Friday, April 30, 2010

Snuggling

I mentioned earlier this week that my daughter can't seem to get close enough to me lately.  She wants to sit right next to me, or on me if we are at home in the living room.  If we are at a ball game, she wants to sit in my lap instead of in her lawn chair, which is right beside mine, might I add. If we are at church, if I don't let her in my lap (a girl like me NEEDS to take notes if it's ever gonna stick!), she shoves up against me so close that a piece of paper wouldn't even fit between us! If we are singing worship or the invitation, she can't just stand beside me, she has to stand between me and the pew in front of me, which makes it a little crowded. If we have had a particularly busy day/evening and we get home just in time to get ready for bed, she has a melt down when she realizes there is not anytime to "chill out".  She'll cry while she's walking down the hall to get her shower and say, "but I just want you to hold me".  Even though some nights it's nearly impossible to accomodate that, I always try to make a point to "hold" her for a couple of minutes because I know she won't always want to snuggle.  I have a friend who can identify.  Her daughter is going through a stage right now, where she doesn't want Mom out of her sight. 

Then I think about me and God. Have I ever really wanted to snuggle up that close to Him? Have I ever really felt that I would melt down without touching Him?  Have I ever rooted my head up under His arm while in worship?  Have I ever stood on His feet while singing?  Have I ever been fearful of letting God out of my sight?  He would never have to "fit me in" to a hectic evening.  He would never tell me that I needed to sit in my own lawn chair and give Him a break. 

Listen to what Jesus says to his people in Jerusalem:

     "....How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." Matthew 23:37

Look at that - He WANTS to gather you under his wings and snuggle up close, but we are unwilling.

My dear Jesus, thank you for the shelter of your wings.  I pray for the desire to be like my daughter in relationship to you.  Please grow my desire to snuggle up close to you and to have to be touching you all of the time just to survive.  I need a fear of never letting you out of my sight. 


Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

God sometimes when I think of you, the only way I can begin to try to wrap my frail human mind around who You are and how complex You are is to think about a diamond.  When I look closely at a diamond, it has many different facets or surfaces.  All of these different surfaces in one place helps me see that You can have so many parts of You that still make up one beautiful thing.  When I look down into a diamond and let the light bounce off of the inside, it's like looking down into a forever of sparkles and shimmers without ever being able to see every single one.  It seems as if it has no bottom and it reflects light back out just like You.  I guess having all of those facets is what makes You able to be the "I AM".  Diamonds are precious and You are precious, yet diamonds are so strong and can even be used to cut things.  You are strong, You CANNOT be broken and sometimes you have to cut away parts of me to carve me into your image.  If I am being carved into Your image, then one day maybe I can be a beautiful diamond too.

Take look into a diamond sometime today and move it just a little in the light. Look at all of the different surfaces on the inside and the outside of it. That's an example of all of the different ways God Almighty can be what you need, no matter the circumstance.

If you don't have one - surely someone near you does.  Look at it this way, when you ask to borrow it, you'll get a chance to tell them why you want to see it and maybe open their eyes to something new too. 

This puts a whole new meaning to the phrase "Diamonds are a girls best friend"! Doesn't it!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

"Now Showing"

Last night after dinner, I sat down on the couch and my daughter climbed into my lap, she can't seem to get close enough to me these days.  She looked at me to say something and said with surprise, "I can see the show in your glasses!"  She tried to watch the show looking straight at me as I was trying to watch the show myself.  It didn't take long for me to decide I would rather her turn and look at the TV herself and quit staring at me!!  Immediately I sensed God showing me something.  She could have seen any "show" playing in the reflection back from my glasses, it all depended upon where I fixed my gaze.  Take a look at this portion of scripture:

     "in all things show yourself to be and example..." Titus 2:7

 When I looked up the word "example" in the original language I learned that it came from a word meaning a "stamp, shape, form, print", but I especially liked these two meanings "a style or resemblance" or "a pattern to be followed".  Is that not exactly what you were Jesus?  You were a pattern to be followed.  A pattern of your Father, you were a "resemblance" of Him here on this Earth.  You constantly kept your gaze upon the Almighty and played that reflection out for all to see.  There's a bigger picture here that what I was watching on TV.  What show am I showing to others in real life?  What reflection are they seeing played back in my glasses on a daily basis?  It all depends upon where I lift my eyes.

