| Devotionals |
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| Feeling nervous at the thought of presenting a devotional?? Here's a little encouragement (start with rereading our companion verse and taking it to heart!) Below are merely some suggestions to point you in the right direction. Webster's dictionary defines the word "Devotional" as, "A short worship service." Have fun with it! if you would rather not talk, bring a song that touches you for us to listen to and tell us why... tell of a frustrating day with your kids and what you learned, it doesn't have to be any set amount of time... a few sentences could be enough... or you may want to share longer... it's up to you! "How do I get started writing a devotional?" When you find yourself in the middle of some situation thinking, "Why -- that's how God is, too!" or, "That's like that story in the Bible . . .," that can become a devotional. Excellent ideas come from reading and meditating on scripture, looking for connections between it and daily life. When you see such a helpful connection, here's a simple formula for getting it on paper: Retell the Bible teaching or summarize the passage briefly. Describe the situation that you link to the Bible passage, using a specific incident. Write down as many details of the real-life situation as you can. For example, if you write about an incident when people were talking, write down what each person said. Tell how you can apply this spiritual truth in days to come. After a few days, look carefully at what you have written. Decide which details best convey your message, and delete the others. Ask yourself whether this insight will be helpful to your fellow Chicas. Tips to keep in mind Begin with studying and meditating on the Bible so its power supports your words. Connect scripture with your own life. Your experience is unique. Avoid preaching ("you should ...," "you need to ...," "we must ...," etc.) Use language and examples that appeal to the five senses. Tell what you heard, saw touched, smelled tasted. When appropriate, use dialogue to tell your story. Make only one point. Think snapshot, not movie. Focus on how you can deepen the Christian commitment of your sisters and nurture their spiritual growth. (Tips for writing a devotion were found at www.upperroom.org) |
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