Connecting with Simply Me & Veronica....

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Welcome to all the visitor's from Simply Me...

I was given the great pleasure to guest post over at Simply Me. 

Skip on over to read the post where I am open and honest about connecting.

 Click here to read: TIME TO CONNECT

If you are here from the Simply Me site: WELCOME!

Take a minute and look around. 

If you like what you see and would want to follow Dawn's Dialogue

 just click on the Networked Blogs button to the right. 

Thanks for stopping by and may you have a blessed day! 

A Touch: Guest Blog by Cari Zorno

     This month's Guest Blogger is Cari Zorno

    

Photo is property of Cari Zorno

A Touch   

Luke 8:42-48

A woman, suffering from bleeding for over 12 years, struggled her way through the dense crowd which engulfed Jesus as he walked to Jairus’s house.  She had purposefully approached from behind not wanting to draw any attention. She successfully reached Jesus unnoticed and stretched her hand to touch his robe.

She had tried everything exhausting her resources to find a cure with no results. Jesus was known to heal. He was on his way to heal. It was just what he did. The woman knew deep in her heart if she could just touch him. This was her chance. She did not need eye contact. Who was she anyway? She was a nobody; she was shunned by everyone else. But Jesus, she knew that Jesus could heal her. A touch was all she needed.

Her hand reached, it touched His robe and she felt power coerce into her. She didn’t know what she had expected but this was not it.  Feeling this power stopped her dead in her tracks, she embraced the sensation, allowing it to fill her and empty out – push out – all that was impure in the face of pure holiness.

The crowd flowed past her for a split second then suddenly they stopped. Jesus had stopped. She looked up then immediately looked down; Jesus had turned and was looking straight at her.  He spoke, “Who touched me?” “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.” One of His disciples said. 

Jesus was insistent, “Who touched me? I know power has gone out from me.” 

The woman felt a finger pointed directly at her though not a hand was raised.

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She fell at his feet feeling equally grateful and exposed. Without raising her head she told her story. In His deep compassion He tenderly slid his hand below her chin lifting her face, 

“Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.”

Jesus was surrounded by people “hemmed in” with people constantly bumping into Him. Why didn’t power flow into everyone? Why her? There was enough power that left Him He knew someone was healed. He stopped. I think He wanted to make full contact, not just ignore her like everyone else had. He knew who had touched Him – He wanted her to speak, to say out loud what she needed to acknowledge, her need for His healing.

No one else was healed. Many may have needed His touch but didn’t ask whether by touch or verbal. Maybe out of fear or they were unsure He would do it. 

Whatever was the cause they didn’t ask, so they didn’t receive, 

“You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2. 

It was her faith that brought healing. She asked with full expectation of being healed.

 “Ask and it will be given to you.” Matthew 7:7

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

What do you need that only Christ can supply?

What is keeping you from asking?

I hope you enjoyed Cari's guest post. I did!

 Leave a comment for Cari and then hop over to one of her sites and give her some love:

Her blog:  http://www.1carizorno.blogspot.com

or 

FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/cari.zorno

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Welcome...Thanks for stopping by

WELCOME TO DAWN'S DIALOGUE... 

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Welcome to all the visitor's from Encouragement Cafe.

Feel free to look around...I will have a guest blogger later this week and encourage everyone to follow the blog from the Networked Blog button on the right. 

We will be having a give-away later this week. It will be either a book or gift card. 

You can enter by leaving a comment to this post or following us through Networked Blog.

If you haven't read the Encouragement Cafe Devotion yet click here...

Thanks for stopping by and may you have a blessed day! 

7 Obstacles to Prayer (Repost)....

My family and I are on a stay-cation before our daughter starts her Senior year of college. We are checking out all the wonderful sites and treasures of our state. It is great to live in a area rich of history and nature then to sleep in my own bed each night. Therefore, I am sharing a post that I wrote back in  in 2010. 

During this time, I led a College and Career Sunday School class. 
This is one of the most rewarding things God has ever allowed me to do. Even to this day, I miss the young men & women who were in this class. 
One Sunday morning, while studying the book of Colossians we looked at the  
"7 Obstacles to Prayer" from Pastor Bruce at Union Church.  I share them here with you. 

Photo Credit: The People's Cyber Nation

7 Obstacles to Prayer (Pastor Bruce):

1. We don’t have a true relationship with Jesus. 
The class talked about how there are so many who walked an aisle in the church but don’t know what they did or did it just because their friends were doing it.

