Down through the centuries, God has been restoring His truths to the church, and I believe that last and final truth is the person of Jesus Christ and all the He has accomplished on the cross. The revelation of the FINISHED WORK of Jesus will get stronger and stronger in the end times, and man will begin to enjoy the full benefits of the new covenant of grace.
Jesus did not die on the cross for us because any one of us deserved it. We all deserved hell's fire, but we have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. The word "redeem" literally means "to buy with a price". The price here is Jesus Himself. He gave Himself up as a ransom for you and me. He gave Himself for us, so that you and I can receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life. It is all about Jesus.
In these last days, I believe the Lord is calling His bride out of the world and exposing the devil. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the written word, He is setting the captives free. Free from false Christianity, false doctrines, cheap grace and from being deceived and condemned under the Law.
I don't want you to take my word for it. I want you to crack open your bible and study the Word of God for yourself, and see the grace of our Lord Jesus in the new covenant, coming alive. Grace is NOT a doctrine. Grace is a person and His name is Jesus. Therefore, there is not grace teaching without Jesus Christ. You cannot separate Jesus and grace! If someone keeps dropping the word "grace", but there is no exaltation of Jesus and His finished work, it is NOT the gospel of grace.
Grace makes nothing of your efforts, your performance or your doing. It makes nothing of man's efforts and points completely to Jesus' efforts and what he has done. The law makes one self-conscious. It is always asking "what must I do?" But grace makes one Christ-conscious. It is always asking, "what has Jesus done?"
Under the Law, the burden is on us to perform. Under grace,the burden is on what Christ has performed on the cross. That is why Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, for My yoke is easy and light." (Matthew 11:28,30) Jesus was not speaking to people who were tired and weary from their secular jobs. He was talking to people who were weary and heavy laden by the requirements of the law of Moses. The yoke of the law is hard and heavy. Jesus came to reveal grace, and the yoke of grace is easy and light because it involves none of us and all of Christ He has borne the burden of sin on our behalf. Under grace, our part is to only believe on Jesus Christ, and when we believe, we are blessed and made righteous! Isn't that amazing grace?
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Power in His Name
I believe that in every believer, Jesus is alive and living His life, through the person of the Holy Spirit. I witnessed for myself this reality the day I took my husband to the hospital for a hernia operation. The doctor and the nurses assured me that he would be out of the operation by 10:00 am, in recovery for another three hours and I could pick him up around 1:00 pm.
We had prayed earlier that morning for the Lord's wisdom and presence to be with the doctors, nurses and to bring about his quick healing. After I dropped him off, I felt as long as I had three hours to burn, I would do some mall shopping. Around 11:30 am, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to get back to the hospital. I left what I was doing and headed right back. God's presence was so strong. In my heart I felt that everything was under His control, but when I got to the hospital, there was a nurse running up and down the hallway quite anxious and very disturbed at me. "Where have you been? We have been calling for you all over the hospital. We are LOSING YOUR HUSBAND, you better get in there immediately. " God's presence was so strong, I felt like I was riding on a cloud. I can't really explain it, but truly, He had gone before me.
When I walked into the recovery room, all the nurses where swirling around Roger. He was still unconscious, very white and cool to the touch. His monitor was hardly moving. I didn't have time to think, but only to react. I laid my hands on him and said, "Jesus life!" Immediately, the monitor responded and started to 'beep, beep, beep faster and faster. Roger became conscience and together we praised the Lord for His protective care. I wish you could have seen the shock on the nurses faces. Now,they were as white as a sheet!!! I asked them if they knew what had happened? Their only response was "we were having trouble balancing his electrolites and we were losing him, but where were you?."
That day in the recovery room, we all witnessed the POWER in the NAME of JESUS. I was nothing more than a conduit to release the resurrected life of Christ in me to Rogers' body. He is alive today because JESUS spoke life to his weak body.
You might like to read John 14:15-31 "Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit."
