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I’m A Mess – Lil Duncan
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Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

I’m a mess. There’s no doubt about that.

I sometimes put my shirt on inside out or backwards. On a really bad day it might be both. I’ve been known to walk around with tags on my new clothes until someone takes pity on me. Most days, my husband gives me a once-over to make sure I’m suitable to be out in public.

I tell you this for one reason. I want you to understand, I am not the person people come to in search of fashion advice. Anyway…the other day my husband and I went to a professional photographer.

When his turn came up for individual pictures, I kept fussing with his clothes, rearranging collars, zippers, and other things. We laughed as I explained to the photographer how out of character it was for me being the one adjusting his clothes. I told my husband it was just that I could see things from a distance he couldn’t see.

That’s how it is with God. He sees us from a distance and he sees what needs to be adjusted so that we can be a good example for other believers. Perhaps we’re too judgmental, too impatient, or need more compassion. A tug here, a tug there, a straightening of the collar. His adjustments are for our own good, but it’s not necessarily easy, comfortable, or even welcome. Are we willing to allow God to make those adjustments so we can be an example to others even if they’re painful? Or are we going to fight him every step of the way?

The choice belongs to each of us. Maybe you think you don’t need to change or improve anything. Maybe, maybe not….I’ll let you decide for yourself, but as for me, I know I need His adjustments. I’m a mess.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a speech-language pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio.
Read Lil’s devotions.
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Mommy, Daddy, Is Santa Claus Real? – Lil Duncan
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If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

“Is Santa Claus real?”

What parent hasn’t heard this dreaded question? If not, with Christmas just around the corner, many of you may hear it this holiday season. Your heart breaks just a bit for your child’s loss of innocence.

So, what’s a wonderful parent like you supposed to say in that moment? There are lots of choices, but how about the truth in a way you may not have thought of?

“Santa Claus is real, but now that you’ve asked that question you’re old enough to learn his real name—Jesus.”

Turn that dreaded question into a learning experience that will begin your child’s journey with Jesus. After all, Jesus is better than Santa any day. He’s always with us—not just at Christmas time. He gives way better gifts than Santa ever could—peace, joy, love, and an eternity in heaven with Him.

Bring out a picture of Santa and use it to teach your child even more about Jesus. The red suit signifies the blood of Jesus. The white in the suit shows the purity of Jesus. His white hair, beard, and kindly smile shows the love of Jesus. And that ample belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly shows the abundance of God. And his never-ending bag of toys symbolizes God’s never-ending grace.

And what about Santa’s helpers—the elves? Teach your child we are Jesus’s helpers here on earth. We should help others wherever and whenever we can.

The more you think about the analogy of Santa Claus as an alter ego of Jesus, the more similarities you’ll discover. Everyone knows Santa lives at the mythical North Pole, but exactly where is that? It’s heaven, of course!

Is Santa real? You bet he is…and his name is Jesus. Happy Birthday, Jesus! And Merry Christmas to all!

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio.

Read Lil’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Around the Campfire – Lil Duncan
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…In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. Joshua 4: 6-7

I was slaving on the treadmill, singing along with my iPod when “I Love to Tell the Story” popped up. A scene flashed in my mind’s eye.

I was sitting around a campfire with Jesus and he was telling stories. Stories of His mysterious childhood, stories where He stood beside me, stories of His life and mine.

What a wonderful scene. Just think about it. Sitting on a cool fall evening beside a roaring fire, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and listening to Jesus tell stories.

Jesus loved stories. His stories served a multitude of purposes. He used them to teach a lesson, to pass along history, to connect with others, and sometimes to make a point. Stories were His way of breaking down the barriers so many would come to Him. People listened when He spoke and took in the meaning of the words He shared.

As a speech-language pathologist, I recommend parents use stories to develop and strengthen listening skills, vocabulary, and grammar skills. It’s a great way to pass down values and traditions you want your children to learn. And, if you share your stories, your children might just choose to tell you some of their own stories.

What parent doesn’t want that open communication with their children?

Scripture tells us that we are to be the storytellers for our children and our generation. “No way,” you say. “My children don’t want to hear stories of my childhood. That was too long ago. They only want to play videos and watch TV.”

Not true. Everyone loves a story and Jesus was living proof that even the most learned would listen.

Don’t cheat your children out of their heritage. Share the stories of Christ.

I love to tell the story of unseen things in glory… Please, pass the marshmallows.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a speech-language pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net.
Read Lil’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Make A Habit – Break a Habit – Lil Duncan
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If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12: 18

Habits—we all have them. Some good and some not so good.

One behavior pattern we may not think of as a habit is the way we treat people, especially our spouses or other loved ones. I’ve always been one who believes in venting when necessary. I’d yell and get it out of my system and then I’d be all better, but what about the person I vented toward?

