If you’ve ever been exposed to plants or gardening at all, I’m sure you’re familiar with the term root bound. Every spring when I buy flowers for my yard, I’m amazed at all the roots wound around in the bottoms of the little plastic containers. Once you rescue those tiny little plants out of those plastic shells potting them into a bigger space, they take off. It seems like over night they get thicker, taller, and then in a few days, more blooms begin to form. Don’t let me mislead you though, I really don’t have a green thumb, but I do enjoy planting flowers for my porch and in our yard.
What happens though if a plant is root bound and is never moved to the ground or to a bigger pot? Its growth is stunted; it stops blooming, gets weaker, and given long enough, the plant will die. The roots grow so tightly beneath the surface that the plant actually chokes and suffocates the life from itself. On the opposite side of the spectrum though, once you put that plant out in the proper soil or in a larger pot, the roots can grow deeper and expand farther out. The plant thrives, the roots reaching farther beneath the surface than ever imagined spreading out to new places to draw nutrients from the soil. The next thing you know the plant is loaded with blooms.
What about us? Do we get root bound in our relationship with our Savior? In our faith? I know for myself, it is so easy to just stay in my familiar, comfortable pot. Its not long though before I end up wondering why I don’t have any “life” about me. My roots are wrapping tighter and tighter around me beneath the surface. If I allow God to pull me out of where I am and plant me in a new place, my spirit and faith can grow stronger, my roots deeper, and someday, I will bloom flowers reflective of His Son.
In Genesis 12 when God told Abram (who later becomes Abraham) to leave his home country leading him away from what was known and comfortable, God revealed to him along the journey that the land of Canaan would one day belong to his descendants. Abram built an altar there as a memorial and dedicated it to God. What did Abram do next though? He moved on. For some reason, that surprised me. I know I would have wanted to set up camp right there and begin to build a permanent dwelling. He didn’t stay right there in that one spot, just because God had revealed something there. He kept on going through the land. Had he stayed in one spot, Abram would not have known what the land of Canaan was really like and he may not have been close enough to get to Egypt when the famine came.
This has really been on my mind for several days. If I don’t move on with Him when He has revealed something to me instead of staying behind in that same place with a chokehold on what He promised me, I will never experience the journey He intends to take me on. It’s a great idea to build a memorial to come back to, but not to live at. I will never bloom to the potential that He desires for me if my roots are bound around my heart. Yes, he makes promises, but sometimes He doesn’t reveal the big picture of how we get to that promise all at once. We must allow Him to plant us in new soil to allow our roots to grow farther beneath the surface so that we get stronger.
Isn’t a destination much more exciting when you have enjoyed the journey along the way?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Snoozing
As I’ve told you before, I’m not a morning person and, I confess, I love my snooze button. It’s a love affair that has gone on for years. I used to try to fight it and do things like move my alarm clock to the other side of the room so I would have to actually get out of bed to turn off the alarm. Sad thing is, it didn’t bother me a bit to press that snooze button and hop right back into bed, cover up, and close my eyes as if I had never been interrupted. I even had an alarm clock once where you can adjust the time allotted to snooze, and you can bet your bottom dollar, I set it to the maximum allowed time for each snooze session! My alarm clock currently is a weather radio beside my bed. When I first got it, I thought maybe I won’t push snooze so much. The buttons on it are all similar in size and very close together, so I didn’t think I would be able to push the right button unless I actually woke up enough to comprehend which button was which. It’s amazing how quickly I learned to feel my way around, never opening my eyes. There’s no fooling this semi-comatose chic when it comes to getting a few more winks early in the morning.
And the sleep you get in between those alarms, oh—it’s delightful! That is, until I get up and realize I feel just as tired as I did when the alarm went off the first time. Now I have the added stress of not having that extra cushion of time to accomplish everything I need to. When the alarm goes off, I know eventually I’m going to HAVE to get up, but I want to avoid it as long as I possibly can.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
My friend, I want you to know Me. I’ll get serious about it later. SNOOZE.
Life gets a little tense - My child, I can help you with that. SNOOZE. I’ll manage.
It’s been a hectic weekend, Sunday arrives, and you just need to chill. The invitation to My house is always open. I went last week– SNOOZE.
Open My Word, I want to teach you. SNOOZE. It’s too confusing.
Money’s tight and you can’t seem to make ends meet. Turn it over to Me, I own the cattle on a thousand hills. Sounds nice, but let’s be realistic. SNOOZE.
I died for you. SNOOZE.
Why do you turn to that relationship, that thing, that habit, that drink, that drug? Only I can fill you. SNOOZE.
Please introduce your children to Me. SNOOZE – maybe when things slow down. I want to give them the opportunities I never had.
It’s the diagnosis you feared – Give it to Me, I’m the Great Physician. SNOOZE – I know what the doctor said, it can’t be fixed.
I want to take my relationship with you deeper. Maybe after school starts, I can get my quiet time back. SNOOZE.
This isn’t what you promised me on Sunday. I can’t help it. I’ll do better next time. SNOOZE.
I miss you praying to me. SNOOZE.
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the picture. The moments between the alarms of His voice are never as enjoyable as we think they’re going to be when we press snooze, are they?
Why do we waste so much time spiritually snoozing? Is it because we don’t want to do what “we ought to do”? James 4:17 says that’s sin. (ouch!) I think sometimes we “press snooze” because we’re afraid acting on what He has asked will cost us too much. Sometimes maybe it’s because what He says doesn’t seem logical and it would require faith. Every example of snoozing that I listed above is a lie that we have been deceived into believing is truth. I challenge you, if you don’t know Him, seek Him while He is near. The next time you hear His voice as an alarm in your spirit, rise up. Don’t press snooze, tomorrow may be too late.
If you already know Him and He’s sounding His alarm showing you where change needs to occur, trust Him. Let’s wake up! Pressing snooze never relieves the burden and always increases the tension. The cost is so small compared to the great reward of sweet fellowship with Him, knowing you have followed His will.
Father I pray for a great awakening to occur among Your people. I pray that we would rest and revive ourselves in You alone so that we aren’t tempted to press snooze and ignore You for one more second. I know with everything in me that one second spent outside of fellowship with you is a second lost forever, but the seconds spent with you have eternal significance. I pray that I would not be caught snoozing at the return of Your Son, but that I would greet His return with eyes wide open.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
And the sleep you get in between those alarms, oh—it’s delightful! That is, until I get up and realize I feel just as tired as I did when the alarm went off the first time. Now I have the added stress of not having that extra cushion of time to accomplish everything I need to. When the alarm goes off, I know eventually I’m going to HAVE to get up, but I want to avoid it as long as I possibly can.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
My friend, I want you to know Me. I’ll get serious about it later. SNOOZE.
Life gets a little tense - My child, I can help you with that. SNOOZE. I’ll manage.
It’s been a hectic weekend, Sunday arrives, and you just need to chill. The invitation to My house is always open. I went last week– SNOOZE.
Open My Word, I want to teach you. SNOOZE. It’s too confusing.
Money’s tight and you can’t seem to make ends meet. Turn it over to Me, I own the cattle on a thousand hills. Sounds nice, but let’s be realistic. SNOOZE.
I died for you. SNOOZE.
Why do you turn to that relationship, that thing, that habit, that drink, that drug? Only I can fill you. SNOOZE.
Please introduce your children to Me. SNOOZE – maybe when things slow down. I want to give them the opportunities I never had.
It’s the diagnosis you feared – Give it to Me, I’m the Great Physician. SNOOZE – I know what the doctor said, it can’t be fixed.
I want to take my relationship with you deeper. Maybe after school starts, I can get my quiet time back. SNOOZE.
This isn’t what you promised me on Sunday. I can’t help it. I’ll do better next time. SNOOZE.
I miss you praying to me. SNOOZE.
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the picture. The moments between the alarms of His voice are never as enjoyable as we think they’re going to be when we press snooze, are they?
Why do we waste so much time spiritually snoozing? Is it because we don’t want to do what “we ought to do”? James 4:17 says that’s sin. (ouch!) I think sometimes we “press snooze” because we’re afraid acting on what He has asked will cost us too much. Sometimes maybe it’s because what He says doesn’t seem logical and it would require faith. Every example of snoozing that I listed above is a lie that we have been deceived into believing is truth. I challenge you, if you don’t know Him, seek Him while He is near. The next time you hear His voice as an alarm in your spirit, rise up. Don’t press snooze, tomorrow may be too late.
If you already know Him and He’s sounding His alarm showing you where change needs to occur, trust Him. Let’s wake up! Pressing snooze never relieves the burden and always increases the tension. The cost is so small compared to the great reward of sweet fellowship with Him, knowing you have followed His will.
Father I pray for a great awakening to occur among Your people. I pray that we would rest and revive ourselves in You alone so that we aren’t tempted to press snooze and ignore You for one more second. I know with everything in me that one second spent outside of fellowship with you is a second lost forever, but the seconds spent with you have eternal significance. I pray that I would not be caught snoozing at the return of Your Son, but that I would greet His return with eyes wide open.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Welcome Home
I just love to admire charming little houses, the front of them so welcoming. You know, one of those homes where the front door just begs you to knock and come inside for a while. I don’t know what your front door looks like, but I’m sure it’s welcomes those who approach it. I always try to make the front door on my house portray that the inside is a wonderful place to be. Jesus calls himself the door, in fact, here’s what He said in John 10:9:
I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.
If He’s the door we use to move in and out in life, He says we will find pasture. When I first read this verse, it didn’t make sense to me. Enter through a door and find pasture? I might feel like a cow sometimes, but I definitely know I am not a cow. I’m not a horse, or a sheep either, for that matter. I pondered the phrase for a few minutes and realized that when an animal is “at pasture”, it’s home, comfortable, grazing on the food it needs to continue, being satisfied.
If I enter through The Door, where The Door leads me is a wonderful place to be. I can stay a while, grazing on His goodness, and be filled with whatever He has for prepared for me. He will satisfy me and give me exactly what I need to step outside and face the world around me. No matter how long I’m away, The Door is always ready to welcome me home. Just like those charming houses I mentioned, He begs me to enter and stay a while. It is never locked, and will always be the entry to a warm loving place for me to rest my head and be refreshed. There’s something about Jesus, The Door, that always tells me I’m at the right place. His arms wide open, He smiles and says, “Welcome Home”.
