Do you believe the richest moments in life are not the most expensive?

Do you believe the richest moments in life are not the most expensive?   I do!  Thinking on things that are lovely, as Paul suggested in his writings, stirred this story.  Pausing before penning some of my rich moments, I wonder what Paul would tell if he were writing this story. In II Timothy, Paul shared personal words of love with his spiritual son that his race was almost over; Paul took time to stir up the gifts in Timothy.  Paul reminded Timothy of how his faith came to him and that he would have to stir up himself through prayer, worship, and praising God.  Paul even suggested Timothy preach to himself in times when he needed to be stirred up in God. In tough times, preaching to oneself can bring triumph!  Paul shared rich moments with Timothy and Titus even during persecution. Paul encouraged Titus to serve eagerly, enthusiastically, and live a “good life filled with beneficial deeds” (empowered by the Holy Spirit)! Titus was taught to live a holy life, be in a good church, and submit to godly, spiritual leadership. What are we teaching our youth today?  Are lessons and living examples missing the mark that make for rich moments?

Rich moments in Paul’s life before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus would tell a different tale. He dished out death sentences for Christians until he saw the light and his life was changed.  Can you imagine the moments recorded in the personal journals belonging to Saul the persecutor and Paul the persecuted?  What if Barnabus, Paul’s encourager, had chosen silence rather than speaking up and risking his life.  Barnabusreceived no fame for helping convert Paul, but can you imagine the crowns waiting for him in heaven. Rich moments (kisses from God) make for eternal happiness!

Rich moments Paul penned stir me up as I mull over his writings and marvel at his faith.  Those moments can encourage us to boldly testify of the Lord and not be ashamed of our faith, to stand up for the gospel, be diligent, work hard, be strong in grace, avoid disagreements that can divide us, endure hardship, “as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” II Timothy 2:3

Are we - modern day, much to do, sleeping, well meaning, weary, working ‘till Jesus comes -Christian?  Are we standing up for Jesus or being silent? Silent Christians avoiding persecution and being shunned from social circles or situations where our faith would be frowned upon?

Paul’s richest writing encourages us to know, honor and obey the truth of God’s Word and to fulfill God’s calling on our lives.  We would be wise to read his letters and get stirred up ‘for such a time as this’!

Reading writings in old journals stirs memories of seasons when Tim and James colored my world with love.  Rich moments Tim, Cameron, and I shared in the winter of 1980 brought Paul’s words to mind, “Come before winter”!  Paul was in a hard place and needed help and encouragement from his friends.  He beckoned them to come before winter.

Tim and I moved to Clinton in 1979 with our six month old son and settled in our home sweet home on Warsaw Road.  Our little family was happy even with little leftover money at the end of each month.  When winter came, we were unable to pay for heating oil to fill the big, silver tank beside our house.  I told Tim our parents would gladly help us with heating oil. He agreed but asked that we stick it out together and get through the winter without seeking their help.  So, we did! 

At first, it seemed a hardship to lug a mattress in front of our fireplace with quilts and pillows to make our nesting place warm and comfy. However, after a few nights cuddled up in our temporary sleeping quarters with warmth and wonder from a crackling fire, we knew this would be our happy place for winter and embraced the lean season of finances with faith and passion!  Recently, I found a picture Tim took one night when I feel asleep reading a book to Cameron in our den - winter bedroom.  Cameron’s little body was curled up close to me with his hands tucked under his tummy and his hind side sticking up in the air.  Seeing his little footed pajamas prompted memories of rich moments when bed time baths and baby lotion, pampers and sweet, sloppy kisses made us feel like the wealthiest parents on the planet.  In the eyes of our hearts we were (are)! We survived that sweet, cold winter with warmth in our home and hearts.  Rich moments continue to color our world with love as we grow older and closer to Christ.

Next week, I will share more about Paul’s contentment and my memories.  Until then, think on things that are lovely and recall rich moments that are worth more than silver or gold!

Do you believe love works sweet miracles? I do!

