I'm not exactly sure what I expected when I sat down and opened up my Bible a few mornings ago to "abide" (John 15:4). Something I haven't been so great at lately. I think, without really thinking, that I expected to be guilted. I think that maybe I expected to be shamed for not sitting … Continue reading Wrecked By Grace
We all love a Christmas tree, all lit up, decorated...it smells wonderful and brings life to the Christmas season. That's what it represents...Life. Christ, and the new life that He brings to us. We all love posting and sharing pictures of our trees looking all pretty. Today I was taking my tree down...it was ugly … Continue reading What I learned from my dead Christmas tree…
"She's too big for that," I would say to Guy, as he carried a 6 year old Grace up the stairs to bed every night. "You're setting the bar too high!! I'm not doing that!!" "I'll do it as long as I'm able to," he'd say with a grin. Her arms would be wrapped around … Continue reading The Last Time
I've been forgetting to look up lately. This morning on my run, listening to a song about God's faithfulness, I looked up and the sky was stunning. I had to stop and take a picture...even though pictures never do the real thing justice. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims … Continue reading Look Up
 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8 I love how the Lord strings His truths together like lights on a wire. His Word is alive … Continue reading Grieving in the Lovely
I normally do really intense and in-depth studies of God's Word...if you've been in one of my small groups, you know this to be true. But lately, I keep sitting down at the table to where my Bible is flipped open in the Psalms and don't get any further. I've been rubbing the Psalms in … Continue reading The Rock
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.
I have the choice this year...this day...this minute...the choice of where to put my mind. Where to dwell, linger, what to meditate on. (It is a choice. It's my choice. It's an action, a putting or setting of my mind.) It's real easy to go negative, to allow my mind to dwell on someone else's … Continue reading Muddy Thoughts
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
So...who am I imitating?
Nicole Dotson 