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