2. Have a faulty view of prayer.

3. Be under spiritual attack. 
Most Christians want to put their head in the sand and not talk about this one.

4. Focused on “getting stuff” rather than being with God and following His Will for our lives. 
We discussed how it would be if we only went to our parents when we wanted something and never went to just spend time with them and how that is what we do to God.

5. Too Proud
We want to be in control and asking for God’s help through prayer means giving up control.

6. View Prayer as a chore instead of a a joy
 Do you see prayer as a duty to mark off of your Christian to-do list or as a chance to spend time talking and fellowshipping with your loving Savior?

7. Things are going good why trouble God. I will contact Him if I am in trouble.

As you read through these 7 obstacles did any of them ring true for you? Let's discuss it this week. Feel free to leave a comment below.

A Lesson in 30 percent...

Did you know that when you watch a movie in full screen format instead of wide screen format, only 70% of what the original director intended is seen? I learned this fact from "Exercising You Soul" by Gary Jansen.

It got me to thinking what is my missing 30%. Am I seeing the whole picture?

My (notice the wording of "my" here) intent for this post was to expound on how we don't see the whole picture. The importance of trusting God when things seem...well "weird", "unfinished", etc.

It was going to be an awesome post. I was going to reference all of the wonderful illustrations, about how we only see one small piece of what God is doing. Whereas, He sees the whole picture: the finished product. You know the illustrations and stories. It was going to be a great post. One which would receive nice comments and loads of "Atta Girls." Do people even truly say, "Atta Girl?"

Seeing 100% of the Picture
Photo Credit: Dew Photography

Then God, my loving Father stepped in and turned "HIS" blog upside down. 

He taught me a totally different lesson. He instead taught me at times we have the whole picture, but He wants us to focus on a small portion. He wants us to focus on 30%. It is not that we are to forget the other 70%. Yet, He wants to teach us something profound with the 30%.

I freely admit to being one of His slow children.
Therefore, this lesson came in a process of weeks instead of a minute or even an hour.

Finding Beauty in Seeing Only 30%
Photo Credit: Dew Photography

My journey started in Philippians. A smaller book compared to others in the Bible. Yet, I have been reading one verse, truthfully around one verse for well over a month now during quiet time. No matter where I start, this particular verse is where I end up.

"What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice" Philippians 1:18


What then? Is exactly what I keep saying? Does this scripture say what I think it does? Nah...it couldn't be saying that. I must not be seeing the whole picture. Must of read it out of context. Paul could not be saying to rejoice no matter what someone's motives are as long as Christ is preached. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Here it is for you in a few other translations:

"So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!" The Message

"What then ? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed ; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice," NASB

"What do I think about this? Just this: since Christ is proclaimed in every possible way, whether from dishonest or true motives, I'm glad and I'll continue to be glad" CEB (Common English Bible)

After looking in multiple translations, Paul is saying exactly what what I thought:

No matter the motives or pretense behind a person's actions or preachings
 if Christ is preached; rejoice.


I don't know about you, but for me this is a hard pill to swallow. When I see someone who has ulterior motives, I don't want to rejoice. I want to point out their motives. Don't they need to be exposed for who they truly are? Aren't they hurting the work of the Lord? What about leading "lambs", those younger in their faith astray? 

Here is the BIG OUCH...

Photo Credit: Google Images

God says here to rejoice when Christ is preached...PERIOD. 
 Trust Him. There it is...we don't see the whole picture. :-)


Paul didn't tell the Philippians, 

"Make sure you each go out there and expose each of them preaching with ulterior motives. All of those out there who are speaking out of envy and strife, straighten them out. Those who want to further my afflictions and imprisonment. Expose them." 

Nope! 
Instead, He tells them focus on Christ and rejoice when Christ is preached, no matter the motive. 

As we each journey in ministry, it is a good thing to remember Paul's words to the Philippians because:  


1. We will have others who will speak envy and strife about us as we continue to minister for God. 
2. If we consistently point out others ulterior motives, people will think we are envious and speaking with ulterior motives.

Now, it is your turn...

Was this as hard of a pill to swallow for you as it was for me? 

I love dialoguing and connecting with each of you. 
I encourage comments and dialogue with each of my posts. 

We can help Jeff get "Wrecked" higher than "50 Shades"...

Jeff Goins new book, "Wrecked" came out this past week. It is a good read.
 I had the pleasure of reading a preview copy.

Jeff wants to try and get "Wrecked" a higher ranking than "50 Shades" on Amazon. 

