Voice Recognition

In today's world, technology is taking over on many fronts.  Even in. . . our vehicles!  They now have this "voice recognition" feature in the newer vehicles where you say 10 sentences and your "vehicle" (or someone in it) is trained to recoginize YOUR voice!  What the auto industry didn't account for is the severe Texas Twang we have going on in our neck of the woods.  Even after 10 training sentences, it still doesn't quite get what I'm trying to say, but hey! It's a great start for hands-free driving, huh?

What about you?  Are you successful at recognizing people's voices?  I'll bet you are.  I watch Fox News, (too much) and can recognize many of the anchor's voices without even seeing who is talking. I easily recognize my favorite singers on the radio.  I, of course, know my family's voices, my children, my husband, my in-laws and certainly my friend's voices.  That seems incredibly easy, doesn't it?  In fact, that's no major feat at all.  I'd guess MOST people recognize their family and friend's voices without any hesitation.

What has been swirling around in my head for months on end, is this:  why can't I recognize God's voice as simply as I do everyone else in my life?  Why isn't His voice as easy to recognize with just one or two words?  I'M the one that needs the extra lines of training sentences!  There have been times in my life where I just KNEW that was God's voice telling me something.  I wish I could say that was the norm, but honestly, I've struggled recognizing God's voice at times.

That cunning devil is always telling us something that has just a morsel of truth tied to a bundle of lies, but somehow, we believe the whole bundle!  Why is that?  In my case, it was easier to believe the negative things about me and therefore, "hush" the ability to hear God's voice.

I'm learning (training) my heart to hear God's voice and one way that has made a huge difference is to learn and believe I am who He says I am.  When I KNOW that in my heart, not just my head, I can defend myself from the bundle of lies the enemy throws at me.  The best way for me to know who I am in Him, is to read His word, which tells me EXACTLY who I am.  He is my creator; He knows better than anyone who I REALLY am and what my purpose is.  He never lies.

I love what my "Jesus Calling" devotional says:

 "Be content to be a simple sheep, listening for My Voice and following Me.  I will lead you into restful green pastures and guide you along paths of righteousness."

Simple sheep . . . Listen for His Voice  . . . Follow Him . . .

I want to become so good at recognizing His Voice, that it overcomes all the other voices in my head.  I pray you will too.

"My sheep listen to My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me."  -John 10:27

The End of an Era

So today marks the last day of my 50th Birthday Month....and all I can say is that it has been an EPIC month, even an EPIC year and also, the end of another era....my forties.  This 50th birthday has been one for the record books.  As I always begin celebrating my birthday on April 1st, this year was no different.  Gary and I had already begun dance lessons as we had signed up for the Ascension Academy "Dancing Under the Amarillo Stars" Gala on April 10th.  Being this was my Big 5-OH year, the dance competition was my "50th year challenge to myself." (Gary just graciously agreed to go along with it.)  I didn't just want to do the challenge, I wanted to WIN the challenge!  And we did!  We raised $13,100.00 to win 1st place (2nd place came in around $3000.)  This was the most money one couple had ever raised!  We were more than delighted!! (Thanks to all of you who so generously donated!!)

On Friday night, the 24th, Gary, Terri and I were driving home from an event in the downtown area.  While on I-27, Gary pulled the car off the road onto the shoulder of the freeway!  What in the world??  He said, "Just watch...up there."  "Up there" was a digital billboard sign with advertisements blinking every few seconds, then, out of no where pops up a picture of me and these words-(quite LARGE:) HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, DAWN WELLS  LOVE, GARY.  I could not believe my eyes!!  That was the coolest surprise I have ever had!  Gary did good!!!!

