Inspiring The Walk

Imitate God – Follow Christ’s Lead

2010-08-24T16:55:00.003-04:00

(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Part 4) By Kelly T. Dixon Reading: Ephesians 5:1-14 What does it mean to imitate God? Christians try on a regular basis to fulfill the answer to this question. However, many times we take the wrong avenues to do so. In our efforts to be imitators of God we tend to follow the lead of other Christians and usually end up down the wrong track. Paul tells us in

Nothing to Say

2010-08-03T14:01:00.024-04:00

(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Part 3) by Kelly Dixon Reading: Luke 21 And so I begin . . . I begin this writing with a tremendous writer’s block. As it is obvious to those who follow our Ladies for Jesus devotionals, I have not posted to the site in quite a while. I have been unable to surface something to write. Unable to identify what it is the Lord wants me to write in regards to the next

Temptation Grounds

2010-07-05T14:37:00.003-04:00

(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Part 2) by Kelly Dixon Reading: Luke 4:1-13 When I was in the middle of my college career, I became a junk food junkie. My diet was made up of chips, candy, sodas, etc. If it was a junk food that the convenience store carried, then I liked it. When I was on campus in between classes I would stop for a “treat” and when I was off campus I would stop as well. The pounds

Not Orphans

2010-06-20T22:50:00.015-04:00

(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Part 1)by Kelly Dixon Listen to Devotional Online This Reading: John 14:15-21 Romans 8:15-17 One of the joys I have in parenting is explaining new things to my children. It is exciting to see how their little minds absorb the information like a sponge. Sometimes I get a chuckle in doing so. Like the other day when I expressed to my five year old and seven year old

The Holy Spirit - The Fire

2010-05-31T08:37:00.011-04:00

(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Introduction)by Kelly Dixon Listen to Devotional Online This Reading: Romans 8:1-17 Devotional Series Reading: Galatians 5:16-26 I invite you to take a look into the life of my family for just a moment. There is a story I would like to share that the Lord used as a tool for me to think more about the power of His Spirit. While it is a sweet story and one that

Delight by Cultivating

2010-05-18T22:18:00.004-04:00

(How do we delight in the Lord? - part 7) by Kelly Dixon Reading: Proverbs 30:5On Saturday, March 20, I purchased impatiens and was determined to enhance the appearance of our front yard by planting them around the front of our house. This was a great task for me because I am known for my inattentiveness to flowers that leads to their demise. However, I was determined to do this and my

Fix Your Mind on Praise

2010-04-28T12:49:00.003-04:00

(How do we delight in the Lord? – Part 6) By Kelly Dixon Reading: Philippians 3:17 – 21; 4:4-9 Have you ever worked with a person (either in your profession or elsewhere) that just wasn’t a team player? Every time momentum would start going forward they would put a “monkey wrench” in the works which made the goal that much harder to accomplish. Their attitude towards working together, and in

Rejoice in the Valleys

2010-04-14T11:44:00.004-04:00

(How do we delight in the Lord? – Part 5) by Kelly Dixon Reading: Romans 8:11 & 18 It was a beautiful morning. The flowers were blooming and everywhere I drove I enjoyed God’s pallet of colors. The bird’s chirped songs of happiness. The squirrels scurried here and there. The weather was picture perfect. It was just like a Florida postcard that you would send to a loved one in an effort to share

Welcome Humility

2010-03-16T18:38:00.010-04:00

How do we delight in the Lord? - Part 4 by Kelly Dixon Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Romans 8:1-11 There is a point in our Christian walk when we begin to realize that we are frustrated with our own inabilities to be faithfully obedient. So far in this devotional series on “How do we delight in the Lord”, we have talked about developing a desire to please God; slowing down and recognizing the

Faithful to the End!

