Blowing Bubbles Away from Troubles, Peace Through Preparation, and Cookies Worth Waiting for, - #80
Things I learned from my recent trip back home to North Carolina, and PLENTY of thoughts on scripture and tactics for living a more abundant life through Christ now š
Welcome. šš»
I am back from the beach and flew back to Utah on Thursday. š¤Æ
This newsletter is also over a week late - so I apologize for that. I have nothing to say to that except that itās MUCH easier to overthink when you are already late. Itās EASY to believe that nobody is listening or cares while you are staying silent.
Once you start to speak up though youāll see how deeply you care and also who among you also cares. You realize that there is still a fire in your soul. Perhaps most powerfully - you recognize that there is still time and you can see the way forward more clearly. You can start anew - right now, and youāve already taken the first step.
Something to be celebrated for sure. š
Even so,
You Canāt Go Back, You Canāt Skip Ahead
Itās a curious happening because Iām not getting graded on this per-se, but I know that my showing up here is setting up Future Dallin down the road. More than that - this is helping out a growing pool of people - and I MUST stay sold on the vision.
I MUST also allow myself to grow as this grows. This makes me think of a quote from the legendary, Jim Rohn (who was one of the main early mentors for Tony Robbins),
āYour level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development because success is something you attract by the person you become.ā
Thereās an immense amount of truth to this. The whole world may believe in you but if you donāt believe in yourself you wonāt get very far. I donāt think itās really possible for the whole world to believe in you (so many different people) but God believes in you and Heās bigger than the world so that must count for something. š
To my Future Self Iād also like to say that God sees you conquering this present mountain you are climbing - and it will prepare you for the next one. So, regardless of what anyone else says - this time is sacred time and will come in VERY handy later. šÆ
Also, I must add that if me three years ago could see me right now he would do ANYTHING to transport himself - away from the deep pain, shame, and feelings of complete isolation I felt at the time. Yet, I had to feel those feelings and go through it.
I couldnāt have known then what I know now - that God was VERY aware of what I was experiencing and had PLENTY of tender mercies prepared that would more than set me up for a LOT of wins in the future. All I needed to do was trust Him longer.
My poor choices hadnāt taken me out of His plan, I was ALWAYS in it. He was aware.
Iām sure that me three years into the future from now would have a similar sentiment. He would have TONS of good news to share that Present Me wouldnāt be able to fathom. Yet, I cannot skip to those days, or repeat past ones for a better result.
The days will continue to flow and I am increasingly learning to let go and just rejoice that Godās plans are MUCH bigger than my past pains, worries, and anguish.
In this current season of my life I will still rejoice for what God has done for me. š
The best is ahead.š„³
Realization and Revelation
I knew this trip would be a whirlwind and a kaleidoscope of emotions, feelings, and experiences but even still it was that and SO much more - and now itās over. There were other people I wanted to see and I got to see some of those and that was it.
Time truly is precious. We donāt know what is going to happen tomorrow, and later today for that matter. When we realize that we can plan and commit to God those plans (Proverbs 16:3), we see more and more how He is always working in our favor.
I feel like realization and revelation go hand in hand, and itās good to listen to that.
Realization is a fertile ground for new ideas and breakthroughs. More thoroughly planning this trip out would have led to a much more favorable result. Iām learning.
After all
Living by Design > Living by Default
I am learning to become a man of much designing rather than of resigning myself to a default path. This includes in my day to day actions. I must be willing to separate myself from the pack to stay on track. I must be willing to just be with myself at times - to dream, plan, and see what I need to see - not what another puts in front of me.
It takes extra effort at the front end but the benefits compound eternally - so itās ALWAYS worth the effort to plan, pray, and begin with a vision in mind.
Did I have that vision clearly in my mind when I came here back to visit North Carolina? Nope. The plan was just to chill, rest, and rejuvenate. I did that, but I believe with a clearer vision the outcomes would have been MUCH sweeter.
I also was wanting to do some kind of meet-up or book signing or something of that nature but yeah manā¦ Iām still learning to let go of my limited beliefs and receive Christās healing reliefs. Learning to let Him define me and refine me. It takes time.
Iād like to still do something like that before the end of the year. Thatād be neat.
As I talked about last week a lot of this is on me. Iām the one in the way of my own progress. Itās just me, and at the end of the day
Time Waits for No Man
Time waits for no man, and I KNOW that there are much bigger blessings for me in store in these next 8 months or so of living in Utah. Just as with this last two weeks or so I was needed here in North Carolina, now I am needed back in Utah.
