IMD - "In My Dreams"

I was standing in line at a Christian bookstore in Georgia, waiting to get a signed book from an author for a friend in Florida (story for another day). While waiting, I was chatting with the person in front of me in the line.  She was telling me about how her sister is an author and has a new book out.  I told her I was new to blogging and told her about WIPs (Works In Progress) and UFOs (Unfinished Objects). We both talked about writing a book, ourselves, "someday." She laughed when thinking about writing her book and said, "Yeah, right.  IMD - In My Dreams!"  I laughed, too, but then realized how many of us have ideas and dreams that sit on the shelf because we never really think we'll have the chance to do it, be it, have it. I asked her if I could use her IMD idea for my blog and she said, "Sure!" So here goes...

What dream do you have in your heart of hearts?  Do you have a dream to travel, to write a book, to learn photography, to learn to paint, to learn to play the piano?  Or is your dream more about living someplace that you've dreamed about or having a place of your own to decorate?  Dreams are usually about something or someday, they don't exist in our lives YET.  Just because your dream hasn't happened and you can't see how it can happen, doesn't mean that it won't happen.  Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

When God created each of us, he made us unique with our own set of ideas and talents. You are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-16) What if the seeds of our dreams were planted when we were created? What if they're just waiting for us to "water and harvest?" So how do we "water and harvest" our dreams?  We should be thinking and praying about our dreams and planning for the possibility. We should also look for opportunities to move in the direction of our dreams.  Sometimes, it is important just to take the first step.

For example, do you want to learn to play the piano? See if there is a place in your town that offers lessons.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  Many school districts offer programs after hours. There are also many training videos online that don't cost anything. If you don't have a piano, an inexpensive electronic keyboard will work to learn the basics. Check out pawn shops and thrift stores.  Sometimes you can find instruments at greatly reduced prices.

Do you want to travel?  You could start with researching the area you would first like to visit.  Make a list of things you would like to do and see while there.  You could also contact different travel agencies to get an idea of cost so you could start saving money toward it.

Do you want to have a place of your own that you could decorate?  You could start a scrapbook with ideas from magazines and drawings of what you would like.  Maybe you could start by decorating a room where you are right now.  You could start with little touches here and there.

Whatever your dream is, you just need to start somewhere.  I saw a sign on a bulletin board at a college where I took a night class.  The sign said, "If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail." In other words, if you don't have a plan at all, how can you ever get to where you want to be? Don't let the "busyness" of life crowd out your dreams.  Maybe you only have 15 minutes to yourself at this stage in your life.  Start by actually taking those 15 minutes to focus on you and what you want.  Try to increase it, when you can.  You and your dreams are important.  Time will still pass whether we pursue our dreams or not so it is important to "seize the moment" and spend time on ourselves.

So let's look at our dreams.  Let's make a plan.  Let's see if we can "water" our dreams today so we can move toward the harvest of tomorrow.

Here's to my Georgia friend!  "IMD- In My Dreams?"  You bet!  I do have a dream!  Thank you for reminding me.  I may not get that book written anytime soon, but I will someday!

My Way or the "High-er Way"

I was talking with a friend last week about how sometimes we want to do things and live life our own way.  She mentioned that she used to be a "my way or the highway" type of person.  I have to admit, there have been times in my life that I've felt the same way. It's not necessarily that I wanted my way and "that's all there was to it," it was more of "this is how I want it to go, so do it my way, because my way is the right way for me."  You see, even though I knew that God had good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11), I have still followed my own paths and choices, at times.  (Yup... I'm still a WIP... Work in Progress).

The thing about God, even though He knows the good plans He has for me, He will let me choose my way even though His is the "High-er" way.  The choices I make, or plan to make, may look like they are the best thing for me at that moment.  The trouble with that, is that I can't always see the bigger picture.  Because God knows everything about me: past, present and future, He truly knows and has the best plans for me.  I may be going through a difficult situation in life, but He already has a plan to get me through it and has seen how it will help me in the future.  He, alone, knows the blessings He has in store for me.

There was a song in the early 70's that said, "I had a dream but it wasn't my dream anymore.  I thought it was good, but Jesus closed the door.  I said, "Lord, but this dream, it was good for me," He said, "Yes, it was good but not best for thee, why not trust me?"

I need to remember, His way is the "Higher" way. When faced with a choice in life, I need to take the time to seek Him, to seek the "Higher" way.

What about you?  Are you a "My Way or the Highway" type of person?  There is another way...why not take the the "Higher" way?  You never know, it just might be the best way for you, yet.

Foundation vs "Pound"-ation

How do you relate to others that may not feel, believe or think the same way as you do?  Do you build foundations or do you try to push your way of thinking or believing on them?

My pastor posted the following message from Andy Stanley: "Don't trade your ability to make a difference by insisting on making a point." We should ask ourselves if making our point is really more important than making a difference in someone else's life.

When we try to force our way or our opinion, right or wrong, on someone else, we are building a wall, not a foundation.  We're trying to "pound" our way of thinking into the situation.  Building walls separates us, but building foundations helps us in our relationships.

Life is all about relationships...with family, with friends, with co-workers and even with people we meet in the coffee shop, grocery store, etc.  We will not always agree with everyone, but we can find a way to get along.  Romans 12:18 tells us "if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

If we treat each other with love and kindness, we will build foundations in our relationships.  We should strive to treat others as we, ourselves, would like to be treated.  Isn't that the Golden Rule?  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Did you know the Golden Rule comes from the Bible in Luke 6:31?

The next time we're in a situation with someone who might not agree with us, let's try to take a moment and think about what is more important... our "right" to be "right"... or the relationship.

After all, as my grandmother used to say, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

Rearview Mirror

I live in a place where it gets very hot in the summer.  So hot that one time the glue that held my rearview mirror on melted and the mirror fell off!  Not while driving, thankfully! I had to get it fixed right away or I wouldn't be able to back up, change lanes, etc. while driving.  It wouldn't be very safe.  I needed to be able to see what was behind me.

I've come to realize that I've spent an awful lot of my life "looking in my rearview mirror" and I'm not talking about the one in my car.  I'm talking about the one for my memories.  Sometimes I've focused so much on what has happened in the past that I miss what is happening right now.  It's so easy to do.  If someone said something or did something to hurt me, it was hard to get it out of mind.  Even after forgiving them, I would find myself thinking about it again and again. Sometimes there would be a stressful time in my life and I would think about it so much that it kept me from seeing the possibility of good things in my future.

I finally came to the place, a few years ago, where I realized that I was spending way too much time looking back and not enough time looking at now or looking toward the future.  I saw that I was focusing on "where I'd been" instead of "where I could go."  That was a life-changing realization for me.  By changing my view, I could change my outlook.  I needed to remember that God has good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11).  If I'm always looking back, I'll never have hope for the future.

Sometimes, we need to say "good-bye" to things in our past that keep us from our future.  If we want to  move forward, we can't keep looking behind.  We would never be able to drive safely forward if we were only looking in our rearview mirrors, would we? It's ok to remember things from the past, it is part of our story, we just need to remember not to let it get in the way for our future.

I leave you with a song sung by Jo Dee Messina called, "Bye Bye."  The song talks about waiting too long on someone to make up their minds about a relationship and the person says "bye bye" and moves on.  I think you'll appreciate the rearview mirror reference.  When listening to the song, think about the things in your life you need to say "Bye Bye" to so you can move forward to the good things God has planned for you!

Light

Did you ever go into a room and flip a light switch and nothing happens? Or did the electricity go out and none of the lights work?  It can be an unsettling feeling to be completely in the dark. Your surroundings become unfamiliar in the dark. For some people, "dark" can be a scary place.  We all need light in our lives.  Whether it's to light a room, a yard, a business, or a road, it's really difficult to find our way in the dark.

Did you know that we are called to be "light?"  In Matthew 5:14-16 we are called the "light of the world." We are instructed not to "hide" the light but to let it shine so that others can see the goodness of God.  We are a lot like lighthouses. A lighthouse's main purpose is to shine brightly to help ships and boats see the safest path away from dangerous waters to a safe harbor. Without the light, the ships might crash onto the rocks. If we are "shining" the light of God's love to others, it will help them find the path through their "difficult waters."

It is hard to shine, though, if your light is dim.  Our lights can become dim for many reasons. Sometimes it's because we've been away from His light for too long. Remember, our light is a reflection of His love.  If we're too far from the light, we won't be able to shine very brightly.

Sometimes our light can become dim from the weariness of the hard things we've had to go through in our own lives.  Our light is covered by the clouds of life.  We need to have the clouds lifted and cleared away.  We may need to seek Him in the morning, at nighttime, and every time we need to feel the light of His love.

Just a word about what our "light" is not. We are not called to be a light to shine on others faults or point out what they are doing wrong.  No one wants to stay near that kind of a light. If you shine that kind of light, you may be causing someone to veer away towards dangerous waters.

We have been given an amazing gift...God's love, through His son. God sending His son, Jesus, to become one of us, was all about love.  Shine His love, be a lighthouse!

Salt

Did you ever eat something and it was too salty to eat?  What did you do with it? You probably threw it away, right?  I would, too!

Salt can be a good thing, though.  Just the right amount of salt can bring out the other flavors in the food and enhance it.  Too much salt, though, can ruin the food.  You have to use "fresh" salt, too.  Salt that's been sitting in a cabinet for too long doesn't have much flavor or the ability to flavor anything.

In Matthew 5:13, we are called "Salt." "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

It is the same way with our relationships with others.  Are we being "salt" and enhancing someone's life or are we being "salty?"  If we're being "salty," they may not want anything more to do with us, in effect, throwing the relationship away.  This holds true for many things.  Whether you are just trying to be a good friend, wife, husband, mother or father or trying to share your faith, a little "salt" goes a long way.

Don't forget to "check your salt."  Don't let it get old.  Do you need to spend some time in the Bible, some time with friends or just take some time for yourself? Take the time, make the time. We all need refreshing.  Unlike salt, we can be refreshed, and should do so on a regular basis.  It's hard to enhance someone else's life if we're feeling weary and "flavorless."

The thing about salt, if it's just the right amount, you won't know it's there. You'll only know the food tastes good. The next time we feel like we need to add more salt, let's pray first, and ask for guidance for just the right amount of seasoning.

Gives a whole new meaning to "please pass the salt," doesn't it?

Don't you wish there was a GPS for life?

Sometimes I really wish there was a GPS for life.  I mean, it would really be helpful if we could "plug in" where we'd like to go in life and we could choose which route we wanted to take.  We could choose from the fastest journey on the highways with the fewest detours, or the scenic route on the backroads. We could even enter the POI's (points of interest) along the way.  Just imagine, we could plan it all out, with just the right stops along the way, i.e., grow up in a completely happy childhood, marry Mr. or Mrs. Right, have perfect children, grow old together with never a worry or detour along the way.  Sounds good, right?

Unfortunately, or fortunately, life is not like that.  In fact, some of the plans we have for ourselves might not be the best thing for us.  If we had to be honest, I bet there are plenty of things we can think of that, even though we chose to go in a specific direction and made a specific choice, it didn't always turn out the way that we thought it would.  Sometimes we wish we could just start over.

Have you ever "plugged your route" into your GPS system and bypassed its recommended directions? Sometimes you get the "recalculating" message and sometimes you get the "make a legal U-turn at the next safe intersection" message.

What we really need is God's Positioning System (His GPS).

Wherever we are in our lives, God knows exactly where we are.  Since He created us, each, uniquely, He also knows the best direction for our lives.  He's already familiar with our POI's, detours and rest stops.  He will always let us plan our own route, but with God, the "recalculating" feature is always turned on.  He even allows "U-turns!" 

Are you headed in a direction in your life that you know is the wrong direction, but you don't know where to go? Or are you just living your life from one POI or rest stop along the way to another with no real destination in mind? Would you like help along the way in knowing which direction to take?  Plug into God's GPS.  He loves us and wants the best for us.  He gave His Son so that we could have the promise of everlasting life (John 3:16) and provided us with His GPS (the Bible). His word is a "light unto our path" (Psalm 119:105).  He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). If we commit our ways to Him, He will make our paths clearer (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

I know that I'm not always going to make the right choices, or go in the right direction.  I also know that there will be detours along the way and plenty of construction zones.  If I can just remember to stay "plugged in" to His GPS, I know I'll have help along the way.

Looking forward to my next POI!  Safe journeys, my friends!

DIY Projects

I know, I know.  You're thinking "another acronym." But DIY has been rolling around in my mind since I mentioned it in the last blog entry and it fits right in.  I mean, think about it.  DIY means Do it Yourself.  How many of us have had a DIY project? How many of those DIY's are now WIPs or, even, UFOs? (see, fits in, right?)  There are many home improvement stores that have grown in business due to DIY projects.  They will even help you get started and find everything you need to "do it yourself."  Sometimes, though, the project can get beyond where we can "do it ourselves."

I remember when my husband and I decided to add on a couple of rooms to our very small house.  We wanted to do most of the work "ourselves." Crazy, right? I won't tell you how many nails I hammered making the framework for the rooms, or the painting involved, but we did realize that we needed help with the things we weren't equipped for or had the knowledge to do.  For instance, you really need an electrician for the wiring and a plumber for the plumbing. We had to know when we no longer could "do it ourselves" and needed to ask for help. Was there anything to be ashamed of in asking for help?  Of course not. Common sense says that you don't want the house to catch on fire due to poor wiring or to flood, due to poor plumbing."

What about the DIYs in our own lives? I'm not talking about home improvement projects, I'm talking about "self-improvement" projects or "other-improvement" projects.  Do we know when the project has become too big for us to "do it ourselves?" Do we know when it's time to ask for help? Or do we feel ashamed to ask for help or even that we have to do it ourselves because there's no one else to ask? Or, worse, do we feel that no one could possibly help us with the project because it's "too messed up?"

Too often we treat ourselves as a DIY.  Sometimes we even treat our friends or family members as DIYs.  When we try to "do it ourselves"we can become weary, overwhelmed and, sometimes, feel helpless and hopeless.  We need to recognize when we need to ask for help.  If we're a stay at home mom and are overwhelmed, we might need to see if there are other stay at home moms who may be interested in forming a group where members of the group could help from time to time.  If we're working a full-time job and coming home working non-stop on home projects, then we might need to ask for help for some of those projects.  Sometimes our DIYs are more than we could possibly handle on our own. For instance, if we're struggling with emotional issues or addictions, we may need to seek professional assistance.

There is no shame in recognizing that our DIY project has gotten "too big for us." In fact, it takes a great deal of courage, sometimes, to admit that we need help.

If you have a DIY home project that you need help with, there are many home improvement stores or experts who will be happy to help!  If you have a personal DIY project that you need help with, please ask for help.

If you have become weary, or overwhelmed by your DIY project, please don't be afraid to ask for help. We also have One who is concerned about us.  In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  We have a God who is ready and waiting to help us!  In fact, he has the Owner's Manual.  He created each of us, uniquely, and knows every part of us.  Psalm 139:1-18 is a good example of this.  Call on the Lord, today, and ask him to help you with whatever your need is.

I'm really not sure why I needed to write about DIYs today.  It was just strong on my heart.  Maybe someone reading this needed to hear it.  If so, I encourage you to ask for whatever help you may need.
I have had to ask for help on more than one DIY project as I have a tendency to try to "do it all myself." I recently heard a song from a group called Sidewalk Prophets called "Help Me Find It." The song lyrics have been helpful to me when I'm not sure what to do next.  I've tried to link the YouTube version of it. Maybe it will be helpful to you.

