It's happening! My favorite event of autumn is beginning! As I drive through town, I see the leaves just beginning to change. Hints of the golds and oranges and reds that thrill my soul are starting to appear. If I were an artist, every painting that came from my brushes would be filled with those colors. But since I am a biologist, my thoughts turn toward what I know, the amazing biochemistry that is happening.
During the spring and summer, plant leaves are dominated by the pigment chlorophyll, a beautiful, green pigment which absorbs the energy of sunlight and stores that energy in sugars. Photosynthesis, a miraculous process that is absolutely necessary for us to continue living here on the Earth, is made possible by chlorophyll. But as the hours of daylight diminish and the temperatures begin to drop, the leaves stop making food and the trees prepare for a time of dormancy. Chlorophyll breaks down revealing carotene, xanthophyll, and anthocyanin in all their glorious shades.
This is the season for my true colors to be revealed too. For so long, fear has kept my colorful personality dimmed. My enthusiastic love of life and the people around me has been muted by the fears of failure and rejection. The power of fear is broken and the darkness is gone! It is time for changing colors!
My friend Penny, who is part of our worship team at church, saw it this morning. After church, she gave me a big hug and with a smile on her face said, "I love seeing your smiling face in the auditorium during worship!" My response was, "You noticed! There is a difference! God has done great things for me...and you can see it!" She smiled and nodded. And I walked away from our conversation encouraged, knowing that the glorious colors that God placed inside of me are showing!
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Sunday, September 9, 2018
the power of love
We are born with a need for love. It's been scientifically proven. God created us that way, because after all, God IS love. (1 John 4:16) God wants us to crave relationship with Him, and a relationship with Him is overflowing with love.
The devil is well aware of our need for love. He does everything he can to separate us from God and His love, and from each other. Sin, disobedience, guilt, deception, lies, and fear (and many others) are all part of the devil's plan to separate us from love. So many of us keep God and other people at arms length, afraid to be hurt and disappointed once again.
It's a hard and horrible thing to be deceived into believing that God's love isn't for you. IT'S A LIE! When we believe that lie, it cripples our ability and willingness to receive love from God and people. God will ALWAYS pour out His love in abundance, but we have to be willing to receive it.
I've lived there. I was so deceived. I had a choice to make...believe the Truth or believe the lies. It seems like a clear choice, but deception makes it so hard to discern what is truth and what is not. So how do we know what the truth is? We fill our minds with the Truth from the Bible and think on it. (Philippians 4:8) And finally, we become convinced in our minds and in our hearts of the love of God for us!
God created us for relationship with Himself and with each other. (Look back at the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis if you don't believe it!) Once I became convinced of the love of God for me, I couldn't keep it to myself. I had to share it with the people around me.
My life has always been about relationships and loving people...that is who God made me to be. Knowing in the depth of my being that I am loved by God gives me confidence. Confidence to stand in the face of fear. Confidence to love the people in my life openly and honestly. Confidence to be fearlessly authentic.
Oh my friends, love is so powerful! The book of John is filled with Jesus telling us how much God loves us, and then commanding us to love God and each other. God's love is perfect and it casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) Our human love is not perfect, but God can use it just as powerfully in the lives of the people around us.
I've been asked which superpower I would choose to have. I finally have an answer...I choose the power of love!
The devil is well aware of our need for love. He does everything he can to separate us from God and His love, and from each other. Sin, disobedience, guilt, deception, lies, and fear (and many others) are all part of the devil's plan to separate us from love. So many of us keep God and other people at arms length, afraid to be hurt and disappointed once again.
It's a hard and horrible thing to be deceived into believing that God's love isn't for you. IT'S A LIE! When we believe that lie, it cripples our ability and willingness to receive love from God and people. God will ALWAYS pour out His love in abundance, but we have to be willing to receive it.
I've lived there. I was so deceived. I had a choice to make...believe the Truth or believe the lies. It seems like a clear choice, but deception makes it so hard to discern what is truth and what is not. So how do we know what the truth is? We fill our minds with the Truth from the Bible and think on it. (Philippians 4:8) And finally, we become convinced in our minds and in our hearts of the love of God for us!
God created us for relationship with Himself and with each other. (Look back at the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis if you don't believe it!) Once I became convinced of the love of God for me, I couldn't keep it to myself. I had to share it with the people around me.
My life has always been about relationships and loving people...that is who God made me to be. Knowing in the depth of my being that I am loved by God gives me confidence. Confidence to stand in the face of fear. Confidence to love the people in my life openly and honestly. Confidence to be fearlessly authentic.
Oh my friends, love is so powerful! The book of John is filled with Jesus telling us how much God loves us, and then commanding us to love God and each other. God's love is perfect and it casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) Our human love is not perfect, but God can use it just as powerfully in the lives of the people around us.
I've been asked which superpower I would choose to have. I finally have an answer...I choose the power of love!
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
scars and choices
I noticed my 7 inch colon cancer scar this morning. It has faded significantly over the last 7 years, but it is still definitely visible. I guess I've gotten used to it, because it doesn't usually stand out to me the way it did today. I looked at it closely, trying to remember how it first looked when the staples had been removed. So much healing happened between then and now, some without my notice. But, I will always have my 7 inch scar, my survivor mark, as a reminder of a battle fought and won.
We all have scars. Some physical, some emotional. Some visible, and some deeply buried. Some are from old wounds, and some are freshly made. Some from sticks and stones, and some from careless words. We live in a world that is filled with hurting people, and hurting people hurt people. There is no escaping being hurt, but there is healing!