We can help Jeff do this by buying the ebook version for 99 cents.
The book will be at this special price until August 11th. I am buying a copy for my Mom's Kindle.

Have you bought your copy yet? 

You can click on the picture below to purchase his book:

(Affiliate Link)

I make it a habit to not recommend any products that I have not read or use myself.

Searching for Perspective...Who is on your radar?

Who is on your radar...

Photo Credit: Dew Photography

I shared on my business blog this week about defining our perspective. It all started with a question, "As you are crafting and creating who are you talking to?" You can visit YKP, LLC to see more.

The amusing thing is since being asked to define the perspective of both my ministry and business, I have come across the word, perspective, in various articles and other readings. It is like when you purchase a new vehicle and then all of a sudden you start seeing them everywhere. 

Back when my in-laws blessed us with our green Nissan Frontier, we started to notice green Nissan Frontiers whenever we were out and about. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Where the Froniters there before? Yes, but we were not aware of them. They were not on our radar.

Then it hit me...this is why I need God to define the perspective of my ministry. If I am wandering aimlessly without His perspective for this ministry, I could miss those He wants on my radar. 

With more thought, it sank to a deeper level.  

God is everywhere and the questions should be:

"Is God on my radar daily?"

 "Do I look for Him in each situation?"

Because if I am looking for God in each situation, He will take care of my minstry's radar.

It is both that simple and difficult at the same time. Because, I tend to lose focus (My 2012 One Word). 

As I continue journeying with God, defining and clarifying the perspective of my ministry.

 I leave you with the questions, I am asking myself this week:

Is God on my radar daily?

Do I look for Him in each situation? 

  I love to interact with each person who visits this gift God has given to me...

This blog and "YOU" the reader. 

The Winners Are...

The Winners Are...

Yes, you read the title correctly. When my Sweetie was picking the winning names out of the hat, this morning, God directed me to give away two copies of "Red Letters" through Dawn's Dialogue. 

Therefore, we have done just that and with no further delays the winners are:

Heather Ablondi and Pat Schwebes Dunbar

I will be in contact with both today to get their snail mail information to send their copies of 

"Red Letters" out on Monday. 

Thanks to everyone who followed Dawn's Dialogue this week. We truly appreciate each and everyone of you. May we connect this week instead of merely communicate. 

"Wrecked" by Jeff Goins Releases August 1st...

I have been given the pleasure of reading a preview copy of Jeff Goins new book, "Wrecked." The book will release on August 1st. Just mere days from today. 

Wrecked by Jeff Goins

Jeff Goins has one of the few blogs that I read each and every day. I have done his Writing Challenge and am currently participating in his 12 week blogging course. His work challenges me to grow. His soon to be released book, "Wrecked" is proving to give the same results of challenging me to grow. Jeff's writing is easy to read and engaging. On August 1st, when you can get extra goodies go and buy this book. 

Here is a little about the book:

Goins defines wrecked as, "having a transformation that goes beyond mere word---to be introduced to another way of life, to follow in the footsteps of a teacher who is calling you through the eye of a needle." Those who are familiar with Scripture will know Goins is referring to Jesus. 

Through examples of other people's lives, Goins not only defines wrecked through this timely book; he further gives examples from his own life and others of what being wrecked looks like. 

As I mentioned above, time and preparations for the She Speaks conference and my own writing have kept me from my goal of finishing "Wrecked." However, I am excited to continue the journey of "Wrecked." 

The "Wrecked" website says it best:

Wrecked is a book about the life we’re afraid to live—one full of radical sacrifice and selfless service. It’s a look at how we discover fulfillment in the least likely of places.

This is a guide to growing up and learning to live in the tension between the next adventure and our daily commitments.

We all need to be wrecked, to allow the pain of a broken world to slam into our comfortable lives—and let it change us. But that’s just the beginning.

Wrecked is a journey of unbecoming, covering the stories of people whose lives have been turned upside-down in the best way possible—and what they decided to do afterwards.

Jeff Goins leads the charge, sharing the experiences of missionaries, storytellers, and entrepreneurs whose lives have been beautifully ruined by a larger purpose.

Will you be brave enough to join them?

Purchase your copy of "Wrecked" at Amazon by clicking below:

Reflecting on She Speaks 2012...

 

It has been three days since returning from She Speaks 2012. 

Upon arriving on Friday afternoon, it was a 6 hour drive from Virginia, I checked into the hotel and the conference registration table.  I went to my room to change out of my driving clothes and actually thought this is too overwhelming. See, there were 650+ women all descending upon the Embassy Suites in Charlotte, NC. 

