As we have stepped out in faith to see what the new journey is that God has for us I have come up with an idea for what causes us to fall between getting our hopes up and accomplishing our dreams. I know without a doubt that God was at the heart of this leap of faith we have taken, so I had a certain expectation of what he was going to do. I remember telling my friend Janay, in the beginning, that I expected to be home a couple of weeks. Which would be great to spend some time with the family and give my house a good cleaning. We would then be offered the perfect job and we would not miss a beat financially. She kept her laughing to a minimum and asked me when I was going to come back to reality. It's funny now, but I was just certain God was able to do this. He called us out here (See my first post for the story.) and promised me he had all the details covered. Why wouldn't it be that smooth? At that moment God began to challenge me with "What if I don't meet your expectations? Do you still trust me?"
Not only were we clinging to the promise God made us that he had all the details covered and would "smooth the road ahead of us" (Isaiah 42:16), but we were believing Ephesians 3:20 - God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. And there it is...THE GAP! No, not the store, the place where we lose hope and settle for something other than the dreams God has for our lives. We fall in this trap that God doing "immeasurably more" is the same thing as taking our expectations and making them even better. If I know that I have enough money to make it 3 months before finding a new job, then God doing immeasurably more should mean he does it in 2-3 weeks, right?
Well, if you have been following our story, you know we have been on this journey for almost 4 months now. The money is at the end. I'm not quite sure how it made it this long, to be honest. We are way past my pretty little expectation of what God was going to do, but I am still certain that he can do immeasurably more. It just looks different than I expect. In fact, we came really close to falling in the gap last week. We were interviewing for a job at an AMAZING church. I love the pastor, and would be so excited to be a part of this church. However, God began making it very clear this is not where we were supposed to be. As I stated, we are out of money and really needed to take this job, but what about his promise to smooth the road ahead of us? Do I still trust him? It's been pretty easy to trust him when there is money in the bank, but when we have nothing to rely on but him, what do we do? We TRUST! I honestly believe this is where most people fall in the gap. It doesn't make any sense. People are telling you there is no other way. You doubt what God was doing with you in the first place. You don't say it directly, but you are not longer certain God was leading you. Instead you think maybe it was just me thinking that...
I can't say it is easy to hold tight to hopes, but don't give up! Cling to the promises that God has made to you about your dreams, and one step at a time he will get you where he wants you. Don't fall in the gap...trust him to keep walking until you get to where he wants you. I can tell you I would not trade the last 3 months for anything. God has taught me so many things I would have missed out on if he had met my expectations. I am so thankful that he is a bridge between hopes and dreams.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Walk Through The Mall
I hit a point in my walk after being a Christ Follower for 15 years where I knew I was walking with God, but I just didn't feel close to him. I was challenged by reading a young girl's blog of all the things God was teaching her and how real he was in her life. I didn't understand why that was not happening in my relationship with him anymore. As I cried out to God for my walk to be that real and exciting again he gave me a visual to put it into perspective.
I have a little boy who is 5 now. When he was little he liked to know his boundaries, but he loved opportunities where he could be independent. We would go to the mall together. When we walked from the car to the door of the mall I always held his hand, but once inside he had a little freedom. He loved to run out ahead of me while we walked though the mall. When he got a little too far ahead I would simply call out for him to wait up. When we got to a turn and he didn't know which way to go, he would look back to me for direction.
God said, that's what my relationship with him had become. He held me tight when things weren't safe, but when things were good, I liked to run out ahead of him. I could still hear his voice when I got too far, and I always sought direction when I didn't know which way to go.
God brought me to this point to let me know he wanted more from our relationship. I pictured PT walking through the mall with his mom and how different that looks. He walks arm in arm with her. They have conversation along the way. When they get to a turn they turn in unison because they know where they are going together.
I am so thankful for this visual. I use it as a check point regularly to determine how I am doing in my walk with him. I want so desperately to be side by side with God on this journey.
How do you walk with God? What kinds of things do you do to stay close to him?
I have a little boy who is 5 now. When he was little he liked to know his boundaries, but he loved opportunities where he could be independent. We would go to the mall together. When we walked from the car to the door of the mall I always held his hand, but once inside he had a little freedom. He loved to run out ahead of me while we walked though the mall. When he got a little too far ahead I would simply call out for him to wait up. When we got to a turn and he didn't know which way to go, he would look back to me for direction.
God said, that's what my relationship with him had become. He held me tight when things weren't safe, but when things were good, I liked to run out ahead of him. I could still hear his voice when I got too far, and I always sought direction when I didn't know which way to go.
God brought me to this point to let me know he wanted more from our relationship. I pictured PT walking through the mall with his mom and how different that looks. He walks arm in arm with her. They have conversation along the way. When they get to a turn they turn in unison because they know where they are going together.
I am so thankful for this visual. I use it as a check point regularly to determine how I am doing in my walk with him. I want so desperately to be side by side with God on this journey.
How do you walk with God? What kinds of things do you do to stay close to him?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I hope you dance!
I know the Lee Ann Womack song I Hope You Dance is a bit of a cheesy song. However, God has used this as a reminder for me to be involved in my own life in spite of what others think.
