relationships, and in broader community settings. Whenever we have a relationship in which we can be both the needer and the giver, communication becomes a very big issue. Continue reading ‘May 13: Communication Part 1′

The Hot Tip Exchange

Published by lizziejank on May 8, 2013 in From (Rachel) Lizzie. 53 Comments

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Has anyone else noticed that while we have been blogging a lot more (hello devotionals), we have been chatting a lot less?  It’s basically like trying to talk while you are on a jog. Not so much lung power leftover. But, in spite of this, we have gone on living a very chatty real life. Full of small news and less than fascinating anecdotes.

Some of the small news that I keep wanting to share falls into the category of hot tips. Things that I have tried at home and found to be a big help. I thought that it would be fun to ask you all to share any of these sorts of things that you discovered in your own homes as well. Since Pinterest is crawling with suggestions like this, I want to limit it to things that you have actually implemented. Things that you can testify to the helpfulness of.

Here’s what I’ve got  in random and unconnected order: Continue reading ‘The Hot Tip Exchange’

May 6: Remembering Part 3

Published by lizziejank on May 7, 2013 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 2 Comments

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“Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible , and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Nehemiah 4:14).

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Here are two verses in which “remember” is used as a strengthening. Look back on what the Lord has done to give you boldness, to give you courage, and to give you the strength to fight against seemingly impossible odds. Remember that even if the priests of Baal scare you, that they don’t scare God. Remember how God makes a fool of them. Remember how God is the creator. Remember how God is not afraid, and use that to not be afraid yourself. Continue reading ‘May 6: Remembering Part 3′

May 3: Remembering Part 2

Published by lizziejank on May 7, 2013 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 2 Comments

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Another angle of remembering is that while we freely make promises to our children, (we’ll do that soon, maybe tomorrow, not right now, in a little bit) we frequently hope that they will forget. When they continue to bring up these things with us, we can almost feel like their memory is an unseemly fault of theirs. Like remembering is nagging. Like claiming their right to something is selfish and wrong. God is the opposite of this to us. He delights in the transaction of promise and remembering. He loves for His people to repeat His promises back to Him. To come before His throne and say, “Lord, you said..” Continue reading ‘May 3: Remembering Part 2′