For Ladies ONLY!

 I am trying to stay calm.  Once again my daughter is in the hospital with signs of going into labor 2 months early.  We were hoping that the extra progesterone would keep baby in longer.  To say the least, we are VEEEERRRRYYYYYYYYY disappointed.

  This will be my daughter's 5th C section.  PLEASE PRAY FOR HER AND BABY.

  I wasn't planning on being gone for a month for several weeks yet.  Now I have to hussle to get clothes washed for me and my guys.  I had hoped to have some casseroles in the freezer for them before I made the 5 hour trip to my daughter's home.  I told her that I cannot leave today.

  The good news is that God provided a friend who has been coming in to their home 5 days a week for several months.  The children know her and love her already.  Cora said she asked her to come in early today.  I sure hope she could as the other Grandma, who came in the middle of the night, will have her hands full with 5 children at home as they wake up wondering where their Mama is.

  I know I should be getting the washing machine going but writing has always been my therapy.  Also I know that many of my readers must be prayer warriors as I can feel the prayers coming when I ask for them.  May our loving Heavenly Father bless you for keeping my daughter's family in your prayers for their needs are urgent.

  I need prayers, too, as I have to make the long trip alone tomorrow if they need to take the baby today.  My guys are still planting the crops so Robert is unable to get away until that is done.  I'm still dealing with cancer in my right shoulder but it is mostly gone now.  Like I said, "I am trying to stay calm."

  When I taught my children to be pro-life, as they watched me have miscarriage after miscarriage, I never thought it would mean my daughter would have to go through 3 week NICU stays with premie babies.  She is THE MOST AMAZING WOMAN I KNOW.  How I wish she didn't have to go through this again. 

  More good news is that they gave her the steroid shot when she got to the hospital at 2:00 AM this morning.  They'll give her a second one 24 hours later if the contractions can be stopped for that long.  This rapidly develops the lungs of the baby so no oxygen is needed.  Two babies back there was time to get both of those shots and the baby needed no oxygen unlike the baby before who didn't get the shot as it was the first premie.  That baby needed oxygen for 10 days.  With the last baby there was only time to get 1 shot in and that baby's lungs were fine too.

  Please pray that this baby's lungs are fine if there is only time for 1 steroid shot.  

  Like I said before, I am trying to stay calm as I wait for news if they were able to get the contractions to stop.  I'm praying that they stop and baby stays in a couple more weeks.  That will help so much!!!

  May God bless you all,

  Dawn  

  

  

  

Happy 70th Birthday to my Precious Husband!

 Good morning everyone,

  I'm not exactly sure what Father is saying to me through this devotional this morning.  I often can tell what He is "Getting at" when I read these messages from THE PASSION TRANSLATION.  I will need to ponder on this today.

  Today is a special day in our family.  My husband, Robert, turns 70 years old.  I think I'll share what I posted on Facebook this morning about that.  Please send him prayers for a joy-filled day as he drives tractor all day--doing what he loves the most!!! 

Please join me in wishing my sweetie a happy 70th birthday today. We had Robert's party last Sabbath because he is happily driving tractor all day today. Maybe I'll catch a ride with him this afternoon. Thanks go out to our daughter-in-law for elegantly decorating the cake and our future daughter-in-law for making him a sour cream raisin pie which is one of his favorites.

Encounter God’s Heart…

People of Our Word

Following through on our promises is as important as the vows we make. In fact, it is even more valuable. If we do not faithfully do what we promise, then our word means nothing to others. Instead of building bridges of trust, we tear at the fabric of our own character. We cannot forget the power of keeping our promises. It is not too late to do what we said we would. Importantly, we should also consider how we can transform going forward. Instead of overpromising and underdelivering, we can ask God to help us be discerning in the yeses we offer. When we are honest about what we can do and don’t offer an inflated idea of our potential, we are able to take the small steps toward rebuilding trust. When we realize that we’ve overpromised, let’s be honest about it and ask for forgiveness. Honesty is the critical first step in restoration. And when others fail to meet our expectations, we can also offer compassion and tender mercy to them, giving them the chance that we hope for. Restorer, thank you for the permission to say no to things without feeling guilty. Help me be selective about the promises I make so that I have the ability and resources to meet them.