Do you believe love works sweet miracles? I do!  And so does Louisa May Alcott. This quote from Little Men shares her feelings about the power of love.

“Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.”

Willa Cather, a great writer believes also, “Where there is great love, there are always miracles”!

Each person reading this story could share sweet miracles that have fostered your faith and fueled your love story. How blessed we are to serve a loving God who sends those sweet miracles, along with instructions for loving Him first, loving our neighbors, even loving our enemies.  An eternal act of love from John 16:28 is a sweet miracle for believers to embellish and enjoy forever and ever!

“For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God.”

The power of love comes alive in God’s living Word.  Are you living in love or lacking the passion and power that can be yours with God’s gift of GRACE and sweet miracles?  Do you truly enjoy your life?  Do you love where you live?  Does God (your friends and family) see you living out loud delightfully or depressingly? Do you faithfully hold to reins of hope with love shining through struggles and successes…sorrow and sunshine?  Are you crazy in love with the Lord and loved ones you share life with? 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  Corinthians 13:13

“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:12-13

Hatred permeates our planet with people seeking happiness, joy, peace, and love in all the wrong places.  When God’s children forget Him as our first love, where go sweet miracles? A reverent fear of God, believing in Jesus, and enjoying a close relationship with Him through the Helper God sent when His Son ascended to Heaven makes for happy hearts and sweet miracles.

Two sweet miracles God sent the week before Rise Up - Revive, when we were swamped with planning and preparing, prompted this story.   God surely has miracles waiting to send…while HIs children work without ceasing, put Him on hold, refuse to embrace interruptions, and fail to entertain ‘angels unaware’!

I can hear Billy Stewart’s song of standing by the one you love that Tim and I embraced while dating…”I Stand Accused”!   Do we stand accused of being too busy, burdened, or backslidden to enjoy God’s grace and sweet miracles…to enjoy daily living with loved ones?   I sing Billy’s lyrics while typing…”I stand accused of loving you. I’ve been loving you too long to turn back now” and think of Paul’s lyrics in love letters tucked safely in God’s Word.  Paul reminded people to stand accused of keeping God their first love and loving Him with heart, soul, and mind.  Paul stood accused?  Do we?  Paul expected miracles? Do we?  Hopefully, we sing with conviction “God,  I stand accused; I’ve been loving you too long to turn back now”!

A few days before Rise UP -Revive, Jennifer pointed out that I had several calls to return.  With a long to-do list in my hand, the temptation to put off calling people back grew. Yet, that deep down stirring to allow interruptions to take precedence grew. So, I sat down in front of Jennifer’s desk, grabbed the phone, and pressed the numbers as she called them from her ‘oh so organized’ daily agenda that keeps track of everything happening at Tim’s Gift. Waiting for a person to answer, I watched Jennifer (blind but full of vision) working diligently; JOY and Praise that surpasses all understanding rose up inside my heart.  I thanked God for the sweet miracle sitting in front of me, a miracle that blesses me every day we work, laugh, cry, pray, and enjoy together.  Do you stand accused of taking miracles right in front of you for granted, or not recognizing them as miracles from God? 

Almost ready to hang up the phone, I silently agreed to let it ring one more time. Are you sometimes so busy, you have little patience for interruptions or wait time?  What has happened to ‘time’?  It seems to be accelerated with difficulty getting things done that grow in piles stacked on our desks, in our phones, or wherever we settle down to tackle tasks on daily agendas.  Where is prayer time, play time with family, quiet time with God, visiting time with parents, grandparents, neighbors, witnessing time with those who are unchurched or in need, interruption time (for angels unaware)…God and me time penciled in on our ‘to do’ lists? Do we stand accused of leaving these times out, planning to work them in our already overextended schedules, or giving leftover time (which seldom surfaces) to our Lord and loved ones? OUCH!

Finally, the lady, we’ve been blessed to pray with and help the past three years with medical supplies for her elderly mother, answered and began shouting when she heard my voice.  Excitedly she belted out good news of a sweet miracle. 

