Whew!!!

The holidays are now in full swing, and with them bring lots of emotions and introspection. What’s this season really all about? What’s really important in my life? What do I really value? Am I on track to seeing my dreams come true?

Because we all have dreams, big and small. Some of them seem so close, we can almost reach out and touch them. Others seems so far out of reach, we wonder if they will ever actually happen (like I talked about with my experience in last week’s post).

I want to encourage you today that God hears your prayers! Just because you may not see the answer yet, please don’t assume that your prayers are not being answered.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Psalm 138 :2b-3 (NLT)

Wow! As soon as we pray, God answers us! Yet oftentimes we look around and assume God hasn’t answered our prayers because there is no apparent change. But I promise you, God is working on your behalf in ways you cannot see, opening doors for you, preparing opportunities for you, moving key people into position, and preparing your own heart for what He has planned.

Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:7-8 (NLT)

Let these Scriptures encourage you today! God will work out His plans for our lives as we continue to trust and move forward. And He loves to blow us away with His goodness!

Much love,
Lisa

Dreams Come True

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.  Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)

A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Whether we realize it or not, all of us have dreams that have been fulfilled, desires that have come true. In small and big ways, God has been faithful to us.

Maybe you dreamed of having a close friend one day, and now you do. Or you dreamed of traveling someplace special, and you were able to go. Maybe your dream was going to college, and now you’re living that dream, slammed with exams and papers, reminding yourself that you asked for this! : )

If you’re going through a tough time, it may be hard to recognize things that have gone right for you, ways God has taken care of you. But if you really think about it, even in the midst of genuine pain, you can find things for which to be thankful. Do you live in a free country? Someone else right now is praying for that dream! Can you see this post written on the screen? Someone somewhere would give anything for the gift of sight. Did you eat today? Not everyone is so fortunate.

So my question is: When God answers a desire of your heart (big or small), are you letting it be a tree of life to you? Because many times we don’t. We’re quick to switch our focus back on what hasn’t happened yet, allowing our hearts to become sick because another hope still feels deferred.

Thanksgiving is coming this Thursday. Take a moment before then and write down every dream you have seen fulfilled, every desire you can think of that God has met. Again, jot down as many things as possible—major and minor. And let it each one be a tree of life for you, reminding you of His goodness and faithfulness, giving you a shaded place to rest from the heat of current problems.

Gratitude is powerful! It can usher in peace and contentment for today, plus confidence that your Heavenly Father will also take care of tomorrow. In fact, He already is, right now, regardless of what things look like or how you may feel! He loves you so very much. I pray that this Thanksgiving, you know it more than ever.

I’m praying for you this week!

Much love,

Lisa

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Soar Now

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Two summers ago, my family and I vacationed with friends on a beautiful lake in Michigan. The big news on the lake? Parent eagles had built a nest for their two eaglets in one of the shoreline trees. The question in everyone’s mind: would the eagle family stay once the babies had grown? Was there really enough food on the lake to feed four adult eagles? Probably not.

All week I watched the parent eagles soar through the air (very cool to see, by the way!). When I got home, I realized something. Even though the parents were probably only at that lake for a season, while their babies grew, they still soared, being who they were created to be. Their waiting period was still a time to soar.

Then I thought about us. Sometimes we have a great dream ahead of us, but we’re waiting for the right timing, for God’s timing. We sometimes think, “I’ll really soar when I’m in that season of my life!” But I want to encourage you to soar now!

Are you hoping to go to college someday? Is that your dream? Well, soar now while you’re still in high school! God has great adventures for you now, not just later. Go on a mission trip and see just how much the world needs you! Or just as importantly, scan the halls at school. The girls you see truly need you. They need Christ in you!

Is your dream to get married one day? Great! But soar now while you’re single. There are some great experiences you could be having now—touching people in your community, traveling the globe with the Gospel, following whatever call God has on your life. What’s your God-passion? Ask God to show you how to put it to His use. There’s nothing more fulfilling than doing what you know God made you to do.  Soaring now will not keep you from soaring later!

Really, it’s the waiting on God every day (spending time with Him, learning to trust Him, listening to what He’s saying to us in the Bible) that strengthens & inspires us to soar throughout our entire lives, in some way, in every season. God has so much more for us than we realize. Open up your heart to what that means for you today.

Much love,

Lisa

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Even the Details

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

God makes big dreams happen! Do you have big God-dreams for your life?

Let me encourage you with something: while you’re believing your Heavenly Father for big dreams, let Him be with you in the little things, too. Simply give Him EVERYTHING! Whether you’re dealing with something big or small, talk to the Lord about it.

Why? Well, first of all, it’s an exciting adventure! It’s pretty amazing to develop a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, to learn to talk about everything with Him, even things that may not seem that important. Did you know that as God directs our steps, He delights in every detail of our lives? (Psalm 37:23) Wow!

Plus there’s nothing like shoving worry aside and handing our cares over to the only One who can see what is happening in the big picture, who truly knows what is in the best interest of us and others, who can also protect us and take care of us in over-the-top ways. It’s a great adventure to seek Him in His Word and in prayer and find out what He is speaking day by day. Because YOU are a special part of His master plan in both this world and throughout eternity. Remember the verse above? He has plans for you!

The bonus? When we give Him absolutely everything and see His faithfulness with even little things, it builds our faith in Him, our trust in Him, strengthening us to believe for future dreams, bigger things, even harder things. We gain confidence that if God cares about taking care of us in the little, He’ll definitely take care of us in what’s even more important! We’re continually reminded that we are His, and that as He gives us big dreams, He’ll be the One to make them happen as we listen and obey.

Doesn’t that take the pressure off? So give the Lord your big dreams, little desires, and any concerns you have this week. Spend time with Him, hearing what He says through His word and in prayer. Then watch Him blow you away with His goodness in the days, months, and years to come. He really is that good!

Have a great weekend!

Much love,

Lisa

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