2010-03-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

How do we delight in the Lord? - Part 3 by Kelly Dixon Reading: Jude 17-25 When I was a young adult and still living with my parents, I was given a Cocker Spaniel - Labrador mix puppy. He was the size of his ancestry Cocker Spaniel breed and black as the ace of spades so we named him Ace. Ace was the type of dog that not only was dear to our hearts, but to the hearts of our neighbors and friends

Be Still and Know

2010-02-27T14:45:00.003-05:00

How do we delight in the Lord? – Part 2by Kelly Dixon Reading: Psalm 46:10; Romans 8:32I will never forget the “nesting” stage I went through when I was pregnant with our first child. It was 2 a.m. in the morning and I couldn’t stay in bed a moment longer. As a matter of fact, my leg had been dangling off the side of the bed and I had been swaying and kicking it for at least half an hour. I had

Desire to Please God

2010-02-18T17:40:00.006-05:00

How do we delight in the Lord? – Part 1 by Kelly Dixon When I first thought of how to start this devotional series on how to delight in the Lord, I had every intention of the first devotional being about developing an intimate personal relationship with the Lord. In the midst of writing the second paragraph, the Lord revealed to me that while developing an intimate personal relationship with

Preparing to Dance with the Lord!!

2010-02-10T21:22:00.003-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 37:4Valentine’s Day is this Sunday and what a joy it is to celebrate love. This is a special joy for us Christians because we have experienced the source of great love – Jesus Christ! As you may be preparing to go out with your loved one for a special time, I wonder if you have the same gene as my youngest daughter. She is a picky dresser, especially when it comes to

Why is God allowing this trial in my life?

2010-02-04T11:09:00.001-05:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 12:2 When our family goes through life trials, there is one question I have learned to ask myself – “Why is God allowing this trial?” Many Christians recognize they must rely on God to strengthen them to go through trials, but sometimes it becomes frustrating when we feel like we are relying on God and doing everything right according to His Word, but

Great Adventures Ahead

2010-01-04T13:11:00.003-05:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:9 My husband and I have always enjoyed camping together and the great adventures that the outdoors offers. Hiking trails and fishing lakes were always some of our most enjoyable experiences. After we became parents, this sense of adventuring that slowed a little soon picked up again when we purchased a travel trailer. After the first experience of tent

This Christmas, Boost Others

2009-12-09T14:03:00.004-05:00

By Kelly Dixon Reading: Romans 1:11-12 Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year. A time to celebrate our Savior’s birth here on earth thrills my soul. This past weekend my children and I watched The Christmas Carol together. This classic has become a tradition to watch during the Christmas season for many homes. Even though I have watched the movie numerous times, this past viewing

Godly Lessons

2009-11-25T11:04:00.004-05:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: Psalm 40:1-3 What is this new song that David speaks about in Psalm 40:3? I ponder this question often as I look at the experiences I have had in my life. However, this Thanksgiving it is one that has brought me to be thankful for the lessons the Lord teaches me through those experiences. As I think of Thanksgiving I am thankful for my husband, our girls and our families.

Enhancing the Flavor

2009-11-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: Matthew 5:13-16 On November 3rd, the Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team began a prayer initiative to open ourselves up to the Lord and allow Him to examine our hearts individually. As we look at the ministry the Lord has called us to collectively, we see that He wants more “flavor” from us not only as a group but as individuals as well. For us, it is a necessary step we

Are you discouraged?

2009-11-03T12:20:00.003-05:00

By Kelly Dixon “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from Me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 54:17 There are times during our Christian walk that we get discouraged because of attacks. These attacks may come from individuals

Get Wisdom; Develop Good Judgment

2009-10-22T20:43:00.000-04:00

By Kelly Dixon Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Proverbs 4:5-6 How comfortable are you with the call God has on your life? Sure, you are a Christian and you know you have been saved for you believe in the One and only Savior Jesus Christ, but do you feel

Choice Words

2009-10-13T17:42:00.005-04:00

by Kelly Dixon “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 I had a time in my life when I knew someone was quite angry with me and I didn’t know exactly how to handle it. So I spent all my quiet time with the Lord that day searching for His will of what I should do. Should I ignore the situation and let the person cool down or should I address it by calling

When the Answer is Wait

2009-09-19T21:54:00.005-04:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: James 4:1-3 Prayer is an important part of the Christian’s walk. Through prayer we talk to God and commune with Him. When we talk to God, we can praise Him, thank Him, ask Him for our needs, seek His will, ask Him to intervene in the lives of others, etc. These prayers are answered by our Father in three different ways either yes, no or wait. I think the hardest of all

