Change - Part 3, Transition

Transition

After the fire had been extinguished and the crowd cleared, we went to a hotel. For ten days, we had to wait until our insurance company found a place for us to live while our house is being rebuilt. The room was a suite which was nice and big. In a matter of a day or two, much of that spacious room was filled with some things we were able to salvage from the house, as well as things that people were so gracious to give to us. We were truly overwhelmed by the generosity of people we know, and many that we have never even met.

After the first night, the reality of being "homeless" really hit me. I could not control my emotions at all. The feeling of being displaced had overtaken me. Bill and Christopher were holding up so well! Why was I falling apart? I have never experienced the sadness that had reared its ugly head. I could hardly speak to anyone without crying, including the hotel staff.

After just a few days, we got a call from our insurance company letting us know they had found an apartment for us. So, we drove over and looked at some different units in the complex, and then made our choice. We had to wait a few more days for furniture and household items to be delivered from the rental company. They supplied everything from furniture right down to a toilet brush.

Even though the apartment is just a few miles from our home, we feel like we are in a foreign land.  Things are the same outside of the apartment complex but inside these four walls, is just not home.

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 

Be blessed,
Dawn

Change, Christmas Eve

Well, today has been a difficult one for me. The tears started not long after I got out of bed. Some were from feeling overly blessed by all that has been given to us, and some were over the fact that the fire took away the comfort and familiarity of celebrating Christmas in my home.

My feelings of displacement today are probably based on the fact that I am not able to do the usual things I do on Christmas Eve like prepare the traditional foods for our meal for tomorrow. The recipe book that I had put together with family recipes was destroyed in the fire. I do remember some of them, but the thought of not having my binder any longer was a reminder of what I have lost.

Another difficult moment was while I was out doing some last minute shopping. As I watched people, I could not help but think about how their family traditions will carry on tomorrow and that mine wouldn't. While most seemed to be in a hurry to finalize their shopping, I was in no hurry at all. I had no need to rush back home and start on, well... anything.

Please don't get me wrong. I am extremely grateful for what I still have, my family, being the greatest, but the thoughts of what I have lost are winning today.


Despite it all, God is good!


Be blessed,
Dawn

Change - Part 2, The Aftermath

The Aftermath

The day after the fire, we were able to go back into our home to assess the damage. I was heartbroken at what I saw. So many things were destroyed; things that may not be valuable to anyone else, but were invaluable to us. 

My son's room was the only room where the ceiling did not collapse, however, a lot of his things were smoke damaged. The other bedroom held most of my pictures but thankfully, they were protected by the plastic storage box they were in while tucked away in a closet. 

There are things that we lost that I have been wanting to replace for a long time. But, being the frugal person that I am, I couldn't justify replacing them while they were still useful. For instance, Bill and I bought the washer and dryer set when we first got married, almost 24 years ago. I also had an ironing board for that long. But those things burned because they were close to the garage where the fire started. Needless to say, I am not sad about having to replace them!

While looking around, my son came across a small, record-able picture frame that had his picture of when he was about two years old in it. I had recorded him saying his name. At that age, Christopher was a big word for a toddler to pronounce correctly. He said it in a way that was just too cute. I will never forget the way he said it, of course, but realizing I still can hear it was an awesome surprise. 

Another item is a picture of Bill and his mother of our last Christmas with her. It was on the fireplace hearth, still standing even though it was covered in debris.  It was in a thick, glass frame that had protected it from damage. We cleaned it up and it is now sitting on the tv stand in the apartment where we are living until the house is rebuilt.

One other very special item that survived, believe it or not, was a ficus tree that was given to me as a wedding gift all those years ago. It had part of the ceiling laying against it and a small limb was broken off but it was mostly okay. The couple that gave it to us was very special to me, and have both since passed away. How I have managed to keep it alive, I'm really not sure. Although, there was one time that I decided it needed some sun and so I set it outside, in the summer heat. Even though it showed its disapproval for a while, I was able to nurse it back to health. It is currently serving as our "Christmas tree."