We have choices. Victim or victor? Bitter or better? Struggler or survivor? Fear or forgiveness? Will we be identified by our wounds or will we become stronger because of them? It is a daily choice for me, and I admit that there have been plenty of days when I have chosen poorly.
The scar on my abdomen reminds me to be grateful for the works of restoration that God has done (and is doing) in my life as I choose to let Him work in me. As I surrender the hurts of the past and allow divine forgiveness to flow in and through me. As I let go of the future and trust the God who knows my heart to make a way for me. As I stand in the face of fear and receive great love and joy instead. As I choose obedience to God rather than my own way.
Over and over, God restores the wounds and the scars when I choose His way. And I promise that He will do the same for you!
We all have scars. Some physical, some emotional. Some visible, and some deeply buried. Some are from old wounds, and some are freshly made. Some from sticks and stones, and some from careless words. We live in a world that is filled with hurting people, and hurting people hurt people. There is no escaping being hurt, but there is healing!
We have choices. Victim or victor? Bitter or better? Struggler or survivor? Fear or forgiveness? Will we be identified by our wounds or will we become stronger because of them? It is a daily choice for me, and I admit that there have been plenty of days when I have chosen poorly.
The scar on my abdomen reminds me to be grateful for the works of restoration that God has done (and is doing) in my life as I choose to let Him work in me. As I surrender the hurts of the past and allow divine forgiveness to flow in and through me. As I let go of the future and trust the God who knows my heart to make a way for me. As I stand in the face of fear and receive great love and joy instead. As I choose obedience to God rather than my own way.
Over and over, God restores the wounds and the scars when I choose His way. And I promise that He will do the same for you!
Saturday, September 1, 2018
freedom
I am free! This might be the first time in my life that I can declare it and be fully convinced that I truly am free! I want to jump and dance and sing and shout and tell everyone I know that God kept His promise to me. I.AM.FREE!
Fear and anxiety no longer hold me captive! And I have to say that I feel amazing! Freedom is God's plan for us. In John 8, Jesus is speaking about the children of God and He makes two statements about freedom. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free! (verse 32) If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! (verse 36) I have longed for freedom, and I am so grateful that God is showing me how to walk in it!
It's been a process for me. I have prayed for freedom from fear and anxiety many times, but I was never willing to let loose of the grasp of control. Fear said, "If you completely surrender your life to God, He will will take away everything and everyone that you love." Fear (the devil) is a liar! I immersed myself in Bible verses about God's love and His plan for me. The best way to combat the lies is with the Truth! As I became convinced that God loves me unconditionally, my grip on the things of life began to loosen. I reached a place of surrender. Praise God!
It had become a habit for me to respond to certain "triggers" with fear and anxiety. When I felt fear and anxiety rising inside me, I would run or hide from whatever I thought was causing them. One day this summer, God said to me, "Stand in the face of fear," and I saw myself standing like a warrior as fear came toward me like a black cloud. I didn't run, or hide, or even flinch. I simply stood and when that cloud of fear reached me, it dissipated instantly. Yes, yes, yes!!! God is so good!
God doesn't play favorites. If He will set me free, He will do the same for you! He loves you with an everlasting love, my friend! Fill your mind and your heart and your spirit with the Truth of His love for you. (If you need a Bible, please let me know and I will get one to you!) He wants us to be free from the snares of the devil! He wants us to be free to be the amazing people that He Himself created us to be! I'm praying the same prayer for you that I pray for myself...that you will know the truth, and the Truth will set you free!
The lies of fear and anxiety are exposed! Now I am free to be restored by God. Restored to be the Dawn He made me to be. Free to be myself in relationships. Free from fear and anxiety once and for all! Chris Tomlin's song Resurrection Power speaks the song in my heart, "Freedom, You have given us freedom. You have given us freedom. My chains are gone!"
Fear and anxiety no longer hold me captive! And I have to say that I feel amazing! Freedom is God's plan for us. In John 8, Jesus is speaking about the children of God and He makes two statements about freedom. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free! (verse 32) If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! (verse 36) I have longed for freedom, and I am so grateful that God is showing me how to walk in it!
It's been a process for me. I have prayed for freedom from fear and anxiety many times, but I was never willing to let loose of the grasp of control. Fear said, "If you completely surrender your life to God, He will will take away everything and everyone that you love." Fear (the devil) is a liar! I immersed myself in Bible verses about God's love and His plan for me. The best way to combat the lies is with the Truth! As I became convinced that God loves me unconditionally, my grip on the things of life began to loosen. I reached a place of surrender. Praise God!
It had become a habit for me to respond to certain "triggers" with fear and anxiety. When I felt fear and anxiety rising inside me, I would run or hide from whatever I thought was causing them. One day this summer, God said to me, "Stand in the face of fear," and I saw myself standing like a warrior as fear came toward me like a black cloud. I didn't run, or hide, or even flinch. I simply stood and when that cloud of fear reached me, it dissipated instantly. Yes, yes, yes!!! God is so good!
God doesn't play favorites. If He will set me free, He will do the same for you! He loves you with an everlasting love, my friend! Fill your mind and your heart and your spirit with the Truth of His love for you. (If you need a Bible, please let me know and I will get one to you!) He wants us to be free from the snares of the devil! He wants us to be free to be the amazing people that He Himself created us to be! I'm praying the same prayer for you that I pray for myself...that you will know the truth, and the Truth will set you free!
The lies of fear and anxiety are exposed! Now I am free to be restored by God. Restored to be the Dawn He made me to be. Free to be myself in relationships. Free from fear and anxiety once and for all! Chris Tomlin's song Resurrection Power speaks the song in my heart, "Freedom, You have given us freedom. You have given us freedom. My chains are gone!"
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