Dreams

I can't explain it, but God has impressed something on my heart and it's been stirring in me for a few months. That 2009 would be a year of dreams becoming a reality. I see people pulling their dreams out, almost like they were taking out an old book they haven't read in years, full of dust and cobwebs. See, those dreams were given to you for a reason. Some of us just thought we must have missed it somewhere along the way. And that dream was gone. Or for some of you, God had placed such a big dream in your heart, that you thought to yourself, "no way, this can't be God". "We must have made it all up in our heads!" There is nothing that satan would love more than for us to think that our dream isn't really from God. There have been several different friends share what God has laid on their hearts. Dreams. God's been preparing us for what He's about to do. Have I made some mistakes over the past..oh, say..15 years? You betcha! I have learned many lessons because of my mistakes. Don't let that hold you back. It's kind of like my Body Pump instructor says when we are doing crunches.. "Let it marinate.. Marinate.." That gives me a visual picture. I feel like I've been marinating. I feel like I'm exactly where God knew I would be. I was going through some old papers the other day and I came across a file. It was an old creative writing class I signed up for while living in Palm Springs. As I went through it I realized just how much I use to love to write. Did I take that class for nothing? Nope, it's all just part of the puzzle. Did I take Homiletics (preaching) at Bible college for nothing? Nope, it's all just part of the puzzle. What about all that yucky stuff from my past that the Lord has so graciously healed me from?Is that it?! No way. Piece of the puzzle.
You see God has made us all unique. We all have different personalities, gifts, and talents- for a reason. I feel like God is going to be getting us out of our comfort zone in 2009- and that we need to step out in faith. It's either fear or faith. You see, some fear is normal. What if I fail, what if people laugh at me, what if I bomb, what if I freeze up, what if no one needs what I have, what if..what if...what if... Okay, I've got one for you. What if I step out in faith, what if I do it afraid?
Read the story in Matthew 14:22-32. Peter and Jesus' disciples were on a boat going to find Jesus. They saw Jesus walking towards them on the water! They saw this and were terrified- "Oh no, it's a ghost" they thought. Jesus immediately told them to take courage. To not be afraid. So Peter said, "Okay Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water." And the Lord told Peter to come (v.28-29). So Peter stepped out of the boat, walked on the water, and came towards Jesus (v.29). But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord to save him, and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Fear or faith?
It's time to step out of the boat in faith- not focusing on the storms around us, but keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. And I'm not talking about vain dreams to build 'our kingdom'. Not, "What can I do to get more things and money and notoriety". I'm talking about the dreams that the Lord has placed deep within your heart- that some of you even forgot they were there! I'm talking about the dreams that add to Gods kingdom and give Him all the glory. The dreams that add another piece to the puzzle, to make us, the body of Christ, complete.
Will you take courage (Matt 14:27) with me in 2009 and step out of the boat? Begin to pray. Ask God what is your 'baby step' towards what He wants to accomplish through you. And remember, if we do begin to feel ourselves sinking, like Peter- Cry out to Jesus and He will be quick to reach out His hand.
There is a song on my music player (at the bottom) that goes with this blog called 'Dreams' and although its not a Christian song, I have dedicated this song to Jesus!

The Meaning of Life

I have searched, like Solomon in the Bible, for true meaning in life- And this is what I have discovered-
As a young(er) person, I searched for the meaning of life through pleasures.
Ecc. 2:10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
I found that to live a life only in search to satisfy myself only left me empty on the inside- restless.
I searched for meaning through things. But the problem with material things is that they never satisfy. We always seem to want more than we can have.
Ecc. 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
"If I just have _______________ (you can fill in the blank here) then I will be happy!"
In the past I searched for meaning in my position, my work. I worked at an upscale resort in Palm Springs and was very proud of that. I wanted to further my career in the hotel and restaurant industry because I thought that would fulfill me. The problem was that I was doing all this in hopes that it would bring me greater fulfillment. I tried to do it in my own efforts and abilities- but without God there is no lasting reward or benefit.
So what is the answer you ask to the meaning of life? Just ask Solomon in Ecclesiastes. He searched his whole life on a mission to find the answer. Solomon learned that it is empty to pursue the pleasures that this life has to offer. True meaning comes from pursuing and seeking a relationship with the one true God. The search for pleasure, wealth, and success is ultimately disappointing- If that is what you are seeking after. There is nothing in 'this world' that can satisfy the deep longings in our restless heart.
There is a God that loves you more than you can ever imagine. He desires to have a relationship with you. He doesn't care what your past looks like or the mistakes that you have made. He wants us to enjoy this life that He has made for us, living with Him- living life to it's fullest. He's waiting with open arms to be your meaning in life.
You see, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)

