Deconstruction. What a sad word. It implies an undoing of something that is complete and whole. Deconstructing is far easier than constructing. In my work as a pediatric occupational therapist, I often see children whom I call my “deconstructors.” They are not yet able to grasp the concept of a particular activity but will …
Author Archives: michelledowdybytheway
Surrounded
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 What does it mean to be “in Christ?” That phrase (in Christ) is used around 180 times in the New Testament, depending on the translation you use. The dictionary definition of …
What Are You So Afraid Of?
Fear. It can paralyze us or send us running for cover. It seems to be in our nature to look at our circumstances, and at times be held hostage to our feelings. Our moods sometimes rise and fall with our feelings, and we can easily be overcome with anxiety and fear when faced with trying …
All My Worship
At our church, we love to sing a song called “The Reason.” Some of the most poignant lines are these: Everything that I have, all my worship I bring You’re the reason I live You’re the reason I sing As we sang this song recently, I thought about those lyrics, and what they might mean …
Be the One
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” This verse seems to be a good theme for the new year. I’ve been thinking about people in my life who have been steadfast, immovable, always …
The Real Light
The Real Thing One thing that’s handy is these little battery powered votive tea lights. Have you used them? I have a variety of decorative candle holders around the house at Christmas, which require candles to be placed in them. These battery powered tea lights are safe and convenient and give the appearance of a …
Joy and Suffering
Suffering. The older we get, the more we have known it in our own lives, or have seen others experience it. Lately I have noticed in Scripture that joy and suffering are often mentioned together. I began to ponder why. 1st Thessalonians, chapter 1 has a lot to say about this. The Bible tells us …
Moving Forward (Do the Next Thing)
Moving Forward (Do the Next Thing) There is almost no condition with the body that movement will not improve. We were made to move, and being immobile has negative effects of various kinds on the body. It seems now with most surgeries, the medical staff wants you up and moving as soon as possible. With …
Riches of His Grace
Riches of His GraceRussell Harbin’s Rescue Story “Russell, you need to go to the box,” the teacher said to a six-year-old little boy with an undiagnosed learning disability. “The Box” was a large container a refrigerator had come in, complete with a door cut in it, and a desk, reserved for those who needed a …
Umbrella in the Night
I believe God often teaches us lessons through the things that happen in our everyday lives if we have our eyes and ears open. One such instance happened to me the other day, and it involved an umbrella, a security system, and a dog. We were about to leave the house and it had …
Life By The Way 