Venting worked for me until one day early in our courtship, I was yelling at my future husband and saw the hurt in his eyes. The look in his eyes hurt me more than what I was angry about.

I decided not to do that anymore and I’m happy to announce after almost nine years of marriage, my husband and I don’t argue or yell at each other. (Not bragging- just stating the fact.)

Notice the word decided. New healthy habits start with a decision. And then each day you must make and keep that decision again and again until it truly becomes a habit. God wants us to live in peace with everyone.

If you’ve developed a habit that doesn’t quite match God’s ideal, start today to break an old habit and develop a new habit. Write this verse on an index card and keep it where you can read it often.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick, but each time you choose peace over arguing, sarcasm, nagging, or stridency, you will be one step closer to making it a habit.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio.
Read Lil’s devotions.


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The Trouble with Religion – Lil Duncan
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…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

Mommy wasn’t up yet but he was hungry. He was a big boy. He’d fix his own breakfast. That would make Mommy happy. He opened the refrigerator and tugged at the milk. Oops! Milk spilled on the floor. Mommy wouldn’t be happy. He’d better fix it. He spied that big cloth on the table. He could use that to clean up the milk. He pulled on it. Oops! Mommy’s flowers fell off the table. Crash! The vase shattered. Mommy wouldn’t be happy. He’d better fix it. He spied the broom. As he picked it up, it knocked the picture off the wall. Oops…

Ever feel like this boy? I sure do. We start off wanting to make God happy. Unfortunately, we’re not perfect. The more we try to fix it, the worse it gets. And before long, we’re just trying to clean up our messes so no one knows about them. We’ve completely forgotten about making God happy. And that’s the trouble with religion.

Religion is about rules. Relationship is about loving God. Jesus told us the most important commandment is to love God, then love others. It’s not about rules. It’s about relationship.

And by the way, Mommy wouldn’t have been upset if her son had awakened her. The mess could have been avoided by admitting he needed his mommy–just the way we need God–our heavenly Father. Don’t wait…call on Him.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a speech-language pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio.
Read Lil’s devotions.

Sweet, Sweet Communion – Lil Duncan
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The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:31

Time for Family Camp again! Every Memorial Day and Labor Day our local church camp opens their gates for campers from their supporting churches, to provide a wonderful weekend of activities, fellowship, and worship.

One of the highlights of the Sunday morning worship is communion. As we all know, communion is a solemn occasion. We sit and reflect on our weaknesses, our failures, our shortcomings, on the perfect love of a God who allows us to come before Him in spite of our own imperfections through the blood of his son, Jesus.

Communion is serious business.

I took the bread and placed it in my mouth.

Surprise!

It wasn’t the tasteless hard wafer I expected. It was a soft, sweet morsel of cake. I was shocked at the marring of such a solemn occasion with something as unserious as cake. I sipped my grape juice and the worship service continued.

The sweetness lingered.

It was then my brain made the connection. Communion isn’t just a solemn occasion – it’s  a sweet communion with my God, my Savior, and my Lord.

Even when He provided manna for the Israelites as they traveled through the wilderness, He didn’t provide a hard tasteless wafer for them to endure. He gave them wafers tasting like honey. He wanted them to enjoy His gift.

God still wants us to enjoy His gifts, especially the gift of His son. Many of us think of our relationship with God in terms of that tasteless hard wafer, but the Father wants it to be like that morsel of cake, sweet and joyful. Won’t you enjoy?

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a speech-language pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net
Read Lil’s devotions.

Childlike Servants – Lil Duncan
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“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Last summer, I knew God was opening doors—my dream to be a “successful” writer was finally happening. But now, months later, it’s still just a dream. After much prayer, I came to the conclusion that it must not be God’s will. After all, I would be further along in my career if it were God‘s will.

It wasn’t that I wanted to give up writing, but I wanted to do God‘s Will.

I gave up my daily writing time, then I felt like I’d lost my best friend. It will get better, I told myself. But it didn’t. I was praying, worrying, and obsessing when the phrase, ‘Come to me as a child’ popped into my head. I felt peace wash over me.

So what does it mean? It doesn’t mean being childish but rather child-like.

Children love their parents wholeheartedly. They trust their parents to do the right thing for them. Children depend on their parents to provide for them. Children are simple creatures. They do what they love, not to be successful, but for the simple joy of doing it. They play baseball because they love baseball. They dance because they love to dance.

The message was clear. Stop making life so complicated! Stop worrying about being a “successful” writer and write for the joy of writing. Start loving, trusting and depending on my Heavenly Father for He is faithful. When I brought myself before the Master with the heart of a child—pure, innocent and willing, Christ embraced me and suddenly the success lay in the arms of the one who held me tight.

