Dawn Scott Jones

I loved O’Reilly, my Jack Russell Terror—I mean Terrier. Her boundless energy and spunk kept me on my toes, and her mischievous antics made me laugh—even when I was trying to discipline her. She was full of personality, possessing the spirit of a preschool toddler. I loved that about her. That is until something happened …

What Letting Your Guard Down Can Do for Emotional Healing Read More »

She interrupted everything. Slowly but deliberately, she approached the platform as we all stared in wonder. Apparently she had no idea she was disrupting a very prestigious gathering of clergy. There must have been 500 of us, all ministers, sitting silently in our lovely clothes at the posh Grand Hotel, enjoying a conference on how …

When Distractions Turn Into Divine Appointments Read More »

“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9, MEV). Last month, I conquered a fear. I jumped off the side of a 15-foot-high-ship into the deep, turquoise ocean. It was exhilarating. The other voyagers cheered as I …

How to Control and Overcome Your Fears Read More »

I was recently scared—really, really scared. I saw something that so frightened me it threw me back and stopped me cold in my tracks. What I saw was ugly, threatening and dangerous. It was large, intimidating and daunting. What was it? Spots! I saw spots. I have seen spots that freaked me out before—age spots …

Are You Aware of Your Blind Spots? Read More »

To the woman at the well, Jesus asked, “Will you give me a drink?” I can’t imagine being asked by the living water Himself to fetch Him some refreshment. Yet, Jesus asks us to quench His thirst—to bring Him something that will refresh Him. That makes me wonder, is Jesus thirsty in my relationship with …

Does My Life Water Refresh Jesus’ Heart? Read More »

Of all the eternal truths declared in God’s Word, one prominent reality is essential to grasp: God made us in His image. We have been exquisitely designed by Him to reflect His image and reveal His likeness. As the “grand finale” of all God’s unique creation, mankind stands unequaled, elevated as the Creator’s crowning achievement, …

Accept It: God’s Love is Unconditional Read More »

To me, morning is the best time of day. I’m sure it’s because, especially in the first few moments after waking up, the waters of my mind are still silent and unrippled, giving God uncontested time to speak to me before the demands of mental processing begin to toll in like a relentless tide. I …

Never Fear Heaven’s ‘Quiet Moments’ Read More »

The Bible tells us “when words are many, sin is not absent” (Prov. 10:19, NIV). That’s because the tongue can cause quite a storm. Though only a small member of our bodies, it is very unruly and can create havoc in just moments. Like a swirling tornado of ruinous words, a tongue twister can wipe …

How to Avoid the Devastation ‘Tongue Twisters’ Can Bring Read More »

The perfect tree: Every Christmas season begins with a search for it. Why? Because a fragrant tree trimmed with lights, ornaments and shiny garlands is the focal point of so many holiday celebrations. How often during the years, in countless homes throughout the world, have friends and families come together, gathering in unity around a …

Why the Cross Is the Perfect Christmas Tree Read More »

What happens in our hearts and minds as we stand at the threshold of a new year is amazing. It’s as if we’ve been given a fresh new canvas on which to paint—a blank page—that provides us with a new, unblemished beginning in life. Suddenly we are inspired; our priorities and values become crystal clear.

I was recently scared—really, really scared. I saw something that so frightened me it threw me back and stopped me cold in my tracks. What I saw was ugly, threatening and dangerous. It was large, intimidating and daunting. What was it? Spots! I saw spots.

I have seen spots that freaked me out before—age spots … well just one, but it was there and its presence was horrifying. I have seen other spots too: sore spots, weak spots and soft spots. But none of these shook me like the spots I saw recently: blind spots.

Empty is not fun. No one likes the thought of an empty glass, an empty gas tank and least of all, an empty bank account. When considered in those terms, empty is just plain undesirable. But what would happen if we could begin to think of empty as opportunity? What if, every time we saw barren, we could imagine bounty?

The idea of seeing what could be instead of what is, would not be, however, an earthly exercise in wishful thinking, merely an act of human intellect. Instead it would be a spiritual application of a powerful biblical principle, which simply teaches; "We [the righteous] live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7, NKJV). In other words, we are to live in expectancy, standing on what we know and believe to be true and not living in despair, troubled by what we see with our natural eyes.

I love O'Reilly, my Jack Russell Terror—I mean Terrier. Her boundless energy and spunk keep me on my toes, and her mischievous antics make me laugh—even when I'm trying to discipline her. She is full of personality, possessing the spirit of a preschool toddler. I love that about her. That is until recently when something happened to temporarily change my appreciation of her joie de vivre!

I was released from the hospital after undergoing major surgery, and it felt good to be home. I slowly hobbled into the house; every muscle in my body was hurting. I grabbed my down comforter, wrapped it tightly around me like a burrito and began to melt beneath its warmth. Just as I had started to drift off into a nice sleep, I was abruptly awakened. The front door opened and a shot of lightning flashed by me. It was O'Reilly. She soared into the living room where I was nursing my wounds and skyrocketed right for me like a heat-seeking missile.