Oh God, that I could fix my eyes upon you today and everyday.  Little things seem to steal my attention away from you and I become distracted. Problems and irritations seem so much bigger when I look at them from here, but if my gaze is upon you, it all seems different.  Help me, Holy Spirit, to be ever reminded of where I am looking.  Your love is all I want to be played back through my glasses today, that's what's important to You and to me.

     "I lift up my eyes to the hills -- Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth."  Psalms 121:1-2

Where are your eyes gazing today?  What show is playing back in the "glasses" of your life for others to imitate? If you life were a movie theater, what would be on the marquee that says "NOW SHOWING" ?

Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Weaver

Today is a special day for me and my extended family.   My baby sister, Andrea, is having an ultrasound today.  Hopefully she will find out if she is having a girl or a boy, but most importantly, we will get a glimpse of the health of the little one growing inside her womb.  What we can't see is what God is doing while she waits.  He is busy skillfully weaving the most intricate parts of this little one as Psalms 139 says.   He is weaving together the pattern of its fingerprints, the shape of its fingernails, the width of its smile, the sound of its laughter.  He is working to make this little one a unique creation like none other.

This little one is special to me, as all of my neices and nephews are.  This one is unique because this baby will by born to my "baby" sister.  I was 10 years old when she was born and I very vividly remember when she herself was being woven together, skillfully, while I watched my mom's belly grow.  Being the youngest of four children, she was our "entertainment"  We made her do and be whatever we wanted.  She would dance and sing for us as she toddled around as the star of the show, her red ringlets bouncing around with her.  When she started school her legs were so short I had to help her up onto the school bus the first day!  I have loved being a part of every milestone of her life, but she will always be a baby to me. 

Can you imagine how the Weaver feels about you?  If we can become as emotional as I am over a sibling, imagine what He experiences with every milestone of your life.  He wove you together, skillfully, in your mother's womb.  He knows you better than you know yourself and rejoices over you just as a momma rejoices over her child's first steps.  You are His handiwork and He's still weaving today.  If I know Him like I think I do, He rejoices over every new thing your learn or accomplish.  No matter how much you grow up or how big you get, you will always be His baby.

Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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Monday, April 26, 2010

Trash to Treasure

Last night a group of people from our church had an opportunity to share with us what they experienced on their recent mission trip to El Salvador.  They showed us pictures of children at an orphanage they served at.  This wasn't just your ordinary orphanage, this one was specifically for children with special needs.  They shared with us how these children ended up at this destination.  In that country, as in many others, life is not valued as we value it.  If a child is born less than perfect, it is useless to them.  Many of these children were discovered abandoned on the streets, many were even found in dumpsters, tossed away as mere trash as small babies.  As I thought about this, I realized something.  My daughter, Brenna, was born less than perfect.  She was born with a cleft lip.  (There's alot to that story for another time!) Although her imperfection was mild, compared to many others, had she been born somewhere else, she could have been tossed into a dumpster as invaluable.   I cannot fathom that thought.  She definitely made our family complete and none of us would be the same without knowing her.  Her life is valuable to me.

God says your life is valuable to Him.

     "But the very hairs of your had are all numbered.  Therefore do not fear; You are of more value than many sparrows."  Matthew 10:30-31

We are all a work in progress, and even with our imperfections of sin and wordliness, He values you so dearly that He was willing to lay down His life as the purchase price for you.  That makes you pretty valuable, even if you don't feel like it sometimes.  Your life means too much to Him, even with its present imperfections to be tossed away into a dumpster somewhere as meaningless.   Girls - let me put it this way -  If you were in a yard sale, He would snatch you up in a heartbeat!  He loves to turn "Trash to Treasure".

