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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.

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. 

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. :^)

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).

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.

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.

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.

You Are More - Tenth Avenue North - w/lyrics

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

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

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!

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.

Retreat....

I am reading a book called "The Creative Call." Well...actually, I have been reading this book on and off since my daughter and her best friend were in high school. They are now a sophomore and junior in college. However, it is amazing how God would bring me back to this book over the years at the time it would mean the most.

Right now, on thing on my mind is the RBBC upcoming Ladies Retreat in April 2011. The cool thing is the book which, I am on the last chapter after all these years talks about a retreat to finish about the commencement of finishing the book. It is a study book...which means in the future I will read and do the whole study aspect and receive even more from God. :-)

Janice Elsheimer discusses the three aspects of a retreat. These three aspects are seclusion, solitude and significance. The leadership team at RBBC already knows the retreat this year will be different than any other one ever done. I believe that God brought me here to these three aspects of retreat to give me the opportunity to let God reveal them completely to me.

This is exciting to me and I will be waiting expectantly for God to give me each piece of the aspects from His point-of-view. It is amazing when we are obedient to God and see Him more and more throughout our day.

Graduation and other life happenings...

The last couple months have flown by for me. I finished my Masters of Entertainment Business in December 2010. Also, in November, I was given the delight of seeing my little brother (he is a 6ft 300lbs football player) play in the Semi-pro championship. It was also the first time seeing him in almost 25 years.

I look forward to what God has planned for 2011. The RBBC Ladies Retreat is in April. YKP, LLC will be working on a mini-tour for one of our artist, Billy Buchanan.

There may be more time for this blog and hopefully they will be worthwhile and not a bunch of babbling.

Nearing the end....Means a new beginning is around the corner....

The end of my Masters program is right around the corner (December 17th to be exact).  The exciting thing is that when this adventure ends God will be beginning a new one. What is it? I don't know but the important thing is when God gives us new opportunities, we must be ready, willing and obedient.

I am reading Doug Field's book, Fresh Start and he tells a wonderful story of "Taking a Knee." Field's explains taking a knee is a humble action. Humility is not weakness but realizing and acknowledging who the KING is....Do you fully understand your relationship with your KING?

I am coming to a closer and better understanding of my relationship with my KING.

Thank you Jesus for loving me.

Jonah was a prophet…

A young man in my college and career class said a profound statement. A couple weeks ago, he said, “Jonah,when in the belly of the big fish, was repentant for running away from God… but he was not repentant of his attitude towards the Ninevehites.” Boy did that statement ring true and step all over people’s toes.

We need to look at our lives and determine if we are truly repentant for what God has called wrong or our we repentant we are in the pit because of our actions. We discussed how one question asked to inmates is if they are truly sorry for what they did or sorry they got caught.

That is what we reflected on the last couple weeks.

Huddle...

While at the park this morning I saw all the ducks grouped together from the night. It made me think do we support each other and protect each other like these ducks?

Each of the ducks everyday go out and do the life and business they are called to accomplish. Each one has a different calling. Just like each one of us, we all are called by God to accomplish different things. He is the one who does the work through us.

However, so many of us neglect the gathering together to provide encouragement, support and protection. Think of it as refueling. As we go about our lives and business we are being used by God. Yet, when we go to bible study, church or have lunch with a trusted brother or sister in Christ we are entering a time of refreshing and refueling. Have we made the commitment to be that source of encouragement and protection to our brothers and sisters? Do we show them love and protection?

God gave all of this to me while I spent five minutes at the park with Him this morning. I thank Him for showing me His handiwork and His love.

Please do not try to be like the bird in this last picture. You have to look really hard (he is the little speck at the top) but that is a lone bird on top of that pylon. This is not God's will He has created us to fellowship with one another. In this society of people claiming they do not have to attend church please remember what God said in Hebrews 10:25:

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near"

Storm Preparation....

As everyone was preparing for the storm called Hurricane Earl last week it made me think. It made me wonder how much preparation goes into the storms of our lives. How much time do we spend with the Father and in His Word?

There is one thing that is crucial to remember...just like with actual hurricanes no matter how much we prepare they will come soon or later. Yet, the difference is the damage the hurricane can wreck on the area. Just think of seeing the people putting plywood boards on their windows and those who don't...depending on the severity of the wind the plywood can be the determining factor of whether the windows break.

We are studying Jonah in our Sunday Morning Bible Study class. We saw the great fish is not the only thing that God created during this story. In the beginning, He created the wind for the storm that resulted in Jonah being thrown overboard.

Are you prepared for the storm?

Check out Jonah through www.blueletterbible.com.

C.H.U.R.C.H.

The Lord gave me an acronym for the Church. The interesting thing is He gave me the beginning of it almost 8 years ago but didn’t finish it until the early hours of the morning today. Here is the Acronym:

C: Christ

H: Healing

U: Unruly

R: Rebellious

C: Children

H: Here

The interesting thing to me is I have been waiting 8 years for the last part of that acronym. Then as plain as day my Loving Heavenly Father told me that is what His Church should be doing walking in our healing HERE.

We all have been unruly, rebellious children and some of us are still being pretty unruly and rebellious instead of walking in the healing that Christ has provided for us HERE.

What is this Healing? It is Healing from being separated from God. Healing from the world (oh wait but we live in this world and we are only human is what most people would say) but I challenge that when Christ heals us we start a journey. I think of a time when our Pastor’s son broke his leg and the Dr. said after the cast came off it was important for him to use that leg. See his leg had been bound for so long that he became use to not using it. The Dr. said if he didn’t use it then the leg would become literally useless and there was the danger it would not be usable again. It was painful in the beginning for him to use that leg. But the more he used it the more he was walking in the healing that had already occurred in his leg.

I propose that each of us have areas in our lives that we have been bound so long that even when Christ heals us, we have become use to not using that area which had been bound. We must retrain yourselves to understand we are not bound any longer and to use what our Savior Jesus Christ has set free. Remember Joseph told his brothers that what his brothers meant for evil that God used for good.

Lastly, I want us to remember that Christ is a TOTAL HEALER…He wants to heal us spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We talked the other night about the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19) and how only one came back to express gratitude and give Glory to God. All the lepers received physical healing but only the one that went back received TOTAL HEALING. I find it interesting the one who came back was a Samaritan.

My final question and our challenge is are we doing church as normal or are we an alive, vital, and active part of the THE C.H.U.R.C.H?