This week Holley asked us to write a letter of encouragement to a fellow dreamer. Here’s mine…

To my Guy,

Make us ready. Those words. Those words formed a prayer that we prayed over and over and over again for many years. Lord, make us ready.

Ready for what, we weren’t sure. Maybe what we were really asking for was His dream for our lives. Lord, help us to dream.

And then it happened. You lost your job. To be honest, that’s not exactly what I was expecting. But it had to start there, didn’t it? Maybe beginning the adventure of a God-sized dream starts with loss. Maybe that’s how God makes room for the new thing.

That loss opened the doors to something I never imagined for you, for us. I probably wasn’t your biggest cheerleader in the beginning. I was scared to death! But you just kept walking through each open door. As scary and as crazy as it all was, each step, you kept faithfully putting one foot in front of the other.

I’m not sure you would say it was your dream, but God made it very clear it was His. And you followed.

Your obedience to serve the people of District 15 as their State Senator is a wonder to watch. I know it’s hard. The days are long. The issues facing our state are intense. It’s a challenge every day to be a bright light for Jesus in a very dark place. You do it well.

You are teaching our girls and me what it looks like to follow hard after God when the dream is not something you would have chosen for yourself. God chose it for you and you said YES.

All of your Brown girls are so very proud of you.

As we continue to daily pray those words still – make us ready – I promise to go with you wherever God’s dreams take you. I’m your girl.

Can you think of someone today who might need a little encouragement as they walk out God’s dream? Maybe a note, a call, a text? It will mean the world to them. I know it will.

To connect with other encouraging dreamers, just click here.

It’s been fun reading about some amazing dreams that God has birthed in some amazing women’s hearts. You can read about them here.

This week’s challenge was to take a small step toward our God-sized dream. Just one, small step. In fact, Holley said we’d get extra credit if it was “simple, small, and takes just a few minutes.” I’m all about extra credit. But what could I do? The steps getting to my dream seem more gargantuan than small.

That’s when I felt the God nudge to listen. You know the one. I turned my list over and tried hard to listen. “You need help.” Well, of course, I need help! Look at all I have to do! But this time, quieter, slower, “Deb, you need help. I want you to ask for help.”

Ask? Ask for help? Really, God? Really. You see, I don’t like asking. I don’t like needing. I like to do things All. By. My. Self. (said with a two year old stomp at the end.) The stomp is so effective.

The nudge wouldn’t leave. So I took the number one thing on my gargantuan list – need to learn more about WordPress – and asked God for help. Immediately He brought someone to mind. Immediately. No hesitation. Oh, the frustration there has been intense. I’ve let it keep me in a stuck place for a long time.

God was just waiting for me to ask for help – to invite Him deeper into the fulfillment of His dream for me. He has/had no intention of me doing the thing alone. Do you need to read that sentence again? It’s taken me a long while to get that. I’m getting that now.

So I contacted my friend, Lyla. She’s brilliant. She’s wise. She thinks WordPress is fun. She said, “Let me know how I can help you and your dream!” And she is. All I had to do was ask.

When you look at your God-sized dream, where do you need help? It’s a brave step to ask for help, but the clarity and courage it brings as you take it, is worth it. It really is. Trust me on that one.

If you need help on knowing where to begin, Holley’s The “Do What You Can” Plan: 21 Days to Making Any Area of Your Life Better is a great place to start.

If you need some WordPress help like me, my friend, Lyla, is your girl.

I’d love to hear about your small step. I’ll be praying for you, too.

I’m one of those first born, practical, to-do list girls. I have friends who are the big picture, visionary types. But  not me. So when Holley Gerth started writing about dreams on her blog - and not just any dreams…God-sized dreams – well, I didn’t think it applied to a first born, practical, to-do list girl like me.

But I was wrong. Way wrong. Holley says this about God-sized dreams:

God-sized dreams aren’t really about size at all–they’re about embracing and pursuing the desires God has placed within your heart that perfectly fit who you are. God-sized dreams are part of your purpose and they lead to more joy, meaning, and hope in your life.

So it’s not about big. It’s about heart. And that started the process of asking God what His dream was for me.

It took some time before I realized the dream was actually something He’s been nudging me toward for awhile. But, honestly, I’ve been running scared from it for just as long. That’s another thing about God-sized dreams – they can only happen with His help, His power, His everything.

You see, I was only looking at my dream through my own strength. Nothing like opening the front door and asking fear to come in and stay a long while. My focus was on me and all that I’m not. What a perfect storm to kill any dream.

Sure wish I could say I’m over that, but I can say my focus is  more clear. And I write those words with a most grateful heart.

My God-sized dream is to grow my speaking ministry to include a writing ministry. I love speaking words of encouragement into women’s lives. Now the challenge – the dream – is to write words of encouragement, too. I dream of getting my works in progress published. I dream of this little corner of the blog world to be a place for women to come and connect and click away more encouraged and loved than when they came. That is my God-sized dream.