That little tree is a simple reminder to me of the following passage, which says:

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—    whatever they do prospers.

Be blessed,
Dawn

Change - Part 1, The Fire

I have learned that praying for change is like praying for patience; you just don't do it unless you are ready to go through the trials that will take you there.

For the coming months, I will be writing about the changes that my family is walking through. Please feel free to share my blog with others. My goal in this is that God will be glorified!

The Fire

On December 3rd, our lives were changed dramatically. You see, our home caught fire while my son, Christopher, and I were still in it. My husband, Bill, wasn't home at the time.

It had been a typical day; just the usual routine. That evening, since Christopher was in his room and Bill was not home, I decided to watch a little TV. Right after Wheel of Fortune went off, the lights in the house flickered and then went out. I looked out my back door and saw a red glow. (The blinds were still open, which is unusual once it gets dark.) When I started toward the door to see what it was, I could smell the smoke. I yelled for Christopher and grabbed the dog. As we were scrambling to get out, I heard a loud pop.

In a matter of minutes, the garage was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, we live close to a fire department so their arrival time was short. They arrived in time to keep the entire house from burning. The garage and everything in it was completely destroyed, including my vehicle.

The rest of the house suffered severe water and smoke damage. The ceiling collapsed from the weight of the water. Almost everything in the house was destroyed with the exception of a few things. We were able to salvage some important papers and mementos, including pictures. PRAISE GOD!

Needless to say, walking through the house the next day was very difficult. To see all that you have worked for and accumulated through the years just sit there, totally destroyed, was heart-wrenching.

But... through it all, God is good!

Be blessed,
Dawn

Abiding in the Shadow

Psalm 91:1  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, 

shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I remember as a child, I would hide behind my mom's leg if something or someone scared me. I was very bashful and I felt uncomfortable in certain situations. But, I always felt safe when I stood behind her because I knew that she would protect me.

That is how the Father wants us to be with Him. When we dwell (live in or inhabit) in the secret place (spending time with Him in study and prayer) THEN we will abide (rest) in the shadow (shelter) of the Almighty.

Isn't it good to know that we have a shelter to run to? Jesus longs for us to run into His arms, dropping all the things that hold us back, and allow Him to protect us; just as a child who has been frightened will drop whatever is in his hands, and run into the arms of a trusted adult.

There are many things that can keep us from abiding in the shadow; doubt, fear of rejection, feeling inadequate and undeserving of His love, etc. Don't let the devil try to convince you that you are not worthy of God's love and protection. Jesus gave His life so that you can live with Him eternally and that makes you worthy of His protection!


Be blessed,
Dawn

Seasons

I stand in awe of God and His Majesty. His creations are beautiful and purposeful. Recently, I have become more aware of all His work that surrounds me. Even the leaves that are falling from the trees during this time of year catch my attention.

As a tree grows, it becomes more and more noticeable. I was driving past a business recently and could not believe how big the trees that were planted there just a few years ago had become. They had not stopped growing after they were planted, I just had not paid attention to them. Sometimes, we don't realize how much we have grown in our faith because we don't look back to see where God has brought us from. 

As believers, we are kind of like trees. We go through seasons in our lives. We have some seasons where we feel extremely blessed. Everything seems to be just perfect. God is answering prayers left and right, and we feel close to Him. 

Then, there are seasons where we feel like God has left us wandering in the desert alone. We are drying up and withering away. The leaves are falling off of our branches, leaving us feeling alone and afraid. This doesn't happen overnight; it happens slowly when our prayer life has diminished and reading the Word becomes a drudgery. We even tend to miss church services here and there.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we find there is a time for everything, good and bad. God ordains the hard times just as much as the good times. If things were great all the time then why would we need Him? We need to keep God as the center of our focus in good times and in bad times. 

I do know that God loves all of us, and even though we don't see the big picture, He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. We have to be plugged into His Word and spend time with Him in prayer so that we can grow closer to Him each day.


