We've all had trials in our lives, tough times where a lot of us have probably asked...why me? Why is this happening to me?? Or, why is this happening to the person that I love? I know I have asked that of God many times in my life. We tend, as humans, to focus on the trial alone and wonder why. Why me?
I sit and watch as beautiful pastel colors seep and blend into the canvas of the dark morning sky, like watercolors spilling onto a blank piece of paper, and I think about the blank canvas of this new day. And I wonder what the Master Artist envisions for me today. For my children, for the … Continue reading The Blank Canvas of a New Day
“Lord, You have searched (examined) me and You know me.” Psalm 139:1 Like a skillful doctor who studies an X-ray, MRI or CT scan to see what’s going on beyond what the naked eye can see, so the Lord searches our hearts and our minds. He looks beyond what people can see or know about … Continue reading Meditations from Psalm 139: Psalm 139:1-Fully Known
"BUT, I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously." Psalm 13:5-6 Why do these verses of praise start with a "but"? Before the Psalmist gets to the praise, some wrestling was going on. I get that. I … Continue reading The Wrestling Before the Praise
The verse "Be still and know that I am God" encourages us to release our worries, anxieties, and control, and to embrace stillness in God's presence. By experiencing and recognizing Him, leaning into His plan, and trusting His character, we find peace, healing, joy, protection, and rest. This trust allows our minds to rest freely in Him.
Sometimes...we're on this life-path...it's all safe and paved and predictable. Comfortable. All of a sudden, life halts our perfectly paved and planned-out journey and takes us for an unexpected turn down a rocky, rough, difficult, unpredictable path. We look at the path that we've been on...we look at the destination that we were headed for...and … Continue reading Unknown Paths
It's a battle down here, Father. I'm feeling anxious. I feel like I'm always battling. Things seen, things unseen, it feels like a constant struggle just to exist. You say rest and trust. Why is it so hard sometimes? When I focus on Truth I see clearly that I can rest and stop striving when … Continue reading The Best Kind of Struggle
The negative thoughts take laps around my head... Each one racing to take first place... Consuming my brain space. Anxiety growing, Agitation growing. Round and round they go and go and go... Then, an intrusive, quiet whisper asks- "What is it that you are meditating on?" Thoughts stop mid-lap. I realize that I'm doing it … Continue reading Racing Thoughts, the Intrusive Whisper and Painful Obedience
God's peace is incomprehensible, and His peace is likened to a military guard that protects our hearts and minds from hostile invasion. His peace hems in and protects our hearts and minds that are so vulnerable.
This was the year (again) that we were going to get Advent right. I was ready. Day one we all sat down and read the prescribed scripture reading and I read from our new Advent book that I was so excited to share with my family. All of a sudden one kid's head was laying … Continue reading To Everyone Else Who Is Already Behind in Advent. {It’s not just me, right??}
Nicole Dotson 