Write this Down! with Dot Bowen

Today Dot and Cara dig into Ruth chapter 2, exploring how God is always at work behind the scenes to redeem our stories. Through Naomi’s eyes, we see Ruth's faithfulness and God's timing begin to transform her bitterness into hope. This chapter reminds us that even when we can't see it, God is creating something new and good in our lives. Grab your Bible and be encouraged with us! 

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Ruth 2:8-11 (0:13)
• Ruth doesn’t yet see the hand of God at work (3:36)
• God is always at work in the details (5:55)
• Naomi starts to see that there can be good in this different  life (14:!8)
• God is a Creator, He always creates new things (22:18)
• God was faithful to Naomi (26:29)
• To walk with Jesus, we have to move forward, out of our past (29:39)

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

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Scripture Verse:  

Ruth 2:8-11 (ESV) “Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.”

Today Dot and Cara kick off a new series exploring the book of Ruth through Naomi’s eyes. Reflecting on Ruth 1:19-21, they discuss how grief, if left unchecked, can spiral into bitterness. They remind us that gratitude is a powerful tool that helps us move through grief and guards our hearts against bitterness. Pull up a chair and join this insightful conversation!

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Ruth 1:19-21 (0:13)
• At some point in our lives, we can all relate to Naomi (3:03)
• Grieving is natural when life doesn’t turn out the way we expect (5:20)
• If we don’t deal with what’s in our hearts, we’re going to end up bitter (8:50)
• Bitter individuals are consumed by themselves (13:27)
• When you’re in a dark place, community helps (17:00)
• Naomi and Ruth both had a choice to make in their grief (21:04)
• Gratitude helps pull us through grief (28:25)
• In pain, it is difficult to see a way out of our difficult situations (33:06)
• Ruth is being the hands and feet of Jesus to Naomi (38:04)
• Ask God, “Am I bitter?” (41:44)

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

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Ruth 1:19-21 (ESV) “So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Inspired by a friend's question, today we’re exploring the complex concept of "the Kingdom of God." Reflecting on Matthew 6:31-34, Dot and Cara unpack the biblical meaning and implications of God's kingdom—both here and now, and in the future. Grab a cup of coffee and learn what it looks like to seek the Kingdom of God with us.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Matthew 6:31-34 (0:13)
• What does the phrase “kingdom of God” mean? (3:38)
• The Kingdom of God was in the past, it can be in the present, and it will be in the future (9:49)
• We need to seek the things that matter to our King (12:36)
• We have a King who promises to take care of us (16:15)
• We can live victoriously in this present world because we have the King’s power (24:30)
• What does it look like practically to live out the Kingdom? (25:48)
• Through the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom exists in our lives (28:48)
• The Kingdom of God is when we allow our lives to be under the authority of Christ (32:00)

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

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Scripture Verse: Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Today Dot and Cara are talking about the impact the Church has on our faith journey. Reflecting on Hebrews 10:23-25, they discuss the importance of the Church (with a big “C.”)  and dig into the very real truth that many have walked away from faith because of hurt they experienced within a church. If you've wrestled with church hurt or doubts, grab a cup of coffee and join us as we explore this truth together. 

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

• Start by writing down Hebrews 10:23-25 (0:13)
• Do most people who walk away from faith lack church involvement?  (3:22)
• There’s a distinction between Church (big C) and church (little c) (5:39)
• Community is vital to maintaining faith (7:10)
• We need people around us who are going the same direction we are (11:30)
• Being in community encourages our faith (18:43)
• If Jesus loves the Church, I want to love the Church too (21:52)
• We understand the idea of having a common passion with others (i.e. college football) - Church at its best is like that (23:33)
• We need people willing to speak hard truths to us (28:00)
• Jesus didn’t give up on the Church and neither should we (35:00)

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

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May can feel like a whirlwind of transitions—graduations, shifting schedules, and unexpected change. Today Dot and Cara talk honestly about the tension between longing for the past, trying to control the future, and learning to stay grounded in the present. Sharing Paul’s words in Philippians 3, they remind us that contentment isn’t found in control but in knowing Christ. Whether you’re overwhelmed by change or wishing for it, grab your Bible, turn to Philippians, and lean in with us.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Philippians 3:10-14 (0:14)
• May is a transitional month in a lot of ways (3:06)
• Some of us get caught living in and hoping for the past, while others try to live too much in the future (6:10)
• Whether you’re in transition, or longing for it, you have to trust the Lord (12:50)
• He’s going to give us manna for each day (17:35)
• In all of life, there’s a letting go of what we think we might have had (19:45)
• All we have is this moment, what are you going to do with it? (25:50)
• Transition often brings with it an uncertainty that we cannot control (27:50)
• At the end of your life, what is going to be important to you? (30:15)
• Even (especially) in our busiest seasons, don’t miss the main thing God has for you (33:00)
• Try looking at the season that you’re in with an eternal perspective (36:30)

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

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Scripture Verse:  

Philippians 3:10-14 (ESV)  “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Drawing from Genesis 3:20, today Dot and Cara are talking about the idea of mothering. They share insights about the nurturing aspect embedded in all women, reminding us that motherhood extends beyond having a biological child. Whether you're celebrating, grieving, or longing this Mother's Day, you'll find encouragement in the reminder that you have a purpose beyond parenting and that your true identity is rooted in being a child of God.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Genesis 3:20 (0:13)
• Adam changed Eve’s name from ‘woman’ to ‘Eve’ (1:45)
• Mother’s Day can be difficult for many reasons (5:13)
• Our identity is that we are His children (7:28)
• We can multiply our likeness through discipleship (10:09)
• No matter our age, there are people around us whose lives we can speak into (14:10)
• Ask God to open your eyes and your hands to what He has for you (18:00)
• When you get wrapped up in yourself, you make a small package (20:00)
• The family of God is all around us, it is a privilege to pour into them (26:30)

