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Fresh Mercies in the Morning Snow
God's goodness, Encouragement, Comfort, Life's Journey Dana Rongione God's goodness, Encouragement, Comfort, Life's Journey Dana Rongione

Fresh Mercies in the Morning Snow

Have you noticed how some of the most profound spiritual truths are hidden in the most ordinary moments? Like watching snow fall for the umpteenth time and suddenly seeing something you've never seen before?

We've been experiencing unusual weather here in mid-Wales since the start of the year. Each night we've had a snowfall, not heavy or majorly significant, but enough to wake up to a lovely blanket of snow covering the ground. The days have been very cold yet sunny, so by the end of the day, much of the snow has melted, allowing us to see the muddy pastures and the wet asphalt of our driveway again. Then, overnight, another snowfall would come and leave a blanket of snow on the ground, only to be met that day by sunshine that would melt it. This process has repeated over and over again for several days now.

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A Different Kind of Weight Loss Plan
Weary, Encouragement, Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Growth Dana Rongione Weary, Encouragement, Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Growth Dana Rongione

A Different Kind of Weight Loss Plan

It's that time of year again. The clock struck midnight, the calendar flipped to January, and suddenly everyone's talking about their resolutions. Weight loss usually tops the charts. Gym memberships skyrocket, salad sales increase dramatically, and social media feeds fill with "new year, new me" declarations.

While physical health goals are certainly commendable (and something this poor body of mine could benefit from), statistics show that by February, about 80% of these well-intentioned resolutions will have been abandoned. The treadmills will empty, the salad containers will be pushed to the back of the fridge, and life will resume its comfortable, familiar patterns.

But what if I told you there's another kind of weight loss that might be more worth pursuing this year?

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When the World Turns
comfort, Encouragement, Discouragement, Weary Dana Rongione comfort, Encouragement, Discouragement, Weary Dana Rongione

When the World Turns

This morning I woke up with a terrible case of vertigo. After having a rough weekend battling pain from my fibromyalgia, I was hoping to start the week feeling better and ready to tackle my growing to-do list. But, alas, such was not the case.

Instead, I lay in bed trying to get my world to stop spinning. Every time I shifted my head even slightly, the room whirled around me like I was trapped on some cruel amusement park ride. Tess could sense something was wrong and snuggled up closely as if to reassure me with her steady presence.

"So, I guess it's just going to be one of those days!" I mumbled, closing my eyes against the dizziness.

Have you ever felt that way? Not necessarily dealing with vertigo, but with the sensation that your entire life is spinning out of control?

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Abiding in Christ
Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare, the fruit of the Spirit, surrender Dana Rongione Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare, the fruit of the Spirit, surrender Dana Rongione

Abiding in Christ

I've always been fascinated by Jesus' words in John 15:5: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

What does it truly mean to abide in Christ? It's far more than religious activity or spiritual box-ticking. Abiding is about maintaining a constant connection with Jesus, like a branch naturally draws life from the vine.

Think about it: branches don't strain to produce fruit. They simply stay connected to their life source. The branch doesn't wake up each morning with a to-do list: "Must make three grapes by noon!" No, fruit emerges organically when the branch remains attached to the vine.

Similarly, our spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, etc.—isn't manufactured through human effort.

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Finding Hope in Our Weakness
Encouragement, Inspiration, christian books Dana Rongione Encouragement, Inspiration, christian books Dana Rongione

Finding Hope in Our Weakness

One of my favorite parts of the story of David is the cave of Adullam. I don't know why, but I've always been drawn to a place that became a refuge for the broken and distraught. So, naturally, I found a way to work it into my newest novel, Hope Reset. Here's a short excerpt from that chapter:

The merchant's arrival was just the beginning. More came in the following days. A farmer, his calloused hands empty of the crops Saul's men had seized. Three brothers, their eyes hollow with shame, fleeing debts they couldn't pay. Each carried a story of desperation, of having nowhere else to turn. Some had heard rumors in taverns, others from travelers on the road. All spoke of David's reputation for justice and mercy.

"In distress," Jesus spoke softly to Merlin. "In debt. In bitterness of soul. Watch how they come to him."

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