Do you have a dream? I hope you do. God has made you and molded you in your life circumstances for certain gifts, longings, desires and passions. Often times, these stir in our hearts and minds for years and months before we take real steps toward living them out.
I’ve had a longing to write and create pictures since I was a little girl. I remember at about age four or five I would trace the pictures from Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl and pretend to write in those blank spaces around the pictures. As I grew, I made more of my own pictures and writings. In college, I was encouraged in my writing, but I ignored it in order to be more practical. I’m just now, in my forties, nourishing the writer and artist in me.
The world will tell you that you can do anything…but I’m here to tell you that isn’t always true. I know after my first two paragraphs that may sound really discouraging, but I promise, the goal is to ultimately encourage.
You see, sometimes you can put all of your money, energy or hopes into a goal or passion and it may, from the world’s viewpoint, look like a miserable failure. Sometimes things really don’t turn out the way you thought. I believe we’ve all had that happen to our dreams. Sometimes families don’t turn out the way you envisioned when walked down the isle or when you brought that baby home. Sometimes careers are dashed by things that seem out of your control. Death or illness comes knocking and your dream to live alongside another or live well is taken away. Sometimes, it’s just the smaller dreams that get dashed. Your simple to-do list is deemed inappropriate by 7 am by a sick child.
Yeah, the world tells us we can do anything. But the truth is, sometimes we just can’t. But I’m here to say, that if your hope is in Christ, we’re OK even when that happens.
Over the past week, my husband transformed a corner in our bedroom from being a place that I piled the kids’ outgrown clothes to being my writing nook. The first morning I sat down in this space I nearly cried. For about a decade now I’ve been using a little bookshelf, the end of the couch and an end table as my personal space. All of that time, this space was waiting. I had a new view of my world. I could see people walking in the neighborhood and all of the many squirrels bustling through a system of trees from my yard to the surrounding yards. I could watch how the birds were working and the writer in me felt fed by my space for the first time in what seems like a lifetime ago.
I have a dream to use my writing and creativity to help produce some income for my family. My husband is working several part time jobs while he establishes a ministry. Watching him work so hard, makes me want to help out as much as possible. My main job is homeschooling, but I believe I can put some part time hours in doing something I love.
My business idea may not work. The hubby may have to keep working four jobs. We may even lose more money. So why are my husband and I pursuing what we believe to be our callings?
It’s not because we trust in ourselves…that we can do anything and be successful. It is because we are putting our hope in God until He shows us it is time to do something else.
There have been times and there will be times when I don’t feel blessed. When counting material blessings is hard and doesn’t seem to impact me much. Times when it is hard not to look only at my immediate circumstances. A grateful heart only takes you so far if you’re only thankful for material blessings. As Christians, we must look at our true lasting blessings.
Whether or not our dreams come true, we are blessed.
Why is He whose help is the God of Jacob, the Lord, so blessed?
- He is the maker of heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. He is powerful and creative and all knowing if He created me and my surroundings. He must know how to help me! He is beyond capable!
- He remains faithful forever. How can I trust in anyone’s help who is not faithful?
- He is merciful and compassionate showing mercy on and helping those who are in need (the widow, fatherless, oppressed, hungry, prisoners, blind, bowed down, righteous, alien).
- He reigns forever. I am on the victor’s side!
Whether or not I receive material blessings and all of my dreams come true. I have the above. The faithful, powerful, merciful, compassionate, reigning, maker of heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
Whether or not my dreams come true in this life, God is good. I believe He is able. I trust that He will bless what I believe to be God-given desires. But even if He doesn’t allow them to be fruitful (according to my definition of fruitful)…He is good!
I think of the those good old boys, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego…
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” -Daniel 3:16-18
Their situation was way different, but I often think of them when I put myself “out there” in life…
As we, with wisdom, throw ourselves into the furnace of pursuing what we feel God is calling us to, we can say with Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, “He is able, but even if He doesn’t bless in the way we are hoping, we will still serve, worship and trust Him. He is still good.”
He takes care of the birds in the trees that I watch out my window. And He takes care of you and me.
I have a bird’s eye view of my neighborhood up here in my nook. We need a bird’s eye view of our life. And wow…as I wrote that a huge beautiful pileated woodpecker flew across my view and into my pecan tree! I felt the Lord was really showing me something and then….boom! My son walked in the room playing a loud Lego video that he wanted to share with me. I showed him the woodpecker and thought about what I was writing while I watched the video. Yes. The Lord’s work and listening to him can be interrupted by seemingly unimportant things. What will we do in those times?
Now I see across the alley, on the next street over, a mother walking down the street with her son.
Will we continue to love? Will we pull away in anger?
A bird’s eye view, a heavenly view of life, will enable us to hover high over our circumstances. Perhaps it would allow for us to accept that there are higher purposes going on. God’s plan. His definition of fruitful may not be the world’s definition, or even ours.
