A country without Christ

Fernando Ortega ~ Give Me Jesus

October 31, 2016
Monday

Dear Readers,

Ever watched the TV channel Decades? Well yesterday they had a Dark Shadows marathon. I was hooked way back when it aired (1966) and one more time, I sat feasting (little pun there) on the story line. I gave up the ghost wayyy after midnight so my peepers are barely open. My furry kids were up at their usual 6:30am time ~ bright eyed & bushy tailed. Thank you Jesus for coffee!

Yesterday, The Open Range Band played the song, Give Me Jesus. I woke myself up several times last night singing that song. In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus... I know that IF I have Him, THEN, every thing's gonna be okay. Sermon in a few words. Right? Right.

Three of my favorite subjects in college were Philosophy, Anthropology, and Sociology. It was fascinating to me to study different cultures and the behavior of people. I would have loved to be an anthropologist traveling about the world on various teams. I love people and deep conversations and get these thoughts that pester me ~ like, "What would our country be without Christ??"

Where my journey began

My journey of life has taken me to explore different churches and theologies (I have moved around the country many times!). Having been baptized as an infant and reared as a Lutheran, I had opinions based on that doctrine. My first husband was a Presbyterian and we attended that church. I went to the Methodist Church and had a wonderful experience on A Walk to Emmaus. With a knock on my door in Plano, TX, I joined a young pastor who was establishing a Lutheran Church and became a founding member. From there, I attended a non-denominational church where worship was much more expressive. My biggest influence came from a Baptist-based church. It was there where I received believer's baptism, attended classes, and taught studies in the Women's Ministry. It was there I received the gift of Intercessory Prayer. When I married Michael in 2003, I wandered in the desert for many years seeking but not finding. I was invited to attend the Baptist-based Open Range Cowboy Church and the moment I stepped in the door, I was overcome with the Holy Spirit. I am where I am supposed to be. Yee Haw!

Why am I telling you this? Well, we have a tendency to believe what we've been taught from childhood. The people around us as well as our situations mold us and shape us.

As an adult in the Word and Witness Program, we talked about the different types of Christians. I recognized myself as a "carnal" Christian ~ I trusted in Jesus for salvation yet still thought, acted, and reacted like the world. I wasn't new to Christianity but I hadn't allowed the Holy Spirit free access to every area of my heart and mind. I lived the Christian life on my own strength while still being heavily influenced by the world's way of thinking. My faith was compromised by so many distractions.  I have to admit, the persuasive viewpoints of others swayed my opinions on many things, including abortion, capital punishment, minorities, and where I lived.

I have mentioned before that I took the class The Mind of Christ. It was then that my thinking changed. I really did want to be like Christ and began to question my every thought and action. It's taken years for me to see things the way God does. In doing that, the less I agreed with the world's way. I have been transformed by the Word of God and am a new creature in Him.

A country without Christ, I cannot imagine yet when I turn on the TV or look around me, I know it's true.

Hollywood has now decided they are experts in deciding what the law of the land should be. If "it" feels good, do it. We don't need laws; we don't need moral constraints; we don't need boundaries; and, we certainly don't want anyone to be offended (unless they are a Christian). Riots, murders, decline of the inner city, and people who have no empathy for others abound. Our flag? Stomp on it, burn it, outlaw it. Our Supreme Court? Not in tune with modern values ~ needs to be done away with as we know it now. Money? He with the most toys wins. Love the children but, if you want, get rid of the babies if they come at inconvenient times. Former President, John F Kennedy, said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Well, that's a joke in 2016.

If you think we are growing and flourishing as individuals and as a country, think again. We are being dumbed down and spoon fed Sodom and Gomorrah one day at a time. What was so awful 50 years ago is now condoned and even encouraged. My friends Stephanie & Branden are in Las Vegas with their boys and often they have to cover those boys faces because of the (ahem) sights.

Each day, I stand in the gap, praying for our nation and it's people. I have prayed for a leader to rise up and "drain the swamp." It is only when the darkness is pierced by the light of Christ will our country flourish once again.

Hope? I am surrounded by family and friends who are good people. I choose to follow the Bible and speak truth. I offend some people and am chastised for my beliefs. That's perfectly okay with me. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. One thing is for sure, we are born, we live, and we die. I know where I am going and that gives me serenity!

Love y'all,

Miss Dottie

PS "The world is a busy place filled with many businesses, both the Godly and the ungodly. It means before you go on to accept any activity or event that comes into the world, you must weigh its values, examine the virtues, listen to the views, and then you give your verdict. Satan is not wise; he is just crafty!" ~Israelmore Ayivor

It's dark in here...