From Wisdom from Above written by Brian Simmons

Proverbs 19:22 TPT

A lover of God who is poor and promises nothing is better than a rich liar who never keeps his promises.

It's Bible Study Today in the Neighborhood!

 Hello everyone from sunny North Dakota,

  Today is Bible study day in the neighborhood.  My daughter-in-law is hosting at her house.  She and Andrew have a bin-zebo where we'll meet today.  YAY we can FINALLY gather outside again!  

  This email caught my attention as I prepare my heart for Bible study.  As in all groups, some people are easier to love than others.  We all love each other but sometimes we rub each other the wrong way.  I don't like that feeling in myself especially when we're meeting to study God's word together.  Leave it to God to speak to my heart about this before I meet with the ladies I love so much!!!  

  I don't have to fake it.  God loves them IMMENSELY.  All I have to do is get out of the way and let HIS love for them flow through me.  Sometimes just being aware of the need for change is enough to let God make the changes in me that are needed.  I don't have to fake being pleased to see them.  All I have to do is surrender my heart to God.  I love this line from this devotional.  "When you find yourself laboring to love those around you, it is a sign that you need to turn your heart toward me in surrender!"

  Here's to surrender.  You probably can guess what song came to my mind now.  I'll share it below.

  As always, I covet your prayers for me and my family.  With 2 babies and a wedding coming up, we sure can use prayers.  

  Lots of love,

  Dawn

   

I Hear His Whisper...

Be true in love.

Drink in the deep delight of my heart today. Fill up on my unending kindness. Feast on my compassion. Does it feel like I’m pushing you too hard to receive? It is only because the more you receive, the more you have to give. I don’t want the well of your heart to run dry because you feel as if you have to stir up love on your own. First drink from my living waters, and you will find that you have more than enough to offer others. When you find yourself laboring to love those around you, it is a sign that you need to turn your heart toward me in surrender. Let me water the garden of your heart with the showers of my mercy. There’s no need to strive to love. Your choices matter—of course they do. But you have the resource of unending love at hand. Let your soul come alive in the light of my kindness, and you will find that kindness flows freely from you. There’s no need to pretend. Just be true in love by allowing me to refill you constantly. Keep coming back to me and drinking up every chance you get.

Adapted from I Hear His Whisper for Women written by Brian Simmons

Romans 12:9 TPT

Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous.

Happy Mother's Day

 It's mother's day in my country.  It's a day to ponder how much the love of our mothers has done for us.  I know that's a bad sentence but it seems to pertain today.

  My mother died suddenly on April 25, 2009. She worked all day and then slumped over dead in her doctor's office a little after 8:00 PM.  

  For weeks before that I had been preaching to her about the dangers of alternative sweeteners.  Substances like aspartame, which the FDA approved of, are neurotoxins that mess with our brains.  I will always remember her angrily saying to me, "So you think aspartame is building up in my body?"  I calmly replied, "I know it is."  Would she listen?  A few months later she dropped dead.  GRRRRRR  

  So I've been motherless for 17 years.  I wish I could say I'm devastated with the loss of my mother but she was such a blockhead.  

  When God called us to home school our children, she threw a fit.  When God called Robert and I to adult immersion, she threw a fit.  When I kept having miscarriages, she threw a fit.  When we wanted to go back into farming, she threw a fit.  When I dropped out of my singing group because of laryngitis, she threw a fit.  When we started keeping the Sabbath, she threw a fit.  

  I think you get the picture.  My mother only approved of me when I fit into her narrow view of the world.  When God was trying to grow me up into a natural healing practitioner, that didn't fit with her "The doctor knows best" brainwashing.  Come to think of it, I can't think of too many things that I did that she approved of so I went on without her.

  When she dropped dead, I cried very hard for several weeks.  It was such a shock.  My growing children said  "Mom, why are you crying so hard?  She was your biggest enemy."  I had to ponder a bit as I saw their point.  Then I replied, "Because now there is no more hope that we might have a good relationship."  

  After that, things got better.  There were no more unrealistic expectations that some day mom would grow up and appreciate all that I was doing with my life.  Then a friend gave me a book called TOXIC PARENTS and I started to really heal.

