MLK, Jr - Dreaming the Dream

Do you ever dream about things you want to do? Many great things accomplished in life have started with only a dream. It’s a good thing to analyze our dreams to see if they are within the will of God. If they aren’t, don’t waste your time dreaming about them. The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will so don't let your dreams get you off-center.

So, how do we find the center of God’s will? Years ago there was a story told about the ship channels in Italy. It was dangerous for ships to travel the long channels inland from the sea since there was little room on either side for navigation and they were at risk of running aground. Therefore, a system was designed using three lights to guide the ships inland.

As a ship entered the channel, three lights could be seen. The goal of the ship captain was to line up all three lights until only one large light could be seen. Then and only then would the ship travel safely through the channel and not run aground. If at any time the captain saw two or three lights, he had to quickly make adjustments until all three lights were lined up again into one large light. The system never failed and the three lights that became one light guided many ships inland to safety.

In Bob Mumford’s book, Take Another Look at Guidance, he tells about the three lights that will guide us safely into the center of God’s will. The first light is The Word of God. The second light is the Holy Spirit. And the third is our circumstances. Unless all three lights line up, we should stop and consider if we are on course and in God’s will. Very often we allow our circumstances to dictate the direction that our life should take. In reality, our circumstances are the lesser of the three lights. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit giving us God’s peace are the most important. When all three are in line, we can be sure God is guiding us safely.

Are all three lights in your life lining up into one large light? Do your dreams take God’s Word and the Holy Spirit into account? It’s never too late to make adjustments. Let the peace of God rule your hearts in Christ Jesus... Colossians 3:15-17

Pulling the Wrong Latch

Did you ever do something stupid, and then acted as if nothing had happened? I remember a story that the illustrious Erma Bombeck told about her husband. It seems that he rented a car while in Pittsburgh and accidently pulled the “open hood” latch rather than the “brake release”. Instead of getting out of the car, closing the hood and driving off, he got out of the car and spent five minutes under the hood adjusting wires that didn’t need adjusting - just so he could save-face.

I thought of the many times that I’ve done dumb things just to save-face. God never minces words. We call it saving-face, but He simply calls it PRIDE. We’ve all got it, but God hates it. He tells us in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting or what he has or does (the pride of life) – comes not from the Father, but from the world.”

Could it be that our willingness to let go of our pride and admit that we’re wrong could even lead to our healing? In James 5:16 it says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

I want to be powerful and effective, don’t you? Let’s remember this the next time that we pull the wrong latch.

Rescued Miners

Who has not been glued to the TV set over the last few days as the 33 Chilean Miners were hauled to the surface one by one? We have been astounded that these men could be held captive underground since August 5th, yet emerge alive and well. Many of the freed miners are sharing their spiritual experiences. God was doing a mighty work while they were entombed over 2,000 feet underground, in the depths of the San Jose mine.

As the last miner emerged, church bells were ringing and car horns were honking as people throughout Chile celebrated the rescue. Everywhere, people were weeping and laughing because the miners were set free. There was reason to celebrate; they were given up for dead, yet they’re alive!

In John 3:3 &16 Jesus says, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born-again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

We’re all sinners and like the trapped miners we need to be set free. It took a ton of people and equipment to free the miners, but it only takes Jesus Christ to set us free from our sins. The payment for unrepentant sin is eternity in hell – but Jesus paid a ransom that we may be set free from sin and the punishment of hell. He died on the cross over 2,000 years ago to pay for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the world. Anyone who believes in Jesus in their heart, will not perish, but have eternal life.

What is your part? Accept Jesus Christ’s payment for your sins, turn away from your lifestyle of sin, and ask Him to come live in you and guide you. Then the angels in heaven will be praising God and shouting Hallelujah! You, who were once dead in your sins, is now alive – you’ve been set free!

What if...?

Have you ever played the game “What if…?” You know, you think of something good that happened in your life or the life of others. Then you think of a slight change of circumstances that would have altered the outcome of the situation entirely. The scenarios are endless. An example would be taking a different route to work one day and later discovering there was a fatal accident that you avoided. What if…?

I love the fact that God is in control and not me. Proverbs 3:4-6 LB says “If you want favor with both God and man and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

When I’m wondering “What if…?” It makes me see the wonderful hand of God in everything I do. His way is perfect and He directs my path. I can’t depend on myself because I make too many mistakes, but I put my life in His hands and it’s amazing the way He leads me.

What are some of your “What ifs…?” Leave me a comment; I’d love to hear from you!

Choose Wisdom, Part 4

Do you have trouble forgiving others for wrong things they’ve done to you? Or perhaps you have trouble forgiving those who have hurt or offended, not you personally, but someone you love. Refusing to forgive causes broken relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, sons and daughters, friends and extended family members. The list goes on and on.

Unforgiveness causes all sorts of health problems, such as stomach ulcers, and brings you into Satan’s bondage. The person you’re not forgiving may not be affected by your unforgiveness – it’s you who is suffering. Let your pride go and forgive as God forgives you.

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

A wise woman readily forgives a wrong when it happens to her or to those she loves. She knows that God will take care of the matter if she gives it to Him. She follows Jesus’ example when He hung on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t realize what they’re doing.” Because of her forgiving spirit, she is loved by everyone.

A foolish woman is offended easily and holds grudges against those who hurt her. She is bitter and people avoid her. She gossips about those who have offended her and she lashes out in anger at the smallest thing. Pride is more important to her than anything else.

A Word to the Wise - Jesus commands us to forgive, but it’s easier said than done, isn’t it? If you have trouble forgiving, remember this: Forgiving is not saying that the wrong is okay - It’s realizing that you’ve made a lot of mistakes and you choose to forgive the person and let it go so that God can forgive you. Matthew 18:32-35

Choose Wisdom, Part 3

Faith is interesting. It’s not believing that God can, but knowing that He will. When we pray and ask God for something, we must add faith to our prayers and have an expectation that He will answer them.

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

A wise woman prays and expects God to answer. She looks and waits for His answer with excitement, but she’s not surprised because she was expecting it.

A foolish woman may pray, but she really doesn’t expect God to do what she asks. When the answer comes she wonders if it was just a coincidence.

A Word to the Wise - Allow God to answer your prayers not according to your will, but His will. His answers may be packaged differently than you would expect. Romans 8:28

Choose Wisdom, Part 2

Baby birds aren’t very quiet about it when they’re hungry. In baby bird talk, they squeal and holler until their parents feed them. While they’re still young, the parents begin teaching them where to hunt for their food and how to feed themselves. If the baby birds don’t learn this, they will starve.

Like baby birds, we must learn to feed ourselves spiritually from God’s Word and not expect others to do it for us. We are each responsible under God for our life and how we care for ourselves spiritually.

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

As wise women, we must feed ourselves from God’s Word, and not expect others to do it for us. We must spend time in the Bible regularly, thinking and meditating on it. Our wisdom will be increased as we fill our hearts and minds with spiritual food. If we eat regularly from His Word, our wisdom will increase and we will be able to rightly judge situations that present themselves daily in our lives. Only by taking in spiritual food can we grow spiritually.

A foolish woman neglects the reading of God’s Word. She searches her own mind for the answers to life’s problems. She doesn’t know the Word of God and she thinks she doesn’t have time to read and learn from it. She justifies her busy schedule as the reason she can’t make time for learning spiritual things. A foolish woman lacks discretion because she pours into her heart and mind the things of the world. What pours forth from her lacks wisdom.

A Word to the Wise – Take a moment and open God’s Word to 1 John, chapter 1. Spend 5 minutes reading, and then ask God to help you read 5 minutes more tomorrow, and the next day and the next day, etc. Just 5 minutes reading God’s Word every day will change your life forever!