God says "I will never abandon you!"

  Did you ever have someone lie to you or about you?  Their word was trash and sooner or later everyone figured out not to trust their word.

  God is not like that.  Did I ever tell you that, when I was living in the midst of incest, God gave me a word.  I was 6 years old and suicidal.  My mom couldn't stand my depression so she sent me outside to color in a coloring book on the front steps of our house.

  I was sitting on the step and crying my heart out.  I tried to color but all I wanted to do was die.  

  I didn't remember what came next until years later.  

  God saw my broken heart and how powerless I was to change my situation--to be safe!  He knew what I was going through but He also saw my future as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

  He came close to me and whispered in my ear.  "When you grow up, you're going to marry a man named Robert!"

  It was what I needed.  I needed to know that there was going to be an end to all of the rapes and beatings.  All the times my brothers tried to kill me to try to do away with their guilt, I guess.  God knew that I would somehow survive my childhood and find love.  

  Guess what.  HE WAS RIGHT!!  God knew that I needed to see past my present circumstances to a better life with the man I love.  It was just a few words but it made all the difference to my little wounded self!

  I have no idea what you are going through in your life right now but God knows.  He has a wonderful life planned for you!!  You just need to press through the darkness until you see His loving face shining down on you.  He is there.  Just start talking to Him and then listen to what He says.  I am positive that He loves you and has a wonderful life planned for you.  Just listen to Him!

  Dawn 

I Hear His Whisper...

Take me at my word.

The power of my living Word is at work in the world around you. Your life cannot escape the faithfulness of my promises. You are not on the outside of my purposes, beloved. Let your heart take hope as you trust in my unending mercy that completely covers you. My powerful presence wraps around you and sustains you in every season. I will never abandon you or take my presence from you.   Just as flowers break through the ground after spring rains, so will your hope spring up as my living waters of redeeming grace refresh you. My Word is my covenant, and it cannot be broken. Trust that what I have spoken, I will accomplish. I will not fail you, and I won’t throw my hands into the air and give up. My relentless love always pursues my people. Nothing can talk me out of my marvelous mercy. I am the great I AM. All power and authority is mine. I am Creator, and I am Sustainer. Hide yourself in me today, for I am your very present help and the lifter of your head.   Adapted from I Hear His Whisper for Women written by Brian Simmons

Matthew 24:35 The Passion Translation   The earth and sky will wear out and fade away before one word I speak loses its power or fails to accomplish its purpose.

You gotta keep praying!!!

  The party's over and back to work we go.  Robert and I drove to Bismarck last night and went to our favorite place for supper.  THE GROUND ROUND has been the site of so many of our family celebrations for almost 35 years so that's where we headed for our 45th anniversary celebration.  

  I had wanted to take out our whole family but the price for that would have been astronomical.  As it was, for the 2 of us to feast together, it cost us nearly $60!!!  That was without any alcohol!  Of course the malts were $6 each but were they ever delicious!!!  Also, I did bring half of my meal home to enjoy today so that will save a little.

  We were saddened to see that our favorite spot was barely half full on a SATURDAY NIGHT!  Usually we have to sit and wait up to half an hour to get in.  It was a very clear reminder that inflation has cut into luxuries for many families!  We wouldn't have been there either if it weren't our anniversary.  

  So today it's back to work.  As a Christian for over 5 decades I have always felt that my main work is bringing souls to Christ.  The Passion Translation of the Bible has strengthened me with a newer understanding of how much God loves people.  He wants us to love them too!

  I know that can be impossible with some people, if we're trying to do it with our own strength, but God doesn't expect us to do anything on our own strength.  That's why He sent us the Holy Spirit!  Many times I have seen things more clearly when I read the emails I receive from the Passion Translation team.  The Holy Spirit has them write in a way that touches my spirit not just my brain.  Today's email is no exception.

  As I ponder the release of the hostages from Gaza after TWO YEARS, this message poured passion into my heart.  Some of them will come back only to learn that their family members were murdered!  Can you imagine being a hostage for 2 years and then be released to face grief?   Those people REALLY need our prayers!!!

  So I urge every Christian to pray for our brothers and sisters who are in prison or held hostage somewhere!!  It's something that we can do and it WILL help!!  Prayer works.  I can guarantee that after watching God get me through incest, miscarriages, cancer, shingles on the brain, and then ending up with MS.  If I didn't pray constantly, there is no way I would have survived all of that!

  Let's keep each other in our prayers!

  Lots of love,

  Dawn

Praying for Deliverance from Persecution

Great God, thank you for the power of prayer. Thank you for arming your beloved with weapons of warfare that break strongholds open in the heavenly realms and loose breakthrough for your kingdom on the earth. May I reach new depths of your compassion as I intercede for those who are caught in captivity for the sake of the gospel.   Today, I am digging a channel for your power and Word to flow through my intercession. I stand upon your Word, declaring its truth over my home, my city, and my region. I am asking for your power to fall on your people in mighty miracles and deliverance from the enemy. I won’t forget to gather with others to pray for the release of your love and for the protection over our cities from the evil one. Establish us in your mercy-love and pour out your Spirit. Deliver believing ones from persecution as we pray to you night and day. You are our holy hope, God, and you are faithful to come through every time we call upon you. Thank you!   From Prayers from the Throne Room written by Brian Simmons

2 Thessalonians 3:2 The Passion Translation   Pray that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes the message.