Over the course of these next weeks, I’ll be sharing more of my journey with you. And if you want to read more God-sized dream stories, head over to Holley’s blog. In fact, why don’t you join us there? I/we would love to hear about your dream. Really, we would.

“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 deeply and gently within us…” -Ephesians 3:20-21

I’m praying for you as you dare to dream. It may seem risky and scary and overwhelming and oh, so not practical. But I’m learning that’s when the adventure begins.

I didn’t want to be here. Again. Four hospital stays in four years seemed a bit much. I could feel myself inching closer to that proverbial edge. I knew for my health I needed to be here, but I sure didn’t want to be.

From the Emergency Room I got a ride to the Progressive Care Unit – not sick enough to warrant an ICU stay, but not stable enough for a regular room. This was the brand new wing of the hospital. For a frequent patient like myself, it was at least interesting to be someplace else. The room was big and had that brand new smell, no roommate (that’s always a plus), and a huge TV. If I had to be stuck here over the weekend, at least watching the Vikings on that thing would make the afternoon go by faster.

The nice room aside, things were not going as planned. My body was not handling the IV treatment well. Usually a treatment takes three to four hours. At the rate I was dripping, we were on track to finish in eight. Eight hours with blood pressure checks every 15 minutes. It was going to be a long night.

The IV treatment wasn’t the only thing not going well. My attitude stunk. I was whiny. I was feeling sorry for myself. I was afraid. I was ticked at God. And I told Him so. Again. Again. Again. Yep, it was a long night.

Around 5 a.m., just after a doctor came in for yet another exam, I was starting in again with my ranting. I remember asking God to please show me He knew I was there. And to please help me see it. That’s when I felt that God nudge and heard a voice in my spirit. “Deb, turn over in the bed.”

Well, that was ridiculous. I was all wired up. Facing the door was the easiest, most helpful position for me to be in. Shifting everything to turn over would take some time, would set off all my bells and whistles and, to be honest, I wasn’t convinced it would be worth it.

But I heard it again. “Deb, turn over in the bed.” This time I did.

What I didn’t notice earlier in the evening when I arrived in the new room was the big wall to wall window. A window that overlooked the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River during fall peak. God knew I hadn’t noticed.

For the next hour He displayed the most beautiful sunrise I had ever seen in my life. It was stunning.

The every 15 minute visits ceased. It was as if God Himself put a guard at the door. For one hour it was just me and God and the gift of that sunrise.

That gift spoke to me quietly and deeply and profoundly all at the same time. I saw Genesis 28:15 in that sunrise. It was the answer to my whiny, hurting heart. He did see me. God knew exactlly where I was. I was not alone.

Before the health crash, I was writing a talk for a MOPS leadership event. (I love those women!) I was studying every verse where God said, “I will.” There are a lot of them! Each one displays His character and His promises. That early morning He said “I will” with a sunrise. I will be with you. I will be right here. I will not leave you. I grabbed on to those I wills with all my heart. They brought hope and healing during a dark time. Maybe you, too, need an I will promise to hang on to.

Over the next two weeks I’ll be sharing more about God’s I wills. There are some sweet, sweet treasures for us to discover. I do hope you’ll join me.

Click When God Says I Will to download a few pages of my favorite I Will verses. What one speaks to you today?

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3

This verse won’t leave me alone. In a good kind of way. How often do I focus on all that I’m not when God’s truth tells me that He’s given me EVERYTHING I need (not what I want, but what I need).

The challenge for me comes in living that out moment by moment, choice by choice. And that stretches my faith.

How about you? What’s stretching your faith this week?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV)

This verse was one of my memory verses last year. I’m so glad it was. These powerful words have come to mind several times throughout the course of the last 24 hours. Last night’s election results didn’t go the way I thought they would. I grieve the losses. I grieve what they all could possibly mean for my state and for our country. After hours of watching way too much tv, scanning websites, crunching numbers, one could lose hope. I was losing hope.

But Romans 15:13 reminds me my hope doesn’t come from election night or websites or numbers or majorities, but from God. He is the God of hope. And the best part is knowing that by the power of the Holy Spirit I can not just hope, but abound in hope.

When I looked up the word abound, here’s what I found…

“Abounding” is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.

I love that visual. Not just a bit of hope from a bud wound tight, but hope in full bloom. Radiant. Free. Complete. I want to abound in hope like that.

That kind of hope requires something of me. A choice. Choosing to let the God of hope fill me with joy and peace and belief.

So today – moment by moment – when waves of doubt and hopelessness rush in, I’m going to stop and choose. And pray…

Father God, my God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of your Holy Spirit may I abound in hope. Amen and Amen.

