I've missed you!

My blog is my home away from home, my respite.  It's not about how many readers I have, but my personal freedom.  I haven't written since March because I'm studying International Business and working at a large corporation full time...and being a minister, wife and mom.  AND I LOVE IT!

But...I've missed you, dear blog.

And I have to be back for my sanity :-).

So, what has inspired me lately?

This amazing verse from John, "Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them."  Oh, how I love it!  The doors were locked.  They thought no one could get in, but Jesus got in.  I think my doors are locked, to my heart, to my home, yet Jesus is here, even in my fears, He is hear.  How real.  How thankful.

Also, this, quote out of context..."We ask Jesus, why are there hurting people, starving people, orphaned children....He has every right to ask YOU the same thing."  WOW....so convicted over that. We are the church.  HIS hands and feet.  HIS body...He has every right to ask ME the same thing.  May my conviction lead to action.

Been having tons of fun, being a mom, took a summer break from school....and now...back in touch with my blog.

If you love my writings, subscribe to me :-).

Lots of love,
Dawn

Deep Cries to Deep-Devotion 8-Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Rejoice."

Philippians 4:4

I am devastated.  I am mourning.  Waves of sadness overwhelm me.  

I'm drowning with a hand above my head barely escaping words of, "help."

I cry.  It makes me laugh to hear me cry.

Because the sadness is without reason.

I don't think we'll ever understand clinical depression.

How the waves of sadness flow over an amazing, God-given life, a dream-life, 

a life that seems so...perfect.

And yet the head is hung at the kitchen counter, lost in fear, torment...sorrow.

And it's deep...filling the heart, filling every ligament, hanging there like a begging, dirty dog that just wants more...

But, there is a weapon.

Gratitude.

Thankfulness fights against even clinical depression.

Out loud, thankfulness.

A-Z thankfulness.

Thank You for an apple.

Thank You for bread.

Thank You for colors.

Thank You for my dad, who has over ten years sober.

Even when the onslaught of waves of sadness crash without warning, 

when no negative thought is leading to the unexpected sadness...

Thankfulness forces our heaviness to look up and obey.

It brings the God-given joy.

Rejoice.  Again.  Rejoice.

The sadness is coming....

Rejoice.

"I'm hurting."

Rejoice.

"I can't fight this."

Rejoice.

Thankful joy is a fierce, divine weapon.

"For the JOY set before Him, Jesus endured the cross."

And the laughter WILL come, when you realize how many "Zs" there are to be thankful for.

"Blessed are you who mourn, for you will laugh." Matthew 5:4

Our Promise

Taken at a Museum in Israel 2009

Deep Calls to Deep Devotion 7 "Christians in the Marketplace."

I have had the opportunity to be in the business world for 14 years, 10 of which have been with a committed relationship to Jesus. When Jesus revealed Himself to me, my first instinct was to think that all Christians should be in full-time ministry because of Scriptures such as, "Go and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19.  I learned quickly that a Christian doesn't have to be in full-time ministry with a church or para-church organization to make disciples.  It's a Christian's job in the *marketplace, also, and much needed.

When a Christian is called to the business world, they are still entrusted with the task of spreading the Gospel.  It just looks different than a pastor, preacher, or church teacher.  The hard part about being a Christian in the business world and spreading the Great Commission is the acts of lawlessness and unrighteousness are overly prevalent in the secular field; however, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11), even in the marketplace.

There are a few areas that I see as a real temptation in the secular business world, but the main temptation is the love of money.  Many people are climbing the corporate ladder, thirsty with the love of money.  Our challenge is to focus on God's kingdom and not get wrapped up in the endless pursuit of the love of money.  Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."  Matthew 6:24.  The world needs Christians in the business world to show a higher standard, to serve God and not money, to have a bottom line that says, "Christ is my master."  As we focus on these Scriptures; Hebrews 12:1-2, Acts 1:7, and especially Philippians 4:13, we will find strength to stand strong in the face of temptation.  We will be a light house for the Lord, drawing people to Him.

The key in the business world is to, "Walk in the Spirit and you will not accomplish the lusts of the flesh." Galations 5:16.  As we stay planted daily in the Word of God, focused on the Kingdom and not our own world, obeying the rules of the corporation unless they specifically defy the Word of God, we can make a significant impact in the 21st century and beyond.

*Marketplace defined by dictionary.com: the commercial world; the realm of business, trade and economics.

Deep Calls to Deep-Devotion 6-Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

1 Timothy 6:6

Can we really be content in ANY circumstance?  Can we be content when we're taken advantage of?  Can we be content when we're fat?  Can we be content when we're living a boring, suburban life?  Can we be content (you fill in the blank)?  

Paul said he had learned contentment in any circumstance, "I can do all things through Christ His gives me strength."

That's the secret!

The secret isn't changing your circumstances.  The secret is relying on Christ's strength for contentment.

As we do that, it matures us.  It takes us way beyond where we are spiritually.  It grows us from babes into spiritual giants.  It forces us to leave the mundane and go to another spiritual plane.

I think of the man that wrote our key verse.  Paul said he had been stoned, shipwrecked, poisoned, and hated to name a few, yet He was content.

Contentment; an inner peace, an inner satisfaction given by the strength of Christ.

And maybe, just maybe, that contentment comes from knowing that our home is in heaven.  That we weren't created for this earth.  We are just passing through, as a feather floating on a breeze.  

Although we can't see the breeze, and it seems that we are floating endlessly and without direction, the Holy Spirit is that breeze.  You can remain content.

Power Verses

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8

"I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12-13

2013-An Exciting Year!

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. 

