"And the Academy Award Goes To..."
Okay,
yes, I admit it (and I have admitted it here before...). My Really Big Dream right now is to win the
Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Really,
just seeing Wise Men on the big screen will be thrilling beyond belief, but the
Oscar would be the cherry on top. I’m
going for the cherry (and if I’m going to be COMPLETELY transparent, I would like it
to win Best Picture also…).
Yes,
I am well aware that probably 4 million other people share this dream. Yes, I know that if my dream was for World
Peace or something like that I would sound less shallow and self-centered,
especially after my DFF sisters have such beautiful dreams that involve serving
others…
Hmmm…Maybe
I’m not completely self-centered. Maybe I’m
just serving in a different way. Maybe
as Lisa lovingly serves her mommas and babies, Sara innovatively serves her
students and others, Lezlie serves in secret, and Katie serves in mindful
legacy, I too will serve in my own way.
In a way God chose for me, long ago.
You
see, this screenplay isn’t my idea. And
I’m certainly not smart or creative enough to come up with this on my own. Maybe God intended for me to serve Him in
this way, and in doing so, serve movie-goers another view of the God of the
Nativity….hopefully along with a few laughs and gasps and tears. Maybe God will be glorified as much through
this film about the birth of a child as He is through serving a mother who is
birthing a child.
Father God, in humility and truth, I ask
You to place Your hand upon the dreams that we, your maidservants, have shared
this week. I ask You to bring them to
fruition as only You can. And I ask,
above all, that You be glorified in and through us and these dreams You’ve
bestowed. I ask all of this in the name of
Jesus.
Thursday, January 02, 2014
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I Thank My God Every Time I Remember You (Philippians 1:3)
My 2014 isn't starting out so great, but I am determined and
inspired that it will get better. We are writing about dreaming big this week
at the Daily Fast Fuel. I do indeed have big dreams, but I have to preface them
with a little background story...
Saturday night I lost someone very dear to me. My 20-year
old niece, Becca Pickard, died suddenly and unexpectedly due to an
unintentional Tylenol overdose. Our family has been hanging on very tightly to
each other this week just trying to make it through.
Becca was a rare soul. She was one of the kindest, most
compassionate people I had the privilege to know. This week, Becca's Facebook
page has blown up with messages from friends, a countless many who remembered
her as their "best friend". That is exactly how she made people feel.
I was also rereading some recent email messages between
Becca and me this week. Not too long ago, she lost her job and was pretty down
about it. I had reached out to her, encouraging her to look at this moment in
time as an opportunity...to pursue anything she wanted. This is part of what I
wrote:
"Sit down with a journal and start writing down even
your wildest career dreams. Pray over them. Then start exploring. You might be
surprised what doors God might open. You can do anything! I, for one, can't
wait to see what it will be."
I couldn't wait
to see what God would do with her life.
I learned this
week that Becca had gotten a new job (although I understand it was a difficult
one). And my heart was broken as I learned that she had accepted it with the
plan that it would provide the flexibility to return to school to pursue
something she absolutely loved.
And now this.
She was
pursuing her big dreams. I couldn't wait to see what God would do with her
life. And now she is gone.
I was lamenting
this awful truth to my mother-in-law yesterday. We shared our grief for a
moment, and then Mom pulled away and, I believe, the Holy Spirit spoke right
through her.
We can still look forward to what God is going to do with
her life.
Think of all the lives Becca has touched.
Think of all the folks who may not have known a concept
of faith except through her.We may, in fact, never know the full extent of what God is going to do with her life.
God's work through her is not finished.
I hadn't
thought of it that way.
Before this weekend, as I prepared for this week's post, I only ever thought of big dreams
for my
life. I never really considered dreaming dreams that were directly intended to
affect the lives that I would someday leave behind. My legacy.
So that changes
things up a bit.
I am dreaming differently, though I haven't worked out
how to articulate those changes yet. I will think of that, perhaps, next
week.
This week, I
will be thinking of my Becca-girl, and how she inspired me, loved me, and left
me wanting more. As one of her friends posted on her Facebook page, I hope
someday, to touch as many lives as Becca did.
God is
continuing to do great things with your life, my sweet niece. Only now, you
have the privilege to watch his great plan unfold from one of the best seats in the
house.
I wish we were
up late talking about poetry and great books this week. It is still hard to
believe that you are gone. I miss you. I love you. Thank you for having a heart
big enough for us all.
"...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." - Philippians 1:6
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
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Sit Down you're Rocking the Boat
you might just walk on water.
A new deposit of hope.
A fresh start.
This is prime dreaming time for me. And I've got some BIG ones going into this year.
Watching my five-year-old nephew building things this Christmas with his assortment of legos had me questioning my tinkering tendencies. I had this realization that just as my nephew loves tinkering and building with blocks - I too love tinkering and building - but with ideas, strategies and structures. I think innovation might just be one of my love languages.
But it's one thing to dream about how to bring new innovations into my classroom, for instance, or in getting a book published, or renovating a home - then to actually stand up and do it.
Pursuing dreams sometimes means you have to stand up and rock the boat a little - or a lot.
Pursuing dreams sometimes means you have to entertain the impossible as possible, long enough to get that foot out onto the water.
And rocking the boat, or entertaining the impossible, are not always the easy route to take.
Confession: I want to live a life "leaning on my beloved." To actually make decisions and actions based on the belief that there is an Almighty God co-laboring with me, wanting to be a part of my life of dreams - ready to meet me in the journey. Ready to meet me out on the water.
I don't want fear to keep me in the boat.
I want to be able to let go of things that seem to bring stability, but keep me from the fullness of life Christ died to give me.
How about you?
What are you willing to rock the boat for?
What are you willing to rock the boat for?
Lord, I pray you would release a gift of faith to Your people this year. Give clarity to our eyes for the dreams of this season. Give courage to our hearts to trust You with the impossible. And when all is said and done, take all the glory, Father - that the world would know who You are and the love you have for us, inviting us into a life filled with your wonders.
Monday, December 30, 2013
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New Year's Dreams
This
week’s posts are not about resolutions.
They are not about goals. This
week’s posts are about dreams. BIG Dreams. Important To Us Dreams. If Money And Time And Childcare Were No Object
And I Knew I Could Not Fail Dreams. Dreams That Only God Himself Can
Accomplish (I think you get the picture).
Well,
they can be smaller dreams…but even small dreams can grow, right?
We
gals on the Daily Fast Fuel Kitchen Crew want to encourage big dreams for 2014,
starting with ourselves. Please join us! Let's dream big together for 2014!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
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