Show Your Faith

2009-09-03T06:29:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: James 2:14-18; 1 Peter 3:8-12“If a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (James 2:14). I have mentioned in this blog before that dealing with anger is something the Lord has been teaching me for a very long time. In these lessons, He has shown me how anger (whether spoken or not) has been in control of not only my tongue, but the actions of my

Swallowing a Cactus

2009-08-27T12:39:00.007-04:00

By Kelly DixonReading: Matthew 5:38-48How do you react when you find out that someone has spitefully used you or persecuted you? What if the person is someone you felt was a close friend or loved one? When we are hurt by ones around us, especially ones close to us, we start to develop feelings of unforgiveness and before we know it we have allowed hatred to develop in our hearts. It is easy for

The Time is Near

2009-08-20T07:06:00.007-04:00

By Kelly DixonReading: John 12:1-35Movies have been a past time of Americans for many years. It is a way for us to momentarily go into the world the screen writer has imagined and forget about the worries that we have in life. Many movies have a part near the end that speeds up the story bringing your mind to the climax of the plot. It could be that the time is near for something bad to happen to

Light or Darkness

2009-08-12T22:36:00.009-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Luke 11:33-36My family and I recently returned from a very enjoyable vacation at St. George Island. During one of our last evenings at the beach, I grabbed my camera and decided to capture a few shots of my girls as they played in the sand and water. I thought it was a perfect setting because they were wearing some of their play dresses instead of swim suits. As I began to

Thank God for Chains and Tractors!

2009-08-05T09:06:00.008-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 12:1-2The dirt road that I live on is being paved. The process has created a huge mess because we are right in the middle of a rainy season. To make matters worse, I live at the end of the road. Gradually the workers have been bringing in red clay as they form the bedding for the new road. Driving through the middle of wet red clay, at its best, makes your car think

Leaving Guilt Behind Bible Study

2009-05-04T11:57:00.016-04:00

by Kelly DixonThe Leaving Guilt Behind Bible study is being developed on the topic of releasing guilt. As the sections are developed they will be available.How often do you commit a sin and then fail to find a way to move past the regret and shame you feel? Most people wrestle with guilt from time to time. Some wrestle with it all the time. Through this study we will learn how to reach for our

A Procrastinating Problem (part 2)

2009-04-03T07:14:00.008-04:00

By Kelly Dixon“My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way

A Procrastinating Problem

2009-03-26T14:55:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 12:1-2Can my procrastination be an act of disobedience to God? After all, I do eventually get it done. It’s just that I don’t jump right on it. As Christians, we not only put off reading our Bible and tithing, but we also delay in doing the work that the Lord has prepared for us to do. Ultimately these delays in carrying out His plan constitute disobedience.

Did you?

2009-03-18T22:14:00.006-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 1:20; Philippians 4:8 Did you see God today? I saw Him this morning in the beauty of His nature as I looked into the sky. I saw His paintbrush begin to color the trees and bushes with beautiful blooms as Spring began. I saw His wonderful creation of little children as I walked to my office. Did you see God today? I saw Him at work in my

Become Accountable

2009-03-10T19:43:00.014-04:00

by Kelly Dixon Readings: Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 6:1-2 When we think of being accountable for something, many times it brings uneasy feelings. Many times this uneasy feeling creates a state of fear that sabotages any action we may take towards being held responsible. However, accountability is essential to our growth in Christ and is valuable to establish. My pride use to

Reunite

2009-02-26T10:20:00.008-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 This past weekend we held our annual Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team retreat in beautiful Destin, Florida. The weather was a little too cold to enjoy the area we were blessed to be in but the beauty of the place could not be taken away. Everything was enjoyable from God’s creation of a beautiful sunrise and sunset to the talent He gave man to create a

Called to Glorify

2009-02-17T05:56:00.005-05:00

by Kelly DixonReadings: Psalm 110; Titus 2:11-14I grew up on a farm that is located in the small community of Miccosukee, which is right outside of Tallahassee, Florida. I attended college at Florida State University and commuted the 20 miles each day to and from school. During one of my commutes home, I had a car accident that in the end totaled my car and left my left shoulder with arthritis

Unhealthy Relationships

2009-02-10T10:44:00.002-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Genesis 11:1-9 During our lives, we will experience personal, as well as, professional relationships that break. Sometimes we may be going along thinking that things couldn’t get any better than they are and that things are working out just great for us, then wham! We are hit with the reality that confusion has just set in and our world has been turned upside down. Such a

Just Do It!

