Dreams

We need to get out of our comfort zones. I of all people live in a “safe” zone. I am not an adventurous person. Some days if I could hid away in a cave I would. But I was not meant to be a bear. If I was meant to be a bear I would have been a bear…. Last time I checked I wasn’t a bear.


In high school, middle school, or even elementary school we choose to live in a box. Most of us hardly associated with other people within other groups. Given all of us are different but we didn’t give some people a fair chance. We think just because that person doesn’t have the coolest clothes that they are any less than us. You don’t have to have an American Eagle, Hot Topic, Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, or Hollister (or any other store) outfit to “fit” in.


One of my favorite artist’s Sugarland once said “Nobody wants to be rejected”. That is very true who wants to be rejected .… no one. We have outsiders who feel like they are all so alone. What if we had decided to love everyone and treated everyone like Jesus. The world would be a much different place if we didn’t have cliques. It is good to have friends we share a common interest with. But we are also supposed to love other people. Most people have problems we are all human. But just because someone is addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, people pleaser, beauty (thinking you must change to fit cultures way), spending all your time on the computer, social networking sites, and much more. We can be addicted to just about anything. I haven’t listed everything. I don’t know what most of you are addicted too. But what I do know in the end is that thing ever going to make you whole. I don’t think so. We all go through so many different struggles. But we have to turn to the one who can change it all for us.


Now I know you’re saying the world isn’t perfect and I understand that. But why should that stop you. Everyone else is doing it you say. Well what if you caused someone to come to know Jesus by your actions. Let me reface that another way. It works both ways. What if you caused someone to not come to Jesus by your actions? Do you want to live the legacy of being caught up only in yourself? You need step out of your comfort zone to try something new. You don’t want to wake up at 100 years old and go where did my life go. What if I would have loved that person who was a non-Christian and invited them to church? Maybe their life would now be changed forever.


What if I would have been a painter, drawer, made an invention, builder, singer, actor or an actress, writer, engineer. I am sure you can fill in the blank with something. What if I would have been a _________. You can’t sit on the sidelines waiting for it to jump out in front of us. It won’t be saying “You’re supposed to be a _________”. God can speak to you and lead you in the right direction. But we have to learn to wait. It will happen when it is in his timing not ours. But you also have to take a step you can’t stay in your comfort and be afraid to get out there and do what you are meant to do. If you stay in fear and let fear control you. You will never move forward. You have to as the old saying goes “think outside the box”. It also goes the same you have to get out of your safe place. You can’t hide forever. You have to get out there and go after your dreams. We just have to trust God and he will bring us to where we are supposed to be. You can’t expect it to show up on your doorstep one day and be handed to you. God could do that because he can do anything. But we all have to learn how to believe and follow God to lead us to where we need to be. We have to have faith in him.


“Jesus looked hard at them and said, No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it." Matthew 19:26 (The Message Bible)

“ Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 (New International Version Bible)


Today, I heard this song called “Shine”. The writers who wrote that song hit that song on the nail. The song isn’t released yet. Jo Dee Messina decided to record that song for her next album. It’s on her official website. It’s only for the chorus of the song. But the chorus hits home to me. These are the lyrics to the song. It hits radio in March I believe.

“I don't wanna spend the rest of my life And wonder why the world passed me by While I wasn't lookin' or laughing Gonna cut loose from all these chains Turn 'em into a fist full of reigns And ride out cause now there's no doubt Everyday I'm alive you can bet that i'm gonna shine Na na na na na na na na na na na....”

I have done more research and found one full version of the song. You will have to click “Shine” to listen to the song. The song is really inspiring.

http://www.reverbnation.com/jodeemessina


What if you took a chance and actually made your dream come true. But if you’re afraid to take a risk then you could miss out. Now I know we aren’t all suppose to be famous. Some of you may like to be. But look at most of the stars the paparazzi follows most of them around like a hawk. Everything right or wrong they do is seen in the public. We all need to be original and not try to be another celebrity or another person. We need to be ourselves. I am sure you can think of someone you look up to you wish you could be. But that person has challenges too. You don’t even need to go to the extreme and have plastic surgery to look like someone else. If you’re trying to look like Brad Pitt or any other celebrity the world only needs one of them. You need to be unique. Mary Mary once said “Don’t try to duplicate anybody be original cause God has given you something and he wants you to give it to the world.”


In Natalie Grant’s book entitled “The Real Me” she takes about how she needs to be the girl God sees. Natalie Grant said, “These days more and more people are tempted to follow celebrities’ lead and seek out plastic surgery to fix whatever they don’t like about their physical appearance.” She also tells of a story about a girl who had surgery twenty-six times to fix things she didn’t like. If you struggle with your beauty I would recommend this book for you. Even if you don’t it is still a great book.


So don’t be afraid to step it up a notch and go after your dreams. You need to be the person God created you to be. If you get the chance to share his love to someone do it. You don’t need to worry that person might stop being your friend. If they died today where would they go? It’s very simple Heaven or Hell. Both are very real. You don’t know their heart only God does but we still need to try to point them in the right direction.


Some of you may not like your job a 100% of the time. I know I haven’t always liked it especially when a customer yells at you. Most of the time stuff I can’t control. But you have to do it like your working for the lord. I work at a customer service job. One of the rudest things I have seen is people who talk on the phone and never say a work to you. You can’t even ask them a question because you think you’re interrupting. Would it hurt to call that person back? Cashiers are just as important as anyone else. The cashiers are human and would like to be treated like one. They are NOT robots. In the future that might be the case but I hope not. Then people would lose their jobs. God didn’t create robots and we weren’t meant to be couch potatoes and watch TV twenty-four hours a day. Well then I guess the actors or actresses would then be robots as well…. What kind of life would that be worth living? We were meant to get out there and live. Another thing is when customers don’t answer you when you ask how they are. Maybe they didn’t hear you or maybe they chose not to listen. But you need to answer and ask them how they are back. It takes two people to have a conversation. It is all about communication. Now I am not saying you have to stay at the store for three hours taking to that person unless you feel like you need too. But just a simple gesture goes a long way. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.


“Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.” Colossians 3:23 (The Message Bible)

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (King James Version Bible)


I don’t know if any of you have heard Toby Mac’s new song “Lose My Soul” with Mandisa and Kirk Franklin. The video is really good. So I would encourage you to watch it. The video makes you think of all the other things that could make you lose your soul. One of the guys in the video steals a computer. Another guy buys a gun and then he tries to rob the clerk. The song tells about how Toby doesn’t want to lose his soul over fame. But the video gives it a completely different meaning.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m3NVJXCV31QUVR


Here are some of the lyrics:
“I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul, Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say. I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul, Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.”

When you think about fame it’s only an earthly word. You can’t take fame or money with you. Yes, you have to have money to survive but don’t be too consumed by it.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Version Bible)

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36 (King James Version Bible)


See you have to choose to be happy always and love your life. You can’t love others if you have a hard time loving yourself. Now that doesn’t give you a right to be selfish. When you love yourself you love the things that God has given you. You don’t stand in the mirror and say “I look bad today”. You can’t go aw that person has this new toy and I don’t. You can’t stay in self pity. You have to get up and keep moving forward. I know it’s easier said than done. But if you have dreams go after them. If it doesn’t work out there is always another dream to dream.

Start dreaming dreams. Don’t live in fear. You are free! He believes in you!

God Bless,
Andrew