We had prayed earlier that morning for the Lord's wisdom and presence to be with the doctors, nurses and to bring about his quick healing. After I dropped him off, I felt as long as I had three hours to burn, I would do some mall shopping. Around 11:30 am, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to get back to the hospital. I left what I was doing and headed right back. God's presence was so strong. In my heart I felt that everything was under His control, but when I got to the hospital, there was a nurse running up and down the hallway quite anxious and very disturbed at me. "Where have you been? We have been calling for you all over the hospital. We are LOSING YOUR HUSBAND, you better get in there immediately. " God's presence was so strong, I felt like I was riding on a cloud. I can't really explain it, but truly, He had gone before me.
When I walked into the recovery room, all the nurses where swirling around Roger. He was still unconscious, very white and cool to the touch. His monitor was hardly moving. I didn't have time to think, but only to react. I laid my hands on him and said, "Jesus life!" Immediately, the monitor responded and started to 'beep, beep, beep faster and faster. Roger became conscience and together we praised the Lord for His protective care. I wish you could have seen the shock on the nurses faces. Now,they were as white as a sheet!!! I asked them if they knew what had happened? Their only response was "we were having trouble balancing his electrolites and we were losing him, but where were you?."
That day in the recovery room, we all witnessed the POWER in the NAME of JESUS. I was nothing more than a conduit to release the resurrected life of Christ in me to Rogers' body. He is alive today because JESUS spoke life to his weak body.
You might like to read John 14:15-31 "Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit."
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Apple of His Eye
The Catholic elementary schoolkids lined up in the cafeteria, eagerly clutching their trays. At the head of the table was an enormous bowl of apples. One of the sisters had posted a note on it. "Take only one. God is watching."
Further down the lunch line, at the end of the table, was a large plate of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written this note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
I couldn't resist this. It was so cute.
written in Country magazine December/January 2012
Further down the lunch line, at the end of the table, was a large plate of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written this note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
I couldn't resist this. It was so cute.
written in Country magazine December/January 2012
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Loving the Unlovable
Have you ever tried to love an unlovable person? For me, it was impossible. I tried and tried to love unconditionally, but sooner or later I would fall flat on my face, judging their heart self righteously. Being a Christian was getting too hard, and I felt condemned most of the time. Condemnation drove me to my knees. Once again I cried out to the Lord and confessed, "I can't love unconditionally. I am not you! I can't even be like you. You expect too much from me. Lord Jesus, I need you to show me how you love unconditionally?"
What I am about to share with you is the answer to that specific prayer. I know, because I know it is true, only the Lord Jesus can love unconditionally in the believer through the person of the Holy Spirit.
The following is my true story. My young six year old daughter and I were eating lunch in a downtown deli, when in walked the most unlovable looking person I had ever seen. She was a young teenager, wearing heels, no stockings, shorty shorts, and a tee shirt rolled up under her bra. Her hair was cropped, tied with a red bandanna around her head, bright red lipstick with a cigar hanging out of her mouth. It was amazing what happened to me as I looked at her. For the first time in my LIFE, I experienced God's unconditional LOVE for a human being. I was in love with my husband, and I loved my three adorable daughters, but I never realized until than the difference between God's love and human love. In the Deli that day, I experienced for myself God's unconditional love for a human being like never before. It wasn't me. It had to be God's love for Barbara. I invited her over to sit with us and bought her lunch. I truly loved her. I even invited her to my home for the afternoon because I wanted to get to know her more. She was a young troubled teenager, who lived in the area with her grandmother. By the grace of God I was able to lead her to the Lord with the little knowledge I knew at the time. She accepted.Jesus as her Lord and Savior. From that day on, Barbara and I became very good friends. I will try, as the Lord leads me, to share more stories about Barbara and God's unconditional love for her.
Romans 5:5 "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(as believers)
What I am about to share with you is the answer to that specific prayer. I know, because I know it is true, only the Lord Jesus can love unconditionally in the believer through the person of the Holy Spirit.
