Dawn Q Photography Blog

Oh yeah, I told ya they’d be coming.  It’s like once it clicked inside that it’s okay to blog, a dam of thoughts/scriptures/stories came to mind.  So many personal experiences, stories I hear of, scripture I read.  I find myself making notes constantly just to keep my thoughts in order.  There’s so much I want to share with you and there’s so much I WILL share with you. 

 So after yesterday’s blog I can’t help but wonder.  What’s standing in your way?  Is it something, someone, a situation…?  Life today for many of us is SO busy.  We have moms who work full time.  Husbands who work away from home and are only here part of the time.  Children who demand our attention at every moment, whether it be dinner, bath, homework, bedtime stories, basketball games, dance practice… The list goes on.  We get home from work still thinking about the happenings of that day.  It keeps our minds occupied elsewhere while life is happening all around us.  Life is BUSY.  There is no way around that.  Even as a stay at home mom myself I juggle carpooling kids, cleaning house, balancing a job as a photographer, getting kids to practices etc…  No matter what, we will always be occupied.  But let me ask you this, how do you spend your time?  When you’re loading laundry into the washing machine, or standing at the stove over a pot of dinner, at a red light, in line at a grocery store.  How do you spend your time?

I came from a place where I let everyday “stuff” take over.  I never talked to God, I never thanked him for my blessings and I rarely read his word.  These are all things I was guilty of AFTER I met the Lord.  Truth is, the thing that was standing in my way…. was ME.  Do you let yourself get in the way of your relationship?  I always thought, well I met the Lord, I was baptized and everything is pie from here.  I am afraid that’s exactly what the devil wants us to think.  It’s a slow fade from the fire you feel after you get saved to the place YOU may be today.  It doesn’t happen overnight but it does happen…..IF you let it.  I have been so on fire for God for the past 9 months or so, even though I met the Lord 4 years ago.  Now don’t get me wrong.  There were times when I would get fed or be hungry for God but it was all shortlived.  It left just as soon as it came.  WHAT was I doing wrong?  Well for me, I was standing in my own way.  I was making conscious decisions that affected my relationship with my creator. 

You may wonder, what do I do differently now?  How do you keep your fire burning?  For me, this is what works:

I read God’s word daily.  I have a wonderful Study bible - “The Word of God is quicker, and more powerful, than any two edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12.

There is so much in this book that would just blow you away!  Stories after  stories and all so enlightening.  It’ll teach you everything you need to know.  Do you let being busy stand in the way of not reading the bible?

I listen to GOOD christian music.  I listen to music that feeds my soul and leaves me longing for more time with God.

What do you listen to?  Fill your hearts, heads and ears with music that’s pleasing to the Lord.  Do you let worldly music stand in your way?

I surround myself with people who are good for me.  People who encourage me, people who pray with me.  I personally think this one is very important.  Sometimes we can become who we hang out with.  - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Do you feel like you MUST be friends with everyone?  Do you feel that popularity is important?   Do you find yourself around the right KIND of people?  Are the negative, or positive?  Do you constantly worry with what other people have or are doing?  Do you let PEOPLE stand in your way?

I attend church faithfully- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. 
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25

I have been there and been unfaithful.  I had every excuse in the book.  The alarm didn’t go off, I didn’t sleep much the night before, the kids have the sniffles, I have a birthday party to go to in the afternoon, I didn’t have anything to wear.  Do you let the DEVIL stand in your way?

A good friend told me a couple of days ago, that fire that I feel will not burn out if I don’t let it.  You know, I never really thought about it that way.  I’ve been SO in love with God, really IN love with God for the last several months, I couldn’t help but wonder when it would end.  But if you are out there wondering what I was wondering…. it’s true, It doesn’t have to.  It’s up to US to not let things stand in our way! 

Love you guys and thanks for listening! 

God Bless!

Dawn

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.? Isaiah 55:11 

P.S.  You can’t fall when you’re on your knees

As many of you know my little sister underwent surgery on Monday for a pituitary tumor.  We left Sunday after church and we were at the hospital Monday morning ready to be there in any way we could for Tori.  Here are a few images.  Tori asked me to bring my camera, I’m glad I did

Tori and I before surgery.  She wore this smile pretty much all day!

Me, Tori and Aunt Loretta.  She is there for EVERY family crisis.  We love you Aunt “Retta”

Me, Tori and Mom!

Okay so in this pic I told her to make a goofy face and she wouldn’t.  Know why?  She said I know better, you’re gonna blog that later :D  Well Tori, this is just for you.  ME looking stupid all by myself

Mom and Craig doing seek and find.  Everyone had their own outlet for the waiting process.

Some slept

We stood around staring at each other :D 

And then it was time to wheel her back.  She left just as calm as could be.  There was more faith in her right pinky toe then I’ve seen many people have throughout a lifetime!

She went into surgery a little after 2 and Brian’s phone rang a little after 5.  She made it out of surgery ok and they would call us in a while with more information.  Well of course, pacing the hallways is MUCH more fun, so that’s what we did.  Then the doctor came out and said this:  What they removed was NOT a tumor but a jelly like substance.  He didn’t really give a lot of information and I’m not sure he could even explain it.  But I can.  Tori can.  Anyone who was praying with us for that tumor to be dissolved CAN understand EXACTLY what happened to her.  It’s a miracle.  And because it’s not a tumor this is something she will likely never have problems with again.  PRAISE GOD!!!  The Sunday before we left for Shreveport we had a very moving service.  Anyone who attends our church and is in tune with the Holy Spirit SURELY felt him there that day!  Our pastor gave her a scripture before we left and we held onto it the whole time we were there.  But this is the amazing part.  The exact scripture he gave her that morning was the same scripture I had posted on my refrigerator for TWO months prior!!!!  And it reads:

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God:  I will strengthen you ; yeah, I will help you; yeah I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

And because of the faith of Tori and everyone praying for her, THAT promise was fulfilled.  Praise God!

For all of you who prayed, ARE praying and are helping with every physical need THANK YOU! 

Love,

Dawn