Rhonie is a licensed radiation therapist providing care to those battling cancer. She learned to embrace a new normal after being diagnosed with Crohn’s. disease and uses the power of words to encourage others to see past their darkest day to a brighter horizon. She is the author of Embracing a New Normal, God Has Drawn The Blueprints Vol I &II, Words That Surround Your Soul devotionals, and a host of blog posts on her website www.RhonieSays.com. Her hobbies include reading, photography, liturgical dance ministry, and eating sweets. Rhonie is the mother of two children and two granddaughters and she makes her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband of 22 years.
Blogs by Rhonie
Bread Of Anxious Toil
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
I recently wrote a prayer about peace in my latest book and there was a sentence about eating the bread of anxious toil. When I think about that sentence I realize I’ve probably overloaded on that bread more than I care to admit.
A lot of times when we began to eat healthier we have a tendency to consume less bread because of its carb content. That content….. Read More
Just Start Praying!
Building Intimacy with God, Maintaining Hope and Receiving Victory
Building Intimacy with God
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
One of the most fulfilling relationships you can develop is a relationship with the Lord. Oftentimes we work hard on building relationships with one another but never take the time to build a strong one with the Lord.
I’m talking about closeness with God where you feel open enough to be totally honest in expressing your thoughts to Him. It’s possible! Intimacy with ….. Read More
Who is the center of your universe?
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance….Hebrews 1:1–3 (ESV)
There’s a sign in our department that I’ve passed many times and I’ve never paid attention to it until the other day while waiting on a patient. I started to read the sign and at the bottom, this question was posed…who is the center of your universe?
The question brought me immediately to my answer to that question. Now it can be easy to think of family and other things as being the center but for me, ….. Read More
Dealing with Rejection
No one is immune to rejection, but some people do handle it better than others. Whether it creeps up in your work environment, home life, or social circles, it’s something we all have to cope with at different checkpoints in our lives.
A honest talk about rejection as I work on building my brand.
Rejection is one of those negative experiences life seems to toss at us to keep things interesting. Only, instead of making things interesting, rejection often makes us feel bad about ourselves……. Read More
Silencing the Symptoms
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
I can’t speak for anyone else on their healing journey but I can certainly give someone hope and encouragement as I share my experiences. In fact, that’s the very thing I’m trying to get past…my experiences.
When it has come to this healing journey my experiences with painful symptoms have been the hardest place for me to get past. Do I believe that Jesus healed me… Read More
Surviving the Sea of Expectations
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
What happens when we can’t fulfill people’s expectations of us? Their belief that they will obtain something from us can quickly turn into disappointment that weighs us down, causing us to drown in a sea of frustration and rejection. The pressure can seem insurmountable and can cause us to take on characteristics unbefitting to us in order to meet their wishes. How do we survive and swim ashore? Let me start by sharing a little bit of my story ….Read More
When I’m at my weakest!
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)
One of my biggest fascinations lately is all the superhero shows. I love them. Why is that? Maybe because they have amazing abilities that equate to some sort of perfection where life won’t beat them up. There are no places of weakness in them that speak to flaws or inefficiencies.
I view my life there are times that my weakest moments highlight an inability to handle circumstances that try to overtake me, far from superhero abilities. It’s in these instances where……Read More
WHERE DO I RUN?
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
There are times when I feel so settled and secure in my relationship with the Lord. We’re coasting along riding wave after wave together and I don’t flinch or flail. I have the most confidence in who God is in my life. Yet recently out of nowhere, I got thrown off. As someone who is standing on God’s promise of healing things was going great and then symptoms began ….Read More
THE LORD IS MY….
”but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (ESV) 14
I often like to envision some of the beautiful language presented in the Bible that gives us descriptive words about God. What a great way to make God more personal in our everyday walk versus being viewed as far away and distant. Go with me! God is keeping me! What does it mean to be kept? It means to be retained in one’s possession or power. Wow! Just thinking about God’s power keeping me enlarges my heart with such…..Read More
TAPESTRY OF LIFE.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11 (ESV)
Have you ever looked at a tapestry? If so you’ll see that all of the woven threads across the fabric are very intricate. Without that intricacy of detail, the picture wouldn’t be as beautiful. If we viewed our lives in this way we might get a different perspective of our ups and downs.