The Bread Bowl

How many of you out there just love a good bread bowl filled with warm soup on a cold winters day? The soup is good, but don't you just love it when you finally get to the bottom?! Sometimes you have to dig the bread part out to mix it in with the soup, but isn't it just the best?! And what about when you are just about done and you tear the sourdough bread off that's been soaked in the soup? Umm..Yummy! Hit's the spot!
Sometimes in our quiet times with the Lord, we can feel so dry. Just like the bread was, before the soup. It's like, "Lord, I know You're there, I just feel so..dry right now". And just like we do with the bread bowl, we need to really 'dig in' to get the good stuff! And just like the bread with the soup soaked in- we can walk away from our quiet time feeling like we too have been soaked by His presence.
The Word of God is your bread bowl, dig in!!!
Praying you will get to the place where you are soaked by His presence.

Jeremiah 29:13New American Standard Bible (©1995)
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Perspective

PERSPECTIVE

- My kids are screaming and fighting and driving me bonkers!
-My house is unorganized and a mess!
-Our finances are 'tight'
-My sink is filled with dishes to be washed
-My basement is covered with toys!
-Sometimes I just wish my hubby would help our around the house (Can I get an amen here?!)

PERSPECTIVE

- The Lord has chosen to bless me with 3 beautiful, strong, and active children!
-I am so blessed and thankful for our home and to live in gorgeous, mountain filled Colorado!
-Since my sink is full, I'm thinking the Lord has blessed us with good food to eat!
-Since my basement is filled with toys, I'm thinking the Lord has given us more than enough!
-All my needs are met, there isn't anything I 'have' to have!
- I have a husband who loves me and our kids very much
- I have been blessed to be able to stay home with my kids- what an honor.
- So thankful for friends and family who love me
- Thankful for a God who passionately pursues me...daily.

PERSPECTIVE

Is my glass half empty or half full? Do I get angry and fly off the handle every time something doesn't go how I think it should go? I heard a saying this week that has really stuck with me. It was from a man who had discovered that he had Stage 3 colon cancer. He said life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful! Wow. I am humbled.
Have any of you ever had those negative (poor me) conversations in your head? C'mon, you can admit it, I do. They sound something like this, "So and so's husband always helps get the kids ready, so and so's husband always cleans around the house, If I just had a maid like so and so, then my house would always be clean, why does my husband always have to travel and so and so's husband never does, life is so easy for so and so- why can't mine be like hers? And the negative conversations go on and on in our heads. Guess what we're getting our eyes focused on? US!!!! Guess what changes when we focus on our Savior and our many blessings? OUR PERSPECTIVE! I can either wallow in self pity (and don't get me wrong, we all go there from time to time- But let's not stay there!) or I can start to praise Him for what He's already done and for what He's going to do! Amen! You see, my God has PROMISED to meet all of my needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19)

Psalm 34:8 NKJV
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Ask the Lord to come and give you new Perspective today, to Praise Him for what he's already given you, Peace to know the He desires to meet all of your needs, and finally, Patience to handle each new challenge the day may bring!
Lord, I'm not where I want to be, but I'm thankful I'm not where I use to be! Amen!

It's Time To Clean!

I get so frustrated. I feel like every time I clean the house, within a couple of hours it's a natural disaster all over again! (anybody relate here?!) The Lord showed me something. Every time I clean up, I'm just putting stuff back on the shelves, back under the cabinets, back- where they can be pulled back out again! So the Lord asks me, "What about 'deep' cleaning?" When was the last time I have gone through the house and rid of some things? Or do I just keep everything? How is that working for me? It's the same way with our spiritual life. How many times has He asked us to get rid of something and we store it back on the shelf for later? What is it that we're holding onto? What 'in the world' is so valuable and important to us- that it slowly creeps back into our lives and unknowingly to us- has replaced our first love? It's time to clean house! As we're about tot start a new year, wouldn't it also be great tot start a new 'you'! Go ahead, clean out your closets this month. It might get a little messy at first. But when you're done- no, when God's done, your outsides will be sparkling because of how clean it is..on the inside!

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. v23 Let us hold inswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised IS FAITHFUL!!!