Tag Archive for 'courage'

Living in a Dream…

I think I’ll probably feel this way each Monday of December: Worn out, but inspired; Exhausted, but excited; Too busy, but not wanting the days to just go by without really experiencing them - kind of like walking around in a sleepy dream…

I have very vivid dreams - I always have. I often have to fight against my day being determined by what I dream at night. Sometimes they prepare me for things - Sometimes they give me another opportunity to work out my feelings. A few months ago, Byron carried a little lamb onto the platform to illustrate how one job of a pastor/shepherd is to protect the “sheep” - this came from a dream/nightmare that I had just days before that message. I woke up (crying) and said, “You have to carry a lamb…a real lamb. You have to!”

On the days after a particularly vivid dream, I feel all day like I’m walking around still in it…like you feel right after watching a very moving movie - like it’s hard to shake it and concentrate on “real life”. That’s also how a lot of Mondays feel - after C3. Somethings coming…something bigger than we are - you can feel it in the air.

Recently, I dreamed I was driving through the mountains on a very curvy mountain road - the kind where you get to the top of the hill and for a moment you feel like you’re falling off the end of the earth. It’s a strange feeling - like riding a roller coaster. I liked this dream because I was going to see the ocean (I love the ocean!), and the ride there was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time - that’s how I feel most of these Mondays.

This “ride” is often both thrilling and terrifying - and many times I’ve felt like I’m falling off the end of the earth…but we are headed to a place where the view will be worth the journey. We’re headed to an ocean of beauty and change - a sea of opportunity and hope.

We’re going there together at C3, and when we begin to see the horizon, it will take our breath away...

Dreams are wonderful and a little scary when you see them unfold in reality - but how often do you get to really live a dream?

For now, I’m just trying to remind myself to pay attention to these days, remember what they feel like - even if they’re scary sometimes - because someday I’ll want to recall what these days were like…

Hold on. Remember. Don’t lose your courage. The horizon is coming into focus…maybe just around the next bend lies our destiny.

It’s going to be breathtakingly beautiful, and I don’t want to miss a thing…

Peace.

The Remains of the Day

Being back among the beautiful faces of C3 was…well, beautiful.

So many faces…new faces. So many stories. So much change has taken place in so many lives…in mine too.

This morning I was reminded of how much I am blessed - how others should be more of my focus - how God has blessed me to be a blessing. We say things like that a lot in church…but, this morning, it really sank in - how rich we are here in America.

Did you know that hunger could be eradicated in the world just by the amount of money Americans spend each year on ice cream! I guess, in my case, that would be better related to how much I spend on coffee…

It’s not just about not being selfish - but also about contentment. Am I content with what God has given me? Do I always have to have more? What about the millions of people who don’t have a fraction of what I discard as too worn or out of date.

At C3, we desire for God to change us…break us, if necessary - cause us to be aware of the needs around us. We desire to be a generous people who don’t just walk on by…

So, we’re changing, growing and asking God to use us to make a difference.

It was a powerful morning. I saw so many new faces - saw old friends who lift me up - was reminded that everyone has a story…there are so many needs - there is so much more to do. And so many more “miles to go before we sleep”.

I pray for strength - for courage. The better the Sunday, many times, the more difficult the Sunday afternoon or evening. The Enemy sends discouragements…

So, I pray for all that God provides for the journey. There’s strength enough for the “promises and miles”. There’s courage enough to face…whatever comes across my path. The struggle will lead me home…

Contentment, selflessness, strength, courage…faith - these are the things that I need more of - not more stuff.

A few months ago I posted some quotes that encouraged me. I reread them again tonight. I needed to remember…

“Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.”- Erich Fromm

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”- Saint Augustine

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” - Helen Keller

These are the things I need to remember. These are my goals. So, I fix my eyes once again, gather my courage, and thank God for the journey.

There’s so much more to fight for…and tomorrow is another day to witness that: Love Wins!

It does, you know.

Peace.

Stillness’ Whispers

Quiet day. Quiet mind. Quiet soul…

Quiet enough to embrace the gift that the quiet brings.

Quiet time.

Time to reflect. Time to dream. Time to listen. Time to breathe…

Time enough to remember and to know.

For in the stillness there’s time to gather up my courage…

for the times that make the quiet seem like a distant memory.

The stillness whispers to my soul, “Remember these times. Remember and be strong.”

These quiet times are like breath for more breathless days…

a breath that will lift me on wings of eagles -

to the place where my weariness is left behind.

So, in the quiet I will listen to the whispers…

I will listen, and I will breathe again. -A. L. B.

Peace.

Stillness’ Whispers

Quiet day. Quiet mind. Quiet soul…

Quiet enough to embrace the gift that the quiet brings.

Quiet time.

Time to reflect. Time to dream. Time to listen. Time to breathe…

Time enough to remember and to know.

For in the stillness there’s time to gather up my courage…

for the times that make the quiet seem like a distant memory.

The stillness whispers to my soul, “Remember these times. Remember and be strong.”

These quiet times are like breath for more breathless days…

a breath that will lift me on wings of eagles -

to the place where my weariness is left behind.

So, in the quiet I will listen to the whispers…

I will listen, and I will breathe again. -A. L. B.

Peace.