I grew up pretty conservative. I don't know if it was something I picked up from my parents or just worked my way into it on my own. Either way, I was always aware of what was going on around me. I didn't realize it at the time, but I can definitely see now how that influenced my behavior. I have always been "professional", which for me, if I'm honest, translates into "afraid of what others might think." Back in the fall of 2010, when God really began igniting something new in me, PT and I found ourselves at several weddings. I can't say that I am a good dancer, but I have to admit I started longing to have the freedom to just get out there and let loose.
Recently I was reading Mark Batterson's Soul Print and he talks about this in relation to David's life. You may already know that David was known for dancing and praising the Lord. Now that doesn't sound so bad, right? Let's just set the stage for a better understanding. David was entering the city as King for the first time. He knew for many years that God selected him to be the next king, but Saul had been king and there was a lot of drama over a long period of time while he waited for his turn.
Well, it was finally here! He was entering the city in his own parade. He was honoring the Lord before all of Israel and bringing the Ark of God to the city. It was then that he decided to let loose..."And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment." (2 Samuel 6:14) Batterson portrays the event:
Mothers don't know whether to cover their children's eyes. His staff don't know whether to stop him. And a collective blush sweeps across the crowd. The king of Israel is down to a linen loincloth. Then His Majesty starts dancing like a little child without a care in the world.
Let me just say, I am not sure I can go that far in my letting loose at a wedding, especially where my husband is the pastor who just performed the ceremony. However, it is a good reminder that I can't be inhibited so much by what others might think that I am afraid to really be me.
Are you worried about what others might think? Does it keep you from being who God wants you to be? I hope you can find some assurance from this story of David, like I did, to know that it's ok to be you. God made you just the way you are for a reason and he doesn't want you to let life pass you by without YOU being a part of it.
I HOPE YOU DANCE!
I grew up pretty conservative. I don't know if it was something I picked up from my parents or just worked my way into it on my own. Either way, I was always aware of what was going on around me. I didn't realize it at the time, but I can definitely see now how that influenced my behavior. I have always been "professional", which for me, if I'm honest, translates into "afraid of what others might think." Back in the fall of 2010, when God really began igniting something new in me, PT and I found ourselves at several weddings. I can't say that I am a good dancer, but I have to admit I started longing to have the freedom to just get out there and let loose.
Recently I was reading Mark Batterson's Soul Print and he talks about this in relation to David's life. You may already know that David was known for dancing and praising the Lord. Now that doesn't sound so bad, right? Let's just set the stage for a better understanding. David was entering the city as King for the first time. He knew for many years that God selected him to be the next king, but Saul had been king and there was a lot of drama over a long period of time while he waited for his turn.
Well, it was finally here! He was entering the city in his own parade. He was honoring the Lord before all of Israel and bringing the Ark of God to the city. It was then that he decided to let loose..."And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment." (2 Samuel 6:14) Batterson portrays the event:
Mothers don't know whether to cover their children's eyes. His staff don't know whether to stop him. And a collective blush sweeps across the crowd. The king of Israel is down to a linen loincloth. Then His Majesty starts dancing like a little child without a care in the world.
Let me just say, I am not sure I can go that far in my letting loose at a wedding, especially where my husband is the pastor who just performed the ceremony. However, it is a good reminder that I can't be inhibited so much by what others might think that I am afraid to really be me.
Are you worried about what others might think? Does it keep you from being who God wants you to be? I hope you can find some assurance from this story of David, like I did, to know that it's ok to be you. God made you just the way you are for a reason and he doesn't want you to let life pass you by without YOU being a part of it.
I HOPE YOU DANCE!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
After the construction
When we first moved into our house 6 years ago there was some major construction on the highway we traveled to and from work. It was so irritating. Traffic always backed up in that spot and there was no way around it. It seemed to take forever to get home in the evenings, and that was made very clear when we had a hungry baby in the car with us. Now, however, that area of highway is nice! It is one of the fastest moving sections of highway in the whole Dallas/Fort Worth area. We know once we hit that section of highway it is smooth sailing to get home. In fact, it is so smooth, that it is real easy to forget how hard it was to travel that section of highway at one time.
Our lives are like that...God does some work in us, we learn a lesson and when the construction is done we quickly move on and forget the work that was done to make us better. It can be hard when we are going through the construction, but when the mess is all cleaned up and we are moving forward just fine we often forget about the work that was done. I don't drive down that stretch of highway and think "wow, I am so glad they did that construction." I just enjoy the drive, usually thinking about what I am going to do when I get home.
I think the Bible warns us of this in Deuteronomy 9:11 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees I am giving you today." This was a warning to the Isrealites from Moses just before they crossed the Jordan and moved into the promise land. God had taught them so many things during their journey in the wilderness, and it was about to end. They were about to have everything they desired. Their direct need for the Lord's guidance, direction, and provision was almost over. He wanted to make sure that once the construction was over and they were moving in the fast lane that they didn't forget what the Lord had done for them to get them there and what he had taught them along the way.
I pray the same thing for myself daily with where we are in this journey. I know that God has me at a place right now that I have to rely heavily on Him each day. I know he is getting ready to show us what is next for us and things will be smooth sailing soon. I want to follow Moses's advice and BE CAREFUL not to forget the Lord my God in my time of plenty. I am working hard to create habits that will continue after this part of the journey and praying regularly that I hold tight to Jesus even in the land of plenty that is to come.
What have you done (or are doing) to remember those times of construction in your life?
Our lives are like that...God does some work in us, we learn a lesson and when the construction is done we quickly move on and forget the work that was done to make us better. It can be hard when we are going through the construction, but when the mess is all cleaned up and we are moving forward just fine we often forget about the work that was done. I don't drive down that stretch of highway and think "wow, I am so glad they did that construction." I just enjoy the drive, usually thinking about what I am going to do when I get home.
I think the Bible warns us of this in Deuteronomy 9:11 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees I am giving you today." This was a warning to the Isrealites from Moses just before they crossed the Jordan and moved into the promise land. God had taught them so many things during their journey in the wilderness, and it was about to end. They were about to have everything they desired. Their direct need for the Lord's guidance, direction, and provision was almost over. He wanted to make sure that once the construction was over and they were moving in the fast lane that they didn't forget what the Lord had done for them to get them there and what he had taught them along the way.
I pray the same thing for myself daily with where we are in this journey. I know that God has me at a place right now that I have to rely heavily on Him each day. I know he is getting ready to show us what is next for us and things will be smooth sailing soon. I want to follow Moses's advice and BE CAREFUL not to forget the Lord my God in my time of plenty. I am working hard to create habits that will continue after this part of the journey and praying regularly that I hold tight to Jesus even in the land of plenty that is to come.
What have you done (or are doing) to remember those times of construction in your life?
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Leadership Lessons From Moses
As I have been reading through the life of Moses, God has been showing me some key elements needed to be a strong leader. I have pages of notes of all the things I have learned from Moses's life, but here are a few that stand out.
1. Face Down...
Every time Moses started something he fell face down on the ground. Every time the people complained, every time someone disagreed with his leadership, every time he didn't know what to do next...he fell face down on the ground. He knew this was not about him, but about God's glory and being used by God. Therefore he looked to God first in ALL of it.
2. Heavy Weight Champion...
Leading is a heavy burden. Moses is regularly facing complaints from the Israelites, and yet he is continually asking God to spare them. (You have to truly have a heart for the people you are leading!)
He even cries out to God in Numbers 11: 14, "I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!" (You have to build up leaders under you - not just to do the work, but to help you carry the weight.)
3. In It To Win It...
It could be a long journey, made longer by the people you are leading! Moses wondered in the wilderness along side them for 40 years because of their struggles. (You gotta be in it for the long haul!) You can't walk away when it gets hard. When Moses cried out in Numbers 11, he didn't leave - he went to God. Something great happened; God put his Spirit upon 70 other leaders from among the Isrealites to "bear the burden of the people along with [Moses]."
Here's my favorite part...later in the chapter someone came running to Moses to tell him that others were prophesying and Joshua protested, "Moses, my master, make them stop!" I love Moses's response, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!" And Moses went right back to what he was doing. If Moses was worried about losing his "power" as a leader then he would not have wanted others to be able to do what he was called to do. Mind you, I believe Moses was a little fed up with them at this point, but the principle is the same. (It can't be about you!)
Moses's primary concern his entire life in leadership was for God's glory to be revealed to the people, and I believe these are 3 core principles that helped him as a leader.
1. Face Down...
Every time Moses started something he fell face down on the ground. Every time the people complained, every time someone disagreed with his leadership, every time he didn't know what to do next...he fell face down on the ground. He knew this was not about him, but about God's glory and being used by God. Therefore he looked to God first in ALL of it.
2. Heavy Weight Champion...
Leading is a heavy burden. Moses is regularly facing complaints from the Israelites, and yet he is continually asking God to spare them. (You have to truly have a heart for the people you are leading!)
He even cries out to God in Numbers 11: 14, "I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!" (You have to build up leaders under you - not just to do the work, but to help you carry the weight.)
3. In It To Win It...
It could be a long journey, made longer by the people you are leading! Moses wondered in the wilderness along side them for 40 years because of their struggles. (You gotta be in it for the long haul!) You can't walk away when it gets hard. When Moses cried out in Numbers 11, he didn't leave - he went to God. Something great happened; God put his Spirit upon 70 other leaders from among the Isrealites to "bear the burden of the people along with [Moses]."
Here's my favorite part...later in the chapter someone came running to Moses to tell him that others were prophesying and Joshua protested, "Moses, my master, make them stop!" I love Moses's response, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!" And Moses went right back to what he was doing. If Moses was worried about losing his "power" as a leader then he would not have wanted others to be able to do what he was called to do. Mind you, I believe Moses was a little fed up with them at this point, but the principle is the same. (It can't be about you!)
Moses's primary concern his entire life in leadership was for God's glory to be revealed to the people, and I believe these are 3 core principles that helped him as a leader.
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