~His Dreams are Mine~

Our old family station wagon, rolled over one hill after another. Across valleys laid with bright, rich foliage and patch-worked rice paddies we traveled. From one side to the other were often towering bamboo and dense jungle or a breath-taking view of our Creator's master artwork in the hills and valleys close and far into the horizon.

It was a beautiful journey to say the least.

The Creator of the universe created everything I saw!--or, let's just say EVERYTHING, because there is no creature, plant, human, or anything that was not and is not brought forth by His never failing word. "And God said...and it was so." (Genesis 1:9)

But you know, those aren't the only things that He has the unfailing power to create--and to create beautifully.

There's something else that He creates, in fact, this is His absolute favorite thing to create.

You want to know what it is?

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
~ Ezekiel 36:26-27 ~

A new heart! He has the power to create new hearts and then He delights to give them to us.

While on the road during that delightful Sabbath, as I was contemplating upon my dreams for the
future, I heard a voice speak to me, "My daughter these dreams may seem beautiful to you. You hold onto them very tightly. You think that they are wonderful, but I know that you feel troubled. Your mind is not at rest because you haven't surrendered your deepest dreams to Me. I hold the future in my hands. I know tomorrow and every day that follows. My dreams for you are perfect and will far exceed you hopes because I know and understand what is best for you. You need not worry for the future. I have promised you peace if you give me your dreams. (Isaiah 25:3) Trust me. My dream is the best for you. (Matthew 6:30-34; Psalm 37:3-7)"

He continued to speak to me through the rest of the day. He impressed upon my heart that I needed to surrender my dreams to Him before entering into a new week.

Before laying down that night, I found a quiet place to think and to pray. After praying for a while, I found just what my Father had said--there was peace in full surrender--the peace that I had been longing for. A peace that only comes from Him. I told Him that I wanted to get up early the next morning. And asked Him to wake me up at the time He saw was best. Little did I know what I was in for...

Nearly 3:00 in the morning: I woke up with an urge to go to the restroom. Upon arising, I saw my fellow tenter, Haley Reinecke, sitting up. When I returned, she made sure that I was well aware that we had some lovely intruders hanging out with us. And, yep, there were--and lots of THEM.--Ants! Ants! Most of the ones above my head were crazily infatuated with the tassels on my Karen bag. They apparently decided that they were going to make MY bag their new home. They were hiding their eggs between the strings. Why did they want there home there? Who knows...

At first I wanted to complain, but then a voice spoke, "Didn't you ask me to wake you up early this morning? I thought you might be in need of a little extra help since you've been so tired. So, I sent the ants to make sure you're really up." I could just see His fatherly smile as He let me know how blessed I was to have such critters in my tent. All I could say was, "Yes. Thank you Lord, for the ants."

A while later (after cleaning some of my belongings and then taking them back to the car), I sat down on some steps under the shadow of a big tree. It was still very dark out, but inside this heart was light.

Instead of choosing to hold onto my dreams, I gave them to the Maker of my future--of tomorrow and beyond.

His dreams are mine.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, 

thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~