Tag Archives: Encourage

DREAMS

11 Nov

“And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”    Numbers 12:6

I’m standing in my dining room window and I realize that my plants have all gone dry.  I have been so focused on keeping the fireplace burning and the house warm, that I hadn’t thought about the other life around me that needs attention, and water, to survive.

I wonder if I have forgotten about my own life and the desires I once held so dear.  I have found myself going through the motions of life to survive.  I am living in the memories of a lost yesterday, a wonderful time gone by, of clear direction and extravagant dreams.  I often find myself so absorbed in the memories of yesterday that I forget about the reality of today.  We were created to flourish, not simply survive.  Why do we stop dreaming about tomorrow?  Why have we allowed circumstances to dictate the end of a vision that God has placed deep in our hearts and souls?  Am I the only one?

Illness may steal our energy, but it should never steal our joy.  An unwanted job may bring tremendous stress and pressure, but it cannot steal our dream of the work God has put inside of us, it is merely a stepping stone soaked with valuable lessons and information that God is teaching us for the next part of our journey.

A loss is only a loss if we allow it to be, or it can become a beautiful valuable lesson to guide our steps forward on the path that God has placed us on.

Do we get so caught up in daily survival that we forget to reach out to the God who gave us life. Do we forget about the dreams, the people in our lives to receive from, and the people that He wants us to pour into.  Do we get so caught up in trying to figure out how we are going to fulfill a need that we forget to take it to the Father in prayer, which is all He is waiting for to send resolution?  Are we so consumed by the fear of what might happen that we don’t step into the dreams of the wonderful things that could happen?

Reach out to the Father for the next step of the path that He placed in you at birth.  Reach deep inside for the faith and trust you nurture every day through the Word.  Reach back to help another find their path, encouraging them daily.  Reach up in praise and worship for the gifts of life bestowed upon you and the dreams birthed inside.

A dream isn’t a wish your heart makes; it is a call towards a life ministry, one moment at a time.   Nurture it.  Flourish.

 

Written 11-11-2018

RUMINATE

10 Aug

the-thinker - Ruminate

 “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”  Psalm 104:33

Living in a small town gives a person a whole different perspective on elections.  Not the big national, or even the state elections, but the down and dirty run for school board or city counsel elections.

My, my, my!  At election time people seem to find liberty in negative speech.  It’s almost like the Christian values of a person has a “stand-by” clause, allowing them to bring up memories of poor choices made by another and share them with the community.  Something we would normally bring to the prayer closet now makes front page news, and it doesn’t stop on Election Day, but continues for weeks after.

We ruminate on the final choice, questioning how someone made office when they . . .  We ruminate on the general population making decisions that could have life-long consequences without understanding the whole platform.

After the 2004 National Elections they did an exit pole and the biggest concern of the general public was the deterioration of moral values.  So they ruminate on it and ruminate on it and ruminate on it, feeling helpless to make a change.

I wonder how many turned to God’s Word, looking for comfort and answers.  I wonder how many ruminate on the Words of truth, living in the fruits of the spirit.  I wonder how many took the angry hurting words they heard about candidates to their prayer closet and prayed a foundation of wisdom and strength and peace for those chosen as our leaders.

Jesus, please hold my tongue if I’m tempted to speak ill of another.  Let me be an encourager and prayer warrior for those who have erred.  Let me never forget that you ordain people to their positions in life, and it is not my place to question Your Will.  Remind me always to ruminate on Your Word, day and night, leaving no place for negative thoughts.  And Jesus, please forgive me when I fail.