By the way, I bet He knows I like Oreo’s and milk!
Jesus, thank you for always being an open door for us, your children. Father, you are always waiting with open arms as Your Spirit exudes welcome to us. I pray for each one reading that they only go out into the world through, Jesus, The Door, for if we use You as the door, we will head out in the right direction every time. I pray that once outside the door, that they would not tarry long. I pray that the moment they step outside, they long to return home to You, ready to sit and share the days experiences and be refreshed with your filling, your love, and your comfort. I can’t think of a better, more inviting place to be than in your presence.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.
If He’s the door we use to move in and out in life, He says we will find pasture. When I first read this verse, it didn’t make sense to me. Enter through a door and find pasture? I might feel like a cow sometimes, but I definitely know I am not a cow. I’m not a horse, or a sheep either, for that matter. I pondered the phrase for a few minutes and realized that when an animal is “at pasture”, it’s home, comfortable, grazing on the food it needs to continue, being satisfied.
If I enter through The Door, where The Door leads me is a wonderful place to be. I can stay a while, grazing on His goodness, and be filled with whatever He has for prepared for me. He will satisfy me and give me exactly what I need to step outside and face the world around me. No matter how long I’m away, The Door is always ready to welcome me home. Just like those charming houses I mentioned, He begs me to enter and stay a while. It is never locked, and will always be the entry to a warm loving place for me to rest my head and be refreshed. There’s something about Jesus, The Door, that always tells me I’m at the right place. His arms wide open, He smiles and says, “Welcome Home”.
By the way, I bet He knows I like Oreo’s and milk!
Jesus, thank you for always being an open door for us, your children. Father, you are always waiting with open arms as Your Spirit exudes welcome to us. I pray for each one reading that they only go out into the world through, Jesus, The Door, for if we use You as the door, we will head out in the right direction every time. I pray that once outside the door, that they would not tarry long. I pray that the moment they step outside, they long to return home to You, ready to sit and share the days experiences and be refreshed with your filling, your love, and your comfort. I can’t think of a better, more inviting place to be than in your presence.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Friday, June 25, 2010
One Day At A Time
One day at a Time – that’s a phrase we’ve heard all of our lives. It was a name of an 80’s sitcom and there’s at least one song with that title. Have you ever thought about taking your walk with God “one day at a time”? So many times I see where I am compared to where I want to be or where I should be in my spiritual life, and I want the change to take place immediately. I have learned that God doesn’t necessarily operate that way. He’s in to this teaching and purifying thing way too much to just let me mature spiritually overnight. Without the teaching and refining, my relationship with Him wouldn’t be as rich or as real. I know that God wants me to be more like His Son, and one way I can grow to be like Him is by learning from my everyday experiences that He dealt with Himself when He walked this Earth. When I focus only on how far away from His image I am, the concept is overwhelming. Sometimes the enemy can use the difference I see with my earthly eyes to discourage me from pressing on toward what Christ wants for me. Since the gap between where I am and where I need to be is so wide, I chose to only concentrate on pleasing Him today, and some days it may be necessary to ask myself “How can I please you in this hour?” Sometimes the waiting seems so long, but the best way I’ve learned to deal with it is to take this walk with Jesus “one day at a time”.
You may have noticed God stirring something within you lately which makes you aware of your need to change something in your life that isn’t Christ like. If you have, please don’t give up because it seems like it’s something so great that you can’t accomplish it. He would not have given you the stirring to change without giving you the ability to change it.
I was reading in Deuteronomy 30 about the Israelites, God’s chosen people. They had been disobedient and not done what God had asked for a very long time. He had gotten very frustrated with them, but in chapter 30, He explains to them that they can return and, if they would obey His commands, He would restore them. In verse 6 He promises to circumcise their hearts AND the hearts of their descendants if they follow His instructions. That sounds like a good plan to me, I follow what He tells me to do then He will “cut out” part of my heart so that I can love Him with all my heart and soul. My guess is, its the bad part of my heart that He's gonna cut out. Not only will He do that for me, but it will have an effect on my descendants also. It’s kind of like the BOGO sale!
Secondly, in verse 11 He says: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach”
What command is He stirring in your heart? I believe He means what He says about it not being too difficult and it not being out of our reach. You can do whatever He has set before you. Sometimes you have to choose change for today and stop looking at the big picture, chose the victory in the moment you are in. Take it one day at a time and see what happens. Calendars, whether they are earthly ones or the kingdom one, are made up of days anyway!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
You may have noticed God stirring something within you lately which makes you aware of your need to change something in your life that isn’t Christ like. If you have, please don’t give up because it seems like it’s something so great that you can’t accomplish it. He would not have given you the stirring to change without giving you the ability to change it.
I was reading in Deuteronomy 30 about the Israelites, God’s chosen people. They had been disobedient and not done what God had asked for a very long time. He had gotten very frustrated with them, but in chapter 30, He explains to them that they can return and, if they would obey His commands, He would restore them. In verse 6 He promises to circumcise their hearts AND the hearts of their descendants if they follow His instructions. That sounds like a good plan to me, I follow what He tells me to do then He will “cut out” part of my heart so that I can love Him with all my heart and soul. My guess is, its the bad part of my heart that He's gonna cut out. Not only will He do that for me, but it will have an effect on my descendants also. It’s kind of like the BOGO sale!
Secondly, in verse 11 He says: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach”
What command is He stirring in your heart? I believe He means what He says about it not being too difficult and it not being out of our reach. You can do whatever He has set before you. Sometimes you have to choose change for today and stop looking at the big picture, chose the victory in the moment you are in. Take it one day at a time and see what happens. Calendars, whether they are earthly ones or the kingdom one, are made up of days anyway!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Revenge
It had been an ok day, just the typical work day with no major catastrophes, which I consider a blessing in itself. I was laughing with a friend as I walked to my car, little did I know, that laughter would soon cease.
I got in my car, turned on the AC – it was hot! I started to drive out of the parking lot and something caught my eye. It was a piece of paper under my wiper blades flapping in the breeze. I had been to lunch with Todd and the girls, so my first thought was, “How sweet! They left a note on my car after they dropped me off!” I pulled the car over so that I could grab the note, excited about what the message might be. I tugged the note from the wiper blade and looked down only to see these words:
I was shocked! Not at all what I was expecting. Who would have put this on my car? I racked my brain on the drive home, trying to think of what I had done that was interpreted as rude, but to be honest, I thought more about how I could get even if I found out who left me this little token of love. I felt a whisper to my heart – vengeance is Mine. I tried to justify how I felt by thinking of how miserable this person must be and if “they were closer to God” maybe they won’t be so easily upset by whatever it was that I had done. With every justification I felt a little more convicted of the thoughts I was allowing to go through my mind. I tried to reason ways I could get even without being flat out mean, but still getting my point across, and with every idea that came to mind, I sensed Him saying it’s not yours to repay.
I arrived home and looked up the verse that says “vengeance is mine”. I guess I was hoping to see something in there to address people leaving nasty notes on cars! I don’t know - but this is what I read:
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink…….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 17-21
Notice the word “beloved” (the bold lettering is all my doing!) Not only did I hear a whole 30 minute radio broadcast this morning on “Total Forgiveness”, but He had to use the word “beloved” in this verse. I was just studying this week the meaning of my name in reference to scripture. The meaning of “Amy” is - of all things - beloved. As I read the scripture above, it was as if He was saying, “Never take your own revenge, AMY.”
I chose to forgive, and to just put this behind me. I can’t fix it anyway, I can’t change that person’s heart and I know that I didn’t intentionally hurt anyone.
Had I continued to dwell on this all evening, it would have ruined my whole night at church and with my family. Holding on to a grudge would only chain me to the conflict and I would be the one hurting. I heard a statement today that bitterness is the only poison you swallow yourself.
If you would direct your heart right, and spread out your hand to Him; if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents. Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, and you would be steadfast and not fear. For you would forget your trouble, as waters that have passed by, you would remember it. And your life would be brighter than noonday; darkness would be like the morning. Then you would trust, because there is hope; and you would look around and rest securely.
Job 11:13-18
By the way – if anyone knows who left me the “love letter”, please tell them I’m sorry!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I got in my car, turned on the AC – it was hot! I started to drive out of the parking lot and something caught my eye. It was a piece of paper under my wiper blades flapping in the breeze. I had been to lunch with Todd and the girls, so my first thought was, “How sweet! They left a note on my car after they dropped me off!” I pulled the car over so that I could grab the note, excited about what the message might be. I tugged the note from the wiper blade and looked down only to see these words:
“THAT WAS RUDE”
I was shocked! Not at all what I was expecting. Who would have put this on my car? I racked my brain on the drive home, trying to think of what I had done that was interpreted as rude, but to be honest, I thought more about how I could get even if I found out who left me this little token of love. I felt a whisper to my heart – vengeance is Mine. I tried to justify how I felt by thinking of how miserable this person must be and if “they were closer to God” maybe they won’t be so easily upset by whatever it was that I had done. With every justification I felt a little more convicted of the thoughts I was allowing to go through my mind. I tried to reason ways I could get even without being flat out mean, but still getting my point across, and with every idea that came to mind, I sensed Him saying it’s not yours to repay.
I arrived home and looked up the verse that says “vengeance is mine”. I guess I was hoping to see something in there to address people leaving nasty notes on cars! I don’t know - but this is what I read:
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink…….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 17-21
Notice the word “beloved” (the bold lettering is all my doing!) Not only did I hear a whole 30 minute radio broadcast this morning on “Total Forgiveness”, but He had to use the word “beloved” in this verse. I was just studying this week the meaning of my name in reference to scripture. The meaning of “Amy” is - of all things - beloved. As I read the scripture above, it was as if He was saying, “Never take your own revenge, AMY.”
I chose to forgive, and to just put this behind me. I can’t fix it anyway, I can’t change that person’s heart and I know that I didn’t intentionally hurt anyone.
Had I continued to dwell on this all evening, it would have ruined my whole night at church and with my family. Holding on to a grudge would only chain me to the conflict and I would be the one hurting. I heard a statement today that bitterness is the only poison you swallow yourself.
