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! 

It’s difficult to accept the fact that we can’t protect our children from all suffering, but no matter what, we can trust that God has a plan. In this episode, we share a Mother’s Day talk Dot gave, where she shares the lessons she learned from reading about Moses’ mother. Dot explains how we can do our best to raise our children well, and then trust God to do what only He can. Grab your Bible and a journal and listen along!

Episode Recap

• In this episode, we’re sharing a talk Dot gave on Mother’s Day (0:14)
• We’re all a product of the people who have invested in our stories (1:17)
• You don’t have to relate to someone in Scripture in order to learn from them (9:18)
• Moses’ mother made a plan and then trusted God (12:52)
• God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He wants us to do all we can (16:03)
• The only thing we’re defined by is our identity in Christ (18:02)
• Only God can do what only God can do (19:59)
• God has a plan for each of us (28:14)
• Whatever is on your heart today, God understands and He can carry it (33:26)

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, but He still chose Peter to build His church. In this episode, Dot and Cara talk about what it means to trust that God can still use us no matter what we’ve done in the past. They share stories from Scripture and from their own lives that demonstrate how God can shape our experiences into the preparation we need to move forward or into a story that can help others. Grab a cup of coffee and listen along.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Luke 22:31-32 (0:13)
• Jesus knew Peter would deny Him (2:24)
• When Peter denied Jesus, it taught him humility and prepared him for his ministry (8:10)
• Sometimes God shapes our experiences into a story that can help others (11:56)
• It’s never too late for God to use you (15:47)
• Paul knew what he’d done before encountering Jesus, but he still moved forward (23:17)
• Instead of focusing too much on the past, keep your eyes on Jesus (27:28)

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

When you encounter challenges, do you tend to face them head on, or do you use escapism to cope? In this episode, Dot and Cara discuss what it means to forget the past and keep moving forward, even if the steps you’re taking feel small or insignificant. Dot also reflects on some of the lessons she’s learning from cleaning out her house, and she explains why oftentimes, the best next step we can take is actually to pause and spend time with Jesus.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Philippians 3:12-14 (0:13)
• Many of us cope with hard times through escapism (2:25)
• The best place to be when you’re struggling is at the feet of Jesus (10:25)
• We need to forget the past (14:01)
• Moving forward doesn’t always look the same, so be gentle with yourself (17:02)
• Instead of judging your progress externally, focus on where your heart is (23:46)

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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’s easy to look at the world around us and wonder why good things happen to “bad” people when so many “good” people are suffering. In this episode, Dot and Cara wrestle with a question they received from a listener about this topic. They explain that it’s perfectly normal to ask why God allows bad things to happen to people we love, and they remind listeners that even when we can’t understand God’s ways, we can know His heart.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Job 40:1-8 (0:13)
• In this episode we’ll be discussing a listener question: Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things to good people? (1:12)
• It’s normal to question why God allows bad things to happen to people we love (6:37)
• God’s design was not for us to suffer, but we live in a broken world (10:17)
• God’s ways are not our ways, but we can know His heart (12:04)
• David struggled with these same questions until he encountered God (18:05)
• Only God can judge people’s hearts (21:32)
• It’s not about whether we’re good or bad, it’s about whether we’ve accepted Jesus (27:55)

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

In this episode, Dot and Cara discuss a verse that’s very close to Dot’s heart; in fact, she prays it every morning. They talk about what it means to learn the ways of God, and Dot explains how reading Scripture allows her to better understand God’s heart and desires for His children. Pull up a chair and join us!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Psalm 86:11-13 (0:14)
• If we ask God to show us His ways, He’ll answer (1:12)
• To know God’s heart, look to Scripture and learn the names He calls Himself (3:14)
• We won’t always know what God is up to, but we can know His heart (6:05)
• God does not withhold what’s best for us (8:28)
• How to learn the heart of God (15:50)

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

In this episode, Dot and Cara take a break from reading through the Bible to talk about a few of the fun and serious questions they’d ask God if they were given the chance. They also reflect on the idea that just like children can’t always understand why their parents have certain rules, we can’t fully understand what God is doing and why. In the end, we have to rely on trusting the heart of God and knowing that He’s looking out for us, even when death and suffering make it hard to believe He’s working.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down 2 Peter 3:15-17 (0:12)
• What question would you ask God if you had the chance? (4:56)
• God never said we wouldn’t experience death, but we have hope of resurrection (8:43)
• What happened to Lazarus when he died for four days? (16:03)
• Just because we don’t understand everything doesn’t mean we can’t trust God (19:27)
• We may not know God’s mind, but we can know His heart (22:48)