2009-02-02T10:09:00.006-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 69:29-31I like to write in a journal, especially about the things the Lord is doing in my life. The following entry I have shared in retreat materials before and I share it again today.Entry Date: January 7, 2007:It’s kind of a gloomy day today. As I commune with the Lord, I look out the window into my front yard. Where I usually see a bright sparkly day, I see wet

Can I borrow some . . .

2009-01-16T09:30:00.005-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 63:1-8“Oh NO. It's gone!” I exclaimed as I looked down at my ring finger and saw prongs that no longer supported their jewel. My oldest daughter quickly ran into the bathroom. “What's wrong Mommy? What's gone?” She asked in her sweet very concerned voice. “My diamond – it's gone.” She looked at me not knowing what to say and then expressed, “Okay, Mommy I would help

Faith Perseveres

2009-01-06T11:58:00.007-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 10 of 10)by Kelly DixonReading: Hebrews 12:1-11; James 1:2-8Daily spending quiet time with my Lord is what keeps me going in a life that is full of struggles. Have you ever been reading your Bible or a devotional book during your quiet time when you were hit right between the eyes with the reality of the way you are living and that the

Faith Hopes

2008-12-19T20:23:00.005-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 9 of 10)by Kelly T. DixonReading: Mark 5:21-43Christians talk a lot about our hope in Christ and we spend a lifetime trying to determine what that really means. This journey of discovery is part of our walk with Jesus and somewhere along our travels we discover that how we react in the moment of crisis reveals much about how we place our

Faith Takes Courage

2008-12-06T17:56:00.006-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 8 of 10) by Kelly Dixon“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)When I first received the call from the Lord to His speaking and writing ministry, I couldn't see how it was possible. At the time, the obstacles

Faith Answers

2008-11-20T16:53:00.003-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 7 of 10)by Kelly DixonReading: John 13:1-17Imagine this . . . you are in a room full of eleven people who are trying to love you the best they know how while at the same time they are trying to understand who you really are in the scheme of things. Then there is one individual who is looking for any opportunity he can to betray you and

Faith Repents

2008-11-11T15:32:00.006-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 6 of 10) by Kelly Dixon Reading: Romans 13:11-14 I sit and wonder sometimes as to what makes me stop and take notice. What makes me stop and take notice to those around me . . . those who I've known, but now they are far away . . . those who I haven't met yet, but they are right in front of me. What makes me take notice of the way I

Faith Obeys

2008-11-03T10:54:00.006-05:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 5 of 10)by Kelly DixonReading: Joshua 6“Done.” Joshua said to himself. He had delivered the instructions from the Lord to the Israelites. Murmuring was going on all around him, “Moses would have never had us doing this, Joshua is out of his mind.” In Joshua's mind there was no doubt, the Lord told him to do it and as Moses' successor in

Mercy is Falling

2008-10-25T07:02:00.009-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 28:6-7Both my girls have had some medical concerns that have caused me to sit back and take another look at how I'm trusting the Lord. I was observing their beauty in my rear view mirror as we were traveling to school just three days after we received the news about the concerns for my oldest daughter. Questions kept going through my mind of, “Why Lord?” and other

Faith Takes Risks

2008-10-17T06:52:00.009-04:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 4 of 10)by Kelly DixonReading: Judges 7As she was walking to her car after work, she continued to think of the things she didn't accomplish during the day. "No time to think about that," she exclaimed to herself, "I have to just keep going. I have too many people counting on me." She began to feel the burden of the remainder of the day.

