Be Bold Girl: Daring to Hope

“I don’t really care if I get it or not. I just want to see what happens.”
How many times have you heard this phrase (or a variation of it) from someone you know? Maybe that someone was you. Did you believe it? Sometimes indifference is a mask for fear.

“Don’t get your hopes up.”
This is too often the response that many of us receive after setting a high goal. Why shouldn’t we have high hopes?

“Well, it’s all in God’s hands….”
There’s truth in this statement. God IS in control. But my feeling is, that too often, this phrase is used as an excuse, to avoid the work that’s required on our part, when we dare to hope for what we really want.

BEING BOLD MEANS DARING TO HOPE.

I'm guest writing for the #BeBoldGirl series at Rachel Britton. To read the rest click here

writing, faithDawn KlingeJune 14, 2016

Audacious: 5 Secrets of World-Changers

Wandering through a bookshop, several months ago, the title of a book caught my eye, Writing to Change the World, by Mary Pipher. That’s a bold title, I thought. I felt compelled to buy it. Over the time I was reading the book I found myself doing something that felt a little crazy. When visitors came into my home, if that book (with its bold title) was sitting in plain view, I would quickly turn it over or hide it.

It felt audacious; to even read a book like that.

what I learned, writing, faith, missionDawn KlingeMay 25, 2016

10 Great Books to Encourage Your Christian Faith

Do you love to read? I sure do. I don't have as much time as I'd like to have for reading- so I'm picky about the books that I choose. I love a great novel that makes me think, something I can get lost in, and I enjoy a light beach read, when the time is right. But most often, the books I gravitate towards are the ones that can teach me something (and get straight to the point), books that make good use limited precious time.

The following list of books that I've compiled were chosen with three criteria:

I've read them (and wholeheartedly recommend them)
They encouraged me in my Christian faith (and I believe they'll encourage you)
They offer solid, no-nonsense, Biblical teaching in a compelling manner.

faith, reading, resources, reviewsDawn KlingeMarch 30, 2016

From Skeptic to Christian

“Christianity is not a consumer good. You should turn to it only if it is true.” –Timothy Keller, Encounters With Jesus

Before I was a Christian, I was a skeptic. For me, Christianity is not merely a set of traditions and a moral code to follow. I really do believe it’s true.

faithDawn KlingeMarch 15, 2016

How to Hang On When You Really Want to Let Go

What an honor it is to welcome a dear friend, Melanie Redd, to share with you all today. For those of you who already know of this sweet woman, I don't need to tell you that the following words come from her heart. She's a lady who stands out as one of the most encouraging people I know. She's the real deal, people. She practices what she preaches. Please, be encouraged by her words- and then, go on and say hello, visit her blog. You'll be glad you did!

faithDawn KlingeJanuary 18, 2016

Whose Mission Are You On?

Everything we do points to what we believe and who we aim to bring glory to. As Christians, the question to consider is not whether we are on mission, but rather, whose mission are we on?

faith, gospelDawn KlingeDecember 9, 2015

How You Can Make More of Jesus at Christmas: with teens

Making much of Jesus over Christmas isn’t only about commemorating our Lord’s birth. Making much of Jesus is about following his example and living in a way that brings glory to God. As Christians, this what we are called to year-round, but the holidays are a special time of year, where people are often particularly sensitive to the things of God. We can use the holidays as an opportunity to be a light in the world for Jesus and we can lead our kids, through our example, in what this looks like.

parenting, faithDawn KlingeNovember 30, 2015

The Great Unknown, Where Feet May Fail

Unknowns make me uncomfortable, but they’re a part of life, and learning to accept that I can’t control and plan everything that happens to me or to those I love is how I'm learning to trust in Jesus. I rest in the knowledge of Romans 8:28, which says,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

faith, trustDawn KlingeNovember 26, 2015

Notes From The Shawshank Redemption

I was thinking about the word, redemption, which is what brought this story to mind. The story is about a man named Andy Dufresne who's sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover- a crime he didn't commit. Life in prison is brutal and isolating, but Andy forges a friendship with a man named Red, a man who's been behind prison walls for most of his life.

faithDawn KlingeNovember 23, 2015