The work no one sees

Is it just me or do you think about your dream everyday?  At least once a day, perhaps more?  Or am I the only one who holds them close every day and every night?

Maybe your heart is too tired to dream.  Perhaps your hands are full of your heart's hurt? Maybe there is just too much hurt inside that goes way too deep to even hope for a dream.

Just maybe that's you.  Just maybe you think your dreams are too big, intimidating and daunting.  Perhaps you need to take a day off from your thoughts.

While your sleeping, God is holding your dreams tight. He gives our yearning hearts a little respite to rejuvenate and oomph to make them come alive once again every morning. He holds even our dreams so near and dear.

Don't we all have that unspoken thing we want God to do in our lives?  (If you said no to this question, are you breathing?)  Is it just me, or would you like the dream fairy to come by your notebook and sprinkle a little fairy dust?

Does anyone even notice you have a dream and that you hold them close?

Sometime ago, nearer than I would like to admit, I had to lay down my dream. I had held it in for quite sometime. I had to lay it before God and walk away.  It was in those moments of sweet surrender that I realized I had the freedom to live my dream God's way.

We often hold our silent wishes so tight. We pray, we wish, we pray some more. We ask God, we plead, and then we stand by and tap our foot.

We give up on them and think it's never going to happen. We forget that our God is for us. We forget that He has His perfect will in place since before we were His dream. We forget that it depends on God, we pray like it depends on us.

For many of us a dream can be a burden, or a suffering for a cause. Something that is only birthed in our minds and never develops heart. We struggle, and play tug-o-war with the details and then do battle some more. It loops continually in our souls, one failed attempt at a time.  This leaves us empty. 

Do your dreams need a new breath of life?

Holy breath that inspires and gives good things, can make your dream come alive once again.  What dream do you need to surrender to God? What sweet peace are you craving?  What dream do you hold close that you don't want others to see but yet you want people to notice?

I have surrendered my dream to my Savior who holds it dear to His heart. And now I am going to pray like it depends on God over me.   If you need me, I'll be over here hunched over my laptop with a new blog post on my mind. using the skills that God has given me to reach out to you, developing my dream. yes, that is me night after night working silently and diligently on His craft.

What are you doing about yours?

God can piece your dream together breath by breath, page by page, piece by piece. I need not worry about the time well spent logging my thoughts or pondering. God is holding those close too. I know it's not meaningless, but worth the effort. After all this voice I have been given is my response back to One who holds my dreams. The work is worth it, the sweat, the sacrifice, the time, His cause is worth it.

In the dark of the night, in the light of your workroom, in the silence of your creation, may you allow yourself a little Holy breath of Life?  Remember you have been created with gifts and special abilities that gnaw at your insides for a reason.  Don't forget why you started to dream, don't forget what hole that God wants to fill, and don't forget who has your dreams in His hands. 

Do the work that no one sees.  Breath a little life into your dream, and let go of it.  Offer your dream to a Holy God that can already see the hard work you can't notice.  Your sweet surrender is waiting, the freedom to soar.  While your waiting, develop your craft.  Do the work no one sees.  

When Your Heart Sinks

Life stinks sometimes

Today I heard some bad news about my dear friends that are in the process of adopting not just one, or two, but three kids from Haiti.  I am fascinated with the idea that they want to increase their family by three.  Not are they making their home bigger but their hearts bigger too.  It's been crazy-good watching God school their family in this adoption process.

They might tell you different today though.  It has been an arduous journey, one that has been laced with prayer and trust in God.  Recently, they received some heart-stopping news that their official adoption papers got "thrown out".  There was some mystical error and it seems they must start over.

I don't know how you would take news like theirs...but I was hit cold and hard with sadness and this isn't even my family.  Tears streamed down my face as I texted an message of encouragement back.  My heart was breaking for them...they've worked this family expansion plan for a long time.  In fact, much time, effort, and money have been spent to get this procedure started and moving forward.  Most importantly though they have also held those three little kids near their to hearts and have already loved them into their home.

As my heart sank..I asked..."God, what are you up to?  Help make me some sense out of this?  God how can this be good?  Show us Your purpose!"  My mind immediately went to some dear friends in Jesus' inner circle...Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Read John 11.

Imagine Martha's heart-sinking moment as she longingly looked to the horizon, with the cries of her sister's grief echoing over the silent frame of her dead brother.  Martha waited for three long agonizing days, as she hoped she would get some comfort from her Master.  The purpose of her wait was not revealed until Jesus declared it was time.  

I love the tender moment of restoration from this morbid story of life.  Jesus went to the grave site followed by the curious.  Can you hear their wondering questions?  "Help us make some sense out of this?  God how can this be good?  Show us Your purpose?!"  

Jesus' heart sank too with deep compassion over the loss of Lazarus. As He asked for the stone to be moved, dead silence met the sisters act of obedience.  Who wouldn't be confused about what Jesus was going to do next?  God's glory was revealed through Jesus' command "Lazarus, come out!"  God did this so that those sinking hearts would believe and know that only He could bring life out of death.

Only God can. 

When your world is hit bad news of something lost, or stolen or when death has left a sting, know that God has a purpose and a plan for your sinking heart of sadness.  Sometimes we see His glory revealed, sometimes we don't.  But know this...only God can bring restoration in the silence of your questions and brokenness.  Only God can bring restoration out of your obedience and trust.  Only God can bring new life to your dead places that need healing.  Only God can ask you to roll away your stones of unbelief so that His glory will be shown in your dark tombs.  

Only God can.

Something You Need To Know To Be Brave

Have you ever noticed that life's biggest moments often happen quietly?

No one noticed that you sent that encouraging email. Or only you know that you forgave your offender. You've been fasting for how many days now? You signed up to go on that mission trip to where?

Most times, when we step out in faith we do it in silence.

I like it when God’s silent whisper is somehow louder in our hearts than the clamoring hard beats inside our chest. You were finally brave enough to say yes.

Don't look longingly back at your comfort zone and wish you were still there. You can't see God's next step when you have your neck turned to your past.

It's oddly silent here though and something is missing.

Don't you wish sometimes you had your own cheering section? One who lifts their poms poms in the air and say "we are proud of you". Would it make a difference to say out loud that you wrote that letter of forgiveness to your friend? Or do people really need to know that that you serve the homeless dinner every Tuesday night? 

Would that make you feel worthwhile to know that your acts of service were noticed?

Would you love more if you if you felt more loved?


Today, let me just give you a pat on the back. You are doing better than you think you are. You're not a failure. I just needed to say that to you.  If you are feeling low and don't think anyone cares, there is One who does. Even when you don't care for yourself. He knows what you are going through.

If you are facing a situation and you have to be brave one more day you think you are going to crumble under the pressure, then I just want you to lean in close....I know what you are going through and you are going to make it.

God says this....to your heart today...."You may feel insignificant, but I love you."

Whether you are taking a big step forward, or a small step back...don't forget to keep in step with the one who is your real over-the-top cheerleader. He is cheering you on 24/7/365 days and counting...and he always has something good to say about you.

So if you have to be brave or strong, you need to know that you are doing good. You are. Don't base the outcome of your day on how you feel about yourself.

Don't rely on your feelings to guide you. Keep moving towards the One who loves you more than you could ever imagine. There’s no limit to what He can do in and through you if you let him, and you pack your willing heart.

It always takes a step of faith to get to the Promised Land. And if you wait until you’re unafraid, you’ll never cross the bravery line. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a wondering moment too, where God is asking you to be brave and you are feeling really timid and unworthy.

If you are taking your own step of courage, then please hear me...I am cheering for you. You may not be able to hear, you may not be able to see, but know this....you are not doing this alone.

Be brave...with nothing holding you back. Don't forget who God is and what he can do. With His courage you can. You can do what he has called you to do. You can do it if you rely on Him to give you what you need. He is cheering for you too.

My Pastor Must Have Read My Blog Post

Resting on a beach is nice

Surely he had read my thoughts about needing rest.  It is my one word for 2012.  So when I settled into message one in the new sermon series Soul Detox, I was astonished and thought...."He must have read my blog".  In church this past Sunday, I realized my one word theme for 2012 was more than a word, it's a lifestyle.    


Maybe you struggle with finding rest too.  Perhaps I am not the only one looking for it.  Maybe you are not brave enough to write it like I am.  When I looked at the sermon talk notes, I immediately started filling in the blanks of the points to ponder.  Scored 100%.


Knowing the answers makes me think I am on the right track.  Now it's just putting the rest I have found into practice.  That's the hard part of faith.  Reading God's word is one thing but applying it to your life is another with all our hiccups and hangups.  One thing I do know though that if we seek God, He will be found.  


It's hard work to breath in our culture and not being affected by it.  It's life that God didn't call us to be a part of...this is not our home.  He did call us to be a light to this toxic dark culture we live in.  We are all searching for something and in case you don't know it yet....you aren't going to find rest in our culture.  

There is only one place to land when looking for rest and that is in God's lap.  

Ps. 62: 1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  

Take five minutes and be still. I am challenged by the "still" part. Not that i haven't stopped to absorb God's Word, but it's the being silent and still that continues to change me. I find silence awkward, it's not comfortable. I need to grow here. 

I need to sign up for a double shift in silence.

Ps. 131:2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul.....

Take a knee and wait.  Here's another area where God has been growing me.  In his waiting room, there are many numbers that haven't been called yet.  So I continue to wait, take His number, sit in His lap and wait some more.  

There are some things where God is waiting on me.  Wait...I know there is.

Ps. 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.....

Honestly we don't have time NOT to be still before God.  It should be our first step out of bed, the first part of your day.  Give God your fresh and best.  Here's something you may not have realized, that God will handle the rest of the world while you are taking your five minutes.  

Be still for God, and before God.  

I wait for the Lord, my soul awaits, and in his word i put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than a watchman wait for this morning....Ps. 130:5-6

Don't forget who God is.  Reflect on God's goodness, reflect on what He has already done.  Gather at your water's edge and think about His great goodness and mercies which are new each and every morning.  As you remember His faithfulness, pick up a small smooth stone and tuck into your pocket. Think about how God is for you and never against you.  Remember....who God is!  

Remembering God should cause us to pause for five minutes.  

Need a place to start?  Pause in Psalms...

Replacement Therapy

Let's say I have a "friend" who...feels like she has made some progress. And then there are those days when she feels like she is starting from scratch.....starting over once again. On those days, she doesn't know where it comes from but there is something that hints...."you are not good enough, no matter what, even when you try really, really hard."

"You will never be as thin as you were 18 months ago. You will never look good again....you have made so many mistakes." Her heart breaks....again. 

She falls and fumbles on her own. She doesn't need any help there. The mistake department has her name written all of over it. How will she ever overcome that? Can she ever get past her past? The discounting words are always there....ready to fill in her silent places. They fall forward into her heart to stamp out the promises that live there. They mound on top of the deeply rooted wounds. 

Confession: that "friend" is yours truly and I don't like writing these things to you. And if I had a friend that was saying these things to me, I would not stand for it. I would have to say good bye to those toxic words that stab and destruct, I would say so long. 

So why do I allow it? My own whispers hurt. There's a part of me that feels like I have caused it or deserve it. God still has some work to do yet. Sometimes my feelings cause my emotions to self-destruct. When I get introspective I tend to be a bit harsh towards myself. I forget to forgive me. I forget grace.

Grace is easier to give to others than it is to give to yourself.
When I meet with God, He shows me His truth of who I am in His grace.

On days like this, I have to take a dose of God's replacement therapy that I have learned in Psalm 139.  As I absorb His truth, I have to decide that I am worthy.  The Master Designer has made me worthy.  And His worthiness is the only thing that can capture these harmful thought patterns.  When I feel like there is no way out, I have to fall forward into his truth and grace and replace good thoughts for the unkind thoughts.  

Romans 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you may will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, perfect and pleasing will.

I have to take an active role in dismissing the habits that have gotten me here. It's about letting go to God's healing to bring me out of the pit of negative talk that traps me in my dark corners. It's about seeing His grace work in my emotional scars to reveal a becoming beauty. It's about seeing me as He sees me, with great worth. It's about receiving His unmerited grace as He intended. It's about His heart meeting my troubled grounds to reach rest.

Oh how He loves. 

I will never measure His worth, I will never be good enough. 

This is about what Jesus did. 

"You are a loved, chosen, cherished daughter of the King. Let me help you."

Only God's grace can change the habitual hurtful thought patterns and replace it with His grace and worth. Only grace can embrace us with grace. Only grace can calm with truth and love. Only grace can reach, still and silence the roar. Only grace can bring me back to worth and healing. Only grace. Such grace brings a balm for all the sore places and centers me on communion with the Master. At His feet I am gracefully transformed.

Only Grace tells us the truth about who we are.

Isn't time for grace? Listen...do you hear it too?