On a side note: I am so, so, so proud of my guy. He ran an upright, focused campaign. He will continue to serve the people in his senate district with integrity, morality, wisdom and discernment. It was worth staying up until 3:30 a.m. to see that check beside his name. I am a proud wife!

“If you want to do something NEW, you can’t keep doing the same old thing.”
Mark Batterson

Looking at my list of new, I need to start getting rid of some old. Old sure can be comfortable. That’s where my faith challenge is today.

I would love to hear yours…

God rekindles burned-out lives

with fresh hope.

1 Samuel 2:8 (MSG)

Linking with Deidra Riggs and the Sunday community

Last week I attended the funeral of a childhood friend. Three months ago she was diagnosed with cancer. Just three months.

Her name was Deb. We were BFFs before there ever was such a designation. I lost track of the number of people at the funeral who said, “You two were inseparable.” And we were. Sleepovers. Bike rides. Chocolate. Picnics. Summers at the library. Books. Books. Books.

A typical Sunday afternoon would find Deb curled up on one end of the couch, me on the other, and in between us were our latest reads. There may have been a bowl of popcorn and M&Ms. Always popcorn.

Along with her love for reading, Deb also had a love for writing. She had a true passion for it. Me, not so much. I remember “borrowing” one of her short stories and entering it in a writing contest. Deb said she wasn’t brave enough to do it herself. So I did it for her. Isn’t that what BFFs do? Imagine her surprise when she won a contest she didn’t know she had entered. It was a proud BFF moment.

Deb may not have been brave enough to believe in her writing, but she was brave enough to believe in me. I’m convinced it took much courage for a fifth grader to one day invite her friend to church. But that courageous invitation changed my life forever.

For the next few years, Deb and her family picked me up most Sunday mornings for church. That’s when I became a part of the Noble family. Sunday School. Church. Sunday dinner. Afternoon family stuff. Evening church. Youth events. Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday. Deb and her family loved me to Jesus.

I can’t imagine it was always easy or convenient to have another kid around, another mouth to feed. But not once, not once, ever did I feel anything but a part of their family. God knew I needed the consistency of those Sundays to crack open my fearful, guarded, locked up tight heart. God knew I needed to watch a dad love, really love, his daughter and not hurt her, or hate her, or leave her. God knew I needed this family to love me to Jesus.

When I heard how sick Deb was I just had to write her. I had to tell her one more time what her 5th grade act of courage did for just one life. How does someone adquately say thank you for that? I’m not sure, but I tried.

So these last days as I’ve told Deb Noble stories to my girls, I’m challenged with a question. Who am I loving to Jesus? Who are we as a Brown family loving to Jesus? It takes courage. It takes commitment. It takes time. But I know that one courageous step can change a life forever. I know because it changed mine.

Thank you, Deb. With all of my heart, thank you.

I so badly wanted to start this first paragraph with “we’re having a heat wave.” But then I would have to dig out my White Christmas dvd and sing every song from that wonderful musical all day long. My family would hate it. I would be in a very happy place.

But really we are having some kind of heat here in Minnesota. It is summer after all. But for me living with a chronic illness in some kind of heat means more than finding some kind of shade. It means staying inside. A lot. Most days you’ll find me watching summer happen from the patio window, or admiring my perennial garden from a distance while not letting the weeds distract me, or laughing at the cardinals, goldfinches, and robins fight for their fair share of the bird bath space. Most days it’s all look but do not touch.

Living summer on the inside teaches me a lot if I let it. Oh, I’ve run from these lessons plenty. Years’ worth of plenty. Most days it just seemed easier to be grumpy/whiny/frustrated/sad/mad about it. I do that combination well. Ugly, but well. But then God stepped in like He always does. Maybe I’m like Him when I sit back, watch my girls put on their ugly, and just wait them out. How patient He is!

God has chosen this summer to get into my business, my ugly business. There have been many days when the fight with ugly has brought me to my knees. And that’s where He really got me. “Deb, when you live summer on the inside without the ugly, I receive that as an offering.” Want to know the name of that offering? Contentment. An offering of contentment.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  Phil 4:11b

The key word there for me is learned. The Greek definition is to learn by use or practice, to be in the habit of, to be accustomed to.

Learning contentment is a habit. A habit takes practice. A record breaking hot summer has been the perfect scenario to practice contentment. My habit of ugly went pretty deep. But with each choice to focus on what I could do, what I was grateful for chipped away at the ugly. In practicing my offering of contentment, God has opened my eyes to see Him in ways my habit of ugly kept hidden.

When I am able to be out, trust me when I tell you I celebrate it big! I breathe deep. I dig in the dirt. I walk and walk and walk. And I may even take a twirl in the backyard. Maybe. Only the neighbor’s dog knows for sure.

How about you? What is your offering of contentment? I’d love to read your story.