The thought crossed my mind, "I just want to leave. I can't do this." However, the following thought immediately came, "I can't let down the people who believed in me and raised the monies for me to attend." With this second thought, I sat down on the couch and had a talk with my Abba. 

Here are a few of the highlights of this past weekend:

• Martha Cullison Miller praying with me. Thanks Martha! 
• Meeting and hugging the necks of many of my SS Sisters from online (I didn't get to see everyone there just wasn't enough time). It became like the game of "Where's Waldo" at She Speaks. One example: Not meeting Dana Pittman from Purpose Writing Group until the last worship session on Sunday morning. I was a few minutes late, came in with Rachel Washington and found seats. Lo and behold, the woman I sat beside was no other than Dana Pittman! 
• Having dinner with Suzanne Woods Fisher: She has such a sweet spirit. Check out her Amish fiction books here.
• Glynnis helping me understand on Saturday night that I need to be completely healed before God can use what happened to me. Thanks Glynnis and her friend, Danita talking to me before heading to bed on Saturday night. 
• Hearing great speakers and teachers. Whitney Capps: I have tons of notes from your talk on Sunday morning. 
• Having Julie Sunne for a roomie. God took two complete opposites and put them together. He has a wonderful sense of humor and we got along wonderfully. 
• Getting to sit with Liz Curtis Higgs and seeing how humble she is with all the knowledge God has given her. She spent 5 years in the book of Ruth. I actually bought her new book, "The Girl's Still Got It" and had her sign it. Thanks Miss Liz for showing me that I do miss teaching. 

I am sure there will be many "Ah-Ha" moments as my, menopausal & tired brain continues to process the tons of wonderful information poured in this weekend at She Speaks. She Speaks was a big step for me. I know that God still has a purpose for me. I just need to seek Him to see how my teaching will look now. It will be different for I am different than I was a mere year ago. I am just thankful God is not done with me yet. 

On another front, I am doing a give-away. I will be giving away a copy of Tom Davis' book, "Red Letters". 

To enter complete one of the following two steps:

You can do both if you want to :-)

1.  Click in the box on the right margin to follow my blog through Networked Blogs.
2. Leave a comment on this blog.

It is that simple!

 We will be picking a winner on Saturday, July 28th. 

To live is Christ...Remembering Cheyenne

"For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain"

I am studying Philippians during my quiet time right now. Philippians 1:15-21 is where I am camping right now. I have tons of questions but after starting to pack for She Speaks and preparing to write this week's blog something occurred.

Each week, I go to my iPhoto to find a picture or two to go with my blog. Tonight, I saw my album titled, "Cheyenne." Many readers of this blog did not have the pleasure of knowing Cheyenne during her brief time with us. Cheyenne went home to be with our Lord on July 28th, 2010. She touched many lives in her brief time here.



I had the pleasure of knowing Cheyenne. I babysat her and her little brother for a brief period of time. Her family went to our church. Her parents were in a bible study with me.

Her family visited with us at our home church right before they found out she had a rare form of cancer. They initially thought she had injured herself on a trampoline during a stop on the way back to Oklahoma. Their living in another state made it that we did not see her during her illness. 

Cheyenne truly understood the meaning of "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

This young in physical age but mature in her faith walk pre-teen had two memorial services. One in Oklahoma and one in North Carolina.

 I remember talking to a young woman at the NC memorial that a few years before had been in a college class with me. This young woman told me, "I never met Cheyenne but heard about her through a family member's boyfriend. Watching how brave she was and how much she loved God brought me back to God." This touched me. When people saw Cheyenne, they didn't see a child with cancer. No, they saw Christ. 

I want to live my life like Cheyenne did as a Third Line Christian. Pastor Craig Groeschel describes the Third Line Christian as "I believe in God and Christ's gospel enough to give my life to it."  

This person lives with the attitude I'm willing to give my whole life to further God's kingdom. 

I desire nothing more than I desire all of God. 

This is exactly how Cheyenne lived her life. 

We still have the challenge nearly two years later...Are we willing to be like Cheyenne and be a Third Line Christian?

On a side note: I am traveling to She Speaks 2012 tomorrow. Pray for all 650+ women that are converging on Charlotte, NC. God has also opened the door for me to meet with an agent and a publisher while there. I want only what God has for me. Thanks for your prayers. May we desire nothing more than we desire all of God. Be a Third Line Christian.