The following is my true story. My young six year old daughter and I were eating lunch in a downtown deli, when in walked the most unlovable looking person I had ever seen. She was a young teenager, wearing heels, no stockings, shorty shorts, and a tee shirt rolled up under her bra. Her hair was cropped, tied with a red bandanna around her head, bright red lipstick with a cigar hanging out of her mouth. It was amazing what happened to me as I looked at her. For the first time in my LIFE, I experienced God's unconditional LOVE for a human being. I was in love with my husband, and I loved my three adorable daughters, but I never realized until than the difference between God's love and human love. In the Deli that day, I experienced for myself God's unconditional love for a human being like never before. It wasn't me. It had to be God's love for Barbara. I invited her over to sit with us and bought her lunch. I truly loved her. I even invited her to my home for the afternoon because I wanted to get to know her more. She was a young troubled teenager, who lived in the area with her grandmother. By the grace of God I was able to lead her to the Lord with the little knowledge I knew at the time. She accepted.Jesus as her Lord and Savior. From that day on, Barbara and I became very good friends. I will try, as the Lord leads me, to share more stories about Barbara and God's unconditional love for her.
Romans 5:5 "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(as believers)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Let's join the dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KX2-J6uS-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVv0jH33nL4
Yesterday a dear friend showed me these two youtube sites. Perhaps you have already seen them, but it was a blessing to me to see how many young people were identifying with the Lord Jesus not only in America, but across the world! As an older woman, it encouraged me to watch these young people dancing in unison not afraid to identify with Jesus. I truly believe that the Lord is calling young people to arise and take back the territory that Satan has tried to steal from their generation. GO! GO GO! young people. Jesus is alive and wants to live in you to help bring the gospel to this fallen world.
I don't know what the future will bring, nor do I know God 's timing in things. But this I do know, His Word is clear, look up dear ones, His coming is near I will sign off for now. Let's celebrate the dance while there is light. and pray for the Lord to keep back the night..May we continue to be spiritually prepared for the days ahead knowing that our God is faithful, when we are faithless. His forgiveness is always ready to be received only by those who will repent and believe. I would hate to know that any of you willingly walked by Lord and never received your forgiveness. That would be an eternal regret,. knowing that you were forgiven and you never received it. Look up, come back to the Lord and start dancing again. He is waiting for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVv0jH33nL4
Yesterday a dear friend showed me these two youtube sites. Perhaps you have already seen them, but it was a blessing to me to see how many young people were identifying with the Lord Jesus not only in America, but across the world! As an older woman, it encouraged me to watch these young people dancing in unison not afraid to identify with Jesus. I truly believe that the Lord is calling young people to arise and take back the territory that Satan has tried to steal from their generation. GO! GO GO! young people. Jesus is alive and wants to live in you to help bring the gospel to this fallen world.
I don't know what the future will bring, nor do I know God 's timing in things. But this I do know, His Word is clear, look up dear ones, His coming is near I will sign off for now. Let's celebrate the dance while there is light. and pray for the Lord to keep back the night..May we continue to be spiritually prepared for the days ahead knowing that our God is faithful, when we are faithless. His forgiveness is always ready to be received only by those who will repent and believe. I would hate to know that any of you willingly walked by Lord and never received your forgiveness. That would be an eternal regret,. knowing that you were forgiven and you never received it. Look up, come back to the Lord and start dancing again. He is waiting for you.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Two Identical Trees
Often the Lord will speak His heart to us as we wait upon Him in prayer. The following is an impression I received while meditating on Psalm 1, and I would like to share it with you.
" I saw myself standing on a high hill looking down into a valley. There were only two trees and they were identical, leaf for leaf. I couldn't tell them apart. As I looked down into the valley, wondering what was going on, from behind me came a huge gust of wind. It blew over me and swept down into the valley with a ferocious thrust, hitting both the trees unmercifully. I stood aghast. What was going on?
Leaves were flying all over the place. It was like a snow storm of leaves. I could hardly see. Then as the wind subsided, I began to notice how the tree on my left was totally bare. There wasn't one leaf left on it. Dry leaves were piled up under the tree. The tree on my right was totally intact. The leaves were green and healthy and not one leaf was missing. "Lord,' I cried out, "what are you trying to show me? "Then I heard an almost audible voice say, "Look at the roots." But, I couldn't see the roots. The Lord then opened up the ground for me to see the roots.. The tree on my left, had very little root. The tree on my right had strong roots that went deep into the ground . I could see the roots reaching out for the underground body of water.
