Ambitions and desires all compose our dreams for our life. Are you accomplishing your goals for your life? Or are they changing through various seasons of life?
My earlier aspirations have changed. I used to think I would live in a large house with extensive square footage to spread out lovely furniture with all the right color schemes. How I remember what fun we had as kids, when we would go to my Uncle Pete and Aunt Alice’s house for Thanksgiving. They had a very large home that overlooked the golf course, located in a small town in northwest Iowa. This house had a clothes shoot that we kids used in playing hide and seek. We would climb into the clothes shoot in the upstairs level, and ride all the way down to the main floor laundry room, where the ride ended. It was amazing. My uncle Pete built this house to have their church’s youth group meet there. The basement had a large full kitchen, a player piano with various rolls of music to play, a regular piano, and an old pump organ that provided hours of fun. Pete and Alice used their home for a place for the youth group to have somewhere to go for fellowship on the weekends.
Gone are the days of popularity of the newest decorating ideas from Better Homes and Garden magazines. Now it is Pinterest, where we can find all of those perfectly decorated rooms with all the just right pops of color, décor, and knickknacks to save and pine over.
But accumulated stuff does not have lasting value. It doesn’t comfort a hurting friend. It doesn’t give solutions to life’s hard knocks. Material possessions are fun and do give pleasure. They are not wrong in themselves. But decorating color schemes come and go. That “popping red” color is not the continuing popular accent color of today or next year. Wallpaper used to be very popular. Now it is out, but I hear it may be coming back somewhat. Decorating color trends are just that – trends that come and go.
Bayless Conley wrote in a recent devotional of his: “Life does not consist in the abundance of things we possess, but in the riches of the relationships we have.”
Matthew 6:19-21,33 states: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
My greatest treasures are my relationships with friends, my husband, my children and grandchildren, and family. Spending quality time together is a strong communicator of love, where you get to sit and converse and have eye to eye contact.
Genesis 13:2 states Abraham was a very rich man. He had livestock, silver, and gold that made up his wealth. But he was rich in faith (Hebrews 11:8-12). How I want to be rich in faith.
The Proverbs 31 woman wore clothes made of fine linen and purple. Purple was a sign of royalty. She held godliness, holiness, time management, and spending money wisely, in high regard. Her husband praised her for all of her talents and strengths. She was rich in dignity. That is now my dream.
One’s reputation cannot be bought. Proverbs 22:1-2 says: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.” How I want to be known for my integrity and find favor with my Lord.
When my parents had their estate auction, the reality of what items were of high value to them, but not to others was a vivid life lesson. I gave continuous hugs to my mother, during the estate sale, and kept saying: “It is only stuff, Mom. Only stuff,” as the receiving auction prices were so much lower than the worth of my parent’s belongings.
My early dreams from my twenty’s and thirty’s are long gone. Today, my thoughts center more about Christ coming back to this earth, and when I will be spending eternity in Heaven. My heart’s desire is that my children will truly develop a close relationship with Christ, and grow in the knowledge of God. That is where my lasting desires are now centered, rather than on material stuff.
Paul wanted to pass on his knowledge of God, to younger believers in the faith, and his statement in 2 Timothy 4:7, expresses his last words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
What are your dreams based on? Have they changed over the years?
“We live in a culture that celebrates fifteen minutes of fame, but God honors a lifetime of faithfulness.” Mark Batterson.
What verses can you nail your life’s goals on?
What scripture verse would you call your signature verse?
What verse has impacted your life in how you should live?
Do you feel like you are in a holding pattern in life and some of your dreams have been shattered? Each season of life presents challenges. I have been there. But try to view each as an opportunity to grow in letting God sustain and teach you something deeper in your relationship with Him. Rest in Him. Relax in Him. Rejoice in Him. God will work it all out in the end.
“It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace.” ― Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
”Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
My prayer for today: God I want to live my life without regrets. Help me to keep a clear head above everything. You know what my dreams are as I have given them to You. Great are You Lord and greatly to be praised! My hope and satisfaction are in You alone. Fulfill my desires in Your appointed time. Amen.
Listen to MercyMe’s song “Even If.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y