Category: Inspirational

Healing, Inspirational

Stop tripping over the past.

Pamela Dawn

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14

Have you ever felt stuck in your past? Or maybe there are things you want to do, things you know you should do, but somehow, you are unable to go forward. Have you ever been unable to forgive, whether it be yourself or someone else, and it paralyzes you in some way? Or maybe you have a dream that you have left behind, forgotten. We have all heard the excuses.

I’m too old. I missed my chance. They won’t believe me. I can’t do anything right. I am not qualified. I won’t make it. They won’t listen. Good things don’t come my way.

Maybe you are guilty of this yourself. Maybe you love someone who keeps tripping over the past, and you just know God has more for them.

But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isa 43:18-19

Interestingly, many of us find ourselves wandering in the wilderness. We feel just like this…a dry wasteland. Washed up. Done. But what happens to a seed in dry soil when you water it? New life! God says He will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Oftentimes, we are simply the seed in dry soil that needs watered. We were never meant to sit dormant in the soil.

I am thankful Paul did not stumble over his past. He not only had to deal with the thoughts in his own head, but he was surrounded by doubters who could only look at the man they used to know. They were looking at him with their past vision.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Tim 1:16

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 2 Tim 4:16

Paul called himself the “worst of sinners.” He persecuted Christians. He was prideful. And when the Lord met him on the road that day, everything changed. He received mercy. He recognized God had patience in him. And even in his abandonment, even when faced with doubters, even when he himself was persecuted and thrown in jail and beaten, he went forward into an incredible 35-year ministry building churches, encouraging believers, and writing a large part of the New Testament. He never once looked back.

The remembering of the past should only be for the glory of God and for our spiritual benefit.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Jesus told us this is a daily deal. We take up our cross daily because each day brings new challenges, new circumstances. The word “new” here is kainos (Kai NOS’) new in quality, fresh in development – not found exactly like this before. It is superior to what it succeeds.

You cannot look back at what you did (or left undone) in the past through the eyes of who you are now. You have gained experience, wisdom and knowledge along the way. The decisions you made then cannot be seen properly through your eyes now. You would not have been capable of making the decision then as you see it now. Leave the thing in the past where it belongs. It has become a story, a season, a memory. But it is not a reflection of who you are now. Today is kainos – not found exactly like this before.

Sometimes we need to go through the valley before we can appreciate the mountaintop. Only when we have done this can we look down and enjoy the beauty of the valley. Consider that thing you did or that situation you went through might be the springboard for the very thing you are going to do now.

Let’s look at Peter. When things got scary, he denied knowing Christ, even after Jesus told him he would, and he looked at Him and said there was no way He could ever do that. He would die for Him! Later, Jesus meets him on the shore and tells Peter, “Feed my sheep.” I can only imagine the shame Peter felt as he looked upon Jesus, knowing that Jesus knew what he had done. Yet Jesus demonstrated pure love. Peter accepted the beautiful gift of grace. This unschooled man (he did not let that stop him either) spoke with boldness to crowds of thousands and brought them the Good News. He performed many miracles and God used him to reveal to the world that Christ died for all.

Elijah ran, Jonah hid, David feared, Thomas doubted, Peter denied, Paul persecuted.  But they all chose not to stay in that place of stumbling.  They put their hope in God and moved forward, sometimes doing it afraid, but still going forward.

Friends, let’s not miss it.  He has good things for you.

Grace & Peace,

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11

Inspirational, Support

Dusty Bibles.

Pamela Dawn

I need to do that.

I need to drink more water. I need to clean that closet. I need to work out. I need to start saving money. I need to go back to church. I need to read my Bible more. I need to (fill in the blank.)

It’s funny how unanticipated events can kick our “need to” back into motion. We experience a sudden loss or natural disaster and we find our way back to our Bible. We recover from an illness and make our way to the gym (or quit smoking, quit drinking, take vitamins). Many of us can relate to the dusty Bible lodged in the bookshelf or lost in a stack of reading material. Many of us still have the Bible we were given when we went through confirmation as a child. We took it to church every Sunday. We studied out of it. It became a familiar friend. Perhaps a life altering event caused you to pick it up again, but only while the crisis lasted.

Enter LIFE. Bibles get replaced with text books, the internet, and social media. Our familiar friend sits, collecting dust, contributing little value to our daily life. Your “dusty Bible” might be a paint brush, running shoes, or garden. Maybe it is prayer, ambition, or hope. Or simply re-connecting with people you care about.