There’s a starting point to every chain of events that orchestrates varying….Read More
BELOVED!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16,
That certainly wasn’t a term I thought of when I used to consider how Jesus viewed me. I was letting my circumstances provide other words like rejected, unloved, and forgotten just to name a few. I didn’t think God cared for me I thought He enjoyed seeing me suffer. I mean I was in immense physical pain for months with little to no relief so to me it appeared God wasn’t quite so loving and certainly wasn’t thinking of me as beloved…… Read More
TREASURE GOD’S WORD
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it …Isaiah 55:10–11 (ESV)
Many times, in my blogs I mention finding gems in God’s Word as I study different areas. Those gems are truly treasures which save, sustain, and cultivate me. Those treasures I store in my heart because they are priceless. Let’s talk about why you should store them as well.
His Word never returns void.
We can count on the Word of God to accomplish His purpose. His word always succeeds….. Read More
Releasing our Prayers: Confidence
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God…Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
A funny thing has happened to me over the last few years as I walk in intercessory prayer, especially on social media. As I try to stay as consistent as possible sometimes the assumption has become that I’m some type of prayer guru. On several occasions, I’ve been sought out by people who feel as if somehow my prayers carry more weight in God’s eyes than their own and that is simply not true…… Read More
FILLED WITH FULLNESS
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Eph 3:18-19-18
While I was preparing for another project that I will be involved in a particular thought begin to take shape as I was reading through this verse of scripture from Eph 3:19, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God ….Read More
PLEASE PASS BY.
And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:19 (ESV)
As with any new blog title I do my research and go on a scripture treasure hunt and it is in those moments I often find those precious gems that captivate me. This week was no different when I ran across this verse of scripture that God says,….Read More
THE MEMO
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,….Psalm 103:1–5 (ESV)
I’m writing this from a place deep within, a longing to understand in the far reaches of my soul how to get an important line of scripture working beyond my natural intellect to believe. The message is almost like a memo, short and sweet meant to deliver its contents quickly. You might be wondering what verse has caused such urgency. This line….Read More
Hit The Like Button
He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
We certainly live in a day and age where the approval of others is something many of us are striving towards. Social media has induced within us such extremes to achieve those approvals. A simple click of the like button has taken over our lives as we look for rubber stamp consensus of our pictures, thoughts, and motives. It all seems…..Read More
Make A Joyful Noise
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (ESV)
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! The Holiday season can certainly bring up a mixed bag of emotions. Especially this year with all of the different areas of concern that we have witnessed from politics, racial tensions, quarantines, financial woes, & COVID-19 disparities. There’s a sense that joy is nowhere to be found in all of this turmoil but that’s not true… Read More
CAPABLE
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12
Let me be transparent about my love of cartoon movies. I find great humor in them and often they are laced with words of wisdom simple enough for both children and adults to grasp. One of my favorite movies is the Legos movie. I’ve watched it more times…… Read More
OIL OF JOY
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
I planned to write a blog in hopes that it would help someone that was mourning the loss of a loved one, especially during this time of pandemic where there has been a countless loss of life across the globe. While writing this blog I’ve had to deal with my own emotions of losing a loved one…… Read More
BE OPEN
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16
I’ve come to realize through the years how much my wellness depends on being open to God’s word through scripture. I came to this conclusion once I started to work on building a relationship with the Lord and began changing my….. Read More
GOD I’M READY TO TALK
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13
Talking to God seems so natural to me, it’s almost second nature, but there was a time when it wasn’t always so easy. Talking to someone you don’t know is difficult and the same goes with God. I found …. Read More
RELENTLESS SOURCE OF STRENGH.
God gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29
There is a relentless source of strength available through the love of Jesus Christ that expands beyond any of life’s weaknesses. –Rhonie M. (2014)
It’s hard to believe that I wrote such a profound statement at one of the weakest moments in my life. I had such a defining level of confidence that has somehow….. Read More
THE CONDITION OF THE SOIL
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. Luke 8:..
Every time I read the Parable of the Sower recorded in Luke chapter 8, I glean something new. Something that draws my attention like never before and it makes me eager to share with you.