Are you taking a God-view of your circumstances today?
Whatever it is…could you offer up a praise to Him who is able, active and powerful?
Could you trust that He is good, whether or not He allows for your hopes and plans to come to fruition?
“Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His name.” -Hebrews 13:5
And if your losses are too unbearable to praise God through…then cry out to Him. He is merciful and compassionate.
He takes care of the birds in the trees that I watch out my window. And He takes care of you and me too.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” -1 Peter 5:7
Linking up with the ladies at the following inspiring blogs this week:
Oh, we are so very blessed. When I saw the first photo at the top here, I imagined myself sitting there with the window view and thought, “What a wonderful nook! How beautiful it is and how I would love to have such as that.” As I read this post, I find that you are so right in that the trust must be in Christ or we do things in our own strength and without His will involved. And when in His power, we can surely praise Him for everything no matter how it all works out in our vision. To Him, He is working it all for good. As you sit at your nook you are with Him. Praising Him with you.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Your words make me excited for the next time I have to sit there and write! May we go forward entrusting ourselves and our lives to Him, Linda. God Bless you my caring blogging friend…
I just love this message! It is good to dream, but sometimes those dreams do not come true. These are the times when I want to thank God for saving me from something that He did not think was right for me. When one dream falls dead, it’s time to think up some new dreams. I understand, though, that God is in control.
I try to do that too…thank God for what he may have saved me from. Sometimes it is hard! Thank you for visiting me here!
Oh follow that dream! God gifts us and then He stirs us. We say YES!
Thank you for cheering me on and for visiting!
This is so true. Sometimes it is a very hard lesson to learn, but it is so true. Thank you for sharing and I love your new writing space! I pray that it will inspire you. Blessings!
Thank you for the prayer and for visiting! Blessings to YOU…
Isn’t it amazing what a difference a change of view can make 🙂 I also wrote about dreams today – encouraging you and others to dream big, even if you don’t know you can do it, know that God can. I pray that he will fulfill your dreams.
Thank you for the encouragement, the prayer and the visit, Tania! Looking forward to checking out your post on dreams!
This is so inspiring – I feel led to write and am struggling with that at the moment… to fully surrender that, a job, finances etc… your words lift me up and I pray that your new writing nook will produce your heart-felt words into a steady income & it will reach out and bless so many! God bless you! #raralinkup
Thank you for praying for me! Praying as we visit others’ blogs is a real ministry! I pray that the Lord will guide you as you move toward writing. God bless you and thanks for the visit!
Are you taking a God-view of your circumstances today? Love that question. Do we believe that God is everything He says He is and are we willing to step out in faith? I pray that my answer is always yes and pray that same prayer for others. I love that you are following your calling and I will pray for both you and your husband.
Hi Mary-May our stepping out in faith reveal our true beliefs. And vice versa. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! I appreciate your sweet heart and wise writings…
I love your new writing nook! It looks so peaceful and cozy. I pray your new venture helps your hubby to release at least one or two of his jobs. Your attitude and faith is truly beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for this encouragement to trust Him on all circumstances today by “taking a God-view” :).
Thank you for visiting, Candace! This nook IS peaceful and cozy! I appreciate your prayer and encouragement. God bless you as you trust Him in all circumstances!
I love the part where you told us what was happening as you were writing: seeing a bird, then being interrupted by your son, and back to writing. That is descriptive of my life! I just need to find myself a nook like that! It is very great!
Dana-sometimes I feel like there is just too much going on for my little brain to handle! With two young kids and homeschooling–I would describe myself as “all over the place”. So my writing should reflect that a bit 🙂 The nook is helping to give me some downtime but the interruptions still happen a bit. I love it. I hope you get one as well!
Hi, Amy, I can relate to so much of what you have written here. I neglected the artist in me for a long time, too, until the last couple of years. 🙂 My husband recently helped me fix up a writing nook that faces a window, too, and I know you understand how nice it is to have a space just for that! I’m stopping by from Tell His Story this evening. Thanks for sharing this!
Jen @ Being Confident of This
I’m so happy for you that you, too, have a nook facing a window. I’m sitting at mine right now with the window open and a lovely breeze! It is a glorious bird-chirping morning! I pray that you would continue to nourish the writer in you…never to neglect it again! Blogs are wonderful for that! God bless…
Oh yes, Amy! He is so worthy of it all. Even if we get nothing, we still have everything. I love your words today. just love them. Cheering you on from the Purposeful Faith #RaRalinkup – whoot! Whoot!
Hi Kelly–May you rejoice today in all that is yours through Him! Thank you for the lovely link-up and all of the cheering!
This is so amazing! And so true. I also loved to right as a little girl and had a filing cabinet filled up of stories I had written-it was my passion. But only a few months ago have I started writing again, even though I felt that longing my whole life. And I have other dreams as well, of helping out my family’s finances with the essential oils business I just started. I love what I am doing and I hope and pray that God will bless it, but if He chooses not to, He is still the creator of my life and saver of my soul and I will continue to love and serve Him.
Thanks so much for your words this morning!
Sounds like we have lots in common! I too, just took up the essential oils! I pray right now that our God of provision would bless our efforts! Thanks for the visit!
What a sweet, sweet husband! My spirit really resonated with this: “It is because we are putting our hope in God until He shows us it is time to do something else.” Recently, my husband has decided not to take a paycheck from our church anymore for the work he does as a worship pastor. We are having to redo the budget and make do with less. I’ve asked God if I need to bring in income from a part-time job or something, but He’s not pushing me in that direction. So, I wait and watch, until He tells me to do something different, too.
Wow, Jen – what an great act of faith and trust in God’s provision and also an act of care for your church body. I pray that He will continue to guide you and that you will continue to respond to His ideas in your heart. I love this little story you shared–thanks for visiting and sharing!
“It’s not because we trust in ourselves…that we can do anything and be successful. It is because we are putting our hope in God until He shows us it is time to do something else.”
Exactly!
From worldly perspective we may not be all that (and a bucket of chicken, as the saying goes), but God simply wants our obedience. That is where our success lies, in knowing we are following His calling. You have encouraged me more than you know.
Bless you!
visiting from #RaRaLinkup
Donna…thank you for your sweet encouragement! And for making me laugh…I hadn’t heard the bucket of chicken saying for a while! May God bless you as you continue to follow or begin to follow God’s calling (whichever applies to you). Thanks for the visit!
I am visiting you from Faith Filled Friday and am so blessed by your rich and insightful blog, Dreams are so precious, so clearly part of God’s design, but their realization is out of our hands,and you described so vividly a godly way to live out a vision. Thanks, and I pray God will satisfy the desires of your heart (Ps 20:4).
Thank you for your encouragement and prayer. I am overwhelmed by so many visitors saying that they’ve said a prayer for me and my dream. I never dreamed that I would receive so many sweet visitors who would connect with me through my blog. But God does that too doesn’t he? He sends us dreams that we didn’t even know we wanted! God bless you as you seek to move toward your dreams! Thanks for visiting!
What a beautiful little space you have created to pursue your dream and calling 🙂 I’m sure you are going to have many #DanceWithJesus moment as you write!
Thank you Sarah…I must give all the credit to my hubby who made it for me. And my little girl…she helped…as much as a five year old can. Thanks for visiting!
I’m truly excited for you! I started my writing dream while I was homeschooling my kids, and I know there were many “How will this ever work?” moments :/ But my husband encouraged me to follow my dream, and God has led me in some very unexpected and exciting areas in my writing! Thank you for encouraging me with this post, and I encourage you to keep writing… especially now you have a special nook! Stopping by from Faith Filled Friday… Blessings to you!
Laura-thanks for the encouragement to write and for telling me a bit about your background. It’s so helpful to hear that you started when homeschooling and felt it might be impossible at times and that God still led you. May He continue to do that! Thanks for stopping by!
I love your writing corner. Yay! It’s a blessing to have a place to create your dreams. I love the ways God works through our lives to help us accomplish our dreams, to give us new dreams and bless us with His hope. Blessings Amy!
Hi Deb–I pray the Lord does just that…works in your life to help you accomplish YOUR dreams, give you new dreams and bless you with hope. Have a beautiful Sunday…
Oh Amy-girl. What sweet and much-needed words for my soul today! THANK YOU!
Hi Sharita…I pray your soul would be refreshed this Lord’s day!
Thank you so much for sharing such an encouraging word. This was a great read and thanks for linking with us at Grace & Truth!
Beautiful! Your words are beautiful! When I read your post I had my daily devotion open too and these were the words: “God promises that with Him, all things are possible! Possibility is powerful! Possibility means you aren’t limited. It means you have options. No matter how you may feel right now, you aren’t stuck and you aren’t confined to your circumstances. No, you have a door of possibility in front of you, the question is: will you walk through it? How do you walk through that door of possibility? By placing your faith in Him. By trusting that He is at work even when you can’t see it. By praying and believing and worshiping Him in the good times and bad. Today, meditate on the fact that God has the power and ability to restore broken families, He can restore lost dreams and work miracles beyond what you could ever imagine in the natural. Choose to trust, choose to believe, look for His goodness and know that with God, all things are possible!”
xoxo
Hi Amy, I love this post for many reasons.
* Your husband sees potential and some how believes in your own dreams. that is powerful.
* You are keeping your dream alive. One day it will explode. But don’t ask how.
* We keep believing God has better plans no matter our age. At least He got to use Abraham.
I really love to write one so many things I have learnt here but lets save it for next time.
Loads of Blessings to you and by the way your corner is serene.