If you would direct your heart right, and spread out your hand to Him; if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents. Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, and you would be steadfast and not fear. For you would forget your trouble, as waters that have passed by, you would remember it. And your life would be brighter than noonday; darkness would be like the morning. Then you would trust, because there is hope; and you would look around and rest securely.
Job 11:13-18
By the way – if anyone knows who left me the “love letter”, please tell them I’m sorry!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A Pricey Purchase
I know for some of you, just the thought of shopping excites you, and then some of you could either take it or leave it. But just imagine your favorite store. You stroll in with a little bit of cash hoping to find just the perfect thing you’ve been looking for, just praying it falls within your budget. You look and look, rack after rack, shelf after shelf. Then suddenly – THERE IT IS. It’s perfect, just what you’ve been looking for. Inside you’re screaming, “YES! That’s it!” as you scramble for the price tag. You finally find it and turn over the tag in eager, but guarded anticipation. You don’t want to get your hopes up, but what if?? What if it’s the right price? Your eyes focus on the numbers and the wind is taken out of your sails. It costs more than you can spend. Then you look around hopeful that there is a sign that says 50% off or something, but no such luck. You put it back, and try to find something else. The next thing you find is pretty, you know, its OK, but not as nice as the first item. You check the price tag willing to settle. Surprised at the price, you tell yourself, “It’s not THAT pretty!” as you place it back on the shelf and move on. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t. More times than not, I walk out of the store without the perfect item because, either I can’t pay the price asked, or the price is more than I think it is worth.
Now imagine yourself on a shelf in a store or a gallery. Your way up high, out of reach to most, kind of pushed to the back in the corner, even a little dusty. Now imagine a very rich man coming into the little shop that is packed wall to wall with items. He appears to be on a mission for the perfect creation. He searches intently as he scans the items in the store. It has to be just right. You begin to think, “He won’t pick me. He’ll never see me way up here, shoved to the back, he probably can’t even reach me. If he did, he wouldn’t want me because I’m so dusty. I look used, he would rather have one of these other things that look new and shiny.” He heads toward your direction in the store, the clerk suggests several items to him, but he politely shakes his head indicating her suggestions aren’t quite what he’s looking for. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he sees you. He appears so excited. Joy fills his eyes. A smile widens across his face. You didn’t realize He was quite so tall. He reaches up with his long arms to the top shelf, reaching you with ease, and suddenly you aren’t on the shelf any more. You are in his hands. He is captivated at the masterpiece you are. He wipes off the dust with his gentle touch as he admires all of your details. He looks for the price tag and finds it. You get apprehensive, “what if the price on my tag is too much?” As if he read your mind, he mumbles “Worth every penny.” Another customer in the store hears him and glances over to see his treasure. The customer gazes at your price tag and says, “kind of expensive isn’t it?” The man agrees, “Yes. Expensive indeed, but there is no price too high. It’s perfect. It’s special, you see, for my father fashioned this many years ago and I would pay anything to get it back.” He smiles and politely walks away toward the cash register, pays the price, and carries his treasure home.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Now imagine yourself on a shelf in a store or a gallery. Your way up high, out of reach to most, kind of pushed to the back in the corner, even a little dusty. Now imagine a very rich man coming into the little shop that is packed wall to wall with items. He appears to be on a mission for the perfect creation. He searches intently as he scans the items in the store. It has to be just right. You begin to think, “He won’t pick me. He’ll never see me way up here, shoved to the back, he probably can’t even reach me. If he did, he wouldn’t want me because I’m so dusty. I look used, he would rather have one of these other things that look new and shiny.” He heads toward your direction in the store, the clerk suggests several items to him, but he politely shakes his head indicating her suggestions aren’t quite what he’s looking for. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he sees you. He appears so excited. Joy fills his eyes. A smile widens across his face. You didn’t realize He was quite so tall. He reaches up with his long arms to the top shelf, reaching you with ease, and suddenly you aren’t on the shelf any more. You are in his hands. He is captivated at the masterpiece you are. He wipes off the dust with his gentle touch as he admires all of your details. He looks for the price tag and finds it. You get apprehensive, “what if the price on my tag is too much?” As if he read your mind, he mumbles “Worth every penny.” Another customer in the store hears him and glances over to see his treasure. The customer gazes at your price tag and says, “kind of expensive isn’t it?” The man agrees, “Yes. Expensive indeed, but there is no price too high. It’s perfect. It’s special, you see, for my father fashioned this many years ago and I would pay anything to get it back.” He smiles and politely walks away toward the cash register, pays the price, and carries his treasure home.
“…………..you are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1Cor 6:19-20
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Rescued
The summer before second grade, much to my delight, I was invited by some school friends to go to the lake to swim with them and their mother. I was thrilled to get to go and was having a great time until I tip toed a little too far out in the water. One moment the water was up to my chin and I would bounce up and down like kids do to keep it out of my mouth, then the next moment, I had stepped off into deeper water and could not touch the bottom, nor could I swim. I remember so clearly my feet hitting the bottom and then pushing as hard as I could to get my head above water. I would open my mouth to yell for help only for it to fill up with water only seconds later. I could see the shore, but I couldn’t move toward it. I could see my friends’ mother and she could see me. She was pointing at me, but it seemed no one was coming my way. I remember thinking in my 7 year old mind that I was going to drown. This was it. Mom had told me to be careful and I had really screwed up now. All of this was whirling through my mind as panic set in. All I remember next is seeing only muddy water and then out of no where a lifeguard had me in her arms and took me to the shore.
Have you ever felt that way, spiritually speaking? I know I have. It seems like things are going ok, we tip toe out a little further, thinking we can handle it, and the next thing we know, we’re bobbing up and down to get a breath and screaming for rescue. We have a lifeguard who is on duty twenty-four/seven. He never sleeps or slumbers.
Psalms 91 is one of my favorite chapters in God’s Word, and I particularly love these verses. God set me securely on high that day through the hands of that lifeguard and has done it Himself many times since then spiritually. Ever since that day I have been a little leery of water getting any higher than my shoulders. I learned my lesson and will never forget it as long as I live. It's too bad I don’t learn the lessons as easy in life and still tend to wade out a little too far sometimes. He has always been there right on time to rescue me. He has carried me to many new shores at different stages of my life and I know He is willing to carry you too. Please hold on to the truth that He rescues. Even when you think you’re going under for the last time, His arm is not too short to reach you, He can still part waters. Call upon Him, He will answer.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Have you ever felt that way, spiritually speaking? I know I have. It seems like things are going ok, we tip toe out a little further, thinking we can handle it, and the next thing we know, we’re bobbing up and down to get a breath and screaming for rescue. We have a lifeguard who is on duty twenty-four/seven. He never sleeps or slumbers.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high because he has known My name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.”
Psalms 91:14-15
Psalms 91 is one of my favorite chapters in God’s Word, and I particularly love these verses. God set me securely on high that day through the hands of that lifeguard and has done it Himself many times since then spiritually. Ever since that day I have been a little leery of water getting any higher than my shoulders. I learned my lesson and will never forget it as long as I live. It's too bad I don’t learn the lessons as easy in life and still tend to wade out a little too far sometimes. He has always been there right on time to rescue me. He has carried me to many new shores at different stages of my life and I know He is willing to carry you too. Please hold on to the truth that He rescues. Even when you think you’re going under for the last time, His arm is not too short to reach you, He can still part waters. Call upon Him, He will answer.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Monday, June 21, 2010
Silent Listening
McKayla brought something to my attention a few days ago. She asked me, “Mom, did you know that the same letters that spell the word listen also spell the word silent?”
I had never thought about it, but it is true. I asked her what made her think of it and she said she didn’t know. I didn’t buy that answer, so I asked her if a teacher or someone else had taught this to her and she said, “Nope. Just thought of it.” Immediately I felt God whisper to my heart and I knew He wanted to teach me something through the words my daughter had just spoken. To listen, you must be silent. I was convicted.
Have you ever been on the telephone talking to someone and while you are trying to talk to them, they are speaking to someone else at the same time? I have been on the receiving end of this type of conversation many times over the years. Normally it doesn’t bother me, because I know what it’s like trying to carry on a phone conversation when the kids are in the same room. It’s nearly impossible! If I call someone about something that I feel is important or if I need a friend at that moment and the person on the other end is talking to someone else at the same time as they are talking to me, it feels like they aren’t taking my call seriously and what I have to say is not important.
Do I do God that way? You bet I do. I tell Him that I want to hear from Him, I want Him to speak to me, but then when He tries to, I have a million other things going on and I don’t fully lend and ear to Him. How many times He must have felt what He had to say wasn’t important to me!
The story of Mary and Martha makes me think of this same type of situation. You can read in Luke 10 for yourself for the whole story , but Martha was busy busy busy. Doing. Serving. It wasn’t that she didn’t welcome Jesus into her home, she did, just as I have welcomed Him into my heart, but she was very preoccupied with other things. The scripture doesn’t say that the things she was preoccupied with were bad things, but it does say that her sister, Mary, had chosen the “good” part.
“And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.” Luke 10:39
Mary, unlike Martha, unlike Amy, was listening. She was seated at His feet. Still. Silent. All ears. You see, I, and maybe you too, have been seeking His direction about things and waiting for an answer. It’s not that He hasn’t attempted to answer me, but I haven’t been silent enough to listen and concentrate on what He has to say, paying attention nothing else. He’s a gentleman and is not going to yell louder than all of the other voices in my life. He simply says, “This doesn’t sound like a good time, I’ll call you back later.”
God, please forgive me for not giving You the attention You deserve as my Lord. I have come to You and asked You for guidance, however, I have disregarded the importance of listening silently for Your response. Thank you, Father, for continually speaking to me through my children. I wonder if sometimes that’s what You have to resort to because I haven’t devoted my mind completely to You and You can’t get me to listen any other way. I pray for the willingness to obey and be still before You and You alone. Thank You that You still continue to attempt to speak to me even when I only devote half an ear. Father, I want to tell You in this moment that Your voice is always welcome in my heart and I pray that I become more like Mary and chose “the good part”, which is You.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I had never thought about it, but it is true. I asked her what made her think of it and she said she didn’t know. I didn’t buy that answer, so I asked her if a teacher or someone else had taught this to her and she said, “Nope. Just thought of it.” Immediately I felt God whisper to my heart and I knew He wanted to teach me something through the words my daughter had just spoken. To listen, you must be silent. I was convicted.
