Dreams

Joseph, not Mary's husband, had a dream. Mary's husband had a dream, too but, that isn't the dream I'm referring to. So, Joseph had a dream. This dream came before he was interpreting dreams so, I don't think he fully understood what the dream meant. Was there a time while he was in Egypt that he did understand what those early dreams meant? When his brothers came to town looking for food, did that dream pop back into his head? Did he have a 'Yeah, God' moment when he realized his dreams actually came true after all those years?Years of slavery, years of imprisonment, years of disappointments, years of lost dreams.

What about you and me? What are our dreams? Where have those dreams gone? Are we living them? Are they buried deeply, safely in our hearts where no one knows about them? I was reminded by a internet security question which asked 'Who did you want to be when you were little'? My answer...Superman. I have the scar on my shin to prove it as I attempted to fly with a bath towel secured around my neck with a wooden clothespin off a green metal lawn chair. They don't make those kind of chairs anymore. I dreamed of being the next Larry Bird for a few months, then I tried out for JV basketball and it has HARD, I quit after a week of practices. My dream of being the next Larry Bird turned into a fantasy as I played through game scenarios on the church's court late nights by myself. 

I was reminded tonight that life isn't about my agenda or trying to figure out my story. It's about living out God's story through me. Throughout the Bible we read so many stories and if we aren't careful we can say, 'look at the story of Moses or Abraham or Peter or Paul.' But it's really not about them. It's about how God continued to tell His redemptive story through them. God is still telling His story through our lives, our dreams, our mountain peaks and valleys. We are all part of this beautiful tapestry. Unfortunately, we only see a small portion and it usually doesn't look like much. But from God's point of view, it's exactly as He knew it would be. 

So, whether we're living our dreams or even in the middle of life's worst nightmare, we need to realize that we are all part of God's dream. His dream to be our Father. His dream to be our Refuge. His dream to be our Shepherd. To me, this brings great comfort because God's dreams always come true.

2012 Is Done...2013 Has Just Begun

I can honestly say I was glad to see 2012 come to an end. It's been a long year. There have been so many good things and a few not as good. Thankful that God makes "all things new". I pray that as He continues to make 'all things new' that He also continues to make me new as well. He has promised, "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it." How I long for that completion but I know it's a journey. As I journey I am so thankful for all those who are walking with me; Bonnie, family, friends...I would be lost without you all. I know it's cliche-ish but it's true. I may not know what the future holds but I know who holds the future.