Friday, December 9, 2011

Just the other day....

Just the other day, Sweetie and I were talking about how some people try to be "friends" with their kids while the kiddos are growing up. We, especially me, were known as the 'strict' parents while our beautiful daughter was growing up. This got me to thinking about this Pastor I heard recently....actually two different Pastors. The first one stated, "Here at this church we believe that God is out for our good not to harm us." Then the second Pastor had a video that stated, "What would the church do if your Pastor stood up on Sunday and said 'Obey God and things could turn out badly', how many would be back the following Sunday?" He further went to use John the Baptist beheading as his example. Two totally different views on God my question to you is this...(yes, I am asking for responses to this blog):

Which Pastor was right and why? Were either of them right? Were both right? Were both wrong? I know how I feel but it is not about feelings....it needs to be about God and His Word.

There is your challenge...

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Fall Foliage and Walking with God....


 
Rappahannock River Fall Foliage 2011

A couple weeks ago, the Fall Foliage was vibrant here. There were yellows, oranges, and reds. The picture above is one that I took on the river bank in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Everyone each year discusses the beauty of the colors. Some even make a trek to Skyline Drive to see the colors at their peak. 

All of this got me to thinking, "Why do leaves change color in the Fall?"
I read the following on the website, www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html:

"During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors."
 
I knew that there was a correlation between God's beauty of nature and our walk, but some of my first thoughts were wrong once I came to understand the reason why leaves change colors.


People admire the colors and they can be amazingly beautiful. However, no matter the brightness of the leaves; the truth is they are preparing for the lack of food which comes with shorter days and colder weather. Once I understood the reason for leaves changing...The TRUTH God was  speaking to became  clear. This TRUTH is that many times in my Christian walk the Lord is preparing me for a season where there will be a lack of  food for my walk. The amazing thing, to me, is that just like the vibrant Fall leaf's color people will see a vibrant and vivacious walk with the Lord in me during this preparing stage. 

We need to understand that during this time, God could very well be preparing us for a dry season. A time when 'spiritual' food will be scarce. We need to be like the leaves that we admire and be preparing for all the seasons. The leaves know that the shorter days and colder climate will come and they prepare for it.

All the trees are bare now and it looks as if death has come upon them. Yet, in reality they are only dormant resting in and feeding on the food that they stored up during the Summer....Do we live during our 'dry' winter season with  assurance that we have prepared and that Spring is on the way?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Like my FB page....

http://www.facebook.com/dawnwhitmorespeaks

Preparations....

I am working at a Christian retail store part-time as seasonal help. One of our focuses is preparing the store for the Christmas rush (or craziness) that will start on Black Friday. This got me to wondering how am I preparing for Christmas....where will my focus be? Will it be on gift-giving, gift-receiving, family, or on the birth of my Savior.

I encourage us to start thinking and preparing to remember the 'Reason for the Season'. It is only two months until Christmas Day.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Job....

I finished reading Job this morning. Yes, you read that correctly. I spent about 8-10 weeks reading Job. God showed me different things but the one that has stood out the most to me is "Elihu." In Chapter 2, when Job's 3 friends come and sit with him, "Elihu" is not listed. Then in Chapter 42, the last chapter, God tells Eliphaz that He is angered with Job's friends. God says Job needs to pray for them. Well, Job prays for  his 3 friends that were mentioned in Chapter 2...once again no mention of "Elihu"

This made me think...


  • Why was Elihu not mentioned in Chapter 2? He does speak and it is a couple chapters worth of speaking.
  • Was God not angered with Elihu's dissertation to Job?
  • Is it not necessary for Job to pray for Elihu?
  • Was Elihu considered to young to be mentioned? (He does start his dissertation discussing his young age)
As you can see, I have lots of questions while finishing up this reading of Job. 

I ended up reading Job cause it is where God took me during a difficult time in my life. I am glad that I was obedient. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

One of these days.....

One of these days, I will be smart enough to realize that if nothing is working out to stop. At least for a brief break. Today was a completely frustrating morning and I just kept pushing to accomplish things. It would have been a much better day if I had taken a break about three hours earlier than what I did.