Have you ever been on the telephone talking to someone and while you are trying to talk to them, they are speaking to someone else at the same time? I have been on the receiving end of this type of conversation many times over the years. Normally it doesn’t bother me, because I know what it’s like trying to carry on a phone conversation when the kids are in the same room. It’s nearly impossible! If I call someone about something that I feel is important or if I need a friend at that moment and the person on the other end is talking to someone else at the same time as they are talking to me, it feels like they aren’t taking my call seriously and what I have to say is not important.
Do I do God that way? You bet I do. I tell Him that I want to hear from Him, I want Him to speak to me, but then when He tries to, I have a million other things going on and I don’t fully lend and ear to Him. How many times He must have felt what He had to say wasn’t important to me!
The story of Mary and Martha makes me think of this same type of situation. You can read in Luke 10 for yourself for the whole story , but Martha was busy busy busy. Doing. Serving. It wasn’t that she didn’t welcome Jesus into her home, she did, just as I have welcomed Him into my heart, but she was very preoccupied with other things. The scripture doesn’t say that the things she was preoccupied with were bad things, but it does say that her sister, Mary, had chosen the “good” part.
“And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.” Luke 10:39
Mary, unlike Martha, unlike Amy, was listening. She was seated at His feet. Still. Silent. All ears. You see, I, and maybe you too, have been seeking His direction about things and waiting for an answer. It’s not that He hasn’t attempted to answer me, but I haven’t been silent enough to listen and concentrate on what He has to say, paying attention nothing else. He’s a gentleman and is not going to yell louder than all of the other voices in my life. He simply says, “This doesn’t sound like a good time, I’ll call you back later.”
God, please forgive me for not giving You the attention You deserve as my Lord. I have come to You and asked You for guidance, however, I have disregarded the importance of listening silently for Your response. Thank you, Father, for continually speaking to me through my children. I wonder if sometimes that’s what You have to resort to because I haven’t devoted my mind completely to You and You can’t get me to listen any other way. I pray for the willingness to obey and be still before You and You alone. Thank You that You still continue to attempt to speak to me even when I only devote half an ear. Father, I want to tell You in this moment that Your voice is always welcome in my heart and I pray that I become more like Mary and chose “the good part”, which is You.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Miseries and Melodies
Do you feel sometimes that you just don’t have anything of worth to offer to God? I know sometimes I do. It’s easy to feel like all we have to show for ourselves is messes and mistakes and God doesn’t want my messes. This “feeling” is a lie from the enemy and when I feel this way I am comforted by Psalms 51:17.
It’s true that sometimes all we have to offer God are messes and mistakes, but that’s ok. He sees our brokenness as a sacrifice to Him when we offer it, He does not despise us when we are broken. When we have nothing else to give him but our brokenness and our mistakes, that’s what we must lift up and offer to Him. He will receive it because that brokenness is evidence of reliance upon Him instead of upon ourselves. When we lift up our hands holding our failures up to Him, He can take them leaving our hands open to receive His love and mercy.
There is a song by Amy Grant that is popular right now entitled “Better Than A Hallelujah” and I appreciate the lyrics so much because they are a true reflection of what is mentioned in Psalms 51:17. Here are a few words of the song:
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a hallelujah
I believe that it is more pleasing to Him to hear us pour out our miseries to Him than to hear a simple hallelujah. Our pouring out gives Him something to work with, a starting place for something new in our spirits, and after all, if He can create this vast universe from nothing at all, imagine what He can create with a heap of failure and a load of brokenness.
Father, I come to you on behalf of those reading these words and ask for You to minister to the ones who feel they have nothing to offer to You that is worth Your receipt. Father, I pray that they can see You as tender and loving. Just as a mommy or a daddy loves the messy scribble “works of art” handed to them by their young child and hangs them on the fridge with pride, You love our messy offerings of brokenness and you can see the beauty in each offering. I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would bring to remembrance this verse when they are experiencing a day of brokenness and encourage them that when brokenness is all they have to offer, Abba Father delights in the opportunity to do a mighty work within each one of them.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.”
It’s true that sometimes all we have to offer God are messes and mistakes, but that’s ok. He sees our brokenness as a sacrifice to Him when we offer it, He does not despise us when we are broken. When we have nothing else to give him but our brokenness and our mistakes, that’s what we must lift up and offer to Him. He will receive it because that brokenness is evidence of reliance upon Him instead of upon ourselves. When we lift up our hands holding our failures up to Him, He can take them leaving our hands open to receive His love and mercy.
There is a song by Amy Grant that is popular right now entitled “Better Than A Hallelujah” and I appreciate the lyrics so much because they are a true reflection of what is mentioned in Psalms 51:17. Here are a few words of the song:
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a hallelujah
I believe that it is more pleasing to Him to hear us pour out our miseries to Him than to hear a simple hallelujah. Our pouring out gives Him something to work with, a starting place for something new in our spirits, and after all, if He can create this vast universe from nothing at all, imagine what He can create with a heap of failure and a load of brokenness.
Father, I come to you on behalf of those reading these words and ask for You to minister to the ones who feel they have nothing to offer to You that is worth Your receipt. Father, I pray that they can see You as tender and loving. Just as a mommy or a daddy loves the messy scribble “works of art” handed to them by their young child and hangs them on the fridge with pride, You love our messy offerings of brokenness and you can see the beauty in each offering. I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would bring to remembrance this verse when they are experiencing a day of brokenness and encourage them that when brokenness is all they have to offer, Abba Father delights in the opportunity to do a mighty work within each one of them.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Times of Refreshing
I know you are all sick of hearing about my vacation, but I have another nugget to share with you that He gave me for today and I hope it speaks to you.
The several days leading up to our vacation were less than lovely, that’s the nicest way I can put it. Then the evening we were leaving, we were detained unexpectedly and left an hour and a half later than planned. We had planned on driving part of the way, stopping to sleep and then heading out early the next morning. The 90 minute delay landed us in a little town where most all the rooms were booked (I don’t know why – didn’t look like much was there to me, but hey – what do I know?). It was very late, but we finally found a room that at least had interior corridors. I’ll spare you the details and just tell you that we slept in our clothes on top of the covers! There was not a bit of trouble getting up and getting out of there early! I told you that (and left out a lot) just to set the tone for you.
Despite the hurdles, we were determined to enjoy the days away and we really have had a great time. As I sat on the beach letting the waves wash up on my feet, I was thinking about this being our last day to visit the ocean. I want to be home, but then again I don’t. I thought how strange it is that something as powerful, as vast, and as dangerous as the ocean is can be so relaxing me. It seems like such a contradiction. It could very easily mark my doom as easily as I have enjoyed its refreshing. As soon as I realized that, God reminded me how vast, jealous, fierce, but life giving He is. It isn’t the ocean at all that has refreshed me, it’s how He used it. He spoke to me using the ocean which is one of the most massive things I can comprehend to remind me of His strength and His refreshment at the same time. Even if we had not enjoyed a moment of the trip, that moment itself was enough to bring me here. He is so BIG (did you hear that Brittany?), So Powerful, So Far Reaching, So Comforting, So Soothing, So Refreshing.
Here’s the second part- as people walked by me leaving their footprints, the water would wash up and they would disappear. The sand would be completely smooth as if it had never been disturbed once the water passed over. That’s just like me. I was marked up and stepped on. My surface was not smooth, much less pretty, but His blood washed over me and it’s as if sin has never walked upon my surface.
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, appointed for you.
Thank you, my sweet Father, for sending Jesus, the One appointed for me. Thank you, God for Your divine ability to speak to me in everyday moments despite the more important things in the world. I love that You are able to be everywhere at once so that You can whisper sweet nothings in my ear. There is none other like You.
I covet your prayers once again as we travel home today. See you all soon.
The several days leading up to our vacation were less than lovely, that’s the nicest way I can put it. Then the evening we were leaving, we were detained unexpectedly and left an hour and a half later than planned. We had planned on driving part of the way, stopping to sleep and then heading out early the next morning. The 90 minute delay landed us in a little town where most all the rooms were booked (I don’t know why – didn’t look like much was there to me, but hey – what do I know?). It was very late, but we finally found a room that at least had interior corridors. I’ll spare you the details and just tell you that we slept in our clothes on top of the covers! There was not a bit of trouble getting up and getting out of there early! I told you that (and left out a lot) just to set the tone for you.
Despite the hurdles, we were determined to enjoy the days away and we really have had a great time. As I sat on the beach letting the waves wash up on my feet, I was thinking about this being our last day to visit the ocean. I want to be home, but then again I don’t. I thought how strange it is that something as powerful, as vast, and as dangerous as the ocean is can be so relaxing me. It seems like such a contradiction. It could very easily mark my doom as easily as I have enjoyed its refreshing. As soon as I realized that, God reminded me how vast, jealous, fierce, but life giving He is. It isn’t the ocean at all that has refreshed me, it’s how He used it. He spoke to me using the ocean which is one of the most massive things I can comprehend to remind me of His strength and His refreshment at the same time. Even if we had not enjoyed a moment of the trip, that moment itself was enough to bring me here. He is so BIG (did you hear that Brittany?), So Powerful, So Far Reaching, So Comforting, So Soothing, So Refreshing.
Here’s the second part- as people walked by me leaving their footprints, the water would wash up and they would disappear. The sand would be completely smooth as if it had never been disturbed once the water passed over. That’s just like me. I was marked up and stepped on. My surface was not smooth, much less pretty, but His blood washed over me and it’s as if sin has never walked upon my surface.
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, appointed for you.
Acts 3:19-20
I covet your prayers once again as we travel home today. See you all soon.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Riding the Waves
While dad relaxed reading a book on the beach, McKayla, Brenna, and I went out into the ocean for a while. They both loved the water and enjoyed it quite a bit. The waves were coming in regularly and I think they were surprised at how strong the force of the waves was. As I held on to Brenna when the waves would come in toward her, I could see excitement, anticipation, and just a touch of apprehension in her face. Although she was a little afraid of the wave pulling her under, she was enjoying riding on the waves as they came her way. She would giggle and say "here comes one" as she practically choked me grabbing around my neck. "Be careful mommy!" Then the wave would splash over us and we would both laugh. Before she could dry her eyes from that wave, she would get excited about the next one.