It's our 45th anniversary!!

45 years ago, on October 10, 1980 I became Mrs. Robert Bornemann! It's been a wild ride but God has kept us together!! Not only that but He has given us the most amazing children in the world--vastly different but each one a powerhouse of ideas and strength. They helped keep me alive in 2006, when I was dying from shingles on the brain, and my heart is filled with gratitude! Cora married Michael and started a family. Andrew married Marie and started a family. We're still waiting for Jacob to get married. 😊

So God took our vows and created a family of 15 amazing souls bound for Heaven. That is something that only God can do and I stand amazed at His work in my life as Mrs. Robert Bornemann. I love you sweetie!!

!

I lack the ability! :)

 Hi everyone,

  I'm really rushed right now but I saw this and thought it fit me pretty well these days.  When I was growing up in an incestious household, I learned very quickly that keeping my mouth shut was the safest route.  That was 60 years ago.  Now those who I was protecting are all dead or living out of the country.  

  I'm not saying that it's wise to blab the first thing that comes to my mind.  However, I do think there's a time to speak up about what is right.  I think so often about Charlie Kirk and how he worded things so as to open up closed minds.  What a gift he had and I started asking Father to give me that ability too.  

  Anyway, when I saw this picture I realized how wonderful it is to be able to say things as I see them.  That's a big reason I love writing here so much!  Thanks for listening.  :)

  I'm heading out to the field with a lunch for Jacob and then down to the park for Bible study tea.  I'd best get moving.

  Lots of love,

  Dawn

Do you see YOUR beauty?

 

Encounter God’s Heart…

Our Family Tree

Jesus is the vine, and we are his branches. We could say Jesus stands at the head of our family tree. Our beauty, wisdom, and divine nature have been passed down to us from him. All of heaven looks at us and sees the offspring of glory. Is this what we see when we look in the mirror? Is this the truth we pull from when we reach out our hands to bless others? His very life, the expression of his power and majesty upon the earth, lives inside of us, waiting to be released. We are radiant. Take a moment and think about that. Our beauty isn’t based on how we look or feel each day. It isn’t temporary, and it isn’t as fickle as what’s on the outside. We are true vessels of perfect glory. When we imagine Jesus’ beauty, we mustn’t forget that same beauty is alive within us.   Jesus, you are the delight of heaven. You are fathomless beauty swirling inside of me. All of your mystery is contained within my flesh. All of your glory has been entrusted to someone as fragile as me. I honor all that you are and stand in awe—not only for who you are but for who you are in me.   From The Vision written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez

Isaiah 4:2 The Passion Translation   In that day, the branch of YAHWEH will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and glory of the remnant of Israel.

It's Pumpkin Season

  It occurred to me this morning that I haven't shared here what is a big part of my life--cooking.  I have several sources of amazing recipes and this is one of them--Taste of Home. If you follow this link, you will find an article called "Ten Must Make Recipes for October." 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQcpwwKhrHzVJkSFdkzFlDKtflc

  I decided to share this one as it is one of my family's favorites.  I've been making Pumpkin Bars for at least 4 decades and they are always gone quickly.  I can't say if this is identical to my recipe, without digging out my recipe, but it looks quite similar except I use avocado oil.  I hope someone will try this recipe and have a new family favorite.  

  Happy baking,

  Dawn

  

Pumpkin Bars

4.7 | 152 ReviewsAdd your review

Yield:2 dozen

Prep:20 min

Cook:25 min

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Ingredients

• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1-2/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• icing:
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk

Directions

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool completely.
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2. For icing, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, butter and vanilla in a small bowl. Add enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Spread icing over bars. Store in the refrigerator.

I'm NOT alone!

 It's been a blah day today.  Our nice, warm weather seems to be fading away.  My family is all in MN except my farmers who keep having combine breakdowns.  Then, too, the daylight hours are decreasing noticeably and the dark keeps coming earlier in the evenings.

  I'm alone today and I feel so restless.  I listened to our church service this morning and finished watching CRANDFORD this afternoon.  I did my brain training and rested a little.

  I wasn't sure what to do with this nervousness I'm feeling until my eyes fell on one of my favorite poetry book by Helen Steiner Rice.  It's called "Bouquets" and her poetry has blessed me for decades.  I was led to the poem called "I'm Not Alone."  Now I'm feeling better and I decided to share it with you all.

I'M NOT ALONE   

by Helen Steiner Rice

My cross is not too heavy,

My road is not too rough

Because God walks beside me

And to know this is enough....

And though I get so lonely

I know I'm not alone

For the Lord God is my Father 

And He loves me as His own...

So though I'm tired and weary

And I wish my race were done...

God will only terminate it

When my work on earth is done...

So let me stop complaining

About my load of care

For God will always lighten it

When it gets too much to bear....

And if He does not ease my load

He will give me strength to bear it

For God in love and mercy

Is always near to share it.