This made me wonder if God was shaking His head and thinking, "When will she learn." It is a fact that things will get done in His timing. He has never let me down yet. We will not even begin to discuss the many times I have let Him down. Funniest thing about all this, I just got an e-mail today with someone telling me that I was "so wise beyond my years." Yeah right!

God is such a loving forgiving Father and I am so extremely grateful for this.

Now on to spending some time studying and then reading. Maybe one day this blog will be actually have more than my ramblings. Hey, we can pray for such things to come about. :^)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sharing our bible study....

I decided to share my next upcoming Bible Study for our College & Career Bible study. This was last Sunday's class (April 17th) and will be published this coming Friday:


Let's start with a quick refresher: Throughout James, we have been discussing how James is writing to a persecuted and scattered people. James has been focusing on how to live in the midst of tribulations and temptations.

We finished up last week on our discussion of the tongue. One aspect being that we must let God control our tongue in ALL circumstances.

As we delve into this week's lesson, James will show us how to handle struggles of life with WISDOM. However, we will see TRUE WISDOM only comes from God.

Let's start with a question: What is meant by "good conduct" or "good life" in verse 13 concerning one's works? It doesn't mean there is no trouble in this person's life but that their works are done in meekness.

This brings us to our next question: Does meekness or humble mean weakness?

According to Norma Becker (one of the lesson writer's used for this study), "Meekness or humble means "Strength under control." This is one whose strength comes from relying on God and not self. This person also relies on God for vindication and refuses to retaliate when insulted.

**Remember TRUE WISDOM comes from God. It is not just good advice, good ideas, or good morals**

God's Wisdom is real when it is in motion, However, this is more than giving to charity. Wisdom is from God in a person's life is shown by how he/she deals with family, friends, finances, spend free time and approaches life in general.

QUESTION: Who is guiding your life? Is it God's TRUE WISDOM or the world's wisdom?

Living in the meekness of God's TRUE WISDOM means we do not let our current circumstances tell us who we are and who we belong to....

James further instructs the wisdom of meekness doesn't exist in jealous and ambitious heart. Jealousy creates a wedge not only between us and others but also with God. We must come to the realization that the world's wisdom is actually anti-wisdom for there is NO TRUE WISDOM without God.

Anti-wisdom results in confusion and evil whereas, Godly Wisdom is (as stated in verse 17) pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy & grace fruits without hypocrisy or partiality.

Therefore, We want to walk away from today's lesson understanding this final thought:

"To be wise is to see that our present circumstances DO NOT tell the story of our real worth or limit our ability to receive full life from God"---(courtesy of Trinity Study Center lesson writer).

Friday, April 15, 2011

Galatians 6:9 has been on my heart....

Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." 


"Let us not grow weary" and "if we do not lose heart." I keep going back to "if we do not lose heart." I challenge myself all the time with the questions, "Who am I doing this for?" "Is it to please man or God?" "Is it my own agenda?" Then the tough part comes, when I must be willing to answer each of these questions with the different things happening in my life. I propose that if I can say that I am doing (whatever it is) for God alone and to please Him with His agenda then I normally do not lose heart. 


Don't get me wrong this doesn't mean that I am never discouraged. I do get discouraged but the difference is not losing heart. To me losing heart is coming to the point of discouragement where we "throw in the towel" and call it quits.


Right now, I am trusting God for the finances of an event that is happening in June. I can honestly say this event was not my idea it was God's plan. Those of us involved are doing it for God and His Kingdom. We are being obedient in preparing this event to please God not man. Plus, this event is NOT my agenda. Things would look different (I would have rushed things on my time table) if it was my agenda yet, cause I am walking in the realm of God's mysterious Grace for the whole event to come together I can confidently say that God is in control. 


Thank you Jesus for bringing this event to fruition and for teaching those involved how to trust You more and more each and everyday.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Why Struggle?

Someone asked me why I was struggling with being stretched. We have determined the toy that was the stretchy guy was named "Stretch Armstrong". I told the person that they posed a good question and I now pose it to you:

"If we completely and fully understand that the stretching God is doing within us is for our good then why do we struggle with it?"