God, that's exactly how I feel on this journey with You. I am excited about where You will take me, what You will teach me, but I will be honest, sometimes I am a little apprehensive not knowing exactly what You have planned. Father, I will hold on to you as tightly as I can as the waves come in toward me and trust You to keep me in Your hand. I pray for the boldness to enjoy the waves and ride them to where ever you plan for us to go. Thank You for growing my love for You everyday through the simplest of life's lessons.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter of the King)
God, that's exactly how I feel on this journey with You. I am excited about where You will take me, what You will teach me, but I will be honest, sometimes I am a little apprehensive not knowing exactly what You have planned. Father, I will hold on to you as tightly as I can as the waves come in toward me and trust You to keep me in Your hand. I pray for the boldness to enjoy the waves and ride them to where ever you plan for us to go. Thank You for growing my love for You everyday through the simplest of life's lessons.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter of the King)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Castles in the Sand
The girls and I tried to build a sand castle on the beach, and I emphasize the word "tried". It wasn't the prettiest sand castle, I didn't even bother to take a picture it was so pitiful, but it was standing when we completed it. As a matter of fact, it was still standing when we left the beach despite my architectural deficits! As we dug and patted, shaped and molded, we knew that the sand had to have moisture to make it all stay together. The moment that sand became the least bit dry, the structure would crumble at the slightest touch, but if we wet it down and pack it in tight, it was strong and not so easily affected by the sand and traffic around it.
I thought about that in relation to my relationship with God, and the same holds true. If I don't have time with Him and in His word which allows Living Water to run in and through me, I become dry. The slightest shift or touch from this world or things around me can make me crumble. If I have His water as part of me and allow Him to pack me in tightly, I'm not so easily affected by things around me. Allowing the One who created the sand to build the castle, will insure it to be one that is still standing at sunset.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I thought about that in relation to my relationship with God, and the same holds true. If I don't have time with Him and in His word which allows Living Water to run in and through me, I become dry. The slightest shift or touch from this world or things around me can make me crumble. If I have His water as part of me and allow Him to pack me in tightly, I'm not so easily affected by things around me. Allowing the One who created the sand to build the castle, will insure it to be one that is still standing at sunset.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
My Life - A Reality Show
Reality shows abound these days, every network has tried to capitalize on this craze and most people have a favorite reality show or two or five! Question is, if your life was a reality show and there was a camera and crew with you everywhere you went capturing details of your life, what would people discover about you or me? What would they learn about the power of your Jesus? We have all heard the saying over and over that “we may be the only Jesus people ever see” and I’m afraid that we have heard it so much that we no longer take the concept seriously. I ran across a statement while reading today that said, “People don’t care to meet my Jesus until they meet the reality of Jesus in my life.” I read that in a book by Lysa TerKeurst entitled What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. So, when the camera’s rolling, is He a reality in your life or is He an idea, a story, a duty. Is He just something we mention when the situation is fitting?
The reality of Jesus in our lives is what will draw others to the Kingdom, if they don’t see Jesus in me, it’s possible they won’t be interested in Him at all. People are busy enough these days and are hesitant to commit to something else. They want to see more than “words,” they have to see something real, something powerful to be impacted. Why would they want to commit to Jesus if all they see are people who have a “form of godliness but have denied its power” (2Tim 3:5)? From their perspective, the example that is often demonstrated for them would just be another yoke to carry along with all the others the world has handed them. Why would they want to be a part of something that appears to require the sacrifice of changing their lives without seeing any demonstration in our lives of the benefits this side of Heaven?
How much of a reality is my relationship with Him? If your answer to that question is not what you would hope, take heart, this “power thing” is not something that we have to produce on our own. He has given us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead according to Ephesians 1:19-20, and it’s His power and spirit working within us that will show others how real He is. If we allowed that power to be alive and active in us, what would we say to the camera in those little “interview” times, when there is no one but ourselves and the camera? What “secrets” could we reveal to them about who He has been to and for us? If you can’t think of secrets you would share regarding your experiences with Him, I encourage you to spend some time seeking Him. Just Him. Not activity, not do’s and don’ts, Him.
Aren’t reality shows about real things people experience anyway?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20
How much of a reality is my relationship with Him? If your answer to that question is not what you would hope, take heart, this “power thing” is not something that we have to produce on our own. He has given us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead according to Ephesians 1:19-20, and it’s His power and spirit working within us that will show others how real He is. If we allowed that power to be alive and active in us, what would we say to the camera in those little “interview” times, when there is no one but ourselves and the camera? What “secrets” could we reveal to them about who He has been to and for us? If you can’t think of secrets you would share regarding your experiences with Him, I encourage you to spend some time seeking Him. Just Him. Not activity, not do’s and don’ts, Him.
Aren’t reality shows about real things people experience anyway?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Spiritual Vacation
Life gets tough sometimes and we get weary. Life is full of demands, activity, distractions, deadlines, expectations and often we find ourselves striving on our own to just make things happen, even good things, even Christian things. It’s exhausting.
That’s not what He meant for life to be, He tells us differently in Matthew 11:28.
We race through every day life trying to just survive. But what happens on the other side of that so called “survival”? We are left just an empty shell – Numb, trying to catch our breath, so to speak, but never really reaching “survival” because the demands never stop. He says “come to Me”. Is that concept just too simple for us to grasp? To simply come to Him would require me and would require you to just STOP! Running full steam ahead in this life doesn’t really have a destination when you get down to it, but coming to Him does have a destination – a vacation for my soul. All of that “stuff” and activity required in my days will still be there tomorrow, be He wants to take me on a vacation TODAY, He wants my heart TODAY. If I can’t stop life from becoming a runaway train, I have to jump off the train and let Him catch me regularly.
He says that when we come to Him, all who come will be given rest. Are you tired, weary, burdened? I beg you to take a spiritual vacation. It won’t cost you anything except for surrendering a few moments of your time and thoughts. In only a few moments, there is much refreshment to be found with Him. What simple thing draws you close to Him, makes you aware of who He is? He wouldn’t offer rest if He didn’t have plenty to give.
God, I can hear the rumble of the train on the tracks in my life from the activities of the past few weeks, I choose now to jump off that runaway train and let you catch me if only for a few minutes. I pray the same things for my friends and family. I pray they would come to you for a vacation, for rest, for refreshment, for restoration and watch what you have to offer. I pray they are able to leave from that “vacation” with a souvenir or two to carry with them the rest of the day today.
Speaking of vacations, my family and I will be traveling for vacation ourselves. Please pray for safe travel and that we can enjoy each other as we go for a much needed recharge. Pray that we can return ready to serve Him with more passion and energy than ever before. You never know what He might teach me while we’re away, I’ll probably have a few nuggets posted for you along the way if technology cooperates. I love all of you and appreciate you taking time to read this every day.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
That’s not what He meant for life to be, He tells us differently in Matthew 11:28.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”
We race through every day life trying to just survive. But what happens on the other side of that so called “survival”? We are left just an empty shell – Numb, trying to catch our breath, so to speak, but never really reaching “survival” because the demands never stop. He says “come to Me”. Is that concept just too simple for us to grasp? To simply come to Him would require me and would require you to just STOP! Running full steam ahead in this life doesn’t really have a destination when you get down to it, but coming to Him does have a destination – a vacation for my soul. All of that “stuff” and activity required in my days will still be there tomorrow, be He wants to take me on a vacation TODAY, He wants my heart TODAY. If I can’t stop life from becoming a runaway train, I have to jump off the train and let Him catch me regularly.
He says that when we come to Him, all who come will be given rest. Are you tired, weary, burdened? I beg you to take a spiritual vacation. It won’t cost you anything except for surrendering a few moments of your time and thoughts. In only a few moments, there is much refreshment to be found with Him. What simple thing draws you close to Him, makes you aware of who He is? He wouldn’t offer rest if He didn’t have plenty to give.
God, I can hear the rumble of the train on the tracks in my life from the activities of the past few weeks, I choose now to jump off that runaway train and let you catch me if only for a few minutes. I pray the same things for my friends and family. I pray they would come to you for a vacation, for rest, for refreshment, for restoration and watch what you have to offer. I pray they are able to leave from that “vacation” with a souvenir or two to carry with them the rest of the day today.
Speaking of vacations, my family and I will be traveling for vacation ourselves. Please pray for safe travel and that we can enjoy each other as we go for a much needed recharge. Pray that we can return ready to serve Him with more passion and energy than ever before. You never know what He might teach me while we’re away, I’ll probably have a few nuggets posted for you along the way if technology cooperates. I love all of you and appreciate you taking time to read this every day.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Nature Drive
As I drove home from work and running errands yesterday evening, I noticed several of animals out in the open fields along the way. I saw a few ducks waddling along with each other on a mission to get somewhere, then a few miles later I saw a few deer in a field grazing. Had I been more observant, I probably would have glimpsed a few of God’s other creatures, but I saw enough for Him to teach me something. It amazes me how geese fly in formation for miles at a time. It amazes me how a little bird will take flight from the nest, never having flown before. It amazes me how the different creatures find others like themselves and travel together. Wildlife creatures don’t normally make a habit of hanging out where people are. They like to say in their own little environment, but if necessary, they will venture out in search of food, water, or whatever they need to survive, often endangering themselves to do so. It’s amazing to me how they naturally find creek beds and streams for a place to quench their thirst on a hot day.
What if we searched as fervently for God as the animals do when they search for food and water? Just like they need food and water, He is the One we need to survive. What if we were as determined as they are to get to what we need? We might search for a minute or two, but then settle for something we come across in life to nibble on which curbs our appetites, no longer starving for Him. We sip from a fountain that runs dry instead of drinking from the River of Life and having our thirst quenched. God’s creatures are brave enough to step out into a vast wide open, making themselves vulnerable in order to get what they need. How often am I willing to step out into dangerous territory to get closer to the One who feeds my soul? Am I willing to step out alone when no one steps out with me even if where I have to go is uncertain? Do I go out in search for others like me who share my faith so that we can travel together?
