"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
It's time once again to ring out the old and ring in the new. As most of us do every year, we reflect on accomplishments, blessings and disappointments and make resolutions that we promise this year will be different.
I decided to do something differently this year. I wrote down my goals for 2008 and then I "sent" them to the One who could make them all happen. As I lifted them up to Him, I remembered about a book I once read, The Dreamgiver, by Bruce Wilkinson. The main character of the book, Ordinary, travels on a journey to live his dream and he comes to a point where the Dreamgiver asks him to give up his dream. Of course, this breaks Ordinary's heart because he has waited all his life and traveled so very far to live it. Eventually, Ordinary gives his dream to the Dreamgiver and in so doing, discovers that he loves the Dreamgiver more than his dream and that no matter what happens the love he has is more than enough.
I too discovered that my Dreamgiver, God, is more than enough and if my dreams and goals don't come to fruition this year, that as long as I have God and as long as I can sit with Him, love Him and worship Him, that is the greatest accomplishment I could ever achieve.
So, as 2007 draws to a close, I have decided to celebrate not the year itself, but the One who gave me life and the ability to live it. Yes, I would love to have my dreams come to pass, but more than that, I would love to watch, wait and listen in wonder and awe for my Lord and Savior. He can move mountains, crush circumstances and "pour out blessings that there shall not be room enough to receive them." He can also love like no other and at the beginning of each day to the end of each day, that's all that matters.
So, please help me get this party started! It's time to celebrate, rejoice and give thanks to the One who is and always will be more than enough!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Be Bold!
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10 NIV)
Boldness comes from us decreasing so that He may increase. Boldness comes from faith in Who God is. We can have confidence in God, not because of our strength, but because of His power within us and behind us. Through surrender, faith and obedience, we can believe, "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." With confidence in Him, we can boldly say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We can choose to stand firm in confidence and blessed assurance, wrapped in the full armor of God. And, instead of saying, "God, here is my problem," we can boldly say, "Problem, here's my God!"
Despite my circumstances and all that it takes to get through them, this I know for sure, I AM WHO I AM has got my back! Be bold in Him!
Boldness comes from us decreasing so that He may increase. Boldness comes from faith in Who God is. We can have confidence in God, not because of our strength, but because of His power within us and behind us. Through surrender, faith and obedience, we can believe, "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." With confidence in Him, we can boldly say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We can choose to stand firm in confidence and blessed assurance, wrapped in the full armor of God. And, instead of saying, "God, here is my problem," we can boldly say, "Problem, here's my God!"
Despite my circumstances and all that it takes to get through them, this I know for sure, I AM WHO I AM has got my back! Be bold in Him!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Draw Near
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (NASB)
How badly does God want us to be near Him?! He calls us in so many different ways, yet we get so caught up in our wants and don't wants, our desires, likes and dislikes. Our circumstances suck the life out of us, because we can't see Him for the chaos in front of us. He is in everything at every moment and in every detail. How we must grieve Him!
When I think about the Scripture above, I see Him with outstretched arms waiting for us to run to Him for the promises of comfort and rest. How many of us run to Him? How many of us run to Him every time we have a need, desire or concern? How much more of Him could we have if we not only turned to Him, but faced Him all day long? What would we know? What blessings would we receive and be able to pass on to others? Would we know unspeakable joy? Could we have a taste of grace in every moment of every day?
His Word is an invitation to us to come to Him for Him and all that He has for us. When we struggle, strive, stress and strain, He looks down on us with such heartache because He knows that if we would just accept His invitation, our joy would be full. We would have confidence, blessed assurance in our Almighty Father who loves us so. We would have peace that surpasses all understanding and blessing upon blessing. He would then be our all in all.
He is waiting with outstretched arms for us to run to Him. He so desperately wants to wrap His loving arms around us and give us all things. When we cry out in despair, frustration and defeat, He looks upon us with a melting heart, a heart so full of love. He just wants to give us the world.
I pray that you will visit "His Invitation" often and that you will be encouraged and lifted up. Our Lord has so laid it on my heart that He just wants us to come to Him and stay with Him, trust Him with all things, give Him every bit of who and what we are. He REALLY does want us to cast EVERYTHING at His feet! He REALLY does want us to come, rest, be still and truly know that He is God. There is no longer a need for us to keep taking our "stuff" off the alter and dragging it with us as we go about our lives.
I invite you to accept His invitation, an invitation that never expires.
How badly does God want us to be near Him?! He calls us in so many different ways, yet we get so caught up in our wants and don't wants, our desires, likes and dislikes. Our circumstances suck the life out of us, because we can't see Him for the chaos in front of us. He is in everything at every moment and in every detail. How we must grieve Him!
When I think about the Scripture above, I see Him with outstretched arms waiting for us to run to Him for the promises of comfort and rest. How many of us run to Him? How many of us run to Him every time we have a need, desire or concern? How much more of Him could we have if we not only turned to Him, but faced Him all day long? What would we know? What blessings would we receive and be able to pass on to others? Would we know unspeakable joy? Could we have a taste of grace in every moment of every day?
His Word is an invitation to us to come to Him for Him and all that He has for us. When we struggle, strive, stress and strain, He looks down on us with such heartache because He knows that if we would just accept His invitation, our joy would be full. We would have confidence, blessed assurance in our Almighty Father who loves us so. We would have peace that surpasses all understanding and blessing upon blessing. He would then be our all in all.
He is waiting with outstretched arms for us to run to Him. He so desperately wants to wrap His loving arms around us and give us all things. When we cry out in despair, frustration and defeat, He looks upon us with a melting heart, a heart so full of love. He just wants to give us the world.
I pray that you will visit "His Invitation" often and that you will be encouraged and lifted up. Our Lord has so laid it on my heart that He just wants us to come to Him and stay with Him, trust Him with all things, give Him every bit of who and what we are. He REALLY does want us to cast EVERYTHING at His feet! He REALLY does want us to come, rest, be still and truly know that He is God. There is no longer a need for us to keep taking our "stuff" off the alter and dragging it with us as we go about our lives.
I invite you to accept His invitation, an invitation that never expires.
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