Faith Acts

2008-10-08T12:22:00.007-04:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 3 of 10)by Kelly DixonReading: Exodus 3:1 – 4:20Have you ever been in a spiritual slump? Many times it is referred to as being in the valley. It is a time when you just don't feel like anything is going right in your life spiritually and when you feel like you are not close to God at all. At least not as close as you use to be. As time

Faith Endures

2008-10-02T23:00:00.007-04:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 2 of 10)by Kelly T. DixonReadings: Genesis 37, 39, 40, 41, 45:1-15Did you know that Jesus promised us a life of abundance not a life without trials? With every trial that I have I ask myself, “How am I living my promised life of abundance through the trials in my life?” To help in the understanding of this question I must define what I

Faith Trusts

2008-09-25T15:58:00.008-04:00

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 1 of 10)by Kelly T. DixonReadings: Genesis 12:1-8; Genesis 22:1-18I will never forget the day I realized the Holy Spirit was leading me to quit my job and start working full time in the business that I had held part time on the side. I had been working for the same company for eight years and circumstances that surrounded me kept drawing

Are you available?

2008-09-18T14:37:00.004-04:00

by Kelly T. DixonReading: Romans 12:1-2“It couldn't have been better!!” This was the comment I kept hearing Saturday as we closed out another successful retreat for the Lord. How blessed the Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team was to minister with such wonderful ladies as the ones at Wakulla United Methodist Church and their cluster churches. The Lord continued to show His presence throughout the

Holds Me Securely

2008-09-09T15:39:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 63 (I like the NLT version for this Psalm)My family and I went on one of our quick camping trips over the weekend. We visited the Florida Caverns State park. My husband wanted to take our little ones through the cave and he made plans for the adventure over several days. Many conversations were had to prepare the girls for the experience. However, when the time came

Storms of Life (Part 2)

2008-09-02T21:13:00.009-04:00

by Kelly DixonPart 1Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10We have come through Tropical Storm Fay and observed our fellow Americans as they have gone through Hurricane Gustav. Next on the list is Hurricane Hanna and right behind her is Ike and Josephine. Right in the middle of storms and constantly keeping our eyes on the weather, I wonder if you have the same trait as I do: Are you a "Mrs. Fix-It?"

Storms of Life (Part 1)

2008-08-27T18:25:00.008-04:00

by Kelly DixonPart 2Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10When we were only into the second day of Tropical Storm Fay's drenching rain, the gloom of it all was becoming very depressing. Thoughts went through my mind of how this flood would effect the ones around me. As I returned to work on Monday after the storm had made its way through over the weekend, my inquiring thoughts were answered. Many saw an

Jesus Satisfies My Soul

2008-08-20T10:43:00.008-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Isaiah 55:1-3, 6 As school begins, we once again start the early days to account for traffic. Funny thing is it use to be that traffic would get on my nerves. I use to let it bother me so much that even when I had enough time I would feel like I needed to rush. As a result, my days would begin in a turmoil and then they would not be very relaxing. Along with this, I would

Practicing Submission

2008-08-12T22:07:00.011-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 7:14-25Scripture tells us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Sometimes I feel like I set a full course meal for him and become his waiter serving more and more up for his enjoyment. The other night our house became the restaurant in which he dined. Mainly because of me and my constant fight against controlling my

Hope of Our Salvation

2008-08-05T17:33:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonScripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12Have you ever been swimming in the ocean? As you begin to walk in from the beach your feet feel the sand beneath you changing from warm and dry to cool and moist. Traveling out into the water you begin to feel the waves as they approach. At first they are gentle against your body, but as you pursue your journey out into the ocean they become more harsh. The

Residing Within

2008-07-30T19:27:00.004-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: 1 Corinthians 2I am nervous every time I prepare myself to speak in front of people. It doesn't matter if there are five people in the audience or 500 (haven't had this opportunity yet, but looking forward to it). My nerves will be on edge. Butterflies begin to go throughout my body seemingly like they are infiltrating my system trying to immobilize me so that I am unable