Think on these things this week.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I am back....

God has been stretching me. He wants me to rely totally on Him for all things. This became apparent in the last couple weeks as I have been working on projects and praying about things. A couple things on my heart have been the college & career Sunday morning class that I have been leading since 2009. It seems that the local students are dwindling. Why? Good question! That is what I have taken to the Father. Whereas, on the other hand it seems that the distance students are keeping up with the lessons online. What are you doing Father?

I have further been praying for the upcoming Ladies Retreat, College & Career Conference, and Pre-CBS of New Bern. All of this while working on the business each day, editing a 34 Chapter book, and trying to keep my house semi-presentable. Needless to say, this is why this blog keeps getting neglected.

I truly want to keep writing and this blog is a wonderful way. Time is the factor. God help me to be able to share your Word through this blog and touch lives.

The verse I have been hanging onto this week has been Galatians 6:9:

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart"

The sound that keeps running through my head is Sidewalk Prophets, "You can have me":

http://www.sidewalkprophets.com/discography/album/these-simple-truths/you-can-have-me

May the Father bless you tremendously this week and may your love be because of who He is and not what He does for you.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Student Life Blog Article...

I have been given the privilege of writing a series of blog articles for Student Life.

You can see the first by clicking the link below:

 http://www.studentlife.com/blog/?p=690

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Listening to God....

Have you ever had a book that you just wanted to stop reading but God keeps bringing you back to it? This is happening to me again. The book entitled "The Naked Gospel" by Andrew Farley has infuriated me at times and I made the firm decision to get rid of it after 8 chapters....I text someone who asked if they could read it when I was finished and said, "You can have it! I can't stand it no more."

His reply, "I didn't realize it was the whole book, I was allowed to download awhile back but thanks anyway." Ok, now what do I do? I can't just throw it in the trash...I paid a whole $5 for the book. So, I let it sit and you know what my loving God with a sense of humor has done to me. Yep, you got it He has me reading it again. Are there times that I am still infuriated with the book? Oh Yes, but I am being obedient and continuing to read...not as quickly as some books I am devouring; such as Zig Ziglar's book, "Embrace the Struggle"

I am just being obedient and following God's leading...however, I must admit at this point and time a part of me would be ecstatic if He said, "Dawn...go ahead and throw 'The Naked Gospel' away." ":-)

Journeying with Jesus isn't all about what makes me happy for happy is a circumstance. We are learning in our College and Career bible study God doesn't want to base our life on circumstances. He wants us to base our lives on Jesus.

Philippians 2:13

Monday, January 17, 2011

2011...Following God in All Things...

Many people around me wonder about me sometimes. They probably have every right to wonder also. I live my life following God in all things and at times this takes me down paths some would call "not normal." We will not get into the whole discussion today of what is normal...I hear your sighs of relief.

My following God in all things has led me many places, such as five years of college since 2003. A teaching position at my church with the College and Career. A College and Career one-day conference in 2011 and furthering my speaking & teaching ministry through the formation of a Community Bible Study (www.communitybiblestudy.org) group in New Bern. Yet, with all of this in front of me, God has further led me in this new year to actively look for more speaking and teaching opportunities. This is the reason for my blog today, if you have ever heard me speak or been in a class with me, would you be kind enough to help me spread the word of what God is doing through me.

This is the only time I will mention this on my blog. If anyone is interested please send them to my website:

www.dawnwhitmorespeaks.org

God has given me Isaiah 50:4 and I am hanging tight to it.

Have a blessed day!

Monday, January 3, 2011

God's discernment and His timing....

God spent nearly all of 2010 teaching me about His timing. I get the feeling on this 3rd day of 2011 that He may be teaching me about His discernment in 2011. Doors are opening and I must not only know God's timing but I must have His discernment about the decisions being made.

While at the Strength to Stand conference, God was giving the thing that tugs on my heart daily. It is a great desire of mine. Yet, God will not move in that direction unless it is also His great desire. My life verse is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

This giving of the desire is because when one delights themselves in the Lord...their desire will be His desire.

My prayer is God's desire will become more my desire as I continue to spend time with Him.