“Mrs. Becky, I am so happy how God answers prayers.  Mother has been in ICU in the hospital here in Goldsboro for two weeks. I’m sleeping in the waiting room and staying by her side all I can.  The cancer is worse; she is weak and I keep praying God will help her and we can go home.  Yesterday, it was sunny and warm, so I took a walk outside the hospital.  I passed a thrift shop down the street and felt led to go inside. The days and nights are so long with little company and mother in a coma now, so I thought a good book would be good for me.  In the store, they had shelves filled with books.  I wanted to get back to mother, so I quickly pulled abook, read the title, Rise Up - Recount Love and headed to the check- out counter with it.  A book about love is what I needed, so I gave the cashier fifty cents and headed back to the hospital.  I settled down to start reading and saw your picture on the back cover. I couldn’t believe it; I had no idea you wrote a book. 

Without getting a word in edgewise (hard to believe, right), she kept talking about how the stories in the book were speaking to her heart, especially the ones that told about taking care of Tim when he was battling cancer.  “Mrs. Becky, thank you for writing these stories.  I have read four and they are just what I needed right now.  Seeing the pictures of your family makes me feel love, especially the picture of Connor and remembering when I kept him at Tiny Tots.  I know God sent this book to me and it was in a thrift shop close by where I could get it quick and get back to mother. It’s just a miracle, Mrs. Becky!”

We prayed together on the phone, I hung up, sat still in the chair silently praising God while staring in theface of a sweet miracle God sent to Tim’s Gift!  Jennifer interrupted the silence with her angelic voice, “Mrs. Becky, what has happened”?

I humbly bowed my head, waited for composure, and said, “Jennifer, a sweet miracle!

The two of us communed with Christ, sharing time together… humbly thanking Jesus for the joy of serving Him, sharing HIs love, and giving help and hope to people He sends our way every day.

 Sweet miracles are still happening in the midst of the madness and busyness we juggle; God desires our first fruits, first time, first love - and carrying us through each struggle. Being faithless in our walk, forgetful of HIs gifts, and fickle with our calling can deter HIs sweet miracles!  Do we stand accused of loving Him long and loyally or leaving Him out when persecution or popularity prevails?  Hopefully, we will Rise UP Joyfully to sing the song about loving Jesus too long, never turning back, standing accused of loving Him with hearts convicted to give. and sharing stories of sweet miracles as long as we shall live!   

Do you believe incarnate love changes lives and gets God's attention?

Do you believe incarnate love changes lives and gets God’s attention?  Understanding incarnate love could bewilder those who do not believe in God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Incarnate love includes trusting, obeying, and honoring God while enjoying a personal, precious relationship with Jesus-  complete with a built in GPS!  Loving from the heart activates the Helper that guides and gives personal directions to those who are connected to the Vine!  Incarnate love gives daily dividends beyond understanding while serving our Savior out loud with gladness. 

Are we sometimes quick to judge people based on outward appearance or what we think we see them doing?   Surely, we have been judged just as we have judged others on first impressions. God reminds us to look closer at those we judge, with an inward focus.

Judging others can damage relationships.  Seeds of indifference can sprout in hearts where love should reign. When we live by Jesus’ example, love will light our paths through all seasons of our lives; hearts will be right with our Lord, loved ones…even our enemies!  We may not understand motives or methods of those with whom we share the planet, but we don’t see their hearts as God does.  He knows the rest of the story… for ALL His Children; He sees the hearts.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, we are reminded that God “…looks at the heart”!

God sees how we live, how we give, and how we love.  Many reading this story gave gifts to friends and family at Valentine’s Day.  Did you give roses, candy, or a special card that showed how much you care? Giving is great-t-t!  But genuine giving involves much more than giving things to people we care about.

Jesus Himself - who is, in His essence, love personified - didn’t merely provide us the gift of salvation; He gave us Himself?