I literally made a new friend at like 10 PM on the Fourth just from going and talking to people. No coincidences. He was praying for someone to talk to. Talking about life (with fireworks blasting in the background) with this new friend was SUCH a vibe.
I am excited for what is ahead as I keep walking in faith.
Godās plan cannot be thwarted.
God has also sprinkled TONS of amazing little miracles for me - some of which I saw happening and then I chose to not stick around and leaned on my own understanding instead (Proverbs 3:5-6). This of course led to a lesser blessing and lots of introspection. God often shows up when you LEAST expect it, and thatās the truth.
Itās humbling.
We gotta dive into the source material today for reals - so letās do that.
Weāre keeping it real simple today,
1. Blowing Bubbles Away from Troubles
2. Peace Through Preparation
3. Cookies Worth Waiting for
It is EXACTLY what the email headline is. šIf thatās a miss, I guess weāll find out. My hope, of course, is that the headline is interesting enough to get you to want to read it more. I probablyyy need to spend more time working on the headlines.
But I digressā¦
As always, I am mindblown at the kind support you show for this newsletter (and, by extension, to me) and only would like to help out more. I have a LOT of work to do. For now, I am grateful to be where I am and I want to become better for all of you.
Diving into the deep helps me better sleep and so yeah thatās what weāre going to do today.
I pray that this is a blessing for you.
Letās dive in. š¤æ
1. Blowing Bubbles Away from Troubles
One of my favorite memories from this trip is going to a wedding reception for two friends Iāve known for some time. Theyāve both been instrumental in my journey.
Their wedding reception was also one of the best Iāve ever been to. There were inspiring speakers, good food, and I got to see a lot of people whoāve helped me out.
There was also the opportunity to blow bubbles.
Before the happy bride and groom left the reception, the entire crowd, you guessed it, blew bubbles. It was SO epic. The bubbles consumed the entire scene. š«§š«§š«§
If there was a yearly quota of bubbles seen and blown to help improve mental health - yeah I probably met that in just that night. SO many bubbles. Itās a beautiful thing.
Two stanzas from my epic poem, āYou Sent Me Thisā come to mind,
I'm still searching, I'm still living I celebrate all the Dallinic-bubbles - My hot tub of life You're giving. You do have an ENDLESS supply Of Dallin-designed bubbles To lift me in my deepest troubles. The best of the best in my life - I still haven't found it So I must be more intentional with the marvelous gifts You've given me - This marvelous brain - I must continue to cherish and ground it, Grounding it in Your blessings sublime Grounding it in Your promises - That will all bloom gloriously in due time.
This epic poem was written as a conversation with God about things in my life at that exact moment.
When I wrote this I was primarily thinking about bubbles that come from the jets in a hot tub.
It was February of this year and I was back in Utah, so yeah it was COLD outside.
I hadnāt thought about the bubbles I myself can create - through various means. It just goes to show that there are many ways to interpret something. Bubbles away from troubles could be calling a friend on the phone, prayer, or anything of that nature.
Again, if you blow enough bubbles, eventually they will consume the entire scene. Thereās a saying that when you open the scriptures the devil loses his power and thereās a LOT of truth to that. Temptations die when Christ is close by.
It also shows that God is teaching me to take more an active role in my life.
I tend to appreciate a LOT the bubbles and tender mercies that I myself created.
With my own breath
With my own intentions
With my own being
A good quote that goes along with this is from āThe Magic of Thinking BIGā and is one of my favorites.
āTo think confidently, act confidently.ā
In those 5 words you get many of the secrets of the universe.
If youād like to have something or have your thoughts aligned with that thing - act like that person. To become a more wealthy person then be more respectful of your time, energy, and money.
To become more virtuous then do what a virtuous person would do.
So on and so forth.
This is uncomfortable at first but it is here Iād like to quote Thomas Jefferson,
āIf you want something youāve never had then you must be willing to do something youāve never done.ā
Going along with that are these two scriptures from Galatians 6,
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
So yeah,
What We Sow We Will Also Reap
If weād like to go even DEEPER into this hereās another quote that lays out the role that habits have in our lives,
āSow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.ā - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Live this and rejoice.
Ignore this and perish.
Where there is no vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18) and trust me when I say that I have been the double-minded man (James 1:8) and also the man whose entire home of his being was riveted to loving God (Joshua 24:15). The latter is WAY better.
Today I feel a need to gradually improve the status of my heart, which greatly affects how I see the world. Proverbs 4:23 shares how life flows from the heart.
To help with that aim, Iām blowing a LOT of bubbles to help calm me in the present moment. Itās doing those things that I already know are wildly useful and helpful for me. Things like running, writing, and juggling - help me find divine peace and calm.
Itās powerful stuff.
2. Greater Peace Through Greater Preparation
As a man, I feel like this is one of the most important things I can talk about. Fatherhood for me seems like a distant daydream - yet it is something I am very mindful of now. To be casual with my preparation for this feels against my being.
Soon enough Iāll be a father of precious children and reading these words again - wondering where all the time went. I will be SO THANKFUL for the time I spent preparing to help lead my family in the spiritual war-zone we all live in.
Someday I will have grandkids that will read this. I will probably have great-grandkids that will read this and by then Iāll be long-gone from this Earth.
My time here will be done. All that will be left of me is the legacy I left behind - all my books, talks, videos, music, courses, and whatever else I come up with. š
My surviving family members will also be one of the greatest testimonies of the man I chose to be. My hope is that Iāll share PLENTY of myself with my family members - past, present, and future to see/hear/celebrate the deepest parts of their being. š„³
At the beach trip although I feel like I could have done a better job of actually relaxing and chilling - I did do a good job of seizing moments to interact with family members.
Iām pretty good at that. šIn the future home I help rear it is VITAL I still do this. šIt is VITAL that I seek to create moments that help them feel loved/seen/cherishedš
If it can be said at my funeral by one of my kids that I did that for them and helped them to spread their eagle wings š¦ and SOAR I would say I did a pretty good job. š
Hereās a quote that I think needs to be remembered a LOT more,
āNo other success can compensate for failure in the home.ā - David O. Mckay
To have kids though Iāll need to get married. In order to get married Iāll have to find a girl that I enjoy spending time with enough to (eventually) want to get married to her.
To force certain seasons of the relationship to happen prematurely would be foolish. Trusting Godās timing (James 1:4, Ecclesiastes 3:1) is vital in order to help it become what it needs to be so it doesnāt become something that it was never meant to be.
And this brings us to
Dudes That (Probably) Shouldnāt Have Gotten Married
Unfortunately, far too many men today are choosing short-term pleasures over building a worthwhile and lasting legacy worth remembering. Temporarily they choose to put their honor to the side in favor of various enticementsā¦ then they want to pick that honor back up and find they arenāt able toā¦ or they try to live a double-life.
They convince themselves that itās just temporary - until it becomes something that they continuously make space for - shutting everything out of their lives that is good.
Satan works subtly and slowly - turning seconds that seem harmless into hours that are mind-numbing into years that may feel inescapable - yet with God there is ALWAYS refuge (Psalm 46:1). He ALWAYS makes a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Letās let Isaiah jump into the frame and share something real quick - Isaiah 5:20,
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah KNEW what he was talking about. He was a prophet and was speaking of things present in that time and things that would eventually happen.
Want another one? Isaiah has PLENTY of bangers. Hereās Isaiah 5:18 as well,
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart ropeā¦
These are two warnings from a past prophet of God. His words should NOT get taken lightly. Unfortunately it is happening a LOT these days - and it shows.
Letās talk about dudes that (probably) shouldnāt have gotten married.
I recently came across an alarming statistic that about 55% of married men admit to viewing pornography once a month. You canāt tell me that this isnāt affecting their quality of marriage and family life. Itās affecting how they talk to their children, how they interact at the dinner table, etc. - itās literally affecting EVERYTHING.
Some guys say that it isnāt causing damage but they are lying to themselves. They are wasting their precious energy (and that energy will gradually diminish as they age) chasing, talking to, and even PAYING girls that will NEVER provide ANY actual connection. Itās ALL fabricated in their minds and then itās gone like smoke. šØ
Goneā¦ like it never existed - because it didnāt - it was ALL a mirage. Make-believe.
āPoof.ā
The Lukewarmness Has to Go
Yes, there are girls that engage in this downhill slope of behavior as well but Iām talking mostly to the guys here. The real question I have is if you want to become the most Christlike version of yourself? If so, then the lukewarmness has to go.
If youād like to have an on-fire marriage, an on-fire family life, an on-fire anything worthwhile really then the lukewarmness cannot stay - it must be surrendered. To not surrender would be to not give Jesus the victory which leads to all kinds of problems.
This kind of thing is despicable, disgusting, and it is surely contributing to the slow erosion of our societyās collective sense of morality. It is affecting future generations more than we presently realize. It is stealing away joy from future family memories.
When you most want to be present is when the temptation returns - thus potentially burning away the bridge on which peace, hope, and love was meant to be freely felt and shared. Sin is not something to keep around like a cart rope - because then it keeps you around too. Carrying that around blocks blessings and increases stress.
To make space for it is like going into a cave, breaking it down, and then trying to run away before it collapses on top of you. You may get out, but youāll likely get very hurt.
Yes, there will be a āhighā of sorts because of the high concentration of dopamine but meanwhile you are running away from your best life.
You become more foreign to yourself. Sin brings about sameness, even though Satan preaches that it brings endless variety, relief, and pleasure. It doesnāt.
Jesus Christ is Relief and He can bring it when we least expect it - but we do need to trust Him. No man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). That never ends well.
All sin can do is bring about sameness, and bring the same shame and consequences that have been carried FAR too much by those who chose to not trust God.
This quote drives the point further,
āWe cannot break the Ten Commandments. We can only break ourselves against themāor else, by keeping them, rise through them to the fulness of freedom under God. God means us to be free. With divine daring, he gave us the power of choice.ā - Cecil B. DeMille
Amen.
The evidence of this is everywhere. Hereās a scripture about the last days (which we are living in right now) that has to do with this topic, 2 Timothy 3:2-4
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Godā¦
Ladies and gentlemen - here we are. Things that could have scarcely been imagined decades ago are now happening on a daily basis and general society is okay with it.
Itās backwards, condescending, and completely against our divine nature.
Yet, it is happening.
I think there are various reasons for this including the following:
Lack of healing before getting into the relationship
The ease of accessing pornography is WAY easier than it used to be
Lack of good communication skills and understanding of partner
There obviously are many other things to consider - but itās a start.
Of course, I am sharing this as a dude who hasnāt been in a relationship in over 3 years and doesnāt plan on being in one again anytime soon. š I am thankful for this time.
I know Iāll look back at this season as pivotal for my future life and growth - and so it must be embraced.
All I am capable of right now is being a friend. Jesus is our truest Friend and I seek to become like Him. I do that through my writing, running, and speaking. Thatās it really.
What Iām learning about Jesus is helping me to deepen my relationship with Him - which will help me to (eventually) be a good husband and father when the time comes.
This is perhaps the most useful quote Iāve come across on the matter,
āThe most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.ā
-Theodore Hesburgh
Amen! Can you imagine being in a relationship without love in it? Sad stuff.
If you ask me, these dudes werenāt prepared. They werenāt prepared to TRULY cherish the girl they married - in their thoughts, words, and actions. They were lukewarm.
Newsflash (and this is for Future Dallin too, cuz I know you are reading thisš) when you arenāt completely honest with your partner itās going to lead to things breaking down - thatās just how this works. The bricks of honesty build great things over time.
Perhaps they were just looking to get out of the single life and they REALLY werenāt ready for such a leap. Perhaps they thought that their pornography problem would disappear because now they were married.
Maybe they forgot that the truth would set them free (John 8:32) and they werenāt willing to face the truth - that they needed more time to cook. š¤£
In any case we need to remember that
The Family is Under Attack
The basic structure of the family is under attack as we speak.
It is VITAL that whatever the war is where youāre involved, that you are LOCKED, LOADED, AND READY for whatever lies ahead. We do not know where we may be asked to assist in this endeavor, but greater peace flows through greater preparation.
If the war is of staying focused and getting something specific done, then be sure to have PLENTY of alarms helping you stay on track. Over time these turn the tides in your favor. Eventually the good overcomes the evil and life feels brand new again.
Where life felt the darkest it has again made way for a brilliant sunrise. Such is the case for the soul that chooses to rest in Godās promises and mercies day and night.
In todayās spiritual warfare āagainst the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual darkness in high placesā (Ephesians 6:12) we must be more intentional with our time. These words from Peter share how we can turn everyday moments into spiritual experiences,
ā¦."Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.ā - 1 Peter 3:15
Bearing testimony of what you know about Godās plan is POWERFUL. It surely makes Satan feel weak when youāve made it CLEAR that Jesus is who you seek. FOR REAL.