Let us keep in mind who was telling this parable, Jesus. I don’t know about you but whenever Jesus spoke in parables it makes me push to find the insight,….. Read More
PSALM 27:7-8
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, Psalm 27:7-8 (AMP)
What a privilege to share scriptures that impacts my heart. Isn’t that what scripture ought to do? It ought to jump into our hearts, swell within us, change the beat of it, and create a newness that pumps into our entire being. This week lets jump into Psalm 27:7-8. By the way, all Psalm 27 …. Read More
PSALM 94:18-19
18 I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. 19 When doubts filled my mind your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:18-19 (NLT)
I cannot think of better words to comfort the soul in times of uncertainty. The world is going through a pandemic and doubts about God’s will, grace, & existence is running rampant. The noise of anxiety is extremely loud in many of our ears…… Read More
HEBREWS 12:20-21
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Hebrews 13:20
I was excited when I started my journey in the book of Hebrews and that same excitement carries me to the end of this amazing book of the Bible. There’s an immense amount of scriptures that have wrapped themselves around my soul including the concluding benediction to this book…. Read More
ONE DAY IN YOUR HOUSE
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10
Growing up I always imagined having the perfect house. One where I had everything I wanted and needed. It would be a place of safety, love, and peace. Everything in and around it would bring me happiness and joy. The thought of it always brought a reassuring smile to my face…… Read More
JOHN 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2
What an amazing moment in scripture to reflect upon. Jesus was addressing His disciples even while Judas was meeting with the Jewish leaders in plans to have Him arrested. Still, Jesus took these last few hours to encourage His remaining disciples. What’s so great is that the same encouragement applies to us today.
Jesus is the true vine! He is not just any vine amongst many vines;…… Read More
PSALM 33
Psalm 33 calls for us to praise God for His loving kindness. How has He been kind? He spoke and it was done. God’s word accomplished creating the heavens, earth, and us.
Through the faithfulness of His works we can reflect in awe and wonder about all, He has done as stated in verse eight.
As we go through life there aren’t worldly standards of might and strength that can save us. The world’s standards only give us false hope that can’t deliver what we truly need for our soul’s redemption…. Read More
PSALM 121
The Lord the Keeper of Israel. A Song of Ascents.
Our help comes from the Lord just as the Psalmist states. The Lord, our Father never sleeps nor slumbers which means He is not taking a nap in the midst of your trying times. Don’t be fooled by what looks like a standstill in your life but take rest in the Lord’s protection over your very soul…. Read More
CAN THE PILOT SEE?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
We were on our way back home from vacation with a layover in Minneapolis before we reached our final destination of Cincinnati. It was one of those travels days swirling with a mix of snow, rain, and winds that usually cause major delays but in our case, everything was still running true to schedule. The only hold up occurring was as we waited on the tarmac….. Read More
IS THE GPS ON
But when He has come–the Spirit of Truth–He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you.… John 16:13-14
I jump in the car, pull up my GPS navigational system and I’m set, whether I’m meeting friends at a new restaurant or a long-distance trip, my navigation system will get me there. Without worry, I head off knowing that I will get to my destination. In today’s society, there’s simply no reason to get lost. We have so many choices of navigational systems available that will pinpoint … Read More
Who Can Carry The Weight?
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:28-29
There’s nothing like the heaviness of the circumstances that continually bombard our lives. What may have started out as something small has now grown in weight exponentially. The pressure becomes insurmountable and nothing seems to make things lighter. Has that ever happened to you? I have tried a time or two to carry these loads as if I had the capacity to do….. Read More
LIFETIME WARRANTY
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)
If I look at the countless products I’ve purchased that come with a lifetime warranty attached… it’s too many to count. Now ask me the number of those warranties that still exist? Very few and far in between. The intended purpose of a warranty is to guarantee the integrity of the product. The warranty is supposed to ensure a level of confidence to the buyer of its dependability…… Read More
IS REST ON EVERY SIDE POSSIBLE?
15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around. 2 Chronicles 15:15 (ESV)
The other day during my biblical study something really pricked my imagination. I say imagination because what I read seemed impossible considering what most of us face and, even though it is in the Bible can we fathom it for ourselves. What was it that sparked my imagination? It was a passage of scripture where God gave King….. Read More
WHERE DO MY LOYALTIES LIE?
Loyalty is something I value but I must ask myself how loyal am I to God, the one who created me, the one who actually created the universe?