  So yes, my mother taught me good things when I was growing up like how to garden and how to be a homemaker.  What she couldn't teach me was that these things can REALLY show love when done with a heart full of love.  

  My mother loved herself and her comforts money could buy.  Once she slapped me when I defiantly declared "Some people love their money more than they love their own family!"  I guess it hit a nerve because it was the truth.  Robert asked her to leave our house shortly after the slap.  There was no apology for the slap--no checking if I was ok--no love.

  So for those of you who really felt loved by your mothers, I am so happy for you.  For the rest of you, may the Lord be the comfort that you need to be a loving person even though it wasn't modeled for you.  The Lord is a GREAT lover of people.  May we all be like Him especially when our Earthly parents failed us terribly.

  If the word "Mother" does not bring all the warm fuzzies that others experience, this song is for you.  May you find peace in being the person God knows you can be and wants you to be.  

 Sad today,

  Dawn

Lessons from a Cemetary!

Recently I've been going through many changes.  My 2 daughters will have babies this Summer and I just learned last night about another big change coming this year. 

Not only that but next week my husband turns 70 years old.  It's hit us both hard as we ponder our family moving on without us a bit more every year.  

Last Sabbath Robert and I went walking through the local cemetery.  It was interesting to see who was all buried there.  We both felt the need to talk about where we'd like to be buried some day.

This man I've been wife to for 45 years is my soulmate for sure.  We walked around the tombstones and remembered the times we'd spent with several whose bodies are there.  In our minds we were pondering where we would like to be buried when it's our turn to go to our rewards.

We spent several hours walking together and alone.  I was praying for wisdom to understand what we were doing there.  Neither of us is sick.  Lots of people turn 70 but I vividly recalled the fatalistic doom that settled over me when I was turning 50.

Here we are 28 years later as God saw fit to keep us here.  Yet we know that we won't be here forever so we walked and talked--or didn't.

It amazed me how we both ended up under this huge Ponderosa Pine tree just like we used to have in our yard years ago before the tornado came through.  We talked then about how close it was to our field the Lord just gave us--how our sons could drive by Spring and Fall and see us there and know how much we did to give them a good life!!

It was kind of sad but peaceful too.  We've been different since then--better and closer.  When you're in your 20s, people are invincible.  In your 30s, you're a new parent and just tired.  In your 40s, people are starting to get a hold of parenting.  In your 50s, you end up dealing with your parent's decline.  In your 60s you're working hard to make sure your descendants have a good life.  In your 70s?  I guess we'll find out if the Lord continues blessing us with more years.

With everything going on in the world, it seems insignificant that Robert and I picked our final resting place together.  We do everything together and have for 45+ years.  Some day we may not.  That thought led me to this poem.

Robert is a good forgiver.  I haven't been as fluent in forgiveness as my husband is.  I've watched him, though, and his peace and calm have inspired me to lay it all down little by little.  I hope this poem will inspire each of my readers to lay down your grudges and abuses too.  

Happy Sabbath dear friends,

Dawn

Forgiveness

 by John Greenleaf Whittier

My heart was heavy, for its trust had been
Abused, its kindness answered with foul wrong;
So, turning gloomily from my fellow-men,
One summer Sabbath day I strolled among
The green mounds of the village burial-place;
Where, pondering how all human love and hate
Find one sad level; and how, soon or late,
Wronged and wrongdoer, each with meekened face,
And cold hands folded over a still heart,
Pass the green threshold of our common grave,
Whither all footsteps tend, whence none depart,
Awed for myself, and pitying my race,
Our common sorrow, like a mighty wave,
Swept all my pride away, and trembling I forgave!

What is your faith trying to conquer?

  My faith has been challenged as this tumor in my shoulder has been hanging around nearly half a year.  I've conquered cancer over 30 times at home with herbs and other natural healing tools.  This time it's been a real bugger but I think I've got it now.

  I saw recently about a supplement called SOURSOP.  Many people have had success with it so I ordered some.  This is my 5th day on it and the pain is definitely lessening.  YAY

  The reason I don't tell folks, when I first sense that cancer is back, is because I can't take all of the "Have you seen your doctor?"  First of all, I don't have a doctor other than the Great Physician.  It just adds stress to have people worrying about my decision to help my body conquer it as it has many times before.

