Write this Down! with Dot Bowen

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

We can find hope even in the midst of suffering, because our hope is in Jesus. In this episode, we share a live session from the Breathe Retreat, where Dot reflects on the story of Job. She talks about the difficult question of “why do we suffer?” and she offers hope and encouragement to anyone who’s struggling to trust God in their current circumstances. Pull up a chair and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Job 1:1,9
• Job was righteous and blameless, and he still suffered
• God is not in the business of punishing his children
• Just because we’re forgiven doesn’t mean we won’t experience consequences
• We can’t know what God is doing in other people’s lives
• We can find hope knowing that God understands even when we don’t
• Don’t listen to people who try to tell you why you’re suffering
• Our hope is not in our circumstances
• We don’t know why we suffer, but we can know God’s heart
• Will you serve God for nothing?

Resources:

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

Do you view God as someone who wants to punish you and teach you lessons, or do you believe that He wants to bless you? In this episode, Dot opens up about something she’s been struggling with lately and shares the lesson she’s learned in the process. Dot and Cara talk about the idea that God wants good things for us, and they explain how we can ask God to help us trust Him and to want what He wants. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Matthew 7:9-11 (0:12)
• Do you believe that God will do good things in your life? (1:41)
• God is not just a God of discipline, He also wants to bless us (10:02)
• We can ask God to help us want what He wants (14:45)
• Pay attention to the fruit you’re seeing in your life (27:18)

Resources:

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

We’ll never understand everything about God, but we can trust His heart. In this episode, Dot and Cara answer two more listener questions about what it means to have faith, and how we can look to God as the source of our faith and our salvation. Dot also shares several Scriptures that can help you dig further into this topic, so grab your Bible and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Hebrews 11:6 (0:10)
• Today we’re answering questions about what it means to have faith (1:16)
• The messages we hear as children can impact our faith today (3:57)
• Focus on what Jesus said, and look for the heart of God (8:43)
• We’re saved because of Jesus’ death for our sins (10:29)
• You don’t have to know everything to trust the heart of God (18:13)
• Start by bringing your questions to God (25:43)
• God gives us faith at the capacity we need (29:15)

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

What does it really mean when we say Scripture is inspired by God, and how can we know that the Bible is true? To kick off the new year, Dot and Cara tackle these questions, discussing the common themes we can find throughout all of Scripture, the process of selecting the books of the Bible, and much more. Dot also shares plenty of verses to help you dive deeper into this question, so grab a pen and piece of paper and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down James 1:5-8 (0:14)
• Today we’re answering listener questions about how we prove the Bible is real (3:14)
• If you ask God for wisdom, He’ll give it to you (5:35)
• 2 Peter 1:20-21: Scripture is inspired by God through the power of the Holy Spirit (7:52)
• As you study the Bible as a whole, you’ll see the common threads (10:41)
• 2 Timothy 3:16 and John 10:35: Scripture is infallible (18:08)
• How the biblical canon came to be (22:40)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:27, 2 Peter 3:15-16, Colossians 4:16 Jesus quoted Scripture (27:56)

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open.

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

“From God to Us: How We Got our Bible” by Norman Geisler

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

Revelation can feel overwhelming or confusing to read, but it’s ultimately a reminder that we were created to dwell with God, and we can trust Him to right every wrong in this world. In this episode, Dot and Cara reflect on their year of reading through the Bible and talk about some of their favorite parts of the book of Revelation. Dot also shares practical tips for reading and understanding this book. Grab your Bible and a journal and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Revelation 21:3-5 (0:12)
• We’re almost at the end of our year of reading through the Bible (1:37)
• We were created to dwell with the Lord (4:06)
• Revelation reminds us that we can trust God (14:44)
• What does the story in Revelation actually mean? (18:05)
• When Jesus died he conquered sin and death (22:51)
• How to approach reading Revelation (29:24)

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open.