Be Blessed,
Dawn

...In Jesus name, Amen

As believers, most of us end our prayers with "in Jesus' name, Amen."  Why do we do this? Because that is what we have read in the Bible and have been taught to do, right?

Three times in John chapters 14 - 16, Jesus tells us to ask in His name.  In chapter 16, Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

When you go in someone's name or in their stead, you go in their character - representing who they are. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are representing the very character of Jesus in full realization of who He is. 

Don't let this prayer ending become just a habit. Recognize the power in the name of Jesus. Spend time reading God's Word, searching for verses that pertain to the things you are asking of Him. Then, pray in the name of Jesus, believing that He will hear and answer your prayers.

Col 3:17 

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Be Blessed,
Dawn

Need a lift?

How often do you feel like you are crawling on your belly, just trying to make it through the day?

James 4:7-10 gives us ten points on how to change our altitude.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1) Submit yourself to God. That sounds easy enough. I don't have a problem with authority. But, the struggle can sometimes be in the fact that I can't "see" who I am submitting to. 

2) Resist the devil. Stand firm against him, and he will flee from you. That one can be hard if we are not rooted and grounded in the Word. We need to know what the Bible says about how to resist temptations that the devil throws at us.

3) Come near to God and He will come near to you. Recognize that you are a sinner then turn away from the life that is not pleasing to Him. Then, run into His open arms that are waiting for you.

4) Wash your hands, you sinners. Realize that you have been a disloyal, wavering individual with divided interests. 

5) Purify your hearts. Ask the Lord to show you where you need a heart adjustment. Sometimes, we let things or thoughts that are displeasing to the Lord, creep in and blur the truth of God's Word. 

6) Grieve, 

7) Mourn,

8) and Wail, or weep over your disloyalty to God and His Word. Recognize that when you sin, it grieves the Holy Spirit. 

9) Change your laughter into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Have a heartfelt sadness over the sins that you have committed. This does not mean that Christians shouldn't be happy. It just means that we should be remorseful for what we have done. 

10) Humble yourselves. To be humble means to be marked by meekness, to be modest in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.

When you feel very insignificant in the presence of the Lord, He will exalt you. 

He will lift you up and make your life significant.

Be blessed,
Dawn

Mission Possible

Are we more focused on the mission than on the mission field?

Matthew 28:16-20, Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When you hear the words mission field what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most would agree that a desolate place in a foreign country would be the first thing you think of. Well, what about your next door neighbor? Or perhaps, a family member or co-worker who doesn't know the Lord? Do you see these people as a mission field? 

We know that people need Jesus and His forgiveness, we know that people need a touch from Him, and we know people need to surrender their lives to Him; but, between what we know to do and what we do, there is a great chasm. In order to make a difference in the kingdom, we have to work in the fields. 

Here are words to a song that I remember from a long time ago, and they have never left my memory. How powerful they are! 

See the fields so dry and thirsty

They're dying from the lack of rain

And here I'm standing in the fountain

Watching them perish and who's to blame?

How can they hear without a preacher?

If they're not shown how can they see?

I'm gonna go out where they're hurting

and stop expecting them to come to me.

(chorus)

I'm gonna carry the water to the desert

Stop this hauling water to the sea.
I'm gonna seek out the dry and barren places
The sick ones need the doctor

I'm gonna stop this hauling water to the sea.

So, what is our mission? Our mission is to reach out to a lost and dying world with the good news of the Gospel of Christ.

Ask God how you can become a better missionary in your everyday world. He wants to use you where you are, to share the Good News of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

Be blessed,

Dawn

Wait on the Lord

Ps 33: 20-21 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name...

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.

WAIT,...W....A....I....T.... -  what I have heard referred to, as a Christian four-letter word. We almost cringe at the very thought of hearing it.

As Christians, we are quick to quote the verse in Isaiah to others who feel their prayers are not being answered. But, when it comes down to it, we have a hard time waiting for ourselves.

Why would a good God who loves me put me off? He knows my needs, right? 