Then as my birthday grew closer, I could feel the anticipation rise inside as we had scheduled an ENDC (Empty Nester's Dance Club) night at Midnight Rodeo. My sister, Terri, came in from Houston to help me celebrate.  Jon, my nephew, was in Amarillo that week as well as he had signed up to join the Army and had tests to take at the Amarillo office.  I wasn't sure who was going to show at Midnight Rodeo since there wasn't much response to the Facebook post announcing the event.  But, no matter what, I knew it would be fun.  My other sister, Tanya and my brother-in-law, Steve were going to be there as well..."we are family....I got all my sisters with me!"  Remember that song?  Well, that's how I felt!

On Saturday, after church, we headed to the Midnight Rodeo. (Kind of sounds like an oxymoron, huh?)  Of course, we arrive at 8:00 when they open and it's not crowded...just as we like it.  But as the hour progressed, people started to show up, one by one...friends I hadn't seen in a long time, friends I know that don't like to dance, an elder and a Pastor, my dance buddies from the Gala, and even my three best high school friends from Levelland, Lubbock and Olton!  I was so surprised to see them walk through the door....each and every one of them!!  My friend, Cindy Skypala walked in with a sack of birthday cards!  She had literally copied and pasted a message to each of my FB friends to mail a card to her for my birthday as a surprise!  Unbelievable!.....no, more like EPIC!  I had more fun at Midnight Rodeo and we danced until 1:00 in the morning!  My feet were screaming, but my heart was over-flowing with joy and love!

Then Sunday arrived, my official birth day and I have to admit, after an EPIC birthday month such as this, even I was beginning to wind down. (God knows Gary was!!)  We had friends and family over for a cookout and birthday cake.  I knew Gary had a birthday present for me, but I had no idea what.  In the back of my mind, I thought he might really surprise me with another dachshund!  But then I labored over the dilemma of adding another dog to our family...what would Sugar think?....how would I share my love between 3 dogs? etc, etc.  My sister, Terri, told me the gift was "practical."  I thought, "practical like my dachshund toaster he gave me for Christmas?"  Hmm? what on earth could it be?

So the time came when I needed to go out to the driveway to see the surprise.  (I still thought maybe a dachshund was out there on the driveway in a crate...haha!)  But the minute I approached the gate, I could see the candy red paint through the slats....I KNEW WHAT IT WAS!  Gary had surprised me with a red Vespa, just like my old one!  EPIC SURPRISE!!!  I'd sold my old Vespa years ago when I published my book and had hinted occasionally, that one day, I'd like to get another one!  Well, here it was...RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!  Again, I couldn't believe it! Gary did good again!!!

It seemed, at every turn, I was epically surprised by what transpired over the course of this monumental birthday month!  In my quiet time this morning, I just marveled at God, my Father, and His incredible ways as a Daddy.  He knew exactly what I wanted for my 50th birthday.  I'm not talking about the gifts, although they were EPIC, too.  He knew exactly what would bring joy to my heart like no other birthday I've ever had.  Winning the dance competition because I never felt good enough to WIN something competitively, being loved on by my sisters in so many ways I can't count them all, spending quality time with Jon before he goes into the Army, being surprised by Gary in ways I never thought imaginable, gifted with the presence of dear friends from near and far whose appearance was an EPIC gift all in itself!  All of these gifts were from God, I know that.  I know that He spoke to Gary and guided him through this birthday month to give me things my heart desired so deeply.  I am still simply amazed by it all and can only describe it as an EPIC 50TH BIRTHDAY!

My heart is so full and thankful to all of you for the Facebook birthday wishes, the birthday cards you mailed, coming out to celebrate at Midnight Rodeo, my beautiful birthday cake, but most of all, for the love you have shown me over and over.  A very special thank you to my incredibly dear husband, Gary, for his unconditional love and the fact that he "gets me" and still chooses to stay with me. EPIC

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalm 37:4

Christian Films . . For Women?

Again, Ladies, I thank you in advance for helping Roger and me compile data for this project we're working on together.  Your input is very valuable to us and will remain confidential.

In recent years, there have been numerous Christian films made that have caught the attention of Hollywood and movie-goers alike.  Movies such as, Facing the Giants, Fireproof and God's Not Dead.  Hollywood has even put their dramatic twists on movies such as Noah and Exodus, to name a few. 

Question No. 2

If you had the power and resources to produce a Christian movie for women, what would it be about?

(You are welcome to email me your responses to my email address at:  dawntwells@yahoo.com) 


Be so blessed,


Dawn

A Little Help from My (Lady) Friends. . .

Hi My Sweet Friends,

It's been way too long since my last post, and as usual, I have no excuse worth the effort to type here, so I won't.  I will say, I have missed writing on here and look forward to doing this more often in the near future, so hang with me!

I do need a little help from my dear, women friends.  A friend of mine, whom some of you may know, Roger Lindley, and I are partnering on a project and we need your thoughts, opinions and ideas to help further the project along.  We are compiling data based on your feedback and we really do need your help with this!!  So, I'm going to throw some thought-provoking questions out to you via my blog and link them to my Facebook page.  I don't want this to feel like a burden in any way, yet I can't stress how important your feedback is!  Your responses will remain confidential.  If you don't want to respond on Facebook, I certainly understand that....so feel free to send me your response to my email address at:

dawntwells@yahoo.com


Question No. 1
   
     Rate each of the following words on a scale from 1 - 10.  1 being- the word doesn't spark any emotion in you, and 10 being- the word sparks all kinds of emotions in you!  Then, with your top THREE highest scoring words, tell why each one rated so highly with you.

GRACE
INTENTIONAL LIVING
PERFECTION
IMPERFECTION
ACCEPTANCE
REJECTION
RESPECT
LOVE
REDEMPTION
GUILT

A Message from Death

Good morning, I say.  Another day has dawned for you; but not for everyone.  Most don't know the day I will come to snatch their life away.  Some have an idea, but never the exact day or moment.

Some of you are deathly afraid of me, (no pun intended, really.)  Some of you wish for me.  Some of you cause me to visit you early by taking your own life....which, by the way, was never the plan.

In a blink of an eye, I'm there.  When you least expect it.  I take someone you took for granted.  I take someone too young, you think.  But I always come, don't I?  There's no getting away from me, sad to say, but true.  None of you will make it out of here alive.  Either I will snatch your life, or Jesus will when He returns-IF you belong to Him.

Today is a significant day for you, Dawn, Terri and Tanya.  33 years ago I snatched up your dad's life in the blink of an eye.  One minute he was alive, laughing and having a good time-the next he was gone.  It can happen that quick.  I am that hasty.

But I come to tell you to not be afraid of me.  Be prepared for me.  I am inevitable, I promise you that.  You can't escape me here on Earth.  Know that I am coming for you and all those around you.  Do what you need to do now, don't wait.  Write out your wishes, prepare you wills, get things in order; you will be amazed what a blessing that is for your loved ones.  They are already distraught because of my untimely visit; they need not one more difficult task put upon them.

Got a bucket list?  Get to it!  Start doing all those things you wanted to do, aspired to accomplish or simply wanted to try for the first time.  You think I'm kidding when I say, "I am inevitable" but oh, I'm very serious about that.  In the blink of an eye, it might be you.  I don't tell you that to scare you, I tell you that to prepare you.

Need to forgive someone?  Go do it! Do not wait.  Every day is one day closer to your D-Day or theirs.  Say what you need to say before it's too late.  If you don't, I promise, you'll regret it.

Not certain of life after Me?  Read John 11:25-26-"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die."

Live your life as if today may be your last.  It just might be.

Accessory or Necessity?

Yesterday was one of those days that I could not figure out what I wanted to wear.  Ever have those days?  I knew which boots I wanted to wear, so I began to dress myself from my feet up...however, I changed clothes and "re-accessorized" three times before I was able to confidently leave my house.  Then, there are other days, I know exactly what I want to wear, put it on, accessorize and I'm out the door in no time.  (Hormones may have something to do with the difference in those days!)

