Category: short and sweet simple truths

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Closed Door Blessings

Featuredby Heather Guest Dawkins2 Comments on Closed Door Blessings
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©️heatherdawkins.com

 

Maybe, just maybe, we look at closed doors all wrong.

There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: ” when God closes one door he opens another.” We just tend to think that it is going to open immediately. Like, right when we want it. We pace and huff and get down in the dumps all while we are claiming to “trust” God. It’s much easier to tell someone else to have faith and wait on God. When we have something occurring in our own lives we see how difficult the waiting can be. But there truly is beauty and growth to be found in the waiting.

 

There IS beauty to be found in the waiting.

 

There is also beauty in the closed doors.

 

You see, when it seems as if no doors are swinging wide open for you and that no clear answers are coming your way, that’s when God is holding those doors shut so that you won’t walk through the wrong one.

 

Yes, HE gives us free will, but I truly believe that when we are HIS he gives us protection as well.

Thank God for the doors that don’t seem to be opening. Be still and know that HE is God and HE is sovereign and HIS ways are so much better.

 

When we jump ahead and try to pull the steering wheel out of his hands, we often cause a wreck.

 

Waiting is hard. I know. I’ve been in a season of waiting myself. I get it. This is for me as much as it is for you. As we wait, let’s be grateful. I’m going to start my gratitude list again. Joy is found in a grateful heart. Maybe you want to join me?

Just start somewhere. Giving Thanks is a command that’s repeated many times in the Bible. It’s not just there to make God feel better. I truly believe that it’s there to remind us that there’s beauty in being thankful and joy comes from a heart of thankfulness.

 

There are blessings to be found in closed doors and in the waiting.

 

Learning to be still & thankful at the same time.

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Psalms‬ ‭27:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

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Choosing My Word

by Heather Guest DawkinsLeave a Comment on Choosing My Word

Each year for probably the past 3 or 4 years, I’ve prayed for one word that God would give me. A word that HE wants me to focus on for an entire year.

Notice. I did not say a word that I wanted to focus on. Let’s be real. If I chose my word, let’s just say that it probably wouldn’t challenge or change me.

I’m still praying over my word. I’m feeling led toward a certain direction but not completely sure yet. I’ve challenged our daughters to join me and I invite you to join us at the blog with #oneword .

I’m joining the challenge at http://oneword365.com/

Use the hashtag #oneword365 on social media and you can see others who are doing the same.

I’m excited to see what God has for me this year! One year my word was OBEDIENCE. He is always spot on! (Of course) That’s just who he is. Awesome. Amazing. Gracious. Mighty. Sovereign.

Until Next Time,

Heather

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Streams of Living Water

by Heather Guest Dawkins1 Comment on Streams of Living Water

{Day 16 of Being Present in Real Life. New here? Missed any of the posts? Click here for all of them in one place.}

 

John 7:38 ~ “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

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copyright 2014 Heather Dawkins

The water rushes swiftly across the rocks. The music of the waterfall sings like rain through the trees. The fall crisp air feels so fresh and clean.

So grateful for eyesight to see the beauty all around me today.

When my camera is not with me I use my eyes as shutters. Imagining snapping photos with each new sighting of the landscape around me.

Holding the images in my mind. Forever. Memories in my heart & soul.

Until Next Time,

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copyright 2014 Heather Dawkins
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Making The Most of Today

by Heather Guest Dawkins3 Comments on Making The Most of Today

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What are some things that you have never done and would like to do?

Where are some places you’ve never been that you’d like to go?

Life is so short.. Why not break out of the monotony and try something new?

Join me for the rest of the 31 Days of Writing series. Click here for all of the previous posts.

Until Next Time,
Heather 🙂

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Memories in Pictures

by Heather Guest Dawkins7 Comments on Memories in Pictures

If you know me then you know that I have a love for photography. Self-taught, lots of trial and error, lots and lots of practice, and my Daddy was an avid photographer while I was growing up.

He bought me my first 35 mm when I was in 6th grade and provided all of the film I could want. Daddy had his own darkroom and developed his photos. He passed that love on to me. I credit God and Daddy for my love for photography.

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite “Being Present” photos with you.

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“We do not remember days; we remember moments.” ~ unknown

Until Next Time,

Heather 🙂

Day 12 of 31 Days of Being Present

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My Place of Solace

by Heather Guest Dawkins5 Comments on My Place of Solace

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{My spiritual whitespace, my place of solace this morning.}

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{A Psalm of Thanksgiving}

I hope you find your place of spiritual rest today.

It looks different for everyone. That’s the beauty of it. In fact, it looks different for me each day too.

Until Next Time,

Heather 🙂

P.S. You should check out Bonnie Gray’s book, FINDING SPIRITUAL WHITESPACE.

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Spending Time Alone

by Heather Guest Dawkins5 Comments on Spending Time Alone

 

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copyright heatherdawkins.com

 

What happens when you don’t really want to BE PRESENT?

You know…

The days that you want to be alone. Zoned out. On an island even. The days that you just want to withdraw into the shadows.

The days when you are just completely mentally drained. Feeling like you are pulled in a thousand directions.

What about those days?

Do it. Spend some time alone. Just you and Jesus.

Alone time is necessary. It is for me. I recharge with alone time.

Look at Jesus. He went off by himself to get away from crowds and to pray. Sometimes he took his disciples with him and sometimes he went all by himself. He needed time alone as well.

Mark 7:17 ~ Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.

Luke 5:16 ~ But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Matthew 14:21-23 ~ About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray, Night fell while he was there alone.

You see, it is OK to spend time alone. Away from the crowds. Time spent away in prayer is vital for recharging, refocusing, and connecting with God.

The LORD rested on the seventh day when creating the heavens, earth, sea, and everything in them. HE blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. (see Exodus 20:11) Don’t you think that a day of rest is important then?

Mark 2:27,28 ~ “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

What are ways that you find solace? Ways that you rest on a busy day? Or do you? It’s important to find those little moments each day. Moments to feed the soul, focus the mind, and connect with our Heavenly Father. Real rest is found when we meet with HIM.

{ New here? Let’s be blog friends! I would love to encourage you.. Sign up here. This is Day 10 in the 31 Days series that I am joining this month. There are some really great writers who are participating! If you have missed any of the previous posts, you can find them all here in the first post.}

Until Next Time,

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