There are many times when I seem more disloyal than loyal to the only one that can set the proper course of action that will navigate me through life. I often try to plot my own course then wonder why I end up shipwrecked amidst the chaotic seas…. Read More
GOD IS OUR REFUGE
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
I’m excited to blog about this subject because it is very precious to me. My relationship with God isn’t something that occurred overnight; it was a process, sometimes joyous and sometimes painful. I’m sure the same is true for us all. Coming to the conclusion that God is our refuge requires a few things……. Read More
Stop Holding Your Breath and Live!
I now realize that anxiety can have a lot to do with wanting perfection. If I didn’t feel like the situation would come out perfectly, a level of panic always ensued.
Anyone who suffers from anxiety can relate to holding their breath instead of enjoying life with ease. I admit anxiety has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Not sure what triggered it . . . maybe one bad outcome or some terrifying moment as a child, but whatever the root, I always expected bad things to happen….. Read More
God, Are You Listening?
Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, Psalm 105:5 (ESV)
God, Are You Listening?
We pray, and then we wait, repeating this cycle growing increasingly impatient. We ask, God do You hear us? Are You really listening? That voice of doubt eases in, causing us to feel that God doesn’t really care. Surely if God cared He would answer us and not leave us in limbo. Our problems, situations,….. Read More
God, That Wasn’t The Answer I Had In Mind
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
God, That Wasn’t the Answer I had In Mind
There’s nothing like praying and then having the outcome of that prayer turn out completely different from what we had in mind. Prayer requests can range from big to small; therefore, the answers to those prayers will vary as well. How do we handle the answers we….. Read More
God, I’m Ready to Talk
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12–13 (ESV)
Talking to God seems so natural to me, it’s almost second nature, but there was a time when it wasn’t always so easy. Talking to someone you don’t know is difficult and the same goes with God. I found ease in praying for others in times of crisis versus involving God in my everyday life……. Read More
Managing Your Emotions in the Midst of Chronic Illness
As someone who suffers from a chronic illness, one of the hardest things to fathom was the fact that my body was working against me.
That bit of information caused a lot of emotional overload as I faced my new truth. While taking care of our physical bodies becomes a priority, we can’t forget about our emotional state because that can affect our ability to adjust or even hinder our progress. I have learned a few things to help me along my journey; I hope they will help you as well…. Read More
The Pit of Despair: Three Steps to Overcome It
Nothing in this world is fixed. This place is not permanent; it will only last for a limited amount of time. Focusing on that fact we can picture ourselves projecting above and beyond where we are now.
The pit of despair goes beyond a moment of sadness; it’s a place filled with utter loss of hope. An overwhelming sense of gloom about life’s circumstances can cause us to sink so low that we fail to see anything else around us. Agony, pain, and distress are just some of the discouraging emotions that can engulf us. The perception …… Read More
God I’m Mad at You
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2 (ESV)
It seems taboo to bring up this subject, but maybe I’m the only person that’s ever felt anger towards God. If that’s the case, then this blog will give you a glimpse into a time when my anger towards God was pretty severe.
As I take an aerial view of my life, I realize it hasn’t always been easy. There have been plenty of ups and downs, things of my own doing and things that have come my way by mere happenstance. The backdrop of my anger towards God occurred…. Read More
I’ve Been Given a Diagnosis
Know that you are courageous. Even in these difficult moments, learn to persevere by focusing on something positive that will get you through one day at a time.
I wanted to write about this topic in hopes that it will help someone survive whatever diagnosis they may have received, knowing they are not alone on the journey.
Something hasn’t felt right so you finally go to the doctor to find out what’s going on. You’ve gotten through the battery of tests and now the news hits your ears. You receive a diagnosis and time suddenly seems to stand still. Your heart begins to beat at an unrecognizable rate…..Read More
Releasing the Mindset of Fear to Unlock Our Goals
Our dreams, visions, and goals must always include a process in order for us to achieve them. We should believe that what we want to accomplish will come to pass.
Fear can paralyze our dreams, visions, and goals. Fear is an emotion that can help us avoid danger but problems arise when we let fear run rampant in our minds, because we let our guard down. There are steps we can take to make sure we are moving in our purpose without threat of immobilization……Read More
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