If God answered our prayers as quickly as we prayed them, then He would be nothing more than an order-taker. That is not who He is; He is a supreme being who created us and knows what we need before we ask. 

As a parent, I have my son's best interest at heart. He does not like it when I give him answers that he doesn't want to hear. But, what he doesn't understand, is that his dad and I can see the bigger picture. God is that way too. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

When our wants do not line up with His will, those prayers WILL go unanswered. 

When God tells us to wait, we can interpret that as "not yet" instead of "not at all".

Pardon the acronym, but the one that I like to use for the word Wait is God Will Answer In Time. Isn't that good to know? 

Be blessed,
Dawn

Check your Reflection

Proverbs 27:19  As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart. (NIV)

The English Standard Version says it like this; As in water, face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

As humans, we tend to judge someone before we even say hello to them for the first time. We sum up who we think they are by how they look. Because she appears to be as sweet as honey, we assume she is. Because he seems to be a push-over, we assume he is. But then, as we get to know them, we begin to see their hearts. Most of the time, people are not who we first thought they were - good or bad.

Do the things we say or think really come from our hearts?

Luke 6:45   A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Now, let's turn this inward. When I feel that I am inadequate and start talking about my weaknesses, this will show in my reflection. And, when I am feeling confident and ready to take on the world, this will show in my reflection as well.

What we think about ourselves will influence what others think about us too. We have to get to the place that when others see us, they see a reflection of Jesus. We must reflect God's heart. His thoughts need to become our thoughts. His ways need to become our ways.  

So, check your reflection with the Word of God. What does He see when He looks at you?

• He sees a child who is fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:14

• He sees a child whom He created in His image. Gen. 1:27

• He sees a child who is His workmanship created to do good works. Eph. 2:10

• He sees a child who has been raised up with Christ. Col. 3:1    

              ....and the list goes on!


Be blessed,
Dawn

The Name Changer

Have you ever wondered how your parents chose your name? When choosing names, some parents spend time researching; going through baby name books, looking for meanings of the names they like. Some choose to give a new baby a family name. Others will just choose a name based on if they like it or not, not really thinking about what that name might mean.

Names are important to God. There are instances in the Bible where God changed the names of men.

• Gen 32:22-32, relates the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob would not let go until the man blessed him.  V.26, Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he said. 28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

• In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples who the people of the region say that He is. After they had given their answers, He then asked them, "who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "you are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus then blessed Simon and then told Simon that he would be called Peter, which means rock. 

You see, God has given each of us a name that represents His character. Jacob was given a name which means overcomer. Peter was given the name which means rock.

Well, what about me, you ask? Yes, God has given you a new name too.

• Rev 2:17  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna,  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him.

God does not see us as who we are, but who He wants us to become. He is waiting for all of us to accept that we can overcome when we totally surrender to Him. 

Be blessed,
Dawn

Do you hear me?

Do you feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling? I know I do at times. As I was reading this passage, I realized that even the little sins can keep us from hearing or seeing answers to our prayers. When our spirit is out of line with God's, it affects our communication with Him.

Isaiah 59:1-3
1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.

Verse 3 shows us that even the words we use can keep us from hearing God speak to us. When we use slander or gossip about someone, we are keeping God at a distance. He is righteous and holy, and simply cannot dwell where sin is present. Sin separates us from the love of God. Does that mean he stops loving us when we sin? Absolutely not!! It simply means that when we sin, we turn our backs on Him.

Psalm 19:14 is one of my favorite verses. It says; May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you. Each day, I make this my prayer to Him. Day to day life can sometimes pull us down but Praise God, His mercies are new every morning. What exactly does that mean? It means He does not hold yesterday's sins against us when we ask His forgiveness.

I encourage you today, to keep your heart and your mouth pure. Avoid the things that can keep you from hearing God speak. Don't be tempted to participate in conversations with others that do not please Him.