So, what would Jesus want us to do ‘for such a time as this’ when people throw words at one another that cause us to shudder in our shoes? Newscasts replay revelers, naysayers, and unbelievers that reek havoc and hatred - pitting nation against nation, and we watch as our world makes what is wrong seem right and what is right seem wrong.  Are we truly sinking in sin far from peaceful shores, sinking to rise no more?  Do we stick our heads in the sand and hope it all goes away?

No, we must stand up for Jesus and show the world His love by letting our lights shine brighter than ever even when it seems we are sinking.  Standing up as soldiers of the cross for the Gospel, a gift of love from God, is needed and necessary from sea to shining sea!  When the Master of the sea hears our despairing cries, He will lift us by His love out of the angry sea of chaos, crime, and confusion and safe we will be!  When nothing else will do - love can lift me and you!

Neither can we as Christians throw words at people and not love them; our love would be hollow. Rather, we show love by giving of ourselves - by giving our concern, our prayers, our compassion, our Christlike, sacrificial love.

So, loving as Christ so loves us is the answer?  Yes it is! Divine love pays the price. It gets involved.  Incarnate love isn’t always convenient, but it changes lives…and gets God’s attention!

When we love like Jesus, we can sing in fierce storms, shout in turbulent times, and stand firm in faith as the world watches what WE will do.  

Our greatest duty is to LOVE.

Do you believe Rising Up and being Revived to enjoy life here while preparing for Heaven is needed in our world?

Do you believe Rising Up and being Revived to enjoy life here while preparing for Heaven is needed in our world?  This story stirs as I fly above the clouds covering Texas and head home to Carolina, where nothing could be finer, as the old song says.  Another song rises up inside, “leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again…” reminding me that my destination (home in Clinton) is not assured. 

 Rising Up and being Revived stirs strong as the bumpy ride keeps people buckled up in the friendly skies above our nation.  I think of America and how God must view this land we love.  He sees every heart of  every child He created and longs for a close relationship with each of us. Sadly, many are sinking in sin, far from peaceful lives.

 God is watching and waiting for us to turn our eyes upon Him with repentant, rejoicing hearts.  So, what are we waiting for?  Our last day on earth could come soon.  Another old song resonates while riding high in the sky…’Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon. Many will meet their doom…”!

Now is the time to come closer to Christ and be Revived. Writing this story with winds whipping around the plane plays tricks on my mind.  The gentleman in the aisle seat eyes my journal, which leads to a lovely conversation about Christ the solid rock. He seemed troubled as we talked.  I pulled a book from my bag and began reading Randy Alcorn’s writings about Heaven.  The man asked about my faith, then shared a story about his mother’s recent death.  He told about a treasure found when he and his siblings cleaned out the old home place. His parents’ prayer journal (which they were unaware of) was filled with written prayers and messages for their children.  He shared about her funeral where his brother did the eulogy and joked that most of the prayers in their parent’s prayer box. where the journal was kept, were for him.  Do you journal and write prayers for your loved ones?   Sure, we keep things stored in our hearts but holding messages personally penned and prayed over is powerful.

Do messages from the Bible challenge you to Rise Up?

Do messages from the Bible challenge you to Rise Up?  Reading Romans 13, Paul’s plea to put on Christ stirred my heart with memories of similar words from Mrs. Eloise Brewington in 2011.  Paul’s message (and Mrs. Eloise’s) issue challenges to Get Up and Get Going for Now is the Time…Today Matters and Tomorrow May Never Come!  

 This scripture passage resonates where we are today:  “And do this, knowing the time, that now is high time to AWAKEN out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.”

Paul’s challenge can be summed up in three words…Awaken, Abandon, and Adorn!  He warns people to WAKE UP; the night is almost gone.  Now, is the time to Rise Up and act! What we do today matters. He tells us to stop being foolish and undisciplined in the flesh.  Paul also says now is the time to ‘put on’ Christ, to adorn ourselves with Him.  The inward brilliance of Jesus living in one’s heart should shine like a lighthouse pointing people to safe harbors.

Mrs. Eloise understood Paul’s plea and lived it out loud in love. Wherever she went, the message of Romans 13 was a shining light. She was a shining example every day…letting others see Jesus in her words and ways.

In 2007, she and friends from Prayer Connection prayed over me the night before I was scheduled for surgery. After prayer, she stood over me with a message to ‘get up’, that I would go home the next day and not have surgery for colon cancer. And I did!  My faith continued to grow as did a close relationship and deep love for the woman who taught me the power of prayer and Rising Up!

Our visits always ended with powerful praying. I would sit at her feet like a hungry student waiting to be fed. And she did just that! One afternoon, she shared her burden to warn people that time is nigh to ‘get up’, that preachers should preach powerful - not watered down - sermons for people to ‘Rise Up’ and get going for God.  

God spoke to her one morning as she lay on her bedroom floor praying for help.  This ninety five year old sweetheart had fallen and couldn’t get up. Hours passed with her faith shining and God speaking to her heart a warning to share with His people…”time is short, get up and get ready for I am coming soon”! 

After four hours on the floor, she did get up and called for help. After a hospital stay of healing and witnessing, she returned home with the plea for people to get right with God burning in her heart. She had an urgency to share the message.  One spring morning, we sat in her front porch swing and she shared the words delivered divinely as Gavin Spell, who worked with me at The Learning Station, recorded her plea for people to rise up and live like Jesus.   When I click on this precious video at Tim’s Gift website and watch the wind blow her hair as she shares the truth of Romans 13, I weep for joy.

Today, Mrs. Eloise and Paul celebrate in heaven as the power of their prayers and passion of their love for Jesus live on here in people’s lives who listened to their pleas.  Paul’s preaching and her praying on the streets of gold is surely a sweet sight to behold.  One day Jesus will return to take those who are ready to meet the Master to their heavenly Home.  Many will Rise UP to greet Him while others will meet their doom.  Are we prepared for that day that could come in the twinkling of an eye?

Ending this story with a plea for people to Awaken and cherish a close relationship with the Lord and loved ones, Abandon things that are not pleasing to God, and adorn ourselves with Him is what Paul, Mrs. Eloise, and Jesus would want. For anyone too busy, heavily burdened, not living in right relationship with Christ, with ought against a brother, sister, or friend, with hardened heart - unrest and weariness within, take time to humbly bow and give it all to Him.  He will wash away any sin and fill hearts with joy, love, and dreams of that beautiful shore!

Then, Rise Up - Revived and ready to enjoy life… for every day with Jesus will be sweeter than the day before!

Do you remember singing the old hymn?

Do you remember singing the old hymn ‘Revive Us Again’? Memories of standing beside my mother when I was barely tall enough to help hold the green Broadman Hymnal and belting out ‘Hallelujah, Thine the glory, revive us again’ sooths my soul.  Remembering great moments shared with loved ones gone to glory resonates joyous healing.  Mother embarrassed me many times as we stood in worship and sang hymns. Her beautiful voice and southern twang rang in my ears, with me wishing she would sing a little softer.  I’ve typed and deleted the next sentence at least twenty times; wishing mother back here to stand beside in church and hear her sing would be wrong. Besides, she wouldn’t want to come back anyway.  My mind can see her standing on the streets of gold with Mrs. Norma Howard and Faye Williams singing for Paul, Timothy, James, King David and loving every eternal moment of it! I believe we will sing together one day in Heaven and that thought keeps me singing as I go.

 Do you wonder about your loved ones in heaven also?  We can be thankful for God’s promise to prepare a place with eternal peace and joy beyond understanding for them there while keeping us alive and well to finish our race here! Knowing they are safe in the arms of Jesus gives comfort.  Knowing we are right with God and ready to meet Jesus at any moment gives peace.  Are you ready right now to go to heaven?   Kenny Chesney sings about wanting to go to heaven but not today. So,  we may not actually be ready to go now but if now was your time or mine…are we ready if Jesus called us in the twinkling of an eye like He did the 27 year old middle school teacher in his classroom a few weeks ago?  Are we really ready or do we need to repent and be revived? Waiting to get ready and make things right with the Lord, loved ones, and those we have might have ought against makes for dangerous living!

Sharing the words to ‘Revive Us Again’ sparks precious memories of yesterday, thankful yet troubling thoughts for today, and earnest, hopeful prayers for tomorrow. Let your heart sing the lyrics wherever you are reading this. Feel the power of words that ring truth ‘for such a time as this’ when Revelation plays out before our eyes and being ready for heaven at any given moment is wise!

“We praise Thee, O God for the Son of Thy love, For Jesus who died, and is now gone above. Hallelujah Thine the glory, Hallelujah amen, Hallelujah Thine the glory, revive us again.

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain. Who has borne all our sins and hath cleansed every stain. Hallelujah thine the glory, Hallelujah amen, Hallelujah Thine the glory, revive us again.

Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. Hallelujah thine the glory, Hallelujah amen, Hallelujah thine the glory, REVIVE US AGAIN!”

In Zephaniah 3:17 God’s Word tells how He rejoices over His children!  “He will rejoice over you with singing.”   Clearly, God loves to hear singing and praising in HIs courts and in our hearts.  When we feel down and out, we only need to hum or sing a favorite hymn to be revived.  Praising the Lord with joyful singing is pleasing to Him and heart mending medicine for His children.  Why not sing a little song or whistle while you work today?  Singing in our hearts and minds is music to His ears only.  Singing out loud, even when we might embarrass those standing beside us, shares the joy, joy, joy deep down in our hearts. When you enter your home tonight, purposefully be singing a little love song and see how your family reacts.  I grew up to mother singing Amazing Grace, Love Lifted Me, and Revive Us Again. Daddy, on the other hand, sang little rhymes that brought laughter and a sweet spirit in our home when one or the other of us needed an attitude adjustment. I can see his humble smile widen as he sang with conviction…”I was going ‘round the curve making ninety miles an hour when the chain on my bicycle broke, or “did you ever see mama make water, she could pee for a mile and a quarter”!  Wishing I could remember all his little tunes, I cherish most the humble, loving, happy spirit in which he sang his songs! 

God sees our hearts as we sing. He watches as we rush through days and nights with little time left for Him…or them (family) when we allow ourselves to become overextended!

Rising Up early to spend time with Him before the world wakes up wonderful.  This morning, I read while listening to Reflections on Daystar.  Tranquility filled my heart as peaceful pictures from God’s creation faded in and out on my television screen.  The following verse from Psalm 119:14 popped up beside a scene of poppies in a field with sunshine glistening through gentle raindrops on the green pasture.  Hopefully, these words will resonate in your soul and become part of your daily routine.  Whether we take time for ‘God and us” early in the morning or late at night is not the critical thing in our relationship with Christ, what matters is we ‘Just do it”!  For me, putting Him first in my mornings makes for a day that’s great-t-t-t!  Being closely connected to Christ keeps us singing when the world is whining and wondering why we are happy!  Being Revived brings us closer to Christ with peaceful hearts ready to meet Him whenever He calls.

“I RISE before dawn and cry for help.  I put my trust in You”!

Now is the time to Rise Up and be Revived…put our trust in God, be ready to meet Jesus, and enjoy the rest of our journeys while writing our stories out loud in LOVE!

How do you spend your time?

How do you spend your time?  Many people annually rank time management as top New Year Resolutions.  Spending time well is wise and works when one learns to prune and prioritize.  What would Jesus do became a popular catchphrase with bracelets and badges worn to show support for Jesus’ wise decision making and encouragement for His sheep to do the same.

How would Jesus spend His time?  While here on earth, Jesus was under the same time constraints as the rest of mankind.  He had twenty-four hour days throughout HIs life that was bordered by life and death - just like we do.  How amazing to think of Jesus living among HIs family, followers, and friends, who probably took HIs presence and (present) for granted…just as we do today.

Do you have a balanced life? Jesus did!  Though we don’t have a replay of his daily schedule, Luke sheds light on our how our Savior spent His time. 

Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

This verse helps us understand decisions Jesus made around the time HIs parents found Him in the temple, not a place your typical twelve year old would spend time teaching elders about God’s Word and ways.  Jesus spent time caring for HIs mind and body during the years that followed HIs temple experience until the time His public ministry began around the age of thirty.

Growing up and gaining favor with God and men was important for Jesus, as it is for you and me.  Jesus chose to spend time nurturing relationships with His Father in heaven and with people here on earth.  Lessons on time management He taught many years ago are spot on today. Spending time with the Lord and loved ones is a wise and wonderful way to live and stay closely connected.  

If Jesus was growing ‘in favor with God,’ then God approved of how Jesus was spending the time He’d been given.  Does God approve of the way you and I spend our time?  What takes top priority when planning how we will spend our time?    We should think on these things that make life lovely and spend time with our heavenly Father first. Then, a few of our favorite time takers should be caring for our mind, body, and relationships. 

Surely you are thinking of all the other needs that must be accomplished in a day: meals to be made, laundry to be washed, house to be cleaned, church and community activities, jobs with work that can overwhelm, and tons of tasks of making a living and caring for a family that take up a large portion of our time each day.  Many reading this story are carving time from other things you need to be doing. Making a living and trying to do things that fill our agendas can consume time and cripple relationships.

Luke 2:52 reminds us that it takes more than ‘making a living’ to make a life.   In other words, we make choices of how we spend our time that makes a difference in our happiness for life on earth and for eternity!

While reading this story, what thoughts have tendered your heart?  Have you been convicted of how you spend your time?  I have!  Can’t you just see Mary and Martha preparing that meal Jesus and close family and friends would share in their home?  Mary chose to take time from their busy schedule to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His stories.  Martha’s frustration kept her from enjoying precious time that could never be recalled. Housecleaning and cooking is essential when company is coming; yet,  being consumed and going overboard with things can cause us to miss spending time with our Lord and loved ones.  A simple meal and fairly clean home with sweet fellowship and time for nurturing relationships is better than a feast and fabulous house where frustration reigns over faith.

 How we spend our time will determine how we spend our lives.  We must learn to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when scheduling our days.  Taking time to nurture our hearts (relationships with others), our souls (relationships with God), our minds (both wisdom and knowledge), and our strength (our physical bodies), every day will help us lead a more balanced life - a life that will keep growing stronger in favor with God and others.

Do you believe Godly dreams bless more than the dreamer?

Do you believe Godly dreams bless more than the dreamer?  I do!  When our dreams come true, they bring joy, increase faith, give hope and supernatural inspiration to everyone they touch.  Martin Luther King’s dream of equality for all God’s children continues to touch lives today. Alexander Graham Bell’s dream led to the phones we rely on every day. Noah’s dream to build a boat - before rain - saved a remnant of God’s creation to carry on after the flood.  Have you witnessed the joy of a dream come true?

The Bible speaks of fulfilled dreams in Proverbs 13:12. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”

 I believe God wants our dreams to come true!  Prayer and perseverance settle in for seasons while waiting faithfully for fulfilled dreams. Getting stuck in winter can keep dreams dormant, but pressing forth to springtime shows signs that our dreams did not die. Rising up with hopeful, believing hearts and determined, working hands can help dreams come true in God’s perfect timing.   My dream of finishing this story before bedtime was almost lost when the low battery signaled my power source was at two percent and my work was not saved.  Plugging in the power cord rescued my writing. God rescues His perishing children when we reconnect to Him and pursue the dreams within our hearts…and those we never imagined being privy to in this lifetime.

