The Dream Challenge

I’ve got a writing assignment due soon for a 6-week class that I’m taking at church. This class is for women only, and our first week’s assignment is to journal or creatively express how we can empower other women.

A few things came to mind, but I eventually settled on this: One of the ways I can empower women is to encourage them to dream.

What do I mean by dream?

I’m not talking ‘head in the clouds’ mind-wandering daydreaming.

I’m talking about constantly keeping before you an idea or inspired goal that God has planted in your heart and refusing to let go of it. A dream you have become increasingly passionate about and know you must pursue. I’m talking about bold focus. A healthy attachment to something you want to see done in this world and knowing God has called you to do it.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many women have simply stopped dreaming. Some of us are stretched terribly thin or burned completely out. Overwhelmed by life’s battles or simply bored by the ho-hums of the day, many women are simply existing and have lost their desire or ability to believe they are capable of achieving great things. We’ve either lost our ‘spark’ or gotten so far away from who we really are that the dreams we once had can no longer be identified.

As women, we can carry so much and feel responsible for so many, that sometimes our dreams  – some we’ve held since childhood – lose steam, grow weak and eventually become scattered thoughts.

We wear many hats and we get bogged down a lot. When life gets rough or becomes routine, our dreams can fade out or get buried under a heap of burdens.

Even worse, we never attempt to dream at all, because someone told us our gender comes with a ready-made box that we should never think outside of.

Truth is, God gives dreams to women, regardless of our past mistakes or insecurities, because we are invaluable to Him. He chooses to inspire us with ideas and goals to achieve that will bless us and those around us. We are not ‘merely’ this or ‘simply’ that. We are made in His image in a wonderful way, and He believes each one of us has limitless potential.

Dreams can be big or small, supported or misunderstood. At the end of the day, all that matters is that your dream never dies.

If I can empower women, I will do so by encouraging them to dream. And for some, to dream again.

 

 

 

 

 

The Truest Sign of Maturity

Isn’t it amazing how the Lord knows your every thought and emotion at any given time?

I took a lunch break to run errands the other day and found myself grumbling about something that I can’t even remember now. I turned on the radio, and at that very moment I heard a preacher say in an exasperated tone, “Folks, just be thankful!”

He sounded really annoyed. I wonder how God feels.

It was a bit cold outside. I was driving a car and had the option of turning on the heat. I was getting ready to have lunch, and have never gone without food.

I looked in my rear view mirror and had to shake my head at myself. Just be thankful!

Maybe you have a troubled marriage right now. But someone recently became a widow.

Maybe your child has disappointed you in some way and continues to do so. But someone’s child will spend the holiday season in ICU.

Maybe you hate your job and can’t stand your boss. There are millions of unemployed Americans who would switch places with you in a split second.

I believe the truest sign of maturity in a believer’s life is constant thankfulness. Not just a list of “10 Things I’m Thankful For” to be read aloud once a year at the dinner table, but a heart that is always full of thanksgiving.

It really is simple. We are surrounded with reminders every day.

Just be thankful.

Glory Days

When you think of a prideful person, what do you envision?

Usually we imagine a person who makes it a habit to speak highly of themselves or what they’ve accomplished. Basically someone who is always boasting and putting themselves on a pedestal of personal praise. No one enjoys being in the presence of a prideful person, and Scripture tells us pride is something the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:6-19).

But what we tend to forget is that pride comes from within. You don’t have to be vocal about how great you think you are or how wonderful your last accomplishment was. You can be sweetly silent and yet filled with enormous pride. You can go a lifetime in a visibly humble and lowly state, and yet be the most prideful person ever to walk the face of the Earth.  This is so frightening when you really think about it, because pride leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

Pride can be a silent killer – there may be no visible symptoms or signs of it in our lives. So we must continually check the condition of our heart and use it as a hiding place for God’s Word (Psalm 119:11). And we should never forget that God deserves and demands not some, but all of the praise. All of our “glory days” belong to Him.

I will boast only in the Lord…(Psalm 34:2)

Heart Song

I am so thankful to be working for a Christian organization that incorporates a time of prayer and worship every morning. This week, we came together before the work day and sang a beautiful worship song by Christy Nockels.

This song ministered to me in the deepest way. It reminded me that everything I need is in Jesus Christ my Lord and King, and that “no matter where I am” healing is in His hands.

Be blessed by this heart song today, and may you be forever reminded of His love for you.

Remembering David Wilkerson

I was surprised to hear the news that evangelist David Wilkerson went home to be with the Lord a couple of days ago. He was a fiery preacher with a heart for souls, which was evident whenever you listened to his sermons.

Several months ago, I was privileged to hear some audio from his message “A Call to Anguish,” and I was completely wrecked. Wrecked in the sense that the very depths of my heart were laid bare to me. I saw who I really was after hearing this message, and it tore me to pieces.

This kind of preaching is very rare these days, yet so needed. It leads us to repentance.

Read more about David Wilkerson here.