Keep On

So, I’ve been hearing messages and reading little clips about how we should keep going, and not turning back. Very often it’s just past the very point when we give up that breakthrough could have happened, where the reward was waiting the whole time, and we just didn’t have the strength, stamina, perseverance, patience or whatever to keep on keeping on. It reminds me of a little adventure I had when I was in Scotland.

The Pillars of Sliver Knowles

I went to a little beach called Silver Knowles, and I immediately noticed an island not too far off from the shore, and a kind of  stone bridge looking structure that led to it, but the bridge looked broken down and falling apart. On the island, I saw a fort looking structure, so I decided I wanted to go out on the island. I began walking down the shore, hoping I could cross the bridge looking thing. As I was walking, I saw several really nice and peaceful places I could stop, sit and have a nice quiet time if I couldn’t get to the island, but I kept trekking along. It was a long ways away, but as I got closer, about 2/3 of the way there, I saw that what I thought was a bridge really wasn’t. They were these huge pillars, and  they weren’t connected. Really impressive, but a disappointment, since I couldn’t see any other way to get to the island. I figured, well, I’ll just get as close as I can and sit on the piece of land jutting out by that not-bridge.

I headed in that direction, more and more disappointed that I couldn’t get to the island. When I got to that little piece of land, I was very surprised to see that next to the huge pillars was a very low walkway, so low that you couldn’t see it from far away, even so low that when the tide comes in, it would cover it.

The walkway by the pillars

As I made my way across the walkway, I thought about how like our lives it is. We have a vision or dream or goal in mind, and as we work towards it, the path that we thought we were going to take ends up being blocked, going the wrong direction, fallen apart, whatever. We have a choice then to go as far as we can go, or turning back, or turning aside to other things that seem doable or not as impossible. But, if we keep on going as far as we know how, a way tends to open up that we never saw before, and would never have seen if we didn’t keep pushing forward.

I know that I can see life lessons in the smallest and silliest things, but that one hit me like a brick. As I sat on the island (it was like a little Eden), I thought about how the walkway was longer than it looked, and really slippery in places. It changed height and material about halfway out, and it was a little unnerving to feel like I was walking out in the middle of the ocean (which, on the way back, nearly happened – I nearly had to run to beat the tide!). But it was totally worth it. The island was amazing, and I learned a great lesson that I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon…

River of Dreams

I was cleaning out my dad’s desk, and I found a tape (yeah, I know) I made when I was in high school of songs that I particularly liked. I popped it in when I was working out, and came upon “The River” by Garth Brooks. It really struck me mightily, so I wanted to share. Now I could go into explanations and interpretations, but I think if you read it, it will speak to you in its own way…

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin’ as it flows
And a dreamer’s just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what’s behind you
And never knowing what’s in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores…and

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
‘Til what we put off ’til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don’t you sit upon the shoreline
And say you’re satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide…yes

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

There’s bound to be rough waters
And I know I’ll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all…yes

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
‘Til the river runs dry

Dreams of God – Pt. 2

So, I was watching my two-month-old niece sleep as I was holding her, and she started smiling, then giggling in her sleep. It was so cute, I wanted time to stand still for several moments. I began to wonder about the dreams that God puts in the minds and hearts of infants – dreams that make them laugh, dreams that startle them, dreams of Destiny. Then I seriously started praying. I prayed for an environment that would support those dreams, and that they wouldn’t be discouraged by the enemy, and derailed from those dreams that God put in their hearts. Praying that also gave me new hope and a new life; it’s never too late to pick up God given dreams, dust off the ashes and take off running. It has pulled strongly on my heart that those dreams are so powerful that satan is so scared of them, he will do anything in his power to way lay them before they come to fruition. It’s sad that we value dreams so little that many of us drop them after a little opposition or major obstacles jump in the way. I wonder what would have happened if Joseph gave up on his after he was thrown in prison unjustly… I want to follow my dreams, and take them where God has destined. Even more, I want to help others pick up abandoned dreams, fill them with hope, and have them go for it. After all, “The body of Christ needs the result of the dreams God has placed on your heart.”

Dreams of God – part 1

I woke up this morning to the most awesome text message. I opened up my message to read this: The body of Messiah needs the result of the dreams God has placed on your heart. I tell you what, I went from groggy to wide awake in no time flat. I called my friend who had sent it, and she was listening to a sermon while getting ready for work, heard that phrase and thought to send it to me. It is something I’ve been hearing for the last year or so, and it finally solidified in my heart. God gives us dreams, passions in our hearts. What are you doing with it? I’m learning that it doesn’t matter whether it makes sense to you or not, if God has put it in your heart, you will never really come alive until you are doing something about it. What is sensible to you may not be in God’s plans (I Cor. 1:27). Sometimes, fear of the unknown, fear of ridicule, fear of rejection and/or failure keeps us from pursuing that which God has given us. Is it worth it? Basking in the safety of fear, as opposed to the high adventure of your passion and destiny? Just a question. For some, yes, but I have my doubts…