Resources:

Here’s a Question: Conversation Starters for Families

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

When you consistently spend time in Scripture, you’ll learn to recognize God speaking through the text. But how do you build the habit of reading the Bible? In this episode, Dot and Cara share their best advice for sticking to your Bible reading plan, or even just spending some time with the Word every day. They also explain why they like to focus on reading straight through the Bible in a year and share some of the biggest lessons they’ve learned in the process.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Psalm 119:9-11 (0:13)
• If you’re struggling to read through the Bible in a year, you’re not alone (1:40)
• Whether you’re busy or feeling emotionally burnt out, it’s normal to fall behind (9:02)
• The Bible is living and active, so there’s always more to learn  (10:28)
• When you start from the beginning of a story, you understand it better (13:38)
• Most wrong ideas people have about God come from not knowing the full story (17:17)
• Resources that help us read the Bible (20:50)
• Reading the Bible can become a habit, but you may have to fight to get there (22:35)
• If you’re not reading the Bible through, just focus on spending time in the Word (30:03)

Resources:

Dwell App

YouVersion

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

In the book of Psalms, we see a beautiful representation of what it looks like to go before God with all our emotions, our doubts, and our questions. In this episode, Dot and Cara talk through the reasons they love the Psalms and share some of their favorite passages from throughout the book. They also explain why lament is not only acceptable, but also a powerful tool for connecting with God in the midst of grief and doubt. Grab your Bible and listen in on the conversation!

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Psalm 1:1-4 (0:12)
• The Psalms contain the full spectrum of human emotion (4:44)
• Even David lamented and questioned God (7:02)
• Lament isn’t just complaining, it’s about turning to God (9:33)
• Honesty with God is the beginning of freedom (13:43)
• Don’t get so caught up in “playing church” that you stop being genuine (16:46)
• Find a Psalm to meditate on that speaks to where you are right now (24:15)

Resources:

• “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” - Book on lament by Mark Vroegop
• “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” - Devotional journal

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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! 

Just because you don’t see how God is working doesn’t mean He isn’t carrying out His plans. In this episode, we share a live session from the 2022 Breathe Retreat, where Dot shares the story of Moses and the lessons it can teach us about God’s faithfulness. Dot explains how even Moses’ time in the wilderness was specifically designed to prepare him for what God had in store, and she talks about the freedom and redemption we can find when we’re bold enough to come before God with honesty and lament.

Episode Recap
 

• Our true identity can only be found in the truth that we are children of God (2:20)
   
• God kept His promise and turned Abraham’s family into a nation (7:57)
   
• God is faithful to His plan, even when we don’t know what it is (13:42)
   
• Write down Exodus 2:23-24 and Exodus 3:1-9 (17:42)
   
• When God calls your name, your life will change (20:54)
   
• Exodus tells us that God sees us and cares when we’re hurting (22:50)
   
• If you think you’re somebody, God will show you that you’re no one without Him (27:34)
   
• The absence of a miracle doesn’t mean God isn’t speaking (29:14)
   
• There’s freedom in being honest with God when we’re struggling to trust Him (37:48)
   
• Tears are human, and lament is redemptive (45:28)
   
• Jesus loved us enough to die so that we could come before God (49:50)
   

Resources:

• Download all 4 sessions from the Breathe Retreat 2022: Known in the Unknown
   
• “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” Book by Mark Vroegop
   
• “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” Devotional Journal
   

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 opens early October 2022. Learn more here.

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 Job brings up difficult questions about who God is and why He allows us to experience pain and suffering. But when you get to the end of the story, you can see that God never left Job, and He always had a plan. In this episode, Dot and Cara discuss the different places where we can see the goodness of God in the midst of Job’s story. They also talk about the challenge of supporting your loved ones through hardship when you can’t understand what God is doing, and they wrestle with the idea that we shouldn’t just serve God for His blessings; we should serve Him for who He is. Grab your Bible and a journal and join us for this conversation.

Episode Recap

• Start by writing down Job 1:6-9 (0:13)
• The book of Job presents more questions than it answers (2:47)
• When you get to the end of Job’s story, you can see the goodness of God (5:39)
• Job’s friends assumed they knew what God was doing, but none of us truly can (9:34)
• God can handle our questions and our doubts (13:57)
• Because of his suffering, Job was able to see God in a new way (19:21)
• Do you serve God for His blessings, or for who He is? (20:42)
• We don’t have to be OK with pain and suffering, but we can trust that this isn’t the end of the story (23:38)

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