The last two Sunday's sermons have been directed right at me....they are about "taking the bull by the horns". The pastor talked last week about how many times we are presented with an incident or situation, an opportunity even, that we see as something bigger than us, something that we can not handle or conquer on our own. Something we are afraid of - whether we are afraid of getting hurt, having our pride injured, or even perhaps, the fear of success, which means that people expect more of us.
This week the lesson continued on about how when we are given these opportunities to shine, and we take them, do we continue to focus our commitment and gratitude to The One who gave the opportunity to us in the first place, or do we lose our focus and begin to enjoy what "we" have accomplished?
Several scriptures come to mind, including the "Every good and perfect gift comes from above", (James 1:17), and "Lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). God wants us to have all the wonderful blessings that we can possibly hold in our life, all of our goals, our dreams, the desires of our hearts, but we also have to remember that these blessings do not come from us, nor are they strictly for our benefit. God has entrusted these blessings, these talents with us, to share to bless others.
What are your dreams? What is it that gives you joy? I would love to have someone pay me to read books in front of the fire place with a nice cup of hot chocolate curled up with my dog and cat all day, but perhaps that is my retirement dream. What I would really love to do is find a way to share some of the blessings that God has given me, and use them in such a way that will allow me to support myself financially, and to share the blessing with others - make other people feel happy, share joy with them.
God has planted seeds of dreams and desires in each of us. He wants us to reach for those goals and dreams. Psalms 20:4 says, "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.".
What would you do if you knew that you have the Creator of the Universe standing by ready to "make all of your plans succeed"?
Its hard to step out on that proverbial limb, and take a risk, to take a chance, not only for success, but perhaps failure. Sometimes we are as afraid of success as we are of failure, because for so many of us it is unfamiliar territory, and we have no idea what to do with success once it comes to us. But the same God who promised to make all of our plans succeed, will be there with you every step of the way, the same way a loving parent watches over their child and encourages and boosts them to succeed in their projects. Give it a try....lean not on your own understanding, and see what happens...
This week the lesson continued on about how when we are given these opportunities to shine, and we take them, do we continue to focus our commitment and gratitude to The One who gave the opportunity to us in the first place, or do we lose our focus and begin to enjoy what "we" have accomplished?
Several scriptures come to mind, including the "Every good and perfect gift comes from above", (James 1:17), and "Lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). God wants us to have all the wonderful blessings that we can possibly hold in our life, all of our goals, our dreams, the desires of our hearts, but we also have to remember that these blessings do not come from us, nor are they strictly for our benefit. God has entrusted these blessings, these talents with us, to share to bless others.
What are your dreams? What is it that gives you joy? I would love to have someone pay me to read books in front of the fire place with a nice cup of hot chocolate curled up with my dog and cat all day, but perhaps that is my retirement dream. What I would really love to do is find a way to share some of the blessings that God has given me, and use them in such a way that will allow me to support myself financially, and to share the blessing with others - make other people feel happy, share joy with them.
God has planted seeds of dreams and desires in each of us. He wants us to reach for those goals and dreams. Psalms 20:4 says, "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.".
What would you do if you knew that you have the Creator of the Universe standing by ready to "make all of your plans succeed"?
Its hard to step out on that proverbial limb, and take a risk, to take a chance, not only for success, but perhaps failure. Sometimes we are as afraid of success as we are of failure, because for so many of us it is unfamiliar territory, and we have no idea what to do with success once it comes to us. But the same God who promised to make all of our plans succeed, will be there with you every step of the way, the same way a loving parent watches over their child and encourages and boosts them to succeed in their projects. Give it a try....lean not on your own understanding, and see what happens...
No comments:
Post a Comment