At first I didn't understand until the Lord spoke to me, " I am sending a strong wind to establish my Church in these last days. There is a false Christianity that denies the power of my Spirit and it is a dead religion. It has counterfeited my true Church, my Bride, and I want my Bride to know that I am her life. Those who hold fast to my roots that I have put in them will weather this storm, others will fall away. They never knew me. Yet, I know them and will draw them once again to my cross for a real conversion. Only one tree will stand upon the earth for all to see. The Tree of my Son on Calvary". I was very humbled and grieved in my spirit, yet I knew it was the heart of God to draw all men until Himself at any cost. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with the living God. Jesus is resurrected and he is living His life in His true body the Church. A shaking is a good thing. God loves us and wants us to know Him personally and He will reveal Himself to us more and more as we surrender our lives to Him."
" I saw myself standing on a high hill looking down into a valley. There were only two trees and they were identical, leaf for leaf. I couldn't tell them apart. As I looked down into the valley, wondering what was going on, from behind me came a huge gust of wind. It blew over me and swept down into the valley with a ferocious thrust, hitting both the trees unmercifully. I stood aghast. What was going on?
Leaves were flying all over the place. It was like a snow storm of leaves. I could hardly see. Then as the wind subsided, I began to notice how the tree on my left was totally bare. There wasn't one leaf left on it. Dry leaves were piled up under the tree. The tree on my right was totally intact. The leaves were green and healthy and not one leaf was missing. "Lord,' I cried out, "what are you trying to show me? "Then I heard an almost audible voice say, "Look at the roots." But, I couldn't see the roots. The Lord then opened up the ground for me to see the roots.. The tree on my left, had very little root. The tree on my right had strong roots that went deep into the ground . I could see the roots reaching out for the underground body of water.
At first I didn't understand until the Lord spoke to me, " I am sending a strong wind to establish my Church in these last days. There is a false Christianity that denies the power of my Spirit and it is a dead religion. It has counterfeited my true Church, my Bride, and I want my Bride to know that I am her life. Those who hold fast to my roots that I have put in them will weather this storm, others will fall away. They never knew me. Yet, I know them and will draw them once again to my cross for a real conversion. Only one tree will stand upon the earth for all to see. The Tree of my Son on Calvary". I was very humbled and grieved in my spirit, yet I knew it was the heart of God to draw all men until Himself at any cost. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with the living God. Jesus is resurrected and he is living His life in His true body the Church. A shaking is a good thing. God loves us and wants us to know Him personally and He will reveal Himself to us more and more as we surrender our lives to Him."
Monday, October 10, 2011
How God revealed Himself to me
What I am about to share with you is still amazing grace to me. As I told you before, I was in such a depressed state that I was ready to give up on Christianity. To me it was just a religion without any meaning for me personally. I wanted to know God. If He was alive I wanted Him to reveal Himself to me. I knew from Sunday school that God was three persons, one God. There was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but He always felt so far away.
Three weeks after I cried out to God in our back yard, my husband and I were invited to take our church youth group to hear a Campus Crusade speaker, Buddy Chase. I will never forget that afternoon. For the first time in my life I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had always believed that Jesus was God, was crucified and rose again , but I never knew how all this related to me. I knew that I wasn't perfect, but I didn't know that I sinned because I was a sinner. The whole idea that I was created in love in the mind of God before the foundation of the world was amazing to me. God loved me a sinner? He has always loved me He saw me in Adam when he sinned and withdrew His spirit from him.
Centuries later, when I was born into this life, I was conceived in sin in my mother's womb, I was born a sinner, separated from the love of God that first thought of me. I had no idea what a sinner I was. I had tried to live a good moral life. I went to church. I believed there was a God, I lived in a Christian Nation. I thought I was a Christian, right? WRONG. How could a Holy God have fellowship with me a sinner. Buddy went on to say that "the sinner must die". Die, what was he talking about? I didn't want to die. What he meant was that when Jesus died, I died, when Jesus was buried, I was buried when Jesus rose from the grave I rose in Him from the dead and by faith I was born again to a newness of life. Jesus was alive and He had breathed back into my spirit, eternal life. The Holy Spirit was given to me and my eyes were opened to the Word of God. At the cross, what I lost in Adam I gained in Christ. I repented of my sin in Adam as a sinner and received God's forgiveness. I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I haven't been the same since.
