digging into devotions - a miniseries (Holly Larsen Elias)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

Holly Larsen Elias
Georgia
2 daughters, ages 5 & 4

Well I get up early, before the kids are up. Usually by 5:00 or 5:30 AM. I read for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't happen every day, but I try for most days.

I also try to do some reading before bed, even if it is just 10 minutes. I read the Bible and then read some inspirational book. Right now, I am reading a book called Education -- good stuff!!! I have also read alot of books by Francine Rivers, Beth Moore and Max Lucado. I try to read one book a month as a personal goal.

Besides being a mom, a full-time student, and the pastor's wife -- I'm worship coordinator and I teach the beginner level children's class each week at church.

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Nancy Witt)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

Nancy Witt
Georgia
3 grown children, 3 grandchildren

How do I make it happen? First thing in the morning is when I love spending time with my Lord most. I get up 2 hours before any appointment and pray, read the Bible and/or a devotional book or study a specific topic. 

 

Often throughout the day, as time permits, I listen to sermons I've downloaded from the internet. That seems to keep Jesus as my focus during the day. Before going to bed I usually have a short devotion and prayer. 

 

Years ago I committed to spend as much time or more with my Saviour than I do watching or listening to TV or Radio. It has proven to be a real blessing.

 

Besides being married to the preacher, I'm involved with Women's Bible Study, Vespers Coordinating, Spotlight on Bible Ministry, giving away gospel books at the Flea Market on weekends. I also give Bible Studies during the week and do PowerPoint presentations for the Worship Service each week to help the service flow smoothly. 

 

Spending time with my Lord is always the highlight of my day.

 

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged.

 

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Clara Lou Johns)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

Clara Lou Johns
Georgia
2 grown sons, both also pastors

This is my current devotional practice although I have tried many other methods throughout my life.  This plan has been most meaningful for me.

I prefer to have my devotional time in the morning, first thing, before I do anything else.  My mind is clear, refreshed and the house is quiet.  No phones ringing, nobody in the house is yet stirring, and it is peaceful.  Since the children are gone, I chose a comfortable chair in the guest room that has a floor lamp positioned next to it for good lightening.  I keep my devotional paraphrase Bible there and a devotional book that I have selected from our library.

I begin with a short prayer for the Lord to draw near and open my mind to His truth.  I want this to be a time of spiritual growth for me personally.  I have been reading the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation completing it in about 1 ½ years, then I start again.  I will usually read 2 chapters from the Bible and approximately 2 pages from a spiritual book.  

As I am reading, I am writing down things from both sources for which I want to praise God. I write down things that I want God to do for me in my personal spiritual growth, and another short list of things I need him to transform in my character.  I also write down the prayer requests that come to my mind while I am studying and things for which I am thankful.

By the time I finish my study I have a prayer list in front of me that includes:

• Praising God, 
• Petitioning God for specific requests, 
• Asking for God to help my spiritual experience with Him, 
• Areas of character weakness that I recognize only He can change, and 
• Thanksgiving for things that He has done for me.  

Pastor & Clara Lou Johns

I usually list about 4 things in each area, except the Petitions.  That can have as many as are brought to my mind.  I then use this list to pray and talk out loud to God and turn it into a conversation with the Lord.

Starting my day like this keeps life in perspective.  I ask God to help me view life from His bigger perspective and then I give to Him the burdens I am carrying because He has said His burden is light, His yoke is easy.

Here's an EXAMPLE:  For years I had a tendency to worry about every problem that occurred with the people in the church. When I started asking God to remove this worry, fear and anxiety from my character, He did so day by day.  I know He took care of it because I have such a different response to these issues now, and the worry part is gone. Praise God, His word teaches us and His love reaches us through this personal time with Him.

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged.

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (June Burn)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

June Burn
Michigan (originally South Africa)
2 grown kids, 4 grandkids

My ministry is praying for others and giving encouragement to those in need and also helping people in need - widows, young mothers, elderly, children - whoever God puts in my path!  Just being a disciple!