Monday
October 24, 2016

Dear Readers,

Hey, it's me saying hello from my perch on the back porch. I love it when temperatures start to fall and those horrible pesky mosquitoes die off. They woo me and take nips at my flesh. I spray them, swat at them, and let go with a few gosh darns. You'd think they'd get the hint but nooooo.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and every October I take a few moments to remember how grateful I am to have come so far from where I once was. If you've followed my blogs since 2010 you know my story.

"It's dark in here. I am cuddling a soft teddy bear and listening to unfamiliar sounds. I am at Hope's Door. I am numb. I stare blankly into the night wondering what's to become of me. I am so alone and frightened. This must be a bad dream yet I know it's not. Bad dreams have an ending and this nightmare has gone on since I was a small child. Where is there to go when there seems to be nowhere? What will tomorrow bring?" ~Miss Dottie's Journal, October 2, 2002 

I am a 2 time domestic violence survivor. My story made the front page of the newspaper and a poem I had written was entitled Jane's Story by editors. God has used my story and these seasons of my life for his glory. How?

Well, shortly after the newspaper article was published, the pastor of my church approached me about several things. First of all, he asked if I would be willing to sit on the Board of Directors of a group establishing the first women's shelter in Collin County; and. secondly, he told me about a program called Stephen's Ministry and asked if I was interested in the year long training. He was also bringing together a group called Word and Witness which would be a 2 year commitment. I agreed to all three.

Being a part of the establishing the women's shelter was so amazing. I was placed on the Speaker's Forum and traveled to various churches and associations. My first talk was to a men's group in Frisco, TX. They had so many questions (I found it interesting that the men often times had more questions than the women). My daughter accompanied me and they asked her questions as well. Being on the Speaker's Forum became a family affair.

Being a commissioned Stephen's Minister prepared me for a lifetime of service to my fellow travelers in life. "Supply the caring ~ let God supply the cure" became second nature for me.

Sometimes when I've been down in the trenches, I've wondered why God allows us to be beaten down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Then, I remember that:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

 ~Romans 8:28

Without my walking through the valleys of darkness, I would not be able to relate to the women going through trials of their own. I am able to share my story and offer ways to not only survive but thrive. I am able to give them tools and a knowledge of how Christ worked in my life. (Back then, I could talk freely about Jesus without fear of reprisal)

In 2002, I was a resident in the very shelter that I helped establish. I was living in a huge house filled with stuff and I worried about my stuff. If I left the relationship, where would I put my stuff?? The Good Lord moved me out of that situation and house in the dark of night leaving all my stuff behind. He stripped me down to nothing in order to build me up again in Him. When I went back to the house 30 days later, I told my children to bring moving vans and fill them. I kept only enough stuff to fill a tiny one bedroom apartment. What was leftover, I asked my friends to come and take what they wanted. A couple friends purchased my den furniture and kitchen furniture. My stuff no longer defined me and still doesn't

When the house was bare, I looked around me and had tears. My little granddaughter gathered friends and family in the den and we all sang the Tooty Ta Song.

Madison had us laughing and focusing on what was important. Often times it takes a child for us to see that. There was joy! I closed the door, locked it, and moved on...

God has always been my protector and provider. Time and time again, I have been molded through trial and fire to be more like Him. He has taken away bitterness, anger, and pain leaving me stronger and forgiving (my counselors have told me that I am proof that God still performs miracles!)

I am able to give the love I always wanted without strings. He has filled me and blessed me in ways I could never have imagined.

Today, I pray for the women, children, and men who are being abused. I pray that You, Father, would protect and show them a better way of life. It is so easy to judge people for their past and I pray that we would offer compassion and forgiveness. Hate the sin ~ love the sinner. I pray that as we go about our day today, that You would open our eyes to our fellowman. So many times we are too busy and too much in a hurry to "see" what is going on around us. Lord God, as I opened my eyes this morning, I heard the words, "pray for Aleppo." As I closed my eyes I had a vision of fire and people running ... faces of those facing the atrocities of war came before me and I prayed for each one. Be with them Jesus as they fight to survive. Thank you for reminding me that You are God Almighty. I pray in the name of Jesus as your servant...

Miss Dottie

PS "When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless." ~Chris Colfer

One Day At A Time

Monday
September 26, 2016

Dear Readers,

Oh boy, oh boy! Temperatures have dropped and the air cool and crisp. I wanted so badly to get a fire going this morning. That first fire of the Fall is so wonderful. The trees haven't started turning yet but the big old tree in the center of my garden is shedding leaves like crazy. Can't beat natural mulch.