Now I don't want to give me the wrong impression. By no means do I believe in sinless perfection.I still sin but the good news is I now know that I am forgiven and the Lord sees me "justified as if "I never had sinned. My sin , past, present and future, has been dealt with in Jesus Christ on the cross. I was a new creation in Christ. For the first time the bible was open to me. I met the Holy Spirit in the pages of Scripture. I was reading John 14-16 and it was as if Jesus Himself was speaking to me. Jesus is talking to his disciples and told them that He had to leave but that He would send back "someone" like Himself, the Holy Spirit and he would lead and guide them into all truth. When I read that it was like a light bulb went on in my head. I had never heard anything about the Holy Spirit. That day, reading the Word of God, I was introduced to the Holy Spirit and He continues to live in me revealing to me the Word of God, convicting me of sin, so I can repent and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. What a salvation I have. God the Son has been introduced to me as my Savior, the Holy spirit has been introduced to me as my comforter, and revealer of truth. Now, all that was left, was to be introduced to God the Father.
One early morning before I was completely awake, whether it was a dream or a vision I do not know, however, I saw Jesus with His back to me. He was holding a baby in His arms and lifting it up as if He was presenting it to someone. Then I heard Him say "This is Dorothy Jane Robinson Small, Father. I bought her in my blood and she belong to me." I did not see the Father. All I saw was a brilliant light burst forth. " I thought that I also heard Jesus say to me, "Tell my children that when they came to Me and receive my forgiveness I will take them to my Father and call them by name. They are mine and belong to me and their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." I woke up praising God. He had answered my prayer. God was real and I could know Him. That is why I named this blog "Dottie in Him" because that is who I am.
Colossians 3:3 "I have died and my life is hidden in Christ in God" See you tomorrow night. Sleep well.
Three weeks after I cried out to God in our back yard, my husband and I were invited to take our church youth group to hear a Campus Crusade speaker, Buddy Chase. I will never forget that afternoon. For the first time in my life I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had always believed that Jesus was God, was crucified and rose again , but I never knew how all this related to me. I knew that I wasn't perfect, but I didn't know that I sinned because I was a sinner. The whole idea that I was created in love in the mind of God before the foundation of the world was amazing to me. God loved me a sinner? He has always loved me He saw me in Adam when he sinned and withdrew His spirit from him.
Centuries later, when I was born into this life, I was conceived in sin in my mother's womb, I was born a sinner, separated from the love of God that first thought of me. I had no idea what a sinner I was. I had tried to live a good moral life. I went to church. I believed there was a God, I lived in a Christian Nation. I thought I was a Christian, right? WRONG. How could a Holy God have fellowship with me a sinner. Buddy went on to say that "the sinner must die". Die, what was he talking about? I didn't want to die. What he meant was that when Jesus died, I died, when Jesus was buried, I was buried when Jesus rose from the grave I rose in Him from the dead and by faith I was born again to a newness of life. Jesus was alive and He had breathed back into my spirit, eternal life. The Holy Spirit was given to me and my eyes were opened to the Word of God. At the cross, what I lost in Adam I gained in Christ. I repented of my sin in Adam as a sinner and received God's forgiveness. I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I haven't been the same since.
Now I don't want to give me the wrong impression. By no means do I believe in sinless perfection.I still sin but the good news is I now know that I am forgiven and the Lord sees me "justified as if "I never had sinned. My sin , past, present and future, has been dealt with in Jesus Christ on the cross. I was a new creation in Christ. For the first time the bible was open to me. I met the Holy Spirit in the pages of Scripture. I was reading John 14-16 and it was as if Jesus Himself was speaking to me. Jesus is talking to his disciples and told them that He had to leave but that He would send back "someone" like Himself, the Holy Spirit and he would lead and guide them into all truth. When I read that it was like a light bulb went on in my head. I had never heard anything about the Holy Spirit. That day, reading the Word of God, I was introduced to the Holy Spirit and He continues to live in me revealing to me the Word of God, convicting me of sin, so I can repent and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. What a salvation I have. God the Son has been introduced to me as my Savior, the Holy spirit has been introduced to me as my comforter, and revealer of truth. Now, all that was left, was to be introduced to God the Father.