Show Yourself Faithful

2008-07-22T19:48:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Daniel 6 Sing with me, “Daniel spent the night with the lions – ROAR – but the lions didn't even attack. Because the Lord sent the angel down, the Lord sent the angel down to shut every lions mouth tight. MMMM.” My children love to sing this song. Daniel in the lions den – what a favorite Bible story for many of us. Did you know that Daniel was 80 years old when he had his

Choose Today

2008-07-16T09:32:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Joshua 24:1-24I can't remember a time in my life when I felt like I wasn't being pulled in every direction. My "To Do" list seems like it is never ending. When I think that I have reached the end of the list, reality sets in to the fact that it is time to turn the page to another list awaiting my attention. Guilt makes its way to my heart each time that I would take time

Reconnecting

2008-07-09T11:27:00.002-04:00

By Kelly DixonReading: Colossians 3:1-15Don't you just love cell phones? Right when you are in the middle of a great conversation, your call is dropped. You then try your best to get the other person back, who in return is trying to get you back, and you end up in each other's voice mail. Technology - can't live with it; wish you could live without it. It is one of those things you enjoy when it

God Moments

2008-07-02T21:36:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 27:1-5Yesterday, I was blessed with the opportunity to once again publicly share my testimony. I am always renewed every time I prepare to share. It usually involves a lot of reviewing journal entries which in itself brings a review of interaction I have had in the past with the Lord. Through it all, I grow in my faith and realization of who I am and to Whom I belong.

Who can tame it?

2008-06-25T15:27:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: James 3I fight regularly with what is referred to as the "strongest muscle in the body." As I observe the continual growth of my children, I realize that I, like them, must have struggled with this part of my body even when I was young. Many times I hear others referring to their own battle with this muscle and it makes me feel a little better. Yet, still when I am losing

A Melodious Heart

2008-06-17T09:56:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Ephesians 5:15-20My five year old daughter loves to sing. Many times she sings throughout the mundane tasks that she may be doing – playing, going to the restroom and, yes, even while she eats. She reminds me a lot of my Aunt Margie who always had a melody on her lips. Her gentle spirit permeates the melody throughout the room that she enters. In this gentle way, she seems

Can God Fly?

2008-06-11T11:49:00.004-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 12:5-7“God can fly can’t He, Mom?” This question arose from my three year old on our way in to school one morning this week. “Yes, God can fly. He can do anything,” my encouraging response came with apprehension knowing that the questions usually get harder. Yet, to my surprise the next response wasn’t a question at all but an observation. “I know this because Jesus

Suiting Up!!

2008-06-04T17:32:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Ephesian 6:10-18One of the commitments each Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team Member has is to daily put on the full armor of God. This also is the commitments of the ladies from our recently developed ministry, Warriors of HOPE. I encourage you to check out the brochure about the ministry by going to http://www.warriorsofhope.org/. The ministry's focus is on the spiritual

Harvesting for the Promise Maker

2008-05-28T17:47:00.011-04:00

by Kelly Dixon"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'?I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35 (NIV)"Look a rainbow!!" My girls, along with their mother, love to see a beautiful rainbow in the sky right after the rain. They have actually only seen one or two; however, they enjoy using the water hose and holding it just right so that

Drawing To The Word

2008-05-21T09:24:00.003-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 1:1-14Throughout high school and even college, history was not my favorite subject. To say the least, I was beyond bored with the subject. It is interesting how now I thrive off of digging into the Scriptures and linking the New and Old Testaments - especially the historical aspects. I have thought many times, what is the difference? And I have finally decided it is

The Power of Prayer

2008-05-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Matthew 8:14-17I was coming home from out of town on Mother's Day when I received one of those phone calls that made your heart sink from the immediate drop of a heavy burden. It was my mother who was telling me that one of the members of the Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team was rushed to the hospital. There were complications in regards to her aortic aneurysm and she was

A Fiery Friendship

2008-05-07T09:59:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Daniel 3Ladies for Jesus just completed another great retreat this past weekend. The retreat was sponsored by Old Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church and held at Centenary Camp. One of the things I love about the retreats we do is the fellowship we have with other believers. We come together to learn more about God's Word and deepen our walk with Christ. In doing so, the

Forgiving Job?

