Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Dream Big or Go Home

 It's no secret that in my life I've seen God to do some pretty miraculous things, things I really never thought possible. But this past week, God has taught me even more about his provision. My friend Ronda is a fellow mommy and believer. She, along with her husband and 3 kids, have moved around a lot over the past few years and this last year they moved to a very nice house in a new town that they love. Because they had recently moved, I was a little surprised to hear her say that she had found her dream home one day while driving. I thought about it for a minute and then thought, well hey God can do anything, why not? So I told her that I couldn't wait to hear how God gave her that house.

Weeks and even months went by and I had all but forgotten that comment. Until last week when Ronda emailed me to tell me a crazy amazing story. Through a series of incredible events and circumstances that can really only be deducted as God's plan, she was given the money to be able to build her dream home. PRAISE THE LORD!

This absolutely challenged me. I guess because I am such a practical girl, I am only ever asking God for what I need. I never feel like I deserve what I actually want. But watching Ronda's faith, hearing how every T was crossed, every I was dotted; how everything she ever NEEDED and DESIRED God gave to her, because she asked, I felt like I had been limiting God all this time. I never think of God as the one who supplies our every want. Mostly because, we're taught that he supplies our every need. I think of the woman in the bible with the jars in her kitchen enough to make food for a few days and God supplying enough each day for her to be able to eat. I think of the mannah from heaven God sent to the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. The lesson is always the same: be content with what you have and grateful that God provided. I have always tried to live my life that way.

But I was looking through a foggy window. God is our father, our daddy. He doesn't just put food on our table, or provide the amount of money to pay our bills. He loves to see his children happy, to inspire them, to encourage them, to stand beside them as they grow and dream. I never thought of God as a God who provides for our dreams. And it was like He was telling me, if you ask me, I will give it to you. So it dared me to ask God for the impossible, like really really impossible: to be able to own a home that I love in a wonderful neighborhood. This is an outrageous request, but I'm no longer going to limit my God or his desire to see my dreams come true.

I don't know where you are in your faith, or  what you've been going through, but I encourage you to DREAM BIG DREAMS. Don't let the reality of your circumstances limit the almighty.I challenge you, just as I was challenged, to not be afraid to dream or to ask for the impossible. He wants you to succeed and he's calling you to have the faith to ask, just as Solomon did:

1 Kings 3:5-15
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

3 comments:

imaya said...

My mom always says, "God can build a castle as easily as a button. It is us who limit God." I think we are asked to surrender our desires and that means telling God everything, then leaving it with him. I believe that your desire to own a home in a nice area is fully reasonable & am anxious to see how it plays out!

Ronda said...

Erin, I love that you are testifying and sharing the joy of our story. I am still in complete awe of God and what he is doing right now with our family. I love the quote in the comment above about the castle and button. That is so true. And what I find in my life is I ask for a scoop of ice cream and God always gives me ice cream, whipped cream AND a cherry. The ice cream would have been enough but the Lord loves to bless his children with an encore. I love that you had the faith to just throw something wild out there. You know and I KNOW that God can do it and he will. Remember, all this came from your faith story about the house you are in. We keep playing tag with having faith for bigger blessings. HAHA.

Unknown said...

Your title should be Dream Big AND Go Home! I am really loving your blogs. I know I limit Christ's ability to work in my life.