One early morning before I was completely awake, whether it was a dream or a vision I do not know, however, I saw Jesus with His back to me. He was holding a baby in His arms and lifting it up as if He was presenting it to someone. Then I heard Him say "This is Dorothy Jane Robinson Small, Father. I bought her in my blood and she belong to me." I did not see the Father. All I saw was a brilliant light burst forth. " I thought that I also heard Jesus say to me, "Tell my children that when they came to Me and receive my forgiveness I will take them to my Father and call them by name. They are mine and belong to me and their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." I woke up praising God. He had answered my prayer. God was real and I could know Him. That is why I named this blog "Dottie in Him" because that is who I am.
Colossians 3:3 "I have died and my life is hidden in Christ in God" See you tomorrow night. Sleep well.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
My testimony
October 4, 2011
Blogging, what a wonderful way to communicate your heart to others. I am really looking forward to the days and months ahead to make many new friends who will read this blog and take the time to agree or
disagree. Your opinions and comments are important to me. Someone once said, "opinions are like noses. We all have a different one." That is so true and your opinions are important to me, because I have much to learn from you too.
I would like to tell you a little about myself. I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the most important
person in my life. I love Him with all my heart. That is why I named my blog,"Dottie In Him", The Lord found and brought me to Himself in 1970. I have been "in Him" now for over forty years and growing more and more in love with Him everyday.
In 1970, I found myself in the deep depression. I was married to the most faithful, kind and loving husband for 12 years. We had three healthy daughters and beautiful home on three areas of land. Why should I ever be depressed? I was married at nineteen, Roger was twenty-two. Our honeymoon consisted of a mad dash across the country in order to meet Rogers' ship in San Diego California. Our marriage was off to a to a very happy start. Our first home was in Naval housing. By the end of the third month, I was pregnant with our first daughter. We were more than delighted, but it was a surprise. Roger left for Hawaii on a six months cruise. I was able to join him a month later and stayed until I flew home to have our baby.
I was not believer when I was married. I was drawn to Christianity and thought I was Christian. For the first twelve years of our marriage I played the part.I went to church every Sunday with our family. I said grace at meals time and tried very hard to be a good person. We prayed on occasions, but deep down in my heart I knew that something was missing. I was looking for meaning in life.
To help fill this void, I tried to go back to college to finish my degree.I stuck it out for a year and a half. It wasn't the answer. It only was creating more tension in the family. It was hard to be a mother, wife and a student at the same time. Then I thought,, perhaps I should try the YMCA. I was a trained swimming instructor, that would enable me to teach swimming and coach a swimming team. It fit our family well for a numbers of years. The girls were able to come with me and join the swimming team. But this too did not fill the void in my heart. I was living the American dream and becoming more and more depressed. How does this happen? My husband did not know what to do and neither did I. I had never felt like this before. Perhaps I needed some medicine or maybe it was a chemical imbalance.
At the height of my depression I was so angry at my life. It certainly wasn't what I expected. Is this all there is? Marriage wasn't fulfilling, children weren't fulfilling, college wasn't fulfilling, and church certainly wasn't fulfilling. What was the meaning of life? I wanted to know. Who am I, Why am I here, I was completely into myself and becoming very desperate for some answers.
Finally one summer evening in 1970, I went alone out into my backyard, looked up at the stars and said " I am tired of saying. thank you to a God I don't know. If you are real, I want to know you If this is all there is, then I don't want anything to do with Christianity." I walked by into the house and went to bed. I was an angry woman in my heart. My life was falling apart and there was no one to help me. Roger did the best he could to make me happy, but I needed someone or something that could reach deeply into my being. my spirit. I was empty. I was Spiritually dead.