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

Dot and Cara are getting ready to record their 100th Episode and they want to hear from you!! Submit your questions and they will answer as many as they can in Episode 100. If you have any questions about anything from a past episode, or how to apply a truth or even about our relationship, submit them to [email protected] by Wednesday December 14!
 

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

In 1, 2, and 3 John, the apostle reminds readers about the importance of intimacy with God. Dot and Cara talk about this idea in today’s episode, and Dot answers some of Cara’s biggest questions about prayer, including “why should we pray?” and “does prayer really change things?” Pour yourself a cup of coffee and listen in.


Episode Recap
 

• Start by writing down 1 John 3:1 (0:12)
   
• John’s writing is especially concerned with our closeness with the Lord (1:27)
   
• We can speak the truth in love (6:17)
   
• Repentance creates intimacy with God (12:35)
   
• Why should we ask God for things? (17:02)
   
• Can our prayers change the will of God? (24:34)
   
• What might you lose by not trusting God? (29:40)
  
   

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open.
 

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]
 

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

Satan often tries to keep us stuck in the past, but God has a better way for us. In this episode, Dot and Cara talk about the book of 1 Peter, explaining what they learn from seeing Peter grow and change throughout Scripture. They also talk about what it means to cast your anxieties on the Lord, and they share some encouraging promises for anyone who’s struggling.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down 1 Peter 5:6-11 (0:13)
• 1 Peter is a somewhat overlooked book, but it’s full of wisdom (2:16)
• Peter had the biggest impact on the early church (6:06)
• Satan wants to keep you looking back instead of moving forward (15:05)
• God promises to restore, strengthen, confirm, and establish us through suffering (18:09)
• What does it actually mean to cast your anxieties on Him? (29:13)

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open.

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

It can feel difficult to praise God when we’re waiting for Him to do something, or we’re struggling to understand His plans. But Hebrews reminds us that our praise is a sacrifice we can give in celebration of who He is and the way Jesus died for us on the cross. In this episode, Dot and Cara reflect on this idea of a sacrifice of praise, and they talk about some of the different ways we can come before God in prayer, even when we’re wrestling with big questions or struggling to believe He has good things in store for us.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Hebrews 13:15 (0:13)
• Praise is more powerful than we often realize (1:55)
• Many of us forget to be thankful for what Jesus did on the cross (5:08)
• Advent reminds us to celebrate God’s presence with us (7:45)
• We can be honest with God when we’re wrestling (13:44)
• God wants to give good gifts to His children (18:53)
• Going to God in prayer is an act of faith (24:25)
• Jesus submitted to the Father’s will when he came to earth (27:56)

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open!

Download the Cup of Joy Ministries app

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook 

Got a question about today’s episode or something else you’d like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! 

The book of Hebrews contains some challenging ideas, but it’s also a powerful reminder of who Jesus is and what His sacrifice means for each of us. In this episode, Dot and Cara talk about the idea that Jesus is both a prophet and a high priest who makes it possible for us to go before God directly. They also reflect on one of the key themes of Hebrews — the idea that it’s worth it to follow Jesus even in the face of persecution — and explain why it’s so important to mentor and be mentored by others.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Hebrews 6:1 (0:13)
• As you age you have a unique opportunity to mentor younger Christians (1:33)
• Surround yourself with people at different points in their faith journeys (10:08)
• Hebrews speaks directly to the questions of the Jewish people (12:53)
• Jesus was the only prophet and high priest (18:00)
• We’ll never understand what a gift it is that we can now go before God (21:15)
• Hebrews reminds Christians that it’s worth it to follow Jesus (25:32)
• Who was Malchizedek? (27:34)
• To pray is to enter the presence of God (34:54)

Resources:

The Breathe Retreat is a retreat in every sense of the word, intentionally designed to allow you space to breathe in your Heavenly Father's love! Registration for the 2023 Breathe Retreat is now open.

Send us an email to let us know what you’re learning - [email protected]

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook

Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at [email protected].

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

Find Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook