Making a list, checking it twice…..
Ok, I get that this song is in reference to Santa, but I was just asking what the Lord what he wanted me to write on today and those are the lyrics I heard.
I am not going to write about being on the naughty or nice list…although I am a very good girl. Today, I feel led to write about our wish list.
Do you have a wish list?
Mine was not a family of Christmas wish list makers. I am an only child and my mom never needed a list to know what I wanted. She was a professional gift giver – especially to her one and only daughter. So, I’ve always found it odd when people make lists of what they want and give it to others. Que the personal epiphany! Maybe this is why the Lord wants me to write on this today! (Welcome to my external processing! This is really happening as I write this!)
I’ve had a problem over the years asking the Lord for what I want. A few years ago the Lord called me to dream again. You see, I had lived my dream – dream job, marriage, house, etc. I had it all and then it sort of turned. There was another side of it all and it didn’t turn out to be what I thought. So I gave the reigns over to the Lord, thanked him for fulfilling what I thought were my dreams, and surrendered my life and dreams to him. I said,
“You dream for me now, Lord. Whatever you have for me, wherever you want me. You have full permission to do anything with me and my life.”
And thus began a few years of surprise after surprise:
- Getting my Masters of Divinity in Seminary
- Meeting and marrying my husband Kris (in 10 weeks!)
- Becoming a mother to 3 daughters
- Moving to another city
- Becoming a pastor
I could have never dreamed these things! They were so far off my radar that it literally took the hand of God. So, as I settled into these new roles, I began to hear the Lord say,
“It’s your turn to dream.”
BUT HOW, LORD?! My new life was so far beyond what I expected I didn’t even know where to start.
The Lord is so patient with us. In a kind and gentle way he encouraged me to just start with something.
“State your dreams.”
So one night, I thought real hard, closed my eyes and squeezed out, “Lord, I want to go on a missions trip with my husband.” I felt like I had just dropped a bomb and waited for the fallout.
THE NEXT DAY….isn’t God crazy like that…..THE NEXT DAY WE GOT A CALL! Not only were we invited to go to Mexico with a group, it was all expenses paid, AND (here’s the kicker) the guy had thought of inviting us the night before AT THE SAME TIME I WAS PRAYING! Glory!
I think the Lord gets such a kick out of doing this to us. That began a series of me stating a dream, and in an instant, him making it happen. I was shocked! He kept saying,
“Dream bigger, Season!”
But it was hard! I felt like I couldn’t dream too big. I had lived a great life. I had gotten all the things I thought I wanted….was there room for more?!
I was under the false impression that we can only experience so much goodness until we meet some kind of Christian quota and we can’t have any more or it would be bad.
WRONG!
The Lord has taught me that it’s his joy and delight to give good gifts to his children when we connect to him and are in line with his heart. It’s the same with our own kids. When they earn our trust with what we give them, they can have more.
I have come into a season where the big dreams I have stated to the Lord are really coming true. It’s taken a lot of trust, patience, prayer and deep connection with Him, but it’s all real and it’s all happening on His time. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
As I write this, friends, it’s for two reasons.
First, I want you to hear what the Lord is saying. It’s time to dream. And for some of you, it’s time to dream again. He wants you to know that he cares so much about your old, dusty dreams. He loves to make them a reality! All it takes is a turning to him! That’s the thing. In all this that I’ve gone through, he’s asked me to rely totally on him and not try to make my dreams happen on my own. That’s been so hard!! When I asked what I needed to do for these things to become a reality he simply said,
“Look at me.”
He wants you to lean in. Cuddle deep into the arms of the Father and rest. Tell your daddy in heaven your heart’s desires and watch what happens.
The other reason I am sharing this with you is for my own development. I hear the Lord saying, again,
“You’re not done, Season. Dream bigger.”
Dream with me friend,
Joyfully,
Season
Joy Bringer’s Advent
I totally needed this. I look forward to these posts. This posts on dreams has hit me and inspired me. Thank you for sharing all that He puts on your heart to share!