God's Gotcha!

As I was reading scriptures, I came across a passage that brought tears to my eyes that strolled down my cheek.It read "I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth.  Even when you are old, I will be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.  I made you and I will take care of you, says the Lord."Isaiah 46:3-4
When I began reading the passage I was transported to my childish days. I remember things I did that were not nice and choices that were down right wrong, but God carried me through them. He was with me even if I did not acknowledge Him. I know Jesus is with me now, I see the evidence in my work and personal life. The scriptures says He will be with me even when my hair turns gray.  In that split moment, I thought about my friends that have silver / white hair and are widowed, He is with them too. He will be with me even when my spouse is no longer with me or I with him. The last line is that he will never change. He won't get old, gray hair, feeble limbs or joints, no He will always be strong for us and be there for us.

This past week, I've been keeping certain ladies on my prayer list or thought about them daily. I've considered their walk with God or away from God during this week. When everyone is talking about love in the air and what they are going to be doing with their significant other, it can hurt because their other is gone. I've seen some ladies that are doing their best to stay busy and keep their heads up, eager to get the day / week over with. My heart cried for them, but then rejoiced. I rejoiced because just as the scripture read, their true spouse is with them always. The lover of their soul is always carrying them, walking with them, and providing for them. This is more encouraging to me than anything my significant other could do for me. 
Love is an action and we can chose what we do with all the love we have in our hearts.  We can share it with someone else that is walking this earth alone or we can isolate ourselves and allow the love light to go out.
I encourage you to share the love you have with someone else.
One of my dear friends, Alesia, gives her love away to a young child in Uganda. Alesia is filled with joy and excitement when she talks about all the goodies she has collected to send over to her new friend. That is love. Alesia doesn't have her husband with her anymore, but that does not stop her from expressing her love to others. 
I hope you will take the characteristic of Christ and love on someone this week with a kind word, a letter of encouragement (thank you Sharon!), or a cup of coffee with conversation.  Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart and receive a blessing in return.

~Be encouraged and know you are LOVED!

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.
                                                                                      Isaiah 44:2

"I intend to"

Have you had days you said you would do something but didn't? How about a life time of intend to's? What keeps you from moving forward? Is is fear of success? Is it mindless wondering how you are going to accomplish the task? 
Bruce Wilkinson was one of our great inspirational speakers who had a segment called "The Dream Giver."   He said "everyone has a dream." When I first heard him speak it was on a cd that my mentor gave me. I thought to myself "I don't have a dream and I can't remember what my dream is."
It took me at least 6 months to find out what my dream was. When I opened my mind to the impossible it was like the whole world exploded.  I went online to look at photos of landscapings, countries over seas, houses, and boats too.  I was amazed at the world I could live in.
I then had to face all of my "good intentions." My good intentions did not get me any further than the words coming out of my mouth. I had to take some time and really ask myself what is keeping me from my dreams. You know what my answer was and still sometimes is?  Me.
I cannot get myself out of the way. I talk myself out of it by saying it's not for me but someone else. I can't because of financial status or upcoming events.
Yet, when I want something else, like a lunch or dinner date; I'll make time. If I want to take a bath, I'm going to make sure my schedule is free and clear.
So why not work on my dreams? Where do our dreams come from anyways?
Going back to Bruce Wilkinson, he told me that God gives everyone a dream, something they were made for. Sometimes we know what the dream is and sabotage ourselves. Other times, we have to explore ourselves to find  that dream.  The dream giver gives us a dream from our heart. When it comes to pass, it will be wonderful and probably better than we ever expected it to be.
I believe the one thing that truly keeps us away from filling our expectations is feeling we are unworthy to dream.
I have to tell you "knock that thought off your shoulder and away from your ear!"
God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. Hellllooo! God doesn't create junk and He doesn't give you junk to meditate on.
You are not bigger than your dream is but God is bigger than you and your dream. Step into the fullness of God and believe His word to be true.
Think about it....
Mandisa was on American Idol and was told she didn't look the part. Now she is one of the top recording artist in Christian Music. She listened to the Lord.
Whitney Houston is dead because she listened to the whispers in her ear that said she needed a drug instead of Jesus.
Can you see the similarities?  Mandisa is following the Lord even with her weight loss and Whitney Houston listened to the Devil and ended up dying at a young age of 48. Both of these ladies had a dream and both of them pursued and is pursuing  all that God has for them.
What are you dreaming about?  Are you pursuing them or do you just have good intentions?

I am about to do something about my "good intentions." I hope that if you have a dream or are finding your dream that you will pursue it to the end.

~ Go for it, what are you waiting for?




Bruce Wilkinson "The Dream Giver"