Dream BIG!

Ephesians 3:20 says: "God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!  He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit gently within us." (MSG)

...Then what is keeping us from dreaming BIG?  What is holding us back from asking God for the deepest, most intimate desires of our heart?  If God's plan for each of our lives is bigger and far more extraordinary than we could ever expect, that should motivate us to let go of our inhibitions and give God our craziest, wildest dreams!  We already know that no matter how big we dream, He is faithful to give us even BETTER.  After all, if God's plan is sovereign and immeasurably than what we could ever conjure up for ourselves, the things we think will bring us blessing, satisfaction, fulfillment, and favor will PALE in comparison to the overwhelming amount of things God already has in store for us.  This is why we can trust God with the innermost desires of our heart.  He sees our faith and doesn't ignore it - not because our faith or any measure of it causes Him to act, or because it is some indicator of worthiness for His blessings, but because our faith is just a mere response to God's infinite love for us and His Spirit moving in and through us!  He has already destined us for a life of blessing and favor.  Our faith can only GROW when we put our trust in Him and allow Him to reveal Himself to us.  It's a continuing upward cycle: we give God our dreams, and He gives us something even better.  Which, in turn, causes us to only dream BIGGER.

I Finally Gave You the Reigns (Matthew 11:28-30)

Hellooo, everyone. :) So, I'm kinda new to this blogging thing. The last time I used it was for a different blog page - which was required for my Summer study abroad program last year.  Well here it goes.

God has been doing A LOT in such a short amount of time.  Like, a complete 180, and I'm blown away at how the lenses through which I viewed life has radically shifted in such a short amount of time.  I'm going to let the poem say the rest for itself.


"I Finally Gave You the Reigns" (Matthew 11:28-30)

I was lost.

You open Your arms

Welcome me in,

Yet I would run.

I tried to run far and wide.

Run from the guilt,

Run from the pain,

Yet I was drowning in sadness.

I was smothered by depression.

I was confined by darkness.

Bound by self hate

Irate at everything around me

Anger consumed me,

Ate me like

A swarm of locusts destroying the crop.

Starved by loneliness

Crippled by bitterness

Weakened by disappointment –

I didn’t believe in myself.

I was drowning in sadness.

My head above water

Yet it was slowly,

Steadily,

Sinking below the surface.

There was no escape.

I slowly started to accept this fate.
I. GAVE. UP.

But wait –

I hear a voice that says

“It doesn’t have to be this way.

Follow Me.”

Huh? Are You talking to me?

“Follow Me. Take My hand.”

So I went. I took His hand.

For years I believed

But never fully received

His Call for me,

That He lead my life

So I can have peace.

Fine. I give up the reigns.

I can’t do it on my own.

When was I ever able to?

You can cleanse this body? This spirit?

Save me from myself?

Cleanse me from within?

Move in and through me

To renew me

And make me holy?

All ‘cause You know my pain?

And You died for the same?

… You think I'm worth something?

You want to use me?

Fine. Take the reigns.

Broken, defenseless

I stretched out my arms

Vulnerable

And called out in weakness

But I don’t have to fear anymore.

You carry me.

You say:

“Keep the faith! I am here!”

And You carry the weight.

The tears flow,

And sometimes I even feel dreary, weary,

Beat, tired, run down,

But this time You have the reigns.

Matthew 11:28-30.  Just as You promised.

And You said:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You fill my heart with hope

With joy and peace

And deliver me.

I can do this.

And it’s only because of You.

Dar-Ci Calhoun ~~ 16 February 2012