2008-05-01T06:40:00.004-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Job 42:7-17We all have experienced issues with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes they become very heated and we get an attitude towards the person. Sometimes that attitude penetrates into our hearts so much that it hinders our relationship with them indefinitely. When we have such encounters we forget about their walk with Christ and we focus on how they have

One in Christ

2008-04-23T22:26:00.007-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 17 with a focus on John 17:20-26 When both my girls were babies they had a funny way of studying people and their actions. They would literally stare at people to the point that some would mention that they made them feel uncomfortable. A lady mentioned to me at one point, "It is like she can see right through me!" And even now during their preschool ages I catch them

Breaking The Wall

2008-04-16T08:26:00.006-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Jeremiah 20:7-16 Have you ever hit a prayer wall? I have on many occasions. I now use it as an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and I hope to encourage you to do so as well. At the time that one hits a prayer wall they feel as far away from the Lord as the east is from the west. At times in our lives troubles will start to come from every direction. It will begin to

Witnessing About The Ordinary

2008-04-09T22:23:00.010-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Acts 26It use to be that when the topic came up about witnessing for the Lord it would make me feel uneasy. Even though I felt comfortable with my Bible knowledge, I still withdrew from the opportunity when it presented itself. Believe it or not, the reason why was because I had an ordinary life. I grew up in a church. My parents were still married and there were no major

Receive the Holy Spirit

2008-04-03T06:47:00.005-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 20:19-22Has your family ever been in the state where they just need to be renewed? That is when you know it is time for a family vacation. Last Friday, our family left on our first camping trip for the season. My husband and I couldn't wait to get the camper refreshed and ready to go again. It had been over five months since our last camping trip and we were both

Perfect Fit!!

2008-03-26T06:20:00.006-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 1:1, 14; 15:4-5What is it about women and our shoes? Every now and then my husband will look in my closet at the overflow of shoes and shake his head. He just doesn't understand why one person should have so many shoes. I remember once when we first got married he exclaimed, “You have two pairs that are alike.” As I looked at the two pairs he was referencing, I started

Empty Redefined

2008-03-20T05:41:00.008-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Luke 22:39-46Many times this week I have sat down to write this blog and each time I have experienced writer's block. I couldn't believe that here we are right in the middle of Holy Week and I couldn't think of a thing to write. Easter is my favorite holiday. I love every aspect of the season. Of course, the triumphal resurrection of our Lord and Savior is the main reason.

Standing and Active

2008-03-12T10:13:00.023-04:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Acts 10I don't know about you, but I am still not adjusted to this new time! Ever since we "sprang forward" last Sunday morning, I haven't had much spring to my step. Setting our clocks one hour forward has left me feeling like I have been a full day behind. Yet, I have renewed myself this morning and reminded myself of my mission, which is the mission of all Christians.

Willing, Yet Weak

2008-03-05T08:50:00.013-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: 1 Samuel 1:1-18; Mark 14:37-39As I nodded to sleep for about the fifth time during reading my Bible, I began to get frustrated at myself. I wanted to spend time with the Lord, but my body would not allow me to do so. I kept reading the same line over and over again. My body was so tired that I couldn't even get through a full line before I began to nod off again. Forget

Heavenly Perspective

2008-02-26T09:14:00.012-05:00

by Kelly DixonReadings: Isaiah 40:31; Luke 10:38-42I began yesterday morning in disbelief. The alarm clock went off buzzing me awake with it's annoying sound. I couldn't believe it. It couldn't be 4:30 a.m. already. It felt like I JUST went to sleep 10 minutes ago at 10:30 p.m. I hit the snooze button and huffed back to bed thinking, "I must get at least 5 more minutes of sleep." Then I awoke

Drawing The Line

2008-02-20T05:52:00.009-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Joshua 10:1-15; 2 Timothy 4:7I heard this statement made once, "There are some sins in our lives that keep rearing their ugly heads." I know that has been true in my own life. Over the last year, I have been struggling with a battle against a particular sin in my life that keeps rearing it's ugly head. I would take it to the Lord in prayer and ask for help and things would

Legalistic - Not Me!!