He is my Living Water, what lengths would I go to to find His stream? How far would I travel? How long would you search? How much effort do I exert searching Him out? Not enough to satisfy, when compared, the animals put me to shame.
Lord, it is my desire to have a heart like the one David speaks of in Psalms 42. I pray that my soul would pant for you as the deer pants for water. May my soul pant for you and nothing else. I pray for courage to step out, even if it means stepping out alone, to seek after you. I pray that seeking you would be so much of my nature, that I don’t give danger from doing so a second thought. God help me learn to stop nibbling on the things around me which quench my appetite for the only real food for my spirit. Grow my endurance that I may pass up the fountains that run dry so that I can drink Living Water. Thank you for always being present, even in the midst of the mundane, ordinary things like driving home from work every day. Thank you for your willingness to teach me daily, you always have a lesson planned!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
What if we searched as fervently for God as the animals do when they search for food and water? Just like they need food and water, He is the One we need to survive. What if we were as determined as they are to get to what we need? We might search for a minute or two, but then settle for something we come across in life to nibble on which curbs our appetites, no longer starving for Him. We sip from a fountain that runs dry instead of drinking from the River of Life and having our thirst quenched. God’s creatures are brave enough to step out into a vast wide open, making themselves vulnerable in order to get what they need. How often am I willing to step out into dangerous territory to get closer to the One who feeds my soul? Am I willing to step out alone when no one steps out with me even if where I have to go is uncertain? Do I go out in search for others like me who share my faith so that we can travel together?
He is my Living Water, what lengths would I go to to find His stream? How far would I travel? How long would you search? How much effort do I exert searching Him out? Not enough to satisfy, when compared, the animals put me to shame.
Lord, it is my desire to have a heart like the one David speaks of in Psalms 42. I pray that my soul would pant for you as the deer pants for water. May my soul pant for you and nothing else. I pray for courage to step out, even if it means stepping out alone, to seek after you. I pray that seeking you would be so much of my nature, that I don’t give danger from doing so a second thought. God help me learn to stop nibbling on the things around me which quench my appetite for the only real food for my spirit. Grow my endurance that I may pass up the fountains that run dry so that I can drink Living Water. Thank you for always being present, even in the midst of the mundane, ordinary things like driving home from work every day. Thank you for your willingness to teach me daily, you always have a lesson planned!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Living Word, I pray for a vast awareness of the life and activity that is so certain in the Word you have led me to today. May the words that I type resonate deeply with the eyes that read, the ears that hear, and the minds that perceive as I share what you have drawn me to.
He Longs.
Longing for something is a deep feeling, and when I think of longing several things come to mind. A Longing could be…..
A child counting the days until Christmas
A teacher waiting for summer break
A weary traveler headed for home
A poor family dreaming of better things for their children
A woman who desperately wants to taste motherhood, but cannot
A wife awaiting her husbands return from military service
A mom and dad who haven’t heard their child’s voice in weeks
An orphan who hopes for a mother and father
A patient anticipating a cure
These things that make me think of what it means to long for something. A longing is a yearning, a deep desire, a hunger, a craving, and this one drives it home for me – an ache. That’s how deeply, if not more deeply, our Father feels about extending grace to you. He longs – He aches to do it.
to be gracious
Gracious in the original language is “chanan” which means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior”. Have you ever been around a toddler that you just wanted to get to know a little better and they were scared of you? You admire them from afar and they are so precious. You think to yourself “I don’t know why she’s afraid of me. I won’t hurt her. If she would let me hold her, she would see she would like me.” As the little one clings to momma’s leg, you try to make conversation, but the child hides its face. It’s only our nature to bend down and speak softly to the child and show them you can be trusted. It’s our nature because that’s His nature. He LONGS to “stoop in kindness” to you.
He waits… to have compassion
Compassion – from the word “racham”, this word pictures a deep, kindly sympathy and sorrow felt for someone who has had an affliction or misfortune. This sympathy and sorrow is accompanied with the desire to relieve the suffering.
That’s Him. Aching to stoop down in kindness and waiting to relieve my suffering. That’s Him. That’s the God I love.
Make my heart long and ache to please you and serve you as much as yours aches to touch me. I pray that I would not be timid when you speak to me, that I would not hide my face, but that I would trust you as you bend toward me. I try to imagine what only one touch of your finger upon my heart would do, and I can’t fathom it. If I could just touch the hem of your garment, I would never be the same. Oh thank you, sweet Father, for this tender side of you that loves me so and thank you for the fierce side of you that is my defender and protector. Who am I that you are mindful of me?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.
He Longs.
Longing for something is a deep feeling, and when I think of longing several things come to mind. A Longing could be…..
A child counting the days until Christmas
A teacher waiting for summer break
A weary traveler headed for home
A poor family dreaming of better things for their children
A woman who desperately wants to taste motherhood, but cannot
A wife awaiting her husbands return from military service
A mom and dad who haven’t heard their child’s voice in weeks
An orphan who hopes for a mother and father
A patient anticipating a cure
These things that make me think of what it means to long for something. A longing is a yearning, a deep desire, a hunger, a craving, and this one drives it home for me – an ache. That’s how deeply, if not more deeply, our Father feels about extending grace to you. He longs – He aches to do it.
to be gracious
Gracious in the original language is “chanan” which means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior”. Have you ever been around a toddler that you just wanted to get to know a little better and they were scared of you? You admire them from afar and they are so precious. You think to yourself “I don’t know why she’s afraid of me. I won’t hurt her. If she would let me hold her, she would see she would like me.” As the little one clings to momma’s leg, you try to make conversation, but the child hides its face. It’s only our nature to bend down and speak softly to the child and show them you can be trusted. It’s our nature because that’s His nature. He LONGS to “stoop in kindness” to you.
He waits… to have compassion
Compassion – from the word “racham”, this word pictures a deep, kindly sympathy and sorrow felt for someone who has had an affliction or misfortune. This sympathy and sorrow is accompanied with the desire to relieve the suffering.
That’s Him. Aching to stoop down in kindness and waiting to relieve my suffering. That’s Him. That’s the God I love.
Make my heart long and ache to please you and serve you as much as yours aches to touch me. I pray that I would not be timid when you speak to me, that I would not hide my face, but that I would trust you as you bend toward me. I try to imagine what only one touch of your finger upon my heart would do, and I can’t fathom it. If I could just touch the hem of your garment, I would never be the same. Oh thank you, sweet Father, for this tender side of you that loves me so and thank you for the fierce side of you that is my defender and protector. Who am I that you are mindful of me?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Lesson in Parenting
Since summer break began, McKayla’s social calendar has been quite the buzz in our house. The first weekend after school was out, she was invited to go out on the lake with another family and was so excited at the invitation. Everything within me was screaming NO! I could think of lots of reasons not to allow her to go, but I was also sensing that it was time to give her a little freedom. Reluctantly, we let her granted her request, and chose to trust that God’s hand was upon her. I will be honest and tell you that I prayed many times that day for her safety because I love her so much that it hurts and cannot bear the thought of something happening to her. God did watch over her and He brought her safely home to us, but she came home with some questions. It all started with something as simple as a radio station.
She realized while out with her friends that “everybody” doesn’t listen to Christian music and for the first time felt “uncool” toward those around her. She felt this way because she didn’t know the words to the songs they were singing. I could feel my motherly pride welling up when she started to tell me that she asked to change the station to KLove, but that proudness turned to pain when she explained that they didn’t listen to it for long. No one else in the car knew the songs. For the first time in her young life, she was faced with the choice to follow the crowd or stand for Christ. Her question for us when she returned home was if she could start listening to stations other than Christian radio.
My heart sank, I felt like a part of my “baby” was fading away and that our window of influence had just gotten smaller. Granted, this wasn’t a “big deal” morally or spiritually speaking, (it could have been much worse) but it was a great teaching opportunity for us. We explained to her that it’s not necessarily “wrong” to listen to other music, but it’s not what’s best for us. If she has Jesus in her heart, her body is His temple, and we should be careful what we allow into that temple. We also told her that the longer and closer she walks with Jesus, the smaller the crowd around her will get, and there may be times when she feels like it is just her and Him. After a long talk with her, we did not forbid her changing what she listened to, we told her the choice was hers. I wanted so much to just flat out say “NO! Absolutely not, this is my house and you will follow MY rules!” But I didn’t. I tucked her in bed that night, prayed with her, and chose to trust God with the rest. I felt we had done the best job we knew to do in teaching her what God’s Word says, teaching her to honor Him with her life, and to flee from evil. The choice was hers.
Todd and I were both a little sad when we went to bed that night, but it didn’t take God long to show us hope. The next day she went in her room, turned on the other station and began listening. Much to our amazement, before even the first song finished, she turned it off and put on one of her Christian CD’s. When asked why, her answer was “the things they were singing just weren’t appropriate and I didn’t want to hear it.” I will tell you I had my own little celebration with God when I heard that!
As I drove home from work that day, I was replaying everything in my mind and I realized that God does this with us everyday. He has given us everything we need to live life in a godly manner (1Pet 1:3), but He lets us try it on our own and gives us the chance to make our own decisions. He wants us to do what is right, but a mere demand is empty of the sacrifice and love required in a choice. A choice shows the heart. This decision McKayla made meant so much more to her and to us than any of our demands could have ever made. That’s why our obedience is so special to Him. Our obedience is a choice, our love for Him is a choice, so when we choose Him over the things of this world, it brings Him joy unspeakable.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
She realized while out with her friends that “everybody” doesn’t listen to Christian music and for the first time felt “uncool” toward those around her. She felt this way because she didn’t know the words to the songs they were singing. I could feel my motherly pride welling up when she started to tell me that she asked to change the station to KLove, but that proudness turned to pain when she explained that they didn’t listen to it for long. No one else in the car knew the songs. For the first time in her young life, she was faced with the choice to follow the crowd or stand for Christ. Her question for us when she returned home was if she could start listening to stations other than Christian radio.
