Promises

We all make them, but how many of them do we actually keep?  While we were growing up, Mom always kept her promises to us.  She didn’t tell us she’d do something or that we could go somewhere if she didn’t intend to do it.  So unless there was an emergency situation, Mom always kept her promises (and still does).  We grew up with this mentality and expected other people to abide by it too.  Unfortunately, the world didn’t have my Mom for their Mom.  I try my best to live by this and to treat others the same way I want to be treated.  Remember that the next time you make a promise to someone – especially your kids.  Don’t tell them you’ll do something unless you intend to do it!

I heard this song last week for the first time.  Dottie Rambo wrote this song a long time ago, but the message still rings true today.  We have one Whose name is Jesus and He’ll never go back on one of His promises to us!  If God’s Word says it, we can count on it!!

Promises

Written by Dottie Rambo

He didn't promise that I would never stumble,
But He did say He'd be there if I fall
He didn't tell me He'd hear complaints I whispered,
But He did say He'd hear me if I call.

Chorus:
Promises, promises, and all of them true.
He's done exactly what He said He would do.
He didn't promise my heart would not be broken,
But He did say He'd mend it again.

He didn't promise my cross would not be heavy,
But He did say that He my load would bear,
He didn't tell me He'd grant my hopes and wishes,
But He did say He'd hear my earnest prayer.

There’s no business like SNOW business!!

Well, I guess the weathermen finally got a snowstorm prediction right around here.  It’s about time!  I took the day off yesterday!  Yay me! 

As you can see from the picture above, Lacie isn’t fond of the snow!  She’s so funny!!  She doesn’t mind the rain, but she DOES NOT like the snow!  It’s snowing again right now…who knows how long it will last or how long it will be be before Lacie HAS to go out today!  LOL

Learning how to SLEEP again!!!

As most of you know, I injured my back last week.  I wish I had an exciting story to tell you of how I hurt it, but alas – I don’t.  All I did was bend over, and that was it!  I’ve had lower back problems before, but nothing this excruciatingly painful!!  About 15 years ago, Lisa began to have problems with her back to the point where she was out of work for about 2 weeks because of the pain.  She’s been going to the chiropractor once a month ever since.  I’ve had problems off and on, but never like this!!  WOW!!  Lisa took off last Tuesday to take me to the chiropractor – she’s such a good sissy…and handy too!  The Dr. had closed his office that day because of the ice.  Lisa had his emergency number and asked him to make a special trip in just for me!  Talk about service!!

Since I hurt my back, I’ve been sleeping in a recliner which has worked well.  Last night, I tried to sleep in my own bed…unsuccessfully, I might add.  I was up like every hour on the hour.  See - I’m a stomach sleeper – have been for years.  I am told that it is the worst position to sleep in for your back.  I won’t be able to sleep like that anymore.  So, now I have to learn to sleep all over again on my side or on my back.  I may have to get a pillow like that in the picture above!  J  However, until my back pain eases, I think I’m going to go back to the recliner.  Hopefully by then, I’ll be able to adjust better! 

In 1Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible says:  “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  So, that’s what I’m going to do – BE THANKFUL!!  After all, it could be worse.  I am on the mend and that is definitely something to be thankful for!!!

Reflections on January 14, 1990

I remember it like it was yesterday!  21 years ago today, my dad passed away from a sudden heart attack.  He had been sick with a cold, but nothing could have prepared us for this.  As I was reflecting back on that day, I have so much to be thankful for!  You see, just about 10 minutes before he collapsed, daddy was driving the car, and Mom, Lisa, and I were all with him.   I didn’t realize it at the time, but God was taking care of us and meeting our needs even then.  When things like this happen suddenly, you don’t have a lot of time to think rationally.  You do things and make decisions the best you can.  We had a memorial service for him at our church in Fairfax the Tuesday after he passed.  That morning while reading my Bible, the Lord gave me exactly what I needed.  My devotion was from Matthew 6 – God was telling me not to worry about tomorrow, because He had it all under control.  While I was getting ready that morning, I was humming a song from Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  The Pastor used that very same scripture during the service that day.  Coincidence?  NO!  Once again, the Lord was assuring me that HE indeed was taking everything – and he ALWAYS will!!