  If you're there, too, it has been helpful in the past to answer these sincere concerns with a question.  "Do I have cancer because I have a lack of chemotherapy drugs?"  NOPE.  

  So I've been resting a lot and the Lord led me to an amazing tool that I won't share about now as I need to get to making supper.  This is not so much a healing tool as an empowering mentality.  More on that later,

  So I leave you with this devotional from the good folks over at THE PASSION TRANSLATION.  Of course you can guess the song that came to mind if you grew up in the hymns like me.

  I still covet your prayers for total restoration to health.

  Dawn

          

I Hear His Whisper...

Faith is your victory.

Faith is the victory that overcomes the power of this world. Walk in the paths I have chosen for you, and no one will be able to hinder you for long. Faith opens the doors and sets you in the right place at the right time. You will be amazed at the opportunities that greet you as you’re led by my Spirit. Many are my servants who step out with small faith and witness me working a great work. Never measure your faith by your fears, but insist that your fears submit to your faith. Your enemies fight in vain. Do not be discouraged by what can be seen with your eyes, but be filled with faith as you set your gaze on me. Faith is the force that lifts you above your enemies, because it enables you to see clearly. Embrace truth as your best friend. Marry wisdom, for she will be your perfect partner. Cherish my peace, and you will be kept far above the fray. Root yourself in my love, and faith will be the natural result.

I Hear His Whisper written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez

1 John 5:4–5 TPT

Every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

How is being broken good?

 Hello everyone,

  I've been broken my whole life.  From the incest to the years as a farmer's wife complete with droughts and low prices for what we produce.  From the miscarriages to shingles on the brain to MS.  

  I think you get the picture.  I've always thought there was something wrong with me  My family members have said "Why do so many bad things keep happening to you?"  

  It's been hard to want to keep living with all of the pain.  It's hard to want to keep living with all of the sorrow and grief.  So many times I have begged the Father to take me home and every time He says "You have work to do yet."  sigh

  This song has me thinking about all of this.  Is it really BETTER to be BROKEN?  I'm going to have to ponder that but this song sure has me wondering about my feeling useless because I am a cripple.  Can God really use me yet?

  If you're there with me, here's a hug.  I am glad you're still here!!!  We need each other.

  Here's to God putting us back together just the way He needs us to be.

  Dawn

What are you standing on?

Today Dr. McGee started the study of Genesis.  Until I can figure out how to embed the link into each post, I'll have to share it like this.  Hopefully it will take you to the page where you can listen to today's lesson.  

 https://ttb.org/share/eyJuIjoiR2VuZXNpcyAxIEludHJvIiwiaSI6IkdFTiIsInQiOiIiLCJmIjoidG9kYXlfc3R1ZHkiLCJ4Ijo0LCJzIjoiMTI0NiIsImQiOiIyMDI2LTA0LTE3In0%3D

  I will say that, many years ago I was introduced to Dr. McGee's teachings.  I'm sure it was the enemy who tried to keep me from listening intently.  I know better now as I don't want to miss a single nugget of truth.

  I really like how Dr. McGee doesn't act as if he knows everything about the Bible.  He knows a lot but only God knows everything.  Still, Dr. McGee encourages people to see that we can continue learning more about God from His word by reading and studying it over and over.  I suppose this is because, as we grow and mature, we can grasp more of what's being taught.

  Here's a song about the value of hiding God's word in our hearts.  I learned this song when I was a little girl and it does my heart good to hear my grandchildren singing it too.   Let's stand alone on the word of God!

  Happy Sabbath everyone,

  Dawn 

Ready to get on the Bible bus with me?

 Hello everyone,

  How are you all doing today?  It's starting to warm up here in North Dakota.  Yesterday the temp reached SEVENTY DEGREES!!!  The snow is all melted and there is mud everywhere.  Being we live in a very dry part of the country, we are thankful for these late snows that brought much needed moisture.  

  Yesterday I hosted our community ladies for our monthly Bible study.  We studied Ephesians 2.  God has much to say about salvation being a gift from God.  This means that we need to come to Him as we are.  There is no amount of cleaning ourselves up to impress God as His word says our righteousness is as filthy rags to Him!

