So Long, Insecurity

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Clothed in Dignity and Strength

Today is a new day in the Dunnewold household. I get up every day believing in the power of the mercy of Jesus Christ, but I am telling you, "TODAY...is a NEW day." 

What's so different about today? Everything, but mostly, I am choosing this very day to revel in the inheritance Jesus Christ has given me. 

"An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels. 

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands

she plants a vineyard.

She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed:

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates."--Proverbs 31

Ugly Insecurity

It's very real and very ugly. If you're like me, human, then you know what insecurity is. Maybe you don't. Maybe you don't even know some of the ways insecurity can manifest itself inside of you. From your appearance to your family and friends and most important relationships, insecurity rises up and feeds on the dark areas of your life. Let me give you an example of the way insecurity has manifested itself in my life. Appearance. Yep. You said it. I am not sure when it began, but sometime after I stopped playing with barbie and teaching my stuffed animals their ABC's, I became very aware of myself. I can remember hating my plump lips (thankful for them now!), my brown eyes, the gap between my teeth, my large calve muscles, and big feet. I think the only thing I was "okay" with was my nose and my ears. Over the years, the media would become more pressing on perfection, the perfect body, the perfect hair, the perfect eyes (get this, if you don't like your eye color, you can get colored contacts to change your eye color. Guess who did just that!?), the perfect legs, need I keep going? Between Victoria Secret commercials and Hydroxycut adds, what in the world is a real woman supposed to do?

I know what this woman did. She forgot. She forgot who she was in Christ. She forgot to take up her inheritance in Jesus. She forgot about freedom from the flesh. Listen ladies, if you have been born again in Jesus Christ, then you have a BEAUTIFUL inheritance given to you by your Father. You also have a choice. You can take it and RUN with it, or you can ignore it and let insecurity fill up every hole in your life, forgetting what Christ has freely given you.

FREEDOM

DIGNITY

HONOR

GLORY

HEALING

RIGHTEOUSNESS

SECURITY

It's your choice. From the moment you wake up, you have a choice to let other people control you, media, food, expectations, relationships, careers, school, etc. OR, you can choose to let Jesus control you and consume you. Yes, it is hard, but it is also THAT EASY. We are not to live in fear of the darkness, letting others control us emotionally, physically, spiritually. We are women of honor, we are "clothed in dignity and strength." We have a responsibility to other women in this nation, in this world, to the little baby girls in our lives, to show them how to latch on to this strength and dignity for DEAR LIFE. I'm not saying you'll never feel pain or emotion. What I AM saying is that YOU GET TO CHOOSE how you react to pain, what type of emotions you feel, how far you will let something go until it gets right down to the deepest part of your unguarded heart.

My prayer is that we as women will claim our innocence back. I pray that we will rise together, stand up for the godly men in our lives, for the little girls, for those who are enslaved and cannot stand up for themselves. I pray that we can learn through the cleansing blood of Jesus that we are forgiven and free. There is nothing that you can do or have done that He hasn't already died and forgiven you for. 

Believe me, sisters, "HE KNOWS HOW SCARY IT IS TO BE US."--Beth Moore

If you are looking for freedom from an addiction, from a relationship that is unhealthy, from debt, from your own expectations, I suggest you get down to the heart of the matter. Free yourself. Take it to Jesus. Tell Him you have no idea how you got to where you are, but you are drowning, and you don't want to die. Trust me. He wants freedom for you more than you even want for yourself. 

I also recommend checking out this book, "So Long, Insecurity" by Beth Moore. Absolutely life-changing.

I challenge you to accept the Freedom Jesus Christ has granted you. 

Dear Jesus, I ask for your love to surround me and my sisters today. I know that our insecurities run deep, and we have experienced pain in ways we never thought possible. Jesus, we are drowning, and we need you to pull us out. We don't even know where to start, but we know that we cannot do this on our own strength. By the strength you have granted us, by the strength of the Spirit you have placed in us, Jesus, we can find freedom. Jesus, we realize we have a choice to choose you, and we also have a choice to dispel the darkness and live in the light of your glorious freedom. Jesus, help us choose wisely and find security and comfort in your arms. Thank you for giving us life. Thank you for taking away our insecurities. Thank you for loving us like no one else ever has. Thank you for loving us more than we love ourselves. You are the King of our lives, and You will always be.

Looks like we got our snow wish!!!!

Winter Is Here

In like a lamb, out like a lion. Maybe, but I know something is different about today. For starters, it is COLD. My fingers are numb just trying to type right now. My toes are equally numb. I love it. This weather propels me. It gives me motivation and relaxes and soothes my spirit. I know that sounds backwards, but I love the dreary days. There is something about them that takes the pressure off, unlike sunny days where you feel you MUST take advantage of the rays and the warmth and do as much outside as possible. Don't get me wrong. I live for days like that, for days outdoors, warmth, sun, beauty in nature, long hikes to walk and talk about the goodness of God. Just as much as I live for those days, I breathe for these. 

So, where's the snow? I'm anxiously awaiting it, even just a few snowflakes, though my heart longs for a BURST of excitement in a total whiteout. Snow is white and thick and covers like a blanket. I feel as though it covers me just the same. The world looks so different when covered in snow. Snow purifies, cleans. It's silent yet powerful. It reminds me of the way God speaks to me.

"Your voice wasn't in a bush burning

No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind

It was still

It was small

It was hidden

You came like a winter snow

Quiet, soft, and slow

Falling from the sky

In the night

To the earth below"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHiAmL8-b0

Check it out. Audrey Assad has a gorgeous voice. 

All of God's creation cries out declaring that HE is the Lord. The snow speaks for itself. What a beautiful representation of the Father's purifying love for me, for you.

"Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!" -Psalm 51: 1&2

Jesus, bring a healing, cleansing, purifying snow on Your people. Make us new, Your sons and daughters, as we recognize and claim our righteousness in You. Break and refine us. Use us as Your servants. Holy Spirit of God, comfort us in our afflictions and revive us. Move us to rejoice in the freedom Christ has granted us. Move us to shine for You to those who have been silenced. Move us to raise our voices for freedom from slavery and sin. Thank you for redeeming Your people. Thank You for giving us immeasurably more. Speak to us just as You entered this world, and help us to be attentive to Your voice. Your unfailing love is better than life! We praise You, God, for Your goodness and unfailing love!

I Have Resolved To...

I have resolved for 2013 to become more organized in every area of my life. For me, well, since I am already scatter-brained, organization takes some sweet, focused time to accomplish. Anyone else out there with me on this? However, it's always worth it. I have found that the more I de-clutter my life in one area, the more time I have left to spend "focused" in another. That's really what I am aiming for here: focus, clarity, answers, access.

I have recently sought out to organize my whole house and garage. Ambitious? Perhaps, but it is my belief that if I at least set a goal, I will attempt it, even if I fail.

It's not about failing, it's about trying. 

There is something so powerful about trying a midst the pressure of possible defeat. The walls that we ourselves put up, they begin to break down bit by bit when we try. Hmm, a thought just occurred to me. We spend so much time worrying, obsessing over possible defeat that we don't stop for a moment to think about possible VICTORY. Wow. What would the world be like if we just changed our perspectives? You see satan likes to throw little lies at us like, "You can't. You know you're no good at that. You should just let someone else do it. Stick to something more safe and certain."

Conquer in His Name

No. I refuse to believe the lie that in order to attempt something, I must KNOW that I will completely succeed. After all, isn't there a lesson equally as valuable if not more in failing? Plus, for those of us who have put on Christ, guess what?


"No, in ALL THESE THINGS we are MORE than CONQUERERS through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

I am coming to the realization that just because I have failed at something doesn't mean I haven't conquered it. I believe that it is all about perception. If I give something my very all, failed or not, have I not still conquered? If I go in HIS name, have I not conquered? Friends, I believe we have the power to conquer or to be conquered. The power I WANT and I HAVE has come to me from Jesus, and through His Spirit, I have the power to conquer my fears, my doubts, my insecurities, and gain trust, faith, and hope in a gloriously secure future with Jesus Christ.

Friends, don't take it lightly that He has crowned you with honor and glory. It's time to take your rightful place, as a conqueror.

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."

Psalm 8:3-5

Thank You, Jesus for clothing me in your strength and dignity. Thank You for helping me reclaim what is rightfully mine. I pray that I may never lose sight of who I am in You. Thank You for loving me even when I do. I am more than a conqueror because of Your great love for me.

This is my heart's prayer for all of YOU, my dear friends!! Reclaim YOUR POWER to CONQUER in HIS NAME!!!

Fresh Start

Wow. I am not sure about you, but for me and my family, 2012 brought with it a whirlwind of CHANGE. Here is the break down of the time line of events:

• January 3, 2012: I met my future husband and best friend at the 2012 PASSION conference (our best friends met on the same trip the previous day!)
• Jumped full swing into planning a mission trip to Kenya and Student Teaching
• February 14, 2012: Began dating my "future husband"
• March 10, 2012: We said, "I love you." 
• April 5, 2012: Lost my student teaching job
• April 9, 2012: I said, "yes" to marrying Luke.
• May 5, 2012: Luke graduated college.
• May 6, 2012: We left for Kenya.
• June 18, 2012: We arrived home.
• June 19, 2012: Let the wedding planning begin!!
• August 11, 2012: We said, "I will" forever and ever.
• August 12, 2012: Honeymoon to Asheville, NC.
• August 18, 2012: Moved to Maryville, TN (Luke had previously started a new M.E. job with DENSO manufacturing.)
• September 22, 2012: Carmen and David were married
• October 20, 2012: Abby and John (our best friends) were married.
• October 26, 2012: My brother and sister-in-law were married.
• Ocotber 29, 2012: Started my first 24 day challenge with Advocare!
• November 22, 2012: Let the joint Thanksgivings begin!
• December 15, 2012: I graduated from Grad School!!!
• December 23, 2012: Let the joint Christmases begin!
• January 1, 2013: Let the NEW YEAR begin!
• January 1-4, 2013: PASSION conference in Atlanta, GA, where we met!
• January 3, 2013: Hit one year of knowing each other!!
• January 9, 2013: Job offer! Praise God!

Whoa. That is a LOT to soak in right there. 

The Best is YET to come

How to I beat such an awesome year? There will never be a year where I meet and fall in love with my best friend and life-long companion. There will never be another year where we venture to Kenya together for the first time. There will never be another year where we go on our honeymoon or graduate for the first time, or see our friends get married. Wow. These moments sure are fleeting. 

Even in all the JOY and with all the NEWNESS God lavished upon our families, God has been constantly reminding me of His Truth and His promise" "THE BEST IS YET TO COME." That's such a bold statement, but His word reminds me

"Better is the end of a thing than its beginning...say not, "Why were the former days better than these?"

Ecclesiastes 7: 8 & 10

Not only this but look at His promises to us!!!:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes..." Jeremiah 29:11-14

Thank You, God, that tomorrow will be even better than the beautiful day you have given me today. Thank you for teaching me who I am in You. Thank You for loving me like no one else can, even more than I can. Thank You for being MINE forever and for adopting and claiming me as Your daughter!