Life for Miss Dottie has been fraught with busyness and I love it. I made the decision to get back into the women's group at church (WOW) and am thoroughly enjoying the study on THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE written by Rick Warren. I continually ask myself, "what on earth am I here for" and, as a Christian, this has been a constant change as life's seasons pass.

Another BIG change was my decision to get back into the Al-anon program. I had first joined the program in 1978 at Mary Mother of the Church in Burnsville, MN. Happily, I can say that in my quest for wellness, the 12 Step Program has boosted my confidence and given me freedom to be myself. I have a natural bent towards being an enabler and a control freak. "If it is to be, it is up to me." Gotta stop all that nonsense!!

Wayyyy back in 1978, I got this little book called ONE DAY AT A TIME. I was paging through it today. I have this habit of writing about what's going on in my life in my Bible and books that I keep so it was like doing a dance through the years...

Today, I decided to meditate on what I had written on the inside cover of the book. Why? Because I am at a new starting point and as I read and reread these words, I felt such a release of stress and tension in my body.

"I accept and claim the divine solution to this situation now...."

Then:

"As children bring their broken toys, with tears for us to mend...I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend. But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, 'How can you be so slow?' 'My child, He said, 'What could I do? You never did let go.'"

I don't know who wrote this but it hit home way back in 1978 and now in 2016. There are some things I really need to let go of ... not even really need to, I HAVE TO let go of. I'll bet some of my Readers can relate.

Saturday, I went to Denton to watch my grandsons play baseball. It was so nice to sit back and just enjoy the game. I didn't worry about "if" they were going excel or win their games ~ it was just so freeing to cheer them on and love them unconditionally. I smiled for 4 hours straight and basked in the sunshine of the moment. I didn't worry about who was going to win the presidential election ... I didn't worry about the shootings taking place around the country ... I didn't worry about how my hair looked ... I just flat out soaked in the joy that I was experiencing.

I have a new granddog, Cabela. My son and family adopted her from a shelter in Plano. I got to meet her and, again, I just feasted on her beauty, how precious she was, and how fortunate she was to be in her new furever home. Again, I stayed in the moment not worrying about my own dogs at home.

Yesterday, I went to church. One more time, I was able to leave the crazy world outside and concentrate on my church family and worshiping my Redeemer, I laughed, I had tears, I learned more about what was written in Acts.

Do you know how freeing it is to live and enjoy the moment? As time marches on those moments are a part of the past never to be relived except in my memory. All I have been able to do for months is worry about tomorrow. My brain has been going in ten different directions at any given time. The stress of worry was beginning to ruin my days and I hated that. Depression and the inability to manage all the balls that were in the air, was depleting my joy and I began to hibernate.

One night, all I could manage for my nightly prayer was, "Help me." I fell asleep and had nightmares. Those nightmares continued to plague me and I bottomed out. Know something? It was at that moment that God began to work. He put people in my life that said things that I know only could come from God. He opened doors and I walked through. The twinges of hope began to come back and I didn't walk, I ran towards the light of truth.

My life's journey has taken me through many peaks, valleys, twists, and turns. Even in the darkest of times, God's given me the flashlight of strength, courage, and wisdom. Instead of just feeling my way around in the dark, there has been that glimmer that has drawn me forward.

Are you so focused on the past or future you aren't able to appreciate today? Do you focus so much on what you've lost that you can't appreciate the now?

I am blessed beyond blessed in so many ways. I could not ask for a better church family; I could not ask for closer friends than those I have; my garden is in it's 6th year and takes less tending; the Sensational Six make each day special; I love my family; although my body has a tough go sometimes, I am still able to do most of what I want to do physically and mentally; and, most of all my faith has deep roots. I wish some things were different but don't we all?

Today, I pray for the knowledge of God's will for me. I rest in the arms of my Savior and I know I am worthy in His eyes. I pray for my Readers who need encouragement and direction at times when they feel so defeated and alone. I pray for today's moments to be cherished and valued for what they are ... gifts and lessons and stepping stones to tomorrow. I pray for our nation and the debate to be held this evening. May there be truth and respect shown to all concerned.  I pray in the name of the one who claimed me as your servant...

Miss Dottie

PS  "The whole idea is you can't sit around and do nothing. You have to get up and start living one day at a time. That's what I did my entire career. You can't sit around and say, 'Oh poor me. Nobody likes me. Nobody is giving me a job.' You have to get up and go. If you sit at home and do nothing, that is what is going to happen." ~Darlene Love