  All we need to do is admit that we're sinners and ask Him to forgive us our sins and put them all under Jesus shed blood on the cross.  Then invite in the Holy Spirit who changes us to be the children that God always knew we could be.  That's why He loves us so much--he sees the difference that He can make in our lives when we invite Him in.

  I have a new project in this regard.  I've been getting irritating phone calls on my cell.  They call and say nothing sometimes 5 or 6 times a day.  I was getting perturbed from all of the interruptions when I asked the Lord what to do about it.  He shared an idea with me and it changed everything.

  Now, when a strange number calls me, I talk to them.  I tell them the plan of salvation.  I tell them that Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins.  I tell them that all we need to do is to tell Jesus that we know we're sinners.  Then ask Him to forgive our sins and put them under His shed blood.  The last step is to ask God the Father to erase all of the charges in our books of life that satan is using as grounds to attack us.  

  As you might imagine, not everyone listens to the end.  I'm surprised, though, how many listen for quite a while.  When they hang up on my message, I pray for them to accept Christ.  THEY have made ME a missionary and I don't even have to leave home.  HOW COOL IS THAT?  God makes even cripples like me useful for His purposes and I so do love Him for that!!!

  The main reason I'm writing today is to share an opportunity we all have. I'm copying from my Facebook page.

  The past couple of years I've learned so much by listening to this daily broadcast. Dr. J. Vernon McGee has gone to live with Jesus but his teachings go on. They call it the "Bible bus" and people listen around the world. It takes Dr. McGee 5 years to go through the Bible. He just finished Revelations and tomorrow he begins anew in Genesis. Perhaps you want to get on the Bible bus with me?

You can go to ttb.org to find where to listen on your local Christian radio station or you can get the app on your phone.

I have learned so much about God's faithfulness by listening to Dr. McGee's broadcasts. He has a wealth of knowledge about life during Bible times that brings the Word of God to life. Tomorrow he starts in Genesis 1.

Guess what. I just found the message for tomorrow. This is giving me an idea. I've been praying for something useful to share daily with you all. What if I were to share the Bible bus message for the day here? Well, listen to this and see what you think.

To quote Dr. McGee as he closes each lesson "May God richly bless you my beloved!"

Dawn

Let it go

 

  How many of you were told "Shame on you" for some minor mistake when you were growing up?  Did you know that shame is the LOWEST vibration on Earth?  

  The reason putting shame on others is because it makes the person the problem and not what was done.  Look, we're ALL sinners and we all know it.  For a parent to put shame on a child they are crippling the child for life.  Bosses shouldn't do this either.  

  Nobody should put themselves in the place of God to put shame on someone else.  In fact, as we learn in today's devotional, even GOD doesn't shame people.  God knows we're sinners and yet HE loves us.  This takes some thinking as we ponder how we treat other people when they dissapoint us or sin against us.

  

  God says "Release shame to me."  How do you do that?  For me, I see a balloon full of what I'm trying to release to God--shame, hatred, jealousy.  Whatever is keeping me from feeling His love, I see as filling a balloon that sits right in front of my face.  I look through that balloon and see all of life as hopeless.

  You can do this.  See all of the ugly emotions that you don't seem to be able to get rid of as filling a balloon.  Now see yourself holding that balloon.  Now open your hand and let it go.  Watch it soar up to Heaven until you can't see it any more.  That's how I release the things that keep me from fully serving the Lord.  You may have another way.  The point is to give it to God.  This will please Him sooo much.

  Gotta go make supper.  

  

I Hear His Whisper...

Release shame to me.

My blood is the fire of purity that washes every sin away. To hold on to shame is to refuse the gift that I’ve given you—the gift of freedom. Maintaining those feelings of guilt won’t make you a better person. Accept my forgiveness and forgive yourself, and I will heal your heart and set you free. Put sin behind you. Once you’ve repented for what you’ve done or neglected to do, I’ve forgiven you. If you haven’t asked for forgiveness, you only need to ask, and I will pour it out like rain. My mercy is never-ending, and there is nothing my mercy does not cover. I don’t want you to live with a mindset of What if I would have…? or What if I wouldn’t have…? Don’t allow the past to hold such a strong grip on you that you forget the price I paid to set you free. Guilt is a trap of the enemy—a ploy to keep you so focused on yourself and your mistakes that you lose sight of my grace. If you will come to me today and give me your shame, I will heal your heart. Forgive yourself and embrace my grace.