2008-02-13T05:52:00.020-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 (with focus on verse 31); Philippians 4:15-18We are only seven days into the Lenten season and the Lord has already taught me a very valuable lesson. Several months ago if you had asked me if I considered myself legalistic I would have answered with an astounding, "No, not me, I try my best to be led by the Spirit." Though I fail at

Jesus Seeks

2008-02-06T05:51:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Luke 19:10; Philippians 2:3-11All my life I have been complimented on my eyes. Many people have told me that when I speak on a topic my eyes tell how passionate I am about my message. My mother has commented many times that when I was a child she could tell how I felt just by looking in my eyes. Such a good tip I picked up from her because when I look into the eyes of my

Nothing Can Separate

2008-01-30T06:36:00.001-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Romans 8:28-39As I continue my walk with the Lord, I become more and more aware of the spiritual warfare the Bible speaks about. Since I committed myself more to the Lord I have been sick at every turn - from colds to chills for unknown reasons to stomach problems. As I write this I am experiencing a cold that has worked its way into my chest and yesterday afternoon I had

Jesus Wept

2008-01-23T08:22:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 11:32-35One thing I have noticed since I have become a mother is how quickly my "water works" turn on. I am sure many mothers can attest to the fact that when they hear a touching or tragic story it makes the tears flow. I now shed tears for things that I use to never cry over and would actually think it would be ridiculous to cry over. Recently it happened on the way

Aroma of Christ

2008-01-16T06:01:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReadings: Philippians 3:4-8 & 2 Corinthians 2:14-16Also see: Ephesians 5:1-2 I had one of those experiences the other day that I am sure we all have on occasion. I came home after work and picking up the children to encounter the most awful smell. When I opened the door to our home it hit me immediately. The smell was permeating throughout our home. What is that smell!?! It didn't

Blessings Flow

2008-01-09T06:55:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Ephesians 1:2-4"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow . . ." These are the words of the song we sing at the close of our offering each Sunday at Miccosukee United Methodist Church. And it is true that the Almighty flows out blessings upon us like an ever flowing river. Last night my youngest daughter went through her fourth episode of "nursemaid's elbow." As usual it was

Press Toward The Goal

2008-01-02T06:28:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Psalm 147:11; Philippians 3:1-14"There it is! There's the lighthouse!" These were the words of my very excited girls as we approached St. Marks Lighthouse. For New Year's, my husband decided to take us on a family outing to the lighthouse. The girls had seen the lighthouse before and were excited about the visit. As we traveled, they eagerly searched for the lighthouse.

The Day After

2007-12-26T07:32:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Luke 2:8-20Presents have been opened - some played with, some worn, some yet to be explored. Family has been visited and enjoyed. It must be the day after Christmas. Christmas in our home was warm and inviting. It went off without-a-hitch. Well, except for the battery that I forgot to attach to the video recorder the night before when I was charging it . . . but we won't

Unexpected Warmth

2007-12-17T13:25:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: John 1:1-5; 3:13-17On Monday morning of this week we awoke to a cold morning for us Floridians. Quite a change from the previous week where we were having lows of 50, highs of 80, and wearing short sleeves. Monday morning greeted us with a low of 30 and the high only expected to get to 60. This was a drastic change and the chill quickly began to go deep into my bones. That

Requesting the Presence

2007-12-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

by Kelly Dixon Reading: Exodus 33:12-23 "Mom, what does God look like?" It was one of those questions that my five year old asks which stumps me a little. My prayer for wisdom wasn't brief enough before my three year old chimed in behind her big sister, "Yeah, what does God look like?" "Well, honey, I believe He looks like us because when the Bible describes God making man it says He made us in

Entering The Presence

2007-12-04T16:39:00.000-05:00

by Kelly DixonReading: Exodus 33:7-10As a mother of a five year old and three year old I get the question all the time of "Are you going to have any more children?" This is a natural thing for people to ask a mother with children of such a young age. However, my answer sometimes becomes confusing to the person inquiring. I usually smile and reply, "We are still talking to the Lord about that."