Whatever it may be, I challenge you to pick it up, dust it off, use it. If it sparked joy, moved your heart, or challenged your mind, you probably need it. God gives us what we need. He placed His word in our life to guide us because He knows life is messy.

I have been pretty good at picking up my Bible most of my life. But when I went to get it the other day, I realized it had been far too long since I spent time with my friend. Prayer is good (I do that a lot) but the Word is living and speaks to us every time. We don’t need a crisis for the word to save us. It works in good times too.

Are things a little dusty around you? Paint the picture, sing in the shower, go for a walk, call that friend. Whatever it is – do it. Get your spark back. Challenge your mind. Go after the dream. (It’s not dead). Dust off that Bible, rediscover joy, and live life again.

In Christ,

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2Tim3:16-17

Healing, Inspirational, Spiritual, Support

Do not be afraid.

Pamela Dawn

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

The words resonated as I looked at them on the page. I thought about Mary and pondered what must have been going through her mind. An angel had just visited her and announced, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Fear would have filled my heart as I reasoned that what he was about to say next could not possibly be good. The Bible tells us Mary was “greatly troubled.” Gabriel goes on to tell her not to be afraid. Oh, my, I think….this can’t be OK. It reminded me of the phone call I once received where the first words my child announced were, “Don’t worry, I’m OK!” I knew what he was about to say next was not something I wanted to hear.

What is so beautiful about our Father is He KNOWS. He knows our flesh is weak. He knows that sometimes in that weakness, everything we know to be true about Him goes right out the window the moment fear smacks us in the head. So He does what every good parent does….He reassures us, “It is going to be OK.”

The angel Gabriel explains to Mary what was about to happen and he concludes with more words of assurance…

For no word from God will ever fail.”

This is most certainly a message for today. Let’s be real. 2020 has been a difficult year for just about everyone. More than ever, people are weary, broken, fearful, and anxious. But God’s words are as true today as they were to Mary over 2000 years ago. For the believer, we know who the Savior is. The true message of Christmas is not wrapped up in giving gifts, making cookies, or decking the halls. The message here is to remember His words spoken by the angel, “For no word from God will ever fail.” Ever.

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Mary knew this. And her response to Gabriel is shockingly brave.

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

She didn’t bolt. She didn’t question. She put her trust in what God spoke to her through Gabriel that day. I encourage you to enter into this new year with the brave attitude of young Mary. We can only imagine the fear and uncertainty that must have been running through her mind. There were going to be many challenges in her journey. But she received simple truth. God’s word will never fail. She received reassurance and chose to move forward with grace and boldness.

So Father, I trust your message of reassurance as Mary did so many years ago. I am Your servant. Let it be to me according to Your word. Thank you Father for knowing me, loving me, and for giving me the gift of hope and for teaching me courage through the story of Mary, for I know you work ALL things for my good. I choose to not be afraid. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Merry Christmas Friends,

In Christ-

Inspirational, Spiritual, Support

A New Normal.

Pamela Dawn

Not so long ago, what most of the world defined as “normal” was turned upside down. For most, just days before we felt rooted, in control, and optimistic. In just one day, everything we had put our faith in just stopped. It took a minute to find a footing and grasp this new reality. The words of the song ‘Waymaker’ resonated in my mind.

You are here moving in our midst….I worship you….You are here, working in this place….

This song has been played by worship teams all over the country, and I have heard it many times over the years, but something new stirred inside of me this season.

Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper, Light in the darkness, My God, That is who you are…

I had momentarily shifted from a position of peace to a place of uncertainty. I caught myself, regained my balance, and focused. My ultimate trust never been founded in a job or in the government or in people. I have always managed to keep myself founded in Jesus and in how He has taught us to live. And every time I have been in a challenging season in my life, He has gotten me through. Every. Single. Time.

I really do believe God has been moving in our midst and making a new way. For those of you that believe you had it good, have you really? I realized that I had personally lost my focus. While life was seemingly going well, there were still unfinished tasks, forgotten ideas, and lost dreams. I had been depriving myself of a precious commodity – TIME. I began to take advantage of this new gift. My family has learned new recipes, crafted new treasures, created new spaces in our home, and worked together on projects outside. We are laughing more, sleeping better, and having more meaningful conversations. Each of us has taken time to do things we love to do. I see my daughters painting, creating, and helping each other with school projects. I have enjoyed writing and real phone conversations. I have worked on a new business and caught up with family and friends. I have learned my neighbors’ names and had sidewalk chats. I have cleaned closets and drawers and enjoyed the satisfaction of getting order in my home. I have discovered the therapeutic benefits of a simple deep inhale and long exhale as I sit outside with a cup of coffee and listed to the birds.

