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People pleasing…

January 24, 2019January 23, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Are you a people-pleaser? A people-pleaser is someone who wants to make other people happy all the time. And that’s not always a bad thing. The problem is when your own sense of self, and even your own happiness, is too closely connected to your desire and capacity to please or appease others. I get it. As … Continue reading People pleasing…

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Joy reigned supreme The "Up!" Devo for April 24 Remember Easter? Of course you do. It was only a few days ago. But Monday came, and then Tuesday. Now you’re chugging through your routines like any other week. You remember that Easter happened. But you forget what happened at Easter. Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor. Here’s how he described learning about the end of the war: “…the camp gate was thrown open. A splendid, aluminum-colored car, on which were painted large red crosses, slowly rolled on to the parade ground… Who worried about [the need to] escape now? Boxes with medicines were unloaded from the car, cigarettes were distributed, we were photographed and joy reigned supreme.” “Joy reigned supreme.” I love that. Joy is bigger than happiness. It doesn’t always have a smile; but it has victory and hope carved on the heart. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, Paul talks about the resurrection like this: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). In Jesus, we have something that cannot be intimidated—not even by death. You don’t always feel like smiling. I get that. But joy is bigger than happiness. It has victory and hope carved on the heart. You remember that Easter happened. But don’t forget what happened at Easter. Joy reigned supreme. And it still can. By Matthew Ruttan #joy #victory #easter #faith #dailydevo

When up is down and down is up The "Up!" Devo for April 23 “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). There are people living in huge mansions who are way more miserable thank you think. There are people living on the street who have way more joy than you think. There are people who have made a lot of mistakes who have way more integrity than you think. In the kingdom of God, up is often down and down is often up. Today, look at the world, not based on the hurried and hasty opinions of others, but on the wisdom of a surprising God who created every single one of his kids from a brimming fountain of joy and purpose deep within his heart. By Matthew Ruttan #faith #kingdomofGod #dailydevotional #theupdevo #beauty

Your victory in life The "Up!" Devo for April 22 Happy Easter everybody! As many of you know, I've been on break since February 4th. I'm feeling refreshed and am looking forward to helping you live out a dynamic faith through this devotional five days a week. Since today is Easter Monday, let me just say this: A lot of people struggle with an identity of failure. Their sense of self is saturated with thoughts, ideas and voices like, “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m not pretty enough,” or “I’m not successful enough.” But Easter can change that. When we more fully understand the significance of Jesus’ resurrection, we realize that his victory over death is our victory in life. His triumph is our triumph; his hope is our hope; and his joy is our joy. What happened to Jesus is a kind of foreshadowing of what will one day happen to everyone who follows him. Death will whimper. We will be given spiritual, resurrected bodies. Decay and pain will go six feet under. All things will be made new. And God’s justice, truth and healing love with reign supreme. In the meantime, you can know that "your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (verse 58). God can use every prayer, ever act of faith, mercy and care, and every word of truth and encouragement, for his kingdom-building purposes in the world. So whenever those voices of failure start to buzz around your brain, blow them up with an Easter truth bomb; memorize and counterattack with this: “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)! Easter can move you from an identity of failure to an identity of victory. Memorize the Easter truth bomb of 1 Corinthians 15:57. And remember that his victory over death is your victory in life. By Matthew Ruttan #Easter #EasterMonday #resurection #identity #victory

Hi everyone! This is just a reminder that Up! is now on snooze until April 22nd. I know, I know - it's a long time away, right? But after 3 years of writing daily devotionals I'm taking a much-needed rest. But you can always but the book on Amazon, or peruse back issues at www.TheUpDevo.com. Peace be with you! -Matthew

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