Entries from January 1, 2013 - January 31, 2013

Thursday
Jan312013

Wake Up and Dream

The Biblical character Joseph had dreams of greatness.  His brothers, envious of him and his potential, threw him into a pit in an effort to kill him, thus killing his dreams.  Joseph managed to survive and his story has an amazing ending, because his dreams not only survived, they came to pass!

While it is not likely that anyone will throw you into a pit, the violation against you may be worse.  ‘They’ may have convinced you to throw your own dreams into a pit – to totally discard them.

‘They’ are what I call “dream destroyers.”  ‘They’ can be authority figures in your life who impose their expectations and judgments upon you. ‘They’ can be friends who press you with their opinions and unsolicited comments.  ‘They’ can be the voices of your inner-self, that echo doubt, fears, self-criticism, reminding you of past failures and encouraging you to remain with the comforts of the known.

If your dreams are in the pit, you must recover them now; because to recover your dreams is to recover meaning in your life.  Turn a deaf ear to the dream destroyers.  It is time to bring your dreams into the realm of reality.

Wednesday
Jan162013

I'm Tired!

We are inclined to recognize the value of work; usually because we experience its tangible rewards – like a paycheck at the end of the week.  However, all too often, we don’t know the value of rest, because its reward is subtle and not always so tangible.

Of all that Jesus taught his disciples, His lesson on rest is seldom reiterated.  He imparted this lesson, after his disciples had been working so hard that they didn’t even take the time to eat.  You’ve been there, huh? 

Even though what they were doing was, simply put, supernatural – creating awe and wonder, Jesus brought them back to earth by telling them to take a break and get away.  Actually what He said was “Come apart.”  And that’s exactly what you need to always make time to do, “Come apart” before you come apart.  (Mark 6:30-32)

The Bible says they took a little cruise to a private resort.  Jesus taught these ambitious, hard workers the value of rest.  Actually, it was a lesson He learned from His Father.  You have heard of the Sabbath, haven’t you.

Don’t feel guilty when you slow down to rest.  Rest is not just a good idea.  Rest is a God-idea.