Holding Them Loosely

Dreams are funny things.

They're the essence of what drives us forward, and they tend to be woven with hopes, emotions and fears too.

Recently, I've been facing some re-imagining of a dream.  At first, I confess I held my dream tightly with clenched, white-knuckled fists.  My idea of the dream had been challenged, and I didn't like it.

Not one bit.

But time has gone by, gentle conversations have been had, and now it looks as if the dream won't die.

It's just changing.

And as it changes, I'm hearing God's whisper to loosen my grip, open my hands and hold it loosely.  He is reminding me that it's not mine after all.  It's always been His.  He's not taking it away.  He's only asking me to share.

I'm trusting that this proverb applies to dreams too...

"A joy shared is double joy.  A sorrow shared is half a sorrow."  ~Swedish Proverb

As my dream is shared, I'm watching it expand, and I see double joy on the way.

Lasting Legacy

Last week I wrote about my mother, but I am a woman who is doubly blessed. I not only have a loving relationship with my mother, but I also have a stellar mother-in-law. Here she is sandwiched between her two tall grandsons.

Barbara is a m-i-l who loves me and treats me just like her own daughter.  She's setting a very important example for me since I'm the mother of two sons by teaching me to attain my goal of being the best m-i-l the world has ever known!

Barbara has taught me so many things over the years.  She was a teacher, and she has a whole city full of former students who dote on her.  She flies around a kitchen like nobody's business making delicious meals from anything that's there.  My father-in-law says she's the McGyver of the kitchen world!

Barbara is a woman who loves Jesus and is most comfortable behind the scenes.  She serves people quietly and selflessly, and everybody PRAYS to have their children in her care at church or to receive one of her meals when they're in need.

I love Barbara, and I'm thankful not only for the legacy she's been building in me but also the one she built in her son--the man I love madly.

This is the last week of Proverbs 31 Ministries' Legacy Campaign.  Do you have a woman in your life who has left a legacy for you?  Maybe it's your mother-in-law or your mom or a friend or a mentor.  Honor them this May by making a $20 contribution to P31's legacy building ministry.  Your honoree will receive a beautiful card and will be listed on our homepage.  Click here for more information or to donate.

Thank you to all who have participated.  YOU are a legacy builder!

Light and Legacy

Thank you so much for visiting from Encouragement for Today!

When I was writing today's devotion, I was really curious to find an artist's rendition of the lampstand to see if it matched the picture in my mind. Here's one I found. Does it match the picture in your mind's eye?

 Source:  www.turbosquid.com

Here's another picture that shows the Tent of Meeting, or Tabernacle and where the lampstand would have been located.

Source:  www.harleypinon.com

There have been a lot of people who have lived out the idea of a tent with the Light within, but one of the most important people in my world is my mom.  She has created a legacy of Light for me.  

Can you see the physical likeness?!  I hope there's an increasing inner similarity too.  Just as in the devotion today, she is a woman who not only physically set up tents in my childhood but who transparently modeled Jesus' Light for me as I grew up.

Here are just a few ways Jesus shines brightly through my mom...

She's the consumate encourager, and she always looks for the best in people.

Mom finds something positive to say in any situation.

She's a prolific note writer and taker of meals.  She's always looking for people in need and ways to help them.

Mom has a calling to help people as they enter into eternity.  She's used her nursing background to volunteer with dying people and their families since I was young.

She beautifully modeled the Titus 2 principle of being busy at home, and our home was a place of peace and calm growing up.

Happy early Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you and treasure you more than words can say.

Who has impacted your faith?  Perhaps a friend, sister, your mother or grandmother, a mentor or pastor's wife?  Honor her with a $20 donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.  We'll send her a beautiful Legacy card and list her name on the ront page of our website in May!  And through your donation in honor of her faith, you'll help us reach and strengthen the faith of millions of women around the world each day.  Click here to find out more.

All the Difference

Several weeks ago, Nolan and I were watching The Bible on TV.  I know not everybody was a fan, but I loved hearing Roma Downey and Mark Burnett's heart as they shared their hope that the series would simply make people thirsty to read scripture for themselves.  I think that's an honorable goal.  This post isn't about whether you love or hate the series, though.

It's about the difference Jesus makes.

Nolan and I had watched hours of Old Testament stories, and as the finishing credits rolled, Nolan sighed and said, "I'm ready for some Jesus."

Oh...me too!

I'm working through a Bible reading plan, so I'm in the Old Testament daily.  Although I love the rich history and the unfolding of God's revelation of Himself to man, I have to confess that I'm tired.  It's hard to read all the bloody sacrifices, all the failure, and all the violence day after day.  Each day I ask God to teach me an application, and every single day He is faithful to reveal my heart to me and show me a new way to live.

But I'm so thankful that I'm living with Jesus.

I have the indwelling Spirit for power.

I have grace for sin and failure.

I have internal peace.

I have an all-sufficient sacrifice made by a end-all Savior.

My 10-year-old, sin weary soul was ready for some Jesus, and I've lived in the blessing of His Presence ever since.  Thank you, God, for Jesus!

Sweet Words

Years ago when I first became aware of my big problem with my words (that I talked about in today's devotion), I began a study of Proverbs, highlighting all the wise advice there about words.  My husband later saw my Bible and asked, "Why is all of Proverbs highlighted?!"

I'm not going to even pretend that I have my issue with words completely under control.  For me, this is one of my main struggles, and it's a life-long journey of growth.  If you have the same sin problem, I highly recommend a study of Proverbs.  I love that it is made up of 31 chapters, so it's a natural book to study one chapter a day.  If you decide to highlight too, I recommend a PACK of highlighters to replace the ones that dry up along the way!  :)

Here are just a few to get you started:  (All from the NIV)

Prov. 1:1-2, "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel for attaining wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight." (Look! Right here in the first two verses!)

Prov. 2:12, “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse…”

Prov. 4:3-4, “When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.”

Prov.6:1-3, “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!”

Prov. 8:8, “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.”

Prov. 10:19, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

Prov. 12:6, “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.”

Prov. 12:18, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Prov. 16:24, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

And don’t forget Proverbs 31:26…

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

This list is just the tip of the iceberg, and I’d love to have a continued list of favorite verses about the power of our tongue in the comments!