Thank you, God, for valuing me.  Thank you that you haven't thrown this clay away.  You keep spinning your potters wheel and shaping me into the treasure you have pictured in Your mind.  I pray I will allow this clay to remain moist and pliable so that you can do your work.  I pray that when you are finished you have a treasured masterpiece for all to see.

Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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Friday, April 23, 2010

Puffs

Back on that breathing thing -

"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."  Genesis 2:7

When God breathed life into Adam, it made me think of the way the experts teach to give CPR to an infant or small child.  They teach people who are going to give rescue breaths to cover both their mouth and their nose and only breathe in the amount of air that it would take to fill your cheeks.  They teach this because their face is so small that it is easier to get the air in if you cover both the nose and the mouth and because if you breathe in too much air, you could rupture their lungs.  When I think of the amount of air that fills my cheeks it makes me think of a puff.  I looked up the original meaning of the word "breathed" in this verse and the first word in the definition is "puff" .  Check out something else that verse says " and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life".

That makes me think of the amount of power that God must contain.  He gave Adam, a man, breath from the grandness of Himself.  It only took a "puff".  How BIG he must be that only a puff from His cheeks could be enough breath to sustain life for thousands of generations, and that VERY BIG GOD loves you and me in a VERY BIG WAY!  If you look at the creation story, everything else he created with a spoken word, until he created Adam.  He could have said "Breathe" or "Come to life", but no, He was much more personal.  He gave something from within Himself and breathed that puff into this "little one", Adam, created by such a "Big One". 

I am in awe once again, Father, at who you are.

Amy Dotson, RPDOTK Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Blowing Bubbles

How long has it been since you went out and just blew some bubbles?  It relaxes me for some reason.  I was thinking about blowing bubbles yesterday and how I can see God in even those.  The solution is on the little wand, but without air breathed into it, it does nothing.   It's just like me, I can accomplish nothing without Him breathing into me.  What's fascinating is that one gentle breath scan send several bubbles floating off that wand at the same time.  They are all a little different in size and they all travel to different places.  Some burst and land right in from of me and some go several feet.   Some even get caught in the breeze and I never see where they land.  That's what happens when I let Him breathe himself into me.  That very breath from His lungs is in each of those bubbles of my life and at some point, whether near or far, each one will burst and His breath will be able to touch someone else.  I may never know it or see it happen, but I do know that eventually each one will pop and the contents will be spilled out.  

That brings up a question.  How closely do we watch what we allow to breathe into us?  If every bubble will eventually pop, what message is floating out there to reach someone else? 

I think Jesus would have liked to blow bubbles if they had been around! I say that because of John 20:21-22
    
"Jesus therefore saidto them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you.  And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them 'Receive the Holy Spirit'."

How awesome is that!?!  He breathed upon those 12 men gathered that day and look how far their bubbles have traveled, they have touched you and me. 

O Lord, I invite you to breathe your Spirit in me today and I welcome the bubbles of my life to leave that little wand and go whereever you send them.

How 'bout blowing some bubbles today?

Amy Dotson,
RPDOTK
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Best Antiseptic Out There