Be blessed,
Dawn

Dwelling in Hope

Acts 2:26 I am glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope.   (MSG Bible)

The word HOPE has lost its meaning in today's society. When we say "I hope it happens" what we are really saying is "I wish it would happen." Hope and wishful thinking are not the same. As believers, we often confuse the two words and lean more toward wishful thinking instead.

1) Hope is believing that something COULD happen.

Hope is fully knowing that something is possible and can happen. For instance, when we say something like; I hope it all works out, do we really mean it? If we are truly hopeful about something we should instead say, I have hope that this will happen. When used this way, the word hope is a noun; a thing that we can hold onto.

True hope puts your spirit in motion. It sets the stage for faith. We first have to believe that what we want to happen, will. It is then that we begin to envision what we are praying for. We are drawing out the blueprint in our mind. Without seeing or imagining what the outcome will be, we cannot have faith that it will come to pass.

Once we begin to see the blueprint, we can then focus on the actual result of our prayers. We can see the answer, knowing that it will happen.

Heb 11:1, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. 

Be blessed,
Dawn

Are you a stone thrower?

John 8:1-11

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, surrounded by many people, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery and made her stand before the group. They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now, what do you say?" They were trying to trap Jesus.

Characteristics of a stone thrower;

1)   condemning spirit. v 3  ...they made her stand before the group.

• People who need to be forgiven the most are usually the first to condemn others. A lot of times, we are quick to criticize because we feel that it will somehow make us feel better about our own inadequacies.

 2)  operate under the law.  v 5 ... In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.     

• People who look to the law for correction often forget about looking for the grace of forgiveness. 

The Pharisees overlooked the rest of that law which says that BOTH the man and the woman must die. Deuteronomy 22:22 (hmmm...)

3)  judgmental. v 6... they were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.    

• The Pharisees did not have a valid reason to accuse Jesus so they were judging everything He did so to find fault in him. 

4)  feel the need to be right. v7... when they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone."

We must purpose in our hearts that we will not look for the bad in people but instead, focus on the good that Jesus did for His people. He sacrificed Himself on the cross so that all men might be saved. None of us are above reproach. God has given each of us the same measure of grace. It is up to each individual to decide what to do with it. Each of us will have to stand alone and give an account for our lives, attitudes, and actions.

Spend time in the Word. Look for scriptures that will help you control your tongue and help you to not be a stone thrower. 

 Galatians 6:1 says, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.

Be blessed,
Dawn

Resolution

Resolution - a decision or determination; firmness of purpose

(Synonyms -resolve, determination, perseverance, tenacity; strength, fortitude)

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word RESOLUTION?

For me, it is means making better choices than those from the previous year. You know, dieting, exercising, trading old, bad habits for good, new habits, etc...

Many of us use this tactic of changing our behavior in hopes of changing our lives. But, unfortunately, what happens in a lot of cases, those resolutions just become wishful thinking. We really DO want to change, but the time and effort that goes into making those changes loses its luster after the first few weeks.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Since we were created in the image of God, we have the power to resolve that we can live a life that reflects His nature.

So, make the resolution (or determination) that your life will reflect His love to everyone you know.

Philippians 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

Be blessed,
Dawn

Choices

Is life dictated by our choices?

or 

Are our choices dictated by life? 

Well, yes and yes.

As humans, a lot of choices that we make are dictated by how we were raised. Why we do things the way we do are shaped by these factors. For instance; family traditions, values, even how we relate to others can be dictated by our upbringing.

So many times we hear, "if only my life was different, if only my childhood had been better, if only ________ (fill in the blank)  then my life would be better."

Many people feel they have to drudge through the life that fate dealt. They have no hope. They don't see that things can be better. The world has convinced them that the "Forest Gump" mentality is reality and change is beyond their control.

Not true, change is within our control when we choose to change the way we think and find out what God's Word says.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

1 Chronicles 21:11... this is what the Lord says, "take your choice."

Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- (choose to) think on these things.

God has given us clear direction on how to make good choices. Spend time with Him and ask Him to show you how to make choices that please Him.

Be blessed,
Dawn