Finding a deleted post & recovering it (Dissapa-What: It is Back)...

After accidently deleting the below post from Blogger, I had the opportunity to learn something new. You can see a cache screenshot of your blogs on Google. That is all I got this post back. You can learn how to by following the link below:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6756997_recovering-deleted-posts-blogs.html

Dissipaton:

While reading Ephesians 5:14-32 this morning, I came across this verse: 

"And do not be drunk with wine, which is a dissipation;" 

---Ephesians 5:18a

The word dissipation caught my eye, for I truthfully did not know what it meant. Over to Google, I headed to type in "define dissipation." What popped up was not what I thought dissipation might mean. Google's first pop-up says, "1. Dissipated living (it irks me when someone, even Google, uses the word or a form of the word in the definition) and 2. Squandering of money, energy, or resources." God prompted me to focus on the second half of the definition.

Particularly, to ask myself what money, energy, or resources am I squandering? Am I watching TV when I should be writing? Am I fighting and arguing a point that will not matter in 100 years, or even 10 years? Am I utilizing the resources (one of them being time) God has placed in my life? I just read a blog post today, discussing how the blogger utilized the people in her online writing group to receive information to ensure her book's details were accurate. She did not squander her resources. Here is a biggie...Am I acknowledging that everything, even my money, belongs to God? This past week, I had to make a couple decisions. One being whether God wanted me to become part of an online writer's group and the other concerning a part-time writing job. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Each of these decisions required me to look at money, energy and resources. As mentioned, one of our resources is time. God gives 24 hours each day. No more or less. Do we spend it wisely? This subject of time would be an integral part of the decisions I had to make. The online writing group would take time and energy. The part-time job would take time, energy and involves money. The part-time employment looked good. It required attending and reporting on council meetings, which were being held at night. The majority of the writing could be done at home. Plus, the extra money would be sweet. It looked really good...at first glance.

 However, it would require me to be in the newspaper office for 6 hours every Monday. This last requirement would be the deal breaker. My darling hubby works night and his schedule is Tuesday-Friday. He is off on Sunday and Monday. On Sundays, we are at church and spend time with family. Therefore, it is on Monday that we are able to run errands and then spend time with each other.  The newspaper editor would not budge on the Monday, so I graciously declined. For me to give up Mondays with my Sweetie would be squandering one of the resources God has given me...time. Some may question, "Wouldn't it be two resources...time and her hubby?" However, I don't consider my Sweetie a resource but a GIFT.  

Photo Credit: Google Images

All of this made me think long and hard before making my final decision about the writing group. The decision's deadline being today. Yes, it will take time besides the 90 minutes per month on the actual call. Yet, in the long run the benefits and accountability by a group of Sisters in Christ were determined worth the time. I made the commitment to this group for the rest of this year. When I looked at all aspects of the group, God made it apparent this would not be squandering.  

Instead it will be Him blessing me.

Have you been squandering your money, energy and/or resources? 

Join me in taking to the Father. Let's declare together:

Father, give us focus (my one word for 2012) and help us not squander what You have graciously supplied to each of us. May we fruitfully use our money, energy and resources for Your glory.  

In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Then our loving Savior can accomplish the second half of verse 18:

"be filled with the Spirit,"

and then we will participate in verse 19:

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." 


CHECK OUT WWW.DAWNWHITMORESPEAKS.COM
FOR THE COMPLETE DAWNWHITMORESPEAKS WEBSITE

See the "Son" After the Storm...

Photo Credit: Dew Photography

Second Chances...Not Guaranteed

Photo Credit: Dew Photography

Did you know that second chances from God are not guaranteed? This week while reading "Surprised by Grace" by Pastor Tullian Tchividjian this is exactly what I learned. Pull out your Scriptures and it can be seen where second chances did not happen. A prime example is Ananias & Sapphira. It is funny how God reminds us of these things. Even though I wrote about Ananias & Sapphira on this blog back in April, it was like a "DUH!" moment when I read they did not get a second chance from God. 

We always point to Jonah and state, "God is a God of second chances." Yet, the problem is we our living with an attitude of "we deserve and are guaranteed second chances." Would we live our lives more obediently if we understood second chances are not guaranteed? Is it just me or does it depress you that second chances are not guaranteed? Personally, I blow it often and am grateful for when given second, third and at times fourth chances to get it right. 

 Delayed obedience is disobedience. This is a truth that I have heard and even have taught many times. I propose this includes our attitude. When we begrudgingly complete a task with the wrong attitude it is an act of disobedience. 

