Mid-Week Message - What Dreams are Made Of

"Come now [and pay attention to this], you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and carry on our business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and we will do this or that." James 4:13-15 (AMP)

Were you a daydreamer?  I was.  Not excessively so but I had my moments.  I daydreamed about the same things I suppose most young girls do such as being the prettiest girl in school, having a handsome boyfriend, meeting my favorite music and television stars.  Mostly, I dreamed about what it would be like to be thin, because I wasn't.  There was a song by Janis Ian that came out when I was seventeen years old that was actually called, "At Seventeen."  It was spot on in describing what I went through.  Mainly though it reminded me that there were others that were dreaming of the same things I was and that I would make it through.  It gave me hope.

Many of us dream of what we may never have.  That's what makes them dreams, I guess.  Wealth so that we can be free of debt and owing others.  Perfect relationships because what we have isn't perfect.  Good health for ourselves or others we love that are suffering.  There isn't anything wrong with dreaming as long as we keep the dreams in perspective and remember that our lives have purpose.  That purpose is to glorify God and to seek His will in all we do.  

I have two major dreams.  One is to take an extended Alaskan cruise with my beloved. I want to have that time with him to see whales in the wild and icebergs up close.  The other is to travel to Scotland.  I have always wanted to go there but now I have a good friend there that I would love to visit with and deliver a hug to in person.  I don't know if I will ever do either.  However, should the Lord allow it then it will be so that I can spread His love and message and experience His love personally.  He always has a purpose.  

I have come to learn that nothing in life is worth anything unless Christ is in the middle of it.  Fulfilling a dream without Him would be empty and meaningless.  Life is brief and every moment needs to count.  I want all my moments to count for Him.  Had he given me all those things I thought I wanted when I was young then I would have missed out on so much because my relationship with Him needed to grow.  Every day is so much sweeter now that He is in control.  I wouldn't want anything apart from Him.  And sharing His love is an honor and a privilege no matter where I am.  If I never see Alaska or Scotland, my life won't suffer.  As long as I am where He wants me at any given time, then I am incredibly blessed.

This week, let's make a list of our dreams and the purposes behind them.  Are they purely for our own enjoyment and benefit, or are we considering our life purpose in Jesus?  How is He being included?  I pray for enlightenment for each of us as we tackle this challenge.  God bless you!