Sometimes we need help with our DIY projects to turn them from UFOs to WIPs. Keep moving, keep seeking, keep trying.  Remember, it is a journey.  Stay tuned for another acronym... "GPS"

UFO's and WIPs

You already know what a WIP is...a Work In Progress. A UFO is very similar...an Unfinished Object.  I know you're probably thinking about a different type of UFO, but I'm referring to another "crafting term."  I've had many UFOs over the years. Projects that I started with a lot of excitement, anticipating the finished product, that somehow ended up on a shelf or in a closet.  I really meant to finish the project, but "life got busy" or other things seemed more important at the time or I lost interest along the way.  Sometimes I've picked up the UFO with renewed interest and actually finished it.  More often than not, however, the UFO remains exactly that....unfinished.

The difference between a WIP and a UFO, basically, is action or movement.  Whereas a UFO may sit on a shelf in a closet, untouched, a WIP is "something that is being worked on."

Have you ever had a UFO in your life?  Has there ever been anything that you were excited about at the very beginning, that you anticipated the process and finished product?  It could be anything...a craft project, a DIY project, etc.  Did you know UFOs can also be something like a friendship, a relationship, or a marriage?

It is very easy for marriages to become UFOs.  Two people newly in love start a relationship anticipating all the good things in their future together. Then life starts to happen...children, bills, jobs, etc.  Life gets busy.  Sometimes the day to day of living and taking care of responsibilities fills our lives so much that we forget about the anticipation of the future and how we felt in the beginning.

Sometimes, we, ourselves, can feel like UFOs.  We can feel like we're "stuck in a rut" or even feel like we've been "left on a shelf" somewhere.  What we need is movement!

God is wonderful in helping a UFO move to a WIP! Nothing is unfinished with his help.  He has a plan for each of us.  We need only to bring our UFOs to him and ask him to help us "move" in the direction he has planned. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Are there areas in your life that need to move from UFO to WIP?  Is there a relationship in your life that has become a UFO? Or do you, yourself, feel like a UFO? Ask Him today for help in moving your UFOs to WIPs, to become a WIP.  Find out about the plans He has for you.  Get excited, get "off the shelf," get moving! God's got great plans for you and I!

Tapestry

Have you ever looked at the back of a beautiful piece of tapestry?  A wall-hanging with many colors creating a picture?  If you have, you've noticed what looks like a mess of string, yarn, knots, etc. If you hadn't seen the other side, you would find it hard to believe that anything beautiful could come out of that mess.

Do you ever feel that way? Do you feel like nothing beautiful could ever come from your messiness?We all have "messes" in our lives and plenty of "knotty" areas.  The truth is that just as the jumble of strings, knots, etc. can create a beautiful tapestry, God can use the messiness, loose threads and knots in our lives to create a beautiful tapestry in each of us.

We are a WIP.  So don't give up yet.  Be excited! I can't wait to see the WFP!

What is a WIP?

What is a "WIP?"  For those of you in the crafting world, you know the answer already.  A WIP is a Work In Progress.  You don't have to be a "crafter" to have a WIP.  If you have a place of your own, you probably have many WIPs.  If you have children, you definitely have WIPs.  If you have goals for your life, you are a WIP.  Many of us have areas in our lives that are "unfinished" or are "under construction."  Some may have even put those areas on a shelf somewhere to be visited later. 

I am a WIP.  I know that I'm imperfect.  I know I make mistakes. All...the...time.  Do I want to be better, do better, live better?  Of course!  Do I still make the same mistakes?  Of course!  This blog is about being a WIP.  I am a Christian.  What does that mean to me?  I follow Jesus.  While in print, that sounds trite, but in my life, I really try to live in a way that will be a blessing to others.  I try to live as Jesus lived...to love others more than myself, as He loved everyone.  I am not always successful at it and am, at times, less than a good example. 

Even Paul, in the Bible, struggled with this.  He said (Romans 7:18-19) "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the bad I do not want to do--this I keep on doing."

I do have hope, though, of becoming a WFP a Wonderful Finished Product (my own creation, thank you). Paul shares this hope in Philippians 1:6, "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Join me in my journey as a WIP.  It will be like any other journey.  There'll be easy roads, winding roads, mountainous roads, valley roads.  There'll be points of interest along the way and mile markers.  Whatever the journey, and wherever the road leads, I know He is with me always.