Yesterday my daughter had not one, but 2 bike wrecks, each time scraping the same spot on her little palm.  When I got home from work she showed her hand to me and told me how much it hurt.  It looked terrible, you know how kids are, it had scrapes and dried up blood and dirt all over it and looked like a breeding ground for infection.  As any well meaning mother would do, I told her we needed to wash it with some soap and water to clean it up and it would probably feel a little better immediately.   She was not a fan of this idea at all!  I let it go for a little while and then reminded her that she needed a shower. I had explained to her that, yes, it might sting a little at first, but in the long run, it would feel better once it was clean. You would have thought I was telling her we were getting rid of our dog or something!  Finally, after much drama (and fear for her life) she got into the shower and I went on about my business in the other room.  Despite my motherly attempts to make her understand and realize this was for her good, I could hear her over the television and all of the other house noise sobbing and saying "IT HURTS" over and over and over.  After a few minutes I decided this was ridiculous and headed off to the bathroom to take matters into my own hands.  She was NOT happy and I had to pry those little fingers open just so the water would be able to get the inside of her hand wet, much less apply any soap!  As I was listening to her drama and as I gently cleaned her hand, God taught me something. I do the same thing to Him.  I go to Him and tell Him about my life's bike wrecks, scrapes, wounds, and injuries, but when He wants to cleanse me with the "washing of the water of the Word" (Eph 5:26), sometimes I fight Him and cover my wounds.  I try to protect them because allowing them to get wet might hurt a little.  It seems as people we would rather have an infected scrape on our spirit or our heart because we know we can stand the pain with it like it is because we are already used to it.  We resist allowing His work because we aren't familiar with how much it might hurt and don't trust Him enough.  We would rather keep the dirty scrape that we know than the one on the road to recovery.    After I finished cleaning her hand and she finished her shower, she agreed that it already felt better and goodness knows, it looked better too!  John 8:2-3 speaks of a leper who came to Jesus and told Him
     "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."  and then Jesus stretched out His hand and replied simply  "I am willing.  Be cleansed."

Jesus is with you and has brought the best antiseptic on the market, the washing of the water of the word, it's a Miracle Drug!  Don't resist His attempts to clean your scrapes. He can be trusted.  He didn't promise it wouldn't sting a little, but He did promise it was worth it.

Amy Dotson,
RPDOTK
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Master Quilter

His Word can unfold and make things more clear to me. When I think of something unfolding, it brings to mind a quilt. When I was younger, probably in my early teens, my mom pulled out some quilt tops that had been stitched together by my great grandmother. We were to pick one out to be ours one day after we were grown. I could not choose one when they were all folded up. I had to unfold them to see what they looked like with all of the pieces working together before I could make up my mind. Some quilts even contain personal history, for example, we have one made from pieces or Todd's father's childhood pajamas,which makes that quilt all the more special to us.

Psalms 119:130 says:
"The unfolding of thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."

God, Your Word is somewhat like a quilt to me. It is made up of so many beautiful pieces, all fitting together so well. You were even attentive enough to make some of those pieces personal and special to me, just like the pajama pieces! It is not until I open Your Word and allow your Spirit to unfold it that I get Your light and Your understanding. I can't thank You enough for the generations You used to stitch together the quilt of your Word. You did it to keep us warm when our spirits are cold and to wow us at its beauty and history. Your Word brings me that warmth and is life to me. Thank you.

I hope you'll open up the closet and dig out His quilt and let Him unfold something beautiful for you today.

Amy Dotson,
RPDOTK
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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Monday, April 19, 2010

Renovations

Yesterday in our evening service, our pastor spoke using the verses Romans 12:1-2. He brought out something in verse 2 that affected the way I see the process of God changing me.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

He taught us that the original wording for renewing meant "to renovate"! Who likes to live through a renovation? It's not fun. Everything is unorganized, lost, messy. One room in your house that is being renovated, spills over into every part of your home and turns your life upside down. Sometimes, in the midst of the renovation, it seems like we will never see the finished product. Sometimes I have even caught myself thinking, "is all this really worth it?". In the long run, the renovation is always worth it and I like the finished product.

It's the same way in our spiritual lives, sometimes I feel like my life will never be where it should be, however I know that I can trust God to complete the project He started. It will be worth it even though the process can be trying. All I have to do is go to the "hardware store" of His Word and bring Him the tools and supplies back He needs to do the job, the work is up to Him.

God, I am so glad that you love to renovate! I am grateful that you are a God who restores. I can't wait to see what you create from this mess! Thank you for redecorating my heart and my mind with Your Word.


Amy Dotson,
RPDOTK
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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