I Hear His Whisper written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez

John 8:36 TPT

“If the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!”

HELLO Spring!

Hello everyone,

  It's Springtime here in North Dakota, USA. YAYYYYYY!

  As farmers, we prepare for Spring all Winter long.  Our men removed the worn out parts on our 36 row corn planter.  They replaced all of the worn parts, of which there were many, with new parts.  They worked in the few hours they had left at the end of the day after working at the seed cleaning facility.  They worked during blizzards when nobody would travel to get their grain cleaned.  They worked in the mornings, if sleep left them, before driving the 20 miles to clean grain. Finally the planter is nearly ready to go out in the field.

  It will still be a couple of weeks until seeding begins.  Today it is SEVENTY degrees so there won't be any snow left by tonight I would think.  After the snow is all melted, the Earth must drink up all of the melted snow.  We also had a tiny rain fall this morning which we welcome.  Finally, when most of the fields are dry, they will begin planting.  I'll show you pictures then as I love riding with Jacob in the tractor.  

  I have another prayer request.  I come to you with my needs and you pray and things become clear to me OR a mountain moves out of the way.  I feel your prayers and I bless you for each one!!!!

  So, as you know if you've read here long, I have struggled with multiple sclerosis for over 25 years.  I LOVE to garden.  It's such good therapy once I get there.  My garden is not far from my house but some days walking to my kitchen is extremely painful.  Last Fall, when I had no strength to clean my garden off, I made the decision that it was my last garden.  I was at peace.

  HOWEVER, all Winter I have been praying for the Lord to make it clear if He wants me to REALLY retire from gardening.  I have gardened all my life--first with my mother, then with my children, and finally all by myself.  

  The real complication is that my daughter is due to have her 5th child in mid July.  The last 3 have all been premie babies with 3 week NICU stays.  Although we're all praying that this baby goes full term, we have done so with the other children too.  

  Now, with this pregnancy my daughter has found a midwife who works with high risk moms.  She has Cora using more progesterone and more protein in her diet.  This, according to her midwife, has been helping her moms go full term.  

  If Cora were to go full term, she would probably only need me about 1 week.  If not, she will need me there, at a minimum, 3 weeks and possibly up to 5 weeks.  Can you imagine a garden without my care for that long?

  So you see my reluctance to take the time, money, and energy to plant a garden.  Yet, life without a garden seems like no life at all.  PLEASE pray that the Lord gives me peace.  It's almost time to plant the onions and potatoes.  HMMMMMMMMMMMMM  I really need peace and direction from the Lord in this matter.

  I love poetry and went in search of one for all of us to enjoy.  This one is very special as it captures the joys we feel as  brutal Winter leaves and gentle Spring comes in.  Happy Spring everyone.

  Dawn

 Welcome Spring!

“Let all who put their trust in You rejoice. Let them shout for joy forever because You cover them. Let those who love Your name be joyful in You.” (Psalm 5:11).

Welcome Spring! A thousand flowers bloom,
Radiant in vibrant hues unfurled,
Their fragrance fills the wakening world.
Swallows soar through morning’s room,
Heralds bringing tidings of delight
To every doorstep, every home in sight.
In peaceful gardens, freshly green,
Bees and butterflies dance between
The nodding blooms in joyful play,
While voices lift in songs that say
Welcome to this blessed Spring day!

Welcome Spring! My heart rejoices,
In the Lord whose blessings flow
Like streams that melt from winter’s snow.
Leaves and petals whisper voices,
Sweet spring fragrance fills the air,
Making sacred every path we share.
A song of praise I raise above,
Celebrating endless love,
For He who guides through passing years,
Brings joy and gladness, calms all fears,
His grace in every spring appears.

