Calling all devotion writers

As you may or may not know, I am the editor for Proverbs 31 Ministries' online devotional "Encouragement for Today." I'm also the General Editor, along with my friend Lysa TerKeurst, of the devotional book God's Purpose for Every Woman. I write devotions myself as well. I heart devotions because in just a couple minute's time, they pull my heart towards God.

Today I got this email from a sweet husband who wrote to say:

"I signed my wife up to your daily devotionals about 2 years ago. I have noticed a change in her heart, her actions, and words. She is even more beautiful today than when I married her. Thank you for your words of encouragement your transparency and most of all sharing God's truth and Love. God has called you to this ministry and I know it is touching the lives of men and women all over the globe. I encourage you to stay on the course God has you on and know that on the day's you probably don't feel like writing anything, God honors and uses you. May God lift you up today as you follow His leading. Thank you for being
obedient!"

I got a bit teary-eyed, y'all. Reading devotionals can be a powerful spiritual exercise.

Writing them does wonders for my walk with God as well. Writing them helps me see what God's doing or has done in my life. Writing them helps me apply God's truths. Writing them helps me turn my thoughts heavenward.

So I got to thinking today ... what if you wrote devotions too? And what if I could read them and enjoy them, and others could too? And then I got, what seemed at the time, like a brilliant notion and I decided to hold a devotional carnival here on February 15th, the day after Valentine's Day. Doesn't that sound like all kinds of spiritual fun?!

If you're interested, here's the simple how-to: Offer a key verse at the top or bottom of your devotion. Keep it under 650 words total. And write on the topic of love, in honor of Valentine's of course. It can be about your love for God, about God's love for us, about how we are to love others ... anything to do with love. It can be serious, or it can be fun. It can be funny or it can be poetic - all up to you! Just be sure that it draws our heart towards God and His truth - that's the purpose of a devotional after all.

Then post it on your blog on Monday, Feb 15th. Next, come back here Monday morning and you’ll find another post all about the devotional blog carnival. Within that post there will be something called a Mr. Linky (weird name I know, don’t be scared). There you will follow the instructions to type in your name (or blog name, or devotion title) and type or paste in the url address from your devotion posted on your blog. Mr. Linky does the rest. Then people will be able to get to your devo post from my blog.

And if you enjoy next week participating or reading the linked devos (that's what I call them for short because I have to type this word a lot in my line of work), you'll have to let me know. Perhaps I'll do it the 15th of every month. But you'll have to help me figure out what to name this devotional carnival - because my brain is tired from reading and editing multiple devotions today. But at least my spirit is happy.

OH, and there's a $15 Starbucks gift card in it for one lucky devo poster so she can sip some latte while reading everyone else's devotions, and the comments on her own. Hope you win!

Thankful for those who pierce my heart with just a few devotional words.