I remember good times and bad times too.  When I was 5 years old, our apartment burned down.  Daddy took care of relocating us and made sure we had everything we needed.

He worked for the Washington Post.  In the mid-70’s, the paper went on strike.  Throughout the whole strike (6-7 months), he was only given ½ of his salary.  He and mom went without – Lisa and I never did!  

He loved decorating the house for Christmas…well maybe he didn’t LOVE it, but we never knew the difference.  He wanted us to enjoy it and I believe he had some fun too!  He and mom would stay up for hours after we went to bed and put together toys and dolls just to make it special for us.  Oh, and we always had a “live” tree – none of that fake stuff for us! ;-)

Mom was the disciplinarian in the house.  Daddy worked nights and shift work.  Mom was around more than he was.  When we would ask to go somewhere, if mom told us no, we would go to dad.  He would always say, “what did your mother say?”  He always backed her up – that’s very important!  He never spanked Lisa, but he did spank me once.  I NEVER forgot it!  And, I never jumped on the bed again after that!  Lol!!  There were folks who criticized mom for spanking us and being hard on us, but it didn’t hurt us or scar us for life!  I think we turned out pretty good!  (wink)

When I graduated from high school, he wrote me a letter.   I remember one line in particular, “Keep God first in your life and you will conquer the impossible.”  He was right!

When I wanted to go to college, he went to the bank and took out a loan to ensure I could go.  I remember being very burdened for his soul, especially while I was away and in college.  He went to my school band concerts and to church with us on special occasions, ie: Christmas or Easter programs, but he didn’t go regularly.  When I would ask him about his salvation and if he would go to heaven when he died, he would always say, “I don’t think you can know until you get there.”  So, I wrote him a letter and gave him verses all kinds of verses on salvation and how we CAN know for sure we are saved.  Mom said he got the letter and read it over and over – weeping.  Every Saturday, they would call and talk to me.  I asked him if he got the letter.  All he said was “yes”, and never mentioned it again.  He kept the letter in the top drawer of his dresser.  It was still there when he died.  I never had confirmation on whether he had accepted Christ as Savior, but I know he had heard enough of the Gospel throughout the years to know the truth.  His mom said that he got saved as a young boy – I still wonder…

While my parents weren’t perfect, they did what they thought was right.  Though I didn’t always agree with them, they did was they thought was best for us.  I loved and respected them and I wanted to please them!

Daddy – I still love and miss you!!

Love,

Dawn

Experiencing God

At the beginning of each year, for the last 5-6 years, I've started doing a daily journal along with my devotions.  The first one I did was called Experiencing God - devotional and journal.  I'm telling you - it's awesome!  It's a devotional that allows you space to write down your thoughts on what you've read or any prayer requests you may have.  You can use it however you want.  For me - it's both a prayer and reflective- thought journal.  It's fun to go back and look at what God was doing in my life then and see where He's brought me from; how He's answered prayers and changed my life. 

Since I was a teenager, I've been doing personal, daily devotions.  I highly encourage you to have your "be still" time with God every day!  For me, the best time is in the morning.  If I don't do it then, it most likely won't happen.  I've learned if I start the day with the Lord, in His Word and in prayer, my day goes a WHOLE lot better!  I read in an issue of "Our Daily Bread" one time to "never start your day with the face of your soul unwashed."  I've NEVER forgotten that!!

I began this year using the Experiencing God devotional/journal again.  I just love how God can take His Word and make it fresh and new everytime you read it!  I look forward to my morning time with God!  As much as we love to hear from Him, He longs to hear from us. 

Have you had your "be still" time with God today? 

Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

What a Weekend!