My heart sank, I felt like a part of my “baby” was fading away and that our window of influence had just gotten smaller. Granted, this wasn’t a “big deal” morally or spiritually speaking, (it could have been much worse) but it was a great teaching opportunity for us. We explained to her that it’s not necessarily “wrong” to listen to other music, but it’s not what’s best for us. If she has Jesus in her heart, her body is His temple, and we should be careful what we allow into that temple. We also told her that the longer and closer she walks with Jesus, the smaller the crowd around her will get, and there may be times when she feels like it is just her and Him. After a long talk with her, we did not forbid her changing what she listened to, we told her the choice was hers. I wanted so much to just flat out say “NO! Absolutely not, this is my house and you will follow MY rules!” But I didn’t. I tucked her in bed that night, prayed with her, and chose to trust God with the rest. I felt we had done the best job we knew to do in teaching her what God’s Word says, teaching her to honor Him with her life, and to flee from evil. The choice was hers.
Todd and I were both a little sad when we went to bed that night, but it didn’t take God long to show us hope. The next day she went in her room, turned on the other station and began listening. Much to our amazement, before even the first song finished, she turned it off and put on one of her Christian CD’s. When asked why, her answer was “the things they were singing just weren’t appropriate and I didn’t want to hear it.” I will tell you I had my own little celebration with God when I heard that!
As I drove home from work that day, I was replaying everything in my mind and I realized that God does this with us everyday. He has given us everything we need to live life in a godly manner (1Pet 1:3), but He lets us try it on our own and gives us the chance to make our own decisions. He wants us to do what is right, but a mere demand is empty of the sacrifice and love required in a choice. A choice shows the heart. This decision McKayla made meant so much more to her and to us than any of our demands could have ever made. That’s why our obedience is so special to Him. Our obedience is a choice, our love for Him is a choice, so when we choose Him over the things of this world, it brings Him joy unspeakable.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Monday, June 7, 2010
No Ordinary Sidewalk
I was walking into work one day last week. As I made the “hike” into the building, I walked along the sidewalk that led up to the building as I do everyday. As usual, I was wishing it was Saturday or Sunday, I was wishing I could have slept a little longer, I was wishing I could park closer. I could think of a hundred other things I would rather be doing as I made my mental list of what I needed to accomplish that day. Then something caught my eye. I travel this sidewalk every morning and this day was no different than any other, but for a few moments this wasn’t just an ordinary, gray concrete sidewalk. The sun was spilling over the side of the building just enough that it was hitting the sidewalk in front of me and the tiny pebbles that made up the concrete were sparkling ever so slightly, but so beautifully. I was so thankful that God drew my attention to them because first of all, it reminded me of Heaven and how beautiful the streets there must be. If this ordinary sidewalk can sparkle on this ordinary morning of this ordinary day of this ordinary work week and be so pretty, then I know that Heaven is gonna knock our socks off! I can’t wait to see it.
"…And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21.
I also thought about how many pebbles there must be that make up just that small part of the sidewalk. Without the sunlight hitting them, each pebble would just blend in with the rest, resulting in a flat gray surface. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to blend in with the rest of the world, I want to sparkle. I want to be different. I want His light to spill from Heaven onto me and bounce back off demonstrating something beautiful to those around me. I also realized that I never “just blend in” with the rest when it comes to God, and that thought brought me great comfort. He loves me specifically for who I am, one He spent time knitting together. He can look down from his throne and see just me. One pebble in a sea of millions, and feel love and mercy and compassion toward me.
I wonder if He ever turns to the angels to say, “That’s my daughter! Look at her shining!” That is my prayer, not only for myself, but for all of you.
Thank you, Abba Father, that I don’t blend in as just another person in a sea of many. You created each of us special, all of us a little different, but still all in your image. Getting a glimpse of You in something as simple as this sidewalk, gives me hope and encouragement to press on for another day. I pray that I would not overlook opportunities to let my light shine before men as You teach me to do in Your word. Holy Spirit, please nudge me when I have moved myself from the light that reflects the One worthy of reflection. May this day be one where you look down and are proud to call me your daughter. Jesus, how can I thank you that you have “gone to prepare a place” for me that has streets of gold? I can only thank you with my life - and my life I gladly give you today.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
"…And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21.
I also thought about how many pebbles there must be that make up just that small part of the sidewalk. Without the sunlight hitting them, each pebble would just blend in with the rest, resulting in a flat gray surface. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to blend in with the rest of the world, I want to sparkle. I want to be different. I want His light to spill from Heaven onto me and bounce back off demonstrating something beautiful to those around me. I also realized that I never “just blend in” with the rest when it comes to God, and that thought brought me great comfort. He loves me specifically for who I am, one He spent time knitting together. He can look down from his throne and see just me. One pebble in a sea of millions, and feel love and mercy and compassion toward me.
I wonder if He ever turns to the angels to say, “That’s my daughter! Look at her shining!” That is my prayer, not only for myself, but for all of you.
Thank you, Abba Father, that I don’t blend in as just another person in a sea of many. You created each of us special, all of us a little different, but still all in your image. Getting a glimpse of You in something as simple as this sidewalk, gives me hope and encouragement to press on for another day. I pray that I would not overlook opportunities to let my light shine before men as You teach me to do in Your word. Holy Spirit, please nudge me when I have moved myself from the light that reflects the One worthy of reflection. May this day be one where you look down and are proud to call me your daughter. Jesus, how can I thank you that you have “gone to prepare a place” for me that has streets of gold? I can only thank you with my life - and my life I gladly give you today.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Friday, June 4, 2010
From A Second Grader's Journal
While driving in the car one evening this week, Brenna was reading parts of her school journal to me. During this past school year, the teacher would write a topic or question on the board every day for the students to journal about. They have been adding to it all year and were able to bring them home at the end of the school year. I would like to share with you Brenna’s entry from September 9, 2009. I wish you could actually see it in her second grade style penmanship; it makes it all the more sweet.
When she was reading this to me in the car, she read “Would you rather be a tree or a flower?” Before she could finish reading the rest of the entry, I interrupted her, “which one did you pick?” I was surprised at her answer. Since she is very much a girl, I expected her to say a flower because she thinks they are so pretty. Even dandelions and those little white flowers that bloom in clover, no flower is a weed to her! In the summer there’s always a collection lying on the kitchen counter courtesy of her and her sister, McKayla.
Although her answer wasn’t what I first expected, it made me proud when she gave her reasoning behind it.
Because a tree is stronger.
Flowers are beautiful, they truly are. I love them. (hint to Todd if he’s reading this!) They can brighten your day, they smell wonderful, they light up a room- but flowers fade. They are only pretty for a short while and then they wilt, they whither, and then the petals lose their color and they fall off and dry up. They’re fragile in a storm and get blown right off the vine. A tree is not so fleeting. Many live for hundreds of years. They are stable. They are stronger, withstanding so much more. Everyone may be drawn to the beauty of a bloom, but when summer heats up, they seek relief under the shade of a tree.
I don’t know about you, but I think Brenna was on to something here. I would much rather be a tree, strong and yielding fruit for the long haul, than a flower only pretty for a season. If I grow my roots near His living water, my leaves will be green and lush, offering comfort or shade to those around me who have been exposed to the heat of this world. I won’t have to fear when life heats things up around me or when I am faced with a drought. His streams of living water will be what I need to sustain me through it all.
God, your creation and how You use them to explain things to us in Your word is so alive to me. I can see your handprints all around me. I am so thankful that You are Sovereign, yet gentle enough to teach me something profound through something as simple as my child’s school journal. Her answer was only one sentence, yet You used it to speak volumes to me. Father plant me by your water, draw my roots closer to drink from your stream. Make me beautiful from within so that I may bear fruit for Your glory, no matter what season of life I am in.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
September 9, 2009
Would you rather be a tree or a flower? Why?
I would want to be a tree because a tree is stroger. (her spelling!)
When she was reading this to me in the car, she read “Would you rather be a tree or a flower?” Before she could finish reading the rest of the entry, I interrupted her, “which one did you pick?” I was surprised at her answer. Since she is very much a girl, I expected her to say a flower because she thinks they are so pretty. Even dandelions and those little white flowers that bloom in clover, no flower is a weed to her! In the summer there’s always a collection lying on the kitchen counter courtesy of her and her sister, McKayla.
Although her answer wasn’t what I first expected, it made me proud when she gave her reasoning behind it.
Because a tree is stronger.
Flowers are beautiful, they truly are. I love them. (hint to Todd if he’s reading this!) They can brighten your day, they smell wonderful, they light up a room- but flowers fade. They are only pretty for a short while and then they wilt, they whither, and then the petals lose their color and they fall off and dry up. They’re fragile in a storm and get blown right off the vine. A tree is not so fleeting. Many live for hundreds of years. They are stable. They are stronger, withstanding so much more. Everyone may be drawn to the beauty of a bloom, but when summer heats up, they seek relief under the shade of a tree.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17: 7-8
I don’t know about you, but I think Brenna was on to something here. I would much rather be a tree, strong and yielding fruit for the long haul, than a flower only pretty for a season. If I grow my roots near His living water, my leaves will be green and lush, offering comfort or shade to those around me who have been exposed to the heat of this world. I won’t have to fear when life heats things up around me or when I am faced with a drought. His streams of living water will be what I need to sustain me through it all.
God, your creation and how You use them to explain things to us in Your word is so alive to me. I can see your handprints all around me. I am so thankful that You are Sovereign, yet gentle enough to teach me something profound through something as simple as my child’s school journal. Her answer was only one sentence, yet You used it to speak volumes to me. Father plant me by your water, draw my roots closer to drink from your stream. Make me beautiful from within so that I may bear fruit for Your glory, no matter what season of life I am in.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Jesus Loves Me This I Know??
Today, we're gonna do something a little different. Let’s take a trip back to our younger days and sing a precious little song that was written by Anna Warner. Sing along with me for a minute:
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
In case you were wondering, yes, everyone around you heard that and they all think you’re crazy, but that’s ok. Welcome to my little club!
We tend think of “Jesus Loves Me” as a little kid’s song, something sang in the nursery or at Bible School. Every time I think of it, I think of Mrs. Lela Yahr a precious woman, who was instrumental in my faith. As I sing it, I can smell the scent of Juicy Fruit gum that she always had to give us kids. Seriously though, I think these words can be very profound when you think about what they say.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Do you really believe that? If you do, prove it to me. If “the Bible tells you so”, I challenge you today to dig up a verse that proves it. Don’t take the obvious road and pick John 3:16, although it is a wonderful scripture, but dig up something special where you can feel Him speaking to your heart.
