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Behind the Scenes
Faith, Reaching Out to Others, Life's Journey Dana Rongione Faith, Reaching Out to Others, Life's Journey Dana Rongione

Behind the Scenes

The comment stung like a paper cut—small but surprisingly painful. "Now, we just have to get Dana out there doing something," my coworker had quipped, presumably in jest. Though meant to be humorous, the words settled heavily in my spirit, and I found myself mentally cataloging my daily responsibilities.

From my home office, I design promotional materials, organize events, prepare music and Bible studies, create floral arrangements, and handle correspondence for our ministry. Yet because most of this work happens behind the scenes rather than in the public eye, it's easy for others to overlook these contributions.

As I nursed my wounded pride, the Lord gently reminded me that I often treat Him the same way.

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The Fine Art of Forgetting
Forgiveness, Reaching Out to Others, love Dana Rongione Forgiveness, Reaching Out to Others, love Dana Rongione

The Fine Art of Forgetting

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to have an uncanny ability to remember every wrong committed against them? They can recall with perfect clarity the exact moment someone cut them off in traffic three years ago or precisely what their spouse said during an argument in 1987. It's like they have a steel trap for memories, but only the unpleasant ones.

I confess, I can be that person from time to time. My mental filing cabinet remains stuffed with folders labeled "Times People Have Wronged Me," complete with cross-references and color-coding. It's exhausting being the keeper of such detailed records, yet I often can't seem to help myself.

Recently, while reading my Bible, I stumbled across a verse that convicted my record-keeping heart:

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Beyond First Glance

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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No River Too Wide
perseverance, Faith, Spiritual Warfare Dana Rongione perseverance, Faith, Spiritual Warfare Dana Rongione

No River Too Wide

Have you ever felt like the obstacles in your life were just too big to overcome? Like the river was overflowing its banks, and there was no way to cross? I know I have. In fact, I was just thinking about that the other day as I was reading through 1 Chronicles 12.

In this chapter, we read about the Gadites, a group of warriors who came to fight for David. Now, these guys were no strangers to battle. They were "men of might, and men of war fit for the battle" (1 Chronicles 12:8). But when they arrived at the Jordan, they found that the river was overflowing its banks. In the days of Joshua, the river had parted, and the Israelites had crossed on dry ground. But this time, there was no dry ground to be found.

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Lessons From a Midnight Mouse
waiting, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare Dana Rongione waiting, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare Dana Rongione

Lessons From a Midnight Mouse

I jolted awake to the sound of scratching and scampering, followed by an excited "Woof!" from our terrier, Tess. I turned on the bedside lamp, revealing our pup's intense focus on something beneath our dresser. That's when I spotted it—a tiny grey mouse darting across our bedroom floor.

Talk about a rude awakening! Living in rural Wales, backed up against sheep pastures and woodlands, I suppose we should have expected such visitors sooner. But after two years without any uninvited guests, we'd grown complacent. Now, here we were, at midnight, watching our typically sweet-natured terrier transform into a determined hunter.

Needless to say, sleep proved elusive that night. Between Tess's vigilant guard duty and my heightened awareness of every little sound, morning couldn't come soon enough.

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Reshaped, Not Replaced
Comfort, Encouragement, Inspiration Dana Rongione Comfort, Encouragement, Inspiration Dana Rongione

Reshaped, Not Replaced

My husband is quite the handyman. Give him a problem to solve or something to build, and he'll figure out a way to make it happen. So, when he decided to build his own sound system a few months ago, I wasn't surprised. What did surprise me was how much time and effort went into the planning stages.

For weeks, Jason pored over diagrams, measurements, and parts lists. He watched countless YouTube videos about speaker building and sound quality. When he finally had all his supplies, he commandeered the dining room and a portion of the living room (much to my dismay) and began the painstaking process of putting everything together.

At first, he was thrilled with his accomplishment. The speakers looked professional, and they worked—sort of. But it didn't take long before his excitement waned.

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The Weighty Matter of Sin
Relationships, Prayer, Positive Life Dana Rongione Relationships, Prayer, Positive Life Dana Rongione

The Weighty Matter of Sin

I stood in the bathroom, taking deep breaths and mentally preparing myself for what was to come. It had been months since I'd last checked my weight, and I'll admit, I'd been avoiding this moment like a cat avoids bath time. But today was the day. I'd finally mustered enough courage to face the music—or, in this case, the numbers.

"It can't be that bad," I whispered, trying to channel positive thoughts. "I've been eating...somewhat sensibly. And I do walk every day.  Well, almost every day."

Closing my eyes, I stepped onto the scale. The moment of truth had arrived. I counted to three, opened my eyes, and...promptly wished I hadn't.

"That can't be right!" I exclaimed, causing poor Tess to jump. "There must be something wrong with this scale. Perhaps it needs new batteries. Or maybe it's possessed!"

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Invisible Lines and Impossible Standards
Hope, Comfort, Relationships Dana Rongione Hope, Comfort, Relationships Dana Rongione

Invisible Lines and Impossible Standards

Have you ever felt like you're walking through a maze where the walls keep moving? Or perhaps trying to follow rules written in invisible ink? Welcome to the club! I've spent countless hours trying to decipher the unwritten social contract that seems to govern every interaction, only to find myself stumbling over invisible lines I didn't even know existed.

"Remind me about these things, but don't be a nag."

"Show initiative, but don't overstep."

"Give me all the information, but don't get bogged down in the details."

“Work hard, but don't overdo it."

"Rest, but don't be lazy."

The list of contradictory expectations goes on and on, enough to make anyone's head spin! Even in our spiritual lives, we often find ourselves trapped between seemingly opposing directives.

"Pray with faith, but don't be presumptuous."

"Trust God completely, but plan responsibly."

"Pour out your heart to God, but don't gripe or complain."

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From Weariness to Worship
weariness, Weary, Overwhelmed, Encouragement Dana Rongione weariness, Weary, Overwhelmed, Encouragement Dana Rongione

From Weariness to Worship

Now, I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I'm stumbling through this Christian life like an ostrich walking on marbles. One moment, I'm confidently taking steps, and the next, I'm face-planting into the carpet of life's challenges. But here's the beautiful thing: our Heavenly Father is right there, picking us up, dusting us off, and encouraging us to try again. He's not rolling His eyes or checking His watch; He's cheering us on with the enthusiasm of a parent watching their toddler take their first steps.

The goal, as we've discussed, is to reach a place where our entire life becomes an act of worship. Imagine that! Every breath, every action, every thought offered up as a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord. It's a lofty aspiration, isn't it? But let's not be discouraged if we haven't quite reached that pinnacle yet.

Think of it like tending a garden. When you plant a seed, you don't expect a full-grown tree overnight. It takes time, patience, and consistent care. Some days, you might not see any progress at all. But beneath the surface, roots are deepening, and growth is happening.

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