For many years, Jesus was just an accessory to my life.  Similar to a pair of earrings or a scarf or a belt.  I didn't wear the same pair of earrings every day, nor the same scarf or even the same belt.  I also didn't "put on" Jesus every day either.  In that, He was an accessory to me, He was only visible in my life on particular days.  Sometimes, if I was having an undoubtedly bad day, I'd certainly make sure to "put Him on;" other days, most days, I chose to "accessorize" with something else, such as, haughtiness, or pride or even self-reliance, in an effort to "dress myself up."  Whatever the case, more days than not, Jesus remained the most underutilized accessory in my closet.

Things are different today; not perfect, but definitely different.  Today, Jesus is not an accessory, but a Life-giving Necessity.  I cannot walk out the door without "putting Him on."  Shoes are a daily necessity, and Jesus is a daily necessity.  I wouldn't leave my house without a pair of shoes, nor do I want to leave the house without Jesus.

The days and/or months that I have neglected to "put Him on" have been the days that sin slyly crept into my life .  It is easily traceable and I know the culprit:  Mornings got rushed; the "to-do" list grew longer and my flesh squealed louder.  Before I knew it, I had temporarily put Jesus on a shelf in my closet as if He was an accessory, not a Necessity.

One of the many beautiful aspects of Jesus, is that, we are NEVER an accessory to Him.  From the beginning of time, we have always been His necessities.  We are so significant, that He died for us so we could have everlasting life, and an abundant life here on Earth!

Have you had days where you just couldn't figure out what to wear?  Have you had seasons in your life that Jesus was an "accessory, not a Necessity?  We all have.  Remember this:  Jesus looks good on us every day! Don't leave home without Him. :)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and make no provision for the flesh, 

to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 13:14 (NKJV)

Living BIG or Living small?

I wish I could say the reason I haven't posted since April is because all I've done is LIVED REALLY BIG for the past eight months, but that wouldn't be completely true.  And if it were true, you would have read all about it!  So, suffice it say, I've been lazy, distracted and have overlooked my blog--confession made, let's move on.

Here's the question:  Have you been living really BIG or living really small?  What do I mean by that?  For Christians, we've been promised an abundant, full life.  The definition of "abundant" is this:  present in great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient.  Every day we are invited to live a life that is PRESENT IN GREAT QUANTITY; MORE THAN ADEQUATE....OVER-SUFFICIENT....!  Did you hear that? (Trust me, I'm speaking to myself.)  When we accept His offer and surrender to the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit will be what we receive....love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  What else could we ask for, really?  I mean, seriously, think about that....read through those gifts again....LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL!  . . . EVERYDAY!  We don't have to do much to live life full of those attributes, we only have to surrender to Jesus every morning and accept His invitiation to live life to the fullest WITH HIM!

Or . . . are we living our lives really small?  When I'm living life small, I'm trapped in my own little world of me.  Just poor ol' me.  Maybe I think my situation is worse than anyone else, or no one understands what I'm going through or if I could just have this or that. . .THEN my life would be full.  The common denominator in a small way of life is me.  Just me.  No one else.   When I live a life so small, there's actually no room for anyone or anything else.  SELF takes up residency in my heart and head and suffocates the life right out of me.  Literally.  Everything else dies because SELF has smothered it to death. We don't even have enough room in our minds to think of someone else.  This is a great tool of the enemy to keep us living a small life and before we know it, we wake up everyday to a small world without hope, without joy, without love-without any of God's goodness.  Trust me, that is no way to live.

I challenge us to open the doors wide to our hearts and mind- spread our wings and soar!  Stop limiting my life to ME.  It causes us to live really small.  Abundant and small just don't go together, now do they?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 

I came that they may have life and have it ABUNDANTLY.  

John 10:10 ESV