I got my shovel out and did some digging for myself and I would love to share with you one verse that proves He loves me.
You know what I noticed? “I have loved” He loved me before I ever considered loving Him back. Before I even knew what love was, He was already loving me. That stirs my heart to praise!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!
I pray this song gets “stuck in your head” today and takes on new meaning and that through the scripture you uncover, a part of your heart is forever changed.
Once you get done digging – post a comment to share with the rest of us. His word never returns void. If you have never posted, don’t worry, it won’t bite. If you don’t have one of the “accounts” it asks for, just pick the option of “Anonymous” and you can add it that way. Feel free to type your name at the end of your post, or if you would rather remain anonymous, that’s ok too. Now, if this whole “posting a comment” thing is too complicated, you can email your nugget of truth to me at beyondsundaymornings@gmail.com.
Have a blessed day – By the way, did I just hear you humming a familiar tune?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
In case you were wondering, yes, everyone around you heard that and they all think you’re crazy, but that’s ok. Welcome to my little club!
We tend think of “Jesus Loves Me” as a little kid’s song, something sang in the nursery or at Bible School. Every time I think of it, I think of Mrs. Lela Yahr a precious woman, who was instrumental in my faith. As I sing it, I can smell the scent of Juicy Fruit gum that she always had to give us kids. Seriously though, I think these words can be very profound when you think about what they say.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Do you really believe that? If you do, prove it to me. If “the Bible tells you so”, I challenge you today to dig up a verse that proves it. Don’t take the obvious road and pick John 3:16, although it is a wonderful scripture, but dig up something special where you can feel Him speaking to your heart.
I got my shovel out and did some digging for myself and I would love to share with you one verse that proves He loves me.
The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an
everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”
Jeremiah 31:3
You know what I noticed? “I have loved” He loved me before I ever considered loving Him back. Before I even knew what love was, He was already loving me. That stirs my heart to praise!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!
I pray this song gets “stuck in your head” today and takes on new meaning and that through the scripture you uncover, a part of your heart is forever changed.
Once you get done digging – post a comment to share with the rest of us. His word never returns void. If you have never posted, don’t worry, it won’t bite. If you don’t have one of the “accounts” it asks for, just pick the option of “Anonymous” and you can add it that way. Feel free to type your name at the end of your post, or if you would rather remain anonymous, that’s ok too. Now, if this whole “posting a comment” thing is too complicated, you can email your nugget of truth to me at beyondsundaymornings@gmail.com.
Have a blessed day – By the way, did I just hear you humming a familiar tune?
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I'll be here today - I promise
It's been one of those days - I got up this morning and my uniform was still dirty, had to wash and dry it. Got to work and the post I had for today did not save on my jump drive. Lovely. I will have a post for you sometime today though, my save-the-day husband is bringing me my computer. I will probably post it around lunch time. Don't miss today's- its a good one!
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Uncovered and Laid Bare
My friend, Leslie, recently shared a story about an incident at her house that most of you can identify with. Leslie is a HUGE fan of the TV show “24” and it was the night of the series finale and she had been watching it intently. She knew her son had a drink – a red one might I add – in his room, but with no drama while watching the show, she thought things were going well in his room. He had been so good while she watched her show! She was so proud of her parenting skills playing out in real life and so thankful that he had listened to her and allowed her to enjoy her favorite show. After the show was over, and her mourning its end, she went in his room to check on him and noticed his beloved “Sponge Bob” lying in a peculiar spot on the floor. She proceeded to pick up Sponge Bob to put him away, only to find that her son had not only spilled his red drink on the carpet, but then tried to cover it up with Sponge Bob, thinking she would never notice.
Needless to say, his plan didn’t work and one of those painful childhood lectures ensued. Don’t we do the same thing to God?
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13
If we believe what this says, I guess we are much like Leslie’s son and are wasting our time trying to cover up anything in our life that is not pleasing to God. Leslie was more upset at her son for trying to hide what he had done, than she was over the spilled drink. She realized that the spilled drink, might leave a stain, but wasn’t the end of the world. She also realized something much more important though, teaching her son transparency.
“Everything is uncovered and laid bare”. Everything includes just that – everything. It doesn’t say “everything will be”, or “everything could be”, it says “everything IS”. That is present tense – right now. It’s already laid bare before him anyway. Any attempts we make to hide something from Him are a wasted effort. We might have a sin in our life that we think we can cover up, but He knows it’s there. Or another thought is -we may not necessarily be trying to "cover up" something, but instead, we just don't mention it to Him and hope He never brings the subject up to us, therefore, we never have to address it and never feel called to change. He is our Abba Father, our Daddy, and much like we feel when our children aren’t completely honest with us, it grieves Him when we attempt to hide things from Him. God wants us to “move Sponge Bob” out of the way on our own, being completely honest and transparent with Him about where we have fallen short. He will tenderly love and restore you when there is repentance for “our stains”. It will be much less painful for us if He doesn’t have to pick up Sponge Bob Himself, revealing what He knows is already under there.
Holy Spirit, search my heart and open my eyes to the things that I have had “covered up” for so long that I don’t even see them anymore. I pray that You bring them to Your healing light so that that part of me can be restored. Father, I pray that it would grieve me to grieve You. I pray that my love for You would be so deep that it physically hurts me to let You down. You have not asked anything of me that the power that You have put within me can’t accomplish. I ask You today to make me a student of the things in my life that are not pleasing to Your eyes.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Needless to say, his plan didn’t work and one of those painful childhood lectures ensued. Don’t we do the same thing to God?
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13
If we believe what this says, I guess we are much like Leslie’s son and are wasting our time trying to cover up anything in our life that is not pleasing to God. Leslie was more upset at her son for trying to hide what he had done, than she was over the spilled drink. She realized that the spilled drink, might leave a stain, but wasn’t the end of the world. She also realized something much more important though, teaching her son transparency.
“Everything is uncovered and laid bare”. Everything includes just that – everything. It doesn’t say “everything will be”, or “everything could be”, it says “everything IS”. That is present tense – right now. It’s already laid bare before him anyway. Any attempts we make to hide something from Him are a wasted effort. We might have a sin in our life that we think we can cover up, but He knows it’s there. Or another thought is -we may not necessarily be trying to "cover up" something, but instead, we just don't mention it to Him and hope He never brings the subject up to us, therefore, we never have to address it and never feel called to change. He is our Abba Father, our Daddy, and much like we feel when our children aren’t completely honest with us, it grieves Him when we attempt to hide things from Him. God wants us to “move Sponge Bob” out of the way on our own, being completely honest and transparent with Him about where we have fallen short. He will tenderly love and restore you when there is repentance for “our stains”. It will be much less painful for us if He doesn’t have to pick up Sponge Bob Himself, revealing what He knows is already under there.
Holy Spirit, search my heart and open my eyes to the things that I have had “covered up” for so long that I don’t even see them anymore. I pray that You bring them to Your healing light so that that part of me can be restored. Father, I pray that it would grieve me to grieve You. I pray that my love for You would be so deep that it physically hurts me to let You down. You have not asked anything of me that the power that You have put within me can’t accomplish. I ask You today to make me a student of the things in my life that are not pleasing to Your eyes.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Back to Life - Back to Reality
Oh how we wait and wish for long holiday weekends. Sometimes those long weekends don’t come a bit too soon in my life and this one was no different. By the end of the day this past Friday, considering the type of day it was, I was very grateful for a long weekend to get away from the same old, same old. I wanted to enjoy my family, my home, and enjoy worship on Sunday without the gloom of Monday hanging over my head.
I really enjoyed the time off and tried to make the best of it, but here we are once again, back to real life, back to reality! (Wasn’t that a song from the 90’s?) If your life is like mine, sometimes you have to work so hard before and after that “day off” that when you return, it is so overwhelming that it doesn’t seem that the day off was worth it. There have been days over the years when life gets back to full speed so quickly that I think I will suffocate from it all.
There is hope though, take at look at what God’s Word says in Lamentations 3:22-23:
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” NIV
This says we are not consumed. We won’t be consumed by tight schedules, by ringing phones, by demanding emails, by budgets, new unexpected responsibilities, needs of our children, needs of our spouses, a car on empty when we get in it, or even by the demands of people we come into contact with. Because of His great love (not just love – “great” love), all of the demands upon you and me today will not swallow us whole. They will not consume us.
God of Great Love, I thank you that your love for me holds the world back so that it cannot consume me. I thank you that you have new compassion for me every morning and ask You, Lord for that compassion today. I need you with me and in me as I face the demands ahead of me. I thank you, Father, that there is nothing I will face today that you don’t already know about. Nothing that I will experience will be a surprise to you. There is nothing in this day that You can’t use to teach me something new about You. I pray for courage to step into it without dread and with my head held high because of Your great love for me.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
I really enjoyed the time off and tried to make the best of it, but here we are once again, back to real life, back to reality! (Wasn’t that a song from the 90’s?) If your life is like mine, sometimes you have to work so hard before and after that “day off” that when you return, it is so overwhelming that it doesn’t seem that the day off was worth it. There have been days over the years when life gets back to full speed so quickly that I think I will suffocate from it all.
There is hope though, take at look at what God’s Word says in Lamentations 3:22-23:
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” NIV
This says we are not consumed. We won’t be consumed by tight schedules, by ringing phones, by demanding emails, by budgets, new unexpected responsibilities, needs of our children, needs of our spouses, a car on empty when we get in it, or even by the demands of people we come into contact with. Because of His great love (not just love – “great” love), all of the demands upon you and me today will not swallow us whole. They will not consume us.
God of Great Love, I thank you that your love for me holds the world back so that it cannot consume me. I thank you that you have new compassion for me every morning and ask You, Lord for that compassion today. I need you with me and in me as I face the demands ahead of me. I thank you, Father, that there is nothing I will face today that you don’t already know about. Nothing that I will experience will be a surprise to you. There is nothing in this day that You can’t use to teach me something new about You. I pray for courage to step into it without dread and with my head held high because of Your great love for me.
Amy Dotson, RPDOTK (Royal Princess Daughter Of The King)
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