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

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Genesis 3:20 (ESV) ‘The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Dot and Cara continue their candid conversation today about moments when our faith feels fragile and God seems distant. Dot shares a deeply personal story of desperately needing to hear God's voice, the profound way He responded, and how her vulnerability led to an intimacy breakthrough. Together, they reflect on the Good Shepherd’s relentless care and genuine love for us. This conversation will reassure you of His faithfulness in every circumstance, so grab your Bible, your cup of coffee, and be encouraged today.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down John 10:7-14 (0:13)
• Dot has been in a difficult season of change for some time (2:33)
• She was seeking answers and asking a miracle of the Lord (4:30)
• Dot was beginning to doubt God was with her and cared about her (9:30)
• She cried out to God, claiming His promise to speak to His children (11:45)
• In that moment, it was personal (14:45)
• God spoke directly to Dot through a text (17:40)
• Through prayer, our hearts are tuned to God’s work, we become part of it  (19:19)
• Faith and desperation are both precursors to miracles (24:37)
• It’s not about the answer to our prayers, it’s about intimacy with Him (29:00)
• Come to Him and let Him be God (35:00)
• If you are desperate for Him, He’ll show up (39:30)

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

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Scripture Verse: John 10:7-14 (ESV)
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”

In today’s deeply personal episode, Dot opens up about a morning when she desperately needed to hear from God—but felt nothing. As she wrestled through doubt, silence, and her own expectations, the words of John 10 came alive in a new way. This conversation isn’t about having answers—it’s about being honest, staying in the room, and trusting the voice of the Shepherd. Grab your Bible and a cup of coffee, and settle in with us.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down John 10:1-6 (0:13)
• Dot shares an ‘aha’ moment that led her back to the Shepherd (2:41)
• Dot was longing for the spiritual intimacy she felt in her former home (6:45)
• Years of studying John 10 collided with a real-life need for God’s nearness (10:25)
• Dot began talking to Jesus about the first 6 verses of John 10 (11:25)
• Dot questioned if she really could recognize God’s voice (13:45)
• When you’re desperate, your ears, eyes and heart are more tuned to His voice (22:20)
• God wants to reconcile what we know in our head to what we feel in our heart (25:50)
• We all hit a wall at times and need a more intimate experience of His presence (28:49)
• This was a moment for God to stretch Dot’s faith (31:00) 
• Even seasoned Christians move through seasons of differing intimacy (32:30)
• No matter what we do, the Good Shepherd stays in the room because we are His. (35:14)

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

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

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Scripture Verse:  

John 10:1-6 (ESV)  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”

Today Dot and Cara step into Peter’s shoes to explore the weekend that changed everything. From the grief of Good Friday through the waiting on Saturday and then the miracle of Sunday, they reflect on what it means to grieve but also to wait in hope. If you're wrestling with disappointment, disillusionment, or simply not knowing what comes next this Easter, we hope this conversation offers fresh perspective. So grab your journal, a cup of coffee, and your Bible—and lean in with us.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down Luke 22: 31-34 and 59-62 (0:13)
• Today we are looking at Easter through Peter’s eyes (1:46)
• Peter had a difficult journey after he decided to follow Jesus (6:21)
• We all find ourselves doing things we never thought we’d do at some point (11:59)
• God uses Peter’s strong will for His purposes (17:41)
• On Friday, the disciples accepted reality and grieved together (20:35)
• Grieving is part of embracing where we are (24:00)
• God has a way of humbling us to make us realize our need for a Savior (26:16)
• In the waiting, Peter goes back to what he knows - fishing (28:30)
• You never know when God’s going to work the miracle in your life (30:19)
• When you feel like you’re in the waiting, be faithful with what’s in front of you (34:00)
• Godly grief brings you to Sunday (38:30)
• Whatever Fridays or Saturdays you may be walking in, there is hope because Jesus is life and makes life worth living (41:15)

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 

Scripture Verse:  

Luke 22: 31-34 (ESV)  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[a] that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.

Luke 22: 59-62 (ESV) “And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

In this final episode of our series on 1 Peter, Dot and Cara dig into chapter 5 and explore what it means to stand firm when life gets hard. They break down how to resist the lies the Enemy throws at us and share how humility is key to resisting Satan. Grab your Bible, a cup of coffee, and join the conversation as we wrap up 1 Peter together.

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

Episode recap:

• Start by writing down 1 Peter 5:6-11 (0:13)
• Cara dug deep into this chapter (2:06)
• Peter is getting to the end of his life when this letter is written (5:43)
• We see that Peter has changed (7:22)
• Suffering will either strengthen your faith or make you walk away from faith (13:21)
• Resisting the devil looks different for each of us (16:55)
• The way you ‘cast your anxiety on Him’ is to tell him (21:06)
• When you realize a thought is of Satan, you need to stop saying it (27:20)
• We need to humble ourselves and let God fight the battle for us (35:30)

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

Watch Write this Down! on YouTube

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1 Peter 4:11-12 (ESV) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”