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” 

~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

There is an excitement in the air for a new year!  A year of new beginnings, of restoration, new books to read, new books to write, high moments, low moments, and learning to be content.

Contentedness is my focus for the year....and I'm excited.

I'm excited to see dreams come true and to even see dreams die.

I'm excited to cling to my Savior, His realness, His nearness, His truth.

I'm excited to LET THINGS GO.

I'm excited to Dream Again and to DREAM BIG!

I love that He makes all things new.  This year, may you remember on 12/31/13 what your goals were on 1/1/13.  May you praise Him for those that were filled and those that weren't.  May you learn contentedness with me.  May you let the sparkle in your eye be bright.  And may you hope...again.

Deep Calls to Deep-Devotion 5 "Trials"

"A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:12

Unemployment during the Great Depression

Dear friends, it is so important to hear from the Lord, to rely on His truths.  A million voices will scream at you daily, but His Word will bring calmness, silence, and abiding truth.  When we are being pulled to rely on ourselves, to figure it all out, there is One Voice that can be heard saying, "This is the way, walk in it.(Isaiah 30:21)"  It is our good shepherd.  

Many of us find ourselves in less than favorable circumstances today or what the bible calls, "trials."  Some of these trials are outright devastating.  You may wake daily with a sickening feeling in your stomach because of stress you are facing at work, unjust wages, or unfair treatment.  You may drag yourself through the day in depression, darkness looming over you with evil forebodings because of the loss of loved ones, betrayal by a friend, or that one person that just gets under your skin.  Your trials may be different.  Maybe your newborn has colic and is constantly screaming.  Bills, debt, financial worries consume your day.  No matter what it is that is stealing your peace, let's call it was it is, "A Trial."     

So often I hear people say, "but God wants me to be happy."  He does?  He wants a Christian's happiness more than He wants a drug addict set free?  He wants a redeemed person to have a care-free life more than he wants your boss and coworker saved?  These are not things we want to hear. Can God love you, yet let you experience trials for eternal purposes?  Yes.  

There are many Scriptures about God blessing us, but there are also hard Scriptures about trials, too.  Trials come to make us strong.  It is written in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze."  These Scriptures are not of an easy, American Dream life, but of a steadfast, strong warrior who is walking through hard times without being overtaken.

The next time you find yourself in a trial, no matter what it is, instead of praying to get out of it, or getting upset, not understanding where God is because you aren't blessed, ask God to hear from Him.  Does He want you to stay in that trial to see someone know Him?  Is He developing a character trait in you to make you more like Him?  Are you having financial difficulties because He is ridding you of the love of money?  Why are you in the trial?  The promise isn't that we would have a trial-free life, but that we would be, "Pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)."  Remember Daniel went in the lions den, but he was not harmed because God was with him in the trial.

He is with you, too.

And, Guess what?  There is encouraging news!  Sometimes you will find yourself in a trial and after seeking Him, He SETS YOU FREE!  He takes you out of the trial, and sets you on a high place.  He says, "No more!"  And blesses you beyond your wildest dreams!  You come out of the trial unharmed, but maybe with a little bruised pride.

The freedom He brings is both in and out of trials.  Seek Him no matter what.

Power Verses

"For my ways are not your ways, neither are your thoughts my thoughts, for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

"I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world!"  John 16:33

Deep Calls to Deep Devotion 4 "God Speaking"

"A cheerful  heart is good medicine."

Proverbs 17:22a  

Sometimes the Lord sets us free; He miraculously heals us.  Other times, we walk it out.  I'm walking my fears out.

I am having an invasive heart study and ablation tomorrow.  While this is not fearful for others, one who struggles with fear of untimely death such as myself, has a huge problem facing this.  But...God.

God is meeting me.  He is speaking.  He is overwhelming me with His presence.  I welcome Him and He floods in.  He understands my fears and He's not mad at me, but, He's having me face them full on.

Last night, the email devotion I receive from Wondherful, was titled, "Your heart is beating, but is it laughing?"  My heart is not laughing because it is bound in fear, but it will laugh.  God was meeting me through the devotion.  He hears.  He says, "Your heart will laugh, my daughter."  

Today, my daily Scripture from Light For the Day was, "A cheerful heart is good medicine," Proverbs 17:22a.  God is speaking.  He is saying, "Here I am; my medicine is good."

A few weeks ago when I sat down to speak with my electrophysiologist about the test and surgery, I turned my head to the left.  Tucked away in the back room of his office, among copiers and filing cabinets was a wooden sign that simply said, "Jesus."  He is with me.

We can choose to look for God in all circumstances; to have eyes of faith or we can cling to doubt and fear. We can call things coincidences or we can recognize it as, "God winking."  This is Him. This is my creator.  Loving me, calling out to me, saying, "I am with you."

Today, I'm reminded of the Mandisa song, "God Speaking."

Have you ever heard a love song, that set your spirit free?
Have you ever watched a sunrise and felt you could not breathe?
What if it's Him?
What if it's God speaking?

Have you ever cried a tear that you could not explain?
Have you ever met a stranger who already knew your name?
What if it's Him?
What if it's God speaking?

Who knows how He’ll get ahold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
He’ll do, and He’ll use whatever He wants to.
To tell us, I Love You.

Dear friend, He is with you.  He hears you.  He hears you when you don't understand.  He hears you when you are at the end of your rope, when you're exhausted, when you have no one to turn to.  He is not far.  He is near.  He is near to me and He is near to you, in the greatest of tragedy and in the minute seconds of the day.

Hear Him calling.  Here Him speaking.  Open the door.

Power Verses

"Look, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your deliverance." Psalm 13:5

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." Luke 6:21b