We hear a lot of talk about longing for things to be “normal again.” I have discovered I do not want to go back to what was “normal.” In my old normal I was stressed, tired and disconnected from family. In my old normal I longed for time to do things I enjoyed. In my old normal our family was running in several different directions every day, struggling just to make dinner happen. In my old normal, I saw my kids each doing their own thing, caught up in their own worlds. In the old normal, neighbors didn’t chat, wave, or smile. I don’t want that ‘normal’ life anymore. I like this new life we unwrapped.

As the world around us begins to open back up, we are tackling it with a new perspective. We have learned the value of laughter, rest, decompressing. We have rediscovered the healing effect of doing things that satisfy us and spark joy. We have repurposed our day to include more conversation, interaction, and interest in one another. Life is good. And I am thankful that we went through this season so we remember once again what life really is.

Cheers to your new normal!

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Healing, Inspirational, Spiritual, Support

I see beauty everywhere.

Pamela Dawn

My first reaction was unease. I felt numb as I stared at the TV and listened to our leaders explain that schools would be closed, businesses closed, travel restricted, and life as we know it would to come to a sudden halt. My thoughts immediately shifted to how can I keep my family healthy, how are we going to pay the mortgage, how will I keep the kids occupied, who will care for the seniors and others living alone? WILL WE BE OK? It is easy when suddenly confronted with change to fear what is unknown and forget the peace we were just living in only moments before. But then I remembered.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Life has taught me to look past the obvious and to look a little deeper to see what God is doing. I have learned to hold on to peace in the midst of the storm. So I caught myself before I journeyed too far down that lane of fear. I made a decision that I was not going to allow our present situation with the covid-19 virus to change my thinking or to change what I already know. I would exercise wisdom, but I refused to let fear come in the door.

Life is busy. Despite the vast possibilities with technology, we have become a disconnected, material-driven, overwhelmed, and weary society. Our to-do lists have become longer than our dreams list. Families do not engage with one another and technology has replaced relationship. Neighbors don’t talk over the fence. Elderly sit home alone and stare at the phone that never rings. Social media swallows up inordinate amounts of time. Creating and reading have become lost arts. We forget the things that we were once passionate about. Dreams are put on hold or forgotten.

Perhaps it was time for change. I knew I was ready for a slow down. And so were many of you. I have been praying for the sick and for the separated families who cannot be there to comfort their loved ones. But I have also been praying for the families that are now finding themselves home, together, with an incredible opportunity to be family again. I have been celebrating the re-connections that parents are making with their children. I have been enjoying the creative means that people are using to re-engage. I am enjoying listening to families sitting outside in our neighborhood, laughing and talking. In the midst of our upside down world, I see beauty everywhere.

I love to peruse Facebook just to view the finished home projects, artist works, new music, and love being shared in unique, creative ways. Neighbors are talking over the fence offering help and swapping stories. People are reaching out to shut-ins and helping them with their shopping, errands and yard work. Siblings are playing together and crafting sidewalk chalk art. People are giving generously. Those that are not working are reaching out to help those on the front lines battling the illness in the hospitals and urgent cares. Gardens are getting planted, children are learning to cook, and new hobbies are being learned. We are creating a community in our neighborhoods and towns. People are caring. Lives matter. Love is here.

I sat outside this morning listening to the world wake up. The birds were chattering. The sky was a beautiful blue with streams of sunlight beaming overhead. It felt good to disconnect from the news, from the phone, and from the uncertainty. Yes, there is much to be concerned about. The majority of people on this earth have never seen anything like this. But I see good emerging. It is spring here where we live. Flowers are poking through the earth, trees are blossoming, and the breeze is blowing. There is new life all around. But it has also become “spring” in our homes. As I feel the world waking up around me, I realize that we are all in a new season where we are re-learning to celebrate one another. We are remembering what is important. We are living again. I am enjoying this fresh breath of life. I am enjoying my family around me each day as we connect. I am smiling again as I slow down and reflect on what really matters and learn new things and rediscover old passions. I encourage you to pause and look at the world through these new lenses. It’s time to experience living again. Beauty is everywhere. We just need to look.

Sending virtual hugs….until we can meet again.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: