If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that I love vision boards! They are, I believe, an integral component to us realizing our dreams and goals AND accomplishing them. Imagine for a moment, that I were setting out to take a road trip. For many of you, that's not difficult to imagine. I LOVE road trips! Okay, so I get in my van, gas tank is full, and I head out of the neighborhood. I then leave town, and eventually, I'm on the interstate, and I'm going. Do you see any issues with this? Let's see if we can find some...
First, while I have a full gas tank now, I can only go as far as that tank will take me, right? I mean, I didn't say I brought so much money for gas, so it's safe to say, I don't have anything more than the gas already in there. How far will that take me? From Colorado, probably to Goodland, Kansas; Chadron, Nebraska; Casper, Wyoming; or Trinidad, Colorado. Suppose I set out for California or even Kentucky. Will what I have now get me there? Of course not. We must plan for the trip, right? Think of the bridesmaids who were waiting for the groom to come and had their lamps full. They were ready and had enough for the "trip" as it were (Matthew 25:1-10, NLT). We must bring enough for the wait or the trip or we might miss it!
Next, though I do have a cell phone, I don't have a map on this fictitious trip. And worse than that, I don't actually have a clear idea of where I am going in the first place. Proverbs 3, 14, and 23 and Psalms tell us that we need to follow the path of the Lord:
Finally, no one knows my plans--not even ME! I cannot realistically jump into my van and drive away taking whatever may come. No, that would be irresponsible. And God doesn't want us to do that either. He wants to be the one to tell us where we are going, how we will be going, and most importantly, WHEN we will be going. This is why our vision boards are so very important to our lives.
We must have a clear vision for what we are doing or we are really of little use to our local ministry or ourselves. How can we lead if we don't have direction?
Keep your eye on the prize that God gave you the vision for! You will accomplish it! How do I know? Because He said that everything we put our hands to would prosper!!
Have a blessed week!
Lyn~
Running has not been my "thing." I would probably have a t-shirt that says, "I don't run and if you see me running, you should probably run, too, because something is probably chasing me!" But as I was studying my Bible school book, "The Challenge," I realized something that will probably shock those who know me. I...AM a runner!
I'll explain that in a minute, but first, I want to talk about the different kinds of runners.
First, there are the traditional runners. They are the ones who wake up in the morning and go for a morning run and come home from work and run again. I am not that kind of runner!
Next, there are those who run from situations, issues, problems, and trouble. They get so overwhelmed by all of it, that the only solution is to run and leave the problem behind. The trouble with this kind of runner is that the thing they are running from usually follows. This runner runs to excuses, but is never at fault. I am not that kind of a runner (though I used to be).
Then, there is the person who runs toward danger only to help someone in need, like police and firefighters. They constantly think of the well-being of others ahead of themselves even to the point of putting themselves in danger if it means saving someone else. I like to think I am that kind of runner, but I've never been in a dangerous situation to know for sure. For now, I am not that kind of runner.
At this point, you are probably thinking, "What kind of runner is she talking about if she isn't any of the ones she's mentioned so far?!" Well, there is one more I'd like to talk about. I am a vision runner! I am the kind of runner who gets a vision and runs toward it! I am running toward all that the Lord has shown me to do with a zeal! I see what He has planned for me, and I want it! I want it ALL! The trouble for me comes when I see all the things and want them all--right now!
Everything He has planned for me and for you isn't necessarily going to come to fruition immediately, though, and certainly not necessarily at the same time. I often get so excited about the prospect of all I have vision for that my wild horses run, well, WILD! And the only way to deal with that is to rein them in...through prayer. When we get a vision for something, we have to be sure we are seeking the Lord in it all first! Then, and this is a tough pill to swallow, we have to be okay with Him leading us away from one of those things--for NOW! He doesn't give us a vision for something and then take it away. Remember, He is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that he should change his mind (Numbers 23:19). If He gave you a dream or vision, you can be sure He has a purpose for that! Our job is to be patient and do what He has shown us to do in due season.
What kind of runner are you? Are you running from problems or running toward the vision God has given you? Keep the vision in front of you, seek the Lord, and you'll find out in what direction you're running!
Have a great week!
Lyn~
This week, I stepped outside of my comfort zones for so many things! I invited several folks to hear about a coaching opportunity, I asked for things knowing the answer might be NO, and I was creative in another way besides writing! But it certainly wasn't easy by any means. But I did each of those things! Some instantly and without any hesitation, but one I actually did a bit scared.
My confession today is that I obeyed what the Lord told me to do, what He gave me a vision for. It wasn't exactly what I saw, but it's going to be amazing! You see, aside from my writing, I don't really consider myself to be all that creative. But several months ago, when our church decided on a Vacation Bible School curriculum, I got a vision for a great accent and background for the set: a giant barrel wave complete with surfboard! What I got was a somewhat smaller wave with a boogie board. But you know what? That's okay! I obeyed what I believed the Lord told me to do, and that is what matters. He wants our instant obedience, even if we do it scared. Because He wants us to trust Him and the plans He has for our lives!
Here's a rough idea of what I'm working on. I'll post a finished photo on the Facebook page!
This weekend, I want you to survey what the Lord has asked of you, how you responded, and if you obeyed instantly.
By the way, that thing I asked for ended in a YES!
Have a blessed weekend Super Moms!!
Lyn~
I have never been a runner. My best friend and I joke that I don't run and if you see me running, you should run, too, because something is probably chasing me! But all joking aside, I started thinking about how in the past, when circumstances were closing in on me, I began to run. I ran from the situation, ran from the responsibilities, and worse...I ran from God. But that is the opposite of what He wants us to do. Let's look at David, when he was just a boy...
Let me paint the picture of David and Goliath for you. See, no one would face Goliath. He was huge and even mighty men in Saul's armies were afraid to take him on. But David had faith in the Lord. Here's what David did when Goliath finally agreed to fight him. Goliath wasn't sure David was serious, at first, because he was just a boy. But then David did something none of the other men had done!
When was the last time you ran TOWARD your situations and circumstances? I can't say when that was for me. But I pray that I would face challenges and trials just as David did, by running toward them with faith that the Lord would fight my battles for me!
Have a blessed week!
Lyn~
For far too long, I convinced myself that I wasn't worthy. Of course none of us is worthy of the price Jesus paid on our behalf for our sins, but I want to talk about being worthy of His blessings and favor. Have you ever seen someone suddenly come into a sum of money and think, "I wish that could happen for me." And in the back of your mind, you have a conversation that includes recounting all your past failures, sins, and disappointments, so you begin to think that those things can't happen because of your past? I've definitely been there, thought that!
But here's the amazing thing. Jesus not only paid for our sins, He gifted us the ability to walk in favor and His blessings throughout our lives! We hardly ever think about that, do we? It's usually a pray for favor and a prayer for blessings that we seek, not fully realizing that we have the Blessing of the Lord and the Favor of the Lord right here, right now!
Deuteronomy 33:23 tells us long before Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law that:
We have the favor AND the blessing of the Lord already! Isn't that wonderful?! So, when that parking place close to the door of the grocery store opens up or we're granted something that seems impossible, take note! That is the blessing and favor of the Lord operating in your life!
Have a blessed week!
Lyn~
