Beauty From Ashes

A few days ago, I shared with you a devotion about fireweed and how it can remind us of the fleeting nature of life. Today, I'd like to share another encouraging thought the Lord showed me through this remarkable plant.

You see, fireweed isn't just known for its brief but beautiful life cycle. It's also famous for its uncanny ability to thrive in the most unlikely places. Where forest fires have ravaged the land, mudslides have torn through hillsides, or human activity has left scars on the earth, fireweed is often the first to appear, painting the landscape with its cheerful purple hues.

As I gazed at the fireweed, I couldn't help but marvel at God's intricate design. He created a plant that not only survives in damaged areas but flourishes there. It's as if the Lord looked at the devastation and said, "Watch what I can do with this."

Dana Rongione 03/06/2024 Dana Rongione 03/06/2024

Journey Through the Middle

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like a hamster on the wheel, you’re going through the motions but not really making any progress. I’ve been there. In fact, I’m there right now, and it can be discouraging, to say the least. But here's the thing: Sometimes, being stuck in a rut is a necessary step toward where God wants us to be. Just look at the story of Joseph.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery. He ended up in Potipher's house, where he was eventually falsely accused and thrown into prison. But even in prison, Joseph rose to the top. He became the keeper of the prison, overseeing all the other prisoners.

Dana Rongione 06/07/2023 Dana Rongione 06/07/2023

Hungering for Peace

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of peas. Unfortunately, they are a staple here in Wales, as they are all over Great Britain. Yes, the main food groups in Wales are meat, potatoes, and peas. I'm fine with the first two, but I could do without the latter, especially when served in their "mushy" form. Yuck!

Why is it that peace often seems like a distant dream or fateful mishap, like a plateful of peas, when we were hoping for something more appetizing? Let's take a quick look at some of the reasons why peace can feel so elusive.

Dana Rongione 16/01/2023 Dana Rongione 16/01/2023

The Blessing of Boundaries

On Thursday, Tess had surgery to be spayed. It was a necessary procedure, and thankfully, everything went well. When we picked her up after the surgery, the vet gave us the post-op instructions, including a strict command that she was not allowed to run, jump, or display excited behavior in any way for the next ten to fourteen days. Yikes!

It’s only been a couple of days, and we’re struggling to get our precious pooch to understand why she’s suddenly not allowed to jump on the bed or the couch and why she can’t run around the yard. The only way we can keep her subdued is to stay still ourselves.