Blog Archives

About Purpose

10/27/2014

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

The definition of the word purpose is: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists

Fall is my very favorite season of the year. This is the time of year when I first begin looking forward to what's on the horizon for next year, and what the past nine to ten months labor has reaped. But this year, since Fall has begun, I have found myself doing less reflecting and strategizing, and more sowing. My conversations with The Lord about my situation led me to the focus of this blog.

I began to understand how easy it is for us to become disoriented and discouraged by some of the places, positions, and relationships we find ourselves in, simply because we don't understand the purpose of those things. I began to feel discouraged because of much sowing and no visible result. But as I sought God, He helped me identify the one thing I was not considering: The purpose of this season in my life. This season of sowing is exactly for that purpose...to sow. In our microwave, IM, and on-demand society, I had rolled over my expectations for immediate gratification into my spiritual life. But the purpose of the sowing season is not to reap, but to sow. Reaping comes in it's own season! Understanding this truth, makes enduring this season of my life joyful! Not only because I love investing in and praying for others, because it can be exhausting at times, especially as a mother. But also because just like the farmer who carefully plans his seed, and strategically sows it, I can joyfully reflect on my diligent investment and expect a fruitful harvest in due season!

That's my story, but what about you dear reader? At times we all have life circumstances that we have misunderstood or forgotten the purpose of. Sometimes we forget the purpose of a relationship, so we use it in a way that God has not intended. Sometimes it's a task or assignment that has turned into something other than what God originally instructed. What about our possessions? More than anything else, we Believers make the mistake of thinking that the sole purpose of what we have and earn is for us to provide for us. But Christ is our provider! So for what purpose has God given you your possessions?

Anything we use or perceive in a way that is contrary to its purpose, will ultimately end in misuse, abuse, and loss. If I use my lawnmower in a way Honda did not intend it, someone could get seriously hurt. If I spend my time at work in a way my employer did not agree to, I could lose my job. But if I clearly understand and operate according to the purpose of each, I will enjoy the benefits and pleasure of these things in my life.

So how do we find the purpose of who and what is going on in our lives? Ask the Creator of all things! Develop a closeness with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray. Listen. Obey. There is really no secret formula. If you do these things, in this order, I give you my word you will begin to walk in purpose in every area of your life!

May this season be filled with joy and expectation!

Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~

0 Comments

A Journey to Regain Health: God’s Plan

10/13/2014

0 Comments

“This happened so the power of God could be seen..." ~John 9:3(b)

God has blessed me with three sons who were all born healthy. But as the months of their infancy moved on, each child developed different health challenges in their bodies. My oldest son developed asthma like symptoms at 8 months of age, and was diagnosed with food allergies to wheat and eggs as a toddler. The great thing about his health is that he never has had any challenges with asthma or the foods he was allergic to. He is prescribed asthma control medications but he rarely needs or uses them and he is no longer allergic to wheat or eggs.

My youngest son who is three years old began to have signs of asthma and food allergies when he was around a year old. He has battled through boughts of croup throughout the fall months for the last two years, diagnosed with failure to thrive and GERD (fancy name for acid reflux), egg allergy, and speech delay. Other than these challenges he is a typical toddler.

The heart of my journey has been with my five year old son. He also developed eczema, asthma, food allergies to dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and tilapia, and GERD as a toddler. He would break out into these terrible rashes as a baby and we had to use different remedies and steroid cream to control his flare ups. He was diagnosed with asthma at one year of age, and had his first asthma attack a few weeks later when we were visiting my mother in South Carolina. By the time I got him to the Emergency Room he was at 70% oxygen in his body. I had no idea what asthma looked like until this experience, and I never wanted to see an asthma episode again. Little did I know this was wishful thinking! He had another asthma attack this past June when visiting his grandparents, and was transported to Children’s Hospital in downtown Atlanta. He has also experienced first degree burns on his face, and first/second degree burns on his left shoulder and back as a result of running to the microwave to get a cup of water. I was in the process of making tea for his father. He had surgery the next morning at Wellstar Cobb Hospital in Austell, Georgia and stopped breathing when they were bringing him out of the anesthesia.

During his first week of Kindergarten, a student brought peanuts to his class. While the class was having carpet time (my son was not near the peanuts), my son had a minor reaction to the peanuts. The staff reacted quickly and got him to the nurse’s station. Thankfully he did not need his EpiPen but only a dose of Benadryl. His father and I picked him up from school and thankfully he recovered in time to be back to school the next day.

My middle son has had three near death experiences in his short time on this earth, and exposure to several viruses and other illnesses over the past five years. I know without a doubt that God has a plan for this young man’s life and a great call to change and impact the lives of others. He is personable, witty, charming, resilient, and a fighter.

He never gives up even on his worst days of dealing with illness. I have dealt with years of emotions, blame, shame, and guilt for the health challenges my children developed, but mainly my second and third children because my oldest rarely goes to the pediatrician outside of his routine annual well check-ups.

I have been going to specialists such as gastroenterology, pulmonary/allergist clinics, urgent care, emergency room visits, and the pediatrician for sick visits for five years. I have finally begun to see improvements in the boys’ health as of the fall of 2013.

It’s been a road traveled with prayers, remedies, research, emotions, tears, pain, gain, and victory. God said this journey is about Him receiving glory according to the scripture John 9:2-3, “ “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”"

In future blogs I will begin to talk about the road to regaining my son’s health and recovery.....God’s way. My prayer is that you as readers will be helped in your own journey to regain your health or the health of a loved one by following my journey.

Lakeisha Howell

Lakeisha Howell is a full-time wife and mother, board member for VOYCE Academy, and beloved and devoted Child of God. Stay tuned each month to follow her journey as she shares the health benefits she has learned by living and eating according to God's original design.

0 Comments

R.E.A.L.* Moment Monday

10/6/2014

0 Comments

The Word "No"

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”" ~Mark 12:30-31 (NASB)

Sometimes the greatest acts of Love come in the form of the word "No."

I have heard on many occasions, as recently as yesterday, that sometimes God says "Go," sometimes He says "Slow," and sometimes He says "No." When we talk about God saying "No" to us, it is often implied that we are either not ready for the thing we are asking of Him, or it is not good for us. We know God loves us and would NEVER give us something that is outside the confines of Love. When He says "No," we can have unshakable confidence that it's for our best! So what about saying "No" in our relationships with those we love?

I have recently been dealing with a situation with one of my children where I have had to say "No" almost on a daily basis to the same exact request. Initially she was frustrated by my answer, but my consistency in saying no, and my explanation for my response has now turned the question and answer dialogue into a kind of joke. She now understands that the thing she is asking for, although it is a right and privilege she has earned and worked hard for, and she is certainly deserving of, is also something that if given to her at this time could be life threatening. By saying "No" I am not keeping her from a privilege, but protecting her from a death trap that she has not been fully prepared for. That's Love of the greatest kind!

I would like to challenge each reader to find the Love in speaking and hearing the word "No." Don't give in to the pressures of "yes" just to please the people you love when you know "No" is what's best for them. And when the people who love you say "No," trust their love enough to not hold it against them....they may know much better than you why "No" is best!

Finally, learn to tell yourself "No" more often as well! When doubt and discouragement try to settle into your thoughts, say "NO!" When blame and guilt invade your peace, say "NO!" When the pressures of competition and comparison whisper subtly, say "NO!" We would not hesitate to say NO to this negativity if it were affecting our children and loved ones, so why not love ourselves in the same manner? Love yourself enough to say "NO" to the things, situations, attitudes, and emotions that are not in line with what GOD has said about you in His Word the Bible!

Thank you to each of you for your dedicated following each week! I am truly humbled and honored to serve you as God gives me the insight and creativity. I would love to hear from you personally either in the comments section or via email at: [email protected]. We have some exciting new additions coming this Fall, and would love to hear about what you like and don't like! Help us make this site better for you!

Blessings my friends,
Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~

0 Comments

About Purpose

A Journey to Regain Health: God’s Plan

R.E.A.L.* Moment Monday

The Word "No"

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield

Archives

Categories

About Purpose

A Journey to Regain﻿ Health: God’s Plan﻿

R.E.A.L.* Moment Monday

The Word "No"

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~dawnlbedingfield

Archives

Categories

A Journey to Regain Health: God’s Plan

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield