My name is Heidi Viars. I have been married for thirty years to an incredibly gracious, kind, and loving man. Together we parent 6 amazing individuals.
I love to spend time with my God, with people, and in nature.
Here in the woods, by the lake, in an early sunrise, or sunset, God reveals so much of Himself. Pondering and questioning seem to come naturally here, in creation. This blog reflects much of what I experience outside on my walks and what God reveals to my heart as I walk with Him through life.
I met Jesus Christ for the first time over twenty years ago, on a path that was mostly dark. I had been blind to that darkness until I had reached the end of my road. There I sat in my home alone, planning to end my life.
God did not allow for my plans to succeed but instead shone His Light into the darkest day of my life. One day at a time, He revealed Truth to me from His Word, the Bible. He told me that Jesus came to die for my sins and that I needed to trust Him to take care of my sins. He opened my eyes to the darkness and the fact that He was rescuing me from it. (“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13). Since then, I have found Jesus to be more than I could have ever imagined. He is the Light of my day and what drives me to live.
Might God be trying to speak to you today? If you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Listen and trust Him. He made provisions for you as well, namely Jesus who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. No sin is too great, that He can’t redeem it and no life too far in the pit, that He can’t reach it. He longs for you to know Him. He gave His life so you would not have to pay for the sins you committed.
But even if you have thought of yourself a good person, please consider that no one can measure up to a Holy God. Your sins, even the smallest, demand a payment. The Bible says that we all fall short of the glory of God. BUT GOD sent His Son to pay for your debt and longs for you to know this.
My prayer is that these reflections and poems will encourage you to draw nearer to the Heavenly Father. I pray that, no matter how far you feel you are from Him, you will be able to see that He is longing to show you His love. My hope is for you to sense His hand leading you, even if you are “taking the Wings of the Dawn or dwell in the remotest part of the sea”. Psalm 139
Blessings,
Heidi <><
HI Heidi,
I’ve just nominated you for a blog award, I love your poetry!
it’s at http://dianarasmussen.com/2013/05/18/spiritual-poetry/
thanks so much for your kind gesture … blessings to you, Diana 🙂
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Such a fantastic blog!!! Bless you x
fantastic God 🙂
Thank you Tom for this kind comment and for taking time to read. He truly blesses us far beyond our wildest imagination. I have stopped drinking 17 years ago. When I replaced that lifestyle, God gave me so much more in return. He truly brings beautiful things from the ashes of our lives 🙂 Thanks for all you do for Him. Love your blog and always look forward when you have a new post 🙂
What a wonderful testimony of God’s love! I thank you for sharing your story! I know it is true because I have lived this too. When my alcoholism brought me to my knees and I learned to meet Him there every morning; He has shown Himself and His love to me far beyond my imagination. Blessings to you as you spread His love and His message of hope and redemption that He has blessed upon you. Many blessings as you write what He writes on your heart!
Beautiful Heidi. So glad you found Him. Or should I say He found you 🙂
Thanks for visiting my page too!
I am so grateful He allowed me to see Him through this pretty calloused heart… I am glad He allowed me to finally see Him … I often am sad for the time I wasted, but know that He can cover all that with His amazing grace 🙂 Thanks for visiting!!! Blessings to you
Thank you for the beautiful thoughts and photos that you share! I gave you a Beautiful Blogger Award! I posted about it here. http://especiallymade.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/beautiful/
Thank you, Joyce… your kindness is much appreciated 🙂 Blessings to you!
Thanks, Kris for stopping by 🙂 How good to meet you. I love your blog! You have a gift of expressing your deep thoughts in writing! Hope your move goes well! Yes, very fun to run into the ‘natives’ 🙂
I am a Wisconsin native too…currently in Central WI, but now in the process of moving to “Mad town”. Always fun to run into a ‘native’!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking “Accepted”. Yours is truly a beautiful blog of photo and poetry.
Thanks so much for your kind words… He is a beautiful God and leaves glimpses of Himself all around in nature and especially in people, made in His image … Blessing to you as you share Him too 🙂
God gets the glory in all that we do.. I am but a servant of the King of Kings..
Thank you, Roderick for your encouragement! Thank you for pointing us to the Word and Jesus Christ! Blessings to you as you minister His grace 🙂
1 Timothy 1:12
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”
NKJV
It’s your first day on a new job. You walk in with little to no experience and your boss tells you, “I’m taking two weeks off and you’re running the business.” Can you imagine the fear and anxiety that would hit you at that moment? To be given a major task you haven’t been equipped to accomplish would cause anyone to throw up their hands in frustration. When it comes to serving the Lord and ministering to others, God has not left you empty handed. He has equipped you through His Holy Spirit and His Word to engage in ministry in a powerful way.
1 Corinthians 12:7 “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” NKJV
I’ve often heard it stated, “Where God guides, He provides.” This is very true. At your moment of salvation, God instills in you a new desire to serve and bless others. With that desire, He also gives you the tools necessary to accomplish this goal. Whether it’s ministering to those in a nursing home or teaching a church of thousands, God will give you the wisdom, strength and ability to do that which He’s called you to do. So, what has he called you to do? Are you walking in His power or standing in your own? Go ahead, take that step. And as you do, the power of God will lead you on an adventure in ministry that will change your life and the lives of those around you.
Life Lesson: Jesus Christ will enable and empower you to minister
Thank you for the visit..may God bless you.
Minister Roderick Fowler
A beautiful testimony of God’s love and grace…..thanks for stopping by “Unwalled”……may the light of your life continue to shine and be a blessing to many around the world…….Shalom!…….Kim
Dear Kim, I am so grateful for the Light of Life and His constant love and grace poured into my life … amazing … Blessings and peace to you on your journey with Him 🙂
Hi Heidi,
Thanks for liking a few of my posts. I read your testimony–cool! Thank God He saved you and gave you new life.
Yes, thank God for His saving grace 🙂 … Love what you have to say at your blog … Blessings to you!
Hi, i’ve just nominated you for the Sunshine Award! see http://steverebus.com/2013/04/20/sunshine-award-d/ 😀
awww… that’s so very kind, Steve… I thank you and appreciate that very much 🙂
Heidi, you are such an inspiration to me that i am so glad of this oppertunity to show you in a small way! 😀
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u r lucky to live amid nature! and praise God for your encounter with Jesus!
He shows Himself so much there … We lived in some desolate places and I asked Him to never let me take this beauty for granted … Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
I’d like to stop by the woods even more than the post! LOL!
Thank you for sharing where God found you. I love hearing other stories of grace and how it can loose the chains that bind. Blessings!!
Thank you, Valerie for stopping by. He indeed loosens the chains that bind us and shows us the way out of darkness! Blessings to you 🙂
Mrs. Heidi!!, it is truly a blessing to see the hand of God on, in and through you. This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. I can say But God. Keep up the God Work. Rozz from the Vet Clinic.
BUT GOD … is right, dear, dear Rozz… I have been trying to find you on the web … and here the Lord just put you on my path again! BUT GOD 🙂 You are such a wonderful part of my testimony and have sown His Word into my heart 18 years ago … God made it grow … and because of your obedience brought fruit … many fold 🙂 …. PLEASE get in touch with me via email hviars@charter.net
Thanks for the follow, Heidi. Your site is lovely. I look forward to connecting with you through blogging! Blessings always, Sue
I truly enjoyed reading at your place 🙂 … thanks for stopping in! … blessings to you
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read some of my blog posts. Grace and peace to you!
I appreciate your blog and evident heart for God in your writings 🙂 Blessings to you!
Nice reading about you
Thanks for visiting my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
will do 🙂 … thanks for stopping in … nice to cross cyber-paths with you …
thanks dear
Heidi,
I know darkness. And I know Christ’s light penetrated my darkness. So glad to connect with others who chose His light for their path. So glad to find you on the blog world. Jesus is all we need.
God bless,
Heather
40YearWanderer.com
thanks for stopping by, Heather … Yes, Jesus is the Light… the only real Light on the path of life … so glad you know Him … and so glad we got to cross paths 🙂
Blessings to you!
Thanks so much for stopping in… really enjoyed your blog! Blessings to you!
Hi! I truly appreciate that you took the time to read and “like” one of my posts. Hope you had a wonderful Resurrection Day!
Thanks for sharing your testimony–powerful words. Glad you stopped by my blog.
God is so amazing … If we seek Him, we will always find Him … … well, there was that one time a few people could not find Him, in that tomb 🙂 Thanks for your comment …Happy Easter~
Thank you so much…your pictures are BEAUTIFUL…full of the One who made it all! 🙂 God Bless
Thanks, Sharon, for stopping in and taking time to read and comment… Loved reading at your blog and am so glad we got to cross cyber paths. Blessings to you!
T.E…. thank you for your kind words. I will look into the widget thing … thank you as well for your thought-provoking articles on your blog. They have sparked many great discussions here at my house! Thanks for stopping in! Blessings to you!
Heidi – I love your writing. I’m sure many others do as well. You might think about making it easier to follow you – as it is, there is no way to subscribe to your blog unless you are also a wordpress.com blogger. Would you consider putting a subscription widget in your sidebar so that people like me who are self-hosted can also follow your writing?
Apologies for my delay in getting here. As one who sought death more than once, I relate and empathize with what you’ve shared. I still marvel that God didn’t give up on me–that He had so much MORE. I am Grateful, and oh the freedom of walking with Him in Grace–no more condemnation, even about those times of trying to die. I am who He says I am–that’s all that matters. God bless you so abundantly as we prepare to celebrate the Best Easter yet!! love, sis Caddo
Dear Caddo, thank you for sharing a glimpse of your walk with me, a glimpse that points straight to the loving heart of our God. Oh the depth and height and the width of the love of our God …. His patience and kindness to our hearts blows me away. I am grateful we have crossed paths here … and look forward to sharing … what He did, is doing, and will do! Blessings to you, sis, as you celebrate this week, the most amazing event in History… even then, on that cross He thought of YOU … Pretty mind-boggling 🙂
Heidi, I’m glad to meet you. Thank you for following my blog! You’ve done a wonderful job of making the Gospel clear on this page. Lord bless you! Talk to you later,
Maria
Thank you, Maria… that is my prayer! Blessings to you as well.
Thanks Curt, for stopping by and following the blog. Jesus Christ in us is our hope of Heaven. Getting to know Him better has been my joy in life 🙂 I have never, ever regretted giving my life over to Him. Blessing to you and your work, that He has created you for you to do (Ephesians 2:10) 🙂
Thank you so much for following me and I ask that you follow me on Facebook and on Linkedin. I find your message in your blog so true. The past three years have been very challenging as I have had to sort of re-invent myself knowing already that God has already completed me, that I only need is to place my faith
wholeheartedly in God and his providence for me. It is God that is helping me through the aloneness I am experiencing and the struggles I am experiencing in terms of growing my Life Coaching business. My work as a Life and Career Coach is beginning to grow. Love your story! Will definitely follow your blog!
Blessing to you ,
Curt C.
Dearest Cheryl,
What kind and encouraging words. Thank you … and I will return them to you with gratefulness for your gift and blog as well. Yes, the name ‘Wings of the Dawn’ comes from Psalm 139… He made us … He knows us… He sees us… He holds us…
There is not a hole too deep that He can’t reach …
There is not a trap shut too hard that He can’t open …
There is not a sin too great that His blood would not cover … 🙂
I so look forward to reading more at your blog too! Your passion for Him is so evident … Lets pray that He finds us faithful in His vineyard working … Bringing Him glory and honor and praise! I pray that in this hard time, you will find yourself in and with Jesus … knowing He is carrying you and walking with you!
Blessings to you, sister!
Heidi V.
Heidi,
When I read the title of your blog, Wings of the Dawn, I knew that I had come home to rest. 🙂 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me… How beautiful and comforting those words are, and what a wonderful name for your blog – which is a place of refuge for the wounded and the lost.
I look forward to reading your posts and getting to know you better, but already, just from reading your about page, I can see that you, like me, have a heart for those who are lost, and I pray in Jesus’ name that they will come to our blog sites and find the truth and rest for their weary souls. May the Lord bless this ministry of yours abundantly!
Love,
Cheryl
Thank you so much for visiting my site and liking my post, “Facing My Giant!” Stop by again soon… I will definitely follow up on your entries. Be blessed!
Thank you for stopping in … I enjoy your blog and insights very much 🙂
thank you for those kind words… what an amazing, kind and loving God we serve 🙂
I love your site – full of beautiful images of God’s creation and wonderful words of peace and encouragement. Thank you and God Bless you Heidi!
Thanks so much Heidi for following my blog now! Very encouraging!
I liked your blog very much! Keep going … Keep shining light … keep loving!!!
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 🙂
Thanks a lot Heidi!! This quote is great! Thanks for writing it. God bless!
Greetings! I write to nominate you for a Versatile Blogger Award. To be honest, you don’t win a prize or medal. Rather, this is a simple commendation from one blogger to others regarding the value of your work, and it has the potential of expanding your audience. To accept, use this link.
http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/
Then read the VBA rules and decide if you want to accept.
Thanks Mr. D. 🙂
Greetings dear Heidi,
Your biography is so beautiful and reflects a kind heart and soul that thirsts for God. I sincerely wish you all the best in life.
God bless you
Thanks for your visit and encouragement! Travel safely, friend, and keep sharing what our Creator is showing you on the way… I look forward to seeing Him through your lens 🙂
Matthew 6:22
Aha – a fellow writer who sees lessons in God’s beautiful creation! So nice to meet you, Heidi!
loved your blog! Yes… how kind of God to leave us all these messages in His creation … nice to meet you too … and looking forward to reading what He is showing you 🙂
Liebe Moni,
Ich vermiss dich mehr als du es dir vorstellen kannst. Hab dich auch ganz doll lieb… und wuerde nichts lieber tun als eine Tasse Tee mit dir zu trinken. Ich hoffe dass die Zeit bis zum naechsten Sommer vorbeifliegt und dann stehen bleibt 🙂
Hallo liebe Schwester, ich bin total begeistert von deinen Texten und Fotos!!!!!!! Du solltest ganz ehrlich ein Buch herausbringen. Hab dich ganz doll lieb und vermisse dich!!!!!!!
How good and patient God is. I thank Him for His mercies which are new every morning.Thanks for reading and posting 🙂
I would like this in a book. form to keep tucked away in the car or purse to feed those moments that would be better spent refocusing on HIM who’s love never gives up than on the “next thing on my list”. Sometimes it feels Im running away from the pressures of the day by just being to busy to settle down and refocus. This is a great cup of tea for the hurried heart. Thanks Heidi. 🙂
Thanks for your kind note and encouragement. I will keep posting in hope your “almost” will soon turn into a “glimpses-of-God-filled” walk 🙂 Miss you!
These posts are almost enough to inspire to get up early to walk! 🙂 Thank you for sharing God’s beauty through your heart and well as your eyes/camera–for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, He does reveal His wisdom and beauty! You are blessed. And now so am I! Miss you, dear friend!
JoAnne
Hi Heidi,
Thank you for your blog. This is truly an inspiration for me. I have always found God in nature and I’ve enjoyed associating your pictures with Him. You are sharing something so wonderful with us and I feel honored to know you through the Bible study group in Green Lake.
Keep your daily inspirations coming!
Lois
How wonderful of the Lord to allow us to see glimpses of Himself all around us. Thank you for your comment and words of encouragement 🙂