Taking the first step........in Jesus' time!

Today I have been contemplating this quote from my devotion.....

It's not easy to head off into uncharted waters, but every journey starts with a first step. Fear will keep you from taking that first step, from untying the boat from the dock. Fear will also keep you from making new discoveries. Don't let fear keep you tied up, set sail and see what God has planned for you.

This resonated with me since, more than once, I have been given the same advice.  Someone once told me "Jesus can't steer a docked boat.  You have to be untied from the dock and setting sail for Him to steer you onto the path of your destiny. 

I admit that I am one that really likes to have the trip mapped out BEFORE I untie that rope and set sail.   The problem is, I don't seem to go anywhere using this method!  As a matter of fact, the last few years I have been just tied up at that dock.  Not going anywhere and not accomplishing anything.  I have not gotten any closer at all to my destiny.   And I certainly have not felt that I was on the right path. 

But I admit that it is fearful. There is a lot of unknowns when you leave that security of the dock.  And the worst is the fear of making the wrong decision and going the wrong way.  Sometimes I find myself even wondering if I am supposed to be out there sailing at all.  Maybe I am supposed to be tied up at the dock.  Have you ever felt like that? 

Then I read the Momastery Blog today and it ended like this......
You can’t miss your boat. It’s yours. It stays docked till you’re ready. The only boat you can miss is someone else’s. Let them have theirs while you wait for the boat God made for you. God’s never early and never late. And know that love and life are patient. And that God is forever tries.

This was just the encouragement I needed tonight.  I can trust that the Holy Spirit will prompt me to set sail when the time is right.  And more than that, Jesus will not be upset at me for staying docked the last few years.  So if you are feeling or sensing some of the same things I have been today, take heart!  Jesus is patient and the Holy Spirit will get us where we need to be. 

Jesus, thank you for this today!  Holy Spirit thank you for reminding me that you are never late! And thank you for always reminding me that I am not in charge.... you are!  Amen

Christmas 1980 and help from another blog!

Today I was thinking about the Christmas pictured above.  This was Christmas 1980.  Gwen was 18 months old.   I have a lot of special memories of this Christmas.  If you asked Ken, I am sure that he would not remember anything about this year, but I sure do!  First of all, I made the dress that Gwen is wearing.  It was a soft, velour fabric and I loved that the color of the dress matched Gwen's eyes.  The little pinafore was made out of a soft velvet.  It was warm and sweet and she loved to twirl.  If you think Gwen looks a bit out of it in this picture, it is because it was at 10:30pm.  Ken and I decided to go to candlelight service at church.  So we woke Gwen, dressed her up and went to church.  If this wasn't crazy enough, you need to know that it was below zero.  WAY below zero.  Like freezing cold.  But, I remember her cuddling and falling back to sleep in my lap during church.  And then I remember her mesmerized by the candles.  I think this is one of my favorite of all times, Christmas memories.  

Then, there was the presents on Christmas morning.  Ken and I didn't have much money that year and we had decided to spend only $25 on Gwen.  I remember I went to the Woolworths because they had a "big sale".  That year Gwen got a set of play plastic dishes, a set of play pots and pans (and the back of the box was a "stove"), a kid sized broom and dust pan, a set of wooden blocks and a doll (that we had bought the day after Christmas the year before).  When I say that Gwen played for HOURS with these presents, I am not exaggerating.  She was so excited about each thing and she played and played with everything.  For weeks following Christmas.  Our living room coffee table was her play kitchen area and she swept the carpet over and over.  I had felt sort of bad about spending so little and not getting her anything very "fancy" but this was really a wonderful Christmas.  We didn't have any family for a big celebration, but it was an amazing holiday for me and I think for Gwen. 

I was thinking about this Christmas today when I was considering how I need to move ahead into 2014.  I remember that I wanted a very fancy dress for Gwen that year, but our small budget made my choice very clear........ I would have to make the dress!  That was the arrow pointing the way for me that year.  So I made that dress!  And I loved that dress - even more than the very fancy dresses I had seen in the stores.  I had a limited budget for presents, so I had to choose very carefully.  I "went with my gut" about what she would like.  And I made good choices.  I went to Woolworths instead of ToysRUs.  The circumstances dictated the path I walked.  It is like that old saying "If you get lemons, make lemonade!" 

I mentioned last night that I have felt encouraged by some recent revelations and/or answers to prayer.  Today I read one of my favorite blogs, Momastery. (www.momastery.com)  She was writing about John 2 and Jesus' first miracle - water to wine.  Then I hit this paragraph......

Anyway, this is all to say that if you don’t feel ready- if you are waiting to Get Started Doing Your Thing- you are in good company. Even Jesus felt unprepared to begin. But look- I want you to picture me looking directly at you trying to convey this message: “I am unsure of what your lack of readiness has to do with the fact that the world needs the little miracle that only YOU can perform. The world needs you to use your gift – ready or not.”

Thank you very much Momastery!  I have felt a lack of readiness to move ahead into whatever it is that I am supposed to be doing and I needed this "Kick in the Pants".  Yesterday I heard very clearly that I would have clear confirmation in the next two weeks and all I needed to do is just be listening!  So I am considering this reminder from Momastery that being unsure and not ready, is no excuse!  And I know I will be getting more of the picture in the days ahead. 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you use circumstances to guide and direct us.  Thank you for speaking to me in so many different ways.  Holy Spirit, help me to remember who I am in Jesus. I know that it is YOUR gifts that need to be used and shared!  Thank you for memories, for Christmas and Momastery.  Amen

Cultivating close relationships....

Here is another "nugget" from the HUB meeting on Friday night.  This is a season to cultivate close relationships.  This is the time to evaluate where you are really at with your relationships.   I've been thinking about this over the last couple of days.  I was very blessed on Friday night,  to be sitting next to a very close friend. That was a great comfort for me!   The speaker made the point that our relationships with people are a reflection of our relationship with Yahweh.   OUCH!   This is a hard message.   Are we deeply caring about others and expressing love and affection BECAUSE we are in that kind of a relationship with Yahweh????   Or do we have lots of superficial relationships - the kind of people who you talk with about the weather and nothing else?   Is this how your relationship with Yahweh seems?  Just a brief laundry list of cares and concerns? A distant sort of "drive through" relationship (you know what I mean - you speak into the box to someone you can't see - you MIGHT hear a short grainy message back IF you wait around long enough - you quickly pull forward and hope to receive a bag of whatever you have asked for).  I know this is not the relationship I want to have with Yahweh.  

So, I have been evaluating all of the relationships in my life.  And I want to have more deep, meaningful relationships with those around me.   I want to be able to really tell the truth and not worry about "what will they think?"    My daughter introduced me to another great blog called Momastery.   The author is a TRUTH TELLER.  And because of her blog, others see that they can be brave and tell the truth and develop those close relationships.  Her blog is wildly successful and has literally hundreds of thousands of readers.  People who are all looking for meaningful relationships.

I want to be a truth teller and a Yahweh seeker and a close friend that will be deeply caring about others. I want to have meaningful relationships.  I want to be expressing the love of Yahweh to those around me - his deep compassion and caring through my mouth and my hands.   So I will take the time to rest (see yesterday's post) and receive Yahweh's love so that I have HIS love and care to give out into my relationships.  This is not something that I can do on my own.  This is about taking the time to just receive a deeper relationship with Yahweh.

(you can read the Momastery blog at Momastery)