Marianne's FLASH💥DEVOS Podcast

Isaiah 48:9-11 Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols! + Creator shares glory with those who surre...

Song of Songs 2:10-12 My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. + A holy season of singing has come indeed. Gather with others to sing resistance. Let our sounds carry the load across mountains and st...

Psalm 13:5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers. + Oh for those flashes when we feel so rescued, so delivered, so incredibly freed from… it doesn’t even matter what. Rescue can happen fast. Freedom can take forever. Trust in the promises of the Source, the Power greater than all others. Envisi...

Galatians 5:5-6 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. + My friend Dave once said that people who weren’t moved to tears by the suffering of children should get a heart transplant. Maybe personal vulnerability...

Matthew 10:7-8 “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give .” + People rightly question whether the kingdom has come near, as if “The Kingdom” is a new movie at the multiplex. Even so, Jesus calls us to leave the show changed, humbled, and challenged....

Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. + Respect fearless advocacy: singing resistance, walking across the country, whistleblowers calling in the crowd. Lament how family,...

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. + Consider how you or your community may feel fragmented by a litany of things to do correctly, at the right time, with the best intentions, in big buildings with the right people gathered. Join with others to ask Creator to undivide our broken hearts. May our communiti...

Dear Readers, Listeners, and Supporters: thank you for coming along with my Flash Devos for the past 180 posts. I need to step away from the computer for now. Unexpected health challenges prevent me from writing and producing these devos. Please help yourselves to the archives. I pray that I will be able to return to this work of my heart. I leave you with a prayer calling in the vision of equanim...

Psalm 126:1-2 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. + Cheer out loud when rescue becomes real. Not maybe he will save us, or maybe he’ll help us, or if we do what’s right he’ll stay. Here and now, no matter what, in this and that and in everything, life changes when the Lord arrives. Tall, h...

Malachi 3:17-18 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” + “They” means the faithful remnant of believers. As far as we know, God hasn’t ch...

Psalm 90:1-4, 12 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. + Christmas is an offer to engage...

Readers, listeners, and followers alike--Thank You! I appreciate your support for my Flash💥Devos + Podcast! As a thank-you gift for November, here’s my review of my friend Andrew’s latest book, just published in October. Andrew’s years of researching and writing “ Reviving the Golden Rule” created this remarkable work of scholarship that relates to our world today. The content here could be a lif...

Psalm 118:19-21 Let the doors of Creator’s right ways open to me. I will go through them and give thanks to Grandfather. This is where Grandfather’s good road begins, the upright in heart will enter here. I will give thanks to you, for you heard my prayers and came to rescue me. + Thanksgiving celebrates the reciprocal nature of God’s love. Doors open; we enter with grateful praise. We wander; Gra...

Deuteronomy 3:27-28 “Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” + Next generations might be older or younger. Everyone has a future. By discipling and coaching others now, you can co-create the future you ca...

Psalm 51:10-12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. + This beautiful prayer remains “the classic example of repentance in the Old Testament.” Later, Jesus modeled these truths and explained the rewards. “ Bles...

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 “Now, my sacred family members, we call on you to give firm and wise counsel to those whose hands do nothing. Comfort those whose hearts are on the ground. Help the ones who are weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure no one gives back to anyone evil for evil. Seek to walk in a good way with each other and with all people. “ + Pray for the well-being of everyone in yo...

Acts 5:38-39 “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these people; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” + God’s action can be obvious, like a turquoise sky or the flight of a skimmer along the crest of an ocean wave. Sparring with God’s creative nature proves exasperating. It’s not an easy way out but o...

Romans 2:3-4 “Tell me, when you do the same kinds of things that you judge others for, do you think what you have done will be hidden from the eyes of the Great Spirit? Or do you hold bitter thoughts about Creator’s kindness, patience, and willingness to bear with others?” + We silly humans judge our Creator for excessive patience, unreasonable forgiveness, and outrageous mercy. Accept Creator’s k...

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Parent, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. + What we write or speak--rightly o...

Psalm 17:3-5 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.+ This confession shows how to set our spiritual life aright i...

Jeremiah 23:28-29 “ Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” + Straw makes a good sleeping mat or mulch but only matured grain grows life. Be discerning when you speak God’s word. Liv...

Romans 14:12,19 So then, each of us must give an answer to the Great Spirit for how we have walked on this earth. So then, let us walk the path of peace in a manner that lifts up and strengthens the heart of each person. + There’s a spiritual dimension to how we walk, where we’re going, and what the path means. Let Christ lead the way. Do all you can to strengthen hearts for peace. *Lily DeCort is...

Jeremiah 10:5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” + People expect gods to perform. Gods of our own creation must give us more than we have. Consider if your devotion to money, power, screens, work, substances, or something else competes with your spiritual com...

Thank you for reading and listening along to my Flash💥Devos this October. In gratitude, let me offer “Take Me to the Border with You,” my most popular article from 2024. The week I spent at the Mexico/U.S. border in 2019 radicalized me. Sharing ministry of presence and welcoming migrants humbled me. The realities of worldwide immigration, refugees, asylum, and exile scorch my heart. I pray we may...

Psalm 145:6-8 Every tongue will speak of the fearsome power you have shown. I will tell stories of your greatness. All people will retell the stories of your far-reaching goodness and shout for joy at your just ways. Grandfather is kind, merciful, and slow to anger. His greatness is shown by his love, which remains faithful and true. + Give thanks for life itself! Reach across whatever bridge can...