In His love, my spirit glows,
Life fulfilled in every way,
As countless springs pass, day by day.
Each blessing that the Father shows
I count in silence, treasure deep
Within my heart, forever keep.
Before You, Lord, I humbly bow,
Each spring of grace reveals somehow
Your love renewed in countless ways.
Forever in Your light I’ll stay,
Forever will my soul give praise.

Welcome Spring! My spirit soars,
Overflowing with divine grace.
God grants us spring in every place—
In life, in soul, behind all doors.
Peace flows like rivers through my days
While spirit sings its songs of praise.
The Lord still guides with gentle hand
Through seasons as they shift like sand,
Through all the years that lie ahead,
Till joy and happiness are spread
Like spring eternal, heaven-fed.

Claude AI
12/23/2024

Have you found THE CHOSEN?

 Robert and I have been watching THE CHOSEN for about a month--a little bit each night.  It is absolutely mind expanding to ponder the life of Christ from His disciples perspective.  Last night they watched Jesus raise his dear friend, Lazarus, from the dead.  You will be blessed if you watch THE CHOSEN.  I'll see if I can find a segment for you to watch.  Here it is on YouTube.  WOWWWWWWWWWWWW    

  Our faith pleases God.  Here's to the victories to come from our putting our faith in God!  

  Later,

  Dawn

I Hear His Whisper...

Faith is your victory.

Faith is the victory that overcomes the power of this world. Walk in the paths I have chosen for you, and no one will be able to hinder you for long. Faith opens the doors and sets you in the right place at the right time. You will be amazed at the opportunities that greet you as you’re led by my Spirit. Many are my servants who step out with small faith and witness me working a great work. Never measure your faith by your fears, but insist that your fears submit to your faith. Your enemies fight in vain. Do not be discouraged by what can be seen with your eyes, but be filled with faith as you set your gaze on me. Faith is the force that lifts you above your enemies, because it enables you to see clearly. Embrace truth as your best friend. Marry wisdom, for she will be your perfect partner. Cherish my peace, and you will be kept far above the fray. Root yourself in my love, and faith will be the natural result.

I Hear His Whisper written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez

1 John 5:4–5 TPT

Every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

JOY in THIS circumstance?

I don't know if any of you have ever poured yourself into a situation, aiming to be a blessing, only to have your intentions misunderstood ending in you being rejected.  Boy is that ever the story of my life.  

  I never really expected to find a poem about this, let alone one calling it a joy, but here it is.  Maybe someone will be blessed by it.

  

  I can honestly say that it doesn't feel like a joy.  NOPE.  I'm glad that Robert and I are watching THE CHOSEN right now so we see how God shapes us through times like this.  I hope he takes advantage of shaping me through this as it sure doesn't feel like joy.

  
  Dawn

PS  I just thought of this song.  It's the very first Booth Brothers song I ever heard and it seems appropriate today.

  

         THE JOYS OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD

Being misunderstood is the epitome of my life, such strife!
It has caused. Oh my god! Good grief! I repeat and appear odd.
Good intentions misconstrued. I feel rude, call me a
scrooge, there’s no reason why I have this ‘tude!

For lack of understanding, I must plan—the
End and beginning. To be winning one must lose.
Do you choose, or shall I.  My, my, I wish we all can make it.

The joys of showing kindness—such blindness to harmful
others. Oh brother! Do you see what I am missing? Persistence
to aid and nurture. It’s a torture!

Elation-filled dreams without screams or cries!
Could I. Could I really have?! Do the math, it won’t
happen. One must go through pain to learn a lesson.

A Blessing or a Curse? I rehearse these words through
and through. Is it my fault my ideas and executions
are misconstrued? My, my, is it I
that is the cause of my own destruction? My head’s rushing.

A Blessing or a Curse? I rehearse these words through
and through. It must be true. It’s my fault my ideas and executions
are misconstrued. My, my, it is I that is the
cause of my own destruction. Listen close to instructions to relieve this mind concussion.

Being misunderstood is something good and will bring great
Joy! Oh boy! Be prepared, not scared, just aware
of the eyes.
A window to the soul, fall in, and it begins all over again.

So wait, should I stare?! There’s a glare
in my glasses. Reactions are destined to happen,
find joy.

© Mar 2015, Diamond Alexus Paulk   personal • conflict • life • life1   

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