Going along with the previous section itās worth noting that I have a LOT more bubbles for the war in helping me to keep learning what I need to learn each day. I want to keep on building up my stores of joy and not slow down for anything.
Having had my previous history with falling into viewing pornography off and on (most of which was in the last few years) I can confidently say that life is MUCH better when your brain is OVERLOADED with real, uplifting, divine kind of experiences. Satan can only defile what God has made pure. He cannot have joy.
Iāve spent enough time in the dark cave that this behavior traps you in. It brings shame in the extreme which clouds a soul from reaching for their fondest dream.
Instead of spending more time in the dark cave of apathy, misery, and shame Iāll trust in Him who is mighty to save! Iāll take the Escape Ropes from Jesus, thank you very much! Jesus is forever able to take us to better places - just gotta trust His graces.
Infinite rescues and light in the Lordās smile, YES, He makes EVERYTHING well worth the while. šÆšÆšÆ
Praise Jesus! OH! How I look forward to thanking Him for being there for me!! I choose to rejoice in His peace and prepare more and more for whatās ahead.
Andā¦ yeah Iām going to blow a LOT of bubbles and enjoy the journey. š„³
This finally brings us to
3. Cookies Worth Waiting for
Letās face it - patience can be TOUGH.
Iāve already written a poetry playbook on it but itās still something I am consciously working on. Itās not something you can just learn and be good - it must continuously be applied in order to receive the best fruits it can offer (James 1:8, Luke 21:19, etc.)
Hereās another book thatās helped elevate my perspective - āThe Crunched Cookieā by Brigitte Dassler.
It tells of a girl who is struggling to wait. She smells freshly-baked cookies but knows she isnāt supposed to have them yet.
Itās an internal battle we are all familiar with in some way or another. Through her experience with the cookies the girl learns the timeless skill of patience. The book is written for kids and has already been read in a childrenās classroom. Itās making waves.
I am proud to sponsor it in this weekās issue. Brigitte has been on the email list for the last year or so and I really am thankful for her wanting to have her book featured here.
I feel very blessed and hope the book and its message is a blessing to you in your waiting. All we learn from the waiting adds to the joy of the receiving.
This is also the FIRST paid sponsorship for this newsletter so I am way thankful for that. š I was kind of thinking of doing sponsorships eventually but Iām glad I have the first one taken care of now. I also wanted to try and do them in a genuine way.
Iām putting ALL of the money I make from the sponsorships into improving the newsletter. That is a promise I am sticking to. Of course, I am tithing 10% of it too. Everything I have and will ever hope to become is because of God and His goodness.
The first thing Iām saving up for now with this money is a new laptopā¦ cuz I could REALLY use an upgrade right about now. Even still, patience is the best play I have.
This certainly alleviates some of my stress - seeing that I am making a bit of money from this now. I was making a little bit of money just from people jumping over to buying my books and such - but this is a LOT more predictable and tangible.
I am grateful and feel MUCH more blessed than I have words to express. Truly.
The best is ahead for sure and patience with myself and the Lord will lead to TONS of more great surprises and things.
Thanks a ton, Brigitte!
So, We Made itā¦
That wasnāt so bad, was it? š I got it done. Iāve been holding onto this for WAY too long so I am grateful that it is able to breathe and make a difference by what I shared here. Being consistently good is WAY better than being occasionally great.
I am learning to be consistent with who Iād like to become and the benefits of that will keep on stacking - I just need to be more patient and celebratory of each day of the journey - every new discovery, every new learning, every new connection! š„³
Itās all helping me become who I was sent to Earth to become - which is AWESOME! Being able to bless othersā lives by becoming my best me is AMAZING. I just gotta keep on going and keep flowing and BE OKAY with the best being ahead. Sometimes I feel woefully inadequate but I am learning to give ALL these feelings to God.
Itās true that this kind of was one of those writings that went on for a while, but I trust it will be useful to revisit. I am grateful. Now on to the next one that will be coming out in the next few days or so. Thanks for reading.
Hereās what we talked about again:
1. Blowing Bubbles Away from Troubles
2. Peace Through Preparation
3. Cookies Worth Waiting for
God is GOOD.
Stay in His light.
Heāll help you in your fight.
He is ready to fight alongside you and put people in your life to help you.
ALWAYS.