Turn your heart’s desires to the Father, and come to him as a child. He will embrace you, too. What greater success could there be?

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God,
keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him
and keep his commands.”

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net
Read Lil’s devotions.

Publisher: PublishAmerica

ISBN-10: 1424146909

ISBN-13: 978-1424146901
Buy Now

God Doesn’t Make Mistakes – Lil Duncan
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“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Jack was a student of mine many years ago but I’ve never forgotten him. Jack was a sweet little boy that was always smiling but he hadn’t been blessed with a “normal” IQ. I would teach him something and be sure that he “knew” it but the next time I saw him, he couldn’t recall.

All of us would say, “Poor Jack” and shake our heads, and we had little hope for his future. Still every time I saw Jack he was smiling and laughing.

One day, it occurred to me that we shouldn’t be feeling sorry for Jack. He didn’t fit our idea of perfection but he was happy. Jack wasn’t trying to be something that he wasn’t. He was just being Jack.

We can all learn from Jack. We may not fit our idea of perfection but God doesn’t make mistakes. He planned for me to be under five feet tall and not be able to sing but He also gave me many talents and blessings that I’m thankful to have.

In this media crazy world we live in, it’s easy to look at the celebrities and believe that we don’t measure up. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we need to remember God loves us just the way we are. In fact, He made us that way. This week as you hear that inner voice saying that you aren’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, worthy enough—remember you are God’s creation and you are wonderfully made. God doesn’t make mistakes.

Rejoice in who you are. God does.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net
Read Lil’s devotions.

Publisher: PublishAmerica
ISBN-10: 1424146909
ISBN-13: 978-1424146901
Buy Now


One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

God Doesn’t Make Mistakes – Lil Duncan
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“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Jack was a student of mine many years ago but I’ve never forgotten him. Jack was a sweet little boy that was always smiling but Jack hadn’t been blessed with a “normal” IQ. I would teach him something and be sure that he “knew” it but the next time I saw him, he wouldn’t have a clue.

All of us would say, “poor Jack” and shake our heads. No one had much hope for Jack’s future but every time I saw Jack he was smiling and laughing.

One day, it occurred to me that we shouldn’t be feeling sorry for Jack. He didn’t fit our idea of perfection but Jack was happy. Jack wasn’t trying to be something that he wasn’t. He was just being Jack.

We can all learn from Jack. We may not fit our idea of perfection but God doesn’t make mistakes. He planned for me to be under five feet and not be able to sing but he also gave me many talents and blessings that I’m so very thankful for.

In this media crazy world we live in, it’s easy to look at the celebrities and believe that we don’t measure up. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we need to remember God loves us just the way we are. In fact, he made us that way. This week as you hear that inner voice saying that you aren’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, worthy enough, remember you are God’s creation and you are wonderfully made. God doesn’t make mistakes.

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net/
Read Lil’s devotions.

. Lil is featured in Spirit & HEART: A Devotional Journey.

Created in the image of the Father, we carry His Spirit and Soul, His Spirit and Mind, His Spirit and Body and His Spirit and Heart.

From the authors of Christian Devotions comes the first in a series of 30-day devotionals focusing on the image and attributes given to us by God.

Within the pages of Spirit & HEART: A Devotional Journey are passage markers to guide you into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Father. Included in this compilation are devotions by Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles, plus, Christy award winner Ann Tatlock and best selling authors, Loree Lough, Yvonne Lehman, Ginny Smith, Irene Brand, Shelby Rawson, and Ariel Allison.

Contact us at: books@christiandevotions.us to place your order.

Come as a Child — Lil Duncan
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“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Last summer, I knew God was opening doors and that my dream to be a writer was finally happening but now it’s six months later and it’s still just a dream. After much prayer and meditation, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t God’s will for me to be a writer.

After all, I would be further along in my career if it were God‘s will. It wasn’t that I was discouraged and wanted to give up, but I wanted to do what God wanted me to do. My time could be better spent in other ways, like cleaning the house and giving more attention to my wonderful husband.

So, I gave up my daily writing time but I felt like I lost my best friend. It will get better, I told myself but it didn’t. That’s when the struggling began. I did what I could to find “the answer.” I prayed and read and prayed some more. Nothing.

A few days ago, I was praying, worrying, and obsessing once again. I was telling God that I was confused and it was all so complicated and I was tired of it. The phrase, ‘Come to me as a child’ popped into my head. I felt peace wash over me.

The message was clear. Stop making life so complicated! Children are simple creatures. They like baseball so they play baseball. They like to read so they read. The act of writing gives me joy. I may never get an agent or be on the best seller list. I may never have the “writing career” that I dream of but…I love to write so I will write.


Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net . Read Lil’s devotions.


Publisher: PublishAmerica
Buy Now

ISBN-10: 1424146909

ISBN-13: 978-1424146901