I discovered that to begin making time with the Lord was like beginning exercises - you start doing a little at a time.  Just 10 minutes to start with, and then gradually I became more and more interested in my quiet time so that now one hour is barely enough!.  This means going to bed earlier so I can get up earlier, but the incredible joy I receive makes it so worth it!

When I began, I had no clue what to do.  So I knelt down and asked God to lead me, and He very vividly brought to my mind 1 Corinthians 13.  Since I love journaling, I studied the chapter through verse by verse with all the cross references.  

These days I include several books that I enjoy reading just a paragraph or page at a time and I also choose a book in the Bible to study - I'm doing Genesis at this time and always a Psalm.

After reading, I have a journal where I "talk" to the Lord about what I have read, and I pray over it asking God that the theory I'm learning may be practiced in my life, which brings joy!  Then I have a separate journal where I go through a list of names of those people I'm praying for.

The only time I can do this is from 5-6 AM.  At the end of the day I literally say "Amen" because off and on throughout the day I often decide to meditate on the verses, and the portions I read from the various books. 

I find when I am battling with a negative thought that replacing it with meditating over my devotion drives that negative thought out the back door!

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

 

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged. 

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Dilys Brooks)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

Dilys Brooks
California
2 kids, ages 4 & 2

How do you make it happen? I set time aside in my schedule daily. If I want uninterrupted quiet, alone time for worship, I get up before anyone else in my house. A good week is when I am able to get 7 days.

What do you do/read/study?
I am following a liturgical calendar. I read and reflect on the scripture assigned for the day. Then I journal on the New Testament passage and my prayers.

Delroy & Dilys Brooks & kids

When do you do it?
If I want uninterrupted quiet, alone time for worship, I get up before anyone else in my house. Each morning at around 5:00 or 5:30am. Our oldest gets up at 6:30am, so if I begin worship 6:30 or later, he will join me. This will mean a short worship because he will tell me that he's hungry at about 7:00AM.

What kind of ministry are you involved in?
I am a Chaplain. At church I teach classes during the study hour before church (Beginners & Young Adults, on alternate weeks); and I am a Worship Leader and an Elder.

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

 

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged.

 

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Juliet van Heerden)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

Juliet van Heerden
Florida
newly married, no kids

I'm involved in the ministry of teaching young children & being a wife to a never-been-married-before man. It's all I can do at the moment. But I'm asking God to show me what my niche is in my new church.

Pastor Andre & Juliet van Heerden

I like to get up early & meet God before anything else takes up my thoughts. I like to read straight from the Bible - asking God to direct my reading.

When I feel no direction, I do it anyway - just taking my study lesson chapters as a guide. Sometimes I take to studying an entire book of the Bible for a while. It just depends.

I also like to write scriptures on index cards and keep them on rings in my purse or car. I also put them on Post-It Notes on my bathroom mirror. I can easily access God's word when I'm sitting at a stoplight, blowing my hair dry or putting on my make-up. I've been able to memorize scripture without even realizing I was doing it.

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged.

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profile of a PW: lisa chan

My husband just received his issue of Outreach magazine with Francis Chan on the cover. In case you've never heard of him, Francis Chan is a pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA who does amazing things and really has a heart for reaching "the least of these." His church, who has outgrown its current facilities, decided to build an outdoor amphitheater for $1 million instead of a new, larger church for $20 million.

In an effort to put their personal money where their mouth is, the Chan family sold their house, moved to a smaller house, took in the inlaws and frequently houses college students, struggling couples, etc. in addition to their four children. When he first brought up selling the house, his wife, Lisa, said, "If you really believe that this is what God wants us to do, then I trust you."

This Lisa Chan is an amazing woman with a voice and message to match. Hopefully we'll have an interview with her on this blog soon. I'm gonna start working on it. In the meantime, check her out and be inspired.

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