Now, before I share how God answered my desperate call for help, I want to remind you that I wanted to know God. I knew that God was three persons one God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.. I also knew that Jesus died on a cross for the sins of the world and I was taught that everyone died and went to Heaven. Hell was for Satan and His angels.
I think I am going to stop here for my first post because what I am going to share is amazing and I don't want you to miss the wonder and miracle how God answered my prayer. It still is amazing to me. I know God exists and that Jesus is alive living His life in me. That may sound presumptuous, but it is not It is true for anyone who will believe that Jesus died for their sins. I WILL TELL YOU MORE LATER.
Blogging, what a wonderful way to communicate your heart to others. I am really looking forward to the days and months ahead to make many new friends who will read this blog and take the time to agree or
disagree. Your opinions and comments are important to me. Someone once said, "opinions are like noses. We all have a different one." That is so true and your opinions are important to me, because I have much to learn from you too.
I would like to tell you a little about myself. I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the most important
person in my life. I love Him with all my heart. That is why I named my blog,"Dottie In Him", The Lord found and brought me to Himself in 1970. I have been "in Him" now for over forty years and growing more and more in love with Him everyday.
In 1970, I found myself in the deep depression. I was married to the most faithful, kind and loving husband for 12 years. We had three healthy daughters and beautiful home on three areas of land. Why should I ever be depressed? I was married at nineteen, Roger was twenty-two. Our honeymoon consisted of a mad dash across the country in order to meet Rogers' ship in San Diego California. Our marriage was off to a to a very happy start. Our first home was in Naval housing. By the end of the third month, I was pregnant with our first daughter. We were more than delighted, but it was a surprise. Roger left for Hawaii on a six months cruise. I was able to join him a month later and stayed until I flew home to have our baby.
I was not believer when I was married. I was drawn to Christianity and thought I was Christian. For the first twelve years of our marriage I played the part.I went to church every Sunday with our family. I said grace at meals time and tried very hard to be a good person. We prayed on occasions, but deep down in my heart I knew that something was missing. I was looking for meaning in life.
To help fill this void, I tried to go back to college to finish my degree.I stuck it out for a year and a half. It wasn't the answer. It only was creating more tension in the family. It was hard to be a mother, wife and a student at the same time. Then I thought,, perhaps I should try the YMCA. I was a trained swimming instructor, that would enable me to teach swimming and coach a swimming team. It fit our family well for a numbers of years. The girls were able to come with me and join the swimming team. But this too did not fill the void in my heart. I was living the American dream and becoming more and more depressed. How does this happen? My husband did not know what to do and neither did I. I had never felt like this before. Perhaps I needed some medicine or maybe it was a chemical imbalance.
At the height of my depression I was so angry at my life. It certainly wasn't what I expected. Is this all there is? Marriage wasn't fulfilling, children weren't fulfilling, college wasn't fulfilling, and church certainly wasn't fulfilling. What was the meaning of life? I wanted to know. Who am I, Why am I here, I was completely into myself and becoming very desperate for some answers.
Finally one summer evening in 1970, I went alone out into my backyard, looked up at the stars and said " I am tired of saying. thank you to a God I don't know. If you are real, I want to know you If this is all there is, then I don't want anything to do with Christianity." I walked by into the house and went to bed. I was an angry woman in my heart. My life was falling apart and there was no one to help me. Roger did the best he could to make me happy, but I needed someone or something that could reach deeply into my being. my spirit. I was empty. I was Spiritually dead.
Now, before I share how God answered my desperate call for help, I want to remind you that I wanted to know God. I knew that God was three persons one God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.. I also knew that Jesus died on a cross for the sins of the world and I was taught that everyone died and went to Heaven. Hell was for Satan and His angels.
I think I am going to stop here for my first post because what I am going to share is amazing and I don't want you to miss the wonder and miracle how God answered my prayer. It still is amazing to me. I know God exists and that Jesus is alive living His life in me. That may sound presumptuous, but it is not It is true for anyone who will believe that Jesus died for their sins. I WILL TELL YOU MORE LATER.
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