When our daughter was younger and she was asked to clean her room. She could have two responses: 1) go and clean her room as requested or 2) storm off to her room end clean it with a great commotion of stomping and slamming as she cleaned.  

Photo Credit: 1234RF

In our household, our daughter would be disciplined for response #2 even though the room was cleaned. Why? Because of her attitude. 

I was questioned about this concept of disobedience recently. Someone gave me the following example: She had been invited to do something she knew God would say no to if she took it to Him. She felt that even though she didn't participate her attitude was not the greatest while she abstained from the activity. The question: Was this disobedience because of her "not right" attitude while abstaining?

While pondering this Sister in Christ's question and reading "Suprised by Grace," God has opened a new realm of thought for me on the concept of His grace:

 even though "delayed obedience is still disobedience at first, it can be replaced by true obedience, through God's relentless mercy and grace" (Tchividjian, pg 85).  

I propose, this is the same concept when the disobedience is based on our attitude. Just reword the statement, "A bad attitude is still disobedience at first, however it can be replaced by true obedience, through God's relentless mercy and grace."

Thank you Lord for your relentless mercy and grace!

After pondering, here is my thought:

Maybe at times we start out doing the 'right thing' because we know it is the 'right thing' even with a 'not so right' attitude. Yet, as we continue our walk with Christ and through God' transforming grace become more like Christ, what starts out as "disobedience at first is replaced by true obedience."  

There is one more side to the proverbial coin we need to acknowledge... there are consequences for disobedience. Jonah sat in the belly of a big fish. Even when we have sorrow for our disobedience there will be consequences. As we come to terms with the facts, second chances are not guaranteed and disobedience has consequences one could get depressed and want to give up.

Be encouraged dear Sisters. Yes it is true, we will stumble. We will have times of blowing it. But we have an intermediator who has accepted full responsibility for all of our sin.

His name is Jesus. 

Have you blown it this week? Lost your temper? Hollered at your spouse? Bad attitude? Screamed at your children? Been just plain ugly to everyone?

Run to Jesus ask His forgiveness. Then thank Him for accepting full responsiblity and "living the life we couldn't live and dying the death we should have died," (Tchividjian, pg88).

Forgiveness: Ask for it and Give it...

Photo Credit: Dew Photography

 "You were always one of the strongest and most well-grounded Christians I knew. What happened to you?'

That was basically the statement & question spoken to me after I had been through one of the worst times. That statement hurt me. Today, I am being transparent. Some of this has been alluded to along the way with this blog. I have told you all that we have moved to another state. Even told you, I had been disobedient and it not only hurt me but others in my life.  As Paul Harvey would say, "Here is the rest of the story..." Well, not the complete story for out of respect and privacy to my Sweetie’s request "some things will stay close to the chest."

Last August, an incident brought me to my knees (not in prayer either) that most would consider an annoyance.  Per honoring Sweetie’s aforementioned request, this is all I will say about the actual incident. What I need to share is how this incident affected me? I became extremely ill. I couldn't eat or sleep. Even lost 25lbs in 10 days. My doctor said normally she would have been happy about me losing 25lbs but not this way. I was in a bad place. My doctor put me on one medicine for the anxiety and another to sleep. I would have times of crying uncontrollably. I wasn't able to think clearly or even function. Basically, I was a wreck or as some of younger friends would say "ONE HOT MESS!"


I even went to a counselor and her response was she didn't think she would be of much help for my situation. However, if I wanted to pay $90.00 per visit we could schedule more visits.

Too many people, my response was not appropriate or expected of a Christian. Much less a Christian involved in ministry and holding leadership positions. That hurt me. Who gives us the right to determine what is the proper response? Confession Time: In two separate instances in my past, I had thought the same statement, which had been made to me about other Christians.

 I couldn't explain, at the time to my friends, family, church family or ministry partners, why I was responding the way I did. In retrospect, I can and have explained on this blog (read the list on the related blog's link) how disobedience can affect one's life and what God revealed to me. I have asked God to forgive me for my disobedience. Thank you Jesus for being there for me with open arms. 

Why tell you all this? Because it is important for others to realize those in leadership and ministry are human. We can be hurt. We are fallible. We need love and grace. God has and is healing me from my hurt. I love and have forgiven. In my heart, I believe those involved would not hurt me intentionally.  Also, I pray He is healing and helping those hurt by my actions. 

Have you hurt or been hurt? Take it to God. Ask forgiveness and give forgiveness. 

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you"

Matthew 6:14