I had a great weekend! On Friday, Mom and I met the Doggetts (minus Brett) for lunch at Chick-Fil-A. While the kids played we talked and fellowshipped! What a blessing to be able to fellowship with other believers!! After that, it was a trip to the grocery store - fun, fun! ;-) I so wish Giant would deliver to our house!!! It would be worth every penny!!

Saturday was pretty non-eventful! As you can see from the picture above, Lacie has found a new favorite spot - right in front of the space heater! Ed got it because Mom is ALWAYS cold, but it seems as though Lacie has taken it over. She even slept in front of it all night on Saturday night - that dog! Saturday evening, Michael and Rachel came over to chit and/or chat and to practice songs for the Missions Conference which started yesterday. How cool is it that we have a piano in the house now! And Lisa is doing a great job with her lessons. She said she wants to get as good as Rachel so she can accompany me when I sing! (smile)

Dr. Creed preached in the Sunday School hour as well as the morning church service! He's always so practical and of course...always good!! The stories he tells are REAL stories...they're not made up, but real stories of real occasions when God met needs and there was no other way to explain it!! I love it when that happens!! Mike and Terri Clark, who are starting the Legacy Baptist Church in Pittsburg, PA, were also in service with us all day yesterday. What a blessing they were to us!

I'm praying especially for my friend Jeanie's Mom today who will be having tests; praying for NO cancer!!

All for now...looking forward to Ron Titus preaching tonight. Asking God for an extra special week and extra grace and strength for these late nights!

Blessings,
Dawn

A New Year

Greetings and welcome to my first blog! My friend Heather (smile) inspired me to do this - so here goes!!

As one year ends and a new one begins, I find myself looking back on the past year - it was a GREAT year!! 2010 started out with a bang!! I was selected to participate in a leadership development program at work called NASA FIRST. FIRST stands for Foundations of Infuence, Relationship, Success, and Teamwork. It was all of that and more!! I traveled, made new friends, and had a blast! I traveled every month out of the year except for one. It was busy, tough, and exhausting at times, but worth every minute. I wouldn't have traded it for anything!! I learned things about myself that I wasn't aware of before. The saying, "everyone's got stuff", is really true!! Some made a joke of that particular saying and even teased one of our coaches who said it, but it really struck a chord with me! While it wasn't a "new" revelation or anything, God used that particular phrase to get my attention!!

Aside from my normal travel to Florida for the Space Shuttle launches, I was also able to travel to multiple NASA Centers: Wallops Island, AMES Research Center, and Johnson Space Center, as well as to ATK in Utah. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to travel! It's always easier and better when I have friends along. When I travel to FL, my friend Sallie and I hang out together - it's always fun and interesting!! You will most likely find us at one of the following in Orlando: Sonic, Cheesecake Factory, or Brighton Collectibles in the Mall at Millenium! We always have such a good time! This year, Lisa was able to accompany me on 2 of my trips: one to FL and the other to CA and Canada. We spent a week in CA and a week in Canada visiting with my best friend Melinda who was on assignment in British Columbia! While in Canada, we were also able to visit with our friend Rachel's parents, Pastor and Mrs. Spence! We had a great visit!!

December 2010 brought the close to the NASA FIRST program. It was a bittersweet time for sure! I was happy to be graduating from the program, but also sad to leave behind the wonderful new friends and colleagues I had made through this program.

When I returned from this trip, it was time for our annual Christmas play/musical. It turned out awesome!

At work, before I left for the Christmas holidays, I was told that I would be getting a promotion and it would begin right at the start of the new year! All I can say is, PRAISE THE LORD!!! He is so good to me!!

Right before the close of the year, our whole family came down with an awful stomach virus. It was horrible! I wouldn't wish it on anyone. We didn't go out on such a high note, but we survived! At least misery loves company, right? ;-)

I wish all of you a great year!! May we be able to see and experience God in all the aspects of our lives! May we know that nothing takes Him by surprise! He is most definitely in control!!

Blessings,

Dawn