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Devotions Archive
A Captive Audience
Discouragement, disappointment, Positive Life, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione Discouragement, disappointment, Positive Life, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione

A Captive Audience

I'll never forget the first time I had to give a gospel presentation here in Wales. My hands trembled as I rearranged my notes, watching people file into the tiny community hall. I'd been looking forward to and dreading this day for weeks. Back in the States, I'd spoken to groups of ladies regularly, but here in this unfamiliar land, I felt painfully inadequate.

"Lord," I whispered, "I'm trapped. I can't back out now."

As I looked around the room at the expectant faces, a strange thought struck me. Was I trapped in this situation... or were they trapped with me?

That's when I remembered the Apostle Paul.

Picture this: Paul, the mighty missionary, chained to Roman guards day and night. Talk about being trapped!

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Just Turn the Page
Hope, Comfort, Encouragement, Positive Life, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione Hope, Comfort, Encouragement, Positive Life, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione

Just Turn the Page

I recently finished the rough draft of my newest Christian fantasy novel—a milestone worth celebrating, especially considering the brain fog I often battle. As I worked through the manuscript, I became increasingly aware of one particular writing technique that keeps readers engaged: the chapter-ending hook.

You know what I'm talking about. That dramatic moment where the protagonist discovers something shocking, finds himself in peril, or makes a heart-stopping decision... and then—the chapter ends. Just like that!

It's delightfully devious, really. I've deliberately placed my readers in emotional suspense. Sometimes they're worried for a character's safety. Other times, they're frustrated by a character's poor choice. Occasionally, they're heartbroken by an unexpected betrayal. But regardless of the emotion, the effect is the same. They simply must turn the page to discover what happens next.

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The Other Half of the Prayer
Thoughts, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione Thoughts, Rise Up and Build Dana Rongione

The Other Half of the Prayer

Most mornings before I leave my devotion time, I close my eyes and whisper, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). It's a prayer that has become as natural to me as breathing. The first part makes perfect sense. I want the actual words coming out of my mouth to honor God. Simple enough.

But recently, as I sat on my beanbag in my office, I paused mid-prayer. What exactly am I asking when I pray for the "meditation of my heart" to be acceptable?

The word "meditation" in Hebrew (hagion) refers to our innermost thoughts, ponderings, and even mutterings. It's what we chew on mentally throughout the day, the internal dialogue constantly running through our minds.

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Broken But Beautiful
Encouragement, Comfort, Weary, Rise Up and Build, Anxiety, depression, Deadly Darts of the Devil Dana Rongione Encouragement, Comfort, Weary, Rise Up and Build, Anxiety, depression, Deadly Darts of the Devil Dana Rongione

Broken But Beautiful

I recently learned about a fascinating Japanese art form called kintsugi. Rather than tossing broken pottery into the bin, artisans carefully piece the fragments back together using a special adhesive made from tree sap. But here's the truly remarkable part: they don’t hide the cracks. Instead, they highlight them by filling the seams with gold, creating something even more beautiful than the original piece.

As I studied photos of these stunning works of art, tears filled my eyes. You see, I know what it's like to feel broken. The weight of anxiety and depression has left me with countless cracks and fissures. The battle against chronic illness has left me weary and battered. There are days when I feel utterly shattered by negative thoughts and overwhelming fears, wondering if I'll ever be whole again. Perhaps you can relate?

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Beyond First Glance
Rise Up and Build, Positive Life, Thoughts, Wayward Emotions Dana Rongione Rise Up and Build, Positive Life, Thoughts, Wayward Emotions Dana Rongione

Beyond First Glance

I remember the first time I read the Thoreau quote, "It's not what you look at that matters; it's what you see." At first, I thought it was just a clever play on words, but the more I pondered it, the more I realized its profound truth. We all have a tendency to focus on the negative, to dramatize, catastrophize, and even exaggerate things. We do this in our daily lives, and it can significantly impact our overall outlook and well-being.

For instance, have you ever noticed how quickly we can turn a minor inconvenience into a major catastrophe? We spill coffee on our shirt, and suddenly, our entire day is ruined. We get stuck in traffic, and we're convinced we'll never reach our destination on time.

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