In 2008, I stood in a packed coliseum in Charlotte with my sister and niece, Katy.  We traveled to the Revival with hope for Katy’s dreams to have more mobility, play sports, and enjoy life outside hospitals to begin and healing to happen. We stood in line for hours, watched as people were turned away to an overflow building; the dream of getting inside looked bleak. Then, an usher walked past us and stopped beside Katy’s wheelchair. Seeing our dismay, the Good Samaritan led us to a side door, explained he felt led to help us, wheeled Katy inside, and ushered us to ground floor four rows from the stage.  I believe God sent that man.  It was no mistake we were at that revival, even though it took effort and determination to get there. We almost missed the blessing God had for us by staying home.  With tremendous traffic jams and tons of people everywhere we turned, the sweet spirit we embraced could have turned sour with one little word of negativity from either of us. I sensed my sister’s apprehension, not wanting Katy to feel uncomfortable; I prayed fervently for God to work it out. And He did!

 For hours, we worshipped and waited as people were helped. Our prayers were not answered that night for Katy, but our hope was not deferred and a dream was planted in my heart for revival to overflow in our local Expo Center where people would Rise Up to praise and worship God and enjoy a time of fellowship and food in one accord.

The dream inside my heart stirred but I resisted. The nudge to Rise UP grew; finally, my dream became reality in 2012. People gathered at the Expo Center for Rise Up - Recount Love, and God was glorified.  This year’s Christian celebration’s theme is Rise Up - Revive! We, at Tim’s Gift, are planning and believing people will come to the February 18th event with hope for healing, renewing relationships with the Lord and loved ones, and dreams to be planted inside hearts.

This story stirred to help people in hard places with little hope for fulfilled dreams by sharing Katy’sjourney to dreams coming true.  Nine years after sharing the revival experience in Charlotte, Katy has been through more than most people will experience in a lifetime. Yet, she has held to hope and faith, with the help of her family’s loving support, through seasons that threatened to keep her captive to pain pills, surgeries, (she has undergone 28 in her 23 years), and limited opportunities for big dreams to be fulfilled.

Sharing the details of Katy’s love story would captivate your heart. There were desperate times when the enemy tried to keep Katy in a painful, pitiful pit where her dreams would die, but God had other plans and was working all things out for good according to His purpose for her life.

Katy had to RISE UP from a powerful pit of desperation and she did!  With God’s help and encouragement from loved ones, Katy rose up fearlessly and faced each day with hope.  Through tears, trials, and her brother (who is working on his doctorate at the University of Illinois) suggesting she visit him and check out the handicapped dorm and opportunities there - when it seemed she hit dead end,  God wasworking things outfor a young Christian woman with courage and determination to make her dreams come true. 

Wishing I had time and space to write about the amazing details of her journey, I share only how theweaving of God’s handiwork through years of hoping, heartaches, and hallelujahs  has given Katy purpose and passionto RISE UP, dream, and do things that could only happen with HIM at the helm.  Katy is a Junior at The University of Illinois, a member of the UI Handicapped Basketball Team, (she travels with her team on special buses to seven universities across America playing the sport she dreamed of as a little girl ), an honor student, a chosen student from a group study to try out a product they created for people in wheelchairs - a specialfitbit with rolls instead of steps being recorded, a strong spirited, happy,  healthy (works out two hours daily with her teammates), young woman whose hope and joy for living life out loud in love have been REVIVED!  Katy chose to Rise Up and reach for her dreams. Many people give up hope and stay put in places where dreams remain dormant.  God can work miracles, guide our steps to His plans, and help make our dreams come true when we keep our eyes on Him and never give up hope!

Katy’s dreams are coming true per God’s plans.  Things do not always work out in our lives as we plan, but God’s ways are higher and His plans are put in place perfectly for every child He created.  It is our choice to listen to His still, small voice and follow the path laid out for us in every season of our lives.  When we keep God first in all things, believe in HIs Son,  listen to the Holy Spirit living inside our hearts ( the Helper God sent when Jesus ascended to Heaven),  and RISE UP with faith and hope in our hearts…life will be delicious and dreams can come true. 

When we live by Jesus’ example, sharing love with honesty and humbleness on our journeys, then our love stories will be classics with fulfilled dreams blessing more than the dreamer!