I HAD A Dream

In the movie the Wizard of Oz, four individuals and a dog are going somewhere. I can hear you singing. Yes, they were all, “Off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz. And if you think about it, we are all off somewhere as well. Metaphorically speaking. Each and everyone one of us has a dream we want to live.

This is not to say we have a dream like Dorothy did.  You see, dreams are only dreams. They have a shelf life like no other. We dream about the future and think about what we would like to do or where we would like to be or even the excitement that would come if we could only win the big one. As Dorothy was to ultimately find out, dreams are only dreams. One day we wake up and discover it was all just a dream with no reality to know.

Those four individuals were dreaming of something. The scarecrow was fantasizing about having a brain. The Tin Woodman dreamed of having a heart. We also have the lion dreaming about courage. Which leads us to Dorothy. Her dream was to be home.

It needs to be more than a dream. To move forward in life we need to make our dreams reality and that takes setting goals. It is the goals that get us to where we are looking to go. Like Dorothy, we dream of one day being home. The bible tells us we are all on a journey with the goal of heaven, our real home, as the place we ultimately want to be.

Unlike them, who found the Wizard who was all smoke and mirrors, we found God who is real. Jesus said it. “I am the way (to God) and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. He wants us to go beyond dreams and live in the reality that is lived in His presence.  It starts with finding real faith. Faith in a God who makes dreams come true. It happens today, not tomorrow. What is your goal for today, or next week? The only ultimate goal is to stand in His presence and know the reality that God directed our path and walked that path with us. What’s your goal?

Something to think about.

Rob

Just One Bite

I don’t think I told you, but I received this great sweatshirt for Christmas past. Just what I wanted. Not too snug. Just right for getting around and doing anything and everything. It even has that stand up collar that I like. And because I don’t put the thermostat up too high, it keeps me pleasantly warm. Perfect colour as well. What more could I have asked? I like it so much I wear it often and the washing machine and the sweatshirt have become well acquainted.
Then it happened. You know. You have been there so don’t deny it. I was out one day to the bakery and my good friends there know I love eating as much as anyone. Well, John makes almost the best butter tarts around. Lois still has the best buttertarts in my books. But there I was sitting there looking at this amazing tray of butter tarts. I looked closely and what do I see? I see one that had my name on it. It did, really it. . . Okay, I thought it did.
Now, you have to realize that both Lois’ and John’s tarts drip. Yes, now you know what happened. Now you know that I know it happened to you before as well. After licking the runoff from my sweatshirt I went right home and put it right in the wash. Thought it would be fine. Well, yes you know the rest of the story. It’s taken a while to get it completely out & because I know where it was I still think I can see the extremely faint evidence that convicts me.
I wish my shirt was like my life. Yes, I have made mistakes but God washes me clean as He said in Isaiah “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” But there is more. No matter how hard I look, I can not see my past sins, because He also says in Jeremiah;  “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Goes to show that God really is better than Tide.
Have you asked Him to clean your heart? Go ahead, He’s listening.
Something to think about.
Rob

Love is like. . .

It’s been a long time hasn’t it? It’s been a long time since you handed over on your own a Valentine’s card to that special someone. It might even been a long times since you received one. Remember in grade school the excitement of all those cute cut out cards you took home to show mom and dad? In school, and here in the Children’s Ministry, most teachers really become excited about that day of love. They plan, cut out, glue and even put some difficult parts together for those that couldn’t manage it themselves.

The thing is, Love is an intrical part of who we are. Part of our DNA if you like. A while ago I read that everyone needed three things in their life to feel complete. Here they are: need to feel accepted, need to feel valued and lastly, the need to feel loved.  Think about that for a few minutes. It’s a wonderful feeling after you make the first step forward to become more involved somewhere and people step up and welcome you with no strings attached. (Like coming into church for the first time.) Or how about the time you were asked to help or assist in some task and your participation was so well accepted. ‘Yes’, you said to yourself, ‘I have something to contribute’. Feels great, doesn’t it? Then, when you least expect it, you feel complete. It may not be said verbally but it sure is said in silence that those around you honestly love you and are glad you are here.

This doesn’t just happen in real life, on Valentine’s Day. It happens with God. He made each and every one of you to feel all of these emotions and even more. He placed within you a heart that reaches to the highest heaven. From there we know He accepts us for who we are, places gifts and abilities deep down inside of us, where our value to heaven finds fulfillment. It all come full circle when we indeed feel complete when He tells us in Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness..”  How amazing is that?

Something to feel loved about.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Someones Sleeping Lord

Have you ever sat and watched someone sleeping?  When you were a kid, did you ever sit there watching one of your siblings sleeping, ready to pounce on them when they first stirred? Remember the commercial where the kids stood looking at their parents and said something like: “they look so innocent when they sleep”. If you are a parent you may have stood over a crib and just watched God's gift, sleeping.
There are other times we notice these things. Ever been sitting watching tv with someone, and you look over, ready to say something and they are fast asleep? Or how about being in church and someone is drifting off during a boring sermon.  Doesn’t happen at our church. Well, not often. Sometimes people are just tired and can’t stay awake. More than a few husbands have sore ribs from sitting in church beside their spouse. Maybe you have been one of those people. I sometimes ask the congregation to raise their hand if they have ever fallen asleep in a service. Of course I was the first one to put up my hand. I tell them I even fell asleep in my own sermon back when I started ministry.

If you want to experience beauty at it’s finest, go sometime soon and sit and watch someone you love very much while they sleep. Watch them breathe. Be still, be silent and just take in the beauty of the moment. And while you are doing it